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HISTORY 


OF 


Mercer  and  HExNderson 


COUNTIES 


TOGETHElt   WITH 


BIOGRAPHICAL  MATTER,  STATISTICS,  ETC. 


GATHERED      FROM      MATTER      FURNISHED      BY      THE      MERCER      AND      HENDERSON 

COUNTY    HISTORICAL    SOCIETIES,    INTERVIEWS    WITH    OLD     SETTLERS, 

COUNTY,    TOWNSHIP   AND    OTHER   RECORDS,    AND    EXTRACTS 

FROM    FILES   OF    PAPERS,   PAMPHLETS,  AND    SUCH 

OTHER    SOURCES    AS   HAVE    BEEN 

AVAILABLE. 


CHICAGO: 

H.   H.   HILL  AND    COMPANY.  PUBLISHERS. 

1882. 


Shepard  &  Johnston,  Printers. 
140,  142,  144,  146  Monroe  St.,  Chicago. 


"V. 


f 


c 

on 

t  PEEFACE. 

In  presenting  the  history  of  the  Counties  of  Mercer  and  Hender- 
son to  the  public,  the  editors  and  publishers  have  had  in  view  the 
preservation  of   ctrtain  valuable   historical  facts  and  a  vast  fund   of 
information    which    without    concentrated    effort   could    never    have 
been  obtained,   but,  with  the  passing  away  of  the  old  pioneers,  the 
failure    of    memory,    and   the    loss    of    public    records    and    private 
diaries,  would  soon  have  been  lost.     This   locality  being   compara- 
tively  new,   we   flatter   ourselves   that,   with   the   zeal   and   industry 
displayed  by  our  general  and  local  historians,  we  have  succeeded  in 
-   rescuing  from  the  fading  years  almost  every  scrap  of  history  worthy  of 
'^    preservation.     Doubtless  the  work  is,  in  some  respects,  imperfect;  we 
c^  do  not  present  it  as  a  model  literary  effort,  but  in  that  which  goes  to 
oS*  make  up  a  valuable  book  of  reference  for  the  present  reader  and  future 
^'historian,  we  assure  our  patrons  that  neither  money  nor  time  has  been 
2   spared  in  the  accomplishment  of  the  work.     Perhaps  some  errors  will 
5  be  found.     With  treacherous  memories,  personal,  political  and  sectarian 
;i    prejudices  and  preferences  to  contend  against,  it  would  be  almost  a 
y^    miracle  if  no  mistakes  were  made.     We  hope  that  even  these  defects, 
^    which  may  be  found  to  exist,  may  be  made  available  in  so  far  as  they 
_-     may  provoke  discussion  and  call  attention  to  corrections  and  additions 
;3~^  necessary  to  perfect  history. 

5,  In  this  work  we  have  been  greatly  aided  by  the  officers  and- mem- 

bers of  the  Mercer  County  Historical  Society,  and  to  Messrs.  Tyler 
^'    McWhorter,  I.  N.  Bassett,  C.   S.  Eichey,   Graham  Lee,  and   John 
Geiger,  we  are  indebted  not  only  for  valuable  advice,  but  for  articles 
>  on  various  topics  that  cannot  but  prove  interesting  and  acceptable  to 
..^t-ejur  patrons.     Messrs.  J.  Simpson,  Dr.  A.  W.  Hyde,  E.  Mathews, 


I'ltKFACK. 


N.  D.  Hillis,  M.  S.  (ireeiK  Mrs.  Pliebe  Button,  and  many  others 
who  have  contributed  to  tlic  work  in  Henderson  County,  have 
placed  the  patrons  of  tlie  work  under  lasting  obligations  for  \-alu- 
able  matter  rescued  from  oblivion,   where  it  was  surely  tending. 

The  biographical  department  contains  the  names  and  ])rivate 
sketches  of  nearly  every  person  of  im])ortance  in  the  counties.  A  few 
persons,  whose  sketches  we  would  be  pleased  to  have  presented,  for 
various  reasons  refused  or  delayed  furnishing  us  with  the  desired 
information,  and  in  this  matter  only  we  feel  that  our  work  is  incom- 
plete. However,  in  most  of  such  cases  we  have  obtained,  in  i*egard 
to  the  most  important  ])ersons,  some  items,  and  have  woven  them 
into  the  county  or  township  sketches,  so  that,  as  we  believe,  we  cannot 
})e  accused  of  negligence,  partiality  or  jjrejudice. 


LIST  OF  PORTRAITS. 


William  Drury, 
Vashti  Drury, 
J.  M.  Emerson, 
Fredrick  Frick, 

B.  C.  Taliaferro, 
William  Gayle,  . 
Daniel  Mowry, 
Samuel  Careen,    . 
James  Heaton, 

J.  S.  Brokaw, 
Mary  A.  Brokaw,    . 
Richard  Kiddoo, 
Dennis  Murto, 

J.  F.  CURTS,      . 

Martin  Bear,  . 
Mrs.  Martin  Bear, 
Jacob  Bear, 
SvjiuEL  Mickey, 
George  McPherren, 
Thomas  Candor,   . 
Dan  W.  Sedwick,    . 
WiLLiAJi  Hanna, 
J.  C.  Cabeen, 
S.  P.  Cabeen, 
John  Cooper,    . 
j.  musgove, 
William  Beaty, 
Joseph  Glancey, 
c.  schenck, 
Daniel  Jones, 
George  Curry, 

J.  AV.  KiMEL, 

M.  C.  Paul, 

C.  D.  Eltinge, 
James  F.  Peasley,    . 
J.  W.  Brook, 
Mary  C.  Brook, 


33 

H.  B.  Fraziek, 

.       699 

51 

Charles  E.  Drew,    . 

717 

69 

R.  A.  McKinley,  . 

.       735 

87 

A.  J.  Streeter, 

753 

105 

A.  P.  Petrie, 

.       771 

.       123 

R.  A.  Lomax,     . 

789 

141 

William  Lomax,  . 

807 

.       159 

B.  C.  COGHILL,    . 

825 

177 

G.  W.  Chandler, 

.       843 

.       195 

Alvah  W.  Paul, 

861 

213 

Joseph  Allen,      .  *     . 

.       879 

231 

W.  H.  CORTELYOU,      . 

897 

249 

Lewis  Duke, 

.       913 

.       267 

James  Duke, 

931 

285 

J.  B.  Patterson,    . 

.       949 

.      303 

R.  H.  Barnes,    . 

967 

321 

P.  D.  Salter, 

.       985 

339 

David  Rankin, 

1003 

357 

F.  M.  Davidson,     . 

.     1021 

.      375 

George  H.  Dixson, 

1039 

393 

Joseph  Dixson, 

.     1057 

.       411 

T.  G.  RiCHEY,      . 

1075 

429 

A.  L.  Porter, 

.     1093 

.       447 

John  N.  Bruen, 

1111 

465 

I.  J.  Brook,    .         .        .        . 

.     1129 

.       483 

H.  W.  Whiteman,     . 

'.         1147 

501 

Samuel  Galbraith, 

.     1165 

.       519 

A.  Wallbaum, 

1183 

537 

William  B.  Dean, 

.     1201 

.       555 

William  H.  Gittings,      . 

1219 

573 

George  C.  Watson, 

.     1237 

.       591 

Isaac  T.  Harter, 

1255 

609 

A.  0.  McQuowN,    . 

.     1273 

.       627 

William  Mc^Millan, 

1309 

645 

S.  S.  Hutchinson, 

.     1327 

.       663 

R.  W.  RlCIIEY,     . 

1345 

681 

INDEX. 


Abington  Township 512 

Accidents,  Biggsville 1337 

Adams,  John  B 740 

Additional  Matter 820 

Additional  Matter 1407 

Agricultural  Society 1330 

Akin,  James  M 998 

Aledo,  Mercer  County 539 

Aledo  Public  Schools 564 

"  Aledo  Weekly  Record," 552 

Allen,  John  S 204 

Allen,  Joseph 1282 

Alyea,  Thomas 99 

Anderson,  Joseph 505 

Anderson,  Alexander 987 

Anderson,  James  0 990 

Anderson,  William  W 1405 

Annegers,  G.  Henry 1 046 

Annegers,  Herman  G.,  Jr 1049 

Annegers,  Herman  G.,  Sr 1049 

Ansley,  Dr.  J.  M 738 

Arthur,  Martha 108(5 

A  Scrap  of  Ancient  History 99 

Associate  Reformed  Branch,  Suez 

Township 630 

Atkins,  John  H 1136 

Attig,  Nicholas 510 

Bailey,  John  A 1391 

Bailey,  William  Stuart 1042 

Bainter,  Peter  C 1312 

Bald  Bluff  Churches 1140 

Bald  Bluff  Township 1142 

Baker,  Dr.  Jacob  Russell 529 

Banking  in  Keithsburg 152 

Barnes,  J.  E 1007 

Barnes,  Robert  H 1128 

Barnett,  John 1192 

Bassett,  Isaac  Newton 832 

Bay,  James  E 293 

Beal,  Perry 1086 

Bear,  Jacob 293 

Bear,  Martin 287 

Beard,  Dr.  E 1133 

Beatv,  Ely 1083 

Beck,  Robert  C 1268 

Beckett,  Joseph 1314 

Bedford  Townshii) 1096 

Bell,  John 252 

Bell,  John , 263 

Bell,  Silas  W 1397 

Bell,  William 1392 

Bentley,  James  L 604 

Beverlin,  Thomas 293 

Biggs,  John 989 

Biggsville  Township 1315 

Biggsville,  Village  of. 1332 

Biographical,  Bald  Bluff 1151 


Biographical,  Bedford 1113 

Biographical,  Biggsville 1348 

Biographical,  Carman    Township  1404 

Biographical,  Greenville 1079 

Biographical,  Honey  Creek 1205 

Biographical,  Olena  Township  . .  .   1035 

Biographical,  Oquawka 962 

Biographical,  South  Henderson..   1248 

Biographical,  Terra  Haute 1280 

Biographical,  Walnut  Grove 1174 

Biographical  — 

Abington  Township 515 

Duncan  Township 498 

Eliza  Township 287 

Greene  Township 671 

Keithsburg  Township 118 

Ohio  Grove  Township 444 

Millersburg  Township 205 

Mercer  Township 583 

New  Boston  Township 72 

North  Henderson  Township  .     809 

Perryton  Township 324 

Preemption  Township 713 

Richland  Grove  Township . . .     737 

Rivoli  TownshiiJ 763 

Suez  Township 634 

Birdsall,  Paul  D 1354 

Bishop,  Edwin 289 

Bi.ssell,  Ammi 690 

Black  Hawk  W^ar 23 

Black,  Albert 1048 

Black,  Sauniel  Wilson 1048 

Black,  William 1048 

Blue,  George  A . . .  . .- 813 

Boden,  William  N 1009 

Boise,  Milton  S 618' 

Bolton,  William 1312 

Boone.  George 248 

Boone,  Hopkins 659 

Boone,  Washington 607 

Bopes,  David 327 

Boruff,  Milton 506 

Bowen,  John 1136 

Boyd,  Joseph  P "251 

Boyd,  John  R 1383 

Boyd,   Martin 597 

Boyd,  William  C 259 

Bradford,  W.  W 336, 

Brady,  John,  Jr 242 

Brain,  William 326 

Brainard,  Charles  H 1263 

Brainard,  Davis  S 1002 

Bras,  Charles  W Ill 

Braucht,  Jacob 247 

Braucht,  John 503 

Breckenridge,  Hugh 748 

Breckenridge,  William  (,' ()91 


8 


INDEX, 


Bredsford,  Harrison 1390 

Brewer,  Louis  Waldo 527 

Bridger,  G.  W 116 

Bridger,  Henry  T 644 

Bridger,  James 742 

Bridgfprd,  Oliver  A 241 

Bridgford,  W.  A 238 

Britt,  Zelota 1119 

Brock,  John  W 984 

Brokaw,  Abram 1122 

Brokaw,  Josiah 1139 

Brook,  Isaiah  J 1254 

Brook,  James  William » .  . . .  1054 

Brook,  John  A 1189 

Brooks,  Benjamin  F 1012 

Brooks,  Isaac 782 

Brouse,  Charles  AV 1396 

Brown,  Allen  S 811 

Brown,  Benjamin  F 809 

Brown,  Harrison 637 

Brown,  John  H 451 

Brown,  Joshua  H 643 

Brown,  Loami 622 

Brown,  Samuel 622 

Brownlee,  David  S 650 

Brownlee,  James  H 648 

Brownlee,  William  C 461 

Briggs,  William 723 

Bristol,  C.  Beecher 738 

Bruen,  John  N 1248 

Bruen,  Stephen  H 1295 

Bruington,  George 648 

Bruington,  Gus 643 

Bryan,  William  P 1311 

Bryans,  David 1081 

Bullock,  John  V 529 

Burgett,  Frederick  P 154 

Business  of  Aledo 548 

Butler,  James  H 1123 

Butler,  Jesse 1289 

Cabeen,  Hon.  Robert  J 525 

Cabeen,  John  W 445 

Cabeen,  Samuel 445 

Cabeen,  Samuel  P 444 

Cabeen,  Thomas  B 153 

Cable,  Richland  Grove  Township    737 

Calhoun,  Henry  G 180 

Campbell,  Alexander 202 

Campbell,  Dr.  James  A 616 

Campbell,  Matthew  S 639 

Campbell,  Robert 647 

Campbell,  John 1088 

Campbell,  Jolin 1395 

Campbells,  The 199 

Cameron,   Peter 725 

Candor,  Capt.  Daniel  M 334 

Candor,  Josiah 334 

Candor,  Thomas 446 

Cannum,  Mark 603 

Carman  Township 1401 

Carothers,  Andrew,  Jr 1046 

Carothers,  Andrew,  Sr 1046 

Carothers,  Jacob 1046 

Carothers,  John,  Jr 1051 

Cartwright,  George 1213 


Carver,  Jesse 720 

Carver,  Redding  L 720 

Castle,  Edward  M 504 

Caswell,  James  A 1005 

Cemeteries,  Walnut  Grove 1171 

Cemeteries  of  Ohio  Grove  Town- 
ship       443 

Cemetery  of  Greene  Township . .  .     668 

Cemetery  of  Suez  Township 632 

Chandler,  George  W 1285 

Chandler,  John  T 1305 

Chard,  William  J 1187 

Chidester,  Nelson 745 

Chidester,  Sidney 100 

Childs,  Augustus  B 823 

Chowning,  Dr.  John  P 264 

Church,  Beard 472 

Churches  in  Greenville 1072 

Churches  of  Bedford 1098 

Churches  of  Biggsville 1339 

Churches  of  Oquawka 954 

Churches  of  Aledo 575 

Churches  of  Duncan  Township. . .     495 

Churches  of  Millersburg 217 

Churches  of  New  Boston 86 

Churches  of  Rivoli  Township. . . .     755 

Churches,  South  Henderson 1236 

Churches,  Terre  Haute  Tp 1279 

Churches,  Walnut  Grove 1167 

Circuit  Court  of  Henderson  county    883 

Cisna,  Zilile 1406 

Cistern  Tragedy 1402 

Clark,  Lemuel  T 1155 

Clark,  James  G 739 

Clark,  Samuel 737 

Clark,  Sarah 737 

Clarke,  David  Andrew 719 

Clarke,  G.  R 20 

Clover,  Cornelius 1207 

Cluff,  John  W 1209 

Cochran,  William 1089 

Cofiian,  Martin  L 605 

Cole,  William  Anderson 620 

Coleman,  John 780 

Collins,  J.  H 510 

Collins,  William  P 674 

Commissioners'  Record 56 

Constitutional  Conventions 908 

Cook,  Henry  C 188 

Cool,  George  M 616 

Cooper,  David  H 329 

Cooper,  Hamlet 329 

Cooper,  Levi 338 

Cooper,  Ephraim 1155 

Cooper,  John 1151 

Cooper,  John 1215 

Cooper,  R 991 

Company  E,  9th  Regiment 701 

Company  A  and  G,  13th  Regiment    788 

Company  I,  17th  Regiment 730 

Company  C,  26th  Infantry 703 

Company  G,  27th  Regiment 787 

Company  C,  36th  Regiment 729 

Company  A,  37th  Regiment 729 

Company  B,  65th  Regiment 853 


INDEX. 


9 


Company  D,  83d  Regiment 794 

Company  D,  83d  Regiment 854 

Company  G,  124th  Regiment 794 

Company  G,  124th  Regiment 850 

Company  B,  126th  Regiment 795 

Company  B,  126th  Regiment 858 

Company  F,  140th  Regiment 796 

Company  F,  140th  Regiment 859 

Company  C,  11th  Cavah-y 859 

Company  H,  11th  Cavalry 860 

Connell,  James  H 833 

Connolly,   William 722 

Conway,  Joseph 721 

Correll  Richard  H 1188 

Cortelyou,  R.  V 1128 

Cortelyou,  William  H 1135 

Corns,  Warner 344 

County  Officers,  Henderson  county  899 

Cowden,  George  Henry 1369 

Cowden,  Isaac  B 1043 

Cox,  Richard 744 

Cox,  John  G 1118 

Crabs,  George  D 325 

Cramer,  R.  S 112 

Crane,  J.  H 244 

Crane,  Robert  W 1210 

Creighton,  Samuel  M 460 

Crenshaw,  J.  W 1299 

Crime  in  Greenville 1068 

Criswell,  Dr.  M 333 

Cronch,  W.  A.  M 1083 

Crosby,  Edwin  T 680 

Crownover,  Robert 1213 

Cullison,  William  B 778 

Cummins,  Thomas  S 190 

Cumming,  John 1007 

Cunningham,  James 1006 

Curry,  George 1037 

Curry,  William 1214 

Curts,  John 1036 

Dallas  City 1204 

Damp,  Michael 341 

Darrah,  Charles  B 1088 

David,  Dr.  E.  B 619 

Davidson,  Francis  Marion 1189 

Davis,  Abner 964 

Davis,  Abner 1054 

Davis,  Andrew  J 1055 

Davison,  D.  A 260 

Dean,  James  Henry 1044 

Dean,  William  B 1207 

Deceased  otficers,  Henderson  Co.  1198 

Deets,  Joseph 819 

Dehaven,  Alfred 1409 

Delany,   William 1 195 

Democratic  Press  in  Aledo 554 

Denison  Family 73 

Deiiison,  Henry  W 92 

Descrijition  of  Mercer  County. ...  31 

Detwiler,  Charlds  W " 622 

Detwiler,  Lewis  Cass 621 

Dilley,  John  Webster 620 

Dilley,  William 458 

Dingwell,  John 647 

Discoveries 17 


Ditto,  John  W 522 

Ditto,  George  W 1153 

Dixson,  George  H 1177 

Dixson,    Joseph 1176 

Doak,  Daniel  F 174 

Doak,  William 345 

Dool,  John .- 262 

Dool,  Robert 343 

Doughty,  Lucien  B 613 

Doughty.  Thomas  L 103 

Ooughty, T.  H Ill 

Douglass,  Samuel  C 1352 

Douglass,  Andrew  J 517 

Drew,  Charles  E 1055 

Duke,  James 1082 

Duke,  Lewis 1082 

Duncan,  John  C 1380 

Durling,  A 1119 

Downey,  Joseph  A 259 

Downing,  John 265 

Drury,   C'ourtney 94 

Drury,  Silas 289 

Drury,  William 93 

Dryden,  Cary 252 

Duncan,  Jonathan 454 

Duncan  Township 492 

Dunlap,  Isaac  N 593 

Dunn,   Henry 498 

Dynn,  John 191 

Dunn,  J.  M 336 

Durston,  ( 'harles  F 597 

Durston,  Samuel  L 775 

Durston,  Sidnej^ 774 

Fames,  Thadeus 1000 

Early  Courts 820 

Early  History  of  Richland  Grove 

Township 732 

Earlv  Settlement  of  Greene  Tpi . .  656 

Early  Settlement  of  Suez  Tp 623 

Early  Settlements 45 

Early  Settlement  Biggsville 1318 

Early  Settlements  of   Henderson 

county   867 

Early  Settlers  of  (ii-eenville 1065 

Early  schools.  South  Henderson.  1233 

Eckley,  George 738 

Edgar,  Richard  S 247 

Edmunds,  Marion 1308 

Edmunds,  Oliver 1284 

Education  in  Perryton  Township .  347 

Educational,  Greenville 1070 

Education  in  Henderson  countv.  •  1196 

Edwards,   Nicholas :..:...  590 

Edwards,  Adoniram 1194 

Edwards,  Thomas  R 1358 

Efforts  to  move  County  Seat 910 

Egbert,  W.  W 261 

Eightv-fourth  Reg.  111.  Inf. 363 

Election  —  Ohio  Grove  Township .  439 

Eliza  Township 269 

EUett,  Benjamin  D 172 

Emerson,  Dr.  Edward  L 780 

Emerson,  James  M ' 822 

Emerson,  Oliver  P 175 

l<:n.erson,  William  S 179 


10 


INDEX. 


Engle,  Charlef* 

Episcopal  Church 

Episodes  —  Greene  Townsliip. . .  . 

Epperly,  William 

Evangelical  Lutlieran  Church.  . . . 

Evans,  George  M 

Evans,  Hamilton 

Evans,  John 

Evans,  John,  Jr 

Everett,   Samuel  F 

Fair,  William 

Faran  John 

Feather,  James 

Fehx,  M.  F 

Felton,  Herchel 

Felton,  J.  B 

Fender,  Jonas 

Fifty-ninth  Infantry 

Filler,  Jacob  C 

Finch,  William 

Findlev,  Mitchell  M 

Findley,  William  A 

Fires  in  Greene  Townshij) 

First  Settlers  in  Duncan  Township 

Fisk,  H.W 

Flack,  Thomas  S 

Fleharty  Family 

Flehartv,  Bennett  E 

Fleharty,  Govert  S 

Flehartv,  H.  C 

Fleharty,  J.  Q.  A 

Fleharty,  Rev.  J.  J.   

Fleharty,  S.  F 

Flehartv,  Stephen  W 

Fleharty,  S.  W.,  Wm.  I).,  Mary  A.. 

and  William 

Fleharty,  William  L 

Fleming,   Marshall 

Flory,  Moses  K 

Foote,  George  M 

Forbes,  John 

Ford.  J.  L 

Forsyth,  Elijah 

Fort,  John  B 

Forty-tifth  Infantry 

Forward,  Isaac 

Foster.   Robert 

Foster,  John  R 

Foster,  William  A 

Foulkes,  Richard 

Frazier,  Jesse  A^ 

Frazier,  Hugh  B 

Frazier,  Mis*s  Amanda  E 

Frew,  William  B 

Frick,  Clarence 

Frick,   Frederick 

Froehlich,  G.  F.  W 

Fuller,  Jefferson 

Fuller,  William 

(Taddis,  Robert  W 

Galbraith,  Franklin 

Galljraith,  Samuel 

Garber,   Leonard 

Gardner,  John  C 

Garrett,  Richard 


741 

711 

(565 

499 

734 

641 

10P,5 

1405 

lOoO 

719 

1088 

255 

480 

617 

234 

343 

500 

1062 

1085 

1314 

1001 

1008 

662 

493 

338 

1154 

802 

809 

805 

804 

804 

805 

805 

803 

806 

804 

116 

675 

1182 

1307 

1186 

480 

1052 

1060 

1266 

728 

1378 

1389 

1O80 

671 

673 

354 

607 

192 

516 

996 

234 

()38 

1053 

1258 

1258 

507 

(588 

819 


Garrett,  William  C 775 

Garretson,  P.  S 130O 

Gaunt,  Jonathan 332 

Gayle,  William 128 

Gearhart,  David 1126 

Geiger,  John ^  .  .     586 

Genung,  Joseph 1283 

Geology  of  Gi-eene  Township. . . .     652 

Gibb,  James 1355 

Gibb,  Paul  D 1383 

Gibson,  Sanuiel  C 1195 

Gilmore,  Edwin 241 

Gilmore  Familv 588 

Gilmore,  J.  G."^. 326 

Gilmore,  J.  M 244 

Gilmore,  Joseph  C 511 

Gilmore,  Robert  M 1351 

Gingles,  James 342 

Gilbert,  John  G 688 

Gillespie,  William  C ()90 

Gittings,  Clarence  R 1298 

Gittings,  Benjamin  Berrv 1206 

Gittings,  AViliiam  K. .  . .' 1206 

Gladman,  William  H 834 

Gladstone  1243 

Glancey,  John 292 

Glancev,  Joseph 515 

Glenn,"Robert  K.  X 1389 

Glover,  Allen  F 184 

Goding,  Joseph  A 676 

Goempler,  Peter 1009 

Goodnight,  John 1124 

Gordou,  Daniel  M 13(il 

Gordon,  Miles 1384 

Gore,  George 117 

Gorman,  James 337 

Graham,   James 459 

Graham,  William  F 639 

Graham,  Albert  INI 1276 

Graham,  Andrew  G 1376 

Graham,  David 1373 

Graham,   Russell 1398 

Graham,  William  B 1376 

Gray,  George 336 

Green  Bower  Nurserv 669 

Green,  Charles  W.  . .' 988 

Greene  Township 652 

Greenville  Township 1064 

Greenwood,  Thomas  J 64-1 

Greer,  Minerva  A 518 

Griffin  Brothers'  Tile  Works,  Rich- 
land Grove  Township 734 

Griffin,  John 695 

Griffith,  Edward 233 

Groom,  Peter 1 123 

Gruwell,  Benjamin  F 174 

Gufty,  Theodore 346 

Gustin,  Lemuel 479 

Guthrie,  Jacob 474 

Guthrie,  Robert 678 

Habits  and  Customs  of  Pioneers. .       36 

Haflher,  Charles 1006 

Hageman,  James 1116 

Hail,  Eugene  A 983 

Halsey,  James  H 1 155 


INDEX. 


11 


Halstead,  (.'•  B 327 

Hainill,  Adam  B 10815 

Hamilton,  Robert 470 

Hamilton,  B.  F 1301 

Hamlet,  Perrvton  TuwHshij) 317 

Hammock,  William  II 1275 

Hammond,  William 720 

Hand,  Lewis  H lOOS 

Hanna,  D.  C 1408 

Hanna,  John 1408 

Hanna,  William 978 

Hardin,  Alvis. 190 

Hardin,  Benjamin  L 179 

Harison,  W.  H 22 

Harris,  Nancy 1153 

Harriott,  Van  R 676 

Harronn,  J.  E 570 

Harter,  Isaac  F 1404 

Hartley,  Jose])h 1085 

Hartman,  Frederick 328 

Hartson,  John  L 108 

Harvey,  J.  F 230 

Hawkins,  John  J 188 

Hazelwood,  James  H 1127 

Heaton,  James 185 

Heaton,  William  II 140 

Hedges,   Cyrus 1268 

Hedges,  Thornton 12(58 

Helwig,  John.. 203 

Henderson,  William. ' 457 

Henry,  John 525 

Ilenrv,  Wesley 521 

Herbert,  J.  N 1313 

Heriford,  John 467 

Hevener,  Solomon 1407 

Hicks,  Robert 725 

Hindman,  Daniel  T 600 

Hist(jrical  Society ()6 

History  of  Henderson  County.  . .  •     863 

Hite,  John \.  ...   1155 

Hixson,  Winfield  S 1121 

Hoagland,  Francis  A 677 

Hodson,  Robert 993 

Holmes,  George  W 1391 

Holmes,  Stephen 1397 

Holmes,  Louis  D 615 

Holmes,  William  Henry 600 

Holister,  Lee 325 

Hoisted,  David  M 193 

Honev  Creek  Township 1199 

Hopkins,  William  T 1404 

Hospitality,  Walnut  Grove 1162 

Howard,  Thomas  Andrew 1208 

Howe,  Lucien  B 240 

Hoye,  Rev.  John  F 621 

Hufi'man,  Henry 256 

Hugenschntz,  John  Henry 1048 

Humbert,  Robert ' 191 

Humes,  Joseph  H 813 

Humphrey,  John  C 192 

Hunter,  James  M 1308 

Hunter,  Samuel 1308 

Huston,  Matthew 1135 

Huston,  Walter 1118 

Hu.ston,W.  0 1120 


Hutchinson,  Benjamin 1087 

Hutchinson,  James  C 1366 

Hutchinson,  Robert  M ]39() 

Hutchinson,  William  John 1250 

Indian  Implements 29 

I.0.(  ).F.,  Rivoli  Township 761 

Irvin,  Dr.  George 611 

Ives,  Gideon Ill 

Jackson,  Isom 115 

Jackson,  Thomas  J 115 

Jamison,  George  M 1349 

Jamison,  James  W 1349 

Jamison,  John 1350 

Jamison,  John  C 1348 

Jamison,  William  R 1350 

Jamison,  AVilson  B 1350 

Jenne,  Lansing  K 204 

Jennings,  Jefi'erson  H 1084 

Jewel,  Zachariah 264 

Johnson,  Aaron 1127 

Johnson,  J.  M 1120 

Johnston,  Dr.  D.  R 615 

Johnston,  John  Y 721 

Johnston,  John  Y 722 

Johnston,  Lorimer 635 

Johnston,  M.  H 814 

Johnston,  Peter  W 816 

Johnston,  Thomas  L 722 

Jones,  Daniel 747 

Jones,  Milton  M 523 

Jones,  Orson 747 

Jordan,  Capt.  John  A 741 

Journalism,  Biggsville -. . .  1337 

Keithsburg  Township 118 

Kellogg,  James 521 

Kellogg,  James  A 477 

Kellv,  Potter 724 

Kellv,  Henrv  L 1388 

Kelly,  Samuel 199 

Kemp,  Jesse 1262 

Kemp,  John 1212 

Kendall,  A 330 

Kennedv,  Matthew  K 679 

Kes.sel,  John 1010 

Kiddoo,  John  S 243 

Kiddoo,  Richard 236 

Kiddoo,  William 243 

Kiddoo,  William 233 

Kimel,  Henry 601 

King,  Jacob  R 1207 

King,  Joseph  S 1138 

Kinsley,  Samuel 516 

Kirliy,  Joseph 1213 

Kirbv,  Risdon  Henry 1212 

Kirlin,  David 102 

Kitzmiller,  Frank  E.  .  .  .    679 

Knox,  James  E 1387 

Knox,  Asa 235 

Krause,  Jacob 689 

Laffertv,  James  H 649 

Lalfertv,  John 642 

LaflertV,  John  B 639 

Lafierty,  William  A 639 

Lair,  Joseph 605 

Laird,  John 1 154 


12 


INDEX. 


Lakes,  Eliza  Township 283 

Lambert,  Francis 288 

Landers,  John  W 521 

Landi-eth,  Lewis 509 

Landreth,  Thomas 251 

Larue,  William  B 824 

La  Salle 18 

Lathrop,  Urban  D 695 

Latter  Day  Saints, 220 

Laut,  George  D 1195 

Leary,  Thomas 680 

Lee,  Graham 331 

Lee,  James  M 651 

Leech,  John  Humphries 294 

Leinbach,  Daniel 1136 

Lemon,  Francis 614 

Lemon,  W.  R 266 

Leuze,  George 507 

Lewis,  William 109 

Likely,  Thomas 636 

Linell,  Joseph  S 1012 

Literary  Relic 935 

Little,  David  W 723 

Livingston,  David  H ; .  499 

Lloyd,  Eenijah 173 

Lloyd,  James 503 

Logan,  Jasper 1215 

Logan,  John 1208 

Lomax  Family,  The 1205 

Longshore,  James  H 260 

Looser,  Jacob 110 

Lorimer,  William  A. .  .  .  •• 594 

Louden,  William  R 1294 

Lovitt,  John  W.,  Sr 1294 

Lovitt,  O.  F 1313 

Lovitt,  Price 1294 

Lovitt,  William  J 1283 

Lunblad,  Joseph  Oscar 606 

Lunn,  Charles  Elsworth 500 

Lutz,  O.  C 113 

Lynn,  Alexander  Wright 1270 

Lynn,  Samuel  W 1262 

Mack,  Daniel 727 

Maddux,  Thomas 599 

Main,  William  Riley 51 7 

Maley,  William  M 1079 

Manners  and  Customs  of  Indians  28 

Mannon,  James  M 96 

Marder,  Michael 506 

Mardock,  Michael 506 

Markee,  Jesse 611 

Marlatt,  Thomas 189 

Marquette 18 

Marquis,  Samuel 832 

Marrow,  John  A 640 

Marsden,  Thomas 1406 

Marsden,  William  H 1 285 

Marsden,  William  W 1406 

Marsh,  Mordecai  L 595 

Marsh,  William  A 253 

Marshall,  Alexander 1047 

Marshall,  Elisha  L 835 

Marshall,  James  A 1047 

Marshall,  John  1047 

Marshall,  Robert 1047 


Marshall,  Robert  W -. 1051 

Marshall,  William 1047 

Marston,  Nathaniel 1045 

Martin,  Andrew  W 1352 

Martin,  Charles  A 1272 

^lartin.  Judge  Preston 1371 

Martin,  Mrs.  Eliza 296 

Martin,  N.  R 1193 

Martin,  Robert  J 1360 

Martin,  William  F 1401 

Mason,  John 292 

Masonic,  Preemption  Township. .     712 

Masonic,  Sagetown 1232 

Mascmry  in  Ocjuawka 953 

Masons,  Rivoli  Township 760 

Mathers,  George  W 1393 

Mathers,  Joseph 1190 

Mathers,  Robert 1191 

Mathews,  James 1300 

Mauk,  Henrv  W 647 

Mauk,  John' 642 

Maxwell,  John  A 777 

Maxwell,  Thomas  J 1351 

Mavgie,  Joseph  H 1287 

Mayhew,  D.  S 508 

Maynard,  Lewis  P 1303 

Mc Arthur,  Alexander 593 

Mc Bride,  Alexander 477 

McBride,  James 450 

McBride,  John  F. 617 

McCallister,  Harrv  F 995 

McCartnev,  David  W 1191 

McChesneV,  William  H 1267     * 

McClannahan,  William  S 692 

McClellen,  John 455 

McClellen,  Richard  C 643 

McClun,  J.  B 1407 

McClure,  Warren  B 528 

McCreight,  John  W 678 

McCurdy,   George 1157 

]McCutchan,  Dr.  James  F.  C 651 

McDill,  John 1355 

McDill,  John  C 1264 

McDill,  Robert 1356 

McDill,  Samuel 1380 

McDonald,  Hugh. 1085 

McDougall,  John  H 1394 

McFarland,  Alexander 1269 

McFarland,  John 1011 

McGee,  John 478 

McGinnis,  John  T 242 

McGuffin,  John  G 565 

McHard,  William 346 

Mclntire,  John  B 473 

Mclntire,  Moses 473 

McKee,  John 1379 

McKee,  Joseph 604 

McKee,  William 603 

McKim,  Frank 1395 

McKim,  Marvin 1305 

McKinley,  Robert  A 1371 

McKinney.  John,  Sr 824 

McKinnie,  Dr.  Ebenezer  L 648 

McLain,  Aaron  H 1393 

McT..aughlin,  James  R 639 


liSDEX. 


13 


McLaughlin,  John  J^ (550 

McMilhin,  Robert  T 1084 

Mc:\Iillan,  William 1302 

MoMullen,  ^hijor 740 

McMurry,   Thomas i:)12 

McPherren,  George 449 

McPherren,  Jesse  W 012 

]\lcQuo\vn,  Arthur  0 1308 

Mc(2uo\vn.  Isaac 1307 

MeCiuown;  John  II 1384 

McWhorter.  Tyler 018 

Mekemsen,  Andrew 1 204 

Mekemson,  Joseph  Scott 1205 

Mercer  County  Agricultural  Board.    489 

Mercer  County  Poor  Farm 481 

Mercer  Township .' .     581 

Merritt,  J.  Y 290 

Merryman,  Albert  I) 740 

Merryman,  David  1) 740 

Merryman,  Henry 739 

Merryman,  Timo'thv  D 785 

Mertz,  Charles  A .  /. 200 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Pre- 
emption       709 

Methodist  Ej^iscopal  Church,  Suez 

Township 034 

Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  Swe- 

dona 734 

Michener,  Joseph  M 1398 

Mickey,  Robert 1374 

Mickey,  Samuel 1154 

Miller,  Abraham 48 

Miller,  G.D 344 

Miller,  William  M 258 

Millersburg  Township 205 

Milligan,  David 470 

Milligan,  Joseph  H 1394 

Milliken,  Wesley 1181 

Mills,  Eliza  Township 277 

Mills,  John 1299 

Mifls,  Myron  H 1079 

Moirs,  The 988 

Montgomery,  James 1377 

Montgomery,  John 333 

Montgomery,  John  H 1182 

Moore,  Beet 1211 

Moore,  George 288 

Moore,  Joseph  B 598 

Morey,  Benjamin  F 091 

Morford,  John  T 818 

Morgan,  George 1304 

Morgan,  Thomas 1304 

Morgan,  William  P 643 

Morris,  Edwin 698 

iMorris,  George  W 097 

Morris,  John 098 

Morris,  William 1154 

Morrow,  James  K 251 

Mowry,  Daniel 740 

Murray,  David  B 1150 

Murray,  William  T 109 

Musgove,  James 1082 

Murto,  Dennis 202 

Natural  History 68 

Neglev,  Jacob  S 1314 


Nelson,  Alexander  P 1359 

Nelson,  Alfred  W 815 

Nelson,  George  C 1280 

Nelson,  J.  C 1282 

Nesl:)itt,  Henry 006 

Nevius,  John  S 1127 

Nevius,  S.  P 1122 

Nevius,  William  1 452 

New  Boston  Township 72 

Newsjiapers  of  Henderson  county    895 

Newspapers  of  Keithsburg 137 

Ni.-hols,  Isaac 1059 

Nichols,  Peter 1059 

Nichols,  Thomas 1052 

Nigger  Ridge,  Greene  Township..       62 

I   Ninety-first  Regiment 1089 

'   Noble  Family  .^. 183 

Noble,  Daniel 274 

I   Noble,  D.F 290 

'   Noble,  D.  J 95 

Noble,  Ira 296 

;   Noble,  L.  D 297 

Noble,  Mrs.  Harriet 296 

I    Noonan,  Timothy 262 

i   North  Henderson  Township 796 

Noted  Criminal  Trials 915 

Odd-Fellows  of  Millersburg 221 

Odd-Fellows,  North  Henderson  . .     799 

Odd-Fellows  of  Oquawka 951 

Odendahl,  Frederick 1005 

Ogle,  Jasper 528 

Ogle,  Jcseph  D. . ; 528 

Ogle,  Lewis  F 527 

Ohio  Grove  Township 424 

Old  Settlers,  South  Hender.son. . .   1228 

Olena  Township 1020 

Olena  tragedy 1231 

O'Learv,  Cornelius 154 

Oliver."  S.  A 266 

One    Hundred  and  Second  Regi- 
ment      380 

One  hundred  and  eighteenth  Regi- 
ment    1091 

One  hundred  and    thirty-eighth 

Regiment 1095 

Oquawka  and  Washington  Plank 

Road 943 

Oquawka  Historical  Societj' 947 

Oquawka  Incorporated 938 

Oquawka  Township 919 

Organizations  in  Greene  Township  665 
Organization  of  Duncan  Township  497 
Organization  of  Eliza  Township..  281 
Organization  of  Greene  Township  660 
Organization  of  Henderson  county  865 
Organization  of  Keithsburg  Tp. . .  165 
Organization  of  Mercer  Township  49 
Organization  of  Millersburg  Tp  . .  227 
Organization  of  Preemption  Tp  . .  713 
Organization  of  Suez  Township. .     626 

Orth,  C.  S 197 

Ott,  Edward 189 

Otto,  Julius  E 725 

Page,  James 638 

Painter,  Charles  T 1288 


14 


INDEX, 


Pardee,  David 176 

Park,  Cephas 995 

Park,  Russell 684 

Parkerson,  Robert  C 478 

Parks,  John 475 

Patterson,  J.  B 962 

Patterson,  James 997 

Patterson,  Moses 471 

Patterson,  William  T 453 

Paul,  John 1214 

Paul,  M.  A 1306 

Paul,  Melzav  C 1290 

Pearson,  John  E 1390 

Pease,  A 649 

Pease,  John  A 649 

Pease,  Joseph 649 

Pease,  Martin 648 

Peasley,  James  F 1281 

Peasley,  John  S 1035 

Peasley,  Moses 1280 

Pence,  John  A 1011 

Pence,  Robert 1209 

Pence,  Thomas  F 1288 

Pendarvis,  Lemuel  A 11 89 

Pendarvis,  William  G 1188 

Penny,  W.  H 1122 

Pepper,  Hon.  John  C 607 

Pepper,  John  C 834 

Pepper,  William 456 

Perry  ton  Township 298 

Peterman,  Jacob  C 1010 

Peterson,  Peter 470 

Petrie,  Cornelius  L 773 

Petrie,  Hon.  Alexander  P 767 

Pfanstiehl,  A.  A 1114 

Phelps,  Nelson  H 1156 

Phel])s,  Stejihen  l^umner 966 

Physicians,  Walnut  Grove 1164 

Pickup,  G.W 266 

Pinkerton,  Albert  M 678 

Pinkerton,  George  W 695 

Pinkerton,  John  C 687 

Pinkerton,  Joseph 686 

Pinkerton,  Wallace  W 693 

Pinkerton,  William  M 683 

Pioneer  Log  Cabin 41 

Pioneer  Settlements  of  Millersburg  207 

Pioneers  of  Bedford 1102 

Plat  of  Oquawka 936 

Plummer,  Samuel  G 1365 

Pogue,  Eleazer , 1000 

Pogue,  John 1174 

Pogne,  William  G 1176 

Political  Parties 886 

Pollock,  James 1043 

Pollock,  Samuel 518 

Poor  Farm 91 1 

Porter,  Alexander  L 1253 

Postlewait,  Matthew  S 779 

Potter's  Clav  in  Greene  Township  654 

Poull,  Jacob 1408 

Powley,  James  P 116 

Pratt,  John 97 

Pratt,  John 297 

Prentiss,  S.V 92 


Prouty,  AVilliam  M. 102 

Preemption  Township 704 

Presbyterian  ( 'hurch,  Suez 032 

Public  Improvement,  Biggsville.  .  1329 
Public  Improvements,  Keithsburg    166 

Putney,  Ira,  Jr 1042 

Quaintance,  James  S, 739 

Railroads 62 

Railroads 904 

Ramsev,  James  H 616 

Randall,  Roswell  P 1038 

Randall,  Stephen 113 

Range,  William  L 198 

Rankin  David 1178 

Rankin,  James  F 1179 

Rankin,  Samuel  S 1180 

Rankin,  Thomas 1180 

Ransom,  Asa  W 637 

Rathbun,  Dr.  John  B 781 

Refinery,  Gladstone 1246 

Regan,  Hugh 1397 

Relics,  South  Henderson 1223 

Religion  in  Keith.sburg 148 

Religious,  Lomax 1203 

Religious  Meetings,  Eliza  Tp 284 

Religious,  Ohio  Grove  Townshiji.     442 

Remarkable  Family 1278 

Renwick,  Andrew 1252 

Republican  Partv  in  Mercer  County      60 

Retherfcrd,  William '     509 

Retzer,  Jacob 1302 

Revolutionary  Heroes 1410 

Reynolds,  Gov 25 

Revnolds,  Hugh  A 1088 

Reynolds,  Hugh  R 138(5 

Revnolds,  J.  W^arren 778 

Revnolds,  William  D 188 

Rezner,  Eli 1388 

Rice,  John  H 1157 

Rice,  William  C .999 

Richey,  Cornelius  Springer 828 

Richey,  R.  W 994 

Richey,  T.  G 1185 

Richland  Grove  Township 732 

Riddell,  S.  H 255 

Riggs,  H.  M 238 

Riggs,  William  H 229 

Rivoli  Township 742 

Roads,  Eliza  Township 281 

Robb,  Thomas  S 455 

Roberts,  Henry  H 100 

Robinson,  George  L.  F 686 

Robinson,  William 1306 

Roderick,  M.  L 1302 

Rodman,  Robert 1050 

Rodman,  William  H 1050 

Rogers,  W.  A 1307 

Rose,  Hiram 981 

Rosenberry,  Dr.  James  S 742 

Rosenbum,  Andrew  J 777 

Rowley,  John 1153 

Rubert,  John 261 

Ruberts,  R.  W 1297 

Rujile,  Samuel  H 987 

Russell,  A 1153 


INDEX. 


16 


Kuissell,  Samuel  E 

Rural  Places  in  Eliza  Township. . 

Ryason,  James 

Sage,  Gideon 

Salter,  John 

Salter,  Paul  D 

Sapp,  George  B 

Schell,  Charles  F 

Schenck,  Cornelius 

Schenck  Family 

Schenck,  William  J 

Schirmer,  Herman 

Schlotz,  Justice 

Schmitt,  John 

Schools  of  Biggsville 

Schools  of  Eliza  Township 

Schools  of  Greene  Township 

Schools  of  Keithsburg 

Schools  of  Millersburg 

Schools  of  New  Boston 

Schools  of  ( )lena  Township 

Schools  of  Oquawka 

Schools  of  Preemption  Township. 

Schools  of  Rivoli  Township 

Schools,  Walnut  Grove 

Schrader,  August 

Scott,  Notley 

Scott,  Samuel 

Scudder,  Lyman  H 

Seastone,  John 

Seat  of  Justice,  fiercer  County .  . . 

Seaton,  Duncan 

Seaton,  John 

Seaton,  John  J 

Secret  Orders,  Terre  Haute  Tp . .  . 
Secret  Societies  of  New  Boston . . . 

Sedwick,  Dan.  W 

Sedwick,  George  W 

Seventh  Illinf>is  Cavalry 

Seventli  Missouri  Cavalry 

Seventy-eighth  Infantry 

Sexton,  John  G 

Sexton,  Roswell  C 

Shafer,  Aaron  P 

Sharer,  Christian 

Shaw,  Clinton 

Shaw,  Lee  W 

Shearer,  George  A 

Shearer,  Nicholas 

Sheese,  Samuel 

Sherer,  A.  A 

Sheriff,  Paul 

Sherrard,  David 

Shevler,  Dr.  James  H 

Shields,  William 

Shingledecker,  P.  D  .  .' 

Shook,  Dykeman 

Shook,  George  W 

Shook,  James 

Short,  Abner ' 

Short,  Isaac  C 

Shroyer,  A.  P 

Signor,  George  H 

Signer,  Willard  I 

Simmons,   Samuel 


(i89 

282 

1271 

127-1 

13()9 

1372 

203 

1009 

111(5 

lll.'^ 

IIIU 

1002 

1002 

108.5 

1338 

284 

()07 

144 

228 

85 

1031 

9.59 

713 

749 

1163 

293 

817 

197 

114 

110 

572 

523 

459 

524 

1278 

89 

(134 

620 

1096 

1141 

1063 

774 

694 

258 

468 

776 

1210 

634 

472 

500 

254 

173 

739 

726 

291 

263 

13.59 

13-58 

1187 

1379 

1353 

786 

117 

12.57 

1210 


Simonson,  Garret 112(5 

Simpson,  Jonathan 9(55 

Simpson,  William  H 640 

Sixteenth  Illinois  Infantry 1017 

Sloan,  Adam 1385 

Sloan  Family 1296 

Sloan,  Henderson 12(i(> 

Sloan,  James 1357 

Sloan,  James 1397 

Slocumb,  Charles  G 203 

Smith,  Alfred  H 337 

Smith,  Alexander  M 1010 

Smith,  Asa 991 

Smith,  D.C.C 467 

Smith,  Eli  W 1370 

Smith,.George 727 

Smith,    Hugh, 194 

Smith,  John  B 693 

Smith,  Lucius  E 698 

Smith,  Nathan  P 784 

Smith,  Samuel  H 1087 

Smith,  Stephen 745 

Smith,  Thomas  C 1002 

Smith,  Warren  L 697 

Smith,  William  E 11.57 

Smith,  William  H.  H 477 

Societies  of  Aledo -581 

Societies  of  Keithsburg 155 

Soldiers  of  Eliza  Township : .  282 

Soldiers'  Monument 837 

Soldiers'  Monument 1410 

South  Henderson  Townshii) 1216 

Southern,  Charles  W 696 

Spangler,  Jacob 1080 

Sparrow,  Charles 1209 

Speculators.  Eliza  Township 279 

Spicer,  Reuben  H.  Sr 763 

Spicer,  Thomas 638 

Sprowl,  Samuel 475 

Stanley,  Wyett 1120 

Steam  Mill,  Greene  Township.  . . .  670 

Steele,  Cyrus  W 1041 

Steele,  David  A 246 

Stephens,  Prof.  Alex 569 

St.  Joseph  Catholic  Church 711 

Stevens,  John  H 1045 

Stewart,  James  G 1375 

Stewart,  Samuel  M 1365 

Stewart,  William  L 644 

.Stone  Quarry,  Gladstone 1247 

Storms  and  Floods 945 

Stratton,  J.  D 254 

Streeter,  Hon.  Alson  J 769 

Strong,  Luke 616 

Stuart,  William. 685 

Suez  Postofflce 626 

Suez  Township 623 

Swafibrd,  Jacob  H. , 99 

Swanson,  John •. .  1 156 

Swartwout,  Cornelius 331 

Swezy,  Jerome  A 187 

Taliaferro,  C.  W 1081 

Talliaferro,  Benjamin  Coleman.  . .  830 

Tenth  Illinois  Infantry 1013 

Terre  Haute  Township 1277 


10 


INDEX. 


Terry,  William 

Tharp  Family 

Thar}).  William 

Thede,  C.  F 

Thirtieth  Regiment 

Thomas,  Isaac 

Thompson,  Benjamin  F 

Thompson,  William  P 

Thornton,  H.W 

Thornton,  J.  D 

Timber  in  Eliza  Township 

Tolman,  James  Gary 

Towns  of  Henderson  county 

Townsley,  Benjamin  F 

Townsley's  Tile  and  Brick  Factory 

Tracy,  Victoria  CM /. 

Tragedies  in  Keithsburg 

Trask,  Andrew 

Trask,  E.  H 

Turnbull,  Rev.  Thomas  B 

Tweed,  Hiram  Sylvester 

Tweed,  John 

Twelfth  Illinois  Cavalry 

Twenty-eighth  Illinois  Infantry.  . 

Udolpho,  Rufus 

Unangst,  Jacob  Wilson 

United  Brethren,  Richland 

United  Presbyterians,  Suez  Town- 
ship  '. 

Valentine,  William 

Van  Arsdale,  S.  B 

Vance,  James 

Vance,  William  R 

Vandalsem,  W.  C 

A^an  Doren,  William  J 

Van  Tuyl,  W.  E.  B 

Vater,  George 

Vaughn,  Charles 

Venable,  Joseph 

Vernon,  Caleb 

Vernon,  James 

Vetter,  Michael 

Villages  of  Millersburg 

Village  of  Swedona 

Viola,  Greene  Township 

Viola  Vineyard 

Vogt,  George  H 

Volkel,  Fred 

Voorhees,  Henry  D 

Voorhees,  Jaques 

Wade,  Josephus 

Wadleigh,  Luke 

Wagy,  Abraham 

Wagy,  Lemuel 

Wait,  F.  G 

Wait,  Meigs 

Walker,  William  C 

Wallace,  William  B 

Wallbaum,   August 

Walnut  Grove  Township 


09G 

1125 

1132 

608 

791 

1385 

621 

1192 

235 

245 

282 

1276 

887 

594 

583 

783 

162 

638 

1303 

617 

1270 

1263 

1139 

1019 

1269 

605 

734 

629 

257 

1134 

524 

474 

335 

1194 

1377 

503 

1211 

182 

505 

239 

328 

211 

733 

661 

668 

1152 

508 

1119 

1131 

176 

992 

1056 

1059 

330 

324 

1405 . 

1387 

1261 

1157 


Walter,  George 343 

Walters,  John 1156 

War  of  1812 1410 

War  Record  of  Greene  Township.  670 

Watson,  Abram 746 

Watson,  Hezekiah 1392 

WeUster,  Hammond 458 

Werts,  George  W 469 

West  End  Creamery,  Miller.sburg  583 

White,  James  R 1007 

White,  Snowden  K 605 

Whitehall,  Thomas 526 

Whiteman,  Henrv  Miller 1259 

Whiteman,  David  A 1398 

Whitham,  Kenneth  M 608 

Whiting,  George  W 197 

Whitsitt,  John 715 

Wiegand,  William 1386 

Wild  animals,  Walnut  Grove.  .  ..  1159 

Wilkins,  Samuel 1378 

Williams,  James  M 1290 

Willis,  J.  M 621 

Willits,  Dr.  T 97 

Willits,  Isaiah 171 

Willits,  Levi 583 

Willits,  Mary  D 101 

Willits,  Milton  L 96 

Willits,  Mrs.  Sarah  G 527 

Willitt,  Thomas 114 

Wilitts,  Thomas 254 

Willits,  Thomas  T 836 

Willits,  William  M 523 

Wilmerton,  William 714 

Wilson,  David 741 

Wilson,  James  McCormick 829 

Wilson,  John  A 1353 

Wilson,  William  A 94 

Winchester,  W.  A 526 

Winders,  William 596 

Wirt,  Martin 176 

Wolf,  George  S 823 

Wolfe,  Jacob 181 

Wolff,  Reuben  S 1152 

Wood,  J.  W 246 

Wood,  Newton 1409 

Wood,  W.  A 345 

Woodard,  Alonzo 1275 

Woodhams,  T.  G 786 

Woods,  Alexander  M 608 

Woods,  James  H 1409 

Woods,  Richard  H 1087 

Woodside,  Hugh  G 1137 

Wordin,  Charles  C 599 

Wright,  George  A 607 

Wright,  James  C 596 

Wvcofl;  J.  P 192 

York,  Charles 240 

Young,  Jacob  and  H.  V 1125 

Zentmire,  Wilson  P 257 


HISTORY   OF 


Mercer  and  Henderson  Counties. 


DISCOVERIES  AND  EXPLORATIONS. 

That  our  readers  may  have  a  full  understanding  of  the  history  of 
Mercer  and  Henderson  counties,  it  will  be  necessary  to  take  them  back, 
not  merely  to  the  time  of  their  earliest  settlement  by  the  whites,  but  a 
time  far  anterior  to  that.  This  part  of  the  State  of  Illinois  has  at 
different  periods  been  in  the  possession  and  under  the  dominion  of 
various  persons  and  powers,  whose  acts  play  an  important  part  in  the 
history  of  this  section.  Of  com-se  we  fully  realize  that,  to  the  present 
population,  the  present  history  will  prove  much  more  interesting  than 
that  which  precedes,  but  as  the  foundation  of  the  house  is  much  less 
appreciated  by  the  occupants  and  is  yet  one  of  its  very  important  parts, 
so  that  part  of  history  which  forms  the  basis  for  what  follows  must 
necessarily  be  of  the  utmost  value  as  a  foundation  or  root  on  which  to 
develop  the  complete  work. 

Though  but  a  little  more  than  half  a  century  has  passed  since  the 
soil  of  this  part  of  the  Mississippi  valley  was  occupied  and  cultivated 
by  white  men,  three  times  that  length  of  time  had  elapsed  since  its 
first  discovery.  During  that  150  years  it  was  occupied  by  various 
tribes  of  Indians,  and  was  under  the  dominion  of  several  powerful 
governments,  who  contended  for  its  possession  with  varying  success, 
with  but  little  apparent  design  of  occupation  other  than  for  the 
purpose  of  trading  with  the  original  owners,  in  furs  and  such  other 
natural  products  as  they  could  easily  gather,  and  their  simple  and 
indolent  habits  required.  Indeed  the  fur  trade  seems  to  have  been  not 
only  the  chief  object,  but  eventually  to  have  led  to  the  peopling  of  the 
country  with  those  who  added  to  the  industry  of  fur  catching  that  of 
agriculture. 

The  first  white  men  to  visit  Illinois  with  a  view  of  making  extended 
explorations  were  Louis  Joliet  and  Jacques  Marquette,  their  travels  in 
this  state  beginning  in  1673. 

Joliet  was  born  at  Quebec  in  1645,  and  educated  for  a  priest  of  the 
2 


18  HISTORY   OF   IVIEECER   AJTO    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

Roman  Catholic  Cliiircli,  but  at  the  time  of  which  we  write  liacl  aban- 
doned his  profession,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-eight  was  engaged  in  the 
fur  trade. 

Father  Marquette  was  born  in  France  in  1637.  He  was  also  a 
priest  of  the  same  church  and  of  the  order  of  Jesuits.  It  was  with  a 
view  to  promulgate  the  doctrines  of  his  church  that  he  left  comparative 
comfort  in  his  native  country,  crossed  the  Atlantic  and  braved  the 
western  wilderness,  hundreds  of  miles  beyond  the  boundaries  of  civili- 
zation, to  convert  the  Lidians  to  the  faith  he  professed,  m  which,  by 
his  kindness,  he  made  many  endurmg  friendships. 

These  two  men,  with  their  several  objects  in  view,  set  out  from  the 
Jesuit  Mission  on  the  Strait  of  Mackinaw  with  five  other  French  com- 
panions on  their  journey.  May  IT,  1763,  their  objective  point  being  the 
Mississippi  river,  of  which  they  had  but  a  vague  idea.  Coasting  along 
the  northern  shore  of  Lake  Michigan,  they  reached  Green  Bay,  on  the 
west  side  of  the  lake,  and  the  mouth  of  Fox  river,  in  Wisconsin.  Up 
this  river  they  pushed  their  canoes  as  far  as  the  depth  of  the  water 
would  permit.  Having  reached  the  head  waters  of  the  Fox,  it  was  but 
a  few  miles  to  the  waters  of  the  Wisconsin,  which  flows  thence  into  the 
Mississippi.  Across  this  stretch  of  prairie  they  carried  their  small 
boats  and  scanty  outfits,  and  again  launched  them.  On  the  17th  of 
June,  just  one  month  after  their  embarkation  at  the  Mackinaw,  they 
found  themselves  on  the  broad  bosom  of  the  Father  of  Waters  (mean- 
ing of  the  Indian  words  composing  the  name  Mississippi),  Down  the 
river  they  glided  rapidly  and  easily,  touching  frequently  at  difiFerent 
points  on  either  shore,  and  doubtless  the  soil  of  these  counties  was 
pressed,  for  the  first  time  by  white  men,  by  the  feet  of  Joliet  and  Mar- 
quette and  their  companions.  On  landing  at  one  place  their  journal 
shows  that  they  went  ashore  and  remained  several  days  with  the 
natives.  This  could  not  have  been  far  from  this  part  of  the  river's 
course  —  probably  near  Rock  Island  on  the  west  side.  They  were 
treated  kindly  by  the  Indians,  and  given  all  the  supplies  at  their  dis- 
posal for  the  further  prosecution  of  their  explorations.  They  continued 
their  course  until  they  came  near  the  mouth  of  the  Arkansas  river, 
where,  finding  Indians  who  showed  some  signs  of  hostility,  they 
deemed  it  expedient  to  return.  They  now  entered  the  mouth  of  the 
Illinois  river,  up  which  they  toiled  to  Lake  Michigan,  whose  western 
shore  they  followed  to  Green  Bay,  where  they  arrived  the  latter  part  of 
September.  In  this  journey  they  had  spent  about  four  months  and 
traveled  nearly  3,000  miles.  Joliet  had  accomplished  his  purpose  of 
discovering  a  route  to  the  great  water  thoroughfares  and  opening  up 
friendly  relations  with  the  inhabitants  along  their  shores,  and  Father 


DISCOVERIES   AJSTD   EXPLORATIONS.  19 

Marquette  had  made  known  the  gospel  to  those  with  whom  his  brief 
visits  brought  him  in  contact. 

Tlie  formal  occupation  of  the  Mississippi  and  Illinois  valleys  was. 
accomplished  in  168(>,  in  the  name  of  the  French,  by  Robert  La  Salle,, 
who  came,  with  about  thirty  followers,  for  the  purpose  of  buildmg  forts; 
on  the  Illinois  river  at  different  points,  and  establishing  trading  points. 
with  the  natives  in  the  name  and  for  the  benefit  of  the  French  govern- 
ment, which  he  represented.  Even  at  this  early  date  the  English  and 
French  were  disputing  the  rights  of  each  other  to  the  trade  of  these 
valleys,  and  this  ex|)edition  was  watched  with  suspicious  eyes  by  the 
former.  JSTot  only  so,  but  the  entei-prise  which  bid  fair  to  be  popular 
and  profitable  was  jealously  viewed  by  the  order  of  Jesuits,  who  had 
been  excluded  from  it,  and  their  rivals  of  the  Recollet  order  selected 
as  spiritual  counsel  and  companions.  Of  the  last  was  father  Hennepin,, 
after  whom,  150  years  later,  was  named  a  town  on  the  Illinois  river. 
Owing  to  these,  and  unfaithful  members  of  the  expedition,  treacherous 
guides  and  hostile  Indians,  with  many  unforseen  mishaps,  the  story  of 
La  Salle's  travels  sounds  more  like  fiction  than  truth.  Often,  almost 
alone,  he  traveled  for  many  days  through  the  wilderness  in  the  dead  of 
winter  and  almost  without  a  mouthful  of  food.  His  forts  and  trading 
posts  were  built  and  destroyed  and  rebuilt  by  turns,  until  at  last,  liaving^ 
formally  taken  possession  of  the  country  and  traversed  the  Illinois 
river  fi-om  Lake  Michigan,  the  Kankakee  to  its  junction  therewith,  and 
the  Mississippi  to  the  Gulf  of  Mexico,  he  was  basely  assassinated  by 
his  own  followers  in  January,  1687.  In  taking  possession  of  the 
country  he  gave  it  the  name  of  his  reigning  monarch  and  called  it 
Louisiana,  so  that  what  is  now  Mercer  and  Henderson  counties  and 
Illinois  was  once  called  by  that  name. 

Yery  much  that  would  be  interesting  to  the  general  reader  concern- 
ing La  Salle's  voyages  must  necessarily  be  omitted,  as  our  work  has 
not  so  much  to  do  with  the  State  of  Illinois  and  the  great  water-courses 
exj^lored  by  him  as  with  the  locality  under  immediate  consideration. 
Father  Hennepin,  whose  name  has  already  been  mentioned,  made  by 
La  Salle's  order  an  excursion  from  the  mouth  of  the  Illinois  up  the 
Mississippi  as  far  as  the  Falls  of  St.  Anthony,  and  may  have  touched 
at  points  bordering  on  this  section.  Henry  Tonti,  one  of  La  Salle's 
companions,  figures  largely  in  the  early  explorations  of  this  part  of  the 
country.  He  spent  over  twenty  years  in  establishing  posts  and  build- 
ing fortifications  for  their  jjrotection.  Under  his  command  was  all  of 
the  territory  from  the  Allegheny  to  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  from  the 
Gulf  of  Mexico  as  far  north  as  imagination  could  carry. 

Although  the  French  had,  as  noted,  taken  possession  of  this  large 


20  HISTORY    OF    MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

tract  of  country,  it  was  not  an  undisputed  occupation.  The  English, 
having  settled  the  Atlantic  coast,  were  gradually  pushing  their  settle- 
ments toward  the  west,  and  finding  the  fur  trade  a  profitable  source  of 
revenue  to  individual  enterprise  and  also  to  the  government,  disputed 
with  the  French  who  inhabited  the  shores  of  the  great  lakes,  the  right 
to  the  monopoly.  To  carry  out  their  plans  it  became  necessary  for 
either  to  enlist  the  Indians  in  their  schemes,  as  from  them  they  were 
to  derive  their  profit.  Accordingly,  the  natives  of  the  Alleghenies  and 
the  Ohio  valley  were  naturally  arrayed  against  each  other  and  many 
and  blood}*-  wars  were  the  consequence.  In  the  mother  countries  the 
French  and  English  were  engaged  from  time  to  time  in  combat,  which 
naturally  extended  to  the  colonies  of  America,  and  thus  were  the  strug- 
gles for  the  fur  trade,  which  might  otherwise  have  been  confined  to 
active  competition,  transformed  into  long-continued  and  bloody  conflict. 
These  wars  in  history  are  termed  the  French  and  Lidian  wars,  and 
lasted  for  a  period  of  more  than  fifty  years.  At  last,  in  1763,  at  a 
treaty  between  these  nations,  all  that  jDortion  of  the  Mississippi  valley 
east  of  the  river  was  ceded  to  England,  and  thus  for  a  time,  until  the 
war  of  the  revolution,  this  section  of  country  remained  a  pro\'ince  *of 
■Great  Britain. 

The  great  struggle  of  the  colonists,  commencing  in  1775  and  ending 
with  their  independence  in  1783,  though  mostly  confined  to  the  shores 
of  the  Atlantic  were  not  wholly  so,  for  while  a  fierce  conflict  was  going 
■on  at  the  east,  the  valleys  of  the  Mississippi,  Wabash  and  Ohio  were 
receiving  some  attention  from  both  the  English  and  Americans.  At 
the  beginning  of  that  war  the  whole  northwest  was  in  the  possession 
of  the  British. 

The  brilliant  achievements  which  wrested  these  beautiful  valleys 
from  English  rule  were  brought  about  by  Gen.  George  Rogers  Clarke, 
of  Virginia.  He  well  understood  the  relations  existing  between  the 
Indians  and  the  mother  country,  and  though  the  natives  had  been 
stirred  up  to  jealousy  by  the  rapid  encroachments  of  white  settlers  upon 
their  domain,  he  wisely  judged  that  if  the  British  posts  and  forts  could 
be  wrested  from  them,  the  subjugation  of  the  Indians  would  be  a  com- 
paratively easy  matter.  Accordingly  he  applied  to  the  authorities  of 
Yirginia  for  men  and  means  for  the  accomplishing  of  the  enterprise,  and 
though  they  could  at  that  time  ill  be  spared,  they  were  granted,  and 
Clarke  set  out  upon  the  undertaking.  Though  many  hardships  conse- 
quent upon  hunger  and  fatigue  had  to  be  endured,  the  whole  line  of  forts, 
including  Kaskaskia,  Cahokia  and  Vincennes,  was  taken  with  scarcely 
a  show  of  resistance,  the  inhabitants  of  the  posts  apparently  being 
desirous  of  coming  under  the  new  government.     In  February,  1777, 


DISCOVERIES   AND    EXPLORATIONS.  21 

Yincennes  was  taken,  and  thus  hostilities  for  this  region,  not  only 
between  the  Americans  and  English,  but  for  the  time  being  between 
the  Americans  and  Indians  were  terminated,  and  the  possession  of  the 
northwest  made  secure.  But  for  these  brilliant  strokes  of  Gen.  Clarke 
it  is  hard  to  conceive  what  would  have  been  the  history  of  this  part  of 
the  country.  Possibly  a  union  of  all  the  tribes  from  Maine  to  Florida 
might  have  been  effected,  which  in  conjunction  with  foreign  foes, 
though  then  somewhat  discouraged,  would  have  retained  possession  of 
the  whole  Mississippi  valley  even  to  this  time. 

The  close  of  the  war  of  independence  left  this  portion  of  the 
country  under  the  government  of  the  United  States,  and  as  a  part  of 
Virginia.  In  1778,  the  legislature  of  Virginia  formed,  from  the  ter- 
ritory under  that  dominion,  all  of  the  country  now  embraced  in  the 
states  of  Ohio,  Indiana,  Illinois,  Wisconsin  and  Michigan,  the  county 
of  Illinois,  so  that  what  is  now  embraced  in  Mercer  and  Henderson 
counties  was  once  a  part  of  Virginia.  Illinois  continued  a  part  of 
Virginia  until  March  1,  1784,  when  that  state  ceded  it  with  all  other 
territory  north  of  the  Ohio  river  to  the  United  States. 

In  1787,  the  whole  country  under  consideration  was,  by  an  ordinance 
passed  by  the  government,  set  apart  and  named  the  Northwestern  Ter- 
ritory. After  a  while  the  territory  was  divided  into  smaller  territories, 
and  what  is  now  the  state  of  Illinois  fell  into  that  portion  called 
Indiana  Territory  as  one  of  its  counties,  with  its  old  name  of  1778 — 
Illinois  county. 

In  1809,  the  country  now  known  as  Illinois  and  Wisconsin  was 
erected  into  a  separate  territory  with  the  name  of  Illinois  Territory. 
The  population  of  this  vast  region  was  then  only  about  half  that  of 
Mercer  and  somewhat  less  than  Henderson  county,  being  all  told 
9,000.  Many  of  the  oldest  citizens  of  this  region,  but  then  residents 
of  other  states,  doubtless  remember,  if  not  the  event  itself,  many 
incidents  of  as  early  a  date.  Now  there  are  102  counties  in  the  State 
of  Illinois,  few  of  which  contain  a  smaller  population  than  did  both 
these  gi'eat  states  only  seventy-iive  years  ago,  one  of  which  has  residing 
within  its  limits  a  population  sixty  times  as  great.  At  the  time  of 
which  we  write,  the  territory  was  divided  into  two  coimties — St.  Clair 
and  Randolph. 

Though  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi  was  a  part  of  the  United 
States,  and  though  it  belonged  to  the  government,  it  was  occupied 
almost  exclusively  by  the  Indians,  and  they  claimed  it  as  their  rightful 
possession  in  which  to  live  and  derive  support,  not  from  the  cultivation 
of  its  soil,  but  from  its  natural  products.  In  1804  William  Henry 
HaiTison,  authoiized  by  the  general  government,  made  a  treaty  with 


22 


HISTORY    OF    IVIERCER   AND   HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 


the  chiefs  and  head  men  of  the  Sac  and  Fox  nations  who  were  then  the 
occupants  of  all  this  region,  whereby  all  the  country  on  both  sides  of 
the  Mississippi  and  including  all  the  country  west  of  the  Illinois,  was 
given  up  to  the  government  for  purposes  of  settlement  by  the  whites. 
Out  of  this  treaty,  a  number  of  years  later,  gi-ew  what  is  knowTi  as  the 
Black  Hawk  war. 


GENERAL    HARRISON. 

In  1816  all  that  portion  of  the  state  between  the  Mississippi  and 
Illinois  rivers,  and  extending  from  the  mouth  of  the  latter  about  170 
miles  north,  and  including  the  counties  of  which  we  now  write,  was 
surveyed  by  the  government  and  subsequently  set  apart  as  bounties  to 
.soldiers  of  the  regular  army  who  had  served  in  the  war  with  Great 
Britain,  and  which  had  just  preceded  the  date  just  given.  The  whole 
tract  contained  207  entu'e  townships  and  several  fractions.  These  land 
grants  or  bounties  became  a  kind  of  currency  in  this  part  of  the  coun- 
try, and  were  used  not  only  by  actual  settlers  in  making  homes  for 
themselves,  but  large  numbers  were  bought  by  speculators  for  a  trifling 
part  of  their  face  value.  From  misunderstandings  as  to  their  real 
value  and  of  their  validity,  many  claims  were  put  in  jeopardy,  and 
much  litigation  in  regard  to  the  land  titles  in  the  parts  of  the  counties 
embraced  by  the  military  tract  have  been  the  result.  Whoever  has 
held  successfully  a  disputed  title  in  the  Bounty  lands,  from  bitter  expe- 
rience has  learned  the  history  of  these  land  schemes  and  speculations 
better  than  any  but  the  attorneys  engaged  in  unravelling  them  can 
know  or  care  to  learn. 


BLACK   HAWK    WAK,  23 

In  1818  the  territory  now  embraced  in  Illinois  became  a  separate 
organization  and  was  admitted  into  the  Union  as  a  State.  As  yet  but 
fifteen  counties  had  been  formed  in  the  state  and  all  of  these  in  the 
southern  part.  None  had  been  formed  in  the  militarj'  tract,  nor 
indeed  was  there  much  necessity  for  such  organizations,  as  there  was 
scarcely  a  family  permanently  established.  However,  a  few  years 
later,  Pike  county,  embracing  all  of  the  wiklerness  of  Warren,  Mercer, 
Henderson  and  a  number  of  other  counties,  was  organized. 

From  and  after  the  Black  Hawk  war,  settlements  were  quite  rapid 
west  of  the  Illinois  river,  and  new  counties  were  accordingly  as  rapidly 
authorized.  The  army  which  went  forward  to  suppress  the  uprising  of 
the  Indians  under  that  chief  in  1832  had  much  to  do  in  settling  the 
section  between  the  mouth  of  the  Illinois  and  Rock  Island.  It  was 
then  discovered  by  many  of  the  soldiery  that  the  garden  of  Illinois  lay 
^long  that  line  of  march.  Many  of  them  profited  by  their  exj^erience 
by  themselves  selecting  homes  in  the  section  under  consideration. 
Information  sent  by  others  to  friends  in  the  east  and  south  brought 
many  more,  so  that  in  1825  the  county  of  Warren,  embracing  all  ot 
the  territory  now  included  in  Warren  and  Henderson,  and  Mercer  with 
its  present  limits,  were  formed  and  attached  to  Peoria  for  political  pur- 
poses. Subsequently,  Warren  county  was  organized  and  Mercer  was 
attached  to  Warren  for  a  few  years.  In  1835  Mercer  was  organized, 
and  in  1841  Henderson  with  its  present  limits  was  cut  off  fi-om  the 
west  side  of  Warren  and  immediately  organized.  This  then  brings  us 
to  the  consideration  of  the  several  counties  as  separate  organizations, 
and  as  such  we  shall  refer  to   them  as  separate  items  of  historical 

interest. 

BLACK  HAWK  WAR. 

Though  this  was  not  the  battle-field  of  the  Indian  troubles,  yet  its 
proximity  to  the  scenes  of  the  struggle  makes  the  Black  Hawk  war  a 
peculiarly  interesting  topic  for  consideration ;  indeed  this  portion  of 
the  valley  of  tlie  Mississippi  was  the  home  of  the  Indian.  On  its 
banks  and  those  of  the  Edwards,  Pope  and  Henderson  rivers,  and  the 
smaller  streams  of  the  two  counties,  he  built  his  wigwam,  hunted  game 
and  fished  in  their  waters.  This  country  was  dear  to  him  and  for  it, 
though  not  in  it,  he  made  his  last  desperate  struggle. 

The  rich  mines  of  lead  at  and  in  the  vicinity  of  Galena  had  for 
some  time  been  worked.  That  section,  about  fifteen  miles  square,  had 
been  bought  b}^  the  government  in  1804,  and  its  occupation  by  the 
whites  had  been  the  source  of  some  ill-feeling  on  the  part  of  tlie 
Indians,  which  was  resented  by  the  whites.  In  1825  or  thereabouts 
real  trouble  began  to  show  itself  and  conflicts  between  the  two  races 


24  HISTOEY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

were  common.  At  this  time  the  number  of  miners  had  increased  to 
more  than  1,500  and  they  were  not  always  careful  to  avoid  crossing 
the  Indian  claims,  nor  were  they  always  particular  about  holding  sacred 
the  rights  of  Indians  to  their  property,  or  of  shooting  their  game  or 
stealing  their  ponies,  and  it  finally  came  about  that  an  Indian's  scalp 
was  considered  as  much  of  a  trophy  as  was  a  white  man's  to  an 
Indian. 

These  gi'owing  animosities  finally  culminated  in  an  attack  by  the 
Winnebago  Indians  on  the  30th  of  July,  1827,  on  two  keel-boats  which 
were  passing  up  the  Mississippi  river  with  supj^lies  for  Fort  Snelling. 
Several  of  the  crew  were  killed  and  others  wounded.  The  state  gov- 
ernment being  a23prised  of  the  outbreak  ordered  forward,  to  the  threat-^ 
ened  portion  of  the  state,  military  to  quell  the  hostiles.  The  whole 
country  roundabout  was  in  confusion  and  alarm,  and  settlers 
throughout  the  northern  part  of  the  state  fled  to  distant  points  where 
had  been  erected  fortifications  for  safety.  At  G-alena  3,000  people, 
men  w(3men  and  children  from  the  surrounding  country  were  gathered 
for  protection.  Several  hundred  men  at  Galena  were  armed  and 
equipped,  and  in  Sangamon  and  Morgan,  counties  a  regiment  was 
formed  and  sent  forward,  but  before  they  arnved  the  Indians  had  been 
driven  far  north  and  some  of  the  leaders  captured. 

Hardly  had  the  excitement  occasioned  by  this  outbreak  died  out, 
however,  until  trouble  began  with  the  Sac  and  Fox  tribes.  The  leaders 
and  chiefs  of  these  were  Keokuk  and  Black  Hawk,  whose  names  have 
been  perpetuated  in  different  localities  in  this  vicinity  by  places  which 
bear  their  names.  These  men  were  not  friends  ;  had  they  been,  the 
war  which  was  soon  to  follow  might  have  been  a  much  more  serious 
affair  than  it  proved.  Keokuk  was  loyal  to  the  government  and  con- 
trolled much  the  larger  portion  of  the  people,  though  they  were  anx- 
ious for  war,  and  in  accordance  with  the  stipulations  of  a  preceding 
treaty  he  with  a  majority  of  the  two  tribes  remained  on  the  west  side 
of  the  Mississippi  river.  Black  Hawk,  however,  claiming  that  the 
treaty  alluded  to  was  void,  crossed  the  river  with  300  warriors  in  the 
spring  of  1831  with  a  view  of  occupying  his  former  home  near  where 
the  city  of  Kock  Island  now  stands.  Here  had  these  people  lived  for 
more  than  a  hundred  years  and  this  was  the  principal  town  of  the  Sac 
nation.  According  to  one  provision  of  the  treaty  the  Indians  had  a 
right  to  occupy  the  lands  until  wanted  by  the  government  for  actual 
settlement,  and  though  the  Indians  had  been  ordered  to  vacate  them 
no  actual  settlers  were  very  near — in  all  of  Mercer  and  Henderson 
counties  perhaps  not  more  than  five  or  six  families,  and  in  the  whole 
county  of  Rock  Island  not  one.     However,  in  those  times  people  liv- 


BLACK   HAWK   WAR.  25 

ing  within  forty  miles  of  each  other  were  neighbors,  and  the  two  races 
could  not  well  exist  within  twice  the  distance  without  encroaching  on 
each  other.  Doubtless  both  parties  were  much  to  blame  in  bringing 
about  this  final  conflict,  and  doubtless  both  were  anxious  that  the  final 
test  should  be  made.  It  is  not  our  province  to  discuss  causes  or 
details,  but  simply  relate  facts  that  seem  to  have  a  close  connection 
with  the  territory  whose  history  we  set  out  to  write. 

On  the  30th  of  April,  1831,  a  petition  signed  by  forty  persons  was- 
sent  to  the  executive  of  Illinois  representing  that  the  Indians  had  done 
much  damage  to  their  property,  and  that  their  lives  and  homes  were 
in  constant  danger.  John  Reynolds  was  then  Governor  of  Illinois  and 
believing  from  this  petition  and  other  information  received,  that 
Black  Hawk  was  determined  to  retain  possession  of  the  dis- 
puted territory  to  the  detriment  of  the  state,  resolved  to  expel 
him.  He  accordingly  made  a  call  for  volunteers.  In  a  very 
short  time  700  militia  were  assembled  at  Beardstown  on  the 
Illinois  river  ready  to  take  up  the  line  of  march  toward  the  camp  of 
Black  Hawk.  Before  moving,  however,  Gen.  Gaines,  who  was  then 
stationed  at  St.  Louis,  passed  up  the  river  to  Rock  Island  in  command 
of  a  regiment  of  United  States  troops,  with  the  hope  of  returning  the 
Indians  to  the  west  side  of  the  river  without  the  necessity  of  calling 
upon  the  militia.  The  Indians  were  obstinate  and  refused  to  move, 
and  according  to  previous  arrangement  the  volunteers  from  Beards- 
town  were  advised  to  go  forward,  which  they  did  with  much  enthu- 
siasm, their  numbers  having  in  the  meantime  been  swelled  to  twice 
the  original  call. 

The  brigade  was  accompanied  by  Governor  RejTiolds  ;  and  Joseph 
Duncan,  whose  name  appears  on  the  records  of  Mercer  and  Henderson 
as  a  large  land-holder  in  the  early  times  of  this  section,  was  appointed 
brigadier-general.  On  the  15th  of  June,  this,  the  largest  body  of 
military  that  had  ever  been  seen  in  the  state,  left  their  encampment  at 
Rushville,  just  west  of  the  Illinois  river,  and  marched  to  within  a  few 
miles  of  the  Sac  village.  This  line  of  march  took  them  directly 
through  the  central  part  of  Mercer  county,  and  the  exact  route  is  still 
known  and  pointed  out,  it  being  on  the  old  Indian  trail  (which  was 
nearly  on  the  Henderson  and  Warren  county  line)  and  extending 
through  Mercer  county  northward  between  Aledo  and  Joy.  Wlien  the 
Indians  found  that  the  government  and  state  were  in  earnest,  and  that 
they  were  nearly  surrounded  with  bristling  bayonets  and  cannon,  and 
were  about  to  be  cut  oft",  they  took  the  alarm,  and  the  night  before  the 
intended  attack  escaped  to  the  west  side  of  the  river.  Doubtless  their 
retreat  was  known  and  could  have  been  cut  oif,  but  Gen,  Gaines  was. 


'26  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

• 

anxious  that  tlie  affair  slioulcl  end  witliout  bloodslied.  The  soldiery 
were  somewliat  disappointed,  and  in  a  sjiirit  of  revenge  burned  theu* 
town,  though  the  wigwams  and  cabins  were  needed  to  protect  them- 
selves from  the  rain  whicli  was  falling  incessantly. 

Thus  bloodlesslv  terminated  the  campaign,  but  the  war  was  not  yet 
at  an  end.  Black  Hawk  had  promised  to  submit  to  the  government  of 
the  country  and  to  the  counsel  of  the  friendly  chiefs,  but  he  still  had 
the  defiant  will  which  ere  long  must  needs  break  out  in  the  act  which 
did  not  terminate  so  favorably  to  him  and  his  braves.  During  the  fol- 
lowing \vinter  he  was  busy  inciting  the  Indians  to  hostility,  and  by 
spiing  had  succeeded  in  raising  a  force  of  500.  His  headquarters 
weVe  at  the  site  of  old  Fort  Madison,  just  on  the  west  side  of  the  Mis- 
:sissippi.  From  thence  they  proceeded  up  the  river  on  horses,  the 
women  and  children  in  canoes,  to  a  point  just  opposite  the  present 
town  of  Oquawka.  Here  they  were  met  by  White  Cloud,  the  prophet, 
who,  at  a  council  held  at  the  place  named,  advised  them  to  go  forward 
and  cross  the  river,  and  that  numerous  other  tribes  would  sm'ely  join 
them  in  a  war  against  the  whites.  Accordingly  the  Indians  crossed 
the  IVIississippi  at  Rock  Island  and  ascended  the  Rock  river  to  the 
<30untry  still  occupied  by  the  Winnebagos,  near  its  source.  Couriers 
were  sent  to  warn  them  to  return,  but  with  no  eftect.  The  attitude  of 
Black  Hawk  looked  so  alarming  that  the  settlers  of  the  whole  of  the 
north  half  of  the  state  fled  precipitately  to  the  southern  part  and  to 
tlie  more  thickly  settled  portions  of  Indiana. 

Governor  Reynolds  at  once  called  for  volunteers  to  meet  at  Beards- 
town.  About  2,000  men  assembled  upon  this  call,  and  on  the  27tli  of 
April  the  army  started  on  their  march  to  Oquawka,  where  they  were 
joined  by  two  companies  from  Shelby  county.  Here  the  army 
encamped  for  several  days  awaiting  supplies  and  provisions,  which 
were  furnished  them  from  Rock  Island  and  St.  Louis.  As  soon  as 
they  could  be  supplied,  baggage  wagons  were  loaded  and  all  was  got 
in  readiness  for  a  march  to  Dixon,  where  they  had  been  informed  the 
•enemy  was  encamped.  When  the  army  was  ready  to  start  a  letter 
was  brought  from  Gen.  Atkinson,  who  commanded  several  companies 
of  the  regular  army  at  Fort  Armstrong,  that  Black  Hawk  had 
•descended  the  Rock  river,  and  requesting  the  governor  to  march 
immediately  with  troops  to  Fort  Ai-mstrong.  The  army  was  then  put 
in  motion  and  moved  to  the  mouth  of  Rock  river,  where  they  were 
received  into  the  serA-ice  of  the  United  States,  and  Gen.  Atkinson 
.assumed  command. 

The  volunteers  now  took  up  their  course  along  Rock  river  toward 
Dixon,  where  they  were  joined  a  few  days  later  by  Gen.  Atkinson  and 


BLACK    HAWK   WAR.  27 

the  regulars.  From  this  point  Majors  Stilhnan  an.d  Bailey  had  been 
detailed  to  protect  the  pioneer  border,  and  having  as  yet  seen  but  little 
service  they  were  anxious  to  go  farther  up  the  river  to  reconnoitre. 
Accordingly  orders  were  given  to  proceed  up  the  river  for  this  purpose, 
and  with  nearly  300  men  they  advanced  about  thirty  miles,  whei-e  they 
captured  a  few  Indians  and  pursued  some  others,  who  had  fled,  into 
the  very  ambush  of  Black  Ilawk,  who  with  only  about  forty  warriors 
put  them  to  flight  and  killed  several  of  them.  The  retreat  was  as 
inglorious  as  it  was  confusing ;  ammunition,  food,  horses  and  wagons 
were  left  in  the  precipitate  flight,  and  the  fugitives  did  not  stop 
running  until  they  arrived  at  Dixon,  in  squads  of  from  two  or  three  to 
a  dozen. 

The  war  was  now  fully  inaugurated,  and  the  next  day  the  army 
started  for  the  held  of  action.  They  found  the  ground  strewn  with 
their  comrades  in  a  horribly  mutilated  condition,  with  heads  and  limbs 
sundered  from  the  bodies  and  hearts  plucked  out.  The  fragments  were 
g;atliered  together  and  buried  in  one  common  graxe  on  the  spot.  The 
Indians  had  fled,  well  knowing  that  the  fury  of  the  whites  would  be 
fully  aroused  upon  the  discovery  of  the  atrocious  deeds. 

The  Government  now  sent  Gen.  Scott  with  1,000  United  States 
troojDS  to  superintend  operations  in  the  future  campaigns.  New  levies 
of  troops  were  made  and  sent  foi"ward  by  the  State.  On  the  6th  of 
June  Black  Hawk  made  an  attack  with  about  150  warriors  on  the  fort 
at  Apple  river,  near  Galena.  There  were  only  twenty-five  men  in  the 
fort,  but  they  defended  it  mth  desperation  for  fifteen  hours,  and  the 
Indians  were  finally  compelled  to  retire,  the  only  damage  sustained 
being  the  loss  of  one  man,  the  burning  of  the  houses  of  the  callage, 
iind  the  destruction  of  other  property. 

Other  conflicts  followed  rapidly  in  succession  between  bands  ol 
Indians  and  detachments  of  American  troops,  but  as  the  engagements 
■did  not  occur  in  the  ^^cinity  of  the  counties  of  which  we  write,  we  shall 
but  mention  them.  The  battle  at  Kellogg's  Grove,  and  other  conflicts 
in  the  northern  portion  of  Illinois  and  the  southern  part  of  Wisconsin 
occuri'ed  during  the  months  of  June  and  July. 

At  last,  about  the  first  of  August,  the  Indians  were  completely 
hemmed  in  at  a  point  on  the  Mississippi  called  Bad  Axe,  where  they 
were  driven  into  the  river,  many  being  killed  and  many  others  being 
drowned  in  the  attempt  to  gain  the  opposite  shore.  The  loss  of  the 
Indians  was  not  far  short  of  300,  and  near  100  more  were  wounded  and 
taken  prisoners.  The  war  -vartually  ended  with  the  battle  of  Bad  Axe, 
a,nd  the  further  pursuit  of  the  hostiles  was  not  deemed  necessary. 

Many  of  the  names  of  those  engaged  in  the  war,  such  as  Anderson, 
'Turney,  Ewing,  Breese,  Dement,  Ford,  Duncan,  Dodge  and  Lincoln, 


28  HISTORY    OF   IVIERCER    AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES, 

afterward  became  noted  in  the  history  of  the  state  and  of  the  nation. 
Among  the  many  who  distinguished  themselves,  none  made  a  more 
brilliant  record  than  did  Gen.  James  D.  Henry,  of  Springfield,  after 
whom  has  been  named  an  adjoining  county. 

A  few  weeks  subsequent  to  the  battle  of  Bad  Axe,  Black  Hawk  and 
the  Prophet  were  captured  by  some  friendly  Indians  and  turned  over 
to  the  United  States  authorities.  They  were  held  in  custody  for  about 
one  year,  when  they  were  set  at  liberty ;  subsequently  Black  Hawk 
settled  down  in  Lee  county,  Iowa,  for  a  short  period,  and  then  moved 
to  the  vicinity  of  the  Des  Moines,  twenty  miles  above  its  mouth.  In 
1838  he  contracted  a  disease  which  ended  his  life  when  he  had 
attained  the  age  of  seventy-two  years.  Abraham  Miller,  formerly  a 
resident  of  Mercer  county,  says,  in  a  letter  to  the  Historical  Society  of 
Mercer  county,  that  he  frequently  saw  Black  Hawk  after  his  expulsion 
from  this  section,  in  the  neighborhood  of  New  Boston,  where,  Mr. 
Miller  says.  Black  Hawk's  daughter  lies  buried.  Quite  a  number  of 
citizens  of  Mercer  and  Henderson  counties  yet  survive  who  were  per- 
sonally acquainted  with  this  great  chief,  notably  amongst  whom  is 
Colonel  Patterson  of  Oquawka,  whose  intimacy  with  him  and  his  his- 
tory we  shall  notice  at  length  on  a  subsequent  page. 

MANNERS  AND  CUSTOMS  OF  THE  INDIANS. 

The  Indians  inhabiting  this  portion  of  the  state  at  the  time  of  the 
advent  of  the  white  settler,  and  for  many  years  previous,  were  the  Sac 
and  Fox  nations,  and  consisted  of  the  Ottawa,  Kickapoo,  Chippewa, 
Shawnee,  Mascoutin,  Piankeshaw  aud  Pottawottamie  tribes.  They 
had  obtained  possession  of  this  part  of  the  State  by  conquest  from 
other  tribes  who  had  lived  here  before  the  occupation  by  these  nations. 
The  Sacs  and  Foxes  were  at  the  beginning  of  the  present  century 
indeed  but  one  nation  in  reality,  intermarrying,  living,  hunting  and 
fighting  together  as  an  individual  nation.  As  their  history  is  so 
closely  connected  with  this  section,  doubtless  many  of  our  younger 
readers,  whose  fathers  and  mothers  and  elderly  friends  have  recollec- 
tions reaching  back  to  the  closing  scenes  of  the  Indian's  last  years  on 
the  east  side  of  the  Mississippi  and  their  final  departure,  will  be  inter- 
ested to  read  something  relating  to  their  modes  of  life. 

Before  the  arrival  of  the  Europeans  and  their  intercourse  with  them, 
their  manners,  implements  of  agriculture,  hunting  and  war,  were  much 
more  rude  than  after  contact  with  the  more  enlightened  whites.  They 
were  at  first  found  in  possession  of  the  most  simple  utensils  ;  the  flint 
dart,  of  which  many  have  been  found  along  the  timber  lands  of  the 
streams,  were  the  points  for  the  arrows,  which,  shot  from  the  bow, 
brought  down  the  game  which  was  their  principal  subsistence.     The 


MANNERS   AND    CUSTOMS    OF    THE    INDIANS. 


29 


"boys  as  soon  as  they  were  strong  enough  were  given  this  instrument, 
and  their  education  consisted  in  its  use  and  the  knowledge  of  the 
habits  of  the  animals  it  was  designed  to  destroy. 

This,  too,  was  their  instrument  of  warfare.  For  the  different  pur- 
poses different  shaj^ed  points  were  used.  Some  were  fashioned  with 
"barbs  at  the  base,  so  that  the  arrows  having  entered  the  object  would 
not  be  easily  withdrawn,  which,  possibly  were  used  for  shooting  hsh  ; 
some  were  made  broad  at  the  base,   and  were  no  doubt  designed  to 


make  a  large  wound,  and  were  j^erhaps  used  for  the  slaying  of  the 
larger  animals  and  in  war ;  and  yet  others  were  e\'idently  intended  for 
small  game,  and  where  it  was  not  desirable  to  injure  the  flesh  more  than 


absolutely  necessary.  Of  these  three  principal  varieties  cuts  are  here 
given,  but  there  were  numerous  modifications  of  these,  as  can  be  seen 
by  reference  to  the  collections  in  the  possession  of  a  number  of  persons 


30  HISTORY   OF   IVIERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

in  this  section.     For  knives  and  axes  tliej  also  used  flint  and  granite 
stones  fashioned  into  proper  shapes. 

Mr.  Tvler  McWhorter  has  in  his  vahiable  and  extensive  cabinet  a 
very  large  number  of  these  and  other  implements  used  by  these 
people. 

These  rude  implements  Were,  after  the  fur  trade  was  established, 
gradually  superseded  by  knives  and  guns  procured  from  the  ti-aders 
in  exchange  for  furs,  and  many  of  the.  Indians  soon  became  as  skillful 
in  the  use  of  the  rifle  as  the  white  men,  and  afterward  made  effectual 
and  savage  use  of  it  against  the  race  by  whom  it  had  been  supplied. 
However,  when  our  fathers  and  grandfathers  found  these  people  here 
tiiey  were  still  anything  but  cultured  in  their  ways. 

Their  houses  consisted  of  a  few  poles  ten  or  fifteen  feet  in  length, 
planted  in  the  ground  in  circular  form  and  approaching  each  other  at 
the  top,  and  covered  with  the  skins  of  animals.  In  the  winter  the  fire 
was  kindled  in  the  middle  of  the  area  inside  and  the  smoke  found  its 
way  out  at  the  top,  where  an  opening  had  been  left.  At  this  fire  they 
cooked  their  food  by  roasting  animars  flesh  held  on  the  ends  of  sharp- 
ened sticks,  and  by  baking  cakes  of  meal  that  had  been  made  by 
breaking  the  grains  with  stones  on  flat,  heated  stones.  A  common  food 
was  made  by  boiling  the  carcass  of  an  animal  with  kernels  of  corn  and 
such  vegetables  as  they  could  And.  Abraham  Miller,  an  early  settler 
at  the  town  of  Millersburg,  relates  that  he  saw  Black  Hawk  and  a  few 
of  his  friends  regale  themselves  on  a  stew  prepared  from  a  polecat 
thrown  into  the  kettle  without  any  dressing  whatever.  Skins  of  ani- 
mals taken  in  the  chase  constituted  their  beds,  and  around  the  smoul- 
dering embers  of  the  camp-flre  they  smoked  their  pipes  and  recounted 
there  the  incidents  of  the  chase  or  war,  and  slept  the  long  winter 
nights  upon  these  primitive  couches. 

The  business  of  the  Indian  was  to  kill  game  and  spear  fish,  while 
that  of  the  wife  was  to  till  the  soil  in  summer,  gather  and  chop  the 
wood  for  the  fires  and  do  the  drudgery  for  the  simple  household. 

Cleanliness  was  by  no  means  essential  to  respectability,  neither  did 
the  clothing  nor  the  person  of  the  Indian  receive  so  many  ablutions 
but  that  all  these  events  in  his  life  could  be  easily  remembered. 

Marriage  with  them  was  not  even  a  matter  of  form,  unless  it  be 
considered  in  the  light  of  a  bargain  and  sale,  for  such  it  really  was, 
ponies,  and  bear  and  deer  skins  being  almost  always  given  in  exchange 
for  wives.  In  general  they  had  but  few  children.  The  women  were 
treated  as  slaves  and  were  subject  in  consequence  of  exposure  to  many 
and  severe  attacks  of  sickness. 

The  stories  found  in  novels  of  the  wooing  of  the  dusky  maiden  by 
the  noble  warrior  or  daring  hunter,  and  of  their  tender  attachment  for 


DESCRIPTION.  31. 

their  wives  and  children,  are  in  the  main  very  mnch  overdrawn,  A 
few  rare  exceptions  are  known.  It  is  said  tliat  Black  Hawk  was  a 
most  devoted  husband,  and  was,  throughout  his  long  life,  trae  to  his 
marital  relations. 

The  amusements  of  the  Indians  were  the  war  dance,  athletic  sports, 
and  the  narration  of  their  hunting  and  war  experiences,  but  in  none  of 
these  did  the  females  take  any  part. 

Though  hltliy  in  their  habits,  to  the  extreme  they  were  nevertheless 
proud,  and  were  fond  of  decorating  their  dirty  bodies  with  paint, 
feathers,  and  such  bits  of  ribbons  and  beads  as  they  could  obtain. 

After  its  introduction  by  the  whites  the  Indians  grew  very  fond  of 
whisky,  and  drunkenness  became  much  more  common  with  them  than 
with  their  pale  brethren.  Sometimes  when  a  fresh  supply  of  liquor 
was  obtained,  a  whole  band,  with  the  exception  of  two  or  three,  who' 
were  required  to  remain  sober  for  the  pm^jose  of  keeping  the  rest  from 
murdering  each  other,  would  get  on  a  grand  big  drunk,  which  would 
not  end  until  the  whisky  was  all  gone  or  they  got  beyond  the  power  of 
locomotion. 

DESCRIPTION. 

Mercer  county  lies  on  the  northwestern  border  of  the  state  and  em- 
braces a  little  more  than  fifteen  townships,  or  about  550  square  miles. 
It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Rock  Island  county,  on  the  east  by  Henry 
.  and  Ivn(3x,  on  the  south  by  Warren  and  Henderson,  and  on  the  west 
by  the  middle  of  the  Mississippi  river.  The  fourth  principal  meridian 
passes  along  the  eastern  border,  and  it  embraces  townships  13,  14  and 
15  north,  and  ranges  1,  2,  3,  4,  and  a  part  of  5  and  6  west.  It  is  inter- 
sected from  the  east  to  the  west,  through  the  northern  portion,  by 
Edwards  river,  which,  near  the  western  border,  changes  its  course,  and 
running  in  a  southwesterly  direction,  empties  into  the  Mississippi  about 
a  mile  and  a  half  below  New  Boston.  A  few  miles  south  of  the 
Edwards  is  Pope  creek,  which  passes  through  the  county  in  the  same 
direction,  and  enters  the  Mississippi  at  Keithsburg.  In  addition  to 
these  there  are  in  the  northwest,  Eliza  creek,  which  empties  into  Swan 
lake,  and  Camp  creek,  a  tributary  of  the  Edwards.  South  of  these  is- 
North  Pope,  a  tributary  of  Pope  creek,  and  in  the  southeast  are  North 
Henderson  and  Duck  creeks.  These,  together  with  some  smaller, 
streams,  furnish  an  abundant  supply  of  water. 

A  large  portion  of  the  county  is  prairie,  while  along  the 
borders  of  the  streams  are  the  so-called  barrens.  The  soil  of 
the  prairie  is  a  deej)  black  or  chocolate  colored  loam,  with 
a  yellow  or  dark  brown  clay  subsoil.  The  soil  of  the  barrens 
is    similar    to    that    of  the    prairie,    only    lighter    colored    and    of 


32  HISTORY   OF   MEECEK   AJSTD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

less  depth,  while  along  the  upper  part  of  the  slope  it  is  of  a  light 
brown  or  yellowish  color,  owing  to  the  character  of  the  subsoil,  wliich 
comes  near  the  surface.  In  some  portions  of  the  barrens  there  is  but 
a  thin  covering  of  the  soil,  and  in  these  places  it  is  quite  light  colored. 
The  most  extensive  allu^^al  deposit  is  along  the  Mississippi  bottom. 
This  extends  along  the  whole  western  border  of  the  county,  with  a 
varied  width  of  from  two  to  five  miles.  Of  this,  that  portion  which  is 
situated  on  the  northwest  and  extends  as  far  south  as  ISTew  Boston,  is 
much  cut  up  by  swamps,  lakes  and  bays.  Thi-ough  a  large  portion  of 
these  bottom  lands  there  are  one  or  more  low  ridges  of  sand.  The 
soil  of  this  sandy  portion  is  of  but  little  value,  there  being  but  few 
seasons  when  it  is  wet  enough  to  produce.  In  other  portions  the 
soil  is  a  deep  black  loam  and  very  productive.  ISTarrow  alluvial  belts 
are  also  found  along  nearly  all  the  water-courses,  the  soil  of  which  is 
very  dark  colored,  but  more  or  less  intermingled  with  sand  and  peb- 
bles. Coal  of  a  good  quality  is  found  in  various  parts  ;  the  veins  are 
ft-om  three  to  five  feet  thick.  The  mines  furnish  a  large  amount  of 
good  coal.  The  seam  furnishing  the  largest  portion  of  the  coal  of  this 
county  extends  over  most  of  the  northeastern  half  of  the  county,  but 
is  most  extensively  mined  in  the  townships  of  Greene,  Rivoli,  Rich- 
land Grove  and  Preemption.  In  the  township  sketches,  devoted 
to  these  townships,  will  be  found  more  extended  notices  of  these 
mines. 

The  soil  of  this  county  is  well  adapted  to  agricultural  purposes,  and 
is  in  nearly  every  part  of  the  county  productive  of  large  crops  of  corn, 
oats  and  hay.  Wheat  is  not  much  raised.  Formerly,  spring  wheat 
was  grown  to  a  considerable  extent,  but  of  late  years  its  cultivation  has 
gi-eatly  decreased.  Recently,  considerable  attention  has  been  given  to 
producing  winter  wheat.  The  land  along  or  near  the  water-courses, 
though  of  a  lighter  character,  is  valuable  for  the  production  of  fi'uit. 
Nearly  all  the  lands  along  the  streams  were  formerly  heavily  timbered, 
but  here  the  first  settlers  built  their  cabins,  and  in  consequence  of 
habits  acquired  in  their  eastern  and  southern  homes,  much  of  the  orig- 
inal forest  has  disappeared.  In  the  early  times  coal  was  not  used  for 
fuel ;  indeed  it  was  scarcely  known  to  exist,  and  its  value  as  a  fuel  was 
overlooked  for  a  number  of  years.  Fencing  and  house-building  also 
required  much  timber,  and  so  the  once  heavily  timbered  portions  of 
the  county  now  resemble  much  more  than  formerly  the  open  prairies 
wliich  lie  beside  them.  The  kinds  of  timber  most  abundant  are  white, 
bmT,  black,  red  and  laurel  oak,  red  and  white  elm,  blue  and  white  ash, 
hickory,  maple,  wild  cherry,  and  occasionally  a  black  walnut.  In  the 
bottoms  are  also  locust,  sycamore,  cottonwood,  box  alder,  wild  plum 


A   SCRAP   OF    ANCIENT   HISTORY.  35 

and  crab-apple,  and  occasionally  pecans  and  buckeyes.  Grape  vines 
and  other  climbers  are  abundant.  In  later  years  the  hand  of  man  has 
added  niany  varieties  of  fruit  and  ornamental  trees,  which  thrive 
apparently  as  though  in  their  native  soil.  Tlie  osage  orange  grows 
well  here,  and  many  of  the  most  tasty  farms  are  now  fenced  with  this 
shrub.  The  climate  is  rather  cold  for  it,  however,  and  its  fruit  scarcely 
ever  comes  to  perfection. 

In  the  larger  rivers,  especially  near  their  moutlis,  are  abundant 
supplies  of  fish,  and  formerly  in  the  timber  along  their  banks  were 
found  many  wild  animals,  such  as  deer,  squirrels,  raccoons,  turkeys 
and  chickens.  The  game  has  almost  all  vanished  from  before  the  face 
of  the  white  man.  The  description  of  the  county  will  be  given  more 
in  detail  in  the  several  township  sketches. 

A  SCRAP  OF  ANCIENT  HISTORY. 

The  following,  written  nearly  half  a  century  ago,  by  a  visitor  to 
this  section,  will  doubtless  prove  interesting  to  many  readers.  It  is 
from  Augustus  Mitchell's  description  of  Illinois  in  183Y. 

"Mercer  county  is  situated  in  the  northern  part  of  the  Military 
Bounty  tract.  It  lies  north  of  Warren,  south  of  Rock  Island,  west  of 
Henry,  and  east  of  Louisa  and  Musquitine  counties,  *Wisconsin  terri- 
tory, from  which  it  is  separated  by  the  Mississippi  river. 
The  town  of  Mercer  is  located  in  the  exact  geograj^hical  center  and 
with  the  express  view  of  becoming  the  county  seat  of  Mercer  county. 
It  is  situated  midway  between  Pope  and  Edwards  rivers,  which  run 
through  the  county  parallel  to  each  other,  and  at  this  point  are  not 
more  than  five  miles  apart.  The  site  is  healthy  and  elevated,  com- 
manding a  beautiful  view  of  the  surrounding  country,  which  is  as  rich 
and  as  well  adapted  to  the  culture  of  wheat,  and  indeed  of  all  kinds 
of  grain,  as  any  in  the  state.  The  county  is  settling  rapidly  with  a 
moral,  industrious  and  enterprising  po]3ulation.  The  water-power 
afibrded  by  Pope  and  Edwards  rivers  is  equal  to  that  of  any  county 
in  the  state :  a  circumstance  of  much  importance,  not  only  for  fur- 
nishing lumber  for  building,  but  for  the  erection  of  grain  and  fiouring 
mills.  There  is  one  saw  mill  now  in  operation  within  two  and  one- 
half  miles  of  Mercer,  and  several  others  will  be  built  the  approaching 
season,  also  within  a  few  miles  of  the  town.  The  situation  of  Mercer 
admits  of  the  convenient  access  to  the  timber,  stone  and  stone  coal  of 
both  Pope  and  Edwards  rivers  and  their  branches.  Mercer  is  situa- 
ted about  fourteen  miles  from  New  Boston,  on  the  Mississippi,  at  which 
there  is  an  excellent  landing.     It  is  also  on  the  direct  route  from  the 

*Now  Iowa. 


36  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

latter  place  to  Hennepin,  and  from  Oqiiawka  to  Rock  Island.  ITew 
Boston,  the  seat  of  justice,  is  the  only  other  town  in  the  county,  and  is 
situated  at  the  upper  Yellow  bank,  just  above  Edwards  river,  nearly 
opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Lower  Iowa,  a  considerable  stream  of  the 
Wisconsin  territory.  This  place  has  a  good  landing  and  a  fine  harbor, 
and  when  the  opposite  territory  becomes  settled  it  cannot  fail  to  become 
a  town  of  considerable  importance,  as  it  will  be  the  commercial  entre- 
pot of  a  large  extent  of  fertile  country." 

HABITS  AND  CUSTOMS  OF  THE  PIONEERS. 

Perhaps  most  of  the  grown  people  of  this  section  have  some  knowl- 
edge, either  by  actual  observation  or  from  the  lips  of  the  few  worthy 
pioneers  who  still  linger  on  the  shores  of  time,  of  the  early  modes  of 
life  which  obtained  during  most  of  the  first  quarter  of  a  century  of  its 
history.  But  the  last  original  settler  will  soon  have  left  us,  and  then 
these  things,  but  for  the  historian's  pen,  would  become  but  matters  of 
tradition.  Even  now,  amongst  the  younger  class,  the  stories  of  the 
early  hardships,  trials  and  triumphs  of  this  worthy  class  of  heroic  men 
and  women,  are  not  so  very  fully  realized,  and  in  the  near  future  an 
account  of  what  were  once  considered  ' '  afflictions  grievous  to  be 
borne,"  will,  without  doubt,  prove  interesting  reading  to  the  grand- 
children of  those  whose  voices  will  have  been  hushed,  and  whose 
weary  bodies  will  have  been  lain  away  in  the  soil  they  first  turned  to 
the  sun. 

How  they  came. — A  single  instance  would  almost  answer  for  the 
history  of  the  emigration  of  all  of  the  early  settlers  to  this  section. 
We  will  give  it  in  substance,  though  not  exactly  in  the  words  of  one 
who  came  to  this  country  in  1838  : 

Far  across  the  dense  woodlands  of  Indiana,  near  where  Ohio's 
broad  waters  roll  onward  to  join  the  Mississippi  in  its  course  to  the 
great  ocean,  among  the  graceful  forest  trees,  and  gushing  springs  and 
fertile  fields  of  Ohio,  rests  in  quiet  beauty  a  shady  hillside,  a  bright 
green  valley,  and  a  dancing  water-brook.  Near  the  lane  which  passes 
this  spot  and  crosses  the  little  stream  of  water  just  beyond,  may  be 
seen  a  fine  old  farm  house  surrounded  with  towering  elms  and  fronted 
with  Evergreens  of  dififerent  varieties.  But  not  with  this  place,  as  it. 
exists  to-day,  has  our  narrative  to  do.  True,  the  surroundings  have 
changed  but  little  in  half  a  century.  The  trees  are  much  larger,  and 
the  house  has  been  so  metamorphosed  that  its  former  occupant  would 
not  recognize  it ;  but  the  hillside  and  the  brook,  the  valley  and  the 
forest,  present  the  same  appearance  as  when  forty-odd  years  ago  the 
scene  which  we  are  about  to  describe  might  have  been  witnessed. 


HABITS    AND    CUSTOMS    OF   THE    PIONEERS.  3T 

It  was  no  uncommon  occurrence  that  was  taking  place  there,  but 
because  of  its  being  a  usual  circumstance  it  becomes  of  the  gi-eater 
importance  and  is  described  the  more  minutely.  To  the  parties  con- 
cerned, however,  it  was  a  matter  of  the  greatest  moment.  The  family 
who  had  for  years  occupied  this  place  had  caught  a  glimpse  of  the 
wonderful  countiy  in  the  Bounty  tract,  one  of  the  number  having  the 
year  before  made  a  trip  to  the  new  State  of  Illinois  and  brought  back 
glowing  accounts  of  the  broad  prairies,  the  fine  belts  of  timber,  the 
richness  of  the  soil,  the  abundance  of  game,  and  the  many  other  real 
and  fancied  advantages  to  the  emigrant  bold  enough  to  face  the  dan- 
gers and  privations  incident  to  a  pioneer  life.  The  matter  had  been 
talked  over  for  many  months.  The  children  talked  it  over  and  won- 
dered at  the  length  of  the  journey,  the  exciting  incidents  of  the  trip,, 
and  the  novel  scenes  that  awaited  them  in  their  new  home,  little  com- 
prehending the  hardships  to  which  they  would  be  subjected.  The 
.  mother  and  wife  had  said  but  little,  but  naturally  shrank  from  the  trial 
of  leaving  relatives,  friends  and  home,  and  taking  up  her  abode  in  the 
wilderness.  She  could  scarcely  reconcile  herself  to  the  life  of  priva- 
tion, and  perhaps  danger,  that  awaited  her  and  those  she  loved.  But 
the  father  argued  that  the  little  farm  on  which  they  lived,  and  rented 
by  the  year,  but  barely  gave  them  a  support ;  that  the  prospect,  a& 
much  as  he  liked  his  neighbors,  and  much  as  he  prized  the  social  and 
other  privileges,  was  very  feeble  for  an  independence.  He  was  advanc- 
ing in  vears,  and  the  children  would  soon  arrive  at  manhood  and  wom- 
anhood  with  no  provision  for  old  age  for  himself  and  wife,  and  with 
nothing  for  the  young  folks  vtdth  which  to  begin  life.  And  so  it  was 
decided  to  remove  to  what  seemed  to  be  the  land  of  promise. 

Accordingly,  their  plans  had  been  announced  to  their  neighbors, 
a  sale  had  been  made  of  what  they  found  to  be  superfluous  articles, 
though  perhaps  with  a  \aew  to  realize  a  little  ready  money,  with  which 
to  make  a  substantial  start  in  their  new  location  and  to  liquidate  a  few 
debts  that  had  been  contracted  at  the  stores,  and  all  was  ready  for  the 
journey. 

The  wagon  had  been  backed  to  the  front  door  the  evening  before^ 
and  the  cows,  and  a  few  sheep,  that  they  had  concluded  to  take  with 
them,  and  which  had  been  reserved  from  the  sale,  had  been  penned 
up,  that  they  might  not  stray  away  before  the  hour  at  which  they  were 
wanted  to  begin  the  journey.  Tlie  morning  had  arrived,  the  candles 
were  lighted,  the  fire  in  the  fireplace  was  crackling,  and  the  kettle  boil- 
ing, preparatory  to  taking  the  last  meal  in  the  house.  The  breakfast 
was  dispatched  in  an  unusually  short  time,  and  then  commenced  the 
exciting  process  of  packing  up.     Bedsteads  were  knocked  to  pieces, 


38  HISTORY    OF    MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

bed-clotlies  were  thrown  in  all  directions,  and  things  in  general  pre- 
sented a  confused  appearance.  The  children  seemed  to  enjoj  the  ex- 
citement, the  mother  hastened  about,  but  on  her  face  was  a  look 
of  dejection  ;  but  the  father  and  husband  moved  around  with  a  finn 
gait,  attending  to  the  work  of  preparation  with  no  sign  that  beti'ayed 
the  feeling  of  reluctance  with  which  he  was  leaving  the  place  that  he 
had  for  so  many  years  called  home,  though  doubtless  much  of  his 
cheerfulness  was  assumed  for  the  effect  that  his  demeanor  might  have 
on  the  other,  members  of  the  family. 

Soon  the  household  effects  and  the  simpler  class  of  farming  uten- 
sils were  stowed  away  in  the  wagon,  the  bows  to  support  the  wagon 
cover  were  put  in  their  staples,  and  the  white  cover  stretched  on  and 
tied.  Then  the  oxen  were  hitched  to  the  wagon,  the  sheep  and  cows 
turned  into  the  road,  and  all  were  ready  to  start. 

Numerous  relatives  and  friends  by  this  time  had  gathered  to  bid 
them  good-by,  looking  on  in  the  meantime  with  mingled  feelings  of 
sorrow  and  wonder.  When  at  last  the  moment  for  starting  came,  the 
wife  broke  into  weeping  ;  and  though  the  husband  showed  no  outward 
signs  of  regret,  when  he  bid  his  nearest  friends  farewell  his  hand 
shook  a  little  and  his  voice  was  huskv. 

Such  a  trip  as  lay  before  these  adventurers  would  now  be  consid- 
ered comparatively  a  trivial  undertaking,  but  at  the  time  of  whicli  we 
write  it  was  of  a  more  serious  nature.  It  would  well  compare  with  the 
embarkation  of  the  hundred  pilgrims,  who  left  their  native  shores  two 
hundred  years  earlier  to  make  their  way  across  the  boundless  deep,  to 
find  a  home  in  the  new  world.  Indeed,  the  hardships  of  the  wilder- 
ness road  which  lay  before  were  greater  than  those  experienced  by  the 
emigrants  of  the  Maj^ower.  The  length  of  time  required  to  complete 
the  journey  was  almost  as  great. 

The  mother  and  the  youngest  children  rode  in  the  wagon,  while 
the  father  and  oldest  boy  trudged  along  on  foot  to  guide  the  oxen  and 
attend  to  the  stock.  It  would  be  interesting  to  listen  to  the  account  of 
all  the  incidents  of  their  long  and  tedious  joiarney,  but  time  and  space 
forbids  more  than  brief  allusions.  The  roads,  even  in  Ohio  and  Indi- 
ana, were  but  poor,  and  after  crossing  the  Wabash,  consisted  of  mere 
trails  across  prairies,  through  sloughs,  fording  creeks  and  ferrying 
rivers.  There  were  but  few  bridges  across  the  streams  then,  especially 
on  this  side  of  the  Wabash,  and  after  some  days  out  some  of  the 
streams  were  found  to  be  so  swollen  by  recent  rains  that  the  emigrants 
were  compelled  to  go  into  camp  for  several  days  to  wait  for  the  flood 
to  subside.  On  one  such  occasion  they  became  so  impatient  that,  put- 
ting into  the  stream  before  it  had  fallen  sufficiently,  they  all  came  near 


HABITS    AND    CUSTOMS   OF    THE    PIONEERS.  39 

losing  their  lives.  At  another  place,  where  there  was  a  prospect  of 
having  to  stay  several  days,  a  raft  was  constructed  of  timbers  cut  and 
prepared  on  the  spot,  and  lashed  together  with  bed  cords.  On  this 
they  crossed  to  the  other  side,  bringing  over  the  last  wheel  of  the 
wagon  after  a  whole  day's  work,  thus  camping  only  a  few  hundred  feet 
from  their  camping  place  of  the  night  before.  Their  little  stock  ot 
provisions  soon  gave  out,  but  they  did  not  suffer  for  lack  of  food,  as 
the  timber  was  full  of  game  and  the  rifle  supplied  them  with  plenty  of 
meat.  The  cattle  easily  subsisted  upon  the  grass  that  grew  along  the 
road.  However,  the  journey  was  a  wearisome  one,  and  all  were  well 
pleased  when  at  length  it  was  completed. 

Finally,  at  the  close  of  a  weary  day,  the  company  came  to  a  halt, 
not  with  a  design  of  locating  at  this  stopping  place,  but,  knowing  tliat 
they  must  be  in  the  vicinity  of  the  point  toward  which  they  had  been 
traveling,  they  concluded  to  camp  a  few  days  and  look  around. 
Accordingly,  arrangements  for  more  than  an  ordinary  stop  were  made, 
and  our  pioneer  the  next  day  started  out  on  foot  to  select  a  location  for 
his  future  home,  leaving  his  family  in  camp.  After  a  few  day's  search, 
he  had  fully  made  up  his  mind,  and  the  camp  was  removed  to  the  spot 
selected  for  the  future  home,  provided  the  land  was  not  already  the 
property  of  some  one  else.  It  was  yet  early  spring  and  they  at  once 
set  about  planting  some  corn  and  other  vegetables,  even  before  the 
land  they  were  breaking  had  been  secured,  living  in  the  meantime  in 
the  now  empty  box  of  the  wagon. 

After  the  crop  was  planted,  the  father  made  his  way  to  the  land 
office,  and  secured  the  cpiarter  on  which  he  had  pitched  his  tent.  By 
fall,  a  cabin  was  erected,  and  thus  began  the  new  life  of  one  of  the 
many  brave  families  who  at  that  early  date  came  to  this  country  to  seek 
an  independence  and  a  home. 

Doubtless  many  of  the  earliest  settlers  will  recognize  the  expe- 
riences of  this  family  thus  far  as  that  of  their  own,  and  many  of  the 
younger  people  will  imagine  they  have  heard  the  story  before,  as  told 
by  father  or  mother,  who  may  long  since  have  been  laid  to  rest  in  the 
little  cemetery  at  Sugar  Grove  or  the  Yellow  Banks,  near  the  great 
river. 

The  experiences  of  the  first  emigrants  were  so  similar  that  a  rep- 
etition of  them  destroys  the  novelty ;  but  it  could  never  destroy  the 
charm  or  lose  the  interest,  while  at  the  same  time  it  renders  the  faith- 
ful description  the  more  valuable,  applying  as  it  does,  to  so  many  cases. 
With  the  change  of  the  name  of  the  state  from  which  the  family  came, 
and  the  addition  or  suppression  of  a  few  more  details  which  marked 
their  journey,  no  doubt  the  narrative  might  be  made  to  fit  the  emigra- 


40  fflSTOEY   OF   MEECER   AND   HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

tion  to  this  section  of  a  majority  of  its  early  occupants.  A  few  brouglit 
horses,  which  drew  the  gi-eat  prairie  schooner  wagon,  and  not  infre- 
quently a  horse  and  an  ox  did  duty  in  the  same  team.  A  single  ox  or 
a  single  horse  has  drawn  to  this  country  all  of  the  worldly  wealth  pos- 
sessed by  some  of  what  have  proved  its  most  worthy  citizens. 

The  First  Dwellings. — Judge  Gilmore,  whose  recollection  of  the 
early  features  of  the  country  are  probably  as  correct  as  any,  gives  us 
the  pen  picture  of  the  pioneer  cabin  which  follows.  The  pioneer  cabins 
were  nearly  all  built  after  the  same  pattern,  the  plans  and  specifications 
being  very  simple  indeed.  The  building  site  was  a  spot  in  the  edge 
of  the  grove,  so  as  to  be  near  the  patch  of  prairie  designed  to  be 
cultivated,  and  within  the  shelter  of  the  grove  for  the  protection  of 
themselves  and  stock  from  the  cold  winds  of  winter.  This  was 
considered  a  colder  climate  than  that  from  which  most  of  them  had 
come,  and  protection  from  its  inclemencies  was  a  matter  for  serious 
consideration. 

The  very  first  cabins  were  constructed  from  logs  entirely  undressed, 
the  small  difterence  in  length  being  considered  no  disadvantage  to  looks 
or  utility.  The  trees  selected  for  the  purpose  were  generally  a  foot  or 
less  in  diameter.  From  these  logs  were  cut,  usually  about  sixteen  feet 
in  length.  In  both  ends  of  the  logs  notches  were  cut  to  receive  the 
notches  cut  in  each  other,  so  that  in  their  building  up  they  would  lie 
close  one  upon  the  other,  in  the  manner  of  a  rail  pen.  When  the  pen 
was  built  to  the  height  of  six  or  seven  feet,  a  portion  of  one  or  two  logs 
on  one  side  would  be  removed  for  a  window ;  another  opening  would  be 
made  for  a  door,  and  another  for  the  stick  and  mud  chimney,  which 
would  be  built  outside  as  a  kind  of  an  addition  to  the  house. 

In  winter  the  windows  consisted  of  greased  paper  pasted  over  the 
opening  mentioned.  In  summer  none  were  needed.  The  door  was 
usually  made  from  boards  that  had  been  fashioned  from  a  straight 
grained  tree  by  no  other  tool  than  the  ax.  The  latch  was  a  liome-made 
affair,  similar  to  those  still  to  be  seen  on  farm  gates.  A  little  above 
the  latch  a  small  auger  hole  was  bored  through  the  door,  and  through 
this  hung  a  thong  of  buckskin  attached  to  the  latch,  by  which  it  could 
be  lifted  from  the  outside  by  pulling  the  string. 

The  floor  of  the  dwelling  in  very  many  instances  was  the  earth. 
The  hearth  of  the  fire  place,  where  the  cooking  was  done,  was  made  of 
such  flat  stones  as  could  be  found  in  their  natural  state.  A  little  later 
bricks  for  this  purpose,  and  in  a  few  instances  for  entire  chimneys,  were 
made  by  tramping  mud  in  a  box  with  the  bare  feet  and  burning  a  few 
hundred  of  them  at  a  time.  Abraham  Miller,  formerly  of  Mercer 
county,  but  now  in  Oregon,  wi-ites  that  he  made  the  fii-st  bricks  ever 


HABITS    AND    CUSTOMS   OF   THE    PIONEERS. 


41 


used  in  Mercer  county,  and  that  the  mud  for  them  was  mixed  with  his 
bare  feet. 

The  cabins  were  covered  with  boards  riven  from  straight  grained 
trees  the  full  length  of  one  side  of  the  building,  and  held  in  their  places 
by  the  weight  of  the  bodies  of  small  trees.  The  cracks  between  the 
logs  composing  the  sides  of  the  cabin  were  filled  with  wedge  shaped 
pieces  .of  wood  called  "chinks,"  and  these  were  daubed  over  with  mud, 
the  hands  in  many  cases  being  used  as  the  trowel.  Abraham  Miller 
says  that  the  young  men  were  particular  to  leave  finger  marks  on  this 
kind  of  work,  as  it  was  a  sure  road  into  the  good  graces  of  the  maidens, 
who  held  this  sign  of  industry  and  democracy  in  high  repute. 


-liUrf^r^:^^ 


A   PIONEER   LOG   CABIN. 


In  the  construction  of  these  simple  dwellings  the  only  tools  em- 
ployed were  an  ax,  a  saw  and  an  auger,  and  in  ^-ery  many  cases  only 
the  ax.  Not  a  nail  or  any  piece  of  iron  was  used,  and  not  a  pane  of 
glass;  neither  paint  nor  plaster  were  available. 

Decorations,  such  as  pictures  or  brackets  for  the  walls,  would  have 
been  a  great  curiosit)^  In  their  place  festoons  of  corn  for  the  next 
year's  planting  hung  from  poles  in  the  upper  space  of  the  cabins.  The 
trusty  rifle  lay  in  two  wooden  hooks  over  the  door  or  fire  place,  and 
from  pegs  near  the  chimney  often  hung  bits  of  venison  that  were  being 
dried  for  future  use,  and  was  called  "jerk."  These  were  the  decora- 
tions of  grandfather's  house. 


42  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

The  pioneer  cabin  has  seen  its  day,  however,  and  is  now  a  thing  of 
the  past.  It  has  been  superseded  by  the  more  pretentious  hewed  log- 
house  of  two  or  more  rooms,  and  this  in  turn  has  given  place  to  the 
fine  frame  and  brick  dwellings  which  dot  the  prairies  and  groves  all 
over.  A  few  of  the  ancient  cabins  are  still  doing  service  as  pig-sties  or 
hen  houses,  and  the  modern  traveler  would  hardly  dream  that  once^ 
they  were  the  dwellings  of  large  and  happy  families. 

We  give  in  this  connection  a  view  of  a  cabin  still  standing  in  Eliza 
township,  Mercer  county,  though  the  artist  has  had  to  draw  somewhat 
on  imagination  for  the  surroundings,  as  the  once  pioneer  mansion  now 
serves  the  ignoble  purpose  of  sheltering  the  chickens. 

Ancient  House  Furniture. — -Perhaps  in  nothing  has  there  been  a 
greater  change  than  in  the  furniture,  botli  ornamental  and  useful,  with 
which  the  houses  of  this  county  have  been  supplied.  Any  one  curious 
enough  to  make  a  list  of  the  numberless  articles  now  considered  indis- 
pensable to  a  well  furnished  house,  will  be  surprised  to  find  that  scarcely 
an  article  now  in  use  was  in  the  early  times  of  this  section  even  known. 
And  so  also  the  few  utensils  and  ornaments  used  by  our  grandmothers 
would  be  curiosities  now.  Sewing  machines  only  began  to  come  intO' 
use  here  in  about  1S60,  and  now  scarcely  a  family  is  without  one. 
Grandmother  Dennison,  of  Keithsburg,  says  all  of  the  clothing  in  use 
by  the  family  was  made  by  the  skillful  and  industrious  fingers  of  the^ 
housewife  with  the  needle  and  thimble.  Not  only  so,  but  even  the 
cloth  of  which  the  clothes  were  made  was  a  home  manufacture. 
Each  family  kept  a  few  sheep,  and  from  these  the  wool  was  sheared, 
washed,  picked,  carded,  spun,  woven,  dyed  and  cut,  in  many  instances, 
all  at  home. 

ISTone  of  the  young  ladies  of  to-day  know  what  a  "wool  pickin'"  is. 
The  last  one  was  had  years  ago.  The  picking  of  the  particles  of  dirt 
and  burs  from  the  fleece  was  a  very  tedious  process,  and  in  the  early 
times  it  was  customary  for  the  matron  of  the  family  to  call  in  the  help 
of  all  the  young  and  middle  aged  ladies  foi*  some  miles  around  to  assist 
in  this  work.  These  invitations  were  gladly  accepted,  for  the  picking 
always  ended  with  a  frolic  at  night,  to  which  the  young  ladies'  beaux 
were  invited. 

So  in  the  making  up  of  clothing,  there  were  in  use  the  big  sheep 
shears,  the  cards,  which  were  two  insti'uments  much  resembling  the 
instruments  used  for  currying  horses  at  the  present  day,  the  spinning- 
wheel,  the  hand  loom  and  the  dye  kettle.  None  of  these  remain  in 
use,  but  occasionally  one  may  be  found  in  the  garret  of  the  house  of  an 
old  settler. 

Many  of  the  early  settlers  were  skillful  in  the  use  of  some  of  the: 


HABITS   AND    CUSTOMS   OF   THE    PIONEERS.  43 

simplest  tools  of  the  shoemaker,  and  could  turn  out  a  decent,  but  rough 
pair  of  shoes  from  leather  that  they  had  themselves  tanned  from  the 
skins  of  animals  that  they  had  themselves  reared.  Even  the  lasts  and 
the  pegs  were  of  home  manufactiwe.  The  simple  kits  of  tools  used  in 
the  manufacture  of  leather  and  shoes  were,  however,  soon  superseded 
by  the  tan  yards  and  the  professional  shoemaker,  and  they  in  turn  have 
had  their  time  and  are  almost  extinct.  The  few  pelts  that  are  now 
taken  from  the  cattle  are  sent  to  the  great  cities  and  tanned  by  improved 
processes,  made  into  shoes  by  machines  driven  by  steam,  and  shipped 
back  to  us  in  nice  green  boxes  containing  a  dozen  pairs  of  all  sizes  and 
qualities. 

The  culinary  implements  were  as  rude  and  simple  as  it  is  possible 
to  conceive.  The  old  Dutch  oven  for  baking  bread,  a  skillet  and  an 
iron  pot,  that  hung  from  a  wooden  hook  in  the  great  wide  chimney, 
were  about  all  that  were  considered  necessary  for  baking,  frying  and 
boiling.  There  was  not  a  stove  in  the  county  until  about  1845,  and, 
therefore,  the  fireplace,  extending  almost  across  one  end  of  the  cabin, 
was  the  only  source  of  heat  in  the  winter,  and  also  answered  all  the 
demands  of  cooking.  Even  the  first  cook  stoves  were  simple  affairs- 
compared  to  those  in  present  use,  and  were  constructed  with  a  double 
purpose  of  heating  and  cooking. 

In  a  letter  from  Abraham  Miller,  he  says:  "Our  early  crops  were 
mainly  corn,  wheat,  oats,  flax  for  home  use,  and  the  most  useful  vege- 
tables of  all  kinds,  all  of  which  did  remarkably  well.  We  raised 
melons  in  abundance.  The  only  market  point  for  the  county  was  New 
Boston,  then  only  known  as  Dennison's  Landing  and  wood  yard,  at 
upper  Yellow  Sand  Banks,  on  the  Mississippi  river.  The  first  store  or 
trading  post  was  there  in  1834,  and  was  kept  by  a  man  by  the  name  of 
Irvin,  who  was.  very  exact,  both  in  a  commercial  and  moral  point  of 
view.  He  was  a  seceder  by  profession.  So  correct  was  he  in  his  views 
of  the  Sabbath  that  he  penned  up  his  rooster  on  that  day,  that  he  might 
not  disturb  the  holy  day.  Tliis  is  neither  jest  nor  hoax.  I  only  men- 
tion it  to  show  that,  in  those  early  times  and  among  backwoods  settlers, 
religious  rites,  according  to  each  order,  were  strictly  observed.  Prices 
of  produce  were  very  low.  Wheat  was  not  more  than  forty  cents  per 
bushel,  and  this  was  the  highest  priced  article,  proportionately,  that  the 
fanner  had  to  sell.  In  those  days  we  were  all  new  beginners  and  had 
but  little  surplus  to  market.  We  raised  our  own  hogs  and  hominy, 
killed  deer,  wild  turkeys,  prairie  hens,  caught  fish  and  found  wild  bees. 
We  had  to  get  what  little  groceries  we  had  with  raccoon  and  deer  skins, 
and  frequently  the  best  of  us  did  without  any.  We  were  inured  to 
anything  from  hard  times  down,  and  small  privations  were  not  noted. 


44  inSTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Our  wives  and  daughters  could  spin  and  weave,  and  wear  the  product 
of  their  own  industry.  We  drank  parched  com  or  pea  coffee  until  we 
got  to  raising  wheat  and  rye  enough  to  answer  the  purpose.  We  drank 
tea  made  from  sycamore  chips.  A  favorite  tea  was  made  of  red-root 
leaves,  sweated  under  a  Dutch  oven,  rolled  between  the  two  hands  and 
dried.  When  drawn  and  sweetened  with  well  scummed  honey,  your 
readers  are  assured  it  was  not  bad  to  take.  This  tea  we  called  grub 
hyson.  An  early  merchant  of  New  Boston,  after  the  discovery  of  this 
tea,  caught  at  the  idea,  and  when  his  black  tea  ran  short  in  the  store, 
tradition  says,  he  sold  many  a  pound  of  red-root  leaves. 

"The  men  and  boys  could  wear  buckskin  breeches;  and  a  coon- 
skin  cap,  with  the  tail  dangling  behind  the  head  as  an  ornament  thereto, 
was  not  a  novel  sight.  We  were  all  poor,  but  on  a  social  equality. 
We  hardly  had  an  idea  of  what  aristocracy  was.  With  the  greatest  of 
pleasure  I  yet  look  back  on  those  good  old  times  as  my  golden  days, 
when  all  around  was  clothed  in  the  wild,  yet  gorgeous  robes  of  nature, 
and  while  its  half-forgotten  scenery  plays  about  and  flits  across  mem- 
ory's path,  imagination  paints  the  flush  of  youth  where  age  as  well  as 
grief  have  coursed  bitter  tears  down  its  lachrymal  furrows.  Despite 
this,  for  the  moment,  the  blood  of  boyhood  rushes  through  the  sunken 
veins  and  makes  the  aged  young. 

"We  had  our  backwoods  mechanic  in  almost  every  farmer  and 
farmer's  boy,  who  learned  early  in  life,  and  who  turned  his  hand  to 
anything  necessary  for  carrying  on  our  backwoods  operations,  both  in 
wood  and  iron.  But  as  the  country  grew  up  mechanics  of  almost  all 
kinds  dropped  in,  but  it  was  only  npon  a  small  scale  that  they  were 
patronized,  or  that  they  expected  patronage,  as  they  generally  added  to 
their  mechanical  skill  agricultural  industries,  and  pursued  their  trades 
•only  at  odd  times."" 

The  wool  picking  has  been  alluded  to.  It  had  its  corresponding 
diversion  for  the  young  men  in  the  corn  husking,  or  "shuckin',"  as  it 
was  called.  It  was  common,  not  only  in  the  early  days,  but  until  with- 
in a  score  of  years,  to  break  the  ears  from  the  stalks  as  they  stood  in 
the  field,  and  haul  them  to  the  vicinity  of  the  barn  and  then  invite  all 
the  young  men  to  come  in  on  some  afternoon  or  evening  to  strip  them 
of  their  husks.  Thus  a  wearisome  task  for  the  single  handed  fanner, 
requiring  weeks  of  labor,  would  be  performed  in  a  single  evening. 
The  husking  bee  would  usually  end  with  a  sumptuous  supper,  and  fre- 
quently with  a  spree,  to  which  the  young  ladies  had  been  previously 
invited.  Other  pastimes  of  the  olden  time,  some  of  which  are  but 
barely  obsolete,  were  the  quiltings,  which  partook  of  features  of  the 
wool  pickings,  the  singing  schools,  the  spellings,  wolf  hunts,  house  and 


EAKLY    SEITLEMENT.  45 

iDarn  raisings.  At  all  of  these  the  joung  people  took  great  interest  and 
manifested  their  skill  according  to  the  adaptation  of  age  or  sex  for  such 
amusements. 

The  Fourth  of  July  was,  fifty  years  ago,  kept  more  as  a  reminder  of 
its  origin  than  it  is  to-day,  and  some  of  the  early  celebrations  were 
^rand  affairs.  There  was  less  of  show  and  noise  than  to-day,  but  of 
all  that  goes  to  make  up  a  grand  holiday,  and  that  conduces  to  a  hearty 
rejoicing  oji  account  of  our  country's  independence,  was  present  in  full 
force.  The  people  were  more  democratic  in  their  habits  and  thoughts, 
and  consequently  a  gathering  of  the  kind  embraced  all  the  citizens  of 
the  county.  Not  unfrequently  a  revolutionary  hero  honored  the  scene 
with  his  presence,  and  exhibited  himself  in  the  evolutions  and  drill 
learned  by  necessity  in  his  country's  birth. 

EARLY  SETTUiMENT. 

The  Eastern,  Middle  and  Southern  states,  from  which  the  early 
-settlers  came,  were  densely  covered  with  a  vigorous  growth  of  timber. 
A  patch  of  prairie  was  a  curiosity  east  or  south  of  the  center  of  Li- 
diana.  Tlie  avocations  of  the  pioneer  in  the  east  and  south  had  been, 
for  the  first  half  of  his  manhood,  to  cut  down  the  giant  trees  of  the 
forest,  roll  the  logs  together  and  burn  them.  With  the  unpleasant 
remembrances  of  log  rolling,  brush  burning  and  stump  grubbing,  it 
seems  a  little  strange  that  the  prairies  of  the  Mississippi  valley  and  the 
tiibutaries  thereto  were  not  the  very  first  to  claim  tlie  early  settler's 
attention.  Here  were  open  farms  ready  for  the  plow.  Not  a  stump, 
or  a  root,  or  a  stone,  was  in  the  way  of  immediate  successful  cultiva- 
tion. The  oldest  and  most  carefully  cultivated  fields  of  Ohio,  Indiana 
■or  Kentucky,  from  which  most  of  the  first  settlers  came,  were  not  as 
clear  of  obstacles  to  the  agriculturist's  implements  as  were  the  prairies 
of  Mercer  county. 

Then  where  shall  we  seek  for  the  reasons  for  the  neglect  of  the 
more  generous  soil  of  the  prairie  and  the  preference  for  groves  and  the 
poorer  soil  bordering  thereon  ?  We  must  not  forget  that  times  have 
■greatly  changed  within  a  half  century.  Irriplements  that  could  not  be 
used'on  rough  and  stumpy  grounds  are  a  modern  invention.  Corn 
planters,  grain  diills,  reapers  and  cultivators  were  invented  after  the 
prairies  began  to  be  cultivated,  and  their  uses  admissable.  These 
machines  were  not  invented  for  the  rough  lands  of  the  east,  but  for  the 
broad,  level  fields  of  the  western  states. 

Again,  we  must  keep  in  mind,  habits  of  thought  and  action  are 
not  very  easily  changed.  In  parts  of  the  old  world  implements  of 
^agriculture  have  not  changed,  much  in  some  thousands  of  years.     Tlie 


46  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

pioneers  of  this  county  were  used  to  a  wooded  countiy.  Thej  were 
used  to  having  stake  and  ridered  fences  ;  houses  and  barns  made  of 
logs ;  used  to  having  large,  blazing  fires  of  wood  in  the  large  chimney 
place  in  the  winter,  and  used  to  wasting  large  quantities  of  fine  logs  by 
burning  in  great  heaps  every  year.  So  when  they  came  here,  with  all 
these  habits  and  predispositions,  it  must  naturally  have  occurred  to- 
them  that  the  supply  of  wood  was  limited  and  everyone  sought  for  a 
good  piece  of  timber,  which  should  adjoin  another  piece  ^of  prairie, 
whether  that  prairie  was  of  the  best  or  not.  So  we  find  all  of  the  first 
settlers  hugging  close  to  the  water-courses  upon  whose  banks  grew  the 
only  reminder  of  their  former  southern  or  eastern  homes. 

One  need  not  in  this  respect  be  told  the  early  history  of  any  locality 
in  the  state.  Tlie  same  rule  governed  all  over,  and  Mercer  county  was. 
no  exception.  Of  course,  navigation  had  something  to  do  with  settling 
the  shores  of  such  streams  as  were  large  enough  to  allow  the  steamboat 
to  ply  back  and  forth  upon  its  waters.  Steamboats  began  running 
along  the  Missis8ipj)i  in  1823,  and  to  this  circumstance,  doubtless,  we 
can  trace  very  many  of  the  first  settlements  in  the  valley.  The  vicin- 
ity of  New  Boston  was  permanently  occupied  first  by  parties  who  sup- 
plied the  boats  with  wood,  and  this,  indeed,  was  the  very  first  settle- 
ment made  by  white  men  in  the  county.  It  was  in  the  year  182 Y  that 
the  Dennison  family  came  to  that  point  to  supply  the  boats  with  fuel, 
and  in  the  plat  of  the  town  of  New  Boston  they  as  proprietors  reserve 
the  right  to  the  monoi3oly  of  that  trade,  and  of  running  a  ferry.  The 
Dennisons  were  a  large  and  respectable  family,  who  had  come  origi- 
nally from  Indiana,  but  had  lived  a  year  in  Sangamon  county. 

These  were  the  first  to  make  what  is  now  embraced  in  Mercer 
county  a  permanent  home.  Tlirough  the  influence  of  this  family  others 
came  in,  a  year  or  two  later,  and  settled  in  the  immediate  neighbor- 
hood. Indians  were  still  plenty  on  this  side  of  the  river  and  some  of 
them  were  quite  unfriendly  to  the  encroaching  settler,  though  they 
endeavored  to  keep  up  a  show  of  ft-iendship  with  the  government. 
This  hostile  disposition  on  the  part  of  the  Indians  made  it  not  only 
desirable,  but  imperative,  that  settlers  should  keep  within  a  reasonable 
distance  of  each  other,  and  of  the  river,  and  for  this  reason,  more  than 
any  other,  no  settlements  were  made  far  up  the  Edwards  or  Pope 
rivers  until  after  the  Indians  had  been  removed  in  1832. 

Among  the  earliest  records  of  Warren  county  we  find  the  names  of 
parties  who  voted  once  or  twice  in  this  vicinity,  but  of  whose  identity 
all  other  trace  seems  to  have  been  lost.     Tlie  earliest  settler  cannot  now 
even  remember  the  names.     These  were  probably  steamboat  men,, 
hunters  or  laborers,  who  possibly  may  have  been  here  but  a  few  days.. 


EABLY    SETTLEltlENT.  47 

In  those  times  the  ballot  was  not  guarded  so  closely  but  that  a  man 
could  have  deposited  his  ballot,  even  if  he  had  not  been  in  the  precinct 
the  prescribed  number  of  days.  The  names  of  such  cut  no  figure  in  the 
history  of  the  county,  and  need  not  be  even  repeated  here. 

We  have  to  do  especially  with  those  who  came  here  to  reside,  to 
subdue  the  forest  and  the  soil,  to  provide  for  families  who  have  since 
made  themselves  known  and  felt  in  the  community,  who  founded 
society  and  moulded  opinions,  and  who,  in  a  general  way,  have  left 
their  mark  upon  the  county.  They  are  yet  known,  or  if  departed,  they 
are  remembered  for  their  bravery,  their  endurance  of  hardships,  their 
virtue  and  honor.  Of  such  we  desire  to  wi'ite,  and  of  such  we  desire 
to  perpetuate  the  memories. 

The  Dennison  family  came  originally  from  Ohio,  and  lived  a  short 
time  in  Indiana.  In  1826  they  came  to  Sangamon  county  in  this  state 
and  stayed  about  a  year,  and  in  the  year  above  named  came  to  tlie 
vicinity  of  New  Boston.  For  two  years  the  Dennisons  and  Shaunces, 
who  at  that  time  lived  a  few  miles  farther  north,  and  the  Yanatas  at 
Keithsburgh,  were  almost  the  sole  occupants  of  the  county.  In  1830 
the  census  reports  show  Mercer  county  as  having  a  population  of  only 
twenty-seven  persons,  and  these  nearly  all  belonged  to  the  two  families 
named.  In  1831  the  Indian  troubles  began,  and  did  not  end  until  the 
fall  of  1832,  and  of  course  no  additions  were  made  during  that  time, 
nor  indeed  for  a  year  or  so  after,  when  confidence  in  the  peaceful  solu- 
tion of  the  troubles  was  fully  restored. 

Tlie  year  1834:  brought  a  number  of  settlers,  not  only  to  the  Den- 
nison neighborhood,  but  to  other  portions  of  the  county.  In  tlie  spring 
of  the  year  named,  several  persons  from  Indiana  came  in  and  took 
claims,  planted  sod  corn,  and  went  back  in  the  fall  and  brought  out 
their  families.  Among  those  worthy  of  record  were  Josej^h  Glancey, 
"Wm.  Drury,  William,  ISTewton  J.  and  Joshua  Willits,  Isaac  Drury, 
Joseph,  John  S.  and  Lewis  Noble. 

Several  of  the  names  mentioned  will  be  found  in  future  pages  with 
extensive  and  numerous  notices,  as  they  proved  to  be  valuable  acquisi- 
tions to  the  then  new  but  growing  community.  Jesse  Willits  was  after- 
ward first  probate  judge,  with  his  appointment  from  the  governor. 
His  name  appears  on  the  poll  book  as  the  first  man  to  deposit  a  ballot, 
after  the  county  was  organized  in  1835.  Silas  Drury  was  the  first 
sheriif,  and  Isaac  Drury  was  one  of  the  fii"st  county  commissioners. 
Other  prominent  settlers  in  the  west  end  of  the  county  (and  then  con- 
sidered in  reality  the  same  neighborhood),  were  John  Long,  first  school 
commissioner,  Wm.  I.  Ne^dus,  Eli  Reynolds,  a  physician,  and  Isaac 
Dawson,  a  carpenter. 


48  HISTORY    OF   JfERCER    AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

In  the  meantime  a  new  and  distinct  settlement  was  forming,  some 
ten  miles  up  the  Edwards  river,  at  a  point  then  and  for  years  afterward 
known  as  the  Sugar  Grove  settlement,  and  after  the  organization  of  the 
county,  called  the  Sugar  Grove  precinct.  A  large  family,  consisting  of 
four  brothers,  John,  Isaac,  George  and  Abraham  Miller,  with  several  rel- 
atives and  friends,  settled  at  this  point  in  1834,  completely  surrounding 
the  grove.  The  Miller  family  was  originally  from  Crab  Orchard, 
Tennessee,  whence  they  had  removed  to  near  Ci-a"w^ordsville,  Indiana, 
in  about  1820.  From  that  place  several  members  of  the  family  came 
on  here,  in  the  latter  part  of  April,  1834,  bringing  ^\nth  them  several 
yoke  of  oxen  and  some  agricultural  implements,  for  the  purpose  of 
making  claims  and  of  planting  sod  corn.  All  but  Abraham  Miller, 
Junior  (son  of  George  Miller),  and  his  wife  and  wife's  sister,  returned 
to  Indiana  and  came  out  subsequently.  Abraham  Miller,  Jun.,  proved 
to  be  a-  man  of  much  note  in  public  affairs  of  this  county,  and  indeed 
the  whole  family  was,  for  ten  years  or  more,  during  their  sojourn  here, 
an  influential  one. 

Abraham  Miller  remained  with  the  growing  crops,  built  a  cabin, 
and  became  the  first  permanent  settler  of  the  grove,  and  indeed  of  a 
radius  of  ten  or  twelve  miles.  Several  other  families,  some  relatives 
and  others  mere  acquaintances,  followed  these  during  the  next  season, 
so  that  by  the  time  the  county  was  organized  in  1835,  it  was  found 
most  convenient  to  divide  the  county  into  two  precincts  :  the  one  at 
New  Boston,  which  had  just  been  laid  out  and  given  that  name,  instead 
of  Dennison's  Landing,  and  the  Sugar  Grove  precinct.  By  the  fall  of 
1835  there  were  probably  about  sixty  inhabitants  in  and  about  the 
Grove,  and  between  200  and  250  in  the  whole  county. 

The  groves  along  the  Edwards  river  were  gradually  being  occupied 
by  settlers,  who  pushed  farther  and  farther  toward  its  source.  In 
the  spring  of  1835  a  distinct  settlement,  known  as  the  Richland  settle- 
ment, or  Farlow's  Grove,  was  begun.  Tliis  was  not  in  what  is  now 
known  as  Richland  Grove  township,  but  in  reality  along  the  north  side 
of  the  Edwards,  in  what  is  now  Preemption  township. 

John  Farlow  and  family,  who  settled  on  section  22,  came  from 
Indiana  in  the  spring  of  1835,  and  settled  as  stated.  In  the  fall  of  the 
same  year  Hopkins  Boone,  now  a  resident  of  Viola,  occupied  section 
34.  Mr.  Boone,  with  his  family,  came  from  Pennsylvania.  This  was 
the  farthest  from  the  mouth  of  the  river  that  any  one  had  yet  settled, 
and  indeed  at  that  time  there  was  not  a  family  residing  between  that 
point  and  the  Pock  river,  nor  for  many  miles  to  the  east,  and  but  one 
family  on  the  south,  between  that  and  Monmouth.  The  next  spring 
(1836)  Rev.  John  Montgomery,  a  Presbyterian  minister,  and  James 


ORGANIZATION    OF   MERCER    CONUTY.  49" 

Boone,  came  out  from  Pennsylvania  and  located  in  the  Richland  neigh- 
borhood.    Gabriel  Barkley,   Rev.   Joseph  Jones,   a  Baptist  minister, 
and  C.  Miller,  came  the  same  year  from  Indiana  and  settled  in  the 
vicinity  of  Farlow's  Grove. 

Thus  have  we  ti'aced  the  main  settlements  of  the  Edwards  valley, 
from  the  mouth  of  that  river  to  near  the  eastern  line  of  the  county.  In 
the  same  way  the  banks  of  Pope  creek  were  being  occupied,  but 
not  quite  so  rapidly,  nor  were  the  neighborhoods  quite  so  distinct,  but 
were  considered  somewhat  as  branches  of  the  three  principal  settle- 
ments named.  Up  the  North  Hefiderson,  from  the  ^dcinity  of  Oquawka, 
the  pioneer  was  gradually  extending  his  domain,  until  the  banks  of 
these  streams  were  lined  on  either  side,  where  grew  the  native  forests, 
with  the  pioneer's  cabins  and  the  pioneer's  patches  of  corn  and  other 
crops. 

As  the  settlements  grew  older  and  more  populous  they  gradually 
divided  in  interest,  and  centers  began  to  form  at  points  which  at  the 
first  were  considered  as  being  in  the  same  neighborhood,  and  thus  two 
or  more  new  neighborhoods  were  by  common  consent,  and  by  conven- 
ience, formed  from  one.  Keithsburg  and  Eliza,  on  the  west  side  of  the 
county,  separated  their  interests  from  New  Boston.  Ohio  Grove, 
farther  iqj  the  Pope,  and  North  Henderson,  became  more  dis- 
tinct and  held  less  close  relations  with  Sugar  Grove  or  the  Miller 
neighborhood.  Most  of  these  places  had  for  their  centers  either  a  post 
office  or  a  voting  place,  and  in  some  cases  a  church  organization  was 
the  distinctive  feature. 

ORGANIZATION  OF  MERCER  COUNTY. 

By  the  year  1835  the  territory  now  embraced  within  the  limits  of 
Mercer  county  had  received  quite  a  number  of  permanent  settlers. 
The  Black  Hawk  war  had  ended  three  years  previously,  and  the  excite- 
ment caused  thereby  had  almost  all  passed  away.  Information  had 
been  spread  abroad  that  this  country,  so  lately  overrun  b}'  the  Indians, 
and  about  which  comparatively  little  was  known,  was  one  of  the  most 
desirable  for  settlement  in  the  west.  Accordingly,  emigrants  began  to 
find  their  way  up  the  Mississippi  and  overland,  from  the  more  thickly 
settled  portions  of  Ohio,  in  search  of  cheap  homes  ;  some  in  search  of 
good  hunting  grounds,  the  game  having  begun  to  be  scarce  in  their 
former  haunts.  So  they  came,  some  on  horseback,  some  on  foot,  some 
up  the  river  on  boats,  and  some  in  wagons,  bringing  with  them  all  their 
worldly  goods,  and  their  families.  Nearly  all  were  poor,  but  nearly 
all  came  with  the  one  pui-pose  of  securing  an  independence  and  a  home 
for  their  families,  which  could  not  be  obtained  in  the  older  sections  of 


50  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

the  country,  where  land  had  already  become  comparatively  dear.  The 
iu'st  settlements  were  made  along  the  Mississippi  river,  and  from 
thence  they  gradually  spread  outward  and  followed  the  smaller  rivers 
toward  their  sources.  By  the  date  named,  there  were  jjrobably  forty 
or  fifty  families  in  the  territory  designed  for  Mercer  county. 

The  act  of  the  legislature  organizing  the  county  was  passed  January 
31,  1835.  By  a  provision  of  the  act,  an  election  was  directed  to  be . 
held  on  the  first  Monday  of  April,  1835,  in  the  town  of  New  Boston, 
at  the  house  of  Eli  Keynolds,  and  at  the  house  of  Geo.  Miller,  for 
county  oflicers.  James  Irvin,  George  Piper  and  Benjamin  Yanata,  or 
any  two  of  them,  were  to  be  judges  at  New  Boston,  and  George  Mil- 
ler, David  Shaunce  and  Ebenezer  Gi'esswell,  or  any  two  of  them,  at 
the  house  of  George  Miller.  New  Boston  was  designated  as  the  tem- 
porary county  seat.  The  following  is  an  exact  copy  of  the  act,  as  will 
be  found  on  page  156  of  the  session  laws  for  the  year  1835,  and  as  it 
will  be  deemed  a  historical  relic  by  many,  we  think  it  advisable  to  give 
it  entire. 

AN   ACT  TO   ORGANIZE   MERCER   COUNTY. 

Section  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  people  of  the  state  of  Illinois  represented  in 
the  general  assembly,  That  on  the  first  Monday  of  A]3ril  next,  between  the  hours 
of  eight  o'clock  in  the  morning  and  seven  o'clock  in  the  evening,  an  election 
shall  be  held  in  the  town  of  New  Boston,  at  the  house  of  Eli  Reynolds,  and  the 
house  of  George  Miller,  in  the  county  of  Mercer,  for  three  county  commissioners, 
one  sheriff,  and  one  coroner,  for  said  county,  who  shall  continue  in  ofl&ce  until 
their  successors  shall  be  duly  elected  and  qualified. 

Sec  2.  That  James  Irvin,  George  Pi^^er  and  Benjamin  Vanata,  or  any  two 
of  them,  shall  be  judges  of  the  election  to  be  held  at  the  town  of  New  Boston, 
and  George  Miller,  David  *Shonce  and  Ebenezer  Cresswell,  or  any  two  of  them, 
shall  be  judges  of  the  election  to  be  held  at  the  house  of  George  Miller.  Said 
judges  shall  be  authorized  to  appoint  two  clerks  at  each  precinct,  and  said  judges 
and  clerks  shall  be  qualified  in  the  same  manner  as  judges  and  clerks  of  elections 
are  now  required  by  law,  and  said  elections  shall  in  every  respect  be  conducted 
in  conformity  with  the  election  laws  of  this  state. 

Sec  3.  Until  the  county  seat  of  said  county  of  Mercer  shall  be  located,  it 
shall  be  the  duty  of  the  county  commissioner's  court  of  said  county  to  procure  a 
suitable  house  at  New  Boston,  and  the  several  courts  shall  be  held  at  New  Boston 
until  suitable  buildings  are  furnished  at  the  county  seat  thereinafter  to  be  located, 
and  the  said  town  of  New  Boston  is  hereby  declared  the  temporary  seat  of  said 
county  of  Mercer  until  the  same  shall  be  permanently  located  by  law. 

Sec  4.  Said  county  of  Mercer  is  hereby  declared  to  be  organized,  with  such 
corporate  powers  as  belong  to  other  counties  in  this  state. 

This  act  to  be  in  force  from  and  after  its  passage. 

Approved  January  31,  1835. 

The  act  was  passed  at  Yandalia,  which  was  at  that  date  the  capital 
of  the  state,  to  and  fi-om  which  the  legislator  of  the  olden  time,  unlike 

*  Shaunce. 


VASHTI   DRURY. 


U.  OF  IL ..  UB. 


ORGAinZATION    OF   MERCER   COUNTY.  53 

his  more  aristocratic  successor  who  may  travel  in  the  palace  cars,  jour- 
neyed to  and  fro  on  liorseback,  with  his  changes  of  raiment  strapped  on 
behind  his  saddle. 

The  act  of  organization  was  completed  on  the  6th  day  of  April  of 
the  same  year  by  the  election  of  officers,  as  provided  in  the  law.  Two 
voting  places  were  designated.  The  one  precinct  embracing  the  terri- 
tory in  the  west  part  of  the  county,  and  the  other  the  eastern  settle- 
ments. At  the  election  in  the  New  Boston  precinct  there  were  thirty- 
five  votes  cast  for  Edward  Willett  for  coroner  ;  twenty-five  and  twelve 
votes  respectively  for  Silas  Drury  and  John  Long  for  sherift';  and 
twenty-four,  thirty-three,. sixteen  and  thirty  votes,  respectively,  for  Isaac 
Drury,  •  Abraham  Miller,  Joseph  Noble  and  Erastus  Dennison  for 
county  commissioners.  Jesse  Willits,  Benjamin  Yanata  and  Samuel 
Piper  were  the  judges,  and  William  C.  Townsend  and  Ephraim  Gil- 
more  acted  as  clerks.  At  tlie  Miller  precinct,  Isaac  Drury,  Joseph 
Noble,  Erastus  Dennison  and  Abraham  Miller  received  five,  nine, 
thirteen  and  twelve  votes,  respectively,  for  commissioners  ;  John  Long 
received  six,  and  Silas' Drury  seven,  votes  for  sheriff",  and  Edward 
Willett  received  thirteen  votes  for  coroner.  David  Shaunce  and  Ebe- 
nezer  Cresswell  acted  as  judges,  and  John  and  Abraham  Miller  as 
clerks.  The  result  of  the  election  can  be  seen  by  the  reader  without 
recapitulation. 

We  cannot  think  of  a  more  interesting  item  of  history  than  the  list 
of  names  of  those  who  took  part  in  the  election  tliat  day,  as  showing 
wlio  were  the  residents,  heads  of  families  and  politicians  of  Mercer 
county  in  1835.  A  number  of  the  names  figure  prominently  in  the 
history  of  the  county,  some  drop  out  of  sight  in  a  very  few  years,  and 
a  very  few,  with  whitening  heads  and  bent  forms,  are  still  with  us  to 
tell  the  stoiy  of  the  early  times,  waiting  only  a  little  while  when  they 
will  follow  on  to  a  new  and  better  country  beyond  the  river  of  time. 
As  the  list  is  short  we  give  it  entire,  as  recorded  on  the  poll  book  of 
the  two  precincts.  There  may  have  been  a  few  others  entitled  to  vote, 
but  if  there  were  their  names  are  not  now  remembered. 

Jesse  Willits,  Samuel  Piper,  Benjamin  Yanata,  Hamilton  Christie, 
Newton  Willitts,  John  Long,  Silas  Drmy,  Lewis  Noble,  William 
Drury,  George  Fisher,  Joseph  Leonard,  William  Jackson,  William 
Willitts,  John  Hall,  Elias  Fisher,  William  Wilson,  John  Kester,  James 
H.  Barnes,  William  J.  Nevius,  Joseph  Dennison,  William  Pool,  Adam 
W.  Richie,  John  Richardson,  W.  Dennison,  John  Reynolds,  Edward 
Willett,  William  Dennison,  Joseph  Noble,  Joseph  Glancy,  Isaac 
Drury,  M.  Leeper,  Jesse  Kester,  Robert  Reynolds,  E.  S.  Dennison, 
Ephraim  Gilmore,  William  C.  Townsend.  Second  precinct  —  John  W. 
4 


54  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

Dennison,  David  Shaunce,  Eli  Reynolds,  Isaac  Dawson,  John  Farlow, 
John  Shaunce,  George  Miller,  Ebenezer  Creswell,  Abraham  Miller, 
Sen.,  John  Miller,  A.  Miller,  Jun.,  Harrison  W.  Riggs,  George 
Miller,  Jun. 

One  week  after  the  first  election  was  held  (April  13,  1835)  the 
commissioner's  court,  corresponding  in  later  times  to  the  board  of 
supervisors,  met  at  New  Boston  and  transacted  the  first  public  business. 
The  court  consisted  of  the  recently  elected  commissioners,  Isaac  Drury, 
Abraham  Miller  and  Erastus  Dennison.  The  first  business  was  to 
ajjpoint  a  clerk,  which  they  did  in  the  person  of  William  C.  Townsend. 
Ephraim  Gilmore  was  then  appointed  treasurer,  John  Long,  school 
commissioner,  Harrison  W.  Riggs,  judge  of  election  in  first,  and  Isaac 
Miller  in  second  precinct.  William  Demiison  was  granted  a  license  to 
run  a  ferry  at  New  Boston,  on  the  Mississippi  river,  for  which  Dennison 
had  to  pay  four  dollars  tax.  In  his  license  he  was  allowed  to  charge 
for  ferriage  for  1835  :  for  each  four-horse  wagon,  $1.50  ;  two-horse 
wagon,  $1  ;  man  and  horse,  50c  ;  one  horse,  18f  c  ;  cattle,  each,  18f  c  ; 
sheep  and  hogs,  each,  6^c ;  each  footman,  ISf  c  (it  will  be  noticed 
that  it  was  somewhat  cheaper  for  a  man  to  send  his  horse  across  alone); 
each  yoke  of  work  cattle,  50c  (cheaper  to  send  them  separately).  The 
county  was  laid  off  into  four  road  districts,  of  which  Abraham  Miller  was 
designated  as  supervisor  of  first,  Lewis  Noble  of  second,  Jesse  Kester  of 
third,  and  James  H.  Bane  of  fourth.  Ordered  that  a  tax  of  $1.20  be 
levied  on  each  quarter  section  of  taxable  land  in  the  county.  Tlie 
above  embraced  all  of  the  business  of  the  first  day. 

On  the  second  day,  Tuesday  morning  at  eight  o'clock,  the  court, 
consisting  of  the  commissioners,  the  clerk,  and  Silas  Drury,  sheriff, 
met  and  transacted  additional  important  business.  The  following  per- 
sons were  selected  as  grand  jurors  for  the  first  term  of  circuit  court  in 
Mercer  county :  George  Miller,  Isaac  Miller,  John  Farlow,  Jesse  Wil- 
lits,  John  Hill,  Mark  Willits,  David  Shaunce,  Lewis  Noble,  Daniel 
Pinkley,  John  W.  Dennison,  William  Willitts,  Joseph  Glancey,  John 
Reynolds,  George  Blake,  Benjamin  Yanata,  John  Long,  James  Irvin, 
Wesley  Wicks,  Ephraim  Gilmore,  John  Kester,  Jesse  Kester,  Thomas 
Morgan  and  John  Bates.  And  for  petit  jurors  :  John  Miller,  Isaac 
Miller,  George  Miller,  Abraham  Miller,  Isaac  Dawson,  William  W. 
Wilson,  John  Shaunce,  Isaac  Drury,  Wm.  H.  Dennison,  Joseph  Noble, 
Joseph  A.  Dennison,  William  Drury,  Harrison  W.  Riggs,  William 
Jackson,  Robert  Reynolds,  Newton  Willits,  Joseph  Leonard,  Joshua 
Willits,  James  H.  Bane,  Eli  Reynolds,  John  P.  Reynolds,  Drury  Rey- 
nolds, Christopher  Shuck,  John  Rankins.  This,  with  the  addition 
of  levying  a  tax  of  one-half  of  one  per  cent  on  certain  personal  pi'ojv 
erty,  embraced  all  the  business  of  the  special  term. 


ORGANIZATION    OF    M^ROEK    COUNTY.  55 

At  the  fii'st  regular  term,  which  was  held  June  1,  1835,  though  the 
first  appointed  clerk  had  recorded,  as  the  first  item,  that  he  had  taken 
the  oath  and  given  bond,  he  failed  to  get  the  bond  approved,  and  so  at 
the  regular  meeting  it  was  found  necessary  to  appoint  -.  a  new  clerk,  in 
the  person  of  William  Drury,  upon  which  Mr  Towjisend  resigned. 
Mr,  Drury  did  not  experience  the  trouble  in  giving  security,  as  did  his 
predecessor,  E.  S.  Dennison  and  Joseph  Leonard  going  on  the  bond  in 
the  sum  of  $1,000.  Mr.  Drury  made  a  good  clerk  and  served  until 
succeeded  by  Abaham  Miller  in  October  1837.  Mr.  Drury,  in  signing 
his  name  to  all  of  his  legal  documents,  makes  a  peculiar  flourish  be- 
neath his  signature,  which  cannot  be  described  without  an  engraving, 
and  indeed  which  could'not  be  easily  imitated.  Judge  Gilmore  is  our 
authority  for  a  story  that  has  been  received  for  more  than  forty  years  as 
genuine  history,  that  when  Miller  was  elected  to  succeed-  Drury,  he  was 
found  one  day  sitting  on  the  sand  bank  barefooted  trying  to  cut  the 
figure  in  the  sand  with  his  great  toe.  The  e^ddence  in  the  record  bear- 
ing on  the  case  is  quite  strong.  Tlie  fij'st  two  or  three  times  that  Miller 
signs  his  name  to  the  record  there  is  an  evident,  but  fruitless,  attempt 
to  imitate  Drury's  flourish,  but  after  that  it  is  entirely  abandoned. 

In  the  Recorder's  oflice  is  a  relic  that  marks  its  author  as  a  boss 
mechanic.  It  consists  of  a  blank  book  of  home  manufacture,  arid  to 
William  Drury  is  given  the  credit  of  its  cbnstruction.  It  is  one  of  tlie 
first  record  books,  and  its  description  is  worthy  of  a  place  here.  The 
book  consists  of  about  one  hundred  pages  of  foolscap  paper.  This  the 
maker  evidently  ruled  himself  with  columns  to  suit  his  convenience, 
and  also  headed  in  a  proper  maimer.  The  cord  for  binding  the  leaves 
together  seems  to  have  been  a  fishing  line,  or  some  other  equally  sti-ong 
cord.  The  sides  are  two  oak  boards,  evidently  rived  fi-om  a  straight- 
grained  tree  and  dressed  down  with  a  draw  shave  ;  or  if  with  the  axe, 
must  have  been  by  an  exceedingly  skillful  hand.  The  sides  are  then 
covered  with  paper  that  seems  to  have  been  a  window  blind.  The  back 
and  corners  are  buckskin,  doubtless  taken  from  the  body  of  some  deer 
shot  by  the  rifle  of  the  bookmaker  and  tamied  by  himself.  The  book  is  in 
excellent  preservation,  as  are  all  the  old  records  of  Mercer  comity,  which 
show  that  our  first  officers  were  not  only  men  of  ability  and  taste,  but 
that  they  exercised  proper  care  of  what  was  entrusted  to  their  keeping. 

Mr.  Miller  doubtless  had  in  his  soul  real  genius,  and  though  he 
could  not  imitate  Drury's  flourish,  has  left  evidences  of  his  invention 
and  artistic  skill  upon  the  records.  In  one  of  the  records  we  find  the 
title  page  decorated  with  red,  black  and  yellow  colors,  the  artist's  hand 
revealing  itself  in  gaudy  colors  and  finely  displayed  printing,  of  which 
the  following  is  as  nearly  a  copy  as  our  type  will  represent : 


56  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AJSTD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES, 

Count 


Y,  COMI 


S  S  I  O  N  E  Rs 


R  EOOR, 


D 


Vol.  I 


ORGANIZATION    OF   MERCER    COUNTY.  57 

In  another  record,  Mr.  Miller  makes  a  further  display  of  his  skill  in 
the  use  of  the  brush.  The  law  required  that  the  owners  of  stock  should 
mark  the  same  by  a  cut  of  .some  kind  in  one  of  the  ears  of  the  animal. 
Some  chose  as  their  mark  a  slit  in  the  right,  some  a  crop  from  the  left 
ear,  and  the  crops,  slits  and  quarters  of  either  ear  were  varied  to  suit 
the  taste  of  the  owner.  To  make  these  distinctions  legal,  it  was  neces- 
sary to  have  a  description  of  the  same  recorded  in  a  book  used  for  the 
"recording  of  marks  of  animals."  The  common  method  with  record- 
ers is  to  write  the  description,  appending  the  name  of  the  owner,  with 
date  of  entry,  but  Mr.  Miller,  finding  this  a  good  opportunity  for  the 
display  of  his  genius,  paints  in  the  margin  of  the  record  the  whole 
animal,  with  the  particular  ear,  minus  the  crop,  pointing  directly  to  the 
name  of  the  man  who  mutilated  it. 

The  first  business  transacted  at  this  term  of  court  was  the  granting 
of  a  license  to  Eli  Reynolds  to  vend  gi'oceries  in  New  Boston,  tor 
which  privilege  he  had  to  pay  into  the  treasury  of  the  county  87-|  cents. 
The  first  road  established  by  authority  of  the  county  was  ordered  at 
this  term.  Tlie  road  was  from  New  Boston  toward  Rock  Island,  and 
was  designated  by  stakes  driven  in  the  prairie  and  trees  blazed  through 
the  timber.  The  road  was  viewed  by  Ephraim  Gilmore,  Harrison  W. 
Riggs  and  Lewis  Noble,  for  which  ser^dces  they  received  in  the  aggre- 
gate the  sum  of  $8.  Of  course  it  is  not  a  profane  pun,  but  simply  a 
coincidence  of  euphony,  that  at  this  meeting  the  board  ordered  that  a 
writ  of  ad  quod  dmn-rmva  be  granted  to  Silas  B.  Hubbard  to  enquire 
and  ascertain  what  damages  may  be  sustained  by  building  a  mill  and 
dam  on  Edwards  river.  An  ad  quod  davi-imm  was  also  granted  to 
Charles  Jack  in  regard  to  damages  for  a  mill  dam  on  same  river. 

Tlie  county  at  this  session  was  laid  oft'  into  two  justice  districts. 
Tlie  New  Boston  district  embraced  all  that  part  of  the  county  lying 
west  of  the  middle  of  township  4,  and  the  balance  of  the  county 
embraced  the  Sugar  Grove  district. 

The  state  road  fi-om  Knoxville  to  New  Boston  was  at  this  session 
endorsed. 

For  a  number  of  terms  the  most  of  the  business  of  the  court  con- 
sisted in  authorizing  roads,  and  the  surveyor  was  the  ofiicer  of  greatest 
importance. 

The  first  report  by  the  commissioners  made  March  9,  1837,  is 
interesting,  as  compared  with  similar  reports  at  present.  It  is  given 
•entire : 


,58  HISTOKY    OF   MERCEK    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

1836.                                              Receipts.  $      cts. 

Mar.  7,     Remaining  in  the  treasury 4  47^ 

Revenue  from  the  state 400  00 

Tax  on  personal  property .' 58  61 

Road  tax 922  38 

Received  for  licenses 35  00 

Interest  on  notes 12  25 

1,432  71f 

To  amount  paid  on  county  orders  for  county  purposes,  439  51  ^ 

Balance  in  treasury 993  20 

The  above  balance  included  notes  for  $950,  leaving  $43.20  cash  on  hand. 

The  regular  election  of  county  officers  occurred  August  3,  1835. 
At  this  election  William  Drury  was  elected  recorder,  Ephriam  Gilmore, 
surveyor,  E.  G'eswell  and  Abner  Arrasmith  were  elected  justices  of  the 
peace,  and  John  Miller  and  Wesley*  Arrasmith,  constables.  The  elec- 
tion of  justices  and  constables  was  found  to  be  illegal,  and  a  special 
election  was  held  October  5,  for  the  purpose  of  electing  two  justices  and 
two  constables  for  New  Boston  and  one  justice  and  one  constable  for 
Sugar  Grove  precinct.  To  these  offices  Joshua  Willits  and  Lewis 
Noble  were  elected  justices,  and  Newton  I.  Willits  and  William  B. 
Wilson  constables,  for  New  Boston,  and  Abraham  Miller,  Jun.,  and 
John  Miller  were  elected  justice  and  constable,  respectively,  for  Sugar 
Grove. 

An  idea  of  some  of  the  difficulties  that  our  primitive  officers  had  to 
,  qontend  with  in  administering  justice,  may  be  easily  gained  from  the 
i following,  in  Mr.  Abraham  Miller's  own  words:     "The  first  lawsuit  ever 
instituted  in  the  Sugar  Grove  precinct  was  by  an  old  Yankee  plaintiff 
(B.  Lloyd),  who  from  that  time  onward  kept  his  neighbors  warmed  up 
to  more  than  fever  heat  with  vexatious  lawsuits,  as  far  as  his  neighbor- 
hood dealings  or  business  transactions  were  extended.     An  excuse  for 
a  lawsuit  was  a  sufficient  warrant  for  a  'pitch  in.'     Sometimes  they 
were  civil,  sometimes  criminal,  and  sometimes  for  a  supposed  trespass. 
.This  first  suit  was  the  first  ever  tried  before  me,  and  the  court  was 
without  practice,  precedent  or  law.     Tliere  was  then  but  one  copy  of 
the  statutes  of  Illinois  in  Mercer  county,  and  that  was  in  the  hands  of 
the  county  clerk  (Wm.  Drury)  at  New  Boston,  and  could  not  be  loaned. 
The  justice  begged  time  to  get  up  the  papers  till  law  could  be  procured, 
.  but  pur  plaintiff  was  so  rampant  for  litigation  that  but  little  or  no  time 
could  be  given.     The  poor  justice  was  therefore  doomed  to  saddle  'old 
gray,'  throw  a  bed  quilt  around   him,   and  ride  some  twelve  miles 
over  the  prairie  on  a  cold,  snowy  day,  with  a  bleak  northwest  wind 
on  the  side  of  the  court's  face,  to  Dan  Edgington's,  a  justice  of  the 
peace  in  Rock  Island  county,  to  borrow  a  statute.     Tlie  loan  of  this- 


ORGANIZATION  OF  MERCER  COUNTY.  59 

could  only  be  procured  for  three  days,  and  it  would  be  needless  to  say 
that  the  homesti'etch  of  that  day's  travel  was  speedily  performed.  For 
the  three  days'  grace  allowed  in  the  loan,  this  backwoods  justice,  now 
a  law-student,  plied  all  his  powers,  manual  and  mental.  Day  and 
night  were  spent  in  poring  over  this  precious  volume  to  discover  the 
duties  enjoined  upon  a  justice  of  the  peace,  and  short  notes  were  taken 
for  ftiture  reference.  Being  rather  expert  with  the  pen,  a  summary 
statute  of  Abe's  own  was  compiled,  published  and  issued  from  the 
press  (not,  bless  you,  reader,  from  a  printing  press,  but  from  the  com- 
pulsoiy  press  of  necessity),  and  fit  for  use  in  the  short  space  of  three 
days  and  nights.  This  backwoods  edition,  comprised  of  the  general 
duties  of  justice  and  constable,  was  destined  to  become  as  useful  and 
familiar  as  household  words  in  a  family.  During  the  night  part  of  his 
labor,  the  second  or  third  night,  the  court,  becoming  very  drowsy,  upset 
an  inkstand,  emptying  its  sable  contents  upon  a  good  part  of  a  page  of 
the  borrowed  statutes.  Seizing  the  book,  the  obliterated  part  was  saved 
from  entire  ruin  by  licking  the  ink  from  the  same  with  the  tongue. 
The  book  was  returned  within  the  specified  time,  with  many  backwoods 
thanks  and  humble  apologies  for  the  accident  of  the  old  ink  horn,  all 
of  which  were  most  courteously  accepted  by  Dan,  who  was  every  inch 
of  him  a  backwoods  gentleman,  and  a  ftill  pardon  granted  and  gi'a- 
ciously  accepted. "  It  is  needless  to  add  that  tlie  Yankee  plaintiff  got 
ample  justice,  as  did  many  others  who  brought  their  grievances  to 
this  court;  for,  whatever  may  have  been  his  peculiarities,  he  is  not 
accused  of  any  of  the  peculiar  methods  that  obtain  in  some  high  and 
low  courts  of  a  later  day. 

August  1,  1836,  the  first  election  for  members  of  congress  and  leg- 
islature in  which  the  voters  of  Mercer  county  took  part  was  held.  Of 
the  sixty-seven  votes  cast  for  congressman,  John  T.  Stuart  received 
fifty-three  and  William  L.  May  fourteen.  Elijah  Charles  and  James 
Craig  received  the  highest  number  of  votes  for  representatives  in  the 
state  legislature.  At  that  election  James  H.  Bane,  Hiram  Hardie  and 
James  Burleigh  were  elected  county  commissioners,  and  Daniel  Pinck- 
ley  sherift'. 

As  we  have  seen,  the  county  was  divided  into  two  precincts,  or  dis- 
tricts, but  soon  settlements  made  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  county,  far 
up  the  Edwards  river,  called  for  fiirtlier  division.  At  the  regular 
meeting  of  the  newly  elected  commissioners,  September  5,  1836,  that 
portion  of  the  count}^  east  of  a  line  running  due  north  and  south,  one 
mile  east  of  the  line  dividing  ranges  two  and  three  west,  was  erected 
into  a  new  precinct.  Tliis,  it  will  be  seen,  embraced  all  of  what  are 
now  known  as  Richland  Grove,  Rivoli  and  North  Henderson  town- 


60  HISTORY    OF   MEECER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

ships,  and  nearly  all  of  Preemption,  Green  and  Suez.  The  name  of 
Hichland  was  given  to  this  district.  One  of  the  commissioners,  Hiram 
Hardie,  was  a  citizen  of  the  district.  Besides  him  there  were  about 
one  dozen  voters. 

A  year  later,  "September  5,  1837,  Richland  precinct  was  divided, 
forming  a  new  election  and  justice's  district  out  of  all  that  portion  of 
Kichland  lying  south  of  the  line,  separating  townships  14  and  15,  and 
lea\'ing  Richland  with  a  little  less  than  two  congressional  townships. 
Tlie  settlements  to  be  provided  for  were  mostly  those  along  Pope  creek 
and  the  new -precinct  was  called  by  that  name. 

Pope  creek  was  now  settling  rapidly.  A  year  later  a  new  district 
was  found  necessary  in  the  southern  middle  part  of  the  county,  and  so 
at  the  meeting  of  the  board,  March  9,  1838,  it  was  ordered  that  all 
that  part  of  Sugar  Grove  lying  south  of  an  east  and  west  line  equally 
di^dding  township  14  be  organized  and  called  Ohio  precinct.  Edwards 
precinct  was  formed  March  9,  1839,  from  what  are  now  all  of  Preemp- 
tion, the  north  half  of  Green,  the  northeast  quarter  of  Mercer,  and  the 
east  half  of  Perryton.  At  the  same  meeting  Eliza  precinct  was  estab- 
lished, and  was  composed  of  the  territory  which  now  lies  within  Eliza 
township.  Keithsburg  precinct  was  formed  by  the  commissioners  Jmie 
1,  1840,  and  comprised  the  territory  now  embraced  in  Abington  and 
Keithsburg  townships.  This  provided,  as  was  supposed,  all  parts  of 
the  county  with  convenient  polling  places,  and  with  local  offices  for  the 
government  of  the  different  neighborhoods,  and  these  divisions  thus 
remained  intact  until  the  adoption  of  township  organization,  after  which 
each  congressional  township,  with  the  exception  of  the  fractional  town- 
ships of  the  western  portions  of  Eliza  and  Xew  Boston,  were  organized 
separately.  The  convenience  of  this  method  is  apparent.  Congres- 
sional townships,  by  act  of  congress,  are  separate  school  townships,  and 
cannot  be  changed  to  suit  any  other  boundaries  by  any  state  or  local 
enactment. 

THE  REPUBLICAN  PARTY  IN  MERCER  COUNTY. 

Prior  to  the  passage  of  what  is  known  as  the  '"'  Kansas  and  Nebras- 
ka Act  of  1854,"  Mercer  county  was  a  whig  county  in  politics.  The 
democratic  party  was  in  a  minority  of  some  two  or  three  hundred. 

Tlie  anti-slavery  feeling  was  strong  in  both  of  the  old  parties,  and 
there  were  quite  a  number  of  voters  who  were  abolitionists  or  free- 
soilers,  and  who  would  vote  for  the  abolition  or  ti-ee-soil  candidates 
when  an  opportunity  occurred ;  but  the  most  of  these,  in  all  except 
presidential  elections,  voted  and  acted  with  the  other  political  parties. 

Wlien  the  ''Kansas  and  Nebraska  Act"  was  passed  in  May,  1854, 


THE   REPUBLICAN    PARTY    IN    MERCER   COUNTY.  61 

it  created  such  an  excitement  and  alarm,  that  a  large  number  of  the 
people,  of  both  of  the  old  parties,  were  readj  to  unite  with  the  free- 
soilers  and  abolitionists  in  the  formation  of  a  new  party,  to  resist  the 
aggressive  policy  of  the  pro-slavery  party,  which  controlled  the  two 
dominant  political  parties  of  the  United  States.  Meetings  were  called 
as  early  as  June  9,  1854,  in  two  at  least  of  the  townships  of  the  county, 
and  resolutions  passed  in  opposition  to  the  ''Kansas-Nebraska  Act," 
and  calling  for  a  united  effort  of  all  persons  opposed  to  the  extension 
of  slavery  in  the  territories,  to  form  a  political  party  to  stay  the  aggress- 
ive pro-slavery  legislation. 

Leading  citizens  of  the  county  conferred  with  each  other ;  and  a 
convention  of  all  persons  in  the  county,  of  all  political  parties,  who 
were  opposed  to  the  "Kansas-Nebraska  Act"  and  the  extension  of  slav- 
ery in  the  territories,  to  meet  at  Millersburg  for  the  purpose  of  organ- 
izing a  new  political  anti-slavery  party. 

Tlie  convention  assembled  in  Millersburg  pursuant  to  the  call,  in  the 
summer  of  1854,  and  was  represented  by  delegates  from  all  parts  of 
the  county,  and  from  all  of  the  old  political  parties.  John  Collins,  an 
old  settler,  and  life-long  democrat,  was  elected  president  of  the  conven- 
tion. A  committee  of  nine  was  appointed  to  draft  resolutions  and  arti- 
cles of  organization.  The  committee  was  composed  of  Judge  E.  Gil- 
more,  a  whig  and  old  resident  of  the  county,  who  had  filled  many 
important  offices,  and  who  is  now  (1882)  residing  in  Aledo  ;  James  H. 
Reed,  a  whig,  who  was  afterward  successively  editor  of  the  "Oquaw- 
ka  Plaindealer,"  the  "Aledo  Weekly  Record"  and  the  "Monmouth 
Atlas,"  and  who  died  in  Monmouth  ;  L.  W.  Myers,  an  abolitionist, 
then  a  young  man,  who  is  now  and  has  been  for  a  number  of  years, 
editor  of  the  "  Wappello  Republican,"  Iowa  ;  Isaac  N.  Bassett,  a  whig, 
who  is  still  living,  a  lawyer  in  Aledo  ;  John  W.  Miles,  a  whig,  after- 
ward quartermaster  of  the  17th  reg.  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  who  died  in  1863  ; 
Harvey  S.  Senter,  a  whig,  who  filled  various  offices  in  the  county,  and 
has  since  died  in  Aledo  ;  Tyler  McWhorter,  a  democrat,  now  resident 
near  Aledo  ;  Samuel  Miller,  an  abolitionist,  who  has  been  dead  several 
years  ;  J.  R.  Whitham,  abolitionist,  now  residing  near  Aledo. 

There  was  an  animated  controversy  in  the  committee  room,  and  at 
one  time  it  seemed  impossible  for  the  committee  to  agree  ;  but  finally 
resolutions  and  a  platform  were  agreed  upon  that  was  satisfactoiy  to 
all,  and  a  unanimous  report  made  to  the  convention,  which  was  adopted, 
and  the  organization  of  the  republican  party  of  Mercer  county  was 
completed.  The  exact  date  of  this  convention  cannot  now  be  ascer- 
tained, but  it  is  believed  to  have  been  the  fu'st  county  convention  of  the 
kind  held  in  the  state. 


62  HISTORY    OF   MERCER    AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

There  had  not  at  least  been  any  convention  called  for  a  similar  pur- 
pose in  any  of  the  adjoining  counties,  and  Mercer  county  is  properly 
entitled  to  the  credit  of  being  the  pioneer  county  in  the  formation  of 
the  republican  party.  Tlie  greater  part  of  the  whigs  in  the  county 
approved  of  the  platform,  and  at  once  became  active  members  of  the 
new  party.  Some  of  the  political  leaders  in  the  whig  party,  however,, 
approved  the  formation  of  the  new  party.  John  S.  Thompson  and 
Lewis  W.  Tliompson  (both  lawyers,  and  one  clerk  of  the  county  court 
in  Keithsburg),  were  at  first  violently  opposed  to  the  new  party  organi- 
zation, but  another  year  gave  the  party  such  recognition  throughout  the 
state  and  United  States  that  they,  with  other  opponents,  ceased  their 
opposition,  and  became  warm  supporters  of  the  party. 

The  abolitionists  and  free-soilers,  with  a  considerable  number  of  the 
democrats,  were  incorporated  into  the  new  party,  which  was,  from  the 
commencement,  strong  in  numbers.  In  the  presidential  election  in 
1856,  Fremont  received  1,141  votes  ;  Buchanan,  769  ;  and  Filmore,  140. 
Tlie  Filmore  vote  doubtless  represented  the  whigs  who  reftised  to  act 
with  the  republican  party.  In  1860,  Lincoln  received  1,808  votes,  and 
all  the  democratic  candidates  received  1,193  votes,  the  majority  being 
615,  and  the  majority  has  never  been  less  than  that  since,  at  any  presi- 
dential election.  I.  N.  Basseti. 

THE  CHICAGO,  BURLINGTON  &  QUINCY  RAILROAD. 

As  stated  on  another  page,  the  first  settlements  of  this  region  were 
made  along  the  water-courses,  and  narrow  belts  of  timber  skirting  the 
same,  and  to  the  fact  of  tlie  existence  of  these  natural  features  can  be 
traced  nearly  every  improvement  in  the  whole  State  of  Illinois  prior  to 
about  1850.  Even  as  early  as  1840  almost  all  the  timber  tracts  were 
occupied  by  settlers,  and  it  was  then  supposed  by  many,  that  finther 
development  of  the  country,  if  made  at  aU,  would  be  by  a  poorer  class 
of  herdsmen  and  other  employes  of  the  more  fortunate  inhabitants  of 
better  favored  portions  of  the  country.  The  Mississippi  was  of  course 
the  great  thoroughfare  of  business  and  travel  on  the  west,  and  the  Illi- 
nois river  on  the  east,  and  between  these  was  a  barren,  trackless  waste. 
Whole  townships,  and  indeed  almost  whole  counties,  were  without  a 
single  inliabitant,  and  though  the  soil  was  known  to  be  excellent,  every- 
body supposed  that  a  century  would  elapse  before  it  could  be  made 
available  for  any  pui'pose.  Indeed,  it  was  difficult  to  see  that  with 
the  lack  of  fuel  and  building  timber  it  could  ever  be  more  than  a  grand 
herding  ground  for  stock  owned  by  those  who  had  been  so  foi-timate  as 
to  secure  homes  and  strips  of  woodland  along  the  courses  of  the  streama 
of  water. 


THE    CHICAGO,    BUKLLNGTON    AND    QUENCY   RAILROAD.  QS 

It  will  not  do  to  say  that  railroads,  which  eventually  redeemed  the 
best  country  that  lay  under  the  sun  from  absolute  uselessness,  had  not 
been  dreamed  of,  for  from  1835  until  1840  they  had  been  the  dream  of 
politicians,  speculators  and  emigrants,  but,  as  all  supposed,  they  had  all 
been  awakened  by  a  crash  in  financial  matters  in  1838-40  to  the  reality 
that  such  entei-prises  were  a  luxury  not  to  be  enjoyed  by  this  portion  of 
the  world.  For  now  they  began  to  argue  that  the  country  was  about 
settled  up,  and  the  small  traflic  that  would  come  to  such  an  enterprise 
would  not  be  sufficient  to  sustain  it,  and  that  population  must  necessa- 
rily precede  such  improvement.  The  more  modem  idea  of  such  roads 
as  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  is,  to  make  the  improvement 
first,  and  tlie  population  and  the  traffic  immediately  follow,  and  it  is 
now  well  understood  that  nothing  in  the  natural  features  of  the  country 
have  ever  tended  so  much  to  its  development  as  the  opening  up  of  these 
means  of  ti'avel  and  commerce. 

At  the  risk  of  seeming  to  write  in  the  interest  of  railroads,  or  for 
the  purpose  of  manufacturing  sentiment,  we  venture  the  remark  that, 
as  far  as  can  now  be  seen,  the  opinions  of  the  early  settlers  that  the 
great  prairies  of  this  section,  only  for  the  advent  of  the  railroad,  were 
sound,  and  that  improvement  of  Illinois  to-day  would  have  been  but 
little  in  advance  of  what  might  have  been  seen  in  1850.  The  water- 
courses had  exerted  all  their  influence  in  settling  and  developing  the 
country,  and  as  has  been  noted,  that  influence  extended  back  but  a  few 
miles,  and  now  the  railroads  begin  and  complete  their  work  where  the 
other  left  it  unfinished. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  the  changes  that  have  come  to  this  portion 
of  the  country  since  the  advent  of  the  railroad  system  which  now  pre- 
vails so  universally,  and  while  it  is  not  claimed  that  railroads  have  done 
everything,  it  is  doubtless  true  that  much  of  the  present  prosperity  and 
greatness  of  the  country  are  due  to  their  influence. 

The  railroads  have  brought  better  prices  for  grain,  and  reliable 
markets  for  it ;  consequently,  these  sui-plus  profits  in  agriculture  have 
brought  to  the  farmer  hundreds  of  comforts  of  which  tlie  pioneers  knew 
but  little  by  experience,  and  scarcely  hoped  to  make  their  own.  The 
railroads  themselves  have  been  a  miracle  of  growth  and  improvement. 
A  notable  example  of  this  is  to  be  found  in  the  Chicago,  Burlington  & 
Quincy,  which  passes  through  the  entire  length  of  both  Mercer  and 
Henderson  counties.  From  a  small,  unimportant  line  of  thirteen  miles, 
a  little  more  than  twenty-five  years  ago,  it  has  grown  to  include  in  its 
organization  lines  amounting  to  3,500  miles,  its  facilities  for  transit  in 
the  meantime  increasing  in  proportion. 

The  nucleus  for  this  great  enterprise  was  a  line  extending  from 


64  HISTORY    OF   MERCEK    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Aurora  to  a  point  now  known  as  Turner  Junction,  thirteen  miles  nearly 
northeast.  Aurora  was  a  small  village  then,  and  the  other  end  of  the 
line  was  nothing,  so  it  will  be  seen  how  insignificant  this  beginning 
was.  However,  a  charter  had  been  granted  to  what  was  known  as  the 
Aurora  Branch  company  for  a  line  from  Aurora  to  Mendota,  a  distance 
•of  fifty-eight  miles.  These  two  lines  were  consolidated  under  the  name 
of  the  Chicago  &  Aurora  railroad,  their  connection  with  Chicago  being 
by  way  of  the  Galena  branch  from  Turner  Junction.  Another  charter 
had  been  granted  to  what  was  styled  the  Central  Military  Tract  road, 
extending  from  Mendota  to  Galesburg,  in  about  the  center  of  the 
northern  part  of  the  Bounty  lands.  On  July  9,  1856,  this  last  named, 
with  the  Chicago  &  Aurora  road,  consolidated  under  the  name  of  the 
Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  railroad,  thus  giving  a  line  of  151  miles. 
The  company  had  taken  a  lease  of  the  Peoria  &  Oquawka  road  and 
had  advanced  considerable  money  to  aid  in  completing  the  line  from 
Galesburg  to  Burlington.  This  gave  them  a  through  line  to  the  last 
named  place.  The  Peoria  &  Oquawka  company  failed  to  pay  the 
indebtedness,  the  mortgage  securing  the  money  loaned  was  foreclosed, 
and  thus  another  line  was  added  to  the  already  fast  growing  enterprise. 
The  company  then  built  a  track  of  their  own  from  Aurora  to  Chicago 
and  made  running  arrangements  with  a  line  then  in  operation  fi-om 
Galesburg  to  Quincy,  100  miles  distant.  In  1864  the  Quincy  road 
came  into  possession  of  the  company,  thus  making  the  three  termini 
indicated  in  the  name  of  the  corporation.  From  that  time  to  the  pres- 
ent, branches  have  been  built  or  bought  in  quick  succession,  until  a 
map  of  tke  same  looks  like  a  picture  of  a  great  occiput,  with  its  long 
arms  stretching  out  in  all  directions  over  the  vast  plains  of  Illinois, 
Iowa,  Missouri  and  Nebraska.  By  the  time  this  will  be  in  print  a  di- 
rect line  will  have  been  completed  to  Denver  in  Colorado.  When  we 
take  into  consideration  the  wonderful  growth  of  these  states,  and  the 
great  probability  of  still  greater  development,  we  are  led  to  wonder 
what  the  future  of  this  enterprise  is  to  be. 

The  branch  that  most  interests  our  readers,  however,-  is  that  now 
known  as  the  Galva  and  Keithsburg  extension,  from  Galva  to  Glad- 
stone. Originally  this  was  three  distinct  enterprises,  tlie  main  one 
from  Galva  to  New  Boston  being  called  the  American  Central  railroad. 
This  road  was  built  by  the  company  named,  but  equipped  by  the  Chi- 
cago, Burlington  &  Quincy,  and  finally  passed,  with  the  short  branches 
I)etween  Gladstone  and  Keithsburg  and  New  Boston  and  Keithsburg, 
into  the  possession  of  the  present  owners. 

The  road  enters  Mercer  county  on  the  east  at  Windsor,  and  takes  a 
nearly  du-ect  westerly  course  through  the  tc»wnships  of  Pivoli,  Green, 


ROCK   ISLAND   AND    MERCER   COUNTY    RAILROAD.  65 

Mercer  and  Millersburg,  and  then  deflecting  somewliat  toward  the 
south,  it  reaches  the  town  of  New  Boston,  in  the  soutliwest  corner  of 
the  township  b}^  the  same  name.  From  tlience  it  foHows  the  course  of 
the  Mississippi  river  south,  through  the  townships  of  Keithsburg,  Bald 
Bluff  and  Oquawka,  to  Oquawka,  finally  reaching  the  main  line  at 
Gladstone.  Tlie  main  line  passes  through  the  townships  of  Biggsville, 
South  Henderson  and  Warren,  in  a  westerly  direction.  The  direct 
branch  from  Burlington  to  Quincy  passes  through  three  toMTiships  of 
Henderson :  Warren,  Honey  Ci-eek  and  Dallas.  The  local  enterprises 
complete  and  in  prospect  will  be  noticed  on  another  page. 


THE  ROCK  ISLAND  AND  MERCER  COUNTY  RAILROAD. 

A  line  of  railroad  of  a  good  deal  of  local  importance  is  the  one 
indicated  by  the  above  title,  extending  from  Rock  Island  in  a  southerly 
direction  to  the  town  of  Cable,  in  Richland  township.  The  road  is 
twenty-six  miles  in  length,  including  a  run  of  four  miles  of  the  Chicago 
&  Rock  Island  road,  from  Milan  to  Rock  Island.  The  line  was  pro- 
jected by  R.  R.  Cable  (vice  president  of  the  Chicago,  Rock  Island  & 
Pacific),  P.  L.  and  Ben.  T.  Cable,  for  the  pui-pose  of  reaching  the  great 
coal  fields  of  Richland  township,  and  by  these  gentlemen  built  and  made 
ready  ibr  the  use  of  the  coal  company  organized  and  owned  by  the 
same  parties.  The  cost  of  the  road,  including  grading,  ties,  iron,  etc., 
was  about  $18,000  per  mile,  or  about  $300,000. 

The  coal  company  mentioned  has  tiirnished  the  rolling  stock  and 
put  the  line  in  operation,  not  only  for  caiTying  coal  but  for  the  trans- 
portation of  merchandise  and  grain  from  and  to  the  little  towns  that 
have  since  sprung  up  all  along  the  line.  Passenger  coaches  are 
attached  to  all  the  trains  for  the  accommodation  of  the  traveling  public. 
The  mails  and  express  matter  are  also  sent  over  this  line,  so  that  tliis 
entei'prise  has  not  only  been  the  means  of  bringing  the  coal  deposits  to 
market,  but  has  also  given  a  considerable  section  of  country  through 
which  it  lies  postal,  commercial,  telegraphic  and  traveling  facilities. 

The  road  passes  through  the  town  of  Preemption,  and  nearly 
through  that  of  Richland  Grove,  in  this  county,  and  is  highly  appre- 
ciated by  the  citizens  of  the  northeastern  part  of  the  county. 

The  coal  company,  of  which  an  extended  notice  is  given  in  the  his- 
tory of  Richland  township,  mines  and  transports  from  90,000  to  100,000 
tons  of  coal  yearly. 


66  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

MERCER  COUNTY  SCIENTIFIC  AND  HISTORICAL  SOCIETY. 

Mr.  Tjler  McWliorter  and  James  H.  Connell,  Esq.,  furnish  us  data 
for  the  following  :  . 

This  society  was  organized  in  Aledo  February  19,  1878,  under  the 
name  of  Mercer  County  Scientific  Association.  At  this  meeting  were 
present  Tyler  McWhorter,  W.  J.  Pepper,  J.  H.  Connell,  I.  N.  Bassett, 
J.  V.  Frazier  and  W.  A.  Marsh.  Mr.  McWliorter  presided,  and  Mr. 
Connell  served  as  secretary.  A  constitution  and  by-laws  were  adopted; 
a  number  of  invitations  issued  to  others  to  attend  the  next  meeting, 
and  adjourned  to  March  5,  1878,  to  which  time  election  of  officers  was 
postponed. 

The  objects  and  piu'poses  of  this  organization  may  be  briefly  stated 
as  follows  : 

Diiferent  individuals  of  our  county  were  more  or  less  interested  in 
scientiiic  investigation,  but  were  isolated  from  each  other,  and  had  few 
opportunities  for  interviews,  or  to  profit  by  each  other's  study,  or  line 
of  thought. 

The  native  flora  and  fauna  of  our  county  ;  the  carboniferous  fossils, 
in  connection  with  our  seams  of  coal ;  the  implements  and  relics  found 
in  connection  with  the  numerous  ancient  mounds  in  various  parts  of 
the  coimty;  these,  and  other  kindred  subjects  had  elicited  the  atten- 
tion of  many  of  our  citizens.  Already  many  private  collections  of  sci- 
entific interest  had  been  made  by  difterent  individuals  of  the  county, 
and  it  was  thought  that  persons  whose  minds  are  directed  to  scientific 
investigation  should  associate  themselves  together,  so  as  to  have  an 
interchange  of  ideas,  and  enjoy  the  advantages  of  each  other's  re- 
search. It  was  believed  that,  with  such  an  organization,  a  more  gen 
eral  interest  might  be  elicited  to  investigate  and  attain  to  a  higher  com- 
prehension of  nature. 

While  we  have  social  organizations,  with  large  expenditures,  in 
support  of  our  various  churches,  it  would  seem  that  we  should  also 
have  some  organizations  to  encourage  thought  and  stimulate  investiga- 
tion in  those  important  questions  of  science  that  are  so  directly  related 
to  the  progress  of  the  present  age.  It  was  for  these  reasons  that  many 
of  our  citizens  felt  that  many  advantages  might  be  enjoyed  by  banding 
themselves  together  in  such  a  society.  Another  purpose  of  the  society 
was  to  make  up  a  cabinet,  or  scientific  collection,  of  such  specimens 
relating  to  the  natural  sciences  as  might  be  contributed  by  its  members, 
or  others. 

The  meetings  of  the  society  are  held  quarterly,  on  the  first  Tuesday 
of  March,  June,  September  and  December  of  each  year. 

On  March  5,  1878,  the  adjourned  meeting  was  held,  and  ten  names 


MERCER   COUNTY    SCIENTIFIC    AND    HISTORICAL    SOCIETY.  67' 

were  added  to  the  roll  of  members.  Organization  was  completed  by 
the  election  of  the  following  officers :  president,  Dr.  J.  Y.  Frazier,  of 
Yiola;  vice  president,  I.  N.  Bassett,  Esq.,  of  Aledo;  secretary,  J.  H. 
Coimell,  of  Aledo ;  treasurer,  W.  J.  Pepper,  of  Keithsburg ;  trustees, 
six  years,  Tyler  McWhorter,  Aledo ;  four  years,  W.  J.  Pepper,  Keiths- 
bm-g ;  two  years,  J.  C.  Pepper,  Aledo. 

Tlie  presidents  of  the  society  to  date,  each  holding  one  year,  are  as 
follows :  Dr.  J.  Y.  Frazier,  Yiola ;  I.  N.  Bassett,  Aledo ;  E.  L.  Larkin, 
New  Windsor;  Tyler  McWhorter,  Aledo ;  and  John  Geiger,  now  serv- 
ing in  that  capacity. 

James  H.  Connell  was  elected  secretary  at  the  first  meeting,  and 
was  reelected  annually  until  March,  1882,  when  Alex.  McAi'thur  was 
elected. 

The  cabinet  of  the  society  is  very  interesting,  and  includes  several 
hundred  specimens  —  geological,  fossil,  mineral,  etc.  The  largest  do- 
nations were  made  by  the  following  persons:  geological,  etc.,  by  Tyler 
McWhorter;  shells,  by  W.  A..  Marsh;  mineral,  etc.,  by  J.  H.  Connell; 
miscellaneous,  by  J.  C.  Pepper  and  W.  J.  Pepper;  birds,  by  W.  B. 
Crapnell. 

The  following  papers  have  been  read  before  the  association :  Cli- 
matic Changes  and  their  Eesultant  Periods,  Dr.  J.  Y.  Frazier ;  Metric 
System  of  Weights  and  Measures,  J.  K.  Wylie ;  The  Domain  of  Sci- 
entific Investigation  and  Thought,  I.  N.  Bassett ;  The  Mississippi  River: 
Its  Geological  History,  Tyler  McWhorter;  Future  Punishment; 
from  Etlmical  Scripture,  E.  L.  Larkin ;  Probable  Origin  of  Life  on  the 
Globe,  John  Geiger ;  Shall  we  Impoverish  the  Fertility  of  the  Earth, 
T.  McWliorter ;  Utility  of  the  Stars,  W.  J.  Pepper ;  Antiquity  of  Man, 
T.  McWhorter;  Ciystalography,  J.  R.  W.ylie  ;  Electricity,  R.  H.  Spi- 
cer,  Sr. ;  Conchology,  W.  A.  Marsh ;  Inclination  of  the  Earth's  Axis, 
T.  McWhorter ;  Force,  E.  L.  Larkin ;  Flesh  Eating,  John  Geiger ; 
Flesh  Eating,  Joseph  McCoy ;  Population  and  its  Distribution,  C.  Y. 
Shove ;  Motion,  E.  L.  Larkin ;  The  Birds  and  Animals  we  are  Losing 
and  Gaining,  W.  B.  Crapnell ;  Hygiene  of  Soil  Waters,  Dr.  J.  Y.  Fra- 
zier ;  Embryology,  J.  R.  Wylie  ;  Axial  Rotation,  John  Geiger ;  People 
of  North  America,  E.  L.  Larkin  ;  Biology,  T.  McWhorter ;  The  Sur- 
face or  Economic  of  our  Prairies,  Graham  Lee  ;  Imperfections  of  Hu- 
man Knowledge,  Tyler  McWliorter  ;  The  Planet  Yenus,  J.  C.  Pepper ; 
The  Coming  Man,  Tyler  McWhorter ;  Conscience  Man's  True  Guide, 
J.  Geiger ;  Progress  in  Science,  I.  N.  Bassett ;  Some  Observations  on 
the  Rocky  Mountains,  J.  H.  Connell  ;  Silver  Coinage,  John  Geiger ; 
Protoplasm  and  Life,  I.  N.  Bassett ;  Scientific  Instruments,  E.  L.  Larkin  ; 


68  HISTORY    OF   MERCER    AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

Improved  Socialism,  John  Geiger ;  Changes  of  Organic  Life  with  the 
Advance  of  Civnlization,  Tyler  McWliorter. 

In  December,  1879,  the  name  was  changed  to  the  "Mercer  County 
Scientific  and  Historical  Society,"  the  object  being  to  gather  up  notes 
on  the  history  of  Mercer  county.  John  Geiger,  I.  N.  Bassett,  Graham 
Lee  and  C.  S.  Richey  were  appointed  a  committee  to  receive  all  that 
had  been  prepared.  May  1,  1880,  the  committee  reported  that  they 
had  received  a  considerable  amount  of  historic  matter  from  different 
sources,  which  was  given  into,  the  custody  of  the  society.  In  1882  the 
society  turned  all  papers  in  their  hands  over  to  Prof  H.  H.  Hill,  to  be 
embodied  in  this  book, 

Tlie  membership  roll  contained  the  following  names:  Tyler  Mc- 
Whorter,  Aledo ;  J.  V.  Frazier,  Viola ;  W.  A.  Marsh,  Millersburg  tp. ; 
I.  N.  Bassett,  Aledo ;  W.  J.  Pepper,  Millersburg  t|3. ;  J.  H.  Connell, 
now  of  Pueblo,  Col. ;  J.  C.  Pepper.  J.  R.  AVylie,  Aledo ;  E.  L.  Larkin, 
New  Windsor ;  W.  B.  Crapnell,  l^ew  Boston  tp.  (died  1881) ;  C.  A. 
Ballard,  Kew  Boston  ;  W.  C.  Galloway,  Joseph  McCoy,  John  Geiger, 
Aledo ;  John  B.  Holland,  Keithsburg  ;  Thos.  Shaver,  Tennessee  Roll- 
ing Mills,  Ky. ;  Geo.  P.  Graham,  Paola,  Kan. ;  F.  D.  Rathbun,  New 
Windsor;  R.  H.  Spicer,  Sr.,  Viola;  C.  F.  Durston,  J.  M.  Wilson,  W. 
A.  Lorimer,  B.  F.  Brock,  Alex.  Stephens,  D.  T.  Hindman,  Horace 
Bigelow,  L.  B.  Morey,  Alex.  McArthur,  Aledo  ;  C.  S.  Oith,  William 
Griffin  (died  1882),  E.  L.  Marshall,  Keithsburg ;  C.  V.  Shove,  E.  L. 
McKinnie,  G.  L.  F.  Robinson,  Viola ;  L.  C,  Gilmore,  E.  B.  David, 
Miss  A.  E.  Frazier,  B.  C.  Taliaferro,  D.  R.  Johnston,  Aledo  ;  P.  F. 
Warner,  Havana,  Ills.;  Graham  Lee,  Hamlet;  C.  H.  Gran,  Alpha,. 
Henry  county ;  J.  F.  McCiitcheon,  Noi-wood  ;  A.  P.  Willits,  T.  B. 
Cabeen,  Keithsburg.  Honorary  member :  Lieut.  F.  S.  Bassett,  U.  S. 
Navy. 

Such  is  the  history,  objects  and  membership  of  this  society,  which 
has  already  accomplished  a  work  of  which  its  members  may  feel  proud, 
and  has  but  laid  the  foundation  of  a  grand  and  most  commendable 
effort  in  the  advancement  of  scientific  research.  And  fi'om  the  pro- 
gressive character  of  the  men  composing  its  membership  we  may  safely 
predict  for  the  society  a  glorious  future,  and  a  name  that  will  be  known 
wherever  science  is  made  a  special  study, 

NOTES  ON  THE  NATURAL  HISTORY  OF  MERCER  AND  HENDERSON 
COUNTIES,  ILLINOIS,  BY  WILLIAM  A.  MARSH. 

PdlcEontolog y . — ^The  principal  geological  formations  that  occur  in 
Mercer  and  Henderson  counties  which  contain  fossils  are,  the  coal 
measures  and  the  St.  Louis  group,  Keokuk  limestone,  Burlington  lime- 


JAMES  M.  EMERSON 

(  de-ce-ased) 


NOTES    ON   NATURAL   HISTORY.  .        71 

stone,  and  Kinderhook  group,  of  the  lower  carboniferous  system.  Tlie 
number  of  species  of  fossil  flora  found  within  the  limits  of  these  two 
counties  is  very  small  compared  with  other  sections,  but  our  fossil  fauna 
will  compare  favorably  with  any  section  of  the  state,  at  least  as  far  as 
the  number  of  species  is  concerned,  although  they  are  not  found  in  as 
good  a  state  of  preservation  as  might  be  desired.  Tlie  whole  number 
of  fossil  species  that  have  come  under  my  observation,  in  collecting 
among  the  difterent  formations  of  the  two  counties,  is  about  400  species, 
divided  as  follows  :  coal  measure  flora,  twenty-five  species ;  coal  meas- 
ure fauna,  250  species ;  lower  carboniferous,  125  species.  Tlie  most 
remarkable  and  interesting  forms  are  the  crinoiden  of  the  lower  car- 
boniferous, and  the  different  forms  of  the  genus  Productus,  belonging 
to  the  Brachiopoda. 

Mammals. — Tlie  mammalian  fauna  of  these  two  counties  is  almost 
the  exact  coimterpaii;  of  all  prairie  sections.  The  time  was  when  the 
larger  forms  of  life  abounded ;  when  the  deer,  elk,  buffalo,  beaver, 
etc.,  made  the  prairies  their  home.  The  coming  of  the  white  man, 
attended  by  all  the  circumstances  of  j)rogress,  has  driven  these  larger 
forms  from  the  country,  and  now  the  smaller  kmds  alone  retain  a  foot- 
ing. They  are  American  buffalo,  beaver,  red  deer,  gray  wolf,  prairie 
wolf,  gray  fox,  otter,  mink,  weasel,  skunk,  wild  cat,  opossum,  raccoon, 
fox  squirrel,  gray  squirrel,  black  squirrel,  flying  squirrel,  chipmunk, 
gray  prairie  squirrel,  striped  prairie  squirrel,  woodchuck,  striped 
badger,  rabbit,  brown  rat  (introduced),  white-footed  wood  mouse,  white- 
footed  prairie  mouse,  long-tailed  jumping  mouse,  prairie  meadow 
mouse,  wood  meadow  mouse,  long-haired  meadow  mouse,  shrew  mole, 
star  nose  mole,  muski'at,  house  mouse  (introduced),  long-eared  bat. 

The  number  of  species  of  birds,  as  far  as  I  have  been  able  to  iden- 
tify them,  will  reach  about  180  species,  embracing  forty-one  families. 
This  includes  those  that  remain  with  us  the  year  round,  those  that  are 
known  to  visit  us  through  the  spring  and  summer  season,  and  those 
that  tarry  with  us  a  short  time  during  their  migrations  through'  the 
country  from  north  to  south. 

Tlie  number  of  fish  species  thus  far  identified  as  occurring  in  the 
Mississippi  river,  its  lakes  and  sloughs,  and  the  small  streams  flowing 
into  it,  through  the  counties  of  Mercer  and  Henderson,  is  about  seven- 
ty-seven species.  Besides  the  fish  used  for  food,  this  list  includes  the 
dog  fish,  the  eel,  the  gar  pike,  the  alligator  gar,  the  spoon-bill,  the 
spotted  sturgeon,  and  the  leech  lamprey. 

The  snakes  are :  blowing  viper,  hog-nosed  snake,  red-bellied  water 
snake,  Holbrook's  water  snake,  ribbon  snake,  Faireye's  garter  snake, 
5 


72  _       HISTORY   OF    MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

racer,  summer  green   snake,  king   snake,  corn   snake,  spotted  adder, 
ground  snake,  timber  rattlesnake  (now  extinct),  prairie  rattlesnake. 

The  Batrachians  are  :  fi'ogs,  four  species  ;  tree  frogs,  three  species  ; 
toads,  one  species  ;  salamanders,  seven  species  ;  lizards,  four  s^^ecies  ; 
turtles,  ten  species. 

The  molluscan  fauna  of  Mercer  and  Henderson  numbers  137 
acknowledged  species.  Seven  years  of  careful  study  and  collecting  in 
this  particular  branch  leads  me  to  believe  that  very  few,  if  any,  new 
forms  will  be  likely  to'  be  found.  They  may  be  classed  as  follows : 
unionidse,  sixty-eight  species  ;  corbiculadse,  twelve  species ;  viviparidse, 
seven  species ;  vulvatidae,  one  species ;  strepomatidse,  one  species ; 
rissoidee,  six  species ;  helicidse,  twenty-five  species ;  limnaeidse,  ibur- 
teen  species ;  ancylinae,  three  species.  It  will  be  observed  that  the  per 
cent  of  land  shells  is  very  small  in  comparison  to  the  water  shells. 
The  absence  of  timber,  the  frequent  overflowing  of  our  water-courses, 
and  the  great  number  of  swine  running  in  the  timbered  sections,  has 
liad  a  tendency  to  nearly  destroy  this  interesting  class  of  moUusks. 

The  flora  of  Mercer  and  Henderson  counties  presents  a  study  of 
very  great  interest  to  the  botanist.  Over  800  species  have  been  iden- 
tified, including  indigenous  and  introduced  species,  as  existing  in  the 
two  counties.  The  woody  plants,  including  the  trees,  shrubs  and 
woody  climbers,  number  about  120  species.  The  filices  or  ferns,  twelve 
species.  The  grasses,  including  the  juncacese  or  rush  family,  and  the 
cyperacese  or  sedge  grass  family,  number  180  species.  Among  the 
ti'ue  grasses  may  be  found  some  of  the  most  valuable  and  interesting 
species  found  in  the  United  States,  and  a  few  of  the  most  obnoxious 
kinds.  It  would  be  a  pleasant  task  to  present  lists  of  some  of  the  most 
interesting  orders  of  our  plants,  but  as  the  number  is  so  great,  it 
would  be  almost  impossible  to  list  them  in  a  brief  report  like  this. 


NEW  BOSTON  TOWNSHIP. 

The  township  of  New  Boston  embraces  congressional  township  14 
north,  and  ranges  5  and  6  west,  extending  to  the  Mississippi  river. 
The  eastern  part  is  undulating  and  contains  a  depth  and  richness  of  soil 
unexcelled  in  the  county.  The  western  part  of  the  township  is  level, 
containing  a  narrow  strip  of  sandy  soil,  in  some  places  almost  destitute 
of  vegetation  ;  between  this  strip  and  the  undulating  region  of  the  east 
the  bottom  land  is  extremely  fertile  and  produces  heavy  crops. 

The  minerals,  as  far  as  known,  are  limited  in  kind  and  quantity, 
I)eing  wholly  comjirised  in  a  stone  quarry  at  the  mouth  of  the  Edwards 


NEW   BOSTON   TOWNSHIP.  73 

river.  Tlie  drainage  is  excellent.  The  swamp  lands  so  common  to 
some  localities  are  almost  wholly,  wanting  here.  The  Edwards  river 
flows  through  the  township,  entering  on  section  1  and  passing  out  on 
section  33.  In  the  western  part  are  several  small  lakes,  of  which  Bald 
Eagle,  Eliza  and  Swan  lakes  are  the  principal  ones.  The  township  is 
well  supplied  with  timber  in  the  eastern  pait  and  along  the  river  bot- 
tom, the  kinds  being  oak,  maple,  walnut,  sycamore,  and  similar  decid- 
uous trees. 

The  township  has  a  somewhat  interesting  railroad  history,  to  which 
we  shall  refer  more  fully  farther  on.  The  Galva  and  Keithsburg 
branch  of  the  Qiicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  enters  the  township  on 
section  24  and  takes  a  diagonal  course  to  the  town  of  Kew  Boston,  a 
branch  running  to  Keithsburg  from  a  j^oint  on  section  27,  thereby  giv- 
ing a  southern  outlet  and  southern  connections. 

This,  in  brief,  is  a  description  of  the  town  to-day,  Avith  its  happy, 
inde23endent,  self-reliant  people.  Let  us  turn  back  to  earlier  days  and 
trace  the  work  of  the  hardy  pioneers,  who  bravely  struggled  to  reclaim 
the  land  fi*om  its  native  wildness,  and  plant  here  the  institutions  of  the 
more  favored  east. 

To  Mr.  William  Denison  and  his  son  John  W.  belong  the  honor 
of  planting  the  first  settlement  in  the  township,  as  well  as  in  the  county. 
They  were  Pennsylvanians,  and  came  directly  fi'om  Wayne  county, 
Indiana,  ha\dng  previously  lived  for  a  short  time  in  Ohio.  They  set- 
tled near  the  site  of  the  present  town  of  ]^ew  Boston  in  1827,  and  there 
lived  in  close  and  friendly  relations  with  the  Indians  who  at  that  time 
fi'equented  the  place.  The  \dcinity  offered  many  attractions  to  the 
Indians  in  the  shape  of  hunting  and  fishing  ;  and,  indeed,  at  the  pres- 
ent time  it  has  more  than  a  local  celebrity  in  this  I'espect. 

H.  W.  Denison,  a  son  of  John  W.  Denison,  born  in  1832,  was 
the  first  white  child  born  in  Mercer  county.  He  is  still  a  resident  of 
New  Boston,  as  is  also  his  mother. 

Let  the  reader  pause  here  a  moment  and  call  to  aid  his  imagination 
in  picturing  a  settlement  of  this  kind.  On  the  one  hand  a  boundless 
waste  of  prairie,  covered  with  tall  waving  grass,  which  sinks  and  rises 
with  a  billowy  motion,  as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach.  On  the  other  hand 
the  great  Father  of  Waters,  spread  out  in  silent  majesty,  or  lashed  to 
fury  by  the  untrammeled  winds  which  sometimes  sweep  over  the  plains 
from  the  west.  Here  was  to  be  found  the  savage  in  his  native  wildness. 
Here  he  smoked  his  j)ipe  of  peace  or  hallooed  his  wild  war-dance.  And 
here  was  started  the  first  settlement  of  what  was  to  be,  at  a  future  time, 
one  of  the  myriads  of  fair  towns  that  dot  the  broad  State  of  Illinois. 

The  elder  Denison  had  several  children  besides  John  W. ,  mention- 


74  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

ed  above.  Among  them  were  Erastiis,  James,  Joseph,  Ezra,  Newton 
and  Ehner.  Tlie  family  of  Denisons,  indi\ddiiany  and  collectively, 
occupied  the  greater  portion  of  the  region  bordering  on  the  river, 
including  what  is  now  the  town  of  New  Boston. 

During  the  Black  Hawk  war  of  1832,  the  Denisons  left  the  county, 
but  returned  alter  the  close  of  hostilities.  Their  being  enabled  to  leave 
the  county  uninjured  was  due  wholly  to  the  warning  of  fiiendly 
Indians.  Tlie  first  of  these  warnings  were  not  heeded,  but  at  last  those 
Indians  with  whom  they  were  friendly  came  and  told  them  that,  as  they 
seemed  determined  to  stay  and  be  killed,  it  was  thought  best  to  let  the 
friendly  Indians  kill  tliem  decently.  The  family  concluded  that  they 
would  take  an  excursion  in  preference  to  stajdng  at  home,  even  though 
the  staying  would  secure  "decent"  killing  by  their  friends.  The  story 
is  told  that,  after  they  had  left,  their  Indian  friends  gathered  up  all  the 
articles  that  had  been  left  in  the  hurry  and  excitement  of  the  occasion 
and  placed  them  in  the  deserted  cabin,  marking  the  spot  with  such 
signs  as  would  deter  other  marauding  parties  fi'om  committing  any  dep- 
redations. These  articles  were  found  on  the  return  of  tlie  family,  all 
in  good  order  and  nothing  missing.  A  detailed  account  of  the  dangers 
and  narrow  escapes  is  given  elsewhere. 

Mr.  Denison's  recollections  of  the  manners,  customs  and  traits  of 
the  Indians  in  this  \dcimty,  are  curious  and  interesting.  Though 
exceedhigly  cruel  after  the  actual  commencement  of  hostilities,  they 
invariably  abstained  from  any  preliminary  bloodshedding.  Wlien 
Black  Hawk  was  passing  his  warriors  up  the  Mississippi,  previous  to 
the  last  campaign  of  1832,  he  came  ashore,  stopped  at  Mr.  Denison's 
house,  partook  of  their  hospitality,  and  guarded  the  house  until  the  last 
canoe  had  passed  up  the  river.  Tliey  were  capable  of  the  strongest 
sentiments  of  fi'iendship,  and  held  in  lasting  remembrance  any  act  of 
kindness,  rewarding  the  same,  sometimes,  after  the  lapse  of  years. 
They  were  strictly  honest  with  those  whom  they  considered  honest,  and 
though  the  Denison  family  Hved  among  them  for  years  they  never 
suffered  a  loss  from  theft  or  other  depredation  committed  by  them. 

Immediately  after  the  death  of  an  Indian,  the  family  and  friends 
went  into  mourning  for  a  length  of  time  proportioned  to  the  -dignity  of 
the  deceased,  which  continued  day  and  night  until  the  appointed  time 
had  expired.  When  the  sick  became  conscious  of  approaching  death, 
they  usually  selected  their  own  burial  place,  which  was  located  gener- 
ally on  some  commanding  eminence,  thus  enabling  the  spirit  to  have  a 
commanding  view  of  the  surrounding  country,  with  its  more  or  less 
busy  scenes  of  warfare  or  fi-iendly  intercourse.  In  burying  the  dead,  a 
small  amount  of  food  was  deposited  with  the  body  to  last  the  spirit  a 


NEW   BOSTON   TOWNSHIP.  75 

year.  This  was  repeated  until  the  relation  of  body  and  spirit  was  suj> 
posed  to  be  totally  severed  ;  usually  till  about  the  third  year.  A  stran- 
ger was  disposed  of  by  being  wi-apped  in  bark  and  hoisted  among  the 
branches  of  some  commanding  tree.  From  this  fact  doubtless  arose 
the  supposition  that  this  style  was  a  mode  of  burial  among  some  of  the 
ti'ibes. 

Black  Hawk  is  described  as  a  short,  thick-set  individual,  who  was 
the  war  chief,  while  his  associate,  Keokuk,  was  a  peace  chief.  Although 
knowing  the  superior  power  of  the  whites,  he  made  war  relying  on  the 
help  of  the  Great  Spirit  to  sustain  the  right.  He  was  taught  by  bitter 
ex])erience,  as  many  another  has  been,  the  time  when  "right  shall 
ti'iumph  over  might "  is  still  in  the  future. 

From  Mrs.  Margaret  Denison,  widow  of  John  W.  Denison,  who 
was  one  of  the  original  settlers  at  the  Upper  Yellow  Banks,  we  liave 
derived  the  following  information,  here  given  almost  in  her  own  words  : 

William  Denison,  and  his  son  John  W.  Denison,  with  their  fam- 
ilies, came  from  Conners\dlle,  Ind.,  to  Springfield,  111.,  in  1826.  In 
1827  both  families  came  to  this  county,  arriving  on  the  20th  of  April, 
and  made  settlement  at  New  Boston.  They  were  the  first  white  settlers 
in  Mercer  county.  A  week  aftei-ward  John  Vannatta  arrived  and  lo- 
cated his  home  on  the  present  site  of  Keithsburg.  His  brother  Benja- 
min came  two  or  three  years  later  to  the  same  place.  The  Denisons 
pitched  their  home  on  the  river  bank,  half  a  mile  below  New  Boston, 
where  they  started  and  kept  a  wood  yard  for  supplying  steamboats. 
They  lived  opposite  the  old  gra^-eyard.  William  Denison  made  a 
claim  in  that  place,  and  John  Denison  took  the  present  site  of  New 
Boston.  Until  the  Black  Hawk  war  they  planted  their  garden  close  to 
where  Dr.  Willits'  house  stands,  in  rear  of  the  Union  hotel.  The  soil 
was  a  rich  mold  on  which  vegetables  flourished  ;  but  it  was  blown  off  by 
the  winds,  and  is  now  only  a  bleak  sand  ridge. 

The  Indians  called  this  locality  "Upper  Yellow  Banks."  From  the 
time  of  their  settlement  here  till  the  spring  of  1831.  the  Denisons 
lived  in  perfect  peace  with  the  Sacs  and  Foxes.  Only  occasionally  did 
a  Winnebago  Indian  show  himself  in  these  parts.  The  men  of  this 
tiibe  were  large,  tall,  broad-shouldered,  and  superior  in  stature  to  the 
Sacs  and  Foxes,  and  spoke  a  difterent  dialect.  The  Indians  dwelt  here 
in  great  numbers. 

In  the  spring  of  1831  the  fi-iendly  Indians,  who  belonged  to  Keo- 
kuk's band,  told  the  whites  at  the  Upper  Yellow  Banks  that  there  was 
going  to  be  war,  and  urged  them  to  depart  to  a  place  of  safety  among 
their  own  people,  or  to  go  with  them  and  they  would  secure  them  from 
harm.     Keokuk  was  living  on  the  Iowa  river ;  he  said  he  tvas  going  to 


76  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

build  a  town,  and  tried  to  persuade  them  to  come  to  his  settlement, 
promising  to  give  them  foil  protection,  but  they  declined  to  go,  feeling 
that,  if  they  must  leave  their  homes,  it  would  be  better  to  be  among 
their  kindred  race. 

The  only  settlers  at  this  place  at  that  time  were  the  Denisons,  and 
Daniel  S.  Witter  and  wdfe,  and  his  liired  man,  named  Twis't.  A  cap- 
tain coming  down  the  river  ti"om  Rock  Island  brought  word  that  an 
outbreak  was  imminent,  and  all  these  persons  were  taken  on  board  his 
steamer  and  carried  to  Nauvoo.  After  a  sojourn  there  of  two  months 
they  returned,  but  found  their  com,  which  was  up  large  enough  to  be 
cultivated  when  they  went  away,  all  destroyed,  and  not  an  ear  was 
raised  that  jeav.  Witter  and  Twist  never  came  back.  The  latter  had 
taken  a  claim  and  was  cutting  wood. 

Concerning  the  troubles  of  this  year,  it  is  recorded  in  the  Atlas  Map 
of  Mercer  county,  that  after  the  whites  "had  been  moved  to  Fort 
Edwards,  now  Warsaw,  the  ti'iendly  or  'pet'  Indians  assembled  on 
the  deserted  premises,  gathered  up  all  the  articles  of  their  liiends  that 
had  been  left  in  the  hurry  and  excitement  of  the  occasion,  stored  them 
safely  away  in  the  loft  of  the  house,  closed  the  doors  securely,  and  put 
a  mark  upon  them  well  understood  by  the  tribes.  Wlien  the  family 
returned  home  not  an  article  was  missing." 

Against  this  recreation  of  fancy  stands  the  trustworthy  statement  of 
old  Mother  Denison,  that  they  left  behind  a  part  of  their  movable 
effects,  as  dishes,  books,  soap,  chairs,  chickens,  and  that  such  goods  as 
they  could  they  buried ;  but  the  despoilers  carried  off  everything.  Her 
lady's  saddle  was  found  with  the  plush  covering  taken  oft"  and  the  skirts 
cut  into  strips.  Mrs.  Denison  complained  to  Keokuk  of  the  loss  of 
this,  and  when  he  went  to  St.  Louis,  he  bought  another  and  gave  her. 

At  that  time  there  was  not  business  enough  on  the  upper  Mississippi 
to  call  for  a  special  class  of  boats.  The  ftn-nishing  of  wood  to  these 
boats  was  a  considerable  business.     About  $3  per  cord  was  paid. 

The  Denisons  all  conversed  readily  in  the  Indian  language,  having 
learned  it  after  their  settlement  on  the  river.  The  Indians  could  talk 
but  little  in  English. 

Early  in  1832  a  council  of  war  was  held  at  New  Boston.  This  was 
attended  by  Black  Hawk,  Keokuk,  and  some  3,000  followers.  Black 
Hawk  came  down  the  Mississippi,  and  Keokuk  down  the  Iowa  river,  on 
which  he  was  living.  New  Boston  was  a  central  point,  and  the  general 
rendezvous  on  grave  or  mirthful  occasions.  The  council  was  held  on 
the  site  of  the  town,  beneath  some  scattering  trees.  Tlie  Denisons 
were  present  and  heard  the  speeches  of  the  two  chiefs.  Keokuk  spoke 
first.     His  counsel  was  pacific.     He  told  his  people  that  a  war  with  the 


NEW    BOSTON   TOAVNSHIP.  77 

whites  would  be  wasteful,  hopeless,  disastrous ;  that  they  were  as 
numerous  as  the  trees  of  the  Mississippi  valley,  and  could  not  be  con- 
quered. Black  Hawk  sullenly  closed  his  ears  with  his  fingers,  and 
refused  to  hear  what  was  said.  He  followed  in  a  speech  for  war.  He 
said  the  whites  had  stolen  his  land ;  that  his  father  was  buried  at  Rock 
Island,  and  his  desire  was  to  be  laid  among  his  ancestors. 

These  two  men  were  strikingly  dissimilar  in  personal  appearance. 
Keokuk  was  large,  of  fine  person,  noble  bearing,  neat  in  dress,  and 
went  appareled  like  a  white  man,  in  fine  blue  broadcloth.    Black  Hawk 
was  a  heavy  set  man,  not  tidy  like  Keokuk,  and  wrapped  his  muscular 
form  in  his  blanket,  though  sometimes  he  was  seen  to  wear  a  coat. 

Once  more  the  Denisons  were  urged  by  their  red  friends  to  aban- 
don their  home.  They  were  told  that  war  was  decided  upon,  and  that 
to  remain  was  to  court  certain  death.  They  were  on  familiar  and 
friendly  terms  with  the  savages,  and  their  experiences  of  the  year 
before  did  not  make  them  hasty  subjects  of  fright.  When  they  asked 
why  the  war  was  not  begun  when  threatened  the  first  time,  the  Indians 
replied  that  they  were  not  ready  then ;  that  they  submitted  to  the  situ- 
ation to  gain  tiine ;  but  that  they  were  now  fully  prepared  for  war. 

The  Denisons  hesitated  about  departing  three  or  four  days,  and  all 
the  while  the  Indians  showed  a  truly  anxious  interest  in  their  safety  and 
did  not  relax  their  exertions  to  induce  them  to  go  away  to  a  white  set- 
tlement. Keokuk,  who  was  employing  all  his  influence  to  prevent  his 
followers  from  joining  the  war  party,  promised  them  protection  if  they 
would  come  and  live  with  him.  Appearing  still  to  be  determined  not 
to  forsake  their  homes,  an  Indian  calling  himself  Captain  Pepo,  who 
seemed  to  have  a  solemn  concern  about  their  respectable  extermination^ 
came  to  them  and  with  all  the  fidelity  of  a  fi-iend  urged  them  to  go, 
telling  them  that  the  young  warriors  who  would  come  would  roughly 
insult  and  barbarously  murder  and  mutilate  them,  and  that  to  save 
them  from  so  painful  and  humiliating  treatment,  if  they  would  not 
leave  for  a  place  of  safety,  ''he  would  come  and  kill  them  decently  P"* 
After  tliis,  discovering  moccasin  tracks  among  their  garden-beds,  they 
concluded  tliat  the  savages  were  prowling  around,  and  thought  it  no 
longer  safe  to  tarry  in  the  neighborhood.  They  were  living  about  half 
a  mile  down  the  river,  where  the  woody ard  was,  and  opposite  where 
the  graveyard  now  is.  Taking  most  of  their  goods,  they  began  their 
removal  one  morning,  and  went  down  to  Pence's  Fort,  which  consisted 
of  some  block-houses,  and  was  situated  four  miles  northeast  of 
Oquawka. 

Having  at  the  time  nearly  150  cords  of  wood  at  the  yard,  the  two 
sons  of  the  senior  Denison,  William  and  Erastus,  were  left  behind  to 


78  HISTORY    OF   MERCER    AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

€ord  up  what  was  not  piled,  and  to  sell  as  mucli  as  they  could  to  the 
steamboats.     In  the  turn  that  affairs  took,  this  wood  was  all  lost. 

.  A  Frenchman  by  the  name  of  Pentacosa,  who  called  himself  Coty, 
had  a  trading  house  at  New  Boston,  and  that  evening  the  young  Den- 
isons  went  up  to  stay  with  him.  In  the  night  the  Indians  surrounded 
the  premises  and  assaulted  the  building ;  the  three  inmates  escaped  by 
the  back  way,  and  gliding  swiftly  but  cautiously  down  to  the  edge  of 
the  river,  followed  along  precipitately  under  the  bank,  the  Indians 
coming  behmd  and  whooping  with  vengeance.  The  fleeing  men  waded 
the  Edwards  at  the  mouth,  and  then  struck  for  Pope  creek,  at  a  point 
where  it  was  spanned  by  a  foot-log,  five  miles  distant.  At  this  point  a 
dog  in  pursuit  closed  up  witli  them  and  Erastus  Denison  shot  him. 
The  Indians  were  last  heard  here,  about  a  quarter  of  a  mile  back,  and 
it  is  supposed  they  threw  up  the  chase  at  the  creek.  The  party  con- 
tinued their  flight  apprehensive  of  pursuit  until  ' '  Coty  "  ga^-e  out  and 
was  secreted  by  his  companions  in  the  tall  grass,  in  a  sink  or  basin. 
The  two  men  now  went  forward  as  rapidly  as  the  thxrkness  of  night 
would  allow,"  and  arrived  at  Pence's  at  two  in  tl.ie  morning,  ha^^ng 
accomplished  the  flight  of  sixteen  miles  since  nightfall.  At  daylight 
the  men  at  the  stockade  turned  out  to  go  for  the  Frenchman,  and  when 
he  had  been  safely  brought  in  they  went  up  the  river  together  in  boats 
to  the  Upper  Yellow  Banks,  and  brought  away  all  his  goods  from  the 
trading  post.  Two  squaws  were  found  sitting  in  the  house,  having 
been  stationed  there  to  take  care  of  the  place  and  prevent  its  being 
despoiled. 

After  peace  was  made  and  the  families  returned,  the  Indians  affected 
to  have  much  sport  in  telling  the  Denison  boys  that  in  their  flight  they 
made  the  brush  crack  as  if  they  had  been  bucks. 

Not  being  satisfied  with  their  confinement  at  the  fort,  the  Denisons, 
a  week  later,  went  to  Monmouth  to  stay.  John  Denison  bought  a 
house  and  a  small  piece  of  ground,  and  lived  there  through  the  summer. 
In  the  fall  they  came  back  to  New  Boston  in  time  to  put  up  hay  for 
winter.  William  Denison  returned  to  his  old  place  on  the  river,  but 
John  went  back  two  miles,  where  he  made  a  ffirm.  Mrs.  Denison 
had  three  small  children,  and  that  fall  she  stayed  alone  with  the  children 
in  her  house  a  week,  while  her  husband  went  back  to  Monmouth  to  get 
his  corn  and  potatoes.  Mother  Denison  was  a  brave  woman  and  felt 
no  alarm,  though  she  heard  the  guns  of  the  Indian  hunters  as  they  were 
fowling,  and  her  husband's  absence  was  prolonged  several  days  beyond 
expectation: 

The  same  day  that  the  Denisons  left  the  Upper  Yellow  Banks, 
Benjamin  Vannatta,  who  was  living  at  Keithsburg,  loaded  up  his  goods 


NEW    BOSTON   TOWNSHIP.  79 

:at  night  and  drove  out  on  the  prairie  and  remained  in  a  low  place, 
going  from  there  next  day  to  the  fort. 

Just  before  hostilities  ended  a  party  of  seven  Indians  penetrated  the 
country  as  far  as  Little  York,  and  creeping  up  on  a  young  man  named 
Martin,  who  was  mowing  on  the  prairie,  all  fired  upon  him  at  once  and 
shot  him  dead.  They  aftei-ward  said  that  they  could  have  killed  many 
more,  but  being  acquainted  with  them,  and  having  been  fed  and  warmed 
by  them,  they  were  deterred  from  taking  their  lives.  Unfortunately, 
Martin  was  a  stranger  who  had  never  had  the  privilege  of  bestowing  a 
favor.  A  company  of  rangers  was  raised  that  summer  at  Monmouth, 
and  this  command  scoured  the  country  between  Oquawka,  New  Boston 
and  Monmouth.  A  detachment  of  these  was  sent  out  after  this  prowl- 
ing band  and  pursued  them  so  close  that  they  threw  away  everything 
in  their  flight,  and  escaped  across  the  Mississippi. 

When  Black  Hawk  returned  from  his  tour  to  Washington,  he  had 
the  candor  to  tell  his  people  that  Keokuk  was  right  in  his  estimate  of 
the  strength  and  number  of  the  whites,  and  assured  them  that  instead 
of  being  as  numerous  as  the  trees  of  the  Mississippi  valley  they  were 
as  numberless  as  the  trees  and  the  leaves  together. 

William  Denison  had  a  very  handsome  daughter  by  the  name  of 
Julia,  about  flfteen  years  old,  for  whom  the  savages  conceived  a  great 
fancy  and  to  buy  whom  they  exhausted  every  means.  Mother  Den- 
ison cannot  remember  the  offers  that  were  made  by  her  savage 
admirers,  but  thinks  that  they  at  one  time  brought  thirty  ponies.  They 
came  several  times  to  urge  a  bargain.  That  young  lady  is  now  the 
wife  of  Judge  Ephraim  Gilmore,  of  Aledo. 

I^ancy  Denison,  daughter  of  John  Denison  (now  Mrs.  William 
Willett,  of  Keithsburg),  was  another  white  child  whom  the  savages 
were  bent  on  possessing,  and  several  times  attempted  to  kidnap.  The 
squaws  would  pick  her  up  and  wrap  her  in  a  blanket,  but  before  they 
could  get  away  the  vigilant  watch  dog  would  discover  their  movements, 
and  assailing  them  furiously,  compel  them  to  leave  her.  They  were 
often  at  the  house,  and  by  making  much  of  her,  and  gi^^ng  her 
presents,  had  artfully  won  her  childish  confidence  so  that  she  was 
greatly  pleased  at  the  prospect  of  going  with  them.  She  learned  to 
converse  in  the  Indian  as  early  as  in  her  own  tongue. 

All  the  Indians  drank  whisky.  When  they  went  on  a  spree  two  or 
more  kept  sober  to  take  care  of  the  others.  When  any  got  trouble- 
some and  ungovernable,  these  would  bind  them  till  they  recovered 
themselves. 

Mrs.  Denison  is  living  in  New  Boston  at  the  age  of  eighty. 

In  1833  Wm.  Drury  came  to  this  vicinity  and  made  a  claim  near 


80  HISTORY    OF  'MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

the  bluifs.  At  the  first  glance  he  felt  convinced  he  had  found  "God's- 
country,  "  and  he  has  never  felt  that  he  made  a  mistake  in  so  estimating 
it.  At  that  time  there  were  but  four  distinct  white  families  in  the 
township. 

Very  soon  after  this,  as  the  richness  of  the  soil  became  tested,  set- 
tlers began  to  come  in  rapidly.  At  about  the  same  time  land  specula- 
tors from  the  east  also  turned  their  attention  to  this  locality.  The 
inordinate  cupidity  of  these  speculators  often  involved  them  in  bitter 
contests  with  the  settlers.  As  soon  as  the  lands  were  sui-veyed  and  came 
into  market,  the  settlers,  in  order  to  compete  more  successfiilly  with  the 
speculators,  were  in  the  habit  of  forming  a  ring  around  the  land  office, 
and  endeavoring  to  keep  out  the  "land  sharks,  "  as  they  were  called,  by 
physical  strength.  Nearly  all  the  land  sold  in  this  locality,  was  sold 
from  the  government  land  office  in  Galena.  The  settlers  usually  ap- 
pointed some  one  person  to  attend  the  land  sale  and  bid  off  the  several 
lots  upon  which  they  had  made  claims.  The  settlements  mere  made 
principally  along  the  river,  the  settlement  of  the  upland  country  being 
regarded  as  an  absurdity. 

In  1834  Wm.  Wilson  made  a  settlement.  During  this  year  the 
number  of  settlers  increased  so  rapidly  as  to  cause  great  inconvenience 
in  some  parts  of  the  country  on  account  of  the  great  extent  of  territory 
embraced  in  the  jurisdiction  of  Warren  county. 

In  September  of  this  year,  1834,  the  town  of  New  Boston  was  laid 
out  (the  first  of  any  in  the  county).  The  land,  as  has  been  previous- 
ly stated,  was  owned  originally  by  Wm.  Denison.  He  sold  out  his 
claim,  or  two-thirds  of  it,  to  Elijah  lies,  of  Springfield,  and  Edward  Bur- 
rail,  of  Massachusetts.  An  honor  attaches  to  it  of  more  than  usual 
importance  from  the  fact  that  the  surveying  was  done  by  Abraham 
Lincoln,  the  Martyr  President  of  the  United  States.  The  site  possessed 
peculiar  natural  advantages,  and  had  been  known  as  the  upper  Yellow 
Banks,  the  Lower  Yellow  Banks  being  located  at  Oquawka.  To  say  that 
site  was  more  favorable  for  a  city  than  any  other  point  for  miles  either 
way  is  certainly  no  discredit  to  the  larger  cities  that  have  since  been 
founded  and  hold  populations  largely  in  excess  of  New  Boston.  Situ- 
ated opposite  the  mouth  of  the  Iowa  river,  which  is  a  navigable  stream 
for  some  distance ;  located  on  high  banks,  without  the  inconvenience 
of  bluffs  in  the  rear  ;  with  Sturgeon  Bay  as  a  safe  and  commodious  har- 
bor ;  a  rich  agricultural  country  surrounding  it,  and  no  large  city  with- 
in a  great  distance  ;  what  more  natural  than  to  suppose  it  simply  a 
question  of  time  when  it  should  be  the  city  of  the  west !  The  thought- 
ful reader  will  undoubtedly  satisfy  himself  why  these  expectations  were: 
not  fulfilled  as  he  peruses  the  subsequent  history. 


NEW    BOSTON   TOWNSHIP.  81 

111  1835  the  legislature  passed  an  act  erecting  tlie  new  county  of 
Mercer,  and  appointing  New  Boston  as  the  tempoaiy  county  seat.  By 
the  provisions  of  the  act  an  election  was  directed  to  be  held  on  the  first 
Monday  in  April,  1835,  in  the  town  of  New  Boston  at  the  house  of  Eli 
Reynolds.     Thirty  seven  votes  were  deposited  for  county  officers. 

S.  y.  Prentiss  located  here  during  this  year,  as  did  also  Mr.  Ed. 
Drury  and  M.  L.  Willits.  They  are  all  living  in  the  township  at  present 
and  have  been  since  their  settlement  here. 

About  1835  a  school  was  organized  at  the  blufl"  about  four  miles 
east  of  New  Boston.  This  was  also  the  first  school-house  in  Mercer 
countv.  The  first  school  teacher  was  the  Hon.  Geo.  W.  Julian,  since  that 
time  almost  countless  numbers  of  teachers  have  been  engaged  in  the  work 
in  the  town  ;  but  perhaps  the  most  prominent  and  deserving  of  mention  is 
the  name  of  Simeon  P.  Smith.  Hardly  a  man  now  living  in  the  vicinity 
but  knows  personally  or  by  hearsay  of  his  good  work  as  an  educator. 
Of  him  Dr.  Thomas  Willitts  says  :  "Among  the  aims  and  interests  of 
human  life,  opening  wide  the  avenues  to  independent  thought "  and 
efficient  intellectuality  is  paramount,  and  he  who  has  been  successful 
as  an  educator,  is  most  truly  a  benefactor. 

Having  lived  long,  and  been  an  interested  observer  of  human  pro- 
gress in  many  of  its  phases,  I  can  most  conscienciously  say  that  no  other 
instance  has  come  under  my  notice  in  which  so  much  was  achieved  in 
common  schools  in  the  same  time  (short  or  long)  as  was  done  by^ 
my  friend  Simeon  L.  Smith  in  the  town  of  New  Boston  and  vicinity 
(begining  about  forty  years  since),  in  awakening  the  latent  possibilities 
of  the  infant  mind. 

The  causes  and  reasons  for  his  singular  and  marked  success  in 
school  were  no  doubt  many  ;  perhaps  some  that  were  peculiar  and 
purely  intellectual. 

But  he  seemed  to  form  a  clear  and  correct  judgment  quickly  of  the 
capacity  of  each  pupil,  and  of  their  home  discipline,  and  was  so  intensely 
earnest  himself  tliat  his  feeling  and  action  seemed  contagious.  He 
seemed  to  know  just  what  a  pupil  could  do,  or  should  do,  and  was  careful 
to  know  that  it  was  done,  or  to  requii-e  a  suitable  reason  why  it  was  not. 
If  one  in  a  class  failed,  he  seemed  to  know  whether  idleness  or  ina- 
bility was  the  cause,  and  promptly  used  the  appropriate  remedy.  Even- 
ings, mornings,  Saturdays  ;  indeed,  any  unoccupied  time  the  class,  or  the 
pupil,  or  any  number  that  he  deemed  required  awakening  aid,  were  called 
to  the  residence  of  some  employer,  his  boarding  place,  or  the  school- 
house,  where  the  appropriate  exercises,  instructions  or  questions  were 
presented.  Prompt  and  absolute  obedience  of  every  scholar  seemed 
a   prerequisite,  and   understanding   every   principle   in   the  branches 


x'^ 


«• 


S2  HISTORY    OF   MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

taught  himself,  knew  the  cause  of  faihire  or  embarrassment,  and  lifted 
or  led  the  pupil  so  gently  into  the  light  that  he  was  impressed  that  he 
had  found  it  himself  Scholars  thus  energized  went  on  and  up  to 
gi-eater  and  more  successful  eiforts,  opening  wider  the  way  to  greater  at- 
tainments in  the  more  advanced  and  progressive  series  of  scholarly 
developements.  Every  pupil  under  his  teaching  for  a  few  years  is  now 
■easily  distinguished  from  the  mass  in  this,  that  they  are  good  spellers,  good 
readers,  and  prompt,  ready  and  accurate  mathematicians,  all  achieved  by 
a  thorough,  clear,  and  logical  mental  analysis  of  tlie  problem,  ever 
making  their  own  rules,  and  never  committing  those  of  another.  Of 
his  religious  sentiments  I  can  say  that  he  was  an  admirer  of  puritanic 
rigidity  in  the  observances  of  an  ideal  straight  edge,  as  a  guide  in  re- 
ligious and  moral  dut,ies.  If  not  an  apologist  for  its  bigotry  of  the  inspira- 
tional claim  for  or  of  the  bible,  he  said  or  cared  little,  but  ever  observed, 
applauded  and  advocated  the  clearly  marked  moral  duties  as  expressed 
by  the  life  and  precepts  of  Jesus,  with  little  or  no  respect  for  the  cere- 
monies and  formalities  of  the  churches,  regarding  them  as  figments  ot 
■catholicity  that  the  world  would  be  the  better  for  losing. 

Johnson  IS^oble  settled  in  the  township  in  this  year,  1835.  Mr. 
Ephraim  Gilmore  was  the  first  assessor  and  treasurer,  appointed  April 
13,  1835.     He  was  also  the  first  surveyor  and  first  postmaster. 

The  following  settlements  were  made  in  1836.  John  W.  Ditto, 
who  settled  on  S.  E.  J  Sec.  27,  having  previously  made  the  claim 
in  March  of  the  same  year.  His  was  the  only  house  out  on  the 
prairie  except  Joseph  Denison's  on  the  S.  W.  ^  Sec.  34,  which  was  built 
the  same  spring.  John  Denison  was  living  in  the  timber  out  on  the 
Edward's  Flats,  having  settled  there  on  his  return  after  the  Black  Hawk 
war  in  the  autumn  of  1832.  John  Pratt,  Milton  L.  Willits,  Isaac 
Lutz,  James  M.  Mannon,  Gilbert  Ives,  and  Harley  Ives,  also  made 
settlements  in  this  year. 

During  this  year  a  somewhat  animated  discussion  arose  in  regard  to 
the  removal  of  the  county  seat.  New  Boston  being  situated  at  the  ex- 
treme west  of  the  county  lacked  a  central  location,  an  item  of  great  im- 
portance in  the  days  of  horseback  conveyances,  and  this  fact  was  strongly 
urged  as  sufficient  grounds  for  the  removal  of  the  county  ofiices  to  a 
more  accessible  point.  Those  who  favored  its  retention  did  so  on  the 
grounds  that  as  New  Boston  was  the  town  of  the  county,  and  always 
destined  to  be,  so  far  as  could  be  ascertained  at  that  time,  nothing 
could  be  more  appropriate  than  to  let  the  county  seat  remain. 

In  1837  the  legislature  enacted  a  law  by  which  Wm.  Mc.Murty,  ot 
Knox  county  ;  Thomas  Spragins,  of  Jo.  Da^dess  ;  and  John  S.  Stephen- 
son, of  Ogle,  were  appointed  a  commission  to  locate  a  permanent  seat 


NEW    BOSTON    TOWNSHIP.  85 

of  justice.  The  provisions  of  the  act  required  that  the  proprietors  of  the 
place  selected  should  donate  to  the  county  lots  equal  to  at  least  twenty 
acres,  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  which  should  be  used  in  the  erection  of 
public  buildings.  The  commissioners  fixed  the  site  at  Millersburg  on 
theKE.  iSec.  3,  T.  14,  R  4. 

Dissatisfaction  still  existing,  the  question  of  its  removal  was  agitated 
still  further,  iintil  the  legislature,  in  1839,  authorized  an  election  to  be 
held  in  April  of  that  year,  to  decide  its  location  by  vote ;  providing, 
however,  that,  if  it  resulted  in  locating  it  at  New  Boston,  the  proprietors 
"should  donate  not  less  than  two  acres  of  land  and  the  sum  of  four 
thousand  dollars  in  money,"  the  money  to  be  paid  in  four  semi-annual 
installments.  The  effort  was  unsuccessful.  The  matter  did  not  stop ; 
but,  as  the  topic  is  a  matter  of  county  history,  we  we  will  return  to  our 
settlements  of  the  year  1836  and  1837. 

Lots  in  New  Boston  were  held  at  high  figures  in  these  earlier  times, 
prices  ranging  from  $200  to  $700.  The  lot  where  the  old  "Druiy 
Warehouse"  stands  brought  $900.  James  S.  Thompson  settled  and 
commenced  business  in  New  Boston  in  1836,  and  from  that  time  until 
his  death,  1868,  was  closely  connected  in  public  and  private  life  with 
the  welfare  of  the  community.  In  1837  John  Kobeits,  J.  C.  Sloan, 
N.  N.  Larrance  and  John  Davas  settled  in  the  township. 

In  1838  Isaac  Lutz  came  to  this  township,  and  began  the  erection 
of  a  grist  mill  on  Edwards  river,  on  section  1.  Tliis  mill  has  been 
kept  up  ever  since,  and  is  still  running  and  doing  good  work.  It 
belongs  to  some  of  the  heirs  of  Isaac  Lutz. 

Elias  PuUen,  E.  A.  Crapnell  and  Joseph  Alyea,  with  their  families, 
settled  in  the  towhship  in  this  year.  Elias  Pullen  settled  on  section  9, 
E.  A.  Crapnell  on  section  14,  and  Joseph  Alyea  in  town,  which  at  that 
time  contained  twelve  or  fifteen  buildings.  This  was  four  years  after 
the  survey  and  plat  of  the  town  was  made ;  and,  although  the  town 
was  laid  out,  only  a  small  portion  had  been  subdivided  into  lots. 
This,  together  with  the  fact  that  the  majority  of  the  proprietors  were 
non-residents  and  held  their  property  at  high  figures,  partially  accounts 
for  the  slow  growth  of  the  town. 

In  1839  Jacob  Beard  settled  on  section  9,  and  Charles  and  Christian 
Kader  settled  on  section  27.  Tlie  settlements  up  to  this  time  had  been 
located  mostly  along  the  rivers  Mississippi  and  Edwards  ;  but  from  this 
time  forward  the  settlements  increased  rapidly  in  number  and  take  a 
wider  range. 

In  1840  Dr.  Mark  Willits  settled  in  New  Boston,  the  fii-st  resident 
doctor  of  the  place. 

He  is  still  living  in  the  town  at  tliis  date,  April,  1882,  and  has  had 


S4:  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

a  wide  and  extensive  practice  almost  continually  during  his  long  sojourn 
in  the  county.     Drs.  Hereld,  Shiner  and  Howey  were  early  physicians. 

Mr.  M.  Poffenbarger  settled  in  the  town  in  1840. 

In  1845  the  first  newspaper  in  tlie  county  was  established  at  New 
Boston,  under  the  name  of  the  "New  Boston  Advertiser."  The  name 
and  management  were  changed  several  times,  being  successive!}^  "The 
Yeoman  of  the  Prairie  Land,"  the  "New  Boston  Broadhorn,"  "The 
Golden  Age,"  "The  New  Boston  Nonpareil,"  "The  New  Boston  Ke- 
porter,"  and  lastly,  the  "New  Boston  Herald,"  the  last  number  of  the 
latter  being  published  in  1872,  C.  A.  Ballard,  editor. 

The  township  was  organized'in  1852  ;  and  the  first  supervisor  from 
New  Boston  was  I.  N.  Bassett ;  the  first  town  clerk,  Thomas  Alyea  ; 
the  first  justice,  G.  W.  Warner. 

The  following  have  been  supervisors  for  the  township  :  I.  N.  Bassett, 
one  year ;  Sidney  Chidester,  one  year ;  Amos  Prouty,  one  year ;  Wil- 
liam Drury,  one  year;  John  Eoberts,  five  years;  D.  J.  Noble,  two 
years ;  Thomas  Martin,  four  years ;  Walter  Pryne,  one  year  ;  William 

A.  Wilson,  twelve  years.  Mr.  Wilson  is  supervisor  at  the  present 
time. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  town  clerks :  Thomas  Alyea,  one  year ; 

B.  Thomas,  one  year ;  Isaiah  Alyea,  one  year ;  G.  B.  Tyler,  one  year ; 
Simeon  Sheldon,  one  year ;  J.  E.  Griflin,  six  years ;  A.  F.  Waterman, 
two  years ;  D.  T.  Hindman,  one  year ;  George  Lytic,  one  year ;  C.  A. 
Ballard,  three  years ;  K.  S.  Scudder,  two  years ;  T.  H.  Doughty,  eight 
years. 

The  justices  of  the  peace  have  been :  G.  W.  Warner,  sixteen  years ; 
J.  C.  Swaftbrd,  two  years  ;  Amos  Prouty,  fourteen  years ;  John  Sharp, 
four  years ;  C.  W.  Bras,  twelve  years ;  W.  C.  Austin,  eight  years ; 
John  Roberts,  four  years. 

The  village  of  New  Boston  is  situated  on  a  part  of  sections  31  and 
32.  It  received  an  addition,  known  as  Turner's  Addition,  in  1856,  and 
in  1859  was  incorporated  under  a  special  charter,  having  at  that  time 
about  YOO  inhabitants. 

At  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  in  1861,  New  Boston  responded 
promptly  to  the  call,  and  was  always  ready  to  aid  the  cause  with  men 
or  money.  To  say  there  were  none  who  sympathized  with  the  South, 
would,  of  course,  be  an  exaggeration ;  but  the  town  may  justly  feel 
proud  of  her  war  record.  We  give  elsewhere  a  detailed  history  of 
company  "G,"  27th  regiment.  Tlie  whole  interest  of  the  town,  during 
the  four  years  of  this  bloody  struggle,  seemed  centered  in  the  welfare 
of  her  "boys  in  blue"  and  the  success  of  the  Union  forces. 

Shortly  before  the  war,  in  May,  1859,  the  township  held  an  election 


NEW   BOSTON   TOWNSHIP.  85 

to  vote  for  or  against  a  subscription  of  $18,000  to  aid  in  the  construc- 
tion of  the  Western  Air  Line  railway.  The  bonds  were  voted,  but 
the  road  was  never  completed.  In  June,  1868,  another  election  was 
held  to  vote  for  or  against  a  subscription  of  $18,000  to  aid  in  the  con- 
struction of  the  American  Central  Railway  Company.  One  hundred  and 
eighty-four  (184)  votes  were  polled  for  the  subscription  and  three  (3) 
against.  The  township  bonds  were  to  run  ten  years,  bearing  ten  per 
cent  interest.  In  June,  1879,  the  unpaid  bonds  were  refunded  at  a 
lower  rate  of  interest,  and  there  now  remains  but  $5,500  indebtedness 
against  the  township,  a  mere  trifle  when  her  magniflcent  resources  are 
taken  into  consideration. 

The  village  of  New  Boston  voted  bonds  to  the  amount  of  $30,000, 
running  twenty  years  and  bearing  seven  per  cent  interest,  for  the  same 
purpose.  All  these  bonds  were  voted  with  the  understanding  that  the 
road  was  to  be  extended  to  Fort  Wayne,  thus  making  connections  with 
the  eastern  seaboard  lines,  and  westward  to  Council  Bluffs.  The  reac- 
tion in  railroad  speculation  set  in  before  the  road  was  completed,  and 
the  company  soon  foimd  themselves  in  want  of  capital,  being  finally 
compelled  to  sell  the  road  to  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Rail- 
road Company,  by  which  company  it  is  now  owned  and  operated.  Had 
the  road  been  completed  as  projected,  crossing  the  Mississippi  at  its 
present  western  terminus,  there  is  hardly  a  doubt  that  New  Boston 
would  to-day  have  been  one  of  the  most  thriving  cities  in  the  west. 
At  the  present  time  a  new  road  is  surveyed  from  Rock  Island  south- 
ward, crossing  the  Mississippi  at  or  near  New  Boston,  and  making  con- 
nections through  to  Kansas  City.  Should  this  road  be  completed,  the 
future  prospects  of  the  town  are  indeed  bright. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  first  school  was  held  in  a  log  cabin  out  at  the  blufl',  and  pre- 
sided over  by  the  Hon.  George  W.  Julian,  in  1834  or  1835.  The 
township  was  finally  divided  into  eight  districts,  each  supporting  school 
for  six  or  more  months  each  year.  The  only  graded  school  is  the  New 
Boston  public  school,  it  being  divided  into  five  departments.  The  first 
school-house  built  in  the  city  district  still  stands  in  a  rather  dilapidated 
condition  on  lot  1,  block  3. 

At  the  last  census  there  were  517  school  children  in  the  township, 
disti'ict  No.  5  furnishing  312. 

The  religious  sentiment  of  the  people  is  quite  diversified,  a  large 
number  being  in  opposition  to  the  orthodox  church.  Of  the  three  or 
more  church  organizations,  but  one,  the  Methodist,  supports  a  resident 
pastor. 


86  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

THE  METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH  SOCIETY. 

This  society  was  organized  in  July,  1838,  at  the  residence  of  Emily 
Burleigh,   with  the  following  members,  viz  :  Joseph  Alyea,  Thorlea 

Alyea,  Tliomas  Alyea,  Mary  Alyea,  Dr.  Edmond  Harrell,  Butler, 

Emily  Burleigh- — 7.  New  Boston  at  that  time  was  in  what  was  called 
the  Mercer  Mission.  Tliere  were  so  many  appointments  that  the 
preacher  was  compelled  to  preach  almost  daily,  ha\ing  but  two  or  three 
rest  days  in  a  month. 

The  tu'st  resident  preacher  was  George  Smith,  who  was  pastor  over 
the  society.  The  first  meetmgs  of  the  class  were  held  at  the  residence 
of  Emily  Burleigh,  but  after  Joseph  Alyea  had  built  his  house  in  the 
toAvn  of  New  Boston,  the  meetings  were  moved  to  that  point.  Mr. 
Smith  remained  with  the  church  but  one  year,  and  but  little  is  remem- 
bered concerning  him.  Henry  Summers  was  the  presiding  elder  at  the 
time  of  organization.  The  next  year  Thomas  M.  Kirkpatrick  was  the 
preacher  in  charge.  This  was  about  the  year  1839,  The  preacher  in 
those  times  had  to  be  economical.  He  was  allowed  for  that  year,  $75 
for  table  ex]3enses,  and  $100  salary,  and  a  trifle  for  ti-aveling  exiDcnses. 
He  also  remained  a  year,  and  accomplished  a  good  work.  He  was  fol- 
lowed by  Brothers  McMurtry,  Wilson  and  Burr.  Brothers  Doughty 
and  Boss  at  this  time  were  local  preachers,  and  as  the  circuit  was  very 
large,  most  of  the  work  devolved  upon  them. 

In  1866  the  society  built  the  parsonage  on  lots  7,  8  and  9,  block  4, 
in  Tliompson's  addition.  It  cost  about  $1,500.  The  church  building, 
in  which  the  congregation  lias  since  worshiped,  was  erected  in  1876, 
on  lots  2,  3  and  4,  block  13,  in  Thompson's  addition.  At  the  time  of 
its  erection  it  was  the  best  in  the  county,  and  it  still  remains  one  of  the 
best.  Its  cost  was  nearly  $6,000.  The  present  board  of  trustees  con- 
sists of  T.  H.  Bras,  J.  T.  Bell,  E.  Stevens,  John  Stevens,  W.  A.  Wil- 
son, Eli  Ci-aft  and  Thomas  Alyea.  The  last  named  has  been  trustee, 
with  the  exception  of  one  year,  since  1845,  and  class  leader  thirty-four 
years.  Three  of  the  members  of  the  first  class,  Emily  Burleigh,  Mary 
Willits  and  Thomas  Alyea,  are  yet  alive  and  members  of  the  church, 
having  been  engaged  in  the  good  work  forty-four  years. 

Tlie  present  pastor  of  the  church  is  Rev.  G.  B.  Snedecker.  The 
church,  like  most  organizations  of  such  long  existence,  has  had  its  ups 
and  downs,  sometimes  in  the  valley  of  humiliation  and  sometimes  on 
the.  mountain's  top,  as  on  the  mount  of  transfiguration  ;  but  always  has 
its  course  been  forward,  and  the  good  it  has  accomplished  cannot  be 
compared  with  anything  in  this  world.  Only  eternity  will  reveal  the 
amount  of  treasure  gathered  on  earth  and  stored  in  tlie  Master's  gran- 


HON,  FREDERICK     FR  I  CK 

(deceased) 


NEW   BOSTON   TOWTS'SHIP,  89 

-eries  above.     [To  Mr.  Thomas  Alyea  we  are  indebted  for  the  notes  from 
wliich  the  foregoing  has  been  written. — Ed.] 

BAPTIST  SOCIETY. 

The  Baptist  society  was  organized  in  1844  by  Ekler  Hovej,  with  the 
following  members,  viz :  "William  Denison  and  wife,  James  Denison 
and  wife,  Harrison  Smith  and  wife,  M.  Poft'enbai'ger  and  wife,  E.  A. 
Crapnell  and  "wdfe,  William  Crapnell,  William  Noble  and  wife,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  McChesnej,  and  Miss  Williamson.  In  1845  a  church  building 
was  commenced  on  lot  5,  block  13,  and  completed  in  1848. 

Elder  ITovej  is  described  as  a  man  of  great  mental  powers,  and  one 
thorouglily  in  earnest  in  his  work.  Although  a  man  well  advanced  in 
years  at  the  time  he  began  his  labors  in  the  place,  he  remained  as  resi- 
dent pastor  for  live  years  after  its  o*i"ganization. 

The  building  being  situated  on  sandy  foundation,  was  at  length  com- 
pletely undermined  by  the  action  of  the  wind,  and  fell  down  about  1859. 
The  last  resident  pastor  was  Elder  Brimhall,  who  remained  a  year  or 
two.  The  society  has  had  no  resident  pastor  since  1851,  but  has  kept 
up  the  organization,  and  also  a  Sunday  school,  holding  meetings  at 
present  in  the  to^vn  hall.  It  is  hoped  at  some  future  time  to  see  the 
scciety  in  a  flourishing  condition. 

PRESBYTERIAN  SOCIETY. 

This  society  was  organized  in  February,  1857,  mth  the  follomng 
members,  viz :  Mrs.  Eva  Nevius,  Mrs.  Joseph  Kane,  Mrs.  M.  J. 
Edwards,  Mrs.  Sarah  Poftenbarger,  Mrs.  M.  J.  McLaughlin,  Mr.  G. 
W.  Crabb.  The  first  and  only  church  building  the  society  has  had  was 
begun  about  1868.  It  is  a  large,  commodious  structure,  and  cost,  when 
completed,  $6,620.17.  The  first  pastor  was  Kev.  S.  G.  Hair.  The 
church  has  had  no  resident  pastor  for  some  years,  the  last  one  being  the 
Rev.  William  Gay. 

At  the  present  writing,  no  meetings  are  held,  but  the  society  still 
keeps  up  its  organization,  and  the  few  members  left  hope  at  some  future 
time  to  see  the  church  resume  its  old  position, 

INDEPENDENT  ORDER  OF  ODD  -  FELLOWS. . 

In  the  latter  part  of  the  year  1855  a  few  members  of  the  societj'  of 
Odd-Fellows  determined  to  establish  a  working  lodge  of  the  order  in 
''New  Boston,  and  the  following  facts  have  been  presented  by  M.  Cham- 
berlin,  D.D.G.M.  :  The  mystic  number  (five)  made  Application  for 
a  dispensation.  The  Grand  Master,  by  authority  of  the  Right  Worthy 
Grand  Lodge  of  Illinois,  issued  a  charter  dated  October  12,  a.d. 
6 


90  HISTOEY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

1855,  granting  the  disj^ensation.  Monday  evening,  November  20, 
A.D.  1855,  a  meeting  was  held  with  District  Deputy  Grand  Master 
Kelley  in  the  chair.  Past  Grand  Sweeny  acting  as  grand  marshah  By 
order  of  Grand  Master  Kelley,  the  grand  marshal  presented  Charles  H. 
Bell,  M.  M.  Prentiss,  John  L.  Hartson,  Mark  J.  O'Brien  and  W.  T. 
Power,  who  were  dnly  obligated,  and  the  grand  master  declared  the 
lodge  duly  instituted  under  the  name  and  title  of  "JS^ew  Boston  Lodge, 
No.  188,  I.O.O.R 

After  election  and  installment  of  officers.  Brothers  J.  C.  Bell  and 
Daniel  Hines  were  admitted  by  card,  H.  W.  Denison  and  B.  Milliken 
were  initiated,  and  J.  S.  Thompson  petitioned  for  membership.  The 
meeting  was  regularly  held  on  Monday  evening  of  each  week. 

During  the  late  rebellion  the  membership  was  reduced  very  nearly 
to  the  magic  number,  several  brothers  being  enlisted  as  soldiers.  The 
form  of  one  now  lies  moldering  away  to  kindred  dust  in  southern  soil 
—  a  tear  to  his  memory.  All  credit  is  due  to  the  few  members  who 
held  their  meetmgs,  paid  the  capitation  tax,  and  held  their  representa- 
tion in  the  Grand  Lodge.  Several  lodges  in  the  state  became  defunct 
during  the  war. 

After  peace  was  again  restored  No.  188  increased  in  membership, 
and  in  October,  1865,  the  brothers  were  very  arduous  in  their  endeavors 
to  secure  a  home  for  themselves.  Cheerfully  each  brother  donated  to 
the  building  fund,  and  on  the  evening  of  May  21,  1866,  the  lodge  met 
in  their  new  hall,  si^e  27x40  feet,  lodge  room  carpeted  and  well  fur- 
nished, and  no  one  regrets  the  extra  effort  to  secure  a  home,  but  with 
honest  pride  they  can  feel  that  they  are  beneath  "the  shadow  of  their 
own  vine."  The  membership  enrolled  from  organization  up  to  April 
1,  1882,  is  178.  The  number  of  brothers  buried  by  the  lodge  has  been 
nine.  The  amount  of  relief  paid,  $1,456.40  (this  amount  was  paid  by 
the  lodge  and  the  members  by  individual  donation).  Charity  abideth 
in  the  heart  of  every  good  and  true  Odd-Fellow.  It  is  within  the  knowl- 
edge of  members  of  our  order  that  the  relief  extended  by  them,  under 
their  teachings,  has  been  the  means,  under  providence,  of  bringing 
within  the  church  many  who  to-day  would  have  been  aliens  from  the 
household  of  faith.  Many  of  the  brothers  cheerfully  donated  in  honor 
to  the  Wiley  monumeut  fund ;  also  to  the  Lincoln  monument  fund,  not 
forgetting  oin*  worthy  and  honorable  G.R.S. ;  to  his  memory,  we  have 
a  name  in  the  Ridgley  Monument  Fund.  Of  the  members  at  the 
organization  of  our  lodge,  only  one,  Brother  Daniel  Hines,  now  holds 
a  membership. 

Connected  with  the  order  is  the  Rebekah  Degree.  This  degree 
associates  the   wives   of   Odd-Fellows  with  tliem   in   the  high   and 


NEW    BOSTON    TOWNSHIP.  91 

important  work  of  "\asiting  the  sick,  relieving  the  distressed,  burying 
the  dead,  and  educating  the  orphan, " 

ARCHER  ENCAMPMENT  No.  70,  I.O.O.F. 

This  is  the  liome  of  the  patriarch,  the  evergreen  retreat  of  Odd- 
Fellowship,  supported  by  the  three  pillars  of  Faith,  Hope  and  Charity, 
and  here  we  have  the  tables  of  law,  likewise  the  lesson  as  taught  in  the 
golden  rule.  A  weary  pilgrim  can  here  find  rest,  eat  at  our  table  and 
drink  of  our  pure  water.  Hospitality  to  the  stranger  is  a  pure  prm- 
ciple  within  the  heart  of  every  true  patriarch  encampment. 

No.  70  was  instituted  December,  1866.  The  number  of  patriarchs 
em'olled  up  to  April  1,  1882,  was  eighty-two.  Several  of  the  patriarchs, 
instituted  a  new  encampment,  others  changed  their  residence,  and  like 
our  subordinate  lodge,  the  time  came  when  there  were  but  one  or  two 
more  members  than  the  original  number ;  but  like  the  ancient  Patriarch 
Abraham,  the  father  of  the  faithful,  our  trust  was  in  God,  and  to-day 
our  tent  is  enlarged  for  the  increase  of  membership. 

ANCIENT  FREE  AND  ACCEPTED  MASONS. 

A  dispensation  and  charter  were  issued  to  New  Boston  Lodge  No. 
59,  in  the  latter  part  of  1848.  The  history  from  that  time  to  1853  is 
somewhat  obscure,  owing  to  the  fact  that  in  1851  the  records  were 
burned  ;  also,  all  books,  papers,  furniture,  etc. 

In  1852  a  new  dispensation  was  granted,  and  the  following  officers 
duly  installed  :  John  E.  Willits,  W.M.;  George  Ralston,  S.W.;  Wil- 
liam Wilson,  Jr.,  J.W. ;  Elias  Willits,  Treas. ;  Daniel  Winslow,  Sec; 
E.  J.  Denison,  S.D. ;  M.  Pofi'enbarger,  J.D. ;  Josiah  Marfield,  Tyler. 
In  October,  1853,  a  new  charter  was  issued  and  the  following  named 
individuals  duly  elected  and  installed  as  officers,  viz :  J.  E.  Denison, 
W.M.;  E.  Harrell,  S.W.;  A.  Gingles,  J.W.;  R.  Thomas,  Treas.; 
G.  W.  Warner,  Sec;  Elias  Willits,  S.D. ;  John  Hoover,  J.D. ;  Josiah 
Maxfield,  Tyler. 

The  lodge  has  had  a  prosperous  existence,  and  to-day  is  one  of  the 
strongest  and  most  efficient  in  the  state.  The  misfortune  of  losing  the 
records  by  fire  is  more  to  be  deplored,  from  the  fact  that  the  Grand 
Lodge  of  the  state  has  also  lost  the  records  covering  about  the  same 
facts. 

The  lodge  has  always  been  noted  for  its  activity,  and  during  the 
somewhat  lengthy  period  of  its  existence  has  had  no  serious  dissen- 
sions. 

Something  over  200  members  have  been  admitted  since  the  re- 
organization, and  at  present  the  membership  is  sixty-seven,  with  the 
following  corps  of  officers  :    George  Lytle,  W.M.  ;   Ed.   L.  Willits^ 


92  HISTORY    OF   irEECEE    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

S.W. ;  A.  Imber,  J.W.  ;  John  Fry,  Treas.  ;  W.  C.  Austin,  Sec. ;  J.  J. 
Mason,  S.D.  ;  ]S^.  W.  Gibson,  J.f).  ;  S.  Swartwout,  Tyler. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Henry  W.  Denison  was  born  in  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  March 
16,  1832,  being  the  iirst  white  child  born  in  the  county.  His  father,  • 
John  W. ,  together  with  his  grandfather,  William,  formed  the  first  set- 
tlement in  the  county,  which  was  in  the  year  1827.  He  is  the  youngest 
child  of  Jolm  W.  and  Margaret  (Swaiibrd)  Denison.  His  folks  came 
overland  mth  teams  from  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  with  Indians  on  all 
sides  of  them,  reaching  Mercer  county  without  losing  any  of  their 
family.  They  ever  afterward  lived  on  friendly  terms  with  the  Indians. 
One  of  the  Indian  warriors  once  remarked  that  if  they  killed  them  they 
would  do  it  easy,  which  meant  that  they  would  never  do  anything  more 
than  whip  them.  He  has  been  mostly  engaged  in  farnimg  and  stock- 
raising.  His  chances  for  obtaining  an  education  were  limited  to  what 
he  could  obtain  from  Simeon  P.  Smith,  who  taught  his  first  school  in 
Henry's  father's  kitchen.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Independent 
Order  of  Odd-Fellows  since  the  first  organization  of  that  society  in  Kew 
Boston.  He  was  either  the  first  or  second  one  taken  into  the  lodge. 
He  does  not  know  whether  he  or  B.  Milliken,  of  Yiola,  was  first,  as 
the}^  both  came  in  at  the  first  meeting.  He  has  held  all  the  ofiices  in 
his  lodge  at  various  times.  He  was  always  a  democrat  until  1872. 
From  that  time  to  the  present  he  has  been  a  "greenbacker."  He  was 
married  to  Miss  Turana  C.  Moore,  daughter  of  John  S.  and  Hannah 
Moore.  Mrs.  Denison  was  born  February  17th,  1841.  They  have 
had  six  children,  in  the  following  order :  Carrie  (dead),  Sally  (married 
to  Herbert  Good),  Alice  (married  to  John  Fuller),  Maggie  (dead), 
Willie  (dead),  and  Freddie. 

Stanton  V.  Prentiss,  farmer  and  stock  raiser,  was  born  in  Meigs 
county,  Ohio,  May  10,  1826,  and  is  the  fifth  child  of  Stanton  and 
Susannah  (Brookheart)  Prentiss.  His  parents  came  west  and  settled  at 
Warsaw,  in  Hancock  county,  where  they  remained  until  1833.  While 
living  at  that  point,  they  were  often  compelled  to  leave  their  farai,  and 
fiee  to  Fort  Edwards  for  safety  from  the  Indians,  as  this  was  at  the 
time  when  Black  Hawk  was  making  his  raids  up  and  down  the  Missis- 
sippi. In  1833  they  came  to  Mercer  county,  where  they  have  lived 
ever  since,  with  the  exception  of  a  short  time  in  Rock  Island  county, 
and  two  years  spent  in  California.  He  has  always  been  engaged  in  farm- 
ing and  raising  stock,  the  latter  very  extensively.  During  the  period 
between  1852  and  1857,  he  also  ran  a  dry  goods  and  grocery  store. 
His  means  of  attaining  an  education  were  very  limited  ;  however,  he 


NEW    BOSTON   TOWNSHIP.  93 


« 


managed  to  get  a  common  school  education  between  the  intervals  of 
farming.  He  owns  1,000  acres  of  land  on  Bay  Island,  all  in  one  body 
and  nnder  fence,  forming  the  largest  pasture  in  the  county,  and  the 
largest  body  owned  by  any  one  person.  In  politics  he  has  always  been 
a  republican.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Hannah  E.  Creveston  in  May, 
1865.  They  have  two  children ;  Park  and  Don.  They  are  both  living 
and  at  home  with  their  parents.  Mr.  Prentiss'  mother  died  in  1852  at 
New  Boston,  and  his  father  in  1875. 

WiLLiiV^i  Drury,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Pickaway 
county,  Ohio,  September  17,  1809,  and  removed  to  Wayne  county  in 
1811,  with  his  parents,  where  Mr.  Drury  remained  until  he  attained  the 
age  of  manhood.  The  family  were  subject  to  all  the  privations  of  pio- 
neer life  as  well  as  the  alarms  of  savage  warfare,  and  during  the 
troubles  in  1812  they  often  had  to  retreat  to  the  block-houses  for  pro- 
tection.. Mr.  Drury's  education  was  limited  to  a  common  school,  but 
he  attained  education  enough  to  teach  several  terms  of  school  before  he 
came  west.  In  1833  Mr.  Drury  came  to  Illinois  to  look  at  the  country, 
and  for  the  lirst  time  saw  real  prairie  land — quite  a  curiosity  to  one 
who  has  been  reared  in  a  wooded  country.  Mr.  Drury  determined  to 
make  this  his  home,  made  a  selection,  and  in  183-1  returned  and  made 
a  claim,  and  settled  down  at  the  foot  of  the  blutis,  near  where  he  now 
resides.  Through  his  influence  several  families  came  with  him.  So 
disgusted  with  things  were  they,  that  they  threatened  a  dissolution  of 
friendship  with  him  if  he  did  not  desist  in  speaking  in  praise  of  the 
country.  In  1840  Mr.  Drury  returned  to  Indiana,  and  was  married, 
July  1,  to  Miss  Yashti  Lewis,  daughter  of  Caleb  and  Polly  (Willits) 
Lewis.  Mrs.  Drury's  father  served  as  a  member  of  the  legislature 
a  number  of  times.  Immediately  after  the  organization  of  Mercer 
county  in  1835,  Mr.  Drury  was  elected  to  All  the  office  of  county 
recorder  a  number  of  consecutive  years.  In  1836  he  was  elected  county 
clerk,  in  conjunction  with  the  former  office.  While  holding  these  offices 
Mr.  Drury  furnished  all  his  own  stationery  and  met  his  office  expenses 
out  of  his  own  private  means.  Li  1836  he  commenced  a  small  trade  in 
dry  goods  and  groceries  in  partnership  with  Levi  Willits,  nnder  the 
firm  name  of  Drury  &  Willits.  Tliey  furnished  the  people  with  all 
necessaries  that  were  required.  They  bought  pork,  grain  and  other 
products,  and  shipped  them  to  St.  Louis.  They  did  the  first  pork  pack- 
ing in  the  comity.  They  continued  business  until  1848,  when  they  sold 
out  to  Courtney  Drury  and  James  S.  Thompson,  who  formed  a  partner- 
ship under  the  name  of  Thompson  &  Drury.  Mr.  Drury  spent  about 
a  year,  after  the  sale  of  his  interest,  in  settling  up  his  business,  when,  in 
1850,  he  started  a  small  cash  store,  which  he  conducted  until  1853> 


94  HISTORY   OF    MIERCEK   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 


• 


when,  on  account  of  failing  liealtli,  he  soki  out  his  interest,  and  has 
since  given  his  attention  to  the  management  of  his  large  estate,  and 
to  the  importation  and  raising  of  fine  stock,  and  the  banking  business. 
In  1871,  in  partnership  with  other  wealthy  men  of  the  county,  he 
assisted  in  organizing  a  Fanner's  Xational  Bank,  at  Keithsburg,  of 
which  he  is  a  large  stockliolder  and  president.  Mr.  Drury  says  he  has 
made  it  a  practice  all  his  life,  that  at  the  end  of  each  year  liis  income 
shall  be  greater  than  his  expenses.  He  thinks  this  accounts  for  his 
large  estate,  and  not  to  any  mental  gift.  This  he  would  recommend  to 
all  young  men  staiting  in  life.  Mr.  Drury  was  among  the  first  settlers 
of  the  coimt;^\  He  was  well  acquainted  with  Black  Hawk  and  Keokuk, 
the  two  noted  Indian  chiefs. 

Courtney  Drury  was  born  in  Wa^Tie  county.  Indiana.  November 
23,  1820.  He  came  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  \vith  AVilliam  AYillits 
and  family,  in  the  fall  of  1 834.  He  remained  ^vith  them  for  some  time, 
and  then  sold  goods  for  the  firm  of  Drury  tfe  AVillits.  In  1842  he 
returned  to  his  old  home  in  Indiana,  and  went  to  school  that  fall  and 
winter.  He  was  married  April  12,  1842,  to  Ruth  AVillits,  and  removed 
to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year.  That  winter 
he  bought  eighty  acres  of  land,  partly  imjjroved.  He  sold  his  farm  in 
the  winter  of  1845,  and  the  follo^ving  spring  moved  to  the  village  of 
ISTew  Boston,  Mr.  Drury  lost  his  ^^•ife  February,  1847.  He  then 
returned  to  the  State  of  Indiana,  and  spent  the  most  of  that  summer 
there  ;  then  returned  to  ]S^ew  Boston,  and,  with  James  S.  Thompson, 
purchased  the  mercantile  establishment  of  Drury  (k  AA^llits.  The  new 
:finn  conducted  the  trade  of  tliis  house  for  eight  years,  at  the  end  of 
which  time  they  sold  out,  and  Mr.  Drury  bought  land  near  the  village 
of  New  Boston,  which  he  improved,  and  has  engaged  in  farming  and 
«tock  raising  ever  since.  Mr.  Drury  has  made  a  specialty  of  breeding 
fine  horses,  and  has  had  some  of  the  best  stock  ever  kept  or  o^vned  in 
ZMercer  county.     He  has  a  passion  for  a  fine  horse,  and  gratifies  it. 

"WiLLLv:^!  A.  AYiLSON,  farmer,  -v^as  born  in  Shelby  county,  Indiana, 
August  1.S,  1831.  The  family  removed  to  Mercer  county  in  the  fall 
of  1834,  and  settled  in  Eliza  township.  Mr.  AVilson's  education  was 
limited  to  a  common  school,  as  in  those  early  times  the  advantages 
offered  were  few  and  rude ;  however,  he  acquired  considerable  of  a 
"business  education,  especially  in  arithmetic,  as  that  was  a  favorite 
study  of  his.  "When  twenty-two  years  of  age  he  commenced  farming 
for  himself  on  a  small  scale.  His  father  wanted  him  to  take  a  horse 
when  starting  out,  but  he  refused  to  do  so  ;  but  by  persuasion  he 
accepted  a  ten  dollar  biU.  He  rented  three  years,  when  he  found  he 
had  money  enough  to  buy  eighty  acres  of  land  lying  in  New  Boston 


NEW   BOSTON   TOWNSHIP.  95 

township.  He  lived  with  his  brother-in-law,  Richard  Shields,  and 
tilled  his  small  farm  until  1857,  when  he  was  married  to  Miss  Kate 
Woodward,  daughter  of  Joel  and  Keziah  "Woodward.  A  year  after 
his  marriage  he  sold  his  farm  for  $2,500,  and  bought  another  in  Mer- 
cer township  for  $3,500,  where  he  lived  until  1861.  Mr.  AVilson  has 
always  dealt  considerably  in  live  stock  while  farming.  In  1861,  in 
response  to  the  country's  call  for  troops,  Mr.  Wilson  enlisted  in  the 
102d  Yol.  Inf.,  and  was  elected  second  lieutenant  of  Company  K,  and 
before  going  into  active  service  was  promoted  to  first  lieutenant.  His 
first  engagement  with  the  enemy  was  at  Gallatin,  Tennessee,  after 
which  he  was  elected  captain  of  his  company  by  a  unanimous  vote. 
Keturning  home  from  the  war  in  1864,  he  sold  his  farm  in  Mercer 
township  for  $7,000,  and  again  bought  a  farm  of  120  acres  in  'New 
Boston  township,  which  he  has  increased  to  420  acres  in  IS^ew  Boston 
township,  and  402  acres  in  Eliza.  They  have  had  eleven  children : 
Jay,  Ed.,  Dick,  Ressa,  Gen.  Phil.  Sheridan,  John  S.,  Harvey,  Louie, 
Grace,  Bert.  M.  and  Frank  M,  Grace  and  Louie  are  deceased.  The 
rest  are  in  good  health  and  at  home  with  their  parents.  Mr.  Wilson's 
mother  still  sur^-ives  at  the  age  of  eighty-seven,  and  is  in  good  health. 
D.  J.  XoBLE  is  the  ninth  child  of  a  family  of  twelve  children.  He 
was  born  May  1,  1818,  in  Fayette  county,  Indiana.  His  parents,  Lewis 
and  Elizabeth  (Burgess)  Xoble,  came  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  in 
1835,  and  settled  on  Sec.  16,  in  New  Boston  township,  where  they 
lived  until  their  death.  His  father  gave  D.  J.  seventy  acres  of  Sec. 
16,  and  to  this  he  added  the  N.  W.  i  of  Sec.  22  and  the  K  E.  I  of 
Sec.  21.  He  has  a  large  and  commodious  residence  and  is  comfort- 
ably situated.  Besides  making  a  competency  for  himself  he  has 
helped  each  of  his  sons  to  a  good  home.  He  has  the  benefits  of  only 
a  common  school  education,  owing  to  the  many  disadvantages  aftbrded 
in  youth.  He  has  been  engaged  in  farming  from  boyhood  up.  He 
has  always  taken  an  active  part  in  temperance,  and  has  been  a  meni- 
I>er  of  the  Methodist  church  since  1840.  He  has  held  all  the  oflices  in 
his  church  at  various  times.  In  politics  he  has  always  been  a  republi- 
can. He  was  married  July  5,  1840,  to  Miss  Sally  Rader,  daughter  of 
Abraham  and  Catharine  Rader.  She  was  born  March  4,  1818.  They 
have  had  ten  children,  nine  of  whom  are  li\-ing :  Melissa,  married  to 
Frederick  Fleming  ;  John  N. ,  married  to  Mary  HiH,  and  lives  in  Da- 
kota; Leroy,  married  to  Miss  Rachel  Hollingsworth  ;  David  L.,  dead  ; 
Harvey,  married  to  Miss  Luella  Bowden  ;  ]S"atlian,  married  to  Miss 
Alida  Pryne  ;  Sarah  E.,  married  to  J.  A.  Goding ;  Dora,  mamed  to 
Meh^ill  Danford  ;  Robert,  married  to  Miss  lola  Holingsworth,  and 
James,  who  lives  at  home  with  his  parents. 


96  HISTORY    OF   jVEERCER   AJSTD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Melton  L.  Willits,  farmer,  son  of  Reuben  and  Mary  Willits,  was 
bom  in  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  November  13,  1826.     He  came  west 
.witli  bis  grandfather,  Isaac  Willits,  in  tbe  spring  of  1836,  and  settled 
in  ]S"ew  Boston  township,  where  he  has  lived  ever  since,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  three  years  spent  in  California.     He  crossed  the  plains  in 
the  summer  of  1850,  and  returned  in  the  spring  of  1853  to  New  Bos- 
ton, and  started  a  lumber  yard  in  partnership  with  Anderson  Kirlin. 
They  continued  business  until  fall,  when  they  dissolved,  and  Mr.  Wil- 
lits started  a  grocery  store,  which  he  continued  till  the  spring  of  1854, 
when  he  traded  his  grocery  in  part  payment  on  geventy-six  acres  of 
land  five  miles  northeast  of  New  Boston,  where  he  has  been  engaged 
in  farming  ever  since.     He  was  married  October  25,  1854,  to  Miss 
Sarah  J.  Kirlin.      They  have  had  ten  children  :      Horace  G.,  bom 
July  31,  1855  ;  Mary  L.,  December  23,  1856  ;  Homer  C,  January  8, 
185^8  ;   Lavina  H.,  March  25,  1859  ;  Ehas  M.,  December  13,  1860  ; 
William  E.,  September  23,  1862  ;  Minnie  D.,  March  3,  1864  ;  Frede- 
rick, June  22,  1866  ;  Paith,  November  6,  1867 ;  Sarah  J.,  February  8, 
1869.     His  wafe  died  February  13,  1869  ;  Mary  L.,  October  31,  1857; 
Sarah  J.,  Marcli  17,  1869  ;  Ruth,  August  26,  1869  ;  Frederick,  Jan- 
uary 5,  1873  ;  William  R.,  October  25,  1879.     His  oldest  son,  Horace 
G.,  married  Miss  Ida  McGrew  ;  Clinton,  to  Miss  Adda  Ividdoo  ;  La- 
vina, to  Levi  Lewis.     The  other  two  remain  at  home  with  their  father. 
Mr.  Willits'  education  was  limited  in  youth  but  improved  by  study  in 
later  life.     He  was  one  of  the  pupils  of  Simeon  P.  Smith,  one  of  the 
first  and  best  teachers  of  the  county.     His  early  youth  was  spent  in 
farming  until  eighteen  years  of  age,  when  he  learned  the  carpenter's- 
trade,  at  which  he  worked  for  six  years.     He  has  always  been  an 
active  temperance  man.     In  politics  he  is  a  republican.     He  has  at 
present  513  acres  of  Mercer  county's  best  land  situated  in  New  Boston 
township. 

We  cannot  expect  in  a  short  sketch  to  do  justice  to  onje  who  has  re- 
sided in  the  county  near  forty  six  years,  but  glean  a  few  facts  iii  which 
the  readers  of  this  work  will  feel  a  deep  interest.  Such  a  person  is 
Jaivces  M.  Mannon,  who  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  Septem- 
ber 16,  1823.  He  resided  in  his  native  state  until  thirteen  years  of  age 
and  th^n  came  west  to  Mercer  county,  and  with  his  parents  settled  in 
Eliza  township,  where  he  lived  until  he  attained  the  days  of  manhood. 
He  took  such  chances  as  were  offered  in  those  early  times  for  acquiring 
a  common  school  education.  By  much  reading  and  general  study  he 
has  become  well  infonned  on  all  the  leading  questions  of  the  day.  April 
6,  1849,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Rebecca  daughter  of  Patrick  Shirkey. 
After  bemg  married  some  nine  years,  his  companion  was  called  away  to- 


NEW   BOSTON   TO^\TSrSHIP.  9T 

the  silent  tomb,  September  5,  1857.  He  married  his  present  wife, 
Sarah  J.  Moore,  January  6,  1859.  She  is  a  daughter  of  George  and 
Jemima  Moore,  of  New  Boston  township.  Their  children  are  Bertha. 
B.,  George  M.,  James  M.,  Levi  E.,  and  Charles  N.  Mrs.  Mannon's 
grandfather,  Robert  Moore,  served  in  the  war  of  1776 — and  he  and  hi& 
two  sons,  Thomas  and  James,  served  in  the  war  of  1812.  Colonel  Man- 
non  started  out  in  life  as  tiller  of  the  soil  which  business  he  followed  some 
fifteen  years,  when  he  was  elected  sheriff  of  Mercer  county  on  tlie  re- 
publican ticket.  In  1858,  after  serving  his  term  as  sheriff,  he  was  elected 
circuit  clerk  and  county  recorder,  which  positions  he  held  for  two  years. 
In  response  to  the  call  of  the  government  for  troops  to  put  down  the  re- 
bellion of  the  southern  states,  he  enlisted  in  the  102d  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and 
was  elected  captain  of  company  K,  afterward  major,  and  later,  lieu- 
tenant colonel.  He  was  in  all  of  the  fighting  in  Sherman's  march  to 
the  sea  coast,  until  the  siege  of  Atlanta,  when  pressed  by  home  interests 
he  resigned  and  came  home.  Soon  after  joining  his  family  he  com- 
menced mercantile  business  in  New  Boston  in  partnership  with  Anthony 
Burdick  under  the  firm  name  of  Burdick  and  Mannon.  They  did  a  large 
business  for  some  three  years  when  Mr.  Mannon  purchased  tlie  interest 
of  Mr.  Burdick  and  continued  the  business  two  years  longer.  He  then 
sold  off  his  stock  of  goods  and  bought  a  farm  five  miles  northeast  of 
New  Boston,  where  he  resides  at  present,  comfortably  situated.  He 
commenced  his  business  life  with  only  eighty  dollars.  Mr.  Mannon 
has  always  been  an  active  republican  and  taken  considerable  interest  in 
advocating  its  principles,  and  canndng  into  effect  the  doctrines  advo- 
cated by  that  party. 

John  Pratt,  butcher,  was  born  m  Union  county,  Indiana,  in  1829. 
He  is  the  oldest  son  of  Begin  and  Mary  (Long)  Pratt.  His  parents  came ' 
to  Mercer  county  in  1836,  and  are  therefore  among  the  earliest  settlers  of 
the  county.  He  was  engaged  in  farming  and  carpentering  until  1876, 
since  which  time  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  butcher's  trade.  In  1869 
he  joined  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd  Fellows,  of  which  body  he  has 
been  a  member  ever  since.  He  has  held  numerous  oflices  in  his  lodge 
at  various  times.  Li  politics  he  is  a  democrat.  His'  father  lived  in 
Mercer  county  until  June  6,  1880,  when  he  was  called  away  to  a  bet- 
ter land.  His  mother  is  still  living  at  the  age  of  seventy-fi^'fe,  and 
maintains  good  health. 

Of  the  representative  men  of  Mercer  county  the  name  of  none 
occupies  a  more  honorable  ]3lace  in  the  list  than  that  of  Dr.  Thojl\s 
WiLLiTs,  of  New  Boston.  He  was  a  pioneer  in  his  profession  as 
well  as  a  pioneer  settler,  and  has  been  a  practitioner  fifty-six  years. 
His  nativity  was  in  Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  in  1805.     It  was  there 


98  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

his  parents,   James  and  Amy  (Allison)  Willits,   who  had  emigrated 
from  Pennsylvania,  were  married.     At  the  age  of  twenty  he  started 
ont  from  home  with  the  design  of  going  to  St.  Louis,  but   stopped 
at  Montezuma,  Parke  county,  Indiana,  where  he  began  the  practice  of 
medicine.     In  three  or  four  years  he  returned  to  his  fatlier's  home,  which 
had  meantime  been  removed  to  Richmond,  Indiana.     He  remained 
there  till  1837,  and  then  came  west  and  settled  in  Warren,  now  Hen- 
derson, county,  this  state,  on  the  line  between  that  and  Mercer.     There 
he  entered  500  acres  of  land,  which  property  is  now  known  as  the 
Mickey  farm.     Having  enclosed  a  large  tract,  he  gave  his  attention 
for  a  few  years  to  raising  stock  for  market ;  but  after  hauling  to  New 
Boston  he  could  obtain  only  $1.50  per  hundred  for  the  hind  quarters 
of  neat  animals  and  $1  for  fore  quarters,  while  pork   brought   but 
$1.25,  all  in  store  pay,  and  corn  could  not  be  sold  at  any  price.      Not 
pleased  with  this  state  of  tilings,  in  1840  he  decided  to  quit  farming, 
and  moved  to  New  Boston  and  continued  his  practice.     In  1850  he 
was  elected  a  representative  to  the  legislature  from  Mercer  county  and 
served  one  term.      While  a  member  of  that  body  the  charter  for  the 
Illinois  Central  railroad  was  passed,  and  he  made  a  strenuous  but  futile 
effort  to  fix  the  percentage  which  the  company  should  be  obliged  to 
pay  into  the  state  treasury  at  ten  per  cent  of  their  gross  earnings, 
instead  of  seven.     The  doctor  voted  first  for  president  for  John  Quincy 
Adams,  but  fell  into  line  with  the  opposite  party  in  the  Jackson  cam- . 
paign  of  1828,   and  since  that  time  has  been  an  old  school  democrat. 
In  controversy  he  has  upheld  the  principles  of  his  party,  but  never  with 
hope  of  oflice  or  aspiration  for  it.     With  the  exception  of  a  division  of 
the  Sons  of  Temperance,  which  he  organized  in  New  Boston,  he  has  not 
been  connected  with  any  of  the  secret  orders  which  are  now  so  com- 
mon.   To  the  extent  that  his  example  could  give  force  to  his  convictions, 
he  has  encouraged  the  temperance  cause,  and  under  no  circumstances 
could  he  ever  have  fallen  to  such  depths  of  humiliation  as  to  counte- 
nance or  tolerate  drunkenness  or  any  patronage  of  the  rum  tratfic. 
Dr.  Willits  was  married  in  early  life  to  Mrs.  Catherine  Libby,  formerly 
Miss  Ainsworth,  and  five  children  were  the  fruits  of  this  union.     The 
eldest,  Elmira,  died  in  infancy ;  Leroy  lives  in  New  Boston  township ; 
Yiola,'  who  was  the  wife  of  Russell  Scudder,  died  over  twenty  years 
ago ;  Celeste  is  now  Mrs.  William  A.  Anderson,  of  Chicago ;  and  Kate 
is  the  wife  of  Thomas  Manning  of  the  same  city.     We  regret  our  ina- 
bility to  give  a  more  extended  notice  of  one  who  has  figured  so  largely 
in  the  useful  aftairs  of  this  locality,  and  who,  by  universal  consent,  has 
been  of  so   much  service  and  benefit  to   the  public  at  large  as  Dr. 
Willits.     A  man  of  liberal  education  and  correct  understanding,  whose 


NEW    BOSTON   TOWNSHIP.  99 

Ijnowledge  covers  a  wide  range,  Mercer  county  lias  never  had  a  better 
type  of  tlie  old  school  practitioner  and  gentleman  than  he.  As  a  con- 
versationalist he  is  tluent,  entertaining  and  instructive,  with  pleasing 
powers  of  description. 

Jacob  H.  Swofford  was  born  in  Henry  county,  Indiana,  April  8, 
1829.  His  parents  were  born  in  Kortli  Carolina.  He  came  to 
Mercer  county,  Illinois,  August  10,  1837.  He  was  a  common  laborer 
for  a  time,  and  then  learned  the  printing  business,  which  he  followed 
for  ten  years.  Since  leaving  off  the  printing  business  he  has  engaged 
in  various  avocations.  He  was  married  November  16,  1854,  to 
Annie,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  Shuff.  They  are  the  parents  of 
•eleven  children,  eight  of  whom  are  living.  The  family  have  resided 
in  the  village  of  New  Boston  for  man}-  years. 

Hakley  Ives,  farmer,  was  born  in  Connecticut,  January  15,  1803. 
He  is  the  third  child  of  Caleb  and  Sarah  (Booth)  Ives.  He  came  over- 
land, and  settled  near  Oquawka,  in  Henderson  county,  in  1836,  where 
be  lived  two  years,  when  he  moved  to  Mercer  county,  and  settled  one 
mile  east  of  New  Boston,  where  he  has  lived  ever  since.  During  the 
early  part  of  his  life  he  was  engaged  in  farming,  and  working  at  the 
cooper  trade,  being  the  first  cooper  in  the  county.  In  1827  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Ruth  Ives,  daughter  of  Gideon  and  Charlotte  (Hall) 
Ives.  They  have  had  five  children  born  to  them  :  Gilbert  H.,  who  is 
married  to  Miss  Mary  A  Scudder,  a  daughter  of  Ennis  Scudder  ;  Mar- 
tha W.,  dead  ;  Gideon,  at  home  with  his  parents;  Emery  K.,  married 
to  Miss  Mary  E.  Hartsock ;  Caroline,  married  to  John  W.  Histed. 
Mrs.  Ives  has  always  been  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church.  Mr.  Ives 
has  always  been  an  active  temperance  man.  In  politics  he  is  a  demo- 
crat. At  ])resent,  Mr.  Ives  is  seventy-nine  years  of  age  and  in  splen- 
did health  and  very  active.     Financially  he  is  in  good  circumstances. 

Thomas  Alyea,  druggist,  was  born  at  Miamitown,  Ohio,  Septem- 
ber 21,  1821.  His  father,  Joseph  Alyea,  from  New  Jersey,  was 
three  times  married.  By  his  first  wife  he  had  two  children  ;  by  his 
second,  Margaret  Love,  mother  of  our  subject,  four  were  born  ;  and  by 
the  last,  eight  :  three  sons  and  five  daughters.  The  family  moved 
from  Mr.  Alyea's  birthplace  to  Fairfield,  Franklin  county,  Indiana, 
where  his  mother  died  when  he  was  eight  years  old.  In  1838  a  second 
removal  brought  them  to  New  Boston  where  Mr.  Alyea  has  resided 
continuously  until  the  present  time.  In  1845  he  went  to  Mount  Morris 
Seminary  in  Ogle  county  and  attended  school  there  one  year.  He  was 
the  second  vender  of  drugs  in  New  Boston,  and  opened  in  1853  the 
iirst  exclusive  drug  store,  which  he  has  conducted  since.  From  1847 
to  1853  he  was  selling  dry  goods,  and  from  1854  till  now  he  has  been 


100  HISTORY    OF    MEECEK   AND    HENDEESON    COUNTIES. 

engaged  in  tlie  ice  business.  On  the  28tli  of  June,  1849,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Sarah  A. ,  daughter  of  John  and  Amelia  C.  Signor.  The 
same  year  he  was  elected  county  surveyor,  and  held  that  office  one  teniL 
of  two  years.  He  still  devotes  a  little  attention  to  surveying,  and  has 
in  his  possession  the  old  field  notes  procured  by  Judge  Gilmore  nearly 
fifty  years  ago.  He  was  the  first  town  clerk  after  the  adoption  of  town- 
ship organization,  and  has  filled  the  same  position  in  the  town  of  Kew 
Boston.  A  leading  member  of  the  Methodist  church  for  many  years, 
he  has  held  official  connection  in  the  responsible  positions  of  trustee 
thirty  years,  class-leader  twenty-five  years,  and  sexton,  recording 
steward  and  Sunday  school  superintendent,  also,  for  long  periods.  He 
was  the  first  treasurer  of  the  American  Bible  Society  in  this  county.. 
He  has  shown  himself  active  and  useful  in  the  temperance  movement, 
and  has  belonged  to  about  all  the  organizations  in  !New  Boston.  He- 
was  bred  politically  in  the  whig  party,  and  cast  his  first  vote  for  Henry^ 
Clay  in  1811.  He  has  maintained  his  fidelity  to  the  republican  party 
since  its  organization.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Alyea  have  been  the  parents  of 
eleven  children,  seven  of  whom  are  dead.  The  survivors  are :  Thomas 
Edmund,  a  physician,  living  at  Princeville ;  Willard  Hem-y,  Florence 
Luella,  and  Lilv  Belle. 

Sidney  Chidstee,  farmer,  was  born  in  Trumbull  county,  Ohio, 
April  1,  1816.  He  is  the  fourth  child  of  Hezekiah  and  Lyda  Chidster. 
He  worked  with  his  father  at  the  carpenter's  trade  until  twenty-two- 
years  of  age,  when  he  came  west  and  settled  in  Mercer  county,  where 
he  has  lived  ever  since.  Being  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  county, 
he  had  to  endure  all  the  hardships  connected  with  pioneer  life.  His  edu- 
cation was  limited  to  a  common  school  course.  In  politics  Mr.  Chidster 
had  always  been  a  republican  until  1875,  when  he  joined  the  party  known 
as  the  greenback  party,  of  which  he  has  since  been  a  member.  He 
was  elected  school  trustee  in  18-45,  and  served  twenty-five  years  consec- 
utively. In  1847  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace,  and  served  three 
years.  In  1849  he  was  elected  county  associate  justice  for  the  term  of 
three  years.  He  was  the  first  supervisor  of  Xew  Boston  township,  and 
served  as  chairman  of  that  board.  In  later  years,  he  has  served  ten 
years  as  township  collector.  He  has  always  been  an  active  temperance 
man.  In  March,  1842,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Rachel  Stewart, 
daughter  of  William  and  Nancy  Stewart.  She  was  born  m  Trumbull 
county,  Ohio,  August  10,  1823.  They  have  had  three  children :  Wil- 
liam and  Lyda,  who  are  at  home,  and  Rachel,  who  is  married  to  Milton 
F.  Weeden.  August  10,  1853,  Mr.  Chidster  was  called  to  mourn  the^ 
loss  of  his  beloved  wife. 

Henky   H.   Robeets,    lumber  merchant,    was    born    in   England,. 


NEW   BOSTON   TOWNSHIP.  101 

August  11,  1819.  He  is  next  to  the  youngest  child  of  James  and 
Elizabeth  Roberts,  who  came  to  America  in  1828,  landing  at  Boston, 
Massachusetts,  where  they  lived  until  1836.  Mr.  Roberts  lived  in 
Indiana  two  years  before  coming  to  Mercer  county.  He  built  a  card- 
ing machine  in  New  Boston  township,  which  was  the  first  in  the  county. 
This  he  ran  for  two  years,  when  he  removed  to  Eliza  township,  entered 
120  acres  of  land  and  bought  eighty  acres  more,  and  went  to  farming. 
He  remained  in  this  business  until  1856,  when  he  went  to  New  Boston 
and  built  a  large  three-story  brick  carriage  and  wagon  factory  in  part- 
nership with  Joe  Graham,  forming  the  firm  of  Graham  &  Roberts. 
They  continued  business  until  1860,  when  Mr.  Roberts  bought  Graham 
<out.  In  1861  Mr.  Roberts  went  back  to  his  farm,  and  farmed  until 
1865,  when  he  went  to  Monmouth,  Illinois,  and  started  a  sash,  door 
and  blind  factory  and  planing-mill,  which  he  ran  until  1869,  when  his 
mill  was  burned  down.  Returning  to  New  Boston,  he  refitted  the 
building  he  had  formerly  occupied  as  a  factory,  for  a  hotel,  the 
Roberts  House,  which  he  ran  until  1875,  since  which  time  he  has  been 
engaged  in  the  lumber  trade.  On  March  20,  181-5,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Mary  Baker,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  Baker.  She 
was  born  December  7,  1826,  and  died  June  16,  1858.  He  was  married 
again  September  29,  1859,  to  Miss  Maria  J.  Dunn,  daughter  of  Thomas 
and  Nancy  Dunn.  By  his  first  marriage  he  had  six  children  :  Eliza- 
beth H.  (married  to  Albert  Denison),  Marshall,  Albert  (dead),  Harriet 
(dead),  Clarence  (dead),  Charles  S.  (dead).  By  his  last  marriage  he 
has  two  children  :  Richard  H.  and  Ernest.  Morally  speaking,  he  has 
always  been  an  active  temperance  man.  Politically  he  was  a  republi- 
can until  1872,  when  he  joined  the  greenback  party,  to  which  party  he 
has  ever  since  strictly  adhered. 

Mary  D.  Willits  was  born  in  Butler  county,  Ohio,  May  31,  1823. 
,She  is  the  sixth  child  of  Joseph  and  Margretta  (Love)  Alyea.  She 
.came  with  her  parents  to  Franklin  county,  Indiana,  where  they  lived 
until  1838,  when  they  came  to  Mercer  county,  settling  in  the  town  of 
New  Boston.  Her  father  was  one  of.  the  first  to  start  in  business. 
She  was  married  to  William  Danford  September  13,  1845.  Mr.  Dan- 
ford  was  born  March  21,  1807.  He  was  the  third  child  of  Enoch  and 
Mary  Danford.  They  had  four  children  :  William  B. ,  married  to  Alice 
Kesler ;  Mehdlle  C. ,  to  Dora  Noble  ;  Joseph  A. ,  to  Fannie  Strong ; 
Mozart,  to  Clara  Mannon.  William  B.  was  born  June  29,  1846  ;  Mel- 
ville C,  September  22,  1847;  Joseph  A.,  December  5,  1848;  Mozart, 
March  16,  1850.  William  Danford,  Sr.,  died  July  27,  1850.  Mrs. 
Danford  married  again  March  10,  1852,  to  William  Willits,  who  was 
the   seventh  child   of  Jesse   and   Susannah  Willits.      He  was  born 


102  HISTORY   OF   IVLERCER   AKD    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

January  7,  1802.     They  have  had  live  children  :  Viemma  C,  born  Jan- 
uary 18,  1853  (dead);    Arthur,  April  23,  1855  ;.Scylus  D.,  February 
26,  1857;    Clarence  L.,  April  4,  1859;   Florence  N.,    September  24, 
1861.     Her  last  husband  died  September  1,  1871.     He  left  530  acres- 
of  land  five  miles  east  of  Kew  Boston  for  the  benefit  of  his  children. 
Mrs.  Willits'  early  youth  was  spent  in  getting  an  education,  and  teach- 
ing.    She  has  been  connected  with  the  Methodist  church  since  1836, 
and  has  been  a  great  temperance  worker  all  her  life.     She  still  resides- 
on  the  home  farm  with  her  two  youngest  childi'en. 

Wlien  the  boundless  prairies  spread  over  Mercer  county,  dotted 
here  and  there  with  log  cabins,  there  was  one  born  whose  birth  and 
career  we  deem  it  well  to  record.     Such  a  person  is  William  M.  Prouty, 
who  was  bom  December  15,  1841.     He  is  the  second  child  of  William, 
and  Lyda  (Hall)  Prouty.     His  father  was  born  in  New  Hampshire, 
August  29,  1807  ;  his  mother,  February  9,  1813.     His  ftither  died  De- 
cember 17,  1863,  and  his  mother,  December  8,  1867.     Mr.  Prouty  and 
his  wife  have  always  been  very  industrious  and  economical,  and  have 
thus  acquired  a  pleasant  home,  consisting  of  160  acres  of  land  well 
improved,  eighty  acres  of  which  is  the  S.  ^  of  the  S.  W.  ^  of  Sec.  22, 
and  eighty  acres  of  the  S.  ^  of  the  S.  E.  J  of  Sec.  21.     Last  year 
(1881)  Mr.  Prouty  built  a  large  and  commodious  residence.    Mr.  Prouty 
has  always  lived  in  this  township  and  county,  except  three  years  spent. 
in  Kansas,  from  1869  to  1873.     He  and  his  wife  have  been  members 
of  the  Methodist  church  since  1873.     He  was  married  November  19, 
1863,  to  Miss  Nancy  J.,  daughter  of  Allen  and  Martha  J.  McCormick. 
She  was  born  June  3,  1841.     They  have  had  eight  children,  seven  of 
whom  are  living:    AVilliam  J.,  Jr.,  born  June  24,  1864;  Mathias  F., 
September  31,  1867  ;  Sarah,  September  4,  1870  ;  Omri  T.,  March  16, 
1872  ;  Harry  B.,  March  5,  1874  ;  Walter  P.,  April  25,  1875  ;  Charlie 
P.,  June  25,  1877  ;  Annie  K.,  September  12,  1879.     Omri  and  Sarah 
were  born  in  Kansas,  the  others  in  Mercer  county.     Sarah  died  Sep- 
tember 4,  1870. 

David  Kirlin,  furniture  dealer,  was  born  in  Shenandoah  county^ 
West  Virginia,  November  2,  1823,  and  is  the  fourth  child  of  William 
and  Lydia  (Thompson)  Kirlin.  He  came  with  his  parents  to  Wayne 
county,  Indiana,  about  1830,  and  remained  there  until  1842,  when 
David  sought  a  home  in  the  west,  settling  in  Mercer  county,  where  he 
has  resided  ever  since.  He  has  always  been  engaged  in  the  furniture 
business  since  he  came  to  this  county.  He  has  done  quite  an  exten- 
sive ti'ade  for  the  last  two  years,  and  his  business  is  gradually  on  the 
increase.  Besides  his  furniture  store  he  has  two  good  farms,  one  in 
New  Boston  township  and  one  in  Iowa.     He  was  mamed  February, 


NEW   BOSTON    TO\\Ts"SHIP.  103 

1847,  to  Miss  Mary  Myers.  Tliey  have  had  six  chikben,  live  of  whom 
are  living  :  John  A.  (dead) ;  Dalinda,  married  to  S.  C.  Burligam,  and 
resides  in  Taylor  comity,  Iowa  ;  Kate,  married  to  William  Dickinson  ; 
May,  married  to  O.  B.  Thompson,  and  resides  in  Taylor  county,  Iowa  ; 
Abby,  married  to  Dr.  A.  G.  Creigg,  of  Aledo  ;  Edna,  married  to 
J.  F.  McBride,  of  Aledo.  Mr.  Kirlin  has  always  taken  considerable 
interest  in  temperance,  religion  and  politics. 

The  early  history  of  Mercer  county  would  be  incomplete  without 
special  mention  of  her  pioneer  preachers,  among  whom  was  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  Thomas  Lannon  Doughty,  who  was  born  March  29,  1796, 
in  the  Shenandoah  valley,  Frederick  county,  Virginia.  About  the 
close  of  the  war  of  1812,  although  but  seventeen  years  of  age,  he 
enlisted  in  a  cavalry  company,  and  with  it  went  to  Richmond,  only  to 
be  there  mustered  out  of  the  service,  owing  to  the  ending  of  the  war. 
Returning  home  he  served  an  apprenticeship  at  the  saddler's  trade. 
November  5,  1882,  he  married  Miss  Cavey  B.  Templeman,  of  Stafford 
county,  Virginia,  who  died  June  27,  1827,  leaving  one  son,  James  W., 
who  still  sm-vives  and  resides  in  Des  Moines,  Iowa.  In  the  fall  of  this 
year  he  removed  to  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  working  at  his  trade  in 
Richmond  and  Centerville,  and  in  1828  married  Miss  Mary  Jane  Kib- 
bey,  of  Richmond,  by  whom  he  had  eleven  children,  five  of  whom  are 
still  living:  Mrs.  Mary  D.  Dixon,  of  Des  Moines,  Iowa  ;  Thomas  H., 
of  IS^ew  Boston  ;  Mrs.  A.  Josie  Cunningham  and  Lucien  B. ,  of  Aledo, 
Mercer  county ;  and  Mrs.  Emma  C.  Cole,  of  Warren  county,  Illinois. 
While  in  Wayne  county  he  was  licensed  as  a  local  preacher  in  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  which  relation  he  sustained  until  his 
death.  In  the  fall  of  1842  he  removed  with  his  family  by  wagon  to 
Mercer  county,  spending  the  winter  in  a  log  cabin  under  the  bluff,  on 
what  is  still  known  as  the  James  Thompson  farm.  In  the  following 
spring  he  removed  to  New  Boston  and  opened  a  saddle  and  harness 
shop,  the  first  in  the  county.  As  these  were  the  days  of  barter,  a 
glance  at  his  books  shows  that  most  of  his  work  was  paid  for  in  grain, 
which  he  shipped  to  St.  Louis  by  boat,  the  wholesale  dealers  of  whom 
he  purchased  his  supplies  also  acting  as  his  commission  agents.  A 
letter  from  a  firm  there  written  in  1845,  ad\dses  him  to  "ship  all  the 
wheat  he  can  get  hold  of  immediately,  as  the  price  has  gone  up  to 
twenty-six  cents  per  bushel."  While  engaged  in  business  he  did  not 
neglect  the  work  of  his  Master,  as  he  had  his  appointments  and  filled 
them  as  regulai'ly  as  the  circuit-rider,  and  was  frequently  called  upon 
to  supply  the  place  of  the  latter.  Among  his  preaching  places  at  this 
time  we  may  mention  the  Brick  Yard,  Eliza  Creek,  Millersburg, 
Redmon's  in  Abington  township,  sometimes  at  Keithsburg,  and  occa- 


104:  HISTORY    OF    aiERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

sionally  as  far  as  Preemption.  He  was  always  present  at  the  annual 
camp-meetings  at  Sugar  Grove,  where  he  worked  incessantly,  ardu- 
ously and  willingly  in  the  grand  cause.  He  would  frequently  start 
from  home  early  on  the  Sabbath,  preach  at  11  a.m.  at  one  point,  at 
4  P.M.  at  another,  and  at  early  candle-light  at  a  third,  driving  home, 
twelve  or  fifteen  miles,  at  the  close  of  the  latter  ser\dce,  and  all  from 
a  love  for  the  work,  with  no  thought  of  reward  in  this  life.  He  was 
very  frequently  called  upon  to  perform  the  marriage  ceremony  and  to 
preach  funeral  sermons,  often  riding  fifteen  to  twenty  miles  in  response 
to  these  calls,  and  receiving  only  the  thanks  of  interested  parties  as 
payment  for  his  ser\aces  and  loss  of  time.  In  the  spring  of  1850  his 
second  wife  went  to  her  reward,  closing  a  life  of  earnest,  active  and 
efiicient  christian  work,  loved  and  mourned  by  all  who  knew  her,  yet 
leaving  the  memory  of  her  pure  nature  to  be  fondly  cherished  by  all. 
In  October, '1851,  he  was  again  married,  his  wife  being  Mrs.  Rachael 
Sahdn,  of  Warren  county.  *  On  the  night  of  his  return  to  New  Boston 
with  his  bride  his  residence  was  burned  to  the  ground,  and  as  it  was 
his  all,  he  removed  what  little  was  saved  from  the  flames  to  the  farm 
of  his  wife,  lying  in  the  northwest  corner  of  Warren  and  the  northeast 
corner  of  Henderson  counties,  adjoinmg  the  Mercer  county  line.  Here 
he  contijiued  his  pastoral  labors,  having  regular  appointments  at  Sun- 
beam, Bald  Bluff,  Little  York,  Pleasant  Green  and  other  points.  For 
three  years  he  rode  the  Camden  circuit,  Rock  Island  county,  as  a 
"supply,"  and  for  one  or  more  he  supplied  the  Oquawka  circuit,  Hen- 
derson county.  He  organized  what  is  now  known  as  Belmont  Church, 
in  the  latter  county,  and  it  was  largely  through  his  influence  that  the 
church  building  was  erected.  In  the  winter  of  1865,  after  a  life  of 
earnest  work  and  usefulness,  he  passed  "  over  the  river"  to  meet  the 
Master  whom  he  had  so  faithftilly  and  conscientiously  served,  well 
assured  of  the  welcome,  "Well  done,  good  and  faithful  servant,  enter 
thou  into  the  joy  of  thy  Lord."  His  remains  were  interred  at  Bel- 
mont, but  in  1872  were  removed  to  the  IS'ew  Boston  cemetery,  where 
-a  small  but  appropriate  stone  marks  his  grave.  His  wife  died  in  1872. 
Xot  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  comity  was  more  widely  known, 
more  highly  respected,  or  more  sincerely  mourned  than  Father 
Doughty.  Politically  Father  Doughty  was  identified  with  the  demo- 
cratic party,  particularly  the  Douglas  wing,  until  the  breaking  out  of 
the  rebellion,  after  which  he  voted  with  the  republicans.  His  sympa- 
thies were  all  with  the  Union,  and  the  enlistment  of  his  youngest  son, 
Lucien  B.,  and  two  step-sons,  F.  J.  and  Benjamin  Sarvin,  deepened 
his  interest  and  solicitude  in  the  movements  of  the  Union  army.  In  "* 
answer  to  a  letter  announcing  the  enlistment  of  his  son,  he  wrote  : 


-'««i 


S^  (Za^ 


I 


NEW   BOSTON    TOWNSHIP.  107 

"  While  I  shall  always  feel  an  anxiety  for  yonr  safety,  and  all  the  more 
keenly  that  I  realize  in  part  the  dangers  to  which  yon  will  be  exposed, 
I  have  no  word  of  regret  for  yonr  course.  God  bless  yon  and  preserve 
you,  and  grant  a  speedy  victory  to  our  noble  army."  And  again, 
when  that  son  wrote  that  he  had  re-enlisted  as  a  veteran,  he  writes  : 
"I  had  hoped  that  you  would  return  after  your  three  years'  service. 
It  would  seem  that  you  had  certainly  performed  your  whole  duty  in 
that  time,  and  that  some  one  might  take  your  place.  But  perhaps  I 
am  getting  seltish,  as  it  seems  so  long  since  I  have  seen  you..  Your 
first  duty  is  to  your  country,  and  I  will  only  say  what  I  said  when  you 
first  enlisted  :  '  Do  your  duty,  and  may  God  protect  and  keep  you, ' "" 
Who  will  say  that  the  prayers  of  such  a  true  christian  were  not 
answered  in  the  return  of  that  son  unharmed  after  over  four  years  of 
active  service.  His  educational  advantages  were  limited,  but  the  Bible 
was  his  constant  companion  and  study.  AVithout  the  rhetorical  fiour- 
ish  and  oratorical  disj^lay  of  the  modern  preacher,  his  sermons  were 
delivered  with  a  force  and  earnestness  peculiar  to  the  early  itineracy, 
and  with  a  power  for  good  that  would  to-day  seem  phenominal.  Of 
this  power  Rev.  Richard  Haney,  still  living,  tells  the  following:  "I 
remember  one  scene  at  an  early  camp-meeting  at  Sugar  Grove.  I 
had  charge  of  the  services  for  the  day.  Two  sermons  had  been  deliv- 
ered, and  in  the  afternoon  Father  Doughty  occupied  the  stand.  I 
never  listened  to  such  earnest  appeals  to  the  sinner,  nor  did  I  ever 
witness  such  an  immediate  answer  to  the  prayers.  The  large  audience 
were  completely  carried  away  by  the  sermon,  and  the  shouting,  and 
praying,  and  crying  soon  drowned  the  voice  of  the  preacher,  who,  with 
his  gray  locks  flying  in  the  wind,  and  the  tears  rolling  down  his  cheeks,, 
was  vainly  trying  to  make  himself  heard.  Turning  to  me  he  asked, 
'what-  shall  I  do?'  and  I  could  only  say,  'let  them  alone,  Father 
Doughty  ;  the  Lord  has  taken  this  meeting  out  of  your  hands.  Let 
them  alone  ;  He  will  take  care  of  it  now ;'  and  he  sank  exhausted  ta 
his  seat.  I  repeat  it :  I  never  heard  a  sermon  of  more  power,  nor  ever 
witnessed  such  an  outpouring  of  the  spirit."  With  an  early-day  mar- 
riage at  which  he  ofiiciated,  we  will  close  this  sketch.  Driving  along 
the  "Bluff""  road  one  summer  day,  he  was  hailed  by  a  man  plowing 
corn,  who,  leaving  his  plow,  invited  Father  D.  into  the  house  of  his 
employer  "on  urgent  business."  Here  was  the  daughter  of  the  house, 
a  comely  maiden,  engaged  in  mixing  bread.  After  a  whispered  word 
from  the  plowman  she  wiped  the  flour  from  her  hands,  rolled  down  her 
sleeves,  and  the  pair  presented  themselves  for  marriage,  he  in  his  shirt- 
sleeves, she  with  a  big  apron  on.  The  ceremony  was  promptly  per- 
7 


108  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AJNT)    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

formed,  tlie  bride  returned  to  her  bread,  the  groom  to  his  plow,  and 
the  minister  proceeded  on  his  journey,  all  as  if  nothing  unusual  had 
happened. 

The  ancestors  of  John  L.  Hartson,  of  Xew  Boston,  came  from 
England  and  settled  at  Haverhill,  Massachusetts,  and  took  an  active 
part  in  the  struggle  for  American  independence.  Andrew  Hartson, 
grandfather  of  J.  L.,  who  was  born  April  6,  1756,  was  under  twenty 
jears  of  age  when  serving  under  Gen.  Washington  at  Dorchester 
Heights,  etc.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Baldwin,  November 
28,  1780,  in  Connecticut,  where  he  subsequently  made  his  home,  fol- 
lowing the  occupation  of  a  mechanic,  excelling  in  the  manufacture  of 
augurs.  He  invented  the  screw  augur,  although  the  credit  has  since 
b)een  claimed  by  another.  His  family  consisted  of  three  sons  :  Jesse, 
the  eldest,  who  died  in  early  childhood ;  Ebenezer,  still  liWng  (Feb- 
ruary 11,  1882),  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-six  j^ears;  and  John,  the 
father  of  John  L.  John  was  born  September  3,  1790  ;  was  married 
in  March,  1810,  to  Miss  Alice  Utley,  by  whom  he  had  three  sons, 
named  in  the  order  of  their  ages  :  Andrew,  Lester  and  John  Lyman, 
born  December  29,  1814.  His  father  died  March  5,  1816,  when  John 
L.  was  but  little  past  fourteen  months  old.  He  remained  with  his 
mother  until  about  ten  years  old,  when  he  started  out  to  make  his  own 
way  in  the  world.  The  fii'st  two  or  three  years  he  worked  on  a  farm 
in  summer,  and  went  to  school  in  winter,  doing  chores  for  his  board. 
He  thus  received  the  rudiments  of  an  English  education,  and  acquired 
a  love  of  reading,  by  which  means  he  has  stored  up  a  large  fund  of 
useful  knowledge  and  general  intelligence.  He  next  worked  in  a 
woolen  factory  a  year  or  two,  but  not  liking  that  business  apprenticed 
liimself  to  learn  the  trade  of  scythe-making ;  but  his  employer  being 
an  intemperate  man  failed  in  business,  and  John  L.  was  thus  tlii'own 
out  of  employment  before  he  had  served  his  time.  It  was  at  this  time, 
seeing  the  evil  etlects  of  strong  drink,  he  became  a  firm  advocate  of 
total  abstinence,  and  has  alwaj^s  been  strictly  temperate,  using  neither 
spuituous  liquors,  wine  nor  tobacco.  He  soon  after  found  employ- 
ment in  an  augiu*  factory  in  Ashford,  Windham  county,  where  he  re- 
mained until  he  was  twent)'-one  years  old,  becoming  a  very  skillful 
workman.  He  went  to  Humphreysville  (now  Seymour),  IS^ew  Haven 
county,  in  January,  1836,  where  he  worked  as  journeyman  at  augur- 
making.  He  was  married  April  2-1,  1836,  to  Miss  Mary  J.  Hartshorn, 
l)y  whom  he  had  three  children  :  one  daughter,  Alice  A. ,  and  two  sons, 
Lyman  L.  and  John  S.,  all  of  whom  died  under  three  years  of  age. 
In  January,  1843,  he  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  Church,  of 
^vhich  he  was  an  active  and  exemplary  member.     In  March,  1843,  he 


NEW   BOSTON   TOMTSTSHIP.  109 

was  initiated  into  the  Housatonic  Lodge,  'No.  6,  I.O.O.F.,  at  Bir- 
mingham, and  in  September,  1846,  lie  withdrew  from  that  lodge  in 
order  to  organize  one  in  Ilnmphreysville,  his  place  of  residence,  and 
accordingly  was  a  charter  member  of  Mechanics  Lodge,  No.  73,  and 
was  the  second  N.G.  of  that  lodge.  Li  1848  he  purchased  an  inter- 
est in  the  manufactory  where  he  had  been  employed  since  1836.  In 
1850  he  bought  the  whole  establishment,  which  he  carried  on  very  suc- 
cessfully for  a  number  of  years,  Li  1852  he  was  elected  representa- 
tive to  the  state  legislature,  which  office  he  tilled  witli  credit  to  himself 
and  satisfaction  to  his  constituents.  In  1854,  having  met  with  a  con- 
siderable loss  by  indorsing  for  others,  he  sold  out  and  came  west,  landing 
in  New  Boston  November  8th  of  that  year,  where  he  purchased  the 
N.  W.  J  of  Sec.  29,  T.  14,  R.  5,  which  he  commenced  improving  the 
following  spring.  Soon  aft:er  his  settlement  in  New  Boston,  J.  L. 
Hartson,  Mark^'j.  O'Brien,  J.  C.  Bell,  C.  H.  Bell,  D.  Hines  and 
others,  became  charter  members  of  the  New  Boston  Lodge,  I.O.O.F., 
which  was  the  first  organized  in  the  county.  Mr.  Hartson  was  the 
first  N.G.  and  the  first  representative  to  the  state  Grand  Lodge  from 
this  town  and  county.  He  remained  on  his  farm  about  four  years, 
when  he  bought  a  drug  store  in  New  Boston,  which  he  carried  on  a 
little  over  two  years  ;  during  that  time  his  wife  Mary  died.  On  Jan- 
uary 8,  1860,  he  was  married  to  his  present  wife,  who  was  Mrs. 
Fanny  M.  Campbell,  nee  Mead.  In  April  of  1863,  having  sold  his 
town  property,  he  returned  to  liis  farm,  where  he  is  still  enjoying  the 
cjuiet  of  rural  life  in  his  home,  surrounded  by  a  few  congenial  friends 
who  know  him  best  and  love  him  most. 

William  Lewis  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  April  25,  1832. 
His  parents  were  formerly  from  Greene  county,  Virginia.  He  received 
a  common  school  education,  and  in  1854  came  to  Mercer  county  and 
settled  in  New  Boston  township,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  was 
married  October  30,  1856,  to  Sarah  Jane,  daughter  of  Pettis  and  Maria 
J.  Finch.  They  have  one  child  :  Lexd.  Mr.  Lewis  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  fraternity,  and  has  been  since  1862.  He  is  an  extensive 
farmer,  owning  620  acres  of  land.  He  has  very  fine  buildings  on  his 
farm,  and  is  engaged  largely  in  stock  raising  and  shipping.  Politic- 
ally he  is  a  republican. 

WiLLiAJvi  T.  MiTtRAY  was  bom  in  Frederick  county,  Maryland, 
April  16,  1820.  He  is  the  oldest  son  of  William  and  Susan  (Jackson) 
Murray.  William  T.  left  his  native  state  in  1840,  and  after  traveling 
over  the  states  of  Indiana  and  Ohio,  he  settled  in  Wayne  county,  In- 
diana, where  he  lived  several  years.  In  1856  he  came  to  Mercer  county, 
Illinois,  where  he  has  resided  ever  since.     During  his  early  life  he  was 


110    •  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

engaged  in  the  butchering  business.  Since  coming  to  Mercer  county- 
he  has  been  chiefly  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising.  In  1877  he 
again  engaged  in  the  butchering  business  in  New  Boston.  Pohtically 
he  has  been  a  repubhcan  since  1860,  but  previous  to  that  time  he  was 
a  democrat.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church  since 
1854,  and  has  always  advocated  the  temperance  cause.  In  August, 
1843,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Jackson,  daughter  of  Amor  and 
Debby  Jackson,  of  Wayne  coimty,  Indiana.  Akhough  her  maiden 
name  is  the  same  as  his  mother's,  they  are  not  related.  They  have 
reared  three  children:  William  H.,  who  is  married  to  Miss  Amna 
Essley ;  Alice,  married  to  Thomas  Murphey ;  and  Gertrude,  who 
remains  at  home  with  her  parents. 

Jacob  Loozer,  farmer,  was  bom  March  10,  18-34,  in  Switzerland, 
and  emigrated  to  this  country  in  1854,  and  after  working  one  year  in 
Michigan  came  to  Mercer  county,  where  he  has  since  resided.  Mr. 
Loozer  came,  hearty  and  industrious,  and  with  nothing  to  aid  himself 
in  this  distant  land  but  a  willing  pair  of  hands.  Although  he  did  not 
come  until  much  later  than  some,  he  ranks  among  the  wealthiest  men  in 
the  county.  After  he  came  to  the  county  he  labored  for  four  years  on 
the  farm  for  William  Drury.  Living  very  economically,  at  the  end  of 
four  years  he  found  he  had  money  enough  to  purchase  eighty  acres  of 
land,  which  he  did.  He  has  added  to  it  at  different  times,  until  he  has  at 
present  640  acres.  He  was  married  March  10,  1859,  to  Miss  Barbary 
Sloan.  They  have  four  children,  all  of  whom  are  living.  Mr.  Loozer 
was  the  first  man  in  the  county  to  put  up  a  wind  pump.  He  is  also 
agent  for  the  Halladay's  wind-mill,  which  is  one  of  the  best  mills  manu- 
factured. He  has  always  been  an  active  republican.  Mr.  Loozer  farms 
on  a  very  large  scale.     He  generally  puts  in  250  acres  of  corn. 

John  Seastone,  wagonmaker  and  blacksmith,  was  born  in  Sweden, 
August  3,  1834.  He  came  to  this  country  in  1858,  landing  at  Quebec 
August  21.  From  Quebec  he  went  to  Minnesota,  where  he  stayed 
until  1859,  when  he  came  on  to  New  Boston  township,  where  he  has 
lived  ever  since.  He  worked  at  the  blacksmith  trade  about  four  years 
at  the  "brick  yard,"  which  is  five  miles  northeast  of  New  Boston. 
From  this  point  he  removed  to  New  Boston,  where  he  has  been  largely 
engaged  in  wagonmaking,  blacksmithing,  and  selling  machinery  of 
all  kinds.  He  does  a  very  large  business,  especially  in  the  way  of 
selling  machinery.  May  23,  1860,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Eva  S. 
Hilmore.  They  have  had  seven  children :  Mary,  Dora,  Kate,  John  E. , 
Charles  Y.,  Emma,  Charlotte.  They  are  all  single,  and  live  at 
home  with  their  parents.  Mr.  Seastone  is  a  member  of  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  church,  at  Swedona,  Mercer  county,  Illinois.     He  is  also  a 


NEW   BOSTON   TOWNSHIP.  Ill 

member  of  the  order  of  Masons,  at  New  Boston.       Politically  he  is  a 
republican. 

T.  H.  Doughty,  police  magistrate  and  book-keeper,  was  born  in 
Centerville,  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  in  1831,  and  was  the  fourth  child 
in  a  family  of  eleven  children  by  Thomas  L.  and  •  Mary  J.  (Kibbey) 
Doughty.  In  1842  he  emigrated  to  New  Boston  with  his  parents. 
He  was  a  pupil  of  Simeon  P.  Smith,  and  under  his  tuition  obtained 
a  useful  education.  When  a  boy  he  worked  in  his  father's  shop  and 
learned  the  saddler's  trade  ;  but  most  of  the  time  since  he  became 
of  age  he  has  been  a  book-keeper.  He  was  married  in  1856  to  Miss 
Hattie  M.  Doughty,  by  whom  he  has  had  seven  children  :  Willie 
(dead),  Kate  (now  Mrs.  P.  E.  Tovey),  Harry  (dead),  Josie  (dead), 
Jim  E.,  Sue,  and  an  unnamed  infant.  Mr.  Doughty  has  been  active 
among  his  townsmen  in  promoting  temperance  work,  and  the  interests 
of  the  republican  organization.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Independent . 
Order  of  Mutual  Aid,  and  has  held  several  local  offices.  He  was  the 
iirst  mayor  of  New  Boston,  and  is  at  present  town  clerk  and  police 
magistrate. 

Gideon  Ives,  merchant,  was  born  in  Wallingford,  Connecticut, 
in  1825,  and  was  the  youngest  son  of  Gideon  and  Charlotte  (Hall) 
Ives.  He  received  an  academic  education  in  his  native  town,  and 
in  1843  came  west  and  settled  in  New  Boston,  where  he  at  once 
began  clerking  for  the  firm  of  Denison  &  Ives.  As  early  as  1846 
he  embarked  in  general  merchandising  in  partnership  with  Elmer  J. 
Denison,  and  kept  up  this  connection  until  about  1865.  At  that  date 
Mr.  Ives  withdrew  from  the  firm  and  was  out  of  trade  till  1881,  when 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  Frank  Ives  (his  son)  and  C.  H.  Ballard 
(his  son-in-law),  under  the  style  of  Ives,  Ballard  &  Co.  Mr.  Ives  was 
originally  a  whig,  and  voted  first  for  president  for  Gen.  Taylor  in  1848. 
He  has  been  a  steadfast  republican  since  his  party  came  into  existence. 
He  has  always  been  squarely  identified  with  the  temperance  work.  In 
1853  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Rachel,  daughter  of  John 
Dnn-y,  by  whom  he  has  had  seven  children,  as  follows :  Frank,  who 
married  Miss  Lizzie  Moll ;  Jennie,  wife  of  C.  H.  Ballard ;  Flora,  Fred, 
Nellie  (died  in  infancy),  Hattie  and  Paul. 

Chaeles  W.  Bras,  lawyer  and  collector,  was  born  in  Lake  county, 
•Ohio,  May  16,  1828,  and  is  the  fourth  child  of  Thomas  and  Ann 
(Norton)  Bras.  He  came  west  with  his  parents  in  1837,  settling  in 
Louisa  county,  Iowa,  where  he  worked  with  his  father  until  of  age.  He 
then  learned  the  mason's  trade  and  was  engaged  in  this  until  1850, 
when  he  went  overland  to  California,  enduring  all  the  hardships  con- 
nected with  an  overland  trip  across  hundreds  of  miles  of  a  wilderness, 


112  HISTORY    OF   MERCEK   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

where  rain  never  falls,  and  vegetation  does  not  exist.  After  arri\ang  in 
California  he  clerked  in  a  store  one  year,  after  which  he  was  engaged 
in  mining  and  ruiming  a  pack-train.  He  returned  to  Louisa  county, 
Iowa,  in  1853,  and  was  in  business  there  until  1868,  when  he  came  to- 
New  Boston,  where  he  opened  up  a  law  office,  and  has  been  in  business 
ever  since.  During  the  late  rebellion  he  enlisted  in  the  -IStli  reg.  Iowa 
Vol.,  and  served  six  months,  and  was  discharged.  He  received  a 
common  school  education,  and  being  a  close  student  he  has  acquired  a 
good  education.  In  September,  1853,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Hannah 
M.  Dennott.  They  have  four  children  :  Clarence  C. ,  Harry  L. ,  Ralph 
C,  Charlotte  E.,  all  of  whom  are  living.  He  has  served  eleven  years 
as  justice  of  the  peace,  and  has  been  a  Mason  over  sixteen  years.  In 
politics  he  is  a  republican. 

R.  S.  Cramer,  farmer,  was  born  in  Clermont  county,  Ohio,  Sep- 
tember 5,  1825,  being  the  tirst  child  of  William  and  Sarah  (Shute) 
Ci-amer.  William  was  the  first  son  of  Adam  Cramer,  an  early  settler 
of  Kentucky,  being  a  near  neighbor  of  the  noted  Daniel  Boone  of  early 
Kentucky  fame.  R.  S.  was  married  to  Mrs.  Charlotte  B.  Harris  in  the 
fall  of  1847  ;  she  was  born  in  Miami  county,  Ohio,  in  the  year  of  1831. 
They  emigrated  to  Knox  county  in  the  tall  of  1855.  His  wife  was 
feeble  at  the  time,  and  died  in  July,  1856.  Two  children  were  born 
of  this  union,  but  they  both  died  while  quite  young.  Mr.  Cramer 
came  to  this  county  in  the  fall  of  1856  to  make  this  his  permanent 
home.  He  remembers  of  passing  along  the  Air  Line  railroad  (surveyed) 
over  the  site  where  "now  stands  Aledo.  It  was  then  (1855)  nothing  but 
a  bleak  prairie,  relieved  only  by  the  stakes  for  the  railroad.  He  made 
his  home  with  James  M.  Manon,  of  Eliza  township  (afterward  elected 
sheriff  and  circuit  clerk  of  this  county,  and  who  was,  during  the  late 
war,  colonel  of  the  102d  111.  Vol.),  until  he  married  the  Widow  Cole  in 
February,  1857.  She  was  a  sister  of  the  colonel  and  daugher  of  Aaron 
Manon  of  the  same  township.  The  Widow  Cole  (his  present  wife)  was 
born  in  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  in  1820,  and  emigrated  to  this  county 
with  her  father's  family  in  1836,  and  settled  in  Eliza  township.  There 
has  been  no  children  by  this  marriage.  Immediately  after  his  marriage 
he  settled  two  and  a  half  miles  north  of  New  Boston,  where  he  has 
lived  for  more  than  twenty-live  years.  Mr.  Ci-amer  was  brought  up  in 
a  neighborhood  where  almost  everybody  belonged  to  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  He  joined  at  iifteen  years  of  age  and  remained  a  . 
member  of  the  same  some  Iifteen  years.  He  always  indulged  in  much 
reading  and  reflection.  The  result  was  he  became  heterodox  in  his 
theological  opinions,  and  to-day  is  well  known  as  a  spiritualist.  In 
politics  he  early  became  convinced  of  the  great  wrongs  inflicted  upon 


KEW   BOSTON   TO^VNSHIP.  115 

the  slaves.  He  gave  his  first  vote  for  Salmon  P.  Chase  for  governor  of 
Ohio,  because  of  his  anti-slavery  proclivities.  From  that  time  till  the 
formation  of  the  republican  party  he  gave  his  votes  where  he  thought 
they  would  promote  the  anti-slavery  interest.  He  voted  for  Fremont 
in  1856  and  continued  to  act  with  the  republican  party  until  Grant  was. 
candidate  for  president  the  second  time ;  and  although  he  was  a  great 
admirer  of  Greeley  he  refrained  from  voting  at  all  until  Peter  Cooper 
run  on  the  greenback  ticket  for  president.  From  that  time  to  the 
present  he  has  been  an  ardent  greenbacker  and  anti-monopolist.  He 
is  serving  at  this  time  (1882)  as  chairman  of  the  central  committee  for 
the  greenback  labor  party  of  tliis  county.  Mr.  Cramer  was  a  very 
enthusiastic  supporter  of  the  late  war,  having  full  confidence  that  it 
would  result  in  the  freedom  of  the  slaves.  He  wrote  the  first  articles 
(published  in  the  "New  Boston  Herald"  and  the  "Aledo  Eecord") 
that  were  ever  published  in  this  county  advocating  the  policy  as  well  as 
the  justice  of  giving  the  negro  the  right  to  vote. 

AVe  think  it  proper  to  mention  liere  the  name  of  Stephen  Randall. 
as  one  of  the  well  to  do  farmers  of  New  Boston  township.  He  came 
to  the  northeastern  part  of  the  township,  where  he  has  resided  ever 
since,  having  accumulated  considerable  property.  He  was  born  in 
Rensselaer  county,  New  York,  November  8,  1813.  He  is  the  oldest 
child  of  Stephen  and  Nancy  (Cutler)  Randall.  He  came  with  his 
parents  to  Mercer  county  in  the  year  1813.  He  was  married  February 
13,  1844,  to  Miss  Rachel  Trumbull  of  Rensselaer  county,  New  York. 
She  was  born  September  29th,  1827,  and  is  the  sixth  child  of  William 
and  Pauley  Trumbull.  They  have  had  eleven  children  (three  of  whom 
are  dead):  Nancy  A.,  married  to  Joseph  Tomelson ;  William  M.,  to 
Lucinda  Uterback ;  Lucy  M.,  to  Calvin  C.  Wyatt;  Pauley  E.,  to  John. 
Fulerton;  Celia  M.,  to  James  ^Y.  Scott;  Stephen,  Cilvia  and  Aaron 
are  dead ;  Minnie,  Alonzo  and  Theron  are  at  home  with  their 
parents.  Rachel,  his  wife,  died  November  15,  1864.  Pie  was  married 
again  June  14,  1875,  to  Mrs.  M.  J.  Jones.  She  was  born  June  29, 
1833,  in  Rensselaer  county.  New  York,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Catherine  (Brooks)  Bradt.  Mr.  Randall  received  only  a  common 
school  education.  In  politics  he  is  a  republican.  He  has  at  present 
434  acres  of  land  in  section  10  of  New  Boston  township,  and  also  160 
acres  in  Iowa. 

Tlie  subject  of  this  sketch,  O.  C.  Lutz,  was  born  in  Mercer  county, 
Illinois,  March  14,  1845,  and  is  next  to  the  youngest  child  of  Isaac  and 
Lydia  (Light)  Lutz.  His  father  came  to  Mercer  county  in  1836  and 
settled  in  New  Boston  township,  where  he  resided  until  his  death, 
which  took  place  in  October,  1879.     His  mother  died  September,  1879, 


114  HISTORY   OF    MERCER   AJSTD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

at  the  age  of  seventj-four.  His  father  was  seventy-eight  years  of  age 
at  his  death.  O.  C.'s  father  built  the  first  grist  mill  in  the  county 
about  1838.  In  1858  he  built  a  large  and  commodious  mill  near  the 
site  of  the  old  one.  O.  C.  Lutz  started  out  in  life  with  limited  means. 
He  has  gradually  worked  his  way  up  until  he  now  owns  considerable 
property.  The  first  real  estate  he  owned  was  eighty  acres  in  Eliza 
township.  This  he  sold  in  1873  and  went  to  York  county,  Nebraska, 
where  he  became  the  owner  of  480  acres  of  land,  which  yields  him  an 
annual  income  of  $700.  In  March,  1881,  he  bought  the  mill  estate  of 
his  father's  in  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  and  returned  in  October  of  the 
same  year,  and  has  refitted  the  mill  and  is  now  prepared  to  compete 
with  any  other  mill  in  the  country.  November  1,  1871,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Permelia,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Permelia  Hempton. 
She  was  born  October  12,  1854.  They  have  had  two  children.  In 
connection  witli  his  mill  property  he  owns  167  acres  of  land.  Mr. 
Lutz  is  a  republican  and  cast  his  first  vote  for  Lincoln. 

Thomas  Willitt,  farmer,  was  born  August  22,  1846,  in  Mercer 
county,  Illinois.  His  parents  were  Kentuckians.  He  was  married 
September  18,  1871.  His  wife  was  the  daughter  of  David  and  Nancy 
Brought.  She  was  born  in  Hancock  county,  Ohio,  December  9,  1848. 
In  1862  Mr.  Willitt  enlisted  in  the  30th  reg.  111.  Yol.  He  served  his 
country  until  the  close  of  the  war,  and  then  I'eturned  to  his  home  and 
engaged  in  agriculture.  He  received  a  common  school  education.  He 
makes  a  li%'ing  for  himself  and  family  by  honest  toil. 

Lyivian  H.  Scudder  was  born  in  Cattaraugus  county,  New  York, 
October  29,  1829.  In  the  year  1847  he  came  to  New  Boston,  where  he 
resided  until  the  spring  of  1852,  when  he  started  with  an  ox  team  for 
California,  and  arrived  in  Placerville  in  September  of  that  year.  He 
"was  engaged  in  mining  and  farming  until  the  summer  of  1855,  when  he 
returned  to  New  Boston.  He  then  engaged  in  the  livery  business, 
-which  he  followed  until  the  summer  of  1862.  In  July  of  that  year  he 
enlisted,  and  on  the  tenth  day  of  September  he  was  mustered  into  the 
seryice  of  the  United  States  as  captain  of  company  G,  124th  reg. 
111.  Yol.  Inf.  His  regiment  became  a  part  of  the  third  Division  of 
the  17tli  Ai-my  Corps,  which  was  then  engaged  in  preparing  for 
the  capture  ef  Yicksburg,  Miss.  He  participated  in  several  skirmishes 
and  battles,  in  one  of  which  (Champion  Hills,  Miss.)  he  was  wounded, 
and  in  July,  1864,  owing  to  ill  health,  he  resigned  his  commission  and 
returned  to  liis  home.  He  has  been  a  I'esident  of  New  Boston  ever 
since.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  has  been  twice  married.  May  13, 
1861,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Fanny  E,  Ives,  of  Oquawka,  Illinois, 
who  died  in  May,  1865,  leaving  one  son.     February  11,  1866,  he  was 


NEW   BOSTON   TOWNSHIP.  115 

maiTied  to  Miss  Helen  L.  Moore,  daughter  of  George  and  Jemima 
Moore,  of  New  Boston.  She  was  born  in  Eliza  township,  four  miles 
from  her  present  residence,  on  May  10,  1837.  She  has  a  just  claim 
to  be  called  one  of  the  early  settlers.  In  politics  Captain  Scudder 
is  republican,  having  voted  and  advocated  the  principles  of  that  party 
ever  since  its  organization.  For  the  past  sixteen  years  he  has  resided 
on  a  farm  three  miles  north  of  ISTew  Boston  and  has  taken  considerable 
interest  in  apiarian  pursuits. 

The  subject  of  the  following  sketch  is  not  identified  with  the  his- 
tory of  Mercer  county  for  so  long  a  period  as  some  others,  as  he  did 
not  come  until  18-18.  Mr.  Isom  Jackson  was  born  in  Hancock  county, 
Indiana,  April  1,  1839,  and  consequently  was  nine  years  of  age  when 
he  came  to  this  county  with  his  parents.  He  is  the  youngest  child  of 
Dempsy  and  Mary  Jackson.  His  parents  are  still  living  at  the  age  of 
seventy-five  each.  As  a  tiller  of  the  soil  Mr.  Jackson  has  worked  at 
it  all  his  life.  By  grasping  the  few  advantages  afforded  in  early  times 
he  obtained  a  common  school  education.     He  was  married  May  29, 

1861,  to  Miss  Salinda,  daughter  of  John  and  Rachel  Fisher.  Mr. 
Jackson  was  always  a  democrat  until  1876,  when  he  joined  the  green- 
back party,  of  which  he  has  been  a  member  ever  since.  They  have 
had  six  children,  all  of  whom  are  living:  they  are  Ed.,  John,  Homer, 
Thomas,  Bert  and  Edney.  Mr.  Jackson  has  been  very  successful  in 
accumulating  property.  At  present  he  has  210  acres  of  land,  200  of 
which  is  in  New  Boston  township  and  10  in  Eliza.  In  response  to  his 
country's  call  he  enlisted  in  the  124tli  regiment,  and  after  serving 
eleven  months,  was  wounded  in  the  left  hand  and  right  arm,  from 
which  he  has  been  a  cripple  ever  since. 

Among  the  well-to-do  farmers  of  New  Boston  township  may  be 
mentioned  Thomas  J.  Jackson,  who  was  born  in  Hancock  county, 
Indiana,  July  24,  1837.  He  is  next  to  the  youngest  child  of  Demsy 
and  Mary  Jackson.  When  eleven  years  of  age  he  came  with  his 
parents  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  settling  in  New  Boston  township, 
where  he  has  resided  ever  since.  His  parents  are  still  living  at  the 
age  of  seventy-five  each,  and  in  good  health.  Mr.  Jackson  worked 
with  his  father  until  twenty-one  years  of  age,  when  he  commenced 
farming  for  himself,  in  which  business  he  has  been  engaged  ever  since 
with  the  exception  of  two  years  spent  in  California,  where  he  went  in 

1862,  staying  two  years.  He  went  by  the  way  of  New  York,  down 
the  Atlantic,  across  the  Isthmus  of  Panama,  and  up  the  Pacific  ocean 
to  San  Francisco,  and  returned  in  1861.  Received  a  common  school 
education.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Samantha  Drew,  daughter  of 
Harrison  and  Eliza  Drew,  March,  1860.     They  had  one  child,  which 


116  HISTORY    OF   MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

died  April,  1862.  His  wife  died  March,  1863.  He  was  married  again 
August  12,  1868,  to  Miss  Louisa,  daughter  of  David  and  Eliza  Honey- 
man.  They  had  one  child :  Gid,  who  was  born  April  23,  1875.  Mr. 
Jackson  owns  the  northeast  quarter  of  section  8,  in  New  Boston  town- 
ship, 80  acres  of  which  he  bought  in  1873  and  80  in  1875. 

Marshall  Fleming,  farmer,  was  born  in  Henry  county,  Indiana, 
September  8,  1831,  and  is  the  oldest  child  of  John  W.  and  Angeline 
(Cellars)  Fleming.  He  came  with  his  parents  to  Mercer  county,  Illi- 
nois, in  the  year  of  1849.  Two  years  later  he  commenced  farming 
for  himself.  His  father  was  born  in  Fairmont  county.  West  Yirginia, 
April  20,  1809,  and  departed  this  life  February  26,  1854.  His  remains 
rest  in  the  New  Boston  cemetery.  His  mother  was  born  in  1812,  in 
Brown  county,  Ohio,  and  is  still  living  at  the  age  of  seventy  years. 
Marshall  was  married  to  Miss  Nancy  Rader  August  20,  1853.  She  is- 
the  daughter  of  Abraham  G.  and  Catharine  Rader.  Her  parents  were 
among  the  early  settlers  of  the  county,  coming  in  the  year  1838.  She 
was  born  September  27,  1836,  in  Henry  county,  Indiana.  The  young 
couple  started  out  in  life  with  nothing  but  a  two-year-old  colt.  For 
their  household  goods  and  one  horse  they  went  in  debt.  This  horse 
and  his  two-year-old  colt  made  his  team.  Thus  he  went  on  adding  a 
little  each  year  to  his  capital,  until  he  has  acquired  a  good,  well- 
improved  farm,  having  twice  taken  the  first  premium.  His  farm  is 
situated  two  miles  northeast  of  New  Boston.  He  and  his  wife  have 
been  members  of  the  Methodist  church  since  1 872.  In  politics  he  is  a 
republican.  They  have  had  two  children  :  Josephine,  born  November 
27,  1858 ;  Elsie,  born  January  29,  1862,  and  died  October  8,  1863. 

G.  W.  Bridger,  farmer,  was  born  January  13,  1858,  in  Mercer 
county,  Illinois,  and  is  the  oldest  son  of  Charles  H.  and  Martha  F. 
Bridger.  He  was  married  February  3,  1881,  to  Miss  Josephine  Flem- 
ing, daughter  of  Marshall  and  Nancy  Fleming.  He  lived  with  his 
father  and  worked  on  the  farm  until  nineteen  years  of  age,  when  he 
determined  to  have  at  least  a  common  school  education:  Working  in 
summer  he  earned  enough  to  send  him  to  the  village  school  of  Viola 
during  the  fall  and  winter.  This  he  followed  up  for  three  years,  work- 
ing summers  and  attending  scliool  fall  and  winter.  He  then  taught 
school  for  a  number  of  terms.     At  present  he  is  engaged  in  farming. 

James  P.  Rowley,  farmer,  was  born  in  Hancock  county,  Indiana, 
September  4,  1832.  He  came  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  in  1849. 
He  was  married  February  22,  1854,  to  Sarah  J.,  daughter  of  Andrew 
and  Jane  Malady.  He  has  been  in  Mason  since  1861,  He  owns  a 
farm  of  140  acres,  well  improved,  Mr,  and  Mrs,  Rowley  have  had 
born  to  them  two  children. 


NEW    BOSTON   TOWNSHIP.  IIT 

George  H.  Signor,  grocer,  was  born  in  New  York  in  1835.  He 
was  the  oldest  son.  His  parents,  John  and  Ararainta  C.  (Lawrence) 
Signor,  had  eleven  children,  and  in  1839  tliev  removed  with  them  to 
Ross  county,  Ohio.  In  1845  the  family  emigrated  still  farther  west, 
settling  in  Columbus  Qty,  Louisa  county,  Iowa.  Living  there  a  year, 
they  next  came  to  Oquawka,  where  his  father  shortly  after  died,  aged 
about  forty-six  years.  In  1853  Mr.  Signor  settled  in  New  Boston, 
where  he  was  married  and  has  since  had  his  home.  His  mother  is  still 
living  at  the  age  of  seventy-three.  It  is  a  curious  fact  that  the  ages  of 
her  nine  living  brothers  and  sisters  average  her  own  age.  His  mar- 
riage on  January  1,  1857,  was  with  Miss  Maria  Alyea,  of  New  Boston, 
daughter  of  Joseph  Alyea,  one  of  the  first  settlers  and  business  men 
in  the  place.  Mr.  Signor  was  employed  by  him  as  a  clerk  when  he 
iirst  came.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  communicants  in  the  Methodist. 
church,  of  New  Boston,  of  which  he  is  steward.  He  takes  a  lively 
interest  in  the  temperance  cause,  and  has  always  taken  a  leading  part 
in  organizations  of  that  nature.  He  has  tilled  the  highest  position  in 
three  Good  Templar  lodges  and  is  an  Odd-Fellow  of  twenty-five  years'' 
standing.  Raised  a  whig,  he  voted  first  for  Fremont,  and  has  since- 
trained  strictly  with  the  republicans.  In  1880  he  started  in  the  grocery 
trade. 

George  Gore,  banker,  was  born  in  Maryland  in  1837,  and  was 
the  only  son  of  Philip  and  Susannah  (Baughman)  Gore.  He  had  six 
sisters.  In  18-11  his  parents  moved  west  and  settled  in  Columbus 
City,  Louisa  county,  Iowa,  where  his  mother  died  the  next  year  at  the 
age  of  forty-two.  In  1846  his  father  married  again,  this  time  Mrs. 
Margaret  Alexander,  and  in  1854  moved  with  his  family  to  Keiths-^ 
burg,  where  he  engaged  in  merchandising.  He  had  been  previously 
selling  goods  in  Columbus  City.  Mr.  Gore  remained  with  his  father 
at  Keithsburg  until  1864,  when  he  went  to  Montana  for  the  benefit  of 
his  health.  Being  restored,  he  returned  at  the  end  of  nine  months  and 
settled  in  New  Boston,  and  during  the  succeeding  eight  years  was  in 
the  service  of  Wells  Willits  as  book-keeper.  In  1873  he  embarked  in 
trade  on  his  own  account,  and  was  in  partnership  the  first  two  years 
with  C.  H.  Bell.  Impaired  health  caused  him  to  sell  out  in  1880,  and 
with  his  family  he  went  to  Florida,  spending  seven  months  there. 
Returning  somewhat  improved,  he  engaged  in  banking  in  the  autumn 
of  1881.  Mr.  Gore  has  been  a  Mason  since  1874,  and  has  held  the 
office  of  alderman  and  mayor.  He  was  mayor  of  New  Boston  in 
1879,  and  as  a  firm  supporter  of  the  temperance  programme  and  princi- 
ples was  chosen  to  that  place  to  further  the  interests  of  the  comnnmity 
from    that    standpoint.     Always    a    democrat    in    politics,    he    stood 


118  HISTORY    OF   ArERCEK    AJSTD    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

with  those  who  gave  liearty  encouragement  to  the  Union  cause 
throughout  the  war.  In  local  elections  he  votes  for  whomsoever  is,  in 
Lis  judgment,  the  best  man.  He  was  married  in  July,  1861,  to  Miss 
Emily  C.  Hubbell,  step-daughter  of  H.  G.  Calhoun.  Tlieir  only  son, 
•Clair,  is  nine  years  old. 


I^^EITHSBURG  TOWNSHIP. 

This  is  township  13,  range  5,  embracing  lifteen  full  and  four  frac- 
tional sections.  The  soil  is  generally  sandy,  particularly  so  along  the 
river  which  is  skirted  above  Keithsburg  by  a  narrow  belt  of  timber. 
It  lies  upon  the  elevated  bottom  lands  below  the  bluii',  which  once 
confined  a  mightier  and  more  majestic  Hood  than  the  "Father  of 
Waters,"  whose  headstrong  tide  washes  its  western  boundary  in  easy 
and  graceful  curves. 

The  first  settler  was  John  Vannatta.  He  came  alone  from  Pitts- 
burgh, Pennsylvania,  arriving  here  about  the  first  of  May,  1827,  and 
opened  a  supply  yard  for  wooding  steamboats.  A  year  or  two 
afterward  his  brother  Benjamin  followed  him,  and  the  two  carried  on 
together  the  peaceful  employment  of  cutting  and  selling  wood,  until 
interrupted  in  1831  by  disquieting  rumors  of  the  uneasy  disposition 
of  the  Indians  and  their  preparations  for  war.  Their  neighbors  at  the 
Upper  Yellow  Banks,  the  Denisons,  left  their  home  for  two  months, 
and  it  is  probable  that  these  families  also  went  away  until  security  was 
assured.  Next  year  the  Black  Hawk  war  broke  out  —  a  war  in  which 
the  excitement  was  more  disproportion ed  to  the  danger  than  in  any 
other  of  which  we  read.  But  the  danger  was  real  and  imminent  in 
this  region.  Yet  these  white  families  remained  busy  at  their  toil,  un- 
moved by  the  warnings  and  entreaties  of  their  dusky  friends,  tarrying 
in  the  face  of  peril,  refusing  to  depart.  How  was  it  hundreds  of  miles 
away  ?  The  people,  alarmed  by  exaggerated  reports,  had  loaded  their 
wagons  for  possible  flight,  and  regularly  laid  down  to  their  slumbers 
with  barricaded  doors  and  in  feverish  anxiety.  On  the  day  that  the 
Denisons  came  down  on  their  way  to  Pence's  fort,  so-called,  the  Van- 
nattas  gathered  up  their  goods,  and  with  their  families  went  out  and 
stayed  all  night  in  a  low  place  on  the  prairie.  The  following  day  they 
reached  Pence's,  where  the  inhabitants  had  collected  from  the  sur- 
rounding country.  This  place  and  Monmouth  were  the  rallying  points 
for  a  large  section  during  the  war.  Pence's  stockade  was  made  of 
logs  split  once  in  two,  stood  upright  and  close  together  with  one  end 
in  the  ground,  forming  a  palisade  not  less  than  twelve  feet  high  and 


KEITHSBURG   TOWNSHIP.  119' 

enclosing  ab(Mit  7<)0  square  yards  of  ground.  After  a  few  months'^ 
absence  the  Vannattas  returned.  Benjamin  Vannatta  liad  a  pre-emp- 
tion claim  to  the  S.  E.  ^  of  Sec.  22,  where  Keithsburg  now  stands. 

About  the  month  of  August,  1833,  John  Bates  settled  on  the 
N.  W.  J  of  Sec.  33,  and  made  a  small  farm  which  was  occupied  some 
three  years  afterward  by  Isom  Lakey,  who  continued  to  reside  in  this 
township  with  his  family  up  to  1860  or  1861.  The  next  settler  was. 
Erastus  S.  Denison,  who  came  down  from  the  Upper  Yellow  Banks 
(JSTew  Boston)  in  1835,  and  made  a  claim  upon  the  N.  E.  J  of  Sec,  1. 
Samuel  Vannatta  joined  his  brothers  about  the  spring  of  1835.  In 
the  fall  of  that  year  they  sold  out  their  claims  to  Kobert  Keith,  a 
Scotchman,  who  had  emigrated  to  America  the  year  before,  and  who 
took  possession  the  following  spring,  when  the  Yannattas  all  removed 
to  the  vicinity  of  Muscatine  (then  called  Bloomington),  Iowa. 

As  the  founder  of  Keithsburg  Robert  Keith  is  entitled  to  more 
than  incidental  notice.  He  was  reared  in  Belfrone,  Scotland,  where 
he  received  a  liberal  education. 

After  his  second  marriage  in  that  country  in  1821,  he  lived  two 
years  in  London,  and  was  a  traveling  salesman  for  a  book  establish- 
ment. He  then  went  to  Dublin,  where  he  had  control  of  a  similar 
house,  and  whence  he  embarked  for  this  country.  He  left  New  York 
and  came  direct  to  Quincy,  Illinois,  in  the  spring  of  1835,  and  in  the 
autumn  following  made  his  selection  for  a  permanent  home  at  this 
place,  which  became  known  as  Keith's  Landing. 

In  the  spring  of  1836  Abner  Martin  settled  on  the  southwest  quar- 
ter of  section  13,  and  in  the  same  year  sold  out  to  John  McH. 
"Wilson,  who  occupied  the  premises  the  following  year  and  lived  in 
the  same  place  until  his  death  in  1879.  He  was  one  of  the  most 
respectable  citizens  of  the  township. 

The  same  spring  William  Sheriff  and  Paul  Sheriff  settled  on  the 
west  half  of  section  24,  and  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  the  same  sec- 
tion the  latter  is  still  a  resident  and  prosperous  farmer.  In  1837 
William  Sheriff  erected  a  saw-mill  on  Pope  creek  on  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  23,  and  expended  a  large  amount  of  money  upon  a 
dam  which  was  a  total  loss,  owing  to  quicksand  in  the  bed  of  the 
stream,  rendering  the  structure  unserviceable.  The  mill  rotted  down, 
but  at  low-water  mark  some  of  the  spiles  in  the  bottom  of  the  creek 
on  which  the  dam  rested  may  still  be  seen.  J.  McH.  Wilson,  Paul 
Sheriff,  A.  B.  Sheriff  and  T.  B.  Cabeen  were  employed  as  laborers, 
and  did  many  hard  days'  work  upon  this  mill  and  dam,  and  all  except 
Wilson  are  still  living  in  the  township.  This  was  the  only  attempt 
ever  made  to  erect  a  dam  on  Pope  creek  in  this  township.    A.  B.  Sherifi 


120  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AJSTD    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

came  in  1836,  and  Matthew  Sheriff  a  year  or  two  later.     The  latter 
<liecl  in  1863. 

In  1836  Daniel  Justice  began  to  improve  a  farm  on  the  southwest 
quarter  of  section  1,  where  he  made  a  line  home  and  resided  until  the 
summer  of  1851,  when  he  sold  to  John  Doak  and  moved  to  Polk 
county,  Iowa.  William  Wilson,  formerly  of  Danville,  Pennsylvania, 
then  of  Chicago,  Illinois,  settled  also  in  1836  on  the  east  half  of  the 
northeast  quarter  of  section  13,  where  he  improved  a  good  farm  and 
where  his  wife  died  in  181:1:,  and  he  himself  about  two  years  later. 
John  McH.  Wilson  was  his  son.  His  daughters,  Hannah  ]!sre%dus  and 
Lucy  Cabeen,  are  still  residents  of  this  township.  About  the  year 
1838  Joel  A.  Hall,  the  mill-wright  who  had  charge  of  the  work  on 
William  Sheriil:''s  mill,  entered  and  settled  on  the  northwest  quarter  of 
section  13,  but  resided  there  only  a  year  or  two,  when  he  sold  out  and 
went  west.  Near  the  same  time  Bennett  Hurst  settled  on  the  north- 
east quarter  of  section  2  and  made  his  home  in  that  place  up  to  1850, 
when  he  disposed  of  his  farm  and  bought  other  property  in  the  town- 
ship, and  has  been  a  citizen  here  till  a  recent  date.  Benjamin  F. 
Gruwell  moved  from  Indiana  and  took  up  a  farm  in  No^'ember,  1837, 
on  the  northwest  quarter  of  section  1  ;  in  1852  he  sold  out  and  came 
to  Keithsburg,  where  he  kept  hotel  a  number  of  years  and  has  since 
resided.  In  1837  or  1838  John  W.  ISTevius  began  a  home  in  the 
township.  He  lived  here  till  his  death  in  1875.  Joseph  J.  Wordin 
emigrated  from  Ohio  and  landed  at  Xew  Boston  in  1837.  The  follow- 
ing spring  he  became  a  resident  of  this  township,  and  has  had  his 
home  in  Keithsburg  nearly  ever  since.     His  wife  died  here  in  1873. 

Robert  Keith  laid  out  the  town  in  1837,  and  between  that  date  and 
1846  not  more  than  half  a  dozen  families,  including  Mr.  Wordin's,  came 
to  reside  in  the  place.  The  Rev.  James  Ross,  a  local  preacher  of  the 
United  Brethren  church,  arrived  with  his  family  about  1811,  and  was 
the  first  minister  to  take  up  his  residence  here.  Both  he  and  his  wife 
died  in  this  township  some  five  years  afterward,  and  many  of  their 
descendants  can  yet  be  found  in  this  vicinity.  In  1841  B.  L.  Hardin 
began  a  home  on  the  S.  E.  J,  Sec.  11,  where  he  still  resides  and  has 
Ijecome  one  of  the  solid  farmers  of  the  neighborhood.  About  1842 
James  Garner  came  to  Keithsburg  with  a  few  trifling  articles  of  trade 
and  a  barrel  of  whisky,  and  made  the  first  attempt  at  merchandising  in 
the  township.  The  business  was  unremunerative,  and  he  sold  out  to 
David  Bowen,  who  had  come  in  1839,  and  moved  on  to  the  N.  E.  J, 
Sec.  25.  In  1847  he  left  that  place  and  came  again  to  Keithsburg  and 
this  time  went  to  keeping  hotel.  In  the  same  year,  and  again  in  1849, 
he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace,  and  at  one  time  was  sheriff  of  the 


KEITHSBUBG   TOWNSHIP.  121 

county  two  years.  ISTot  long  after  his  tirst  election  as  magistrate  he 
presided  in  a  jury  trial,  with  C.  M.  Harris,  of  Oquawka,  and  John 
Mitchell,  of  Monmouth,  as  opposing  attorneys.  The  former  was  a 
man  of  admirable  physical  resources,  while  the  latter  would  scarcely 
weigh  a  hundred  pounds,  and,  besides,  was  disabled  in  the  left  arm 
from  a  wound  received  in  the  Mexican  war.  Harris  stated  the  case  to 
the  jury  and  sat  down.  Mitchell  arose  and  had  proceeded  but  a  little 
way  with  his  statement  when  Harris  in  bullying  tones  said,  "That  is  a 
lie!"  A  glance  from  Mitchell  was  all  the  attention  that  this  sally 
received.  A  few  moments  elapsed  and  again  Harris  interposed,  say- 
ing, "That  is  another  lie !"  Mitchell  turned  to  him  with  gleaming  eye 
and  warned  him  not  to  repeat  that  insult  or  he  would  strike  him,  and 
then  went  on.  A  minute  or  two  more  and  Harris  broke  in:  "And 
that  is  an  infernal  lie  !  "  The  words  were  not  more  than  uttered  before 
Mitchell  delivered  a  stunning  blow  between  his  eyes  which  sent  him 
over  backward  to  the  floor.  Some  one  interfered  to  separate  them, 
while  the  justice  was  standing  and  looking  over  his  table  in  bewilder- 
ment to  see  the  flglit  go  on.  All  of  a  sudden,  as  soon  as  it  was  over, 
he  involuntarily  brought  his  finger-tips  down  upon  the  board  with 
a  thud,  exclaiming,  in  blank  astonishment:  "Well,  Til  be  d — d!" 
but  instantly  recovering  himself  and  his  dignity  he  called  out  to  the 
offenders :   "Gentlemen,  I  fine  each  of  you  $10,  by !" 

A  small  chapter  of  such  court  incidents  could  be  written,  but  this 
furnishes  fully  enough  at  one  view  of  the  manners  of  the  period.  Many 
years  ago  Mr.  Garner  removed  to  Millersburg  where  he  still  lives, 
holding  on  to  life  by  feeble  tenure. 

Soon  after  purchasing  Garners  mercantile  stand  Bowen  closed  up 
the  business  and  moved  to  Rock  Island,  of  which  city  he  is  still  a  resi- 
dent. His  son  George  was  born  on  election  day,  August  3,  1840,  and 
this  is  supposed  to  have  been  the  first  birth  in  Keithsburg.  This  elec- 
tion is  said  to  have  been  the  first  held  in  the  place.  "A  quart  cup  of 
whisky  was  kept  standing  on  the  judges'  table  all  day  for  an  hour  glass," 
wi-ites  Mr.  Bowen.  About  1813  an  old  Frenchman  by  the  name  of 
Bochelle  landed  here  in  a  small  boat,  bringing  with  him  a  few  goods 
with  which  he  started  a  country  store.  Shortly  after  a  family  named 
Omy  came  to  the  settlement,  and  it  has  always  been  reported  that  the 
young  men  made  an  excursion  down  the  river  one  fine  day  in  an  open 
boat,  accompanied  by  Rochelle,  who  suspiciously  failed  to  return,  and 
that  his  companions  appropriated  his  effects. 

In  1812  Zephaniah  Wade  made  a  claim  to  the  N.  W.  ^,  Sec.  11 ;  he 
died  in  a  few  years,  but  his  widow  survived  until  a  few  months  since, 
when  she  passed  away  in  Keithsburg  among  her  decendants. 


122  HISTORY   OF   jVIERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

In  1843  Nicholas  Edwards  settled  on  section  5,  at  the  mouth  of  the- 
Edwards  river,  where  he  and  William  Willett  and  Isaiah  Brown  had 
the  year  before  erected  a  saw-mill.  This  year  AVillett  sold  his  interest 
to  Brown.  After  doing  a  successful  business  for  sometime  Edwards 
removed  to  his  farm  in  Mercer  township  and  is  now  a  resident  of 
Aledo.     Brown  went  to  California,  where  he  died. 

Another  settler,  who  was  less  conspicuous  for  the  term  of  his  resi- 
dence than  for  his  ambition  to  become  the  builder  of  a  town,  was  a  man 
named  Gavitt  who  made  a  claim  about  a  mile  below  the  landing,  where 
in  1837  he  laid  off  a  town  and  designated  it  Columbia  city.  It 
occupied  a  high  plateau  which  bore  signs  of  having  been  fonmerly  an 
Indian  encampment.  There  was  the  field  where  the  squaws  had  raised 
their  corn  ;  the  pits  in  which  it  had  been  buried ;  and  the  places  where 
their  fires  had  burned  were  yet  visible ;  and  poles  still  standing  in  the 
ground  showed  where  their  lodges  had  stood.  Gavitt's  plat  was  not 
recorded,  and  he  was  not  long  in  this  vicinity.  Alexander  Davis 
bought  his  claim  and  entered  the  land. 

We  borrow  the  following  sketch  of  "Wliat  Grandmother  Said,"' 
which  gives  a  very  fair  idea  of  the  methods  and  resources  of  every  day 
life  in  the  pioneer  period:  "We  came  here  in  October,  1832.  We 
lived  the  first  winter  in  a  log  cabin  made  of  hickory.  We  had  a  door 
made  of  clapboards,  and  a  crack  between  the  logs  for  a  window.  Our 
bedstead  was  made  in  the  corner  with  one  leg  drove  into  the  ground 
(we  had  no  floor)  and  slabs  laid  across.  The  straw  would  freeze  to  the 
slabs.  We  had  two  chairs,  brought  with  us  from  Kentucky ;  grandfather 
made  stools  for  the  children.  We  built  our  fire  oH  the  ground,  and  our 
chimney  was  made  of  sticks  and  daubed  with  mud.  We  baked  our 
bread  in  a  skillet,  and  made  our  own  coffee  by  scorching  meal  and 
pouring  boiling  water  on  it.  We  had  no  table,  so  we  ate  on  a  goods 
box.  We  bored  holes  in  the  logs  and  put  pins  in  and  made  our  cup- 
board. I  swept  our  fioor  with  a  bunch  of  hazel  brush  or  a  hay  broom. 
Li  tliose  days  we  never  had  to  scrub  or  mop.  When  we  butchered  we 
made  a  scaffold  on  one  side  of  the  chimney  and  laid  our  meat  up  there, 
so  the  dogs  and  wolves  could  not  get  it.  Wlien  I  washed  I  went  down 
to  the  spring,  a  quarter  of  a  mile  from  the  house,  and  carried  the 
clothes.  I  had  neither  tub,  board,  nor  boiler,  but  washed  on  my 
hands,  in  a  large  bucket,  and  did  the  boiling  in  an  iron  kettle.  I  have 
the  kettle  yet. 

"  This  is  the  way  we  lived  the  first  winter,  and  we  were  glad  to  get 
so  good  a  house.  I  lived  happier  then  than  I  do  now  in  a  fine  house. 
There  were  two  or  three  log  cabins  and  a  log  court-house  in  Mon- 
mouth.    .     .     .     The  mail  carrier  carried  the  mail  from  Oquawka  to 


.^' 


I 


.» 


'  v-^   ■! 


Wy    G  AY  LE 


KEITHSBURG   TOWNSHIP.  125 

Monmouth  in  the  top  of  his  hat.  We  had  to  go  to  Rock  Island  to  mill. 
We  lived  here  one  year  without  cows,  sheep  or  chickens.  We  had  one 
horse  and  two  yoke  of  oxen  that  we  moved  here  with,  and  a  few  hogs. 
In  tlie  fall  of  1834  my  husband  died  and  left  me  with  five  little  childi'en. 
That  fall  the  Indians  burned  our  Hax  and  wheat.  When  the  children 
saw  the  flax  burning  they  said :  '  Oh !  mother,  what  are  we  to  do  for 
clothes  ?  our  flax  is  burning  up ! '  I  j)aid  my  children's  schooling,  and 
my  store  bill,  and  my  expenses  for  one  year,  with  $15.  My  taxes  on 
half  a  section  of  prairie  land  and  eighty  acres  of  timber  were  two  or 
three  dollars." 

The  first  visible  results  of  civilized  society  are  mail  privileges, 
religious  exercises  and  public  instruction  of  the  young. 

Postoffice. — The  "Blufl""  postotiice,  the  pioneer  in  this  vicinity,  was 
established  some  time  about  1837  at  the  house  of  Frederick  Frick,  in 
Abington  township,  five  miles  northeast  of  Keithsburg.  As  late  as 
1846  the  people  of  the  village,  yet  inconsiderable  in  numbers,  went 
away  out  there  to  post  their  letters  and  to  bring .  back  their  own  and 
their  neighbors'  mail. 

JFirst  Schools. — The  first  school  in  Keithsburg  township,  as  we  learn 
from  Mrs.  Samuel  Scott,  who  was  one  of  the  pupils,  was  kept  by  Mrs. 
William  Sherifl",  in  the  summer  of  1841  or  1842,  in  one  room  of  her 
double  log  house,  situated  close  to  the  site  of  the  present  farm  house  of 
James  Wilson,  northeast  of  Upper  Keithsburg.  The  next  was  in  John 
McH.  Wilson's  cabinet  shop,  in  the  summer  of  1845,  and  Miss  Lucy 
Wilson,  now  Mrs.  T.  B.  Cabeen,  was  the  teacher.  The  third  school 
was  in  Keithsburg  ;  but  we  shall  defer  the  account  of  this  and  others 
until  we  come  to  the  history  of  the  town. 

Early  Preaching. — The  earliest  preaching  was  by  the  Rev.  John 
Montgomery,  who  settled  in  Preemption  township  in  the  spring  of 
1836.  He  was  a  Presbyterian  and  held  services  throughout  the  coun- 
try in  difterent  places,  and  usually  in  these  parts  once  in  two  weeks, 
sometimes  at  William  Sherifl''s  in  this  township,  at  other  times  at 
Frederick  Frick's  in  Abington,  or  at  Thomas  Candor's  in  Ohio  Grove. 
He  died  over  thirty  years  ago. 

The  fij-st  Methodist  minister  of  whom  we  have  heard  any  account 
was  the  Rev.  Asa  McMurtry,  who  preached  at  the  house  of  John 
Nevius  in  1838.  Religious  services  for  some  years  after,  no  less  than 
at  this  period,  were  u-regular  and  only  occasional.  The  Revs.  Frank 
Smith  and  Samuel  P.  Burr  came  among  the  people  soon  after 
McMurtry. 

For  a  long  while  at  first  the  inhabitants  were  mostly  Universalists, 
and  they  were  ministered  to  from  about  1842  to  1850  by  the  Rev. 
8 


126  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   A]SrD   HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

Gregg,  who  came  fi*om  Galesburg  and  occupied  the  church  at  the  bhiff 
in  New  Boston  township,  and  when  passing  through  Keithsburg  to  and 
from  his  charge,  hekl  services  in  the  place. 

The  outward  evidence  was  that  the  Master's  kingdom  did  not  more 
than  hold  its  own.  B.  L.  Hardin,  who  came  in  the  spring  of  1841, 
was  here  three  months,  he  says,  before  he  discovered  a  professing 
christian,  though  like  Diogenes  he  hunted  the  bailiwick  over,  but  not 
with  the  same  cynical  philosophy.  The  first  meeting  he  attended  was 
four  miles  north  of  his  home,  in  Isew  Boston  township,  at  a  Mr. 
Rader's,  where  the  congregation  numbered  just  six  persons,  including 
Mr.  Rader  s  family.  The  Rev.  Wiley  was  the  itinerant.  Preaching 
followed  at  that  place  every  four  weeks  during  the  summer,  and  has 
been  kept  up  in  that  neighborliood  nearly  ever  since. 

In  the  autumn  of  the  same  year  services  were  begun  at  Mr. 
Hardin's  house,  and  the  first  sermon  was  by  the  Rev.  Burr,  who  had  a 
charge  in  New  Boston  townshij).  When  the  appointment  was  given 
out  Mr.  Hardin  set  Jiimself  to  making  benches  out  of  common  slabs  to 
seat  the  crowd  that  he  could  see  with  the  eye  of  faith  would  come  to 
the  meeting.  He  labored  with  zeal  and  the  pile  of  benches  grew. 
Unwittingly  though  done,  it  was  successful  advertising,  rivaling  the 
subtlest  conception  of  the  down-east  Yankee.  Curiosity  and  mquiry 
were  the  result,  and  as  Noah  when  building  the  ark  was  the  butt  of 
questioners  and  doubters,  so  Mr.  Hardin  was  beset  with  questions  and 
skeptical  objections,  and  if  he  was  ridiculed  a  little  it  was  all  the  same ; 
the  work  went  on.  The  preacher  was  early  at  hand,  and  as  the  hour 
for  service  approached,  the  door  was  thrown  open  to  surprise  the  wait- 
ing minister  with  the  inspiring  sight  of  people  swarming  from  every 
direction.  He  said  the  house  would  not  hold  the  people,  and  it  would 
not  but  for  their  standing  up  in  a  densely  packed  throng.  The  benches 
and  the  Christian  perseverance  of  Brother  Hardin  had  done  holy  work, 
but  the  former  were  now  as  useless  as  the  open  roof  of  the  Ai-kansas 
traveler.  However,  they  had  subsequent  use.  This  meeting  showed 
that  souls  were  hungry.  Either  an  influx  of  orthodox  Christians  had 
come  into  the  settlement  between  spring  and  fall,  or  the  Universalists 
had  turned  out  like  boys  to  a  circus. 

The  appointment  was  regularly  continued  at  this  place,  and  in  the 
autumn  of  1843  the  first  class  ever  organized  in  the  township  was 
formed  at  Mr.  Hardin's  house.  The  original  members  were  James 
Gibson  and  his  wife  Polly,  John  Nevius  and  his  wife  Hannah, 
B.  L.  Hardin  and  liis  wife  Minerva,  and  James  Ne\aus,  Jr.  Mr  .Kel- 
logg joined  at  the  next  meeting.  In  the  summer  of  1846  preaching 
was  begun   at  John   McH.    Wilson's  by   the    Revs.   Whitman  and 


KEITHSBURG   TOWNSHIP.  12T 

Geddings,  circuit  riders,  and  services  were  kept  up  here  one  year.  la 
warm  weatlier  day  meetings  were  held  in  the  grove ;  and  at  night  in. 
Mr.  Wilson's  cabinet  shop.  Other  j^reaehing  points  in  the  countiy 
were  at  John  Nevius'  and  James  Gibson's ;  and  all  four  places  were 
used  until  about  1850,  when  Keithsburg  became  the  center  where  the 
people  came  together  for  worship. 

The  Vannattas  made  the  beginning  here.  As  early  as  1834  Rousy 
Bo  wen  was  living  in  a  little  house  on  the  bank  of  the  river,  and  chop- 
ping wood  for  these  men.  By  the  next  year  Jesse  Mount  had  come 
to  the  settlement,  and  the  same  season  Robert  Keith  bought  Benjamin. 
Yannatta's  claim,  which  embraced  the  site  of  the  present  town,  and  in 
the  spring  of  1836  took  possession  of  his  purchase.  He  continued 
keeping  the  wood-yard  which  his  predecessors  had  started,  and  hence- 
forth the  place  was  called  Keith's  Landing.  It  was  in  this  same  year 
that  the  insane  policy  of  internal  improvement  inaugurated  an  era  of 
the  wildest  speculation  ever  witnessed  in  this  country.  It  is  next 
to  incredible  that  men  could  have  been  capable  of  so  visionary 
schemes.  In  the  absence  of  epidemic  excitement,  half-grown  boys 
would  have  shown  more  reason.  But  as  it  was,  towns  were  planted 
everywhere  by  being  laid  off,  as  this  was  cheaply  done  ;  for  the  proprie- 
tors imagined  they  saw  in  it  the  source  of  sudden  wealth.  Although 
Father  Keith  could  not  have  escaped  the  ruling  influence  of  the  times, 
it  is  plain  that  he  did  not  reckon  without  some  judgment,  and  that  he 
was  not  mistaken  as  to  the  right  place  for  the  town,  but  it  was  with 
several  years  of  patient  suspense  that  he  waited  for  the  fruition  of  his- 
hopes  and  plans. 

The  original  survey  was  made  by  Hiram  Hardie,  deputy  county 
surveyor,  on  July  29,  1837,  and  the  plat  was  acknowledged  before 
Abraliam  Miller,  Jr.,  county  clerk,  by  Mr.  Keith,  on  November- 
18.  The  location  .is  on  Sec.  23,  T.  13,  E.  5.  Two  principal  streets, 
Main  and  Washington,  were  laid  out  east  and  west,  and  these  were 
crossed  by  seven  others  designated  as  First,  Second,  etc.,  beginning- 
next  the  river.  The  plat  comprised  thirteen  blocks.  The  first  sale  of 
lots  took  place  in  July,  the  same  year,  and  several  of  them  were 
bought  at  prices  varying  from  $^0  to  $60.  Subsequently  a  few  families, 
came  here  to  settle,  and  prominent  among  the  number  was  Joseph  J. 
Wordin,  the  first  wlieelwi'iglit,  who  still  resides  in  the  town.  But  the 
place  lingered  along  in  discouraging  inactivity  until  1 845.  We  refrain 
from  calling  it  a  town  at  this  date,  for  its  actual  townhood  has  always- 
been  reckoned  by  the  citizens  from  1847,  when  it  succeeded  to  the  dig- 
nity of  county-town.  When  emigration  had  brought  to  the  back 
country  a  moderate  but  sturdy  population,  a  convenient  shipping  point 


128  HISTORY   OF   MERCEE   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

was  of  the  first  necessity.  Even  yet  capital  was  scarce,  and  the  times 
had  not  ahogether  abated  their  stringency,  and  business  men  did  not 
stand  ready  then  to  invest  in  town  property  in  a  new  country,  in 
advance  of  the  real  demands  of  trade.  So  an  association  of  farmers, 
liAdng  mostly  in  Abington  and  Ohio  Grove  townships,  undertook,  in 
1844,  to  erect  a  warehouse  in  Keithsburg  for  storing  and  handling 
their  grain.  To  encourage  the  project,  Kobert  Keith  gave  lots  six  and 
seven,  in  block  three,  on  which  the  building  was  begun,  facing  north 
at  the  foot  of  Main  street;  and  when  the  frame  was  up,  title  to  the 
property  passed  to  William  Willett.  The  evident  prospect  of  future 
business  brought  Col.  J.  B.  Patterson,  of  Oquawka,  here,  and  he 
secured  an  equal  interest  in  the  warehouse  on  condition  of  fiiiishing  it. 
Xeith  had  put  up  a  small  building  for  a  business  stand,  and  Ije  per- 
suaded Patterson  to  fill  it  with  a  stock  of  goods.  "The  Colonel  put 
Spence  Kecord  into  the  new  warehouse  to  receive  grain,  while  he  and 
Boothe  Nettleton  sold  dry  goods  and  groceries  over  on  Washington 
street. " 

Writing  afterward  of  the  small  beginnings  of  the  place.  Col.  Pat- 
terson said:  "At  this  time,  1845,  we  visited  Keithsburg  with  a  view 
of  making  it  a  trading  point ;  to  sell  goods  and  buy  produce.  The 
improvements  consisted  of  one  frame  house  (which  we  had  fitted  up 
for  a  store),  one  log  house,  and  three  cabins.  The  trade  of  that  season 
amounted  to  3,690  bushels  of  wheat,  512  barrels  of  flour  and  2,250 
bushels  of  corn.  At  the  close  of  the  season  we  retired,  leaving  the 
work  we  had  begun  in  the  good  hands  and  stout  hearts  of  Messrs. 
]S^oble  &  Gayle;  and  Nohly  have  they  kept  the  banner  we  entrusted 
to  them  waving  in  the  Gayle  until  many  a  Doughty  champion  has 
risen  up  to  proclaim  the  glories  of  a  town  which,  though  a  wilderness 
a  few  years  ago,  is  now  Rife  with  business  (the  Spice  or  life  we  may 
say  of  prosperous  progress),  and  ranks  high  among  her  sister  towns." 

Noble  &  Gayle,  young  and  enterprising  business  men,  erected  a 
one-story  frame  store  on  lot  1,  block  2,  corner  of  Main  and  Second 
-streets,  and  a  warehouse  on  lot  10.  In  1848,  they  built  a  brick 
packing  house,  which  stood  on  lot  6.  In  the  same  year  that  Noble  & 
Gayle  began  business,  McConaha  &  Rife  started  a  saloon,  called  in 
those  days  a  grocery.  The  next  store  was  opened  the  following  year 
by  Jonathan  Judah,  a  Jew,  and  occupied  lot  ?,•  block  4.  The  old 
"building  is  still  standing.  In  1848  Wilford  J.  Ungles  arrived  with  his 
family  and  began  trading  at  the  foot  of  Washington  street,  where, 
in  1855,  he  erected  a  large  warehouse,  which  is  vet  in  use.  Wilson 
Kedmon  began  the  erection  this  year  of  the  brick  building  on  Main 
street  now  owned  and  occupied  b}^  Mrs.  McManus.     While  in  process 


KEITHSBURG   TOWNSHIP.  129 

of  building  he  sold  it  to  Dr.  A.  B.  Campbell,  who  finished  it.  In  the 
spring  of  1 849,  McConaha  &  Rife  dissolved  partnership,  and  the  latter 
embarked  in  the  grocery  trade,  jifterward  adding  dry  goods,  first  occu- 
pying the  Campbell  building  until  he  erected,  the  same  year,  the  brick 
house  adjoining  it  on  the  west.  The  brick  store  on  the  northeast 
corner  of  Main  and  Second  streets  was  built  by  T.  B.  Cabeen,  in  1848. 
On  the  second  and  third  floors  he  fitted  up  a  suit  of  rooms  which 
were  occupied  by  his  family,  while  the  business  part  of  the  house  was 
filled  the  next  year  with  a  stock  of  goods  by  Mrs.  E.  Smith.  In 
1851,  R.  H.  Spicer  &  Co.,  Mrs.  Smith  being  the  otlier  member  of  the 
firm,  started  in  trade  in  the  same  place. 

In  1847  a  series  of  elections  having  taken  place,  the  ultimate  choice 
for  the  county  seat  fell  to  Keithsburg.  Donations  from  the  citizens  in 
and  around  the  place  were  nearly,  if  not  fidly,  sufficient  to  build  the 
court-house.  Keith  gave  half  of  the  fractional  tract  known  as  Keith's 
first  addition,  which  was  shortly  after  laid  out  (January  12,  1848),  and 
then  the  division  of  blocks  was  made  by  alternate  choice.  Those  fall- 
ing to  the  county  were  subdivided  into  lots,  which  were  sold  and  the 
proceeds  applied  to  the  erection  of  the  court-house ;  but  Keith  did  not 
commence  the  sale  of  his  for  some  years.  The  first  term,  and  several 
subsequent  ones  of  the  circuit  court,  after  the  removal  of  the  seat  of 
justice,  were  held  in  Willett's  warehouse,  which  use  in  various  ways 
became  a  public  convenience.  The  court-liouse  was  built  on  the 
secluded  campus  covering  four-fifths  of  block  7,  and  all  that  part  lying 
within  the  addition.  It  was  finished  at  the  end  of  the  summer  of 
1851,  and  was  considered  a  building  that  the  county  might  be  proud 
of  in  its  infancy,  though  its  squat  appearance  called  out  this  malicious 
remark  that  it  might  be  mistaken  for  a  church.  It  is  a  one-story  brick, 
40  X  50  feet  on  the  foundation. 

Col.  Patterson  having  wound  up  his  business  here  in  1846,  William 
Willett,  who  emigrated  in  1838  and  had  just  settled  in  the  town  this 
year,  started  up  in  the  grain  trade  in  the  warehouse  in  which  he  and 
Patterson  held  joint  ownership.  When  the  latter  transferred  his 
interest  to  Burr  P.  McConaha,  in  1849,  the  two  formed  a  short-lived 
partnership,  the  last-named  withdrawing  early  in  1850  and  joining  the 
emigration  to  California.  Willett  then  leased  the  building  for  one 
year  to  Willits  &  Doughty  and  accepted  a  situation  in  their  service. 
Next  year  Willits,  who  was  the  heavy  member  of  the  firm,  and  had 
stocked  the  house  and  sent  Doughty  down  from  Kew  Boston,  where 
both  lived,  to  manage  the  business,  sold  out  to  A.  B.  Sheriff,  William 
Willett  and  J.  W.  Doughty,  and  these  men  carried  on  business 
together  a  few  years,  Doughty  finally  selling  to  his  partners.     The 


130  HISTORY   OF    MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

partnership  of  Sheriff  &  Willett  lasted  till  1864,  when  the  latter 
retired  just  in  time  to  save  himself  from  the  prodigious  decline  in 
prices  following  the  close  of  the  war,  which  overtook  his  partner  and 
swamped  him,  as  had  been  the  issue  with  nearly  all  of  the  tradesmen 
in  the  crisis  of  1857.  The  building  was  used  for  grain  storage  till 
about  1875,  and  from  that  time  as  a  liver j  until  January  20,  1879,  at 
which  date  it  was  burned  down.  Thus  disappeared  the  original  land- 
mark in  which  the  real  business  history  of  Keithsburg  had  birth. 
Phelps  tfe  Brewer  occuj^ied  it,  but  the  loss,  reaching  $1,000,  fell  upon 
Willett. 

Dropping  back  to  1850,  we  find  trade  and  industry  in  lively 
growth  and  activity,  and  the  other  attributes  of  townliood  multiplying 
in  social,  benevolent  and  literary  organizations.  Before  railroads  came 
into  use  produce  was  hauled  to  the  Illinois  and  Mississippi  rivers  ;  and 
prior  to  the  construction  of  the  Illinois  &  Michigan  canal  farmers 
went  all  the  way  to  Chicago  from  this  and  adjoining  counties  with  ox 
and  horse  teams  to  sell  a  little  grain  and  pork,  and  to  bring  back  a 
few  store  goods.  Some  of  the  j^ioneers  who  toiled  in  this  manner  are 
still  living,  and  we  have  heard  them  say  tliat  the  expenses  of  a  trip 
were  sometimes  greater  than  the  receipts.  In  point  of  business 
Oquawka  was  the  senior  of  Keithsburg  by  a  number  of  years,  but 
HOW  she  had  a  spirited  rival  which  was  diverting  a  generous  share  of 
lier  hitherto  large  trade. 

October  16th  Col.  Patterson  published  in  Oquawka  the  first  num- 
"ber  of  the  "Oquawka  Spectator  and  Keithsburg  Observer,"  this  title 
being  confined  to  the  inside  of  the  sheet,  and  the  ''Observer"  depart- 
ment to  the  third  page.  The  Keithsburg  editor  was  James  W, 
Doughty,  of  the  mercantile  firm  of  Doughty  &  AVillits. 

At  this  time  there  were  two  places  of  public  entertainment :  the 
Calhoun  House,  built  by  John  Moore  in  1850,  and  kept  by  H.  G. 
Calhoun ;  and  the  Keithsburg  House,  with  J.  B.  McConaha  as  land- 
lord. 

A  division  of  the  Sons  of  Temperance  was  in  a  flourishing  state, 
and  in  the  early  spring  of  1852   ''Star  Union"  of  the  Daughters  of 
Temperance  came  to  its  support  in  the  same  beneficent  work. 

Late  in  the  season  a  debating  society  was  formed  by  some  of  the 
leading  men  for  mental  culture  and  entertainment  during  the  winter, 
the  most  active  being  Robert  Keith,  John  C.  Pepper,  B.  C.  Taliaferro, 
]Sr.  C.  Adams,  R.  C.^Cabeen,  O.  C.  Allen  and  Dr.  E.  L.  Marshall. 

At  the  opening  of  the  packing  season  James  A.  IVoble  put  in  oper- 
ation his  large,  new  slaughter-house,  and  about  the  same  time  Gayle 
finished  an  additional  warehouse.  Next  spring  Noble  began  selling 
the  first  drugs. 


KEITHSBUEG   TOWNSHIP.  131 

A  little  later  occurred  the  remarkable  flood  of  1851.  The  water 
began  rising  near  the  end  of  May,  and  on  the  29th  was  encroaching 
upon  the  streets ;  it  continued  to  spread  until  it  reached  nearly  to 
Fifth  street,  when  it  was  standing  over  the  lower  part  of  the  town 
from  four  to  seven  feet  in  depth,  according  to  the  inequalities  of  the 
surface.  In  the  main  quarter  the  ground  has  since  been  raised  four 
feet  by  filling.  The  rivei-  kept  up  at  its  highest  stage  until  the  11th  of 
June,  when  it  commenced  falling  slowly.  The  "Observer"  of  that 
date  said:  "Our  town  is  flooded.  Goods  and  household  furniture 
■on  platforms  and  second  floors.  "We  share  the  fate  of  our  neighbors. " 
It  adds  that  the  Mississippi  covers  the  country  from  seven  to  ten  miles 
in  width  1,800  miles  above  its  mouth.  Rafts  circulated  in  the  streets 
in  the  course  of  business ;  and  the  row  and  sail  boats  Kate  and  Fawn . 
went  about  the  town  by  moonlight,  bearing  ' '  lovely  women  and  brave 
men,"  in  pleasuring  and  serenading  parties.  The  river  was  not  within 
its  banks  again  till  after  the  20th.  This  rise  was  compared  to  those  of 
1841:  and  1828,  and  it  is  said  surpassed  them. 

The  high  water  of  October,  1881,  rose  within  a  few  inches  of  the 
same  mark.  Half  a  mile  of  the  railroad  track  was  submerged  ;  and 
skifts  tied  up  on  Second  street.  There  was  a  notable  freshet  the  previ- 
ous June,  and  also  one  the  preceding  year. 

July  15,  1852,  by  a  vote  of  the  citizens,  Keithsburg  became  a 
corporate  town  under  the  general  incorporation  law ;  and  on  Monday, 
the  26th,  the  first  board  of  trustees  was  elected,  consisting  of  William 
Willett,  J.  J.  Wordin,  T.  B.  Cabeen,  Alexander  Davis  and  N.  B. 
Partridge. 

The  same  year  William  Gayle  built  a  steam  saw  mill  on  Pope 
creek,  where  the  railroad  bridge  crosses,  and  sold  it  to  John  H.  Mar- 
shall &  Co.,  by  whom,  in  1856,  it  was  converted  into  a  flouring  mill. 
Subsequently  it  was  known  as  the  Ogden  mill,  and  was  burned  after  a 
few  years.  The  second  saw  mill  was  built  by  Ender  &  Eckly  at  the 
foot  of  Yan  Buren  street.  This  was  burned  down,  and  they  immedi- 
ately built  another,  which  was  run  unsuccessfully  some  three  years, 
when,  being  abandoned  to  creditors,  it  was  bought  by  William  D. 
Smith,  who  moved  it  to  Jackson  street,  between  Eighth  and  Ninth, 
where  it  was  used  for  planing  and  sawing  out  dimension  and  hardwood 
lumber.  Tlie  next  saw  mill  was  removed  in  1857,  or  the  year  after,  to 
the  foot  of  Jackson  street,  by  Alexander  Frick,  it  ha^'ing  been  first  put 
up  on  John  E.  Willit's  land  to  saw  ties  and  timbers  for  the  Warsaw  & 
Hockibrd  railroad.     It  was  leveled  by  fire  in  1859. 

The  fourth  saw  mill  is  the  one  standing  at  the  foot  of  Yan  Buren 
street,  on  the  site  of  the  Ender  &  Eckly  mill,  and  was  built  about  1865 


132  HISTOKY    OF   ilEECEE   AJSTD   HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

by  Smitli  &  Hersej.  It  was  the  largest  mill  in  the  county  when  built,, 
and  was  run  with  profit,  emj^loying  some  thirty-five  men,  till  1872, 
since  which  time  it  has  not  been  operated,  except  in  a  small  way. 
James  C.  Stevens  erected  a  grist  mill  on  Eighth  street,  between  Main 
and  "Washington,  about  1864.  This  was  never  a  success,  and  was  dis- 
mantled between  1877  and  1879.  The  Elevator  Flour  Mills  were  put 
into  the  Rife  warehouse  on  Second  sti'eet,  at  the  foot  of  "Washington,  by 
"W.  D.  Smith,  in  1868.     This  building  was  consumed  January  1,  1878. 

About  1855  a  distillery  was  erected  on  the  river,  in  Mechanics'' 
addition,  by  W.  L.  Matthews  and  O.  C.  Richardson.  After  operating 
it  a  year  they  sold  it  to  "William  Gayle.  ,  Through  his  failure  it  passed 
out  of  his  hands  in  1857,  and  was  idle  till  Benjamin  Phelps  became  the 
owner.  He  ran  it  very  successfully  three  years  and  sold  it  to  Pickering. 
Stewart  and  Colvin  each  owned  it  afterward,  and  finally  Mason  &r 
Crosby,  of  Chicago,  who  refitted  it  at  large  expense,  when  it  wa% 
burned  down  in  1872,  before  they  had  put  it  in  operation.  It  was 
insured  for  the  sum  of  $10,000.  This  distillery  was  not  exempt  from 
certain  infirmities  of  ti'ansaction  which  was  common  to  the  distiller's- 
business  after  the  war  had  induced  the  high  tax  on  spirits. 

Li  1880  C.  A.  &  L.  L.  Mertz  erected  a  saw  and  planing  mill  at  the- 
base  of  the  sand  blufi"  in  Keith's  first  addition,  which  they  are  now 
operating  in  conjunction  with  their  lumber  trade. 

In  July,  1853,  the  ferry  boat  Dove,  owned  by  Seth  H.  Redmon, 
began  making  daily  trips  between  Keithsburg  and  Huron  and  Prairie 
Point.  The  same  proprietor  was  "running  the  swift,  staunch  and 
capacious  steam  ferry  boat  Iowa,"  three  years  later. 

Mr.  Gayle  erects  a  large  two-story  packing  house  in  1853.     Keiths- 
burg is  in  the  middle  of  the  period  of  its  greatest  growth,   which 
extended  from  1850  to  1856,  and  two  more  additions  are  laid  out: 
Keith's  second,  April  1,  and  Sheriff  &  Cabeen's,  June  3.     The  country 
for  thirty-five   miles   back   was   tributary   to   this   point,   which  was 
becoming,  and  soon  became,  the  leading  produce  market  above  St. 
Louis.     Trade  got  to  be  immense  for  a  town  of  so  moderate  size.     One 
"big  day"  in  February,  1854,  250  teams  were  counted  in  the  town, 
and  it  was  believed  that  300  had  been  in  from  the  country.     Of  this- 
number  eighty  remained  over  night.     Gayle  &  Co.  and  Noble  &  Bro. 
were  the  packers  at  this   date.     In  the  following  autumn  the  first- 
named  fii'm  erected  a  slaughter  house  near  the  steam  mill.     It  might 
be  well  to  say  that  the  first  packing  done  in  the  place  was  by  Noble  & 
Gayle  in  the  winter  of  1846-7.     Gore  &  Gamble  began  business  in  the 
spring  of  1854.     The  latter  retired  at  the  end  of  two  years  and  Mr. 
Gore  remained  in  trade  till  after  the  war. 


KEITHSBUKG   TOWNSHIP.  IBS' 

Tlie  storekeepers  and  produce  dealers  in  1855  were  "W.  Gayle  &  Co.,, 
A.  Rife,  Sheriff  &  Willett,  B.  P.  Frick  &  Co.,  Gore  &  Gamble  and  P. 
T.  Hughes.  .Three  of  these  firms  were  doing  the  packing  at  the  close 
of  the  year. 

At  this  period  goods  were  sold  on  long  credit,  a  year's  time.  After 
a  day  of  large  sales  hardly  money  enough  could  be  found  in  the  drawer 
to  take  the  salesmen  to  a  show.  At  the  end  of  the  year  debtors  settled 
their  accounts  by  note.  Many  of  these  ran  one,  two  and  three  years, 
and  some  are  running  yet.  For  ten  years  from  1850,  when  the  popu- 
lation of  the  county  was  5,300,  the  countiy  east  of  Keithsburg,  like  all 
parts  of  the  west,  settled  up  rapidly.  The  settlers  were  generally  men 
of  small  means,  who  de^^ended  upon  the  heavy  dealers  for  money  to 
make  payments  on  their  land,  expecting  and  engaging  to  discharge 
these  second  obligations  with  their  crops.  It  was  the  custom  of  Messrs. 
Gayle  and  Rife  to  advance  large  sums  in  this  way,  and  they  often  took 
the  risk  of  crippling  their  own  credit  by  these  accommodations.  The- 
necessities  of  trade  also  required  that  the  more  extensive  tradesmen 
should  buy  their  patrons'  grain  and  hogs,  and  these  two  kinds  of  busi- 
ness, dissevered  now,  naturally  fitted  together  then  as  parts  of  the  same 
system.  Accordingly  the  heavy  merchants  combined  a  warehouse  and 
slaughtering  business  with  merchandising. 

A  few  statistics  will  show  the  growth  and  amount  of  business  better 
than  any  other  form  of  statement.  From  the  first  of  October,  1850,  to- 
the  first  of  October,  1851,  the  shipments  of  grain  purchased  here 
amounted  to  169,366  bushels  of  wheat,  corn  and  oats,  besides  some 
meat  and  other  products.  In  the  same  time  there  were  received  407-1- 
tons  of  merchandise.  Februaiy  24,  1852,  3,176  bushels  of  grain 
were  taken  in,  "this  being  no  more  than  an  average  day  for  the  last 
ten.  The  receipts  for  the  week  ending  the  28tli  exceeded  20,000- 
busliels." 

During  the  packing  season  of  1854-5  there  were  slaughtered  6,852 
hogs  by  the  several  packers,  as  follows :  William  Gayle  &  Co.,  4,790 ;. 
A.^Rife,  1,064;  J.  A.  Noble,  853;  and  W.  H.  Ungles,  145. 

Between  May  10  and  June  14,  1856,  there  were  shipped  48,231 
pieces  of  bulk  pork,  374  barrels  of  pork,  75  casks  of  hams,  344  sacks- 
of  hair  and  250  sacks  of  potatoes.  From  May  10  to  October  11  the 
aggregate  amount  of  grain  taken  on  board  here  (in  addition  to  heavy 
shipments  in  April)  reached  108,291  sacks,  or  270,727  bushels.  During- 
tlie  two  weeks  ending  October  11  the  shipments  by  the  various  firms- 
were  as  follows:  William  Gayle  &  Co.,  16,162  sacks;  A.  Rife, 
10,284;  B.  P.  Frick  &  Co.,  3,536;  W.  H.  Ungles,  7,018;  and  Sheriif 
&  Willett,  2,054. 


134  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

The  largest  single  shipment  ever  made  was  33,000  bushels  of  corn 
hj  AYilliam  Gavle,  in  April  of  the  present  year  (1882).  The  total 
receipts  at  this  market  between  the  opening  of  na^^gati<)n  in  1881  and 
the  same  time  this  year  were  550,000  bushels. 

The  first  shipment  ever  made  from  here  was  by  Thomas  B.  Cabeen, 
March  25,  1842,  and  consisted  of  about  1,400  bushels  of  wheat  in 
437  barrels.  The  grain  was  raised  by  himself  and  his  father  in  Ohio 
Grove  township,  and  was  transported  by  the  steamer  Huntsville,  which 
was  a  week  making  the  passage  to  St.  Louis. 

In  1855  Mr.  Gayle  erected  the  three-story  brick  structure,  now  the 
Larue  House,  on  the  corner  of  Main  and  Second  streets,  for  a  store, 
and  the  next  year  put  up  the  addition  on  the  west.  The  same  year 
B.  F.  Gruwell  built  a  three-story  brick  addition  to  his  hotel  on  the 
corner  of  Main  and  Third  streets  where  Whiting's  store  stands.  The 
main  part  was  also  brick,  and  from  September,  1850,  until  it  became 
the  property  of  Mr.  Gruwell  in  1852,  it  was  conducted  by  H.  G.  Cal- 
houn. The  entire  establishment  was  destoyed  by  fire  in  February, 
1860. 

Among  the  earlier  and  better  residences  we  note  as  landmarks  the 
first  brick  building  in  the  place,  the  small  house  put  up  by  Robert 
Keith  in  1846,  on  Fourth  street,  adjoining  the  Commercial  House  ;  the 
wing  of  C.  S.  Orth's  house  by  'J.  A.  Noble  in  1849,  and  the  two-story 
front  subsequently  added  by  him ;  Gayle's  in  1850-51 ;  Ellett's  in  1853  ; 
T.  B.  Cabeen's  in  1854  ;  Rite's  in  1855,  and  Keith's  new  brick  in  1856. 

The  Central  House  was  built  for  a  residence  by  Oliver  Ross,  in 
1856,  and  next  year  it  was  enlarged  by  G.  J.  Ross.  At  one  time  it 
was  the  Beasley  House. 

The  Commercial  House  was  erected  in  1849  by  Matthew  R.  Patter- 
son, for  a  private  residence.  In  1850  he  conveyed  it  to  S.  S.  Phelps, 
and  then  went  to  California,  where  he  died.  Seven  years  ago  it  was 
opened  as  a  public  house  by  the  present  proprietor,  Da^dd  N.  Wolfe. 
He  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  February  27,  1833,  and  is 
the  son  of  Jacob  and  Mary  (Yount)  Wolfe.  In  1852  he  came  to 
Mercer  county,  looking  for  a  place  for  settlement.  He  soon  returned 
to  Indiana  and  made  arrangements  to  remove  and  permanently 
inhabit  this  county,  and  in  1855  carried  out  this  plan.  His  first  loca- 
tion was  in  ISTew  Boston  township,  where  he  engaged  in  farming.  In 
September,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  company  G,  30th  111.  Inf.,  and  carried 
a  gun  in  his  country's  service  nearly  four  years.  After  his  ' '  veteran  " 
re-enlistment  he  was  appointed  second  sergeant,  but  very  soon  was 
commissioned  captain  of  his  company  by  Gov.  Yates.  He  was  hon- 
orably mustered  out  of  the  army  at   Louisville.      On  his  return  he 


KEITHSBUEG   TOWNSHIP. 


135 


l^egan  doing  a  mercantile  business,  but  in  a  little  while  was  compelled 
Tdj  loss  of  eyesight  to  abandon  it.  He  went  to  Chicago  for  treatment, 
which  resulted  in  partial  recovery.  Since  1875  he  has  been  keeping 
the  Commercial.  On  March  4,  1857,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  J., 
daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  (Campbell)  Willits.  She  was  born  in 
the  same  county  that  he  himself  was,  October  17,  1833,  and  was 
brought  to  Mercer  county  in  her  infancy.  Gertrude,  Josephine  and 
Sarah  E.  are  their  children. 

The  following  list  is  believed  to  contain  about  all  the  tradesmen 
and  mechanics  whose  length  of  residence  or  business  importance  enti- 
tles them  to  mention.  The  dates  cover  the  term  of  their  residence  in 
the  town  ;  while  many  of  them  are  exact,  some  are  only  approxi- 
mately so,  and  a  very  few  may  be  found  wider  still  of  the  correct 
mark : 


1838-82.  J.  J.  Wordin.  1848-75. 

1839-49.  David  Bowen.  1848-80. 

1840-59.  G.  J.  Ross.  1848-56. 

1840-77.  C.  C.  Wordin.  1848-56. 

1842-56.  James  Garner.  1848-81. 

1844-82.  H.  G.  Calhoun.  1848. 

1845-6.  J.  B.  Patterson.  1849-82. 

1845-50.  Matthew  R.  Patterson.      1849-82. 

1845-82.  T.  B.  Cabeen.  1849-73. 

1846-57.  James  Patterson.  1849-58. 

1846-82.  William  Gayle.  1849-82. 

1846-62.  James  A.  Noble.  1849-69. 

1846-56.  Jonathan  Judali.  1849-82. 

1846-82.  H.  G.  Calhoun.  1850-56. 

1846.  Mrs.  J.  A.  Hubbell.  1850-54. 

1846-82.  Abraham  Rife.  1850-58. 

1846-82.  William  AVillett.  1850-67. 

1846-79.  Daniel  Keith.  1850-82. 

1846-82.  A.  F.  Glover.  1850-82. 

1846-65.  I.  J.  Mitchell.  1850-72. 

1846-51.  Dr.  S.  S.  Gruber.  1850-60. 

1847-8.  E.  F.  Barstow.  1850-56. 

1847-8.  Wm.  R."  Robinson.  1851-8. 

1847-82.  A.  B.  Sheriff.  1851-2. 

1847-59.  Levi  Butteriield.  1852-3. 

1847-5].  Dr.  David  CampblelL  1852-4. 

1847-60.  Dr.  A.  B.  Campbell.  1852-6. 

1847-68.  K  B.  Partridge.  1852-82. 


Francis  Stebinger. 
B.  D.  Ellett. 
L.  W.  Thompson. 
John  S.  Thompson. 
B.  C.  Taliaferro.- 
Richard  Rice. 
Mrs.  E.  Smith. 
William  D.  Smith. 
Wilford  J.  Ungles. 
R.  C.  Cabeen. 
Thomas  Freeman. 
John  C.  Pepper. 
James  C.  Stevens. 
John  W.  Noble. 
James  W.  Doughty. 
John  IT.  Marshall. 
Joseph  Harvey. 
Dr.  E.  L.  Marshall. 
Dr.  A.  P.  Willits. 
John'T.  Calhoun. 
Truman  Lord. 
Thomas  Morehead. 
W.  L.  Matthews. 
R.  H.  Spicer. 
William  Hawkins. 
John  W.  Ditto. 
J.  C.  Cabeen. 
J.  A.  Swezv. 


136 


HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HE]SrDERSON    COUNTIES. 


1852-62.^  David  Harvey.  1857-68. 

1852-68."  J.  S.  Pinkertoii.  1857-82. 

1852-60.  Argilleoiis  Swindler.  1858. 

1852-82.  B.  F.  Gruwell.  1858-82. 

1853-73.  C.  C.  Matlock.  1858-82. 

1853-72.  Philip  Coonrod.  1858-66. 

1853-71.  S.  H.  Kedmon.  1858-63. 

1853-82.  Clias.  J.  Simpson.  1858-67. 

1853-68.  Josephus  Wade.  1858-65. 

1853-78.  E.  M.  Eddington.  1858-82. 

1853-82.  John  Thomson.  1858-82. 

1853-82.  E.  C.  Humbert.  1859-64. 

1854-72.  Philip  Gore.  1859-72. 

1854-64.  M.  J.  O'Brien.  1859-82. 

1854-78.  Dr.  Joseph  Ogden.  1859-82. 

1854-7.     J.  W.  Elrick.  1859-82. 

1854-82.  G.  W.  Whiting.  1859-82. 

1854-82.  Thomas  Sonster.  1860-65. 

1854-80.  Walter  J.  Pepper.  1860-56. 

1854-67.  E.  D.  W.  Coville.  1860-82. 

1854-82.  Branson  Brewer.  1860-82. 

1855-63.  P.  T.  Hughes.  1860-82. 

1855-82.  B.  P.  Frick.  1861-82. 

1855-82.  C.  S.  Frick.  1861-75. 

1855-7.     I.  K  Bassett.  1862-6. 

1855-9.     Eichard  Eeese.  1862-82. 

1855-72.  Joseph  Thompson.  1862^. 

1855-71.  .C.  Lellyenberg.  1863-82. 

1856-80.  Andrew  Frazier.  1863-70. 

1856-69.  S.  M.  Evans.  1864-79. 

1856-82.  J.  C.  Humphreys.  1864-82. 

1856-82.  C.  A.  Frick.  1864-82. 

1856-82.  Eobert  McKnight.  1864-73. 

1856-62.  Luther  T.  Ball.  1864-82. 
1857-78.  Dr.  C.  S.  Hollingsworth.   1864-82. 

1857-62.  Thomas  Hardin.  1865-82. 

1857-70.  L.  A.  Ender.  1865-82. 

1857-60.   Charles  Eckly.  1865-82. 

1857-82.  Benijah  Lloyd.  1865-82. 

1857-60.  Eobert  Gray.  1866-82. 

1857-82.  William  L.  Millman.  1866-82. 

1857-82.  William  Deterline.  1867-76. 


John  Beavens. 
Jacob  Wolf. 
M.  B.  Cox. 
Dennis  Murto. 
C.  S.  Orth. 
John  P.  Eeed. 
C.  P.  Elder. 
T.  L.  Greenhow. 
Margaret  Hughes. 
C.  O'Learv. 
Jacob  Wolf. 
Alexander  Holland. 
O.  Holland. 
Dr.  Samuel  Kelly. 
John  Kaufman. 
E.  Pritz. 
Jacob  Abraham. 
Washington  Wolf, 
John  F.  Gurley. 
W.  L.  Eange. 
George  F.  Parsons. 
Hugh  Campbell. 
William  Kolkenbeck. 
J.  H.  T.  Madden. 
C.  W.  Cilley. 
Mrs.  Isaac  Manus. 
Edwin  S.  Stockton. 
Joseph  Yenable. 
William  Home. 
Gilbert  Brewer. 
P.  Buford. 
W.  Mellinger. 
C.  W.  Taliaferro. 
Henry  Mellinger. 
David  H.  Wolfe.    " 
William  Dempster. 
Dr.  E.  Eathburn. 
C.  A.  Mertz. 
L.  L.  Mertz. 
W.  H.  Phares. 
A.  H.  Eby. 
Merrick  A.  Weaver^ 


KEITHSBUKG   TOWNSHIP.  137 

1867-82.  F.  p.  Burgett.  1875-82.  C.  G.  Slocumb. 

1868-82.  James  D.  Clark.  1875-82.  John  Helwig. 

1869-82.  S.  L.  Long.  1879-82.  G.  B.  Sapp. 

1869-82.  H.  L.  Long.   •  1880-82.  Jolm  Dunn. 

1870-82.  Milton  Anderson. 82.  Tom  Marshall. 

The  third  addition  to  the  town,  called  Mechanics  addition  was  laid 
off  June  10,  1851,  by  J.  B.  Stockton.  A.  B.  Sheriff  laid  out  another 
JS'ovember  5,  1855  ;  Keith's  third  addition  was  platted  May  21,  1861, 
^nd  his  fourth  October  17,  1863 ;  Ender  and  Stockton's  October  26, 
1863  ;  and  Ender's  May  9,  1857.  Upper  Keithsburg,  wdiich  is  a  mere 
hamlet,  was  surveyed  on  section  13  by  C.  S.  Richey  in  the  summer 
■of  1857  for  Johalon  Tyler  and  T.  B.  Cabeen. 

A  man  named  Larue  was  the  first  blacksmith.  James  Heaton,  who 
■came  in  1848,  was  the  second.  He  burned  his  charcoal  in  Main  street 
opposite  Dennis  Murto's  present  residence.  Thomas  Hendricks,  0.  C. 
Allen,  and  another  by  the  name  of  Pierce  were  early  smiths. 

"Wm.  Brewer  started  the  first  cooper  shop,  and  his  place  was  taken 
by  Philip  Forward.  Jacob  Cooper  had  the  next,  and  Kelson  Green  also 
worked  some  time  at  the  trade. 

The  first  barber  was  a  man  named  Folder,  who  set  up  the  striped 
pole  in  1854. 

NEWSPAPEES. 

Owing  to  the  reason  that,  w^th  a  single  exception,  files  of  Keiths- 
burg newspapers  have  not  been  preserved,  we  are  obliged  to  confess 
-our  inability  to  give  a  full  account  of  the  publishing  business.  As 
stated  on  a  former  page,  Col.  Patterson  of  the  "Oquawka  Spectator" 
introduced  into  his  paper  a  Keithsburg  department  mider  the  title  of 
"Observer."  This  was  begun  October  16,  1850,  and  continued  till  the 
spring  of  1856,  when  he  was  persuaded  by  the  very  liberal  and  confident 
promises  of  Mr.  Keith  and  others  to  found  the  "Keithsburg  Observer." 
He  went  to  New  York  and  purchased  a  press  and  otfice  material  at  an 
outlay  of  $1,300,'  and  on  April  23  issued  the  first  number  of  his 
paper.  Some  five  hundred  patrons  were  enrolled  on  the  subscription 
list  —  not  more  than  half  the  number  anticipated  by  the  too  sanguine 
promoters  of  the  enterprise.  Business  men  were  liberal  in  advertising 
patronage,  and  after  a  useful  existence  of  over  a  year  under  Col.  Pat- 
terson, the  paper,  cleverly  avoiding  during  that  time  partisan  politics 
and  religious  dogmatisms,  was  sold  by  him  to  William  R.  Calhoon, 
the  last  issue  under  the  original  proprietorship  being  August  15,  1857. 
In  the  summer  of  1858  Calhoon  changed  the  title  of  the  paper  to 
"Mercer  County  Democrat,"  and  at  the  same  time  changed  it  from  an 


138  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AISfD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

independent  to  a  democratic  sheet.  He  was  a  good  printer  but  bad 
financier,  and  tliis  transition  was  one  ratlier  of  necessity  than  of  in- 
clination,  for  he  was  from  this  time  simply  the  pnblislier  while  the 
editorial  columns  were  exclusively  under  the  control  of  a  committee. 
The  paper  now  ceased  measurably  (and  during  the  political  canvass  of 
that  year,  when  the  intellectual  gladiators,  "  Honest  Abe "  and  the 
"Little  Giant,"  went  up  and  down  the  state  discussing  momentous 
issues,  absolutely),  to  be  a  medium  for  communicating  local  news  and 
discussing  home  topics,  and  was  an  organ  only  for  disseminating  the 
doctrines  of  a  party. 

Sometime  in  1859  the  paper  suspended,  and  on  December  28  Mr. 
Calhoon  began  the  publication  of  the  "Northern  Illinois  Commer- 
cial" apparently,  if  not  really,  for  a  company  which  had  furnished 
the  funds  for  the  establishment.     This  was  short  lived. 

In  June,  1860,  "The  Democratic  Press"  was  started  by  V.  B.  Shouf, 
who  continued  the  publication  till  he  went  to  the  army  about  the  begin- 
ning of  August  1861.  The  office  was  the  property  of  the  Hon.  Thomas 
B.  Cabeen. 

Near  the  close  of  the  year  J.  A.  J.  Birdsall  and  George  D.  B. 
Birdsall  came  to  Keithsburg,  and  in  the  first  week  in  January,  1862, 
revived  the  "Observer"  without  resurrecting  the  partisan  features 
with  which  it  went  down.  The  former  was  the  chief  person,  for  we 
hear  no  morje  of  his  brother.  Bating  a  constitutional  want  of  steadi- 
ness and  tenacity,  Birdsall  was  above  mediocrity  in  journalism,  and 
he  gave  the  new  publication  not  only  life  and  zest  by  infusing  the 
spirit  of  his  own  energy  and  talent  into  it,  but  by  his  neutral  course 
commanded  the  support  of  all  classes,  and  his  subscription  list  is  said 
to  have  reached  1,200,  the  largest  ever  obtained  by  any  Keithsburg 
paper.  Unfortunately  for  his  interests  he  was  seized  with  the  delu- 
sive ambition  for  office  and  engaged  with  his  paper  on  the  side  of  the 
democrats.  For  this  service  it  is  understood  that  he  received  his 
subsequent  but  fruitless  nomination  for  the  legislature.  This  swap- 
ping of  a  bird  in  the  hand  for  two  in  the  bush  ruined  his  business,  and 
he  departed  from  the  place  poor.  A.  G.  Lucas,  a  man  of  clerical 
antecedents,  now  took  the  vacant  place  at  the  beginning  of  Septem- 
ber, 1865,  and  the  paper  was  under  his  management  until  the  same 
month  next  year,  and  during  that  time  was  run  as  a  republican  organ. 
Col.  Isaac  McManus  succeeded  Lucas,  and  throughout  the  exciting 
congressional  campaign  of  that  year  it  was  edited  with  refreshing 
spirit  and  logical  power.  McManus'  energy  no  less  than  his  industry 
was  unbounded,  and  whatever  he  did  was  done  with  fervent  might. 
From  the  knowledge  this  writer  had  of  his  composition  and  character 


KEITHSBURG    TOWNSHIP.  13^ 

he  is  not  surprised  to  learn  tliat  liis  columns  were  stamped  with  the 
rough  strength  and  active  ability  of  his  tireless  brain.  He  was  in 
control  only  six  months  when  he  sold  his  paper  to  Theodore  Glancey, 
in  whom  there  was  a  curious  combination  of  youth  and  manhood,  and 
who  published  what  was  regarded  as  a  very  sprightly  paper.  In 
March,  1870,  he  disposed  of  his  office  to  an  Iowa  purchaser  who 
moved  it  away  ;  but  early  in  September,  1871,  he  resumed  the  busi- 
ness and  issued  the  first  number  of  the  "West  End  Kerana,"  which 
was  afterward  called  simply  "Kerana."  He  soon  associated  Henry 
Hurst  with  himself  as  partner,  but  this  not  turning  out  to  be  a  felici- 
tous arrangement,  Hurst  parted  with  his  interest  to  Edward  Thomas. 
In  the  spring  of  1873  they  sold  the  office  and  it  was  moved  to  other 
parts. 

Some  allusion  to  Mr.  Glancey's  life  and  sad  end  cannot  be  omitted 
in  this  place.  He  was  a  native  of  Mercer  county  and  reared  in  Abing- 
ton  township,  where  the  survivors  of  his  father's  family  yet  reside. 
On  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  company 
I,  17th  111.  Yol.,  and  served  till  the  expiration  of  his  three  years'' 
term,  and  was  mustered  out  as  tirst  lieutenant.  Soon  afterward,  as. 
already  observed,  he  engaged  in  the  newspaper  business  ;  and  after  its. 
final  relinquishment  in  Keithsburg,  went  to  California  where,  in  March, 
1874,  he  became  managing  editor  of  the  "Placer  Argus."  In  1880,  he 
became  editor-in-chief  of  the  "Los  Angeles  Press,"  a  republican  organ, 
and  in  September  of  that  year  Clarence  Gray,  alias  Maginiss,  a  man 
of  dissolute  reputation,  republican  candidate  for  district  attorney,  feel- 
ing himself  aggrieved  at  Glancey's  strictures  upon  his  character,  foully 
assassinated  him  when  he  was  unarmed,  without  giving  opportunity 
for  defense.  He  lived  nineteen  hours,  at  times  in  great  suffering,  but 
conscious  to  the  last  and  full  of  courage.  His  last  words  just  before 
he  expired  were:  "Tell  my  friends  that  I  die  like  a  man ^ die  for 
principle ;  and  that  I  would  not  go  back  on  it  now  if  I  could."  He 
was  high-tempered,  self-willed,  pugnacious ;  but  earnest,  courteous  and 
generous.  Strong  but  honest  in  bias,  he  uttered  his  convictions  with 
great  boldness.  Whatever  opinions  were  ever  formed  of  his  methods, 
his  sincerity  was  always  unquestioned.  He  was  a  good  speaker, 
and  as  a  writer  is  said  to  have  been  one  of  the  best  on  the  country 
press. 

About  the  first  of  April,  1874,  W.  C.  Brown  started  the  "Keithsburg 
News,"  but  before  the  first  year  was  up  he  sold  to  Taylor  &  Blackman. 
The  latter  died  in  September,  1876,  and  the  following  spring  William 
H.  Heaton  bought  the  office  from  the  Hon.  T.  B.  Cabeen  and  C.  A. 
Prick,  and  issued  his  first  number  May  17.     This  is  a  live  paper, 


140  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   A^D    HENDERSON   COUjS^TIES. 

abounding  in  reliable  news,  crisp  and  pungent  paragraphs  and  edito- 
rials, temperate  and  wholesome  in  their  tone,  and  it  receives  from  the 
public  solid  support.  It  has  been  a  greenback  paper  since  Mr.  Heaton 
became  proprietor ;  and  it  is  worthy  of  remark  that  he  has  been  longer 
in  the  publishing  business  in  Keithsburg  than  anj  other  man  who  has 
attempted  to  conduct  a  paper  in  the  place.  Mr.  Heaton  is  an  easy, 
rapid,  otf-hand  writer  who  culls  from  the  mass  of  daily  happenings 
with  true  journalistic  care  and  judgment,  and  who  brings  to  his  aid  in 
the  profession  a  thoroughly  practical  knowledge  of  men  and  affairs.  To 
be  racy  and  entertaining  he  does  not  belieye  it  necessary  to  be  a  scav- 
enger, nor  to  be  always  s'quinting  at  the  immoral  side  of  things  which 
he  has  the  sagacity  to  see  is  rehshed  only  by  a  loose  and  depraved 
sentiment.  His  taste  is  not  in  this  direction,  nor  does  it  run  toward 
public  criticism  of  private  character.  But  to  uphold  the  welfare  of  the 
community  according  to  his  judgment,  and  to  encourage  and  defend 
all  that  is  worthy,  engages  on  his  part  the  closest  interest.  To  do  this 
work  he  does  not  want  for  spuit  or  independence.  In  May  of  this 
year  (1882)  his  paper  was  enlarged  from  a  seven  to  an  eight-column 
sheet,  which  may  be  taken  as  evidence  of  its  growing  prosperity.  He 
is  efficiently  assisted  by  his  wife,  who  is  a  fine  specimen  of  healthful 
womanhood  and  a  lady  of  education  and  great  good  sense.  Recently 
he  has  associated  her  name  with  his  own  as  co-editor. 

Mr.  Heaton  was  born  November  13,  1828,  on  a  farm  in  Clark 
<30unty,  Ohio,  about  ten  miles  east  of  Springfield.  He  was  the  second 
son  of  a  family  of  twelve  childi'en,  six  boys  and  six  ghls.  Of  the  boys 
John  Heaton,  of  Red  Blufl',  California,  and  the  subject  of  this  notice  are 
the  only  ones  now  living.  Tlie  daughters  are  all  married  and  mothers 
of  childi'en.  "William  came  with  his  father,  James  Heaton,  to  Illinois 
in  1836.  He  was  given  a  good  English  education ;  he  attended  a  high 
school  in  Paris,  Illinois,  two  years,  and  though  he  was  the  youngest 
pupil  enrolled  he  was  too  far  advanced  for  the  district  school  of  that 
day.  He  learned  with  facility  but  always  preferred  hard  work  to  hard 
study,  which  agreed  better  with  his  rather  delicate  constitution.  He 
labored  on  a  farm,  taught  school  in  the  winter,  clerked  in  dry  goods  and 
grocery  stores ;  but  these  were  not  congenial  to  his  love  of  out-door 
work,  sport  and  exercise.  In  18.52,  he  and  his  father  and  brother 
George  engaged  in  farming  and  buying  raw  prairie  land  in  Henderson 
county.  He  broke  prafrie  four  years  for  himself  and  his  neighbors ;  the 
two  last  years  he  worked  twenty-eight  head,  ot  fourteen  yoke  of  oxen, 
and  used  plows  which  cut  a  furrow  thirty  inches  wide.  In  this  way  he 
paid  for  and  improved  a  half  section  of  land.  He  was  married  February 
17,  1863,  to  Miss  Millecent  E.  Davis,  of  Abingdon,  Knox  county,  and 


daNie^l    mov/f^y. 


KEITHSBURG   TOWNSHIP.  143 

lived  on  the  farm  with  his  voiing  wife  five  years.  In  1868  he  rented 
his  farm  and  moved  to  Abingdon,  and  for  two  years  was  engaged  in 
traveling  for  the  AVier  Plow  Company,  of  Monmouth.  Getting  tired 
of  being  away  from  his  family,  he  was  persuaded  to  buy  a  newspaper 
ofiice,  which  he  did  in  1870,  and  started  a  democratic  paper  which  he 
called  the  "Knox  County  Democrat."  With  this  enterprise  he  was  very 
successful,  but  at  the  end  of  six  years  sold  the  office  at  a  large  advance 
on  the  cost  of  the  same  when  new.  He  made  arrangements  to  go  to 
his  brother,  who  was  then  in  Texas  engaged  on  a  large  scale  in  the 
stock  business,  and  by  whom  he  was  advised  that  it  was  not  safe  to 
bring  his  children  to  that  climate  before  the  autumn  season.  He 
heeded  this  advice,  and  while  waiting  in  the  north  was  allured  into  pur- 
chasing a  half  interest  in  the  Hannibal,  Missouri,  '  •  Clipper, "  for  which 
he  paid  $3,000  down.  In  this  office  he  spent  most  of  his  money  in 
trying  to  keep  the  business  and  his  partner  out  of  debt.  In  April, 
18T7,  he  and  his  wife  visited  his  aged  father  and  mother,  at  Keithsburg, 
and  while  here  was  induced  to  purchase  the  * '  Keithsburg  iSTews, ''  which 
had  been  taken  on  a  debt.  He  went  forthwith  to  Hannibal  and  sold  his 
interest  in  the  "Clipper'''  office  to  his  partner,  taking  promissory  notes 
which  he  still  holds.  Under  his  management  the  "l^ews"  has  been  a 
successful  venture ;  not  a  dollar  is  owing  on  the  office,  and  the  paper 
has  just  been  enlarged.  Through  the  indefatigable  energy  of  Mrs. 
Heaton,  they  have  purchased  a  small  farm  a  mile  northeast  of  the  town, 
on  the  Aledo  road,  and  christened  it  "The  "Wilderness."  Here  they 
live  in  domestic  enjoyment  with  their  six  happy,  sprightly  and  intelli- 
gent children,  who  read  and  work,  and  bless  and  enliven  the  home 
of  their  parents.  It  gives  us  pleasure  to  say  that  no  happier  house- 
hold exists  in  all  the  land.  Mrs.  Heaton  keeps  her  husband's  books 
and  writes  most  of  his  correspondence,  and  he  holds  that  her  help  is 
invaluable.  In  his  judgment  every  newspaper  man  ought  to  marry  an 
intelligent  wife  and  give  her  his  entire  confidence — a  sentiment  which 
does  honor  to  both  head  and  heart  of  its  author. 

The  "Keithsburg  Times,"  an  independent  weekly,  was  established 
by  Richard  Wolfe  and  H.  C.  Cook,  the  first  number  being  issued  June 
8,  1881.  December  23d  Mr.  Cook  withdrew,  and  the  publication  of 
the  paper  was  continued  by  Mr.  Wolfe  until  its  suspension,  April  12, 
1882.  The  latter,  son  of  Washington  and  Rebecca  (Marlott)  Wolfe,  is 
a  native  of  this  county,  was  born  in  1852,  and  reared  a  tiller  of  the  soil. 
His  parents  emigrated  fi-om  Wa^me  county,  Indiana,  to  Mercer  county 
subsequently  to  1840.  From  1861  to  1866  he  lived  in  Keithsburg ;  in 
1872  he  matriculated  at  Hedding  College,  where  he  was  in  attendance 
9 


144  HISTORY   OF   MEECER   AND   HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

one  year,  and  since  that  time  he  has  taught  school  irregularly.  In 
1875  he  began  reading  law  in  the  office  of  B.  C.  Taliaferro  and  studied 
the  required  time,  but  has  never  been  admitted. 

R.  S.  Scudder  brought  the  "Keithsburg  Independent"  here  in 
March,  1880,  and  kept  it  alive  about  six  months.  It  was  printed  by 
the  "  Burlington  Hawkeye. " 

SCHOOLS. 

It  was  many  years  fi-om  the  fii'st  settlement  before  any  educational 
progress  had  been  made.  Settlers  were  few,  everything  was  in  a  rough 
state,  all  improvements  had  to  be  supplied  by  slow  and  hard  toil ;. 
gi'ound  broken  up,  timber  felled,  cabins  built,  fences  made ;  so  that 
rigid  muscle  was  the  fii'st  demand,  while  little  use  was  found  for  books, 
and  pictures,  and  teachers. 

But  the  schoolmaster  came  at  last,  and  his  dominion  has  grown 
more  powerful  than  church  and  more  extensive  than  state.  The  begin- 
nings were  of  the  feeblest  character.  One  term  in  a  year  was  thought 
to  be  a  good  achievement,  and  indeed  it  was  for  the  fi-ontier  ;  but  who 
would  think  of  calling  this  the  frontier  as  late  as  1847  or  1848? 
Fifteen  years  had  elapsed  since  the  Black  Hawk  war.  Children  had 
passed  the  school  age  in  that  time.  Does  it  not  seem  to  our  young 
friends  that  it  must  have  been  a  gloomy  era  ?  We  dare  say  that  it  wa& 
not  less  joyous  than  the  present.  Wants  were  fewer  then  than  now, 
and  the  greater  number  of  to-day  are  not  more  easily  satisfied.  Then 
they  were  supplied  without  vexation,  because  they  were  mostly  natural ; 
but  now  they  are  gratified  with  sensible,  if  not  painful,  effort,  for  the  • 
reason  that  they  are  largely  artificial.  Intellectual  attainments  cost 
something ;  physical  j^ower  is  the  gift  of  nature.  In  the  former  time 
hewers  of  wood  and  drawers  of  water  were  of  the  first  station,  eco- 
nomically, for  they  accomplished  that  which  was  the  chief  necessity — 
material  development.  Education  was  less  valued  when  bone  and 
sinew  held  sway,  but  mind  has  taken  the  throne  of  power,  and  skilled 
labor  and  intelligent  machinery,  to  use  a  figure,  have  driven  blind 
force  into  the  rayless  gloom  beneath  the  feet  of  the  majority.  Acquire- 
ments which  mean  cost  to  the  possessor,  the  world  demands  of  him 
with  all  ease.  Hence  the  multiplication  of  wants  and  the  shai-per 
struggle. 

At  first  there  was  little  public  money,  and  schools  were  maintained 
by  subscription.  In  this  township  the  school  section,  number  16,  was 
surveyed  and  classified  with  the  swamp  lands.  It  was  but  a  fractional 
tract,  and  the  trustees  made  a  selection  on  section  9,  but  did  not  get  the 


KEITHSBUBG   TOWNSHIP.  145 

quota  to  which  the  township  was  entitled.     It  was  all  timber  land  and 
was  sold  in  small  lots  varying  in  price  from  $2.50  to  $10  per  acre. 

"  Delightful  task  !  to  rear  the  tender  thought, 
To  teach  the  young  idea  how  to  shoot." 

The  fii'st  school  in  Keithsburg  was  taught  in  a  log  cabin  on  the  lot 
now  occupied  by  C.  S.  Orth's  house.  Tliis  was  in  the  summer  of  18-46, 
and  Thomas  Libby  was  the  teacher.  Isaac  Bliss  taught  next  in  1847 
in  a  vacant  cabin  in  Robert  Keith's  dooryard.  Tlie  third  pedagogue 
was  John  Heaton,  who  had  a  school  in  1848  in  a  small  fi-ame  house  on 
the  site  of  Dennis  Murto's  residence.  He  taught  also  in  1849.  Mrs. 
Lucretia  Freeman  opened  a  small  school  in  the  summer  of  that  year  in 
the  brick  building  belonging  to  Mrs.  Isaac  McManus. 

Tlie  &st  school-house  was  a  brick  structure  built  in  1849  on  lot  3, 
block  13,  the  site  of  the  present  Methodist  parsonage.  John  C.  Pepper, 
who  had  just  arrived,  and  was  preparing  for  the  bar,  was  employed  to 
teach.  He  tilled  three  terms  and  yielded  the  post  to  Isaac  N.  Smith, 
who  was  at  the  head  of  the  school  through  the  following  winter,  and 
was  assisted  by  Mrs.  Freeman.  Harvey  Senter  was  the  principal  from 
the  fall  of  1851  to  1855.  He  was  an  insti'uctor  of  excellent  capabilities, 
ingenious  in  resource,  practical  in  method,  untiring  in  etFort,  sharp  in 
discipline,  and  a  splendid  arithmetician.  He  died  in  Aledo  a  few  years 
ago.  'N.  P.  Brown  took  his  place  and  taught  the  last  term  in  the  old 
school-house.  Tliis  building  had  been  erected  by  private  subscription 
on  a  lot  donated  to  the  public  by  Robert  Keith  so  long  as  it  should  be 
used  for  school  purposes.  The  donor  deferred  the  conveyance  till  suit 
was  brought  to  compel  such  performance,  but  on  his  promise  to  execute 
a  deed  the  action  was  withdrawn ;  still  he  failed  to  carry  out  the  agree- 
ment, and  afterward  sold  the  property  to  the  Methodists. 

The  main  part  of  the  present  building  was  erected,  as  near  as  we 
can  learn,  in  1856,  and  was  dedicated  by  Warren  Sliedd,  who  was. 
principal  about  two  years.  He  served  in  the  war  of  the  rebellion  as 
colonel  of  the  30th  reg.  HI.  Vol.  Inf  His  death  in  Montana  occurred 
in  1881.  No  records  of  this  distant  period  can  be  found,  and  the 
recollections  of  men  fail  at  this  point. 

T.  C.  Swafford,  of  New  Boston,  a  printer  by  trade,  was  principal  in 
the  year  1862-3.  He  died  in  the  profession  at  Oneida,  liJiox  county^ 
in  1878.  Isaac  McManus  taught  about  1867.  The  principalship  has 
been  held  by  the  following  persons :  William  A.  AVray,  1869-70 ;. 
John  P.  Chowning,  1870-71 ;  C.  W.  Searies,  1871-2 ;  w!  H.  Farris, 
1872-3 ;  E.  H.  Jamison,  1873-6 ;  William  A.  Griffin,  1876-80 ;  B.  Y. 
Leonard,  1880-81 ;  William  A  Willits,  1881-2.     I.  Cook  Brisbin  and 


146  HISTORY   OF   MERCER    AXD    HENDERSON    COUXTIES. 

Philip  Weaver  were  teacliers  of  good  re])utatioD  in  the  lower  depart- 
ments in  the  long  ago,  prior  to  the  war.  Rebecca  Wearer  and  Josie  L. 
Calhoun  taught  several  years  in  succession  at  a  later  period.  Of  the 
present  teachers  Miss  J.  Hannah  Willits  presides  over  the  gi-ammar 
department,  and  has  been  connected  with  the  school  as  teacher  nearly 
twenty  years.  Miss  Julia  Willett  is  employed  in  the  first  intermediate, 
Miss  Mary  Thomson  in  the  second,  Miss  Alice  Sherilf  in  the  third,  and 
H.  W.  Kile  in  the  primary.  Mr.  Kile  commenced  in  the  school  in 
1865,  and  since  1870  has  been  continuously  employed.  He  first  began 
teaching  in  Ohio  in  1846.  In  the  spring  of  1850  he  emigrated  to  this 
town,  and  has  taught  until  the  present  time  without  intermission, 
excepting  three  years  when  he  was  fightmg  the  battles  of  his  country. 

The  school-house  is  a  strong,  two-story  brick  edifice,  with  low 
ceilings,  but  apartments  that  are  models  of  neatness  and  taste.  They 
are  all  seated  with  patent  furniture  and  heated  with  Snead's  school 
room  heater  and  ventilator,  and  supplied  with  necessary  charts  and 
.apparatus  of  approved  kinds.  The  main  part  is  30x56  feet  on  the 
foundation,  and  the  wing  in  the  rear,  built  in  1875,  is  26  X  36k  feet  in 
dimension.  The  location  is  on  block  7,  second  addition.  This  is  the 
"best  school  building  in  Mercer  county.  Under  its  efficient  manage- 
ment for  several  years  past  the  school  has  taken  a  rank  inferior  to  no 
other  of  similar  grade  anywhere. 

In  Keithsburg  select  schools  have  flourished  with  no  common 
success,  and  their  number  has  not  been  small.  As  far  back  as  the 
autumn  of  1855  a  Miss  Mulky  opened  a  female  seminary  in  Apollo 
Hall.  She  retired  fi-om  the  work  at  the  close  of  the  spring  tenn 
of  1857.  The  Misses  Todd  immediately  organized  the  Keithsburg 
Seminary,  but  it  is  not  known  how  long  it  was  continued.  The  sessions 
were  held  in  the  Methodist  church.  The  Rev.  C.  M.  Wright  started 
the  Mercer  Female  College  in  1863,  in  the  Orth  house,  subsequently 
occupying  the  Masonic  building.  Late  in  1864  the  reverend  educator 
•was  commissioned  chaplain  of  the  102d  111.  reg.,  on  the  request  of  the 
rank  and  file,  and  at  once  departed  for  his  new  field  of  labor.  He  was 
very  ably  assisted  by  the  Misses  Mary  W.  Evans  and  Emily  J.  VHnt- 
lock,  from  Pennsylvania,  and  probably  by  Miss  Louisa  B.  Gass.  The 
fii'st  two  ladies  remained  in  charge  of  the  school  after  Wright's  with- 
di-awal,  and  the  institution  was  kept  up  about  three  years.  J.  S. 
McMillan,  another  tutor  of  rare  qualification,  gave  instruction  there 
immediately  after,  and  Miss  Class  kept  select  schools  m  the  same  place. 
Mrs.  Lou  Kessel  also  taught  several  schools  of  the  same  class.  Five  or 
six  years  ago  W.  P.  Allen  had  a  business  school  in  Apollo  Hall. 
These  do  not  comprise  all,  but  are  the  principal  ones.     The  veteran 


KEITHSBURG    TOWNSHIP.  14:T 

pedagogue,  Eezin  W.  Kile,  lias  organized  and  taught  numerous  "pay 
schools."     These  private  schools  have  usually  been  well  patronized. 

Until  recently  this  township  was  divided  into  but  two  districts.  It 
now  contains  three,  and  will  likely  remain  without  important  change 
for  a  long  time.  District  No.  2  extends  from  east  to  west  across  the 
north  part  of  the  township  and  is  two  miles  wide  north  and  south. 
No.  3  embraces  sections  14,  24,  part  of  23,  including  Upper  Keiths- 
burg,  and  all  of  13,  except  the  E.  i  N.  E.  J,  which,  with  sections  25 
and  36,  is  attached  to  Abington  for  school  purposes.  The  rest  of  the 
township  constitutes  No.  1,  having  Keithsburg  in  the  center.  District 
No.  3  was  formed  from  No.  1,  after  a  long  and  determined  contest. 
The  first  effort  for  a  division  was  made  about  eight  years  ago.  A  vote 
had  been  taken  on  the  question  of  authorizing  a  bonded  debt  to  enlarge 
the  school-house  in  Keithsburg,  and  was  adversely  decided.  As  soon 
as  the  movement  for  a  division  was  begun  the  opportunity  was  seized 
by  those  favoring  the  extension  (which  was  seriously  needed)  to  obtain 
the  necessary  authority  by  election.  As  the  law  then  stood  a  district 
with  a  bonded  debt  could  not  be  dismembered.  Before  the  inhabitants 
in  the  proposed  district  began  the  agitation,  the  want  of  more  room  in 
the  school  building  was  not  apparent  to  the  majority.  As  soon  as  a 
separation  was  seriously  attempted  it  was  instantly  recognized  with 
sweeping  unanimity.  The  debt  was  made  and  the  addition  built.  The 
matter  slumbered  some  two  years,  then  the  petitioners  revived  it,  on 
the  technical  failure  of  the  board  of  trustees  to  follow  the  exact  require- 
ments of  the  law  concerning  the  registration  of  the  bonds.  The  trustees 
denied  their  prayer,  and  the  subject  was  allowed  to  rest.  In  the  mean- 
time the  law  was  changed  so  as  to  permit  a  division  of  bonded  districts 
and  an  apportionment  of  their  liabilities.  In  1880  the  struggle  was 
renewed.  Some  additions  to  the  number  of  pupils  had  been  made  in 
the  dissatisfied  territory,  and  the  bounds  were  now  extended  by  the 
petitioners,  enlarging  the  proposed  district.  They  went  to  work  this 
time  with  every  advantage  in  their  favor.  The  trustees  again  rejected 
their  claims.  Tlie  case  went  to  the  county  superintendent  on  appeal. 
The  application  was  successful.  But  before  proceedings  could  be  taken 
upon  the  order  of  the  superintendent,  an  injunction  was  served  upon  the 
trustees  and  treasurer,  restraining  them  from  any  action  in  the  premises 
until  the  question  should  come  before  the  circuit  court  of  Mercer  county 
for  review.  Here  the  decision  of  the  superintendent  was  sustained. 
An  appeal  was  next  carried  to  the  appellate  court,  sitting  in  Ottawa, 
and  on  February  28,  1881,  the  judgment  of  the  lower  court  was 
affirmed.  This  victory  was  followed  by  the  election  of  directors  for  the 
new  district  on  March  19.     These  were  H.  S.  Scott,  David  Pardee  and 


148  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

O.  A.  Wilson.     The  enumeration  of  scliolars  at  this  time  was  fifty- 
seven.     A  school-house  was  straightway  built  at  an  expense  of  $700. 

RELIGION. 

Preaching  in  Keithsburg  was  of  irregular  occurrence  until  near 
1850.  Several  persons  are  mentioned  as  ha^-ing  held  meetings  before 
that  time,  but  it  was  individual  rather  than  organized  work  that  was 
done.  The  Eev.  Yail  was  probably  the  earliest  Presbyterian,  and  the 
Rev.  Crittenden  was  another  who  visited  this  locality  at  a  somewhat 
later  date.  He  was  here  in  1849,  and  very  likely  before  and  after. 
Tlie  Rev.  Gregg,  Universalist,  held  early  meetings.  Various  Metho- 
dist ministers  came  to  lead  the  hearts  of  men,  but  the  names  of  most  of 
them,  no  doubt,  are  lost.  The  Rev.  Kirkpatrick  is  remembered,  and 
the  local  preacliers,  Thomas  L.  Doughty,  of  J^ew  Boston,  and  James 
Ross,  a  United  Brethren,  of  this  township.  The  last  two  are  best 
known,  for  they  were  a  part  of  the  people  and  their  ministry  covered 
longer  periods.  Services  took  place  wherever  a  room  could  be  found 
that  would  accommodate  the  small  audiences.  After  1815  Willett's 
warehouse  was  used ;  in  1849  the  old  brick  school-house  was  built,  and 
then  resort  was  had  to  that ;  and  in  1851  the  couit-house  was  finished, 
when  that  also  was  occupied  for  the  same  purpose. 

The  first  Sunday  school-  in  Keithsburg,  except  one  as  early  as  1844, 
in  the  cooper  shop  on  block  13,  corner  of  Main  and  Seventh  streets, 
was  started  in  August,  1849,  and  was  founded  and  taught  by  John 
Heaton  and  Mrs.  Lucretia  Freeman.  About  two  dozen  little  boys  and 
girls  were  regular  attendants.  After  thirty  years'  improvement  in 
everything  else,  the  editor  of  the  "News"  says  "this  was  the  best 
behaved  school  we  were  ever  in,  and  was  a  complete  success."  They 
met  from  Sabbath  to  Sabbath  on  the  lot  where  Dennis  Murto's  house 
is  situated.  In  the  spring  of  1850  another  school  was  organized  in 
the  brick  school-house.  Uncle  John  Kile  was  the  superintendent,  and 
"W.  IT.  Heaton  secretary.  At  that  day  Mrs.  Thomas  Hiatt  was  the 
onl)'  Methodist  living  in  the  town,  but  a  few  months  later  the  number 
was  advanced  to  two  by  the  arrival  of  Col.  George  S.  Pierce.  Within 
two  miles  of  town  were  John  Wilson,  James  Gibson,  B.  L.  Hardin, 
John  Kile  and  John  Eckley,  all  Methodists.  These  could  not  always 
attend,  so  it  became  necessary  to  reorganize  the  school,  and  W.  L. 
Mathews  was  chosen  superintendent,  and  B.  C.  Cabeen  taught  the 
bible  class.  Of  the  ladies,  Mrs.  Mathews,  Mrs.  Freeman,  and  Mrs. 
Hiatt  were  active  workers.  The  young  ladies  were :  Maggie  and 
Emma  Ungles,  Mary  Jane  Mount,  Maria  Heaton,  Mary  Pie,  and 
three    by   the   name   of    Williamson.      The    singing,    which   J.    W. 


KEITHSBURG   TOWNSHIP.  149 

Doughty  led  in  splendid  style,  was  excellent,  and,  according  to  testi- 
mony, has  not  since  been  excelled  in  Keithsburg.  The  present  editor 
of  the  "News,"  writing  of  this  school,  says:  "Uncle  John  Kile  did 
the  praying  for  the  school  when  he  was  there.  In  his  absence,  the 
superintendent  or  secretary  read  from  the  scriptures,  and  a  hymn  was 
sung.  We  had  a  committee  on  attendance,  and  if  a  scholar  or  teacher 
was  not  in  his  or  her  place,  next  Sunday  he  or  she  was  called  on,  and 
&  reason  had  to  be  given  and  reported  for  absence.  .  .  .  We  will 
remark  that  this  school,  for  two  years,  was  not  under  the  auspices 
-of  any  church,  yet  it  embraced  about  all  the  children  in  the  town." 

The  iirst  circuit  preaching  was  begun  in  the  autumn  of  1849  by 
the  Kev.  Pierce  T.  Rhodes,  who  was  on  the  New  Boston  circuit  and 
held  meetings  every  two  weeks.  He  was  a  man  of  too  much  business 
energy  and  capacity  to  fail  to  work  up  an  interest  favorable  to  the 
building  of  a  meeting-house,  and  therefore  we  find  that  in  the  fall  of 
1851  a  brick  church  was  erected  on  the  northwest  corner  of  block  13, 
original  plat,  at  a  cost  of  some  $1,600.  It  was  not  entirely  finished 
and  plastered  till  1853.  The  Eev.  Chandler,  of  Peoria,  conducted  the 
dedicatorial  services.  The  Rev.  C.  M.  Wright  came  shortly  after,  and 
superseded  Rhodes.  From  this  time  to  1860  the  history  of  the 
church  is  a  blank.  In  that  year  Keithsburg,  which  had  heretofore 
belonged  to  the  New  Boston  circuit,  was  erected  into  a  separate  one. 
Mr.  B.  L.  Hardin  furnishes  a  list  of  pastors  from  1860,  and  we  use  it 
as  it  comes  to  our  hands,  although  it  does  not  complete  the  period  by 

one  year :   Job  Mills,  two  years ;   Steward,  two  years ;   C.  M. 

Wright,  one  year ;  J.  L.  Phares,  one  year ;  Stafford,  one  year ; 

O.  W.  Brown,  one  year ;  J.  Winser,  one  year ;  S.  Brink,  three  years ; 
A.  R.  Morgan,  two  years ;  L.  B.  Dennis,  one  year ;  J.  Smith,  two 
years;  Richard  Haney,  one  year;  G.  W.  Martin,  one  year;  C.  B. 
Couch,  one  year ;  and  the  present  minister,  H.  S.  Humes,  who  came 
upon  this  charge  in  the  conference  year  1881-2. 

About  1856  the  society  purchased  from  Robert  Keith  the  old  brick 
school-house ;  the  walls  they  partly  tore  down  and  rebuilt  for  a 
parsonage  on  the  original  foundation. 

The  Rev.  Stephen  Brink  conducted  a  great  re\^val  in  1871  and 
added  over  one  hundred  to  the  membership.  He  was  a  very  popular 
preacher  and  successful  revivalist,  and  taking  the  movement  in  the 
church  at  its  highest  tide  led  the  society  at  once  into  building  their 
present  imposing  edifice.  Tliis  was  done  in  the  year  1872.  The  site 
was  purchased  from  Bennett  Hurst  for  $1,300  and  the  old  church  was 
taken  by  him  in  payment  of  $10i).  John  McH.  AYilson,  B.  L.  Hardin, 
Dr.  C.  S.  Hollingsworth,  Merrick  A.  Weaver  and  William  Gayle  were 


150  HISTORY   OF   MERGER   AND   HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

the  building  committee.  The  entire  cost  was  $10,000.  Qiaplain 
McCabe  dedicated  it  on  the  29th  of  October,  and  on  this  occasion 
$3,715  were  subscribed.  Over  $550  were  never  collected;  a  loan  of 
$300  had  been  obtained  fi*om  the  church  extension  fund ;  these 
amounts  with  interest  brought  the  societ}^  in  time  into  debt  for  $1,300. 
A  new  subscription  was  raised  in  1880  and  this  was  paid  off.  The 
church  is  a  two-story  frame  38  X  60  feet  on  the  ground.  There  are  I-IO 
members  enrolled,  and  the  condition  of  the  society  is  good.  The 
Sabbath  school,  with  H.  L.  Long  as  superintendent  almost  consecu- 
tively for  twelve  years,  has  an  average  of  over  100  scholars.  Some  of 
the  oldest  and  most  active  members  have  been  John  McH.  Wilson, 
John  ]^evius  and  B.  L.  Hardin.  The  two  first  have  gone  to  try  the 
reality  of  the  faith  they  professed. 

The  first  Presbyterian  minister  who  settled  and  lived  in  Keiths- 
burg  was  the  Rev.  Smith.  Tliis  was  before  the  church  was  finished. 
A  number  of  persons  of  this  faith  having  their  membership  in  the 
Pope  Creek  church  in  Ohio  Grove  township,  in  1854  enclosed  the  house 
they  now  own,  but  were  not  able  to  finish  it  for  use  until  three  years 
afterward.  May  2,  1857,  the  present  society  was  organized  with 
twenty-eight  members,  and  was  named  the  "First  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Keithsburg."  Joseph  P.  Wycoff  and  Paul  Sheriff  were  elected 
ruling  elders,  and  Dr.  I.  K.  Anderson  deacon.  Two  days  after,  Paul 
Sheriff,  A.  B.  Sheriff  and  Harvey  Senter  were  chosen  trustees.  The 
Rev.  E.  K.  Lynn  was  the  first  to  supply  the  church  after  the  organiza- 
tion ;  he  preached  half  the  time  for  one  year.  The  Rev.  Samuel  Hart 
commenced  his  labors  in  the  spring  of  1858  and  ministered  to  the 
church  till  September  2,  1862.  During  this  period  twenty-six  members 
were  added.  The  Rev.  H.  Hanson  came  as  stated  supply  November 
2d,  and  ended  his  pastorate  ten  years  afterward,  November  1,  1872. 
The  church  was  increased  during  this  time  by  the  reception  of  eighty- 
four  members.  From  the  last  date  until  October  15,  1873,  only  occa- 
sional supplies  filled  the  pulpit,  but  at  this  time  the  Rev.  John  L. 
Martyn  commenced  his  ministrations  as  regular  pastor.  He  was 
superseded  October  15,  1876,  by  the  Rev.  J.  E.  Williamson.  The 
latter  gave  place,  October  16,  1879,  to  the  Rev.  Thomas  Hicklin,  who. 
remained  one  year.  There  was  no  stated  supply  again  until  the  pres- 
ent occuj)ant  of  the  pulpit,  the  Rev.  R.  H.  Fulton,  commenced  his 
labors  in  September,  1881.  In  December,  1859,  Philip  Gore  was 
elected  deacon.  November  30,  1862,  Dr.  I.  N.  Anderson  was  elected, 
ordained  and  installed  a  ruling  elder.  He  was  removed  by  death 
January  22,  1863.  Dr.  Samuel  Kelly  was  elected  ruling  elder  March 
13,  1869,  and  ordained  next  day.     Calvin  S.  Orth  and  W.  S.  Home 


KEITHSBURG   TOWNSHIP.  151 

were  elected  and  ordained  deacons  on  tlie  same  days.  George  S.  Wolf 
was  elected  a  ruling  elder  December  16,  1876,  and  was  installed  next 
day,  the  usual  form  of  ordination  being  dispensed  with  as  unnecessary 
for  the  reason  that  he  had  been  an  elder  in  the  Reformed  church.  In 
1866  an  American  churcli  organ  was  placed  in  the  church ;  in  the 
winter  of  1S67-8  a  new  bell  was  hung  in  the  steeple;  October  25, 
1871,  the  society  paid  $100  for  five  Gothic  chairs  and  a  marble-top 
communion  table;  March  15,  1872,  a  new  communion  service  was- 
purchased  at  an  expense  of  $65  ;  and  in  1875  the  church  was  reno- 
vated at  an  outlay  of  $1,000.  The  building  is  36x5-1  feet,  built  of 
brick,  graceful  without  and  tasteful  within,  where  it  is  cheery  and 
agreeable,  without  any  of  that  air  of  the  dungeon  so  common  in. 
houses  of  this  description.  The  number  of  members  is  forty-five. 
An  organized  Sunday  school  is  maintained. 

St.  Mary's  Catholic  church  comprises  in  its  membership  not  fewer 
than  fifty  families.  Mass  was  celebrated  in  this  place  over  thirty  years- 
ago,  but  the  people  had  no  regular  pastor  until  Father  Lorimer,  of 
Monmouth,  established  stated  services  in  1865.  He  continued  in 
charge  of  the  parish  until  the  Eev.  11.  P.  O'JSTeill  came  in  1867.  Under 
the  pastorate  of  the  latter  funds  were  raised,  and  in  1869  a  house  of 
worship  was  enclosed  and  subsequently  finished.  The  Rev.  Bowles 
came  next  after  Father  O'Neill  and  remained  until  1872,  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Father  Halpin,  who  was  followed  in  1875  by  Father 
O'Farrell.  The  first  priest  to  settle  in  the  j)arisli  was  the  Rev.  Weldon, 
who  arrived  in  ]  877,  and  in  October  began  the  erection  of  the  parson- 
age. This  stands  on  Thirteenth  street,  adjoining  the  church,  and  was. 
finished  the  following  spring  and  furnished  at  a  total  cost  of  $2,000. 
The  Rev.  C.  F.  O'i^eill  took  charge  of  this  society  in  1879  and  was- 
replaced  the  same  year  by  the  Rev.  William  McKenna,  who  ministered 
until  early  in  1882,  when  the  Rev.  B.  H.  Corley  took  his  place.  The 
churcli  is  situated  in  the  southeast  part  of  the  town,  in  SheriflTs  addi- 
tion, on  land  one-half  of  which  was  donated  by  T.  B.  Cabeen.  It  is- 
cruciform,  24x72  feet  in  the  main  part,  with  a  transept  24x56,  and 
was  built  at  a  cost  of  about  $6,000.  This  property  is  vested  in  the 
.bishop  of  the  diocese,  according  to  the  custom  and  laws  of  this  church. 
In  the  early  history  of  the  society  services  were  held  in  the  old  court- 
house and  at  the  residence  of  Dennis  Murto. 

The  Rev.  Bernard  H.  Corley,  present  pastor,  was  born  in  Provi- 
dence, Rhode  Island,  March  11,  1855,  and  is  the  son  of  Michael  and 
Elizabeth  (McCaron)  Corley.  His  father  is  a  mixer  of  colors  used  in 
printing  calicoes,  and  resides  in  Providence,  where  the  mother  of 
Father  Corley  died  March  4,  1882.     He  was  educated  at  the  Jesuit 


152  HISTOKY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

college  of  St.  Maiy  at  Montreal,  and  at  the  Ottawa  University,  of 
Canada,  and  finished  his  studies  at  the  latter  institution.  His  ordina- 
tion took  place  at  Peoria,  Illinois,  in  June,  1879,  and  he  at  once 
became  assistant  pastor  at  Bloomington,  where  he  remained  one  year. 
He  was  next  called  to  the  pastorate  of  Lewiston,  from  whence  he  went 
to  Monmouth  as  assistant,  and  in  the  present  year  was  settled  over  this 
parish. 

The  United  Brethren  society  in  Keithsburg,  now  dissolved,  was 
formed  in  the  winter  of  1849-50,  and  was  the  first  of  this  denomination 
in  the  county.  The  original  members  were  St.  Clair  Ross  and  wife, 
James  Goldsberry  and  wife,  a  Mr.  Mapes  and  wife,  and  a  few  others. 
The  pastors  were :  J.  L.  Condon,  1849-51 ;  O.  F.  Smith,  1851-3  ;  B. 
Wagner,  1853-4;  P.  W.  Knowles,  1854-6;  G.  W.  Keller,  1856-T; 
Eev.  Weaver,  1857-8 ;  D.  F.  Bear,  1858-9 ;  J.  W.  C.  Toll  and  P. 
Watts,  1859-60 ;  D.  Stanley,  1860-62 ;  J.  B.  Speaks,  1862-3  ;  St.  Clair 
Eoss,  1863-5;  Rev.  Bugby,  1865-6;  E.  Godfrey,  1866-7;  B.  Wag- 
ner, 1867-9  ;  O.  F.  Smith,  from  1869  to  the  spring  of  1872,  A.  Shes- 
ler  finishing  the  conference  year ;  B.  Wagner,  1872-4 ;  A.  G.  Smith, 
1871-5;  S.  P.  Davis  and  A.  A.  Wolf,  1875-6;  Z.  Pease,  1876-8; 
Percival  Spurlock,  1878-9 ;  O.  O.  Smith,  1879-81 ;  and  A.  Worman, 
the  present  pastor  on  the  charge,  who  occasionally  preaches  to  the  few 
unorganized  members  of  the  old  society.  About  1857  the  erection  of 
a  church  was  begun,  but  the  house  was  not  completed  until  four  years 
afterward.  It  is  a  low  brick,  36x50  feet,  now  beginning  to  show 
.signs  of  decay. 

A  Christian  society  was  organized  here  about  1856,  but  traveling 
preachers  of  this  denomination  stopped  here  and  held  services,  begin- 
ning some  years  earlier.  The  Rev.  Davidson,  of  Monmouth,  was  the 
main  dependence  of  these  people  at  first.  Othei-s  well  remembered 
were  the  Shortridges,  Revs.  Wallace,  Moses  B.  Warren  and  W.  B. 
Fisk.  The  latter  was  here  three  or  four  years,  and  it  was  in  his  pas- 
torate that  the  unused  church  standing  in  the  east  part  of  the  town  was 
built.  This  was  done  in  1866.  The  Rev.  J.  B.  Royal  occupied  the 
pulpit  about  ten  years  ago. 

FARMERS'  BANK. 

This  institution  began  business  in  Keithsburg  in  April,  1871,  as  the 
Fanners' National  Bank,  with  a  capital  of  $50,000,  and  was  the  second 
bank  ever  organized  in  Mercer  county,  and  the  only  one  under  the 
national  banking  act.  The  stockholders  are  William  Drury,  F.  P. 
Burgett,  T.  B.  Cabeen,  R.  J.  Cabeen,  John  Seaton,  Hiram  Burgett, 
B.  P.  Frick,  Thomas  S.  Flack,  C.  S.   Orth,  Mrs.  Julia  H.  Frick,  ^nd 


KEITirSBURG   TOWNSHIP.  153 

Mrs.  Yasliti  Drury.  William  Driiry,  one  of  the  wealthiest  and  most 
valued  citizens  of  Mercer  coimtj,  has  been  president  from  the  begin- 
ning, and  Hon.  Thomas  B.  Cabeen,  of  Keithsburg,  vice-president. 
C.  S.  Orth  was  the  Urst  cashier.  In  1874  the  capital  was  doubled,  and 
the  same  year  Mr.  Orth  resigned  and  was  succeeded  by  F.  P.  Burgett, 
who  had  been  connected  with  the  bank  from  the  first  opening,  as 
assistant  cashier.  On  January  1,  1880,  the  charter  was  surrendered, 
and  the  bank  became  a  private  corporation.  It  passed  through  the 
crisis  of  1873  -without  shock,  and  its  integrity  and  reputation  rest  upon 
a  firm  basis. 

Mr.  Cabeen  is  of  Irish  lineage.  His  gi*andfather,  Thomas  Cabeen, 
had  seven  sons  and  two  daughters  born  and  reared  in  Ireland,  and  who 
emigrated  to  this  country  at  dift'erent  times,  and  settled  in  various 
localities.  His  father,  Samuel  Cabeen,  crossed  the  Atlantic  in  1808 
and  had  his  home  first  in  Pennsylvania,  where  he  married  Miss  Eliza- 
beth P.  Wright.  In  1815  he  removed  to  Muskingum  county,  Ohio. 
In  1836  these  parents  with  their  five  sons,  Thomas,  Joshua,  Samuel, 
Pobert,  and  Richard,  removed  to  Mercer  county  and  improved  a  home 
in  Ohio  Grove  township.  The  father  died  at  his  residence,  May  1, 
1856,  when  sixty-eight  years  of  age.  He  was  a  man  of  good  talents 
and  natural  Irish  wit  and  versatility ;  his  conversation  was  intelligent 
and  sparkling  and  always  enlivened  with  appropriate  quotations  from 
his  favorite  poet  Burns.  Mr.  Thomas  B.  Cabeen  was  bom  December 
15,  1815  ;  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade,  and  for  the  first  dozen  years 
that  he  lived  in  Mercer  county  was  employed  at  that  useful  occupation. 
In  conjunction  with  Abram  B.  Sherifi'  he  built  the  first  frame  house 
south  of  Pope  creek;  in  1845  he  did  some  of  the  first  carpenter  work 
in  Keithsburg,  and  the  next  year  the  joiner  work  on  the  first  brick 
house  in  the  place,  which  was  owned  by  Robert  Keith.  He  and  Mr. 
Sheriff  built  under  contract  the  first  couit-house  in  Mercer  county, 
for  which  they  received  about  $1,400.  It  was  begun  March  6, 
1839,  and  was  finished  the  same  year.  This  was  situated  at  Millers- 
burg:  a  two-story  fi-ame,  still  standing.  During  the  time  that  Mr. 
Cabeen  was  chifly  engaged  at  his  trade  he  also  improved  a  farm  of  160 
acres  in  Ohio  Grove  township.  He  settled  in  Keithsburg  in  1845,  and 
from  1847  to  1848  he  was  a  clerk  for  the  firm  of  Noble  &  Gayle ;  in 
the  latter  year  he  gave  up  his  position  with  that  firm  to  accept  the  ofiice 
of  clerk  of  the  circuit  court,  which  he  filled  with  satisfaction  until  1856. 
In  1862  he  was  elected  by  the  democrats  to  the  lower  house  of  the 
general  assembly  to  represent  the  counties  of  Mercer  and  Henderson. 
For  over  thirty  years  Mr.  Cabeen  lias  been  a  prominent  business  man 
of  his  county,  and  has  been  most  of  that  time  largely  interested  in  real 


154  HISTORY    OF    MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

estate  transactions.  He  owns  2,000  acres  of  valuable  land  besides  a. 
large  amount  of  town  property.  He  celebrated  his  nuptials  with  Miss 
Lucy,  daughter  of  William  and  Sarah  (McHerron)  Wilson,  on  June 
26,  1849.  She  was  a  native  of  .Dan\alle,  Pennsylvania;  and  her 
father's  family  removed  to  Mercer  county  about  1837.  Mr.  Cabeen's 
children  have  been :  William  S. ,  Sarah  E. ,  and  Boyd  W.  The  fast 
died  in  infancy.  William  was  married  in  1881  to  Miss  Lou  Dempster, 
and  Sarah  is  now  the  wife  of  Thomas  A.  Marshall.  Mr.  Cabeen's 
mother  died  December  6,  1874,  ripe  in  years. 

Mr.  Frederick  P.  Burgett,  cashier,  was  born  in  Hartland,  Windsor 
county,  Vermont,  April  24,  1839,  and  is  the  oldest  child  of  Hiram  and 
Charlotte  (Willard)  Burgett.  Li  1851  he  emigrated  with  his  parents 
to  Ellisville,  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  and  lived  there  till  1859 ;  in  that 
year  he  went  to  ]!^asliville,  Tennessee,  and  remained  there  till  1864, 
clerking  in  the  principal  hotels.  In  1867  he  came  to  Keithsburg  and 
at  once  engaged  in  selling  dry  goods ;  after  two  years  he  changed  to- 
lumber  and  was  in  that  business  the  same  length  of  time  ;  then  in  1871 
he  assisted  in  organizing  tlie  Farmers'  National  Bank  and  became 
assistant  cashier.  Since  1875  Mr.  Burgett  has  owned  a  well  improved 
farm  of  800  acres  ten  miles  southeast  of  Keithsburg,  mostly  in  pasture 
and  meadow,  and  devoted  to  stock-raising.  He  regards  ample  and 
comfortable  shelter  as  indispensable  to  the  profitable  rearing  of 
domestic  animals,  and  pui'poses  to  improve  his  place  with  barns  and 
sheds-  to  furnish  sufficient  housing  for  all  the  stock  that  his  large  farm 
can  support.  He  is  introducing  improved  strains  of  blood  into  his 
cattle ;  and  as  a  favorite  scheme  of  breeding  he  is  gi\dng  special  atten- 
tion to  rearing  a  distinctive  type  of  horses  which  shall  combine  the 
qualities  of  roadster  and  draft  horse  and  produce  a  class  useful,  and 
even  superior,  for  all  purposes.  Mr.  Burgett  is  a  Mason  and  a  repub- 
lican. In  1880  he  was  a  delegate  to  the  republican  state  convention 
at  Springfield,  and  was  elected  a  delegate  under  the  unit  rule  to  the 
republican  national  convention  at  Chicago ;  but  he  and  his  associate 
appointees  were  not  seated  by  the  latter  body.  December  20,  1867,. 
he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  J.,  daughter  of  the  late  B.  D.  Ellett,  Esq, 
Her  father  was  an  early  settler  in  Mercer  county,  having  begun  a  home 
in  New  Boston  township  in  1839.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Burgett  have  four 
children :  Grace,  Bessie,  Louis  O.,  and  Kate. 

Mr.  Cornelius  O'Leary,  book-keeper  and  assistant  cashier,  was  born 
in  the  city  of  Cork,  Ireland,  March  25,  1826.  In  1848  he  emigrated 
to  this  country,  arriving  in  New  York  on  the  19th  of  June.  He  came 
directly  to  Wisconsin  and  became  employed  in  the  pineries,  transacting 
business  principally  for  Francis  Biron  of  Grand  Rapids,  Wisconsin,, 


KEITHSBURG   TOWNSHIP.  155 

Tintil  1858,  in  which  year  lie  arrived  at  Iveithsburg  with  a  raft  of 
hiinber.  Having  disposed  of  that  he  associated  himself  with  B.  D. 
Ellett  in  the  lumber  trade ;  and  excepting  the  time  that  he  was  absent 
in  the  army,  he  was  in  company  with  Mr.  Ellett  until  1869.  Imme- 
diately on  the  first  call  of  President  Lincoln  for  troops,  in  April,  1861, 
he  enlisted  in  company  I,  17th  reg.  111.  Vol.,  and  was  apj^ointed  first 
sergeant.  He  fought  at  Fredericktown,  Missouri,  at  Fort  Donelson, 
and  at  Shiloh,  and  in  the  last  engagement  commanded  his  company  ; 
he  was  in  the  siege  of  Corinth,  and  after  that  returned  with  his  regi- 
ment to  Bolivar,  Tennessee,  where  he  was  discharged  October  29, 
1862.  In  1869  he  built  a  store  and  a  residence  in  Iveithsburg,  and 
was  in  the  grocery  trade  a  year;  fi*om  1871  to  1876  he  made  several 
changes  in  business :  was  first  manufacturing  plows  with  W.  C. 
Taliaferro,  then  wagons  with  H.  Campbell ;  a  part  of  the  time  was  in 
Wisconsin,  and  the  last  year  and  a  half  was  running  a  steamer  on  the 
Missouri  river.  In  May,  1876,  he  came  into  the  Farmers'  Bank  as 
book-keeper  and  assistant  cashier,  and  has  been  steadily  engaged  in 
this  position  since  November,  1880.  He  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Roxanna  De  Haven  April  29,  1869,  and  by  this  union  three 
children  have  been  born :  Margaret,  Arthur,  and  Richard.  Mr. 
O'Leary  has  been  town  trustee  three  terms,  and  is  now  treasurer. 

ORGANIZATIONS. 

Robert  Burns  Lodge,  No.  113,  A.F.AM.,  was  organized  under  dis- 
pensation in  1850,  and  the  first  meeting  was  held  on  the  19th  of  No- 
vember. Thomas  Freeman,  was  master ;  A.  C.  Adams,  senior  warden  ; 
W.  J.  Tingles,  junior  warden :  James  Gibson,  senior  deacon ;  Wyman 
Parker,  Daniel  Winslow  and  Hiram  Mills,  from  New  Boston,  completed 
the  organization.  Petitions  were  received  fi'om  I.  N.  Anderson,  H.  G. 
Calhoun,  R.  C.  Cabeen,  and  Truman  Lord.  The  charter  was  issued 
October  7,  1851,  to  Thomas  Freeman,  Alexander  C.  Adams,  Wilford 
J.  Ungles,  and  James  Gibson.  The  lodge  was  constituted  under  the 
charter  November  24,  by  Gov.  William  McMurtry,  of  Henderson, 
deputy  grand  master.  In  1855  a  two-story  brick  building,  20x50  feet, 
"was  erected  by  the  lodge  on  Washington  street  at  a  cost  of  $1,900. 
The  conti"actors  and  builders  were  John  Dunn  and  Jahalon  Tyler. 
The  hall,  which  is  neatly  furnished  and  decorated  with  emblematic 
charts,  is  one  of  the  best  in  Mercer  county.  Communications  are  on 
Friday  nights  on  or  before  the  ftill  moon  of  each  month.  The  officers 
for  the  current  year  (1882)  are  R.  C.  Humbert,  W.M. ;  Ira  Jay,  S.W. ; 
H.  Pratt,  J.W.;  W.  H.  Phares,  T.;  A.  F.  Glover,  S.;  Samuel  Kelly, 
•C;  E.  J.  Glancy,  S.D.;  W.  B.  Phillips,  J.D.;  J.  J.  Hawkins,  S.S.; 


156  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AjSTD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

W.  H.  Heaton,  J.S.;  Wm.  P.  Strong,  M.;  Ben.  Lloyd,  T.  Tlie  lodge 
has  enjoyed  a  healthy  growth  and  useful  and  prosperous  existence. 
The  number  of  members  at  present  is  44. 

Illinois  Chapter  JSTo.  17,  A.F.A.M.,  was  chartered  in  1854,  Robert 
Keith,  Thomas  D,  Cabeen,  and  R.  C)a'us  Cabeen  being  granted  powers 
to  organize.      The  first  meeting  took  place  August  9,  1853,  and  the 
chapter  was  instituted  by  Harmon  G.  RejTiolds,  acting  as  grand  high 
priest.     A  steady  career  of  prosperity  marks  the  whole  history  of  this 
organization.     Meetings  are  held  on  Wednesday  night  before  the  full 
moon  of  each  month  in  the  Masonic  building.     This  chapter  owns  a- 
one-third  interest  in  that  property.      Present  officers :  C.  A.  Mertz, 
H.P.;  T.  H.  Freeman,    K.;    J.  J.  Hawkins,  S.;    A.  F.  Glover,  S. 
W.    H.   Phares,  T.;    R.  C.  Humbert,    C.H.;    H.  G.  Calhoun,  P.S. 
T.  B.  Cabeen,  R.A.C.;  L.  L.  Mertz,  M.T.Y.;  C.  A.  Frick,  M.S.Y. 
W.    Hadley,    M.F.V. ;    Benjamin  Lloyd,  T.      An    efficient    working 
membership  of  37. 

Mercer  Lodge,  No.  210,  LO.O.F.,  was  instituted  July  29,  1856,  by 
W.  B.  Linel  under  dispensation  issued  by  P.  A.  Armstrong,  grand 
master.  The  hrst  elective  officers  were  M.  J.  O'Brien,  N.G. ; 
L.    W.    Thompson,    V.G.;    J.    Scott  Pinkerton,    R.S.;    J.  N.  Shoe- 

'    maker,  P.  S. ;   Thomas  Stephenson,  T.      When  the  organization  took 
place  applications  for  membership  were  received  from  William  M. 

•  Glover,  John  Weidner,  Erastus  Thompson,  and  O.  C.  Richardson ;  all 
these  were  favorably  reported  upon  and  elected,  and  the  first  two 
were  initiated  at  this  meeting.  October  17,  1856,  a  charter  was 
granted  to  M.  J.  O'Brien,  Thomas  Stephenson,  M.  P.  Rippy, 
L.  W.  Thompson,  J.  S.  Pinkerton,  J.  N.  Shoemaker,  and  Ferdinand 
Davis.  The  number  of  initiates  is  201,  and  44  have  been  admitted 
by  card,  making  a  total  of  ^45,  including  a  present  membership  'of 
68.  The  amount  paid  out  for  charity  is  $1,136.  Meetings  of  the 
lodge  are  on  Tuesday  evenings  at  their  pleasant  and  well-furnished 
hall. on  Main  street.  This  building  was  purchased  about  1871  for 
$1,000,  and  rebuilt  in  1873  at  a  cost  of  $700.  The  present  officers 
are  W.  A.  Willard,  N.G.;  Lemon  Dewitt,  Y.G.;  P.  Q.  J^estle,  Sec; 
Thomas  Souster,  Treas.  H.  H.  Pratt  is  the  representative  to  the 
grand  lodge. 

Mercer  Encampment  No.  89,  composed  at  present  of  22  contributing 
members,  was  instituted  by  J.  Ward  Ellis,  past  grand  master,  of 
Chicago,  April  26,  1875.  The  first  officers  were  T.  S.  Cummins,  C.P. ; 
W.  H.  Phares,  H.P.;  G.  W.  Whiting,  S.W.;  Paul  Q.  Nestle,  J.W.-^ 
J.  H.  T.  Madden,  Scribe ;  Edward  Rathbum,  Treas.  A  charter  was- 
issued  to  this  encampment  October  10,  1876,  and  the  following  brethren 


KEITHSBURG   TOWNSHIP.  157 

are  named  in  it:  T.  S.  Cummins,  "W.  H.  Phares,  G.  W.  Whiting, 
J.  H.  T.  Madden,  Paid  Q.  Nestle,  E.  Ratlibm-n,  G.  W.  Ditto, 
D.  M.  Halsted,  M.  G.  Eice,  C.  S.  Frick,  H.  Stancer,  G.  K.  Beard, 
Jacob  Abrahams,  Joseph  Yenable,  Fred.  Nagle,  T.  J.  JVIoifatt.  The- 
last  nine  of  these  were  the  earliest  initiates,  and  were  admitted  at  the 
first  meeting.  Present  officers:  T.  S.  Cummins,  C.P. ;  John  Hel- 
wig,  H.P.;  J.  S.  Allen,  S.W.;  T.  A.  Marshall,  J.W.;  H.  H.  Pratt, 
Scribe :  "VY.  H.  Phares,  Treas.  Both  lodge  and  encampment  are  in  a 
highly  satisfactory  condition. 

Mary  Burns  Chapter,  JN'o.  24,  Order  of  the  Eastern  Star,  was  organ- 
ized by  D.  W.  Thompson,  and  chartered  July  31,  1872,  with  30  mem- 
bers. Mrs. ,  Rose  A.  Cumby  was  Worthy  Matron ;  W.  P.  Sti-ong, 
Worthy  Patron ;  and  F.  B.  Stout,  Secretary.  C.  A.  Mertz  represented 
the  chapter  in  the  convention  held  in  Chicago  November  6,  1875,  to- 
institute  a  grand  chapter  of  the  order  for  Illinois,  and  he  was  elected 
deputy  grand  patron  of  the  organization.  The  grand  chapter  having- 
been  formed,  Mary  Burns  Chapter  surrendered  its  original  charter, 
number  118,  and  accepted  the  one  under  which  it  is  now  working. 
The  organization  has  a  healthy  membership  of  nearly  60  jDcrsons,  and 
liolds  its  regular  meetings  in  Masonic  hall  on  every  Thursday  evening^ 
before  the  full  moon.  The  present  elective  officers  are  C.  A.  Mertz, 
W.P.;  Mrs.  A.  B.  Mertz,  W.M.;  Mrs.  Lillie  Glancy,  A.M.;  Miss  Sue 
Calhoun,  C. ;  Miss  Hattie  Jay,  A.C. ;  Mrs.  Millecent  Heaton,  S., 
Miss  Agnes  Jay,  T. 

The  Keithsbnrg  Thespian  Club,  a  dramatic  association,  was  organ- 
ized January  10,  1863,  and  has  been  in  existence  until  the  present 
time,  though  of  late  years  it  has  not  been  before  the  public  with 
regular  performances.  It  has  always  been  composed  of  some  of  the 
most  respectable  ladies  and  gentlemen  of  Keithsburg,  and  has  given 
numerous  entertainments  abroad,  consisting  of  both  comedy  and 
tragedy.  The  first  president,  or  manager,  was  G.  F.  Gurley ;  Will- 
iam H.  Ungles  was  secretary  at  the  same  time,  and  C.  S.  Orth, 
treasurer.  Besides  these  officers,  the  earlier  members  were :  G.  W. 
Whiting,  M.  J.  O'Brien,  C.  O'Leary,  J.  O.  Butler,  C.  C.  Matlock, 
W.  D.  Smith  and  G.  F.  Parsons.  The  first  ladies  connected  with  the 
club  were:  Mrs.  R.  C.  Cabeen,  Mrs.  Matlock,  and  the  Misses  Fanny 
M.  Sheriff,  Mary  J.  Holland,  Rebecca  Frick  and  Kittie  Ellett. 

Among  those  who  came  into  the  organization  afterward  were  r 
J.  B.  Holland,  Joshua  Willits,  R.  C.  Humbert,  Henry  Mellinger, 
G.  K.  Beard,  T.  S.  Cummins,  F.'P.  Burgett,  Dr.  A.  P.  Willits,  Mrs. 
J.  O.  Butler,  Misses  Emma  WilMts  and  Emma  Swezey,  C.  A.  Frick, 


158  HISTORY   OF   SEEECER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

^.  H.  Mej^er,  Theodore  Glancy,  N.  H.  Manzer,   E.  J".   Goodlander, 
J.  H.  T.  Madden,  J.  W.  McCraiy,  W.  W.  Souster. 

After  becoming  thoronglily  organized,  this  troupe  secured  the  assist- 
ance of  four  of  the  most  popular  professionals  on  the  boards.  Melissa 
Breslau,  Old  Breslau,  and  Montgomery  and  Johnson  made  their  resi- 
dence here  two  years  and  took  the  tragic  parts  in  the  plays.  The  town 
trustees  granted  the  use  of  the  old  court-house  to  this  company  with 
permission  to  fit  it  up  to  suit  their  purpose,  and  the  building  has  ever 
since  been  used  for  an  opera  house,  and  now  goes  by  that  name.  It  is 
proper  to  add  that  this  house  was  purchased  of  the  county  several  years 
ago  for  the  sum  of  $500. 

The  Keithsburg  Reading  and  Conversational  Club,  having  a  mem- 
bership of  forty,  young  and  old,  was  formed  Dec.  -i,  1880,  with  a 
general  view  to  social  improvement,  but  for  the  particular  object  of 
studying  the  lives  and  characters  of  noted  authors,  and  of  becoming 
familiar  with  their  wiitings.  This  end  is  sought  to  be  accomplished  by 
assigning  a  selected  author  to  one  or  two  persons  who  come  to  the  next 
meeting  with  papers  embodpng  their  study  of  the  subject,  while  others, 
also  appointed,  read  selections  from  the  same  author's  works.  Weekly 
meetings  take  place  at  the  private  residences  of  members,  and  the  club 
is  under  the  government  of  a  set  of  officers  elected  in  pursuance  of  its 
constitution  and  by-laws.  Mrs.  Visa  Griffin  and  Miss  Marie  Hebbard 
were  respectively  the  first  president  and  secretary.  The  officers  are 
chosen  bi-monthly.     The  club  has  a  free  library  of  120  volumes. 

The  Keithsburg  Silver  Band  and  Musical  Association  w^as  chartered 
under  the  law  of  the  state  June  3,  1880,  by  Karl  A.  Range,  G.  C. 
Humbert,  T.  A.  Marshall,  H.  P.  Humbert,  W.  F.  Kolkenbeck,  Edward 
Ott  and  B.  L.  McKnight.  W.  B.  Ellet,  E.  E.  Humbert,  ^Y.  S.  Cabeen, 
Elmer  Deterline,  Fred  Ellet,  Louis  Range,  Charles  Helwig,  Robert 
Jackson  and  H.  C.  Cook  complete  the  present  membership.  The  first 
officers  were  George  Beard,  president ;  W.  S.  Cabeen,  vice-president ; 
G.  C.  Humbert,  secretary;  Dennis  Merto,  treasurer;  and  T.  A.  Mar- 
shall, contracting  agent.  Present  officers :  Edward  Ott,  president ; 
W.  S.  Cabeen,  vice-president ;  K.  A.  Range,  secretary ;  H.  P.  Humbert, 
li'easurer ;  and  T.  A.  Marshall,  agent.  This  is  one  of  the  best  instructed 
:and  most  popular  bands  in  this  part  of  the  west,  and  was  engaged  to 
.accompany  the  Jim  City  on  her  first  trip  between  St.  Louis  and  St.  Paul. 
It  embraces  a  full  orchestra. 

The  Woman's  Christian  Temperance  Union,  auxilliary  to  the  organ- 
ization of  this  name  for  the  State  of  Illinois,  was  organized  by  the  ladies 
•of  Keithsburg,  January  31,  1880,  under  a  call  issued  by  Mrs.  Kirlq)at- 
Tick,  president  of  the  imion  for  the  tenth  congressional  district.     Mrs. 


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KEITHSBITRG   TOWNSHIP.  161 

IVI.  E.  Slocumb  was  the  first  president.  Tlie  union  is  in  a  flourishing 
♦condition,  and  is  composed  of  sixty  of  the  most  earnest,  active,  zealous 
women  of  Keithsburg  and  \4cinitj.  Temperance  organizations  of 
various  kinds  have  been  established  here  from  the  time- the  town  has 
had  a  business  history,  and  each  has  lived  the  life  of  the  awakened  im- 
pulse which  brought  it  forth.  We  cannot  undertake  an  account  of 
them,  for  the  data  are  not  accessible;  nor  would  it  be  desirable,  as  this 
class  of  organizations  go  and  come  like  the  seasons,  and  are  but  the 
effects  of  a  principle  or  power  as  fixed  and  sure  as  that  which  called  the 
light  day  and  the  darkness  night.  It  is  enough  to  know  that  there  has 
always  existed  in  Keithsburg  a  strong,  unwavering  public  sentiment  in 
favor  of  improved  social  customs,  and  that  every  effort  in  this  direction 
has  been  ennobled  with  the  labors  of  good  men  and  the  chastening  exer- 
tions of  not  less  devoted  and  noble  women.  In  the  month  of  March, 
this  year  (1882),  the  professional  temperance  lecturers  Ward  and 
Hughes  held  a  revival  of  one  week  and  formed  a  red  ribbon  and  a 
blue  ribbon  club,  the  two  embracing  several  hundred  members. 

An  event,  the  result  of  a  movement  started  by  the  W.  C.  T.  Union 
•occurred  in  the  spring  of  1880,  which  is  noted  less  for  its  local  signifi- 
cance than  the  wide  attention  it  attracted  at  the  time.  On  the  petition 
•of  over  300  men  and  women,  the  town  board,  in  February,  passed  an 
ordinance  permitting  men  twenty-one  years  of  age  and  women  eighteen 
years  of  age,  having  qualifications  of  residence,  to  vote  for  or  against 
licensing  the  sale  of  intoxicating  liquors,  at  the  election  for  municipal 
officers  on  the  flfth  of  April  following,  and  annually  thereafter.  A 
separate  ballot-box  and  election  board  had  necessarily  to  be  provided, 
and  the  ordinance  made  it  mandatory  on  the  board  of  trustees  to 
appoint  three  persons  to  receive  and  canvass  the  votes,  two  of  whom 
should  act  as  judges  and  one  as  clerk.  When  the  day  came  a  number 
of  female  celebrities  in  the  suffrage  and  temperance  reform  had  gath- 
ered from  distant  parts  of  the  country  to  assist  the  fair  contestants  to 
touch  off  what  Miss  Frances  E.  Willard  had  christened  ' '  the  Sumter 
Gun. "  The  work  of  preparation  began  on  Saturday  afternoon,  when  the 
first  meeting  was  held  in  the  Presbyterian  church.  A  mass  meeting 
followed  in  the  evening.  On  the  Sabbath  very  solemn  services  took 
place  at  the  churches,  and  the  strangers  from  abroad  were  conspicuous 
in  all  the  public  exercises.  Early  on  the  morning  of  election  day  the 
women  assembled  for  religious  worship,  after  which  a  procession  of 
forty-seven,  he,aded  by  Mrs.  E.  G.  Hibben,  of  Peoria,  president  of  the 
W.  C.  T.  Union  of  Illinois,  marched  to  the  polls.  Committees  of 
women  were  on  the  street  throughout  the  day  laboring  with  active  and 
effective  zeal  in  the  christian  cause,  under  the  incitement  of  a  grave 
10 


162  HISTORY    OF    FIERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

preparation  and  the  lirst  flush  of  gi-atitude  for  their  enlarged  privileges. 
Twice  in  the  day  the  band,  with  brazen  horns,  paraded  Main  street, 
discoursing  awakening  strains.  Boys  trooped  in  advance  carrjdng 
banners  with  the  legends,  "Bad  luck  to  whisky,"  "Down  with  license," 
etc.  'No  opposition  was  made,  and  the  poll  stood  159  women  and  98 
men  against  license.  A  solitary  man  voted  by  mistake  for  license. 
The  same  thing  was  repeated  the  next  year,  but  with  less  demonstra- 
tion, and  this  time  a  license  board  was  elected,  when  on  the  eighth  of 
April  the  famous  home  protection  ordinance,  which  had  excited  the  live- 
liest interest  and  comment,  and  had  brought  letters  of  inquiry  and 
gratulation  fi'om  all  parts  of  the  United  States  and  from  Europe, 
was  rescinded. 

The  Keithsburg  Building  and  Loan  Association  was  organized  early 
in  the  present  year  (1882),  by  some  of  the  leading  citizens  of  the  town, 
who  were  licensed  on  the  sixth  of  February,  by  the  secretary  of  state, 
to  open  books  for  subscriptions  to  the  capital  stock.  The  object 
aimed  at  is  to  assist  members  to  procure  and  improve  real  estate. 
T,  B.  Cabeen  is  the  president,  and  T.  S.  Cummins,  secretary. 

Green  Mound  Cemetery  lies  one  mile  east  of  Keithsburg,  on 
ground  donated  by  Paul  Sheriff,  in  1852,  and  laid  out  the  same  year. 
Some  handsome  monuments  have  been  erected,  but  the  enclosure  has 
fallen  into  a  state  of  sad  neglect. 

TRAGEDIES. 

Reuben  Williams,  being  assailed  by  James  Fierman,  in  his  defense 
killed  him  by  accidentally  breaking  his  neck.  The  men  were  shelling 
corn  for  William  Gayle  when  the  difficulty  occurred.  This  was  in  the 
summer  of  1851.  Williams  was  forthwith  arraigned  at  the  September 
term  of  the  circuit  court,  pleaded  guilty  to  the  indictment  charging 
him  with  manslaughter,  and  was  sentenced  to  the  penitentiary  for 
nine  months,  one  day's  solitary  confinement  and  the  remainder  of  the 
time  at  hard  labor. 

Mrs.  Tingles,  the  aged  mother  of  W.  J.  Tingles,  was  suftocated  in 
her  bed  by  the  clothing  taking  fire  from  the  stove.  This  occurred 
about  1855. 

In  1858  William,  son  of  James  C.  Stevens,  was  drowned  at  the 
foot  of  Mapes'  island.     He  was  eleven  years  old. 

A  little  daughter  of  G.  L.  Dunn  fell  into  a  tub  of  hot  water  and 
was  so  badly  scalded  that  she  died  after  six  days,  April  22,  1859. 
Her  age  was  four  years. 

Francis  Marion  Gruwell  was  killed  November  9,  1859,  by  the 
bursting  of  a  cannon  while  firing  a  salute  over  election  news,  the 


KEITHSBURG   TOWNSHIP.  163 

particular  theme  of  rejoicing  being  the  success  of  Warren   Shedd, 
republican  candidate  for  county  clerk. 

Catharine,  wife  of  James  Geiger,  and  her  infant  child  perished 
from  a  foolish  attempt  to  fill  a  fluid  lamp  while  burning.  This  was 
on  September  1,  1860.  Mrs.  Geiger  lived  six  hours  in  terrible 
suffering. 

In  the  summer  of  1860  Columbus  Caufield  shot  and  killed  Jake 
Price  in  self-defense.  Caufield  was  fully  exonerated  by  the  coroner's 
jury.  At  another  time  he  killed  a  man  in  New  Boston  township  and 
departed  the  country  and  has  not  since  been  seen. 

Two  years  later  Nathan  Shockley,  a  Missouri  secessionist  and  des- 
perado, stabbed  and  killed  North  Fleming.  Political  malignity  was 
the  moving  cause,  though  a  trumped-up  subterfuge  was  assigned  and 
so  eflectively  used  as  to  secure  the  murderer's  acquittal.  He  was 
afterward  fatally  cut  to  pieces  in  Missouri  by  a  butcher  whom  he  was 
on  the  point  of  shooting  clown  in  cold  blood. 

On  the  third  of  November,  1861,  Alexander  Holland  was  thrown, 
from  his  buggy  by  a  runaway  horse  at  the  corner  of  Main  and  Second 
streets,  and  died  in  a  few  hours  from  his  injuries. 

A  little  nine-year  old  daughter  of  Joseph  Wadsworth's  caught  her 
clothes  on  fire  from  the  stove  while  the  rest  of  the  family  were  out, 
and  was  so  burned  that  she  died  in  a  few  hours.  This  was  in  the 
autumn  of  1861. 

Hannah  Jane  Frazier,  the  handsone  and  intelligent  daughter  ot 
Andrew  Frazier,  lost  her  life  in  1868  by  the  imprudent  use  of  kero- 
sene in  kindling  a  fire.  Her  body  was  horribly  burned  and  she  lived 
only  a  few  hours,  but  in  excruciating  agony  and  conscious  to  the  last. 
She  was  about  sixteen  years  of  age  and  had  a  disposition  of  great 
sweetness. 

Francis  Johnson,  son  of  John  Johnson,  was  drowned  in  the  river 
about  1869. 

The  most  considerable  fire  which  ever  took  place  in  this  town  was 
on  the  night  of  July  1,  1870,  and  broke  out  in  the  livery  stable 
belonging  to  H.  N.  Ives  and  situated  on  the  west  side  of  Fourth 
street,  between  Main  and  Jackson.  The  Nelson  House  adjoining  was 
burned,  as  were  also  Mrs.  Emily  Wade's  and  Joseph  Thompson's 
dwellings,  and  O.  Holland's  corn  house.  The  total  loss,  after  deduct- 
ing $5,500  of  insm-ance,  was  $13,000.  The  distressing  feature  of  this 
.  sad  misfortune  was  the  loss  of  the  two  young  boys,  Frank  Ives  and 
Willie  Dempster,  who  perished  in  the  flames  while  sleeping  in  the 
livery   stable.      These   lads   were   about   fourteen   years   old.      They 


164  HISTORY    OF    MERGER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

suffocated,  it  is  thought,  before  the  fire  reached  their  couch.  Their 
charred  bodies  were  removed  and  the  burial  took  place  from  the 
Methodist  church  where  most  solemn  and  impressive  funeral  services 
were  performed.     The  fire  is  believed  to  have  been  incendiary. 

John  T.  Calhoun  was  drowned  in  the  river  at  the  foot  of  Main 
street,  on  Sunday  morning.  May  12,  1872.  He  and  his  wife  were  in 
a  skifl*  which  was  capsized  by  the  current.  She  was  insensible  when 
rescued  but  recovered. 

George  H.  Frick  was  killed  by  a  bursting  cannon  when  celebrating 
election  news  on  Wednesday,  November  6,  1872. 

Willie  Phares,  son  of  W.  H.  Phares,  a  very  beautiful  and  prom- 
ising child  of  little  less  than  four  years,  was  left  sleeping  in  bed  in  the 
morning.  The  family  being  startled  by  his  screams  rushed  to  the 
room  and  found  his  night-clothes  in  flames.  It  is  supposed  that  he 
set  himself  on  fire  with  matches.  This  was  on  July  22,  1875.  He 
survived  until  the  next  day. 

M.  Kelly,  of  this  place,  while  on  a  trip  to  Canada  for  his  health, 
committed  suicide  by  drowning  at  Michigan  City,  Indiana,  Septem- 
ber 19,  1876. 

On  June  23,  1877,  John  Moore  lost  his  little  son  John,  eight  years 
old,  by  drowning  in  Pope  creek, 

Mrs.  Julia  Strong,  a  useful  and  respected  woman  fifty-six  years 
of  age,  living  in  the  country,  was  thrown  from  her  buggy  by  an 
unmanageable  team,  and  after  being  dragged  some  distance  violently 
struck  a  tree  on  Main  street,  which  fractured  her  skull  and  caused 
instant  death.  This  melancholy  accident  happened  November  26, 
1880. 

Frederick  Fry,  a  saloon-keeper  on  Black  Hawk  or  Willett's  island, 
was  shot  and  mortally  wounded  by  "William  A,  Griffin,  on  the  even- 
ing of  February  28,  1881,  when  avoiding  arrest  upon  a  capias  in  the 
hands  of  Thomas  L,  Rippey,  These  men  were  in  pursuit  of  him 
upon  the  ice  near  the  main  land,  and  when  within  twenty  yards  of 
him  he  began  shooting  at  Griffin,  who  returned  his  fire  with  fatal 
efiect.  He  lived  twelve  hours.  Upon  the  inquest  Griffin  was 
acquitted  of  blame. 

About  ten  years  ago  some  boys  were  pushing  a  car  on  the  track 
near  the  Rockford,  Pock  Island  &  St.  Louis  depot,  when  Frank  Got- 
chalk,  aged  ten  or  twelve  years,  was  crushed  under  the  wheels. 

An  infant  child  of  Samuel  Woods  was  burned  to  death  at  the  stove, 
while  left  alone,  some  seven  years  ago. 


KEITHSBURG   TOWNSHIP. 


165 


TOWNSHIP  OEGANIZATIOX. 

In  the  earliei"  history  of  this  township  the  people  went  out  to 
Glancy's  mill  to  vote.  Keithsburg  was  made  a  polling  place  in  1840, 
and  on  the  third  of  August  the  first  election  was  held.  In  the  fall  of 
1853  Mercer  county  adopted  township  organization,  and  the  next 
spring  the  first  oflicers  were  elected  in  Keithsburg.  Below  is  a  list  of 
the  principal  ones  from  that  time  to  the  present  date : 


*  These  persons  refused  to  qualify  and  serve,  and  the  town  board  on  the  second  of  May  filled 
the  vacancies  with  the  following  appointments:  John  Xevius  for  town  clerk  and  Jacob  Spangler 
for  assessor. 

The  following  citizens  of  the  township  have  been  elected  to  the 
ofiice  of  justice  of  the  peace:  1840,  J.  McH.  Wilson,  resigned  in  1841 ; 
1843,  B.  D.  Ellett,  Nicholas  Edwards,  John  W.  Nevius ;  1847,  James 
Garner,  Nathaniel  B.  Partridge,  B.  D.  Ellett,  John  W.  Nevius ;  1849, 
O.  C.  Allen,  James  Garner;  1852,  Peter Eckly,  N.  B.  Partridge ;  1854, 
H.  G.  Calhoun,  E.  W.  Kile;  1855,  John  Dunn,  \dce  Kile,  resigned; 
1858,  John  Nevius,  Mark  J.  O'Brien;  1860,  II.  G.  Calhoun,  Vice 
O'Brien,  resigned ;  1862,  John  Xevius,  resigned  in  1865 ;  M.  J. 
O'Brien,  resigned  in  1864;  1864,  J.  A.  J.  BirdsaU ;  1865,  O.  C.  Kich- 
ardson;  1866,  Matthias  Wickiser,  O.  C.  Richardson;  1868,  Jacob  B. 
Spangler;  1870,  Matthias  Wickiser,  resigned  same  year  and  J.  B. 
Spangler  elected  to  vacancy;  A.  F.  Glover,  resigned  in  1873;  1873, 
T.  S.  Cummins,  H.  S.  Scott;  1877,  T.  S.  Cummins,  H.  S.  Scott;  1881, 
T.  S.  Cummins,  Richard  Wolf;  1882,  H.  S.  Scott,  ^'ice  Wolf,  resigned. 


166  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AJSfD    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

PUBLIC  IMPROVEMENTS. 

The  first  roads  in  this  township  were  opened  by  order  of  the  county 
commissioners  June  3,  1839,  one  having  been  surveyed  from  the  bridge 
on  the  Edwards  river,  on  the  New  Boston  and  Knoxville  state  road, 
through  Keithsburg  to  Gavitt's  cabin  (alias  Columbia  City)  on  to  the 
county  line,  and  the  other  from  Keithsburg  to  Isaiah  Willits',  and  from 
thence  intersecting  with  the  county  road  leading  to  the  Ohio  settlement 
on  Pope  River.  This  is  substantially  the  description  given  in  the 
petitions  which  Robert  Keith  presented  at  the  regular  term,  March  9, 
1839.  June  7,  three  dollars  were  deposited  with  each  petition  to  pay 
the  viewers,  Lewis  JSToble,  Rezin  Pratt  and  Joseph  Leonard.  For 
laying  out  these  roads  the  following  disbursements  were  made  from  the 
road  fund:  Lewis  JSToble,  for  three  and  a  half  days'  viewing,  $3.50; 
John  Noble  and  Isaac  Bates,  for  two  days'  chaining,  $2  each ;  and 
Paul  Sheriif,  for  hauling  stakes  one  and  a  half  days,  $3. 

A  railroad  from  Warsaw  to  Rockford  having  been  projected  to  run 
through  Keithsburg,  November  4,  1855,  the  town  unanimously  voted 
to  subscribe  $20,000  to  the  capital  stock  of  the  company.  The  work  of 
gi-ading  was  commenced  in  1856,  B,  P.  Frick  and  J.  C.  Cabeen  having 
the  contract  from  Warsaw  to  Keithsburg,  the  former  taking  charge  of 
the  construction  at  this  end  of  the  route  and  the  latter  at  the  other.  To 
settle  all  doubt  as  to  the  legality  of  the  subscription  and  to  make  it 
available,  an  act  of  the  legislature  chartering  the  town  was  procured, 
with  a  special  provision  legalizing  the  subscription  and  authorizing  the 
issue  of  bonds.  This  was  approved  February  16,  1857,  and  on  the 
4th  of  May  following  an  ordinance  was  passed  directing  the  presi- 
dent of  the  board  of  trustees  to  subscribe  to  the  stock  of  the  Warsaw 
&  Rockford  Railroad  Company  in  the  above-mentioned  sum,  and  em- 
powering that  officer  and  the  clerk  to  execute  the  bonds  of  the  town, 
due  in  twenty  years,  with  interest  at  the  rate  of  ten  per  cent,  payable 
semi-annually.  They  were  to  be  delivered  as  work  upon  the  road 
progressed,  to  pay  the  assessments  upon  the  stock  taken  by  the  town, 
and  on  the  1st  day  of  June  eight  bonds  for  $1,000  each  were  issued. 
On  the  16th  four  of  them  were  passed  over  to  B.  P.  Frick,  and 
on  the  lOtli  of  July  the  remaining  four  were  surrendered  to  the  same 
person.  In  this  last  month  the  company  failed,  and  work  on  the  road 
was  permanently  suspended.  No  part  of  the  route  was  finished.  Below 
Sagetown  some  bridging  was  done,  but  as  the  contractors  were  never 
paid  for  the  bridges  these  were  afterward  taken  down. 

The  corporation  paid  the  interest  on  the  indebtedness  made  in  aid  of 
this  railroad  until  the  hardship  prompted  the  town  to  resist  further 
collection,  and  in  1863  suit  was  brought  in  the  circuit  court  of  Mercer 


KEITHSBUEG   TOWNSHIP.  J67 

county  and  carried  to  the  supreme  court  of  the  state,  from  which  a  writ 
of  mandamus  was  procured,  compelling  the  town  to  levy  a  tax  to  meet 
this  obligation.  In  1874  one  of  these  bonds  was  paid  and  canceled, 
the  second  in  1876 ;  and  August  3,  1877,  a  corporation  election  was 
held  to  vote  on  the  question  of  a  new  issue  to  retire  the  six  then  out- 
standing. A  unanimous  vote  of  forty-seven  decided  this  in  the  affirma- 
tive, and  on  the  first  day  of  December  the  bonds  were  issued  in 
denominations  of  $100.  Next  year  ten  of  these  were  redeemed, 
leaving  the  presented  bonded  debt  of  the  town  $5,000. 

Hiram  W.  Thornton,  last  president  of  the  Warsaw  &  Rockford 
railroad,  brought  suit  against  the  company  for  services  and  obtained 
judgment ;  and  when  the  road  was  sold  under  execution  he  bought  the 
grading  and  has  since  disposed  of  it  piecemeal  at  private  sale.  The 
Rockford,  Rock  Island  &  St.  Louis  railroad  ha^dng  been  projected  with 
the  intention  of  running  the  line  through  Keithsburg,  a  part  of  the 
road-bed  of  the  Warsaw  &  Rockford  was  purchased  by  this  company. 

To  preserve  the  continuity  of  events  it  is  necessary  to  say  that  in 
1869,  through  the  exertions  of  Col.  Isaac  McManus,  state  senator  from 
the  fourteenth  district,  a  charter  for  the  Dixon  &  Quincy  railroad  was 
obtained,  with  the  ulterior  design,  no  doubt,  of  transferring  it  to  the 
Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  corporation.  The  Dixon  &  Quincy 
company  was  forthwith  organized  with  Col.  McManus  as  president, 
and  on  the  18th  of  May  a  special  election  was  held  in  Keithsburg 
to  decide  whether  the  township  should  take  $35,000  of  stock  in  the 
road,  the  bonds  covering  the  subscription  not  to  be  issued  until  there 
should  be  a  running  connection  by  rail  from  Keithsburg  to  lines  con- 
necting with  Chicago.  This  was  favorably  determined  by  a  vote  of 
229  against  11.  Abington  township  also  voted  to  subscribe  $10,000 
to  the  capital  stock  of  the  company. 

Subsequent  to  these  elections  a  meeting  of  the  directors  was  held 
in  Chicago,  at  which  a  very  warm  discussion  took  place  regarding  the 
transfer  of  the  charter.  A  representative  was  present  from  each  of 
the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  and  the  Rockford,  Rock  Island  & 
St.  Louis  companies.  McManus  was  still  interested  in  behalf  of  the 
former,  but  when  the  vote  was  taken  his  object  was  defeated,  the  rest 
■of  the  board  voting  solidly  to  turn  over  the  subscriptions  to  the  other 
corporation  on  condition  that  it  give  to  Keithsburg  railway  connection 
with  Chicago  by  the  way  of  Rockford. 

To  be  certain  that  this  proceeding  was  satisfactory  to  the  people, 
the  directors  caused  a  special  election  to  be  called  for  the  4th  of  Octo- 
ber, and  submitted  the  proposition  to  recall  the  aid  formerly  voted  to 
the  Dixon  ife  Quincy,  and  to  grant  the  same  amount  to  the  Rockford, 


168  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   A^"D    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Eock  Island  6z  St.  Louis  railroad.  This  was  understood  by  tlie 
directors  themselves  to  be  simj)-^7  informal  and  without  legal  conse- 
quence, as  the  charter  invested  the  board  with  flill  power  in  the 
premises.     Their  action  was  endorsed  by  197  against  5. 

From  the  moment  the  assignment  of  the  subscriptions  was  made, 
work  on  the  Rockford,  Rock  Island  &  St.  Louis  road  was  pushed  north 
from  Sagetown  (now  Gladstone)  with  great  vigor ;  and  December  14, 
1869,  the  first  locomotive  ran  into  this  town  amidst  the  ringing  of 
bells,  the  firing  of  anvils,  and  the  blowing  of  steam  whistles.  Very 
little,  if  any,  aid,  except  that  guaranteed  by  these  two  townships,  had 
been  secured  upon  this  route ;  but  about  this  time  Warren  county  ten- 
dered a  liberal  donation  upon  condition  that  the  road  should  be  built 
through  Monmouth,  and  this  had  the  effect  to  divert  the  line  at  Bush- 
nell  from  the  contemplated  course,  and  to  break  off  construction  sud- 
denly at  this  point.  The  grading  had  been  done  between  here  and  the 
American  Central  railway,  but  the  iron  was  not  down,  and  the  bridge 
which  had  been  erected  over  Pope  creek  was  partly  washed  out,  when 
the  remainder  was  removed.  The  terminal  depot  was  built  on  the 
eastern  verge  of  the  town,  and  up  to  IS 77  this  was  the  river  branch  of 
the  main  line. 

This  action  of  the  Rockford,  Rock  Island  &  St.  Louis  Company  in 
changing  their  road  left  the  Dixon  &  Quincy  Company  in  a  position  to 
make  a  new  arrangement,  and  the  matter  slumbered  until  the  summer 
of  1870,  when  it  was  revived  by  Theodore  Glancy.  The  result  of  this 
fresh  agitation  was  that  the  directors  held  a  meeting  and  passed  a  reso- 
lution to  open  the  books  for  new  subscriptions.  Gen.  A.  C.  Harding, 
of  Monmouth,  appeared  at  this  meeting  and  subscribed  an  amount 
sufficient  to  give  him  control  of  the  affairs  of  the  company  ;  and 
immediately  a  new  board  of  directors  was  elected,  of  which  Harding, 
by  virtue  of  his  power,  became  president,  when  he  filled  the  other 
positions  according  to  his  own  caprice.  But  the  general  refused  to 
proceed  with  the  construction  of  the  road  until  the  bonds  should  be 
issued,  and  toward  the  close  of  the  year  1870  a  citizens'  meeting  was 
held  at  which  H.  S.  Scott,  William  Willett  and  C.  C.  Matlock  were 
appointed  custodians  to  hold  them  in  trast  and  to  deliver  them  to 
Harding  when  the  road  should  be  completed  from  Keithsburg  to  the 
American  Central  railroad.  C.  S.  Orth,  heading  the  opposition,  sued 
out  an  injunction  to  restrain  the  issuance  and  delivery  of  the  bonds, 
and  before  service  could  be  had  on  Matlock,  the  super^dsor,  the  latter, 
notwithstanding  he  had  promised  not  to  evade  service  of  the  ^\^it, 
hastened  off  to  Monmouth  and  turned  them  over  to  Harding,  taking 
the  generaFs  bond  for  $70,000,  binding  him  to  surrender  them  to  the 


KEITIISBUBG   TOWNSHIP.  169 

townsliip  in  the  event  that  the  rcjad  should  not  be  built  between  the 
points  above-named  by  the  lirst  of  January,  18TL 

It  is  said  that  it  was  never  contemplated  to  build  this  road ;  that 
while  the  ostensible  pnrjDose  was  to  lay  a  ti"ack  between  the  two  cities 
named  in  the  charter,  the  real  object  was  to  construct  only  the  six-mile 
section  from  Keithsburg  to  the  American  Central  railway.  Wliatever 
may  have  been  the  covert  design,  this  was  all  that  was  done.  The  work 
was  performed  late  in  1870  with  the  capital  and  by  the  construction 
company  of  the  Chicago  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad  Company,  the 
deception  being  kept  up  meantime  until  the  Dixon  &  Quincy  corpo- 
ration could  secure  the  towniship  bonds,  which  were  the  great  prize 
that  at  last  fell  into  Harding's  hands  for  disposal.  It  is  alleged  that 
all  that  was  asked  of  the  general  by  the  Chicago  Burlington  ife  Quincy 
Railroad  Company,  was  to  obtain  for  that  corporation  the  right  of 
way,  which  he  did  for  something  less  than  $3,000. 

Trains  ran  into  Keithsburg  over  this  short  line  on  January  1,  1871.. 
At  the  annual  township  election,  in  April  of  this  year,  Benijah  Lloyd 
was  elected  to  succeed  C.  C.Matlock  as  supervisor;  on  the  lltli  he 
cpialified,  and  the  following  day  demanded  the  books  and  papers- 
belonging  to  the  office.  A  few  hours  previous  to  this  demand  Matlock 
certilied  to  the  auditor  of  state  that  the  township  bonds  issued  to  the 
Dixon  &  Quincy  Railroad  Company  were  entitled  to  registration.  These 
bonds,  seventy  in  number,  were  for  $500  each,  bearing  ten  per  cent 
interest,  dated  November  1,  1870,  and  payable  January  1,  1891.  The 
township  regularly  paid,-  by  taxation',  the  annual  interest  on  these 
bonds  up  to  and  including  the  year  1880,  when  a  suit  in  equity  was 
brought  by  the  township  in  the  circuit  court  of  Mercer  county,  to 
declare  them  void.  They  were  supposed  to  be  payable  at  the  will  of 
the  j)eople  after  live  years,  as  this  was  one  of  the  conditions  on  which 
the  subscription  was  voted ;  but  no  knowledge  of  their  provisions  could 
be  obtained,  and  to  pay  so  high  a  rate  of  interest  had  become  unneces- 
sary and  impolitic.  The  people  were  willing  to  refimd  at  lower  interest, 
but  when  no  trace  of  the  bonds  could  be  discovered  and  the  matter 
began  to  have  the  appearance  of  a  design  on  the  part  of  the  holders  to 
thwart  any  endeavor  to  retire  them,  inquiry  was  excited  and  investi- 
gation followed,  when  the  numerous  irregularities  surrounding  their 
issue  and  registi*ation  came  to  light,  and  it  was  decided  to  contest  their 
validity.  As  a  further  defense  of  the  people  against  the  presumptions 
raised  against  them  by  the  fact  that  for  ten  years  they  paid  the  interest 
without  protest,  it  is  true  that  a  large  majority  were  not  aware  that  a 
tax  for  this  purpose  was  being  levied  and  collected. 

Morgan  C   Bulkley,  of  Connecticut,   holder  of    $23,500   of   this. 


170  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   ANT)    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

municipal  indebtedness  filed  an  answer  to  the  complainant's  bill ;  and 
on  his  motion  the  case  was  removed  to  the  district  court  of  the  United 
States  for  the  northern  district  of  Dlinois,  where  it  was  heard  by  Judge 
Blodgett,  who,  on  January  9,  1882,  dismissed  the  suit.  The  case  is 
now  pending  in  the  United  States  supreme  court,  where  it  has  been 
taken  on  appeal. 

AVlien  Gen.  Harding  obtained  possession  of  these  bonds  it  only 
remained  for  him  to  transfer  the  road  to  the  Chicago  Burlington  & 
Quincy  Company,  which  he  did ;  and  during  several  succeeding  years 
Keithsburg  was  the  terminus  of  the  Galva  branch,  the  depot  being 
situated  where  it  now  is,  close  to  the  river.  Finally,  the  main  line  and 
branches  of  the  Rockford,  Rock  Island  &  St.  Louis  railroad  were 
absorbed  -by  this  company,  and  in  the  latter  part  of  July,  1877,  the 
right  of  way  through  the  town  between  the  two  depots  was  procured, 
and  in  August  the  extremities  of  the  two  lines  were  brought  into  con- 
nection by  a  half  mile  of  new  track. 

The  Keithsburg,  Lacon  &  Eastern  Railroad  Company  was  organized 
here,  and  a  survey  made  for  a  standard  gauge  road  from  this  point 
to  Lacon  in  1873,  and  a  considerable  amount  of  subscriptions  was 
taken  along  the  line,  but  the  financial  revulsion  of  that  year  caused  the 
enterprise  to  be  abandoned. 

The  Keithsburg  &  Eastern  Railroad  Company  was  organized  under 
the  law  of  the  state  pro^dding  for  a  general  system  of  railroad  incorpo- 
rations, September  22,  1873,  by  the  following  incorporators :  W.  D. 
Smith,  T.  B.  Cabeen,  C.  A.  Frick,  E.  L.  Marshall,  G.  W.  Whiting, 
B.  C.  Taliaferro,  Harry  Weaver,  AVilliam  Gayle,  Theodore  Glancy, 
J.  P.  Wycoff,  A.  B.  Sheriff,  R.  J.  Cabeen  and'AVilliam  Willett.  The 
project  was  to  construct  a  narrow  gauge  railroad  from  Keithsburg  to 
the  east  line  of  the  state  in  Kankakee  or  Iroquois  county,  mth  a  branch 
to  Chicago ;  but  it  was  never  surveyed  east  beyond  the  Illinois  river. 
Grading  was  begun  at  Keithsburg  in  the  spring  of  187-1,  and  when  the 
line  had  been  extended  eight  miles  it  was  decided  to  change  the  route 
either  to  Galesburg  or  Monmouth.  Denny,  in  Warren  county,  distant 
twenty  miles,  being  reached,  work  came  to  a  standstill  in  1875.  Sub- 
sequently the  road  was  sold  in  sections  under  execution,  and  finally 
the  whole  property  was  sold  under  mechanic's  lien,  but  in  each  case  it 
was  purchased  for  D.  M.  Halstead  and  T.  B.  Cabeen.  Halstead 
assigned  his  interest  to  George  Seaton,  R.  J.  Cabeen  and  T.  B.  Cabeen, 
who  received  a  sheriff's  deed.  Recently  these  owners  have  contracted 
with  William  Hanna  and  B.  P.  Phelps,  of  Monmouth,  who  represent 
the  Peoria  &  Farmington  railroad,  to  convey  to  them  for  a  consider- 
ation all  their  interest  in  the  Keithsburg  &  Eastern,  if  the  former  shall 
be  completed  to  this  point  by  February  22,  1884. 


KEITHSBURG    TOWNSHIP.  171 


BIOGRAPHICAL. 


The  subject  of  this  sketch,  Isaiah  Willits,  was  born  in  York 
county,  Pennsylvania,  November  2,  1812,  where  his  boyhood  days 
were  spent  in  rambling  over  the  rocky  bluffs  and  helping  his  father  on 
a  small  farm.  In  1826  the  family  removed  to  Wa)Tie  county,  Indiana, 
where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  near  Centerville,  ten  miles  west  of 
Hichmond.  In  1835  he  came  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  where  he  took 
&  claim  near  Pope  Mills,  now  known  as  the  old  Frick  farm.  He  went 
back  to  Indiana  several  times  for  cattle,  driving  them  through  on 
borseback,  until  1838,  when  he  permanently  settled  at  Bald  Bluff, 
Henderson  county,  erected  a  rude  log  cabin  and  endured  all  the  hard- 
ships and  privations  known  to  the  earlier  settlers.  It  was  in  this  year 
that  the  famous  Black  Hawk  chieftain  visited  the  Bluff,  together  with 
four  hundred  of  his  warriors.  Mr.  Willits  says  that  his  courage  was 
never  questioned,  but  when  he  saw  them  all  approaching  under  full 
gallop,  he  is  willing  to  acknowledge  that  he  felt  somewhat  "shaky." 
They  were  tribes  of  Sacs  and  Foxes,  who  were  on  their  way  to  their 
reservations  on  the  Des  Moines  river,  Iowa.  April  4,  1839,  Mr. 
Willits  was  united  in  marriage  to  Elizabeth  Rejmolds,  daughter  of 
Caleb  Reynolds,  of  Ohio,  she  too  being  one  of  the  pioneers,  ha\dng 
come  to  Mercer  county  among  the  first  who  settled  here.  They  lived 
on  their  Henderson  county  farm  till  the  year  1857,  when  they  removed 
to  Keithsburg,  where  he  went  into  the  mercantile  business,  continued 
in  this  pursuit  for  four  years,  sold  out  and  purchased  a  farm  south  of 
town  half  a  mile,  where  he  resided  till  the  spring  of  1873,  when  he 
became  so  afflicted  as  to  unfit  him  for  active  duties,  and  he  moved 
again  to  Keithsburg,  where  he  still  resides.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Willits  are 
parents  of  ten  children,  nine  of  whom  are  living.  Joshua,  the  eldest, 
was  born  in  Henderson  county  March  13,  1840,  was  raised  on  a  farm 
with  limited  educational  advantages  such  as  existed  at  the  early  settling 
of  the  country,  yet  by  close  application  and  study  at  home  he  acquired 
a  good  practical  education.  He  was  married  November  31,  1873,  to 
Miss  Clara  AVillits.  They  have  two  children :  Norman,  born  Decem- 
ber 6,  1875  ;  and  Harry,  born  July  5,  1879.  His  vocation  is  farming. 
His  farm  joins  the  old  homestead  place.  Emily,  the  eldest  daughter, 
born  in  Henderson  county,  November  11,  1841,  obtained  the  rudi- 
ments of  learning  in  a  little  log  school  house,  subsequently  attended 
graded  school  in  Oquawka  and  Keithsburg,  was  married  to  Mr.  A.  B. 
Childs  November  16,  1880.  They  have  one  son,  Benny,  born  Novem- 
ber 14,  1881.  Leander,  second  son,  born  November  21,  1843,  and 
Minerva,  second  daughter,  born  September  6,  1845,  both  unmarried, 
are  li\'ing  at  home  with  their  parents.     Byron,  born  April  5,  1847,  died 


172  HISTORY    OF   AIEKCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

November  21,  1847,  aged  seven  months.  Jo.  H.  Wird,  daughter,  born 
August  26,  1848,  received  her  education  principally  in  the  graded 
schools  at  Keithsburg,  where  she  began  teaching  at  the  age  of  seven- 
teen years,  and  has  been  constantly  engaged  in  the  work  in  this  place 
for  sixteen  years,  attending  normal  schools  during  the  vacations.  Last 
year  (1881)  she  was  at  State  jS^ormal,  at  Bloomington,  Illinois. 
Azro  P.,  born  July  19,  1850,  was  educated  in  Keithsburg;  read  medi- 
cine with  Dr.  E.  L.  Marshall  and  attended  two  courses  of  lectures  in 
Rush  Medical  college,  Chicago ;  was  a  member  of  the  graduating  class- 
of  1877  ;  received  his  diploma  on  examination  before  the  Illinois  State 
Board  of  Health,  and  is  now  (1882)  a  practicing  physician ;  January 
19,  1880,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Lizzie  F.  Wliiting,  of  Keiths- 
burg. William  A.,  born  November  10,  1852;  passed  creditably 
through  the  high  school  at  Keithsburg ;  began  his  career  as  teacher  in 
the  State  of  Missouri,  after  which  he  came  to  his  native  county 
(Mercer)  and  taught  three  years  in  the  district  schools ;  then  took  the 
principalship  of  the  Keithsburg  graded  school,  and  is  now  (1882) 
occupying  that  position.  Leone,  fourth  daughter,  born  August  11, 
1855,  is  unmarried  and  living  with  her  parents.  Lydia  A.,  youngest 
daughter,  born  January  12,  1859,  was  married  to  Heman  jST.  Childs, 
November  16,  1881.  They  are  living  on  their  farm  in  Henderson 
county,  live  miles  southeast  of  Keithsburg. 

Benjamin  D.  Ellett  (deceased)  was  born  near  Richmond,  Virginia, 
February  2^  1813.  He  was  reared  partly  on  a  farm,  but  early  in  life 
turned  his  attention  to  merchandizing  in  the  dry  goods  line.  In  the 
spring  of  1836  he  emigrated  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Henderson 
county,  where  he  however  remained  but  a  short  time,  and  removed  to 
Mercer  county,  April  19,  1838.  He  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Grace  E.,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Charles  Jack,  an  early  settler  of  Mercer 
county.  She  died  in  October,  1850,  leaving  three  children,  but  one  of 
whom  is  now  (1882)  living:  Mrs.  Mary  J.,  w4fe  of  F.  P.  Burgett, 
banker,  of  Keithsburg.  Mr.  Ellett's  second  marriage  was  on  Septem- 
ber 8,  1851,  with  Miss  Orpha  B.,  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Maiy 
(Lloyd)  Myers.  She  was  born  in  Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  September 
1,  1827,  and  came  with  her  parents  to  Mercer  county  in  1836.  Here 
she  received  such  an  education  as  was  obtainable  in  the  pioneer  schools 
of  this  countv's  earlv  history.  At  the  time  of  his  second  marriage 
Mr.  Ellett  was  filling  the  position  of  sheriff  of  Mercer  county.  After 
the  termination  of  his  official  term,  he  permanently  located  in  Keiths- 
burg and  engaged  in  the  lumber  business,  which  he  followed  till  the 
time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  October  29,  1880.  By  his  last 
marriage  he  had  borne  to  him  nine  children,  as  follows :  Frank  A. ; 


KEITHSBURG   TO^\^SrSHIP.  173 

Minnie,  wife  of  Martin  Rice  ;  Nellie,  wife  of  C.  S.  Frick ;'  William  B., 
Harry  B.,  Bettie,  Edwin  M.,  Frederick  D.  and  Thomas  A.  Mrs. 
Ellett  and  family  are  living  in  her  comfortable  home  in  Keithsburg. 

Benijah  Lloyd  was  born  in  Erie  county,  Pennsylvania  March  17, 
1825,  and  is  the  second  son  of  Benijah  and  Elizabeth  (Dunn)  Lloyd, 
who  were  among  the  early  settlers  of  Mercer  county,  coming  here  in 
September  1835.  Mr.  Lloyd  settled  in  Millersburg  township  where  he 
lived  till  the  time  of  his  death  (1864).  He  was  the  father  of  six  children, 
one  of  whom  was  killed  by  falling  out  of  the  wagon  near  Keithsburg 
while  on  their  way  to  their  pioneer  home.  Benijah,  the  subject  of  this 
notice,  thus  early  became  identified  wdth  the  county  and  enjoyed  only 
the  means  of  pioneer  school  education.  December  9,  1847  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Arrelda  J.,  daughter  of  Dr.  Mark  Willits, 
an  early  settler  of  Mercer  county.  They  have  reared  a  family  of  nine 
children,  ^iz:  Omer  H.,  Ella  J.,  Nettie,  Charles  M.,  William  W., 
George  W.,  Maurice  E.  and  Maude.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Lloyd 
engaged  in  farming  which  he  successfully  followed  till  the  fall  of  1856, 
when  he  was  elected  Sheriff  of  Mercer.  He  then  located  at  Keiths- 
burg, then  county  seat,  where  he  remained  till  its  removal  to  Aledo. 
At  the  expiration  of  his  ofiicial  term,  in  1859,  he  returned  to  his  farm 
but  in  1860  came  to  Keithsburg  where  he  has  since  resided  enjoying 
the  respect  and  esteem  of  his  many  friends  who  have  almost  continually 
kept  him  in  some  position  of  tinist,  as  shown  by  the  recocds  of  the 
township. 

As  early  as  1836  there  came  one  to  Mercer  county  with  limited  means 
but  hearty  and  industrious,  and  with  a  strong  resolution  to  provide  for 
the  present  and  procure  plenty  for  the  future.  Such  a  character  was  Paul 
Sheriff,  who  was  born  in  Columbia  county  Pennsylvania,  February  16, 
1810.  He  was  married  December  23,  1832,  to  Miss  Mary  daughter  of 
John  and  Margaret  Doak.  Four  years  after  their  marriage  they  left 
their  native  state  and  came  to  Mercer  county  where  they  have  resided 
ever  since.  Mr.  Sherift'  has  always  taken  a  lively  interest  in  public  en- 
terprises and  given  largely  to  their  benefit.  He  has  been  very  suc- 
cessful in  accumulating  quite  a  large  property.  He  has  a  large  farm 
that  comes  to  the  corporation  limits  of  Keithsburg.  Politicaly  Mr. 
Sheriff  has  always  been  a  republican.  Eeligiously  he  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  for  thirty  years.  In  temperance 
movements  he  has  always  taken  an  active  part  and  has  tried  to 
show  men  that  liquor  will  ruin  those  who  become  its  slaves.  Mr. 
Sheriff  has  always  been  engaged  in  farming.  His  father  was  born  in 
Ireland,  and  emio-rated  to  this  country  in  the  year  1790  and  settled  in 
Pennsylvania. 


174:  HISTORY    OF    MBRCEE   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Tliomas  aiid  Mary  (Woodham)  Bridger  emigrated  fi'om  Sussex,  Eng- 
land to  America  in  1826,  landing  at  New  York.  They  then  went  direct 
to  Troy  where  they  lived  mitil  1836,  when  they  came  west  to  Mercer 
county,  Illinois,  and  settled  in  what  is  now  Suez  township,  where  he  and 
his  wife  lived  but  one  year  when  they  both  took  sick  and  died  about  ten 
days  apart.  Mrs.  Emma  Doak,  daughter  of  the  above,  was  born  Feb- 
ruary 4,  1819,  in  Sussex  England,  and  crossed  the  Atlantic  when  seven 
years  of  age.  She  remembers  the  trip  well  and  many  facts  connected 
therewith.  In  May,  1812,  she  was  married  to  Daniel  F.  Doak,  second 
child  of  John  and  Margaret  Doak.  He  was  born  August  5,  1810. 
After  their  marriage  they  first  lived  in  Green  township  two  miles  north 
of  Viola  until  1850,  when  they  sold  out  and  removed  to  Perry  ton  town- 
ship where  they  lived  one  year.  They  then  removed  to  Keithsburg 
township  where  they  have  lived  ever  since.  In  1861  they  bought  the 
S.  W.  J  of  Sec.  2,  in  Keithsburg  township,  which  makes  a  very  com- 
fortable home  for  them.  They  have  about  one  hundred  acres  in 
cultivation,  the  balance  in  pasture.  There  have  been  ten  chiklren  from 
this  union,  eight  living,  two  dead.  James  T.,  Martha  J.,  Mary  A., 
Sarah  E.,  Nancy  M.  (mamed  to  T.  J.  Hayes),  Anna,  Daniel  W., 
Ida  M.,  John,  Fannie  A.  Mary  A.  and  Ida  M.  are  dead.  Daniel 
(their  father)  died  in  September,  1869.  Mrs.  Doak  is  still  living  but  in 
poor  health. 

Benjamin  F.  Gruwell,  was  born  in  Greene  county,  Ohio,  Novem- 
ber 22,  1808.  In  1825  he  removed  with  his  parents,  Jacob  and 
Prudence  (Dill)  Gruwell,  to  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  where  he  lived  at 
farmmg  until  1837.  He  was  mamed  in  Miami  county,  Ohio,  to  Miss 
Lucy  Hurst,  December  18,  1829.  In  the  autunm  of  1837  Mr.  Gruwell, 
taking  his  wife,  their  two  children,  and  his  wife's  sister,  emigrated  to 
this  township,  he  driving  a  six-ox  team  and  hauling  the  family  effects, 
while  Mrs.  Gruwell  and  the  others  kept  company  in  a  one-horse  car- 
riage. They  arrived  at  the  bluff  on  the  18th  of  October,  and  Mr. 
Gruwell  bought  out  the  claim  of  Jack  Harris,  a  single  man,  to  80  acres 
on  the  N.  W.  J  of  Sec.  1.  The  time  was  short  for  making  improve- 
ments before  the  biting  blasts  of  winter,  so  a  10  X 12  foot  cabin  was 
hastily  constructed  from  small  trees  eight  inches  in  diameter  rived  and 
stood  upiight,  with  one  end  in  the  ground.  Sod  fi-om  the  prairie 
formed  a  tight  roof,  and  sticks  and  mud  composed  the  chimney.  The 
crevices  were  daubed  in  the  usual  way,  and  a  quilt  was  hung  up  at  the 
door  to  keep  out  snow  and  wind.  The  parents  and  two  little  children 
lived  in  this  four  months  in  great  enjoyment.  During  the  time  many 
visitors  came  to  their  cabin.  It  was  here  that  their  fourth  child, 
Martha,  was  born.     Boxes  in  which  they  had  brought  their  household 


KEITHSBURG    TOWNSHir.  1Y5 

2:oocls  were  their  bedstead  that  winter,  and  their  "fall-leaf"  table  was 
the  only  one  that  anybody  had  knowledge  of  in  the  country.  There 
was  just  room  enough  for  two  to  sit  down  to  the  table  at  once.  They 
had  hired  help  that  winter,  and  when  the  hands  had  got  their  supper 
they  went  to  their  own  homes  to  lodge.  The  people  then  thought 
nothing  of  going  ten  miles  to  visit ;  all  within  a  radius  of  that  distance 
were  neighbors ;  and  at  that  time  most  people  knew  everybody  in  the 
county.  The  family  lived  on  this  farm  until  they  owned  300  acres  of 
land.  In  1850  Mr.  Gruwell  went  across  the  plains  to  California,  and 
returned  by  steamship  the  next  year.  In  1852  he  disposed  of  his  farm 
and  moved  to  Keithsburg,  where  he  bought  the  Calhoun  House  and 
kept  hotel  seven  years.  They  have  been  the  parents  of  seven  children, 
as  follows:  Joseph,  who  died  in  infancy;  Melissa;  Francis  Marion, 
who  was  killed  in  Keithsburg  November  24,  1859,  by  the  bursting  of 
a  cannon  while  celebrating  a  victory  at  the  polls  ;  Martha ;  Erastus, 
who  was  killed  at  Fort  Donelson  February  13,  1862 ;  Alice  ;*and  Edna 
(dead).  Martha  was  married  February  21,  1856,  to  John  Thomson,  a 
native  of  Carlisle,  Pennsylvania,  a  carpenter  by  trade,  who  came  to 
Keithsburg  in  1853  and  worked  here  till  the  summer  of  1862.  At 
that  time  he  enlisted  in  company  H,  81:th  reg.  111.  Vol.,  and  served 
upward  of  a  year  in  the  field.  The  hardships  of  the  service  com- 
pletely shattered  his  health,  and  he  has  since  been  a  confirmed  and 
helpless  invalid.  Of  his  eleven  children  eight  are  now  living.  One 
daughter,  Miss  Mary  L. ,  has  lived  with  her  grandmother  Gruwell  since 
the  age  of  five.  These  two  are  communicants  in  the  Presbyterian 
church. 

Oliver  P.  Emerson,  retired  farmer,  is  a  son  of  Edward  and  Sarah 
(Swaford)  Emerson,  and  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  June  IT, 
1817.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm,  where  he  helped  to  clear  up  and 
make  a  home  among  the  tall  Indiana  timber.  In  1839  he  came  to 
Mercer  county,  Illinois,  but  soon  returned  to  his  father's  home  in  In- 
diana. In  1840  he  again  came  to  this  county,  where  he  worked  till 
1842,  when  he  went  back  to  Indiana,  and  on  February  15th  of  the 
same  year  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Kelly,  a  native  of  that  place.  In 
about  1847,  with  his  family,  he  came  to  this  county  and  permanently 
located  and  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising,  following  the  busi- 
ness for  many  years.  Mr.  Emerson  begun  for  himself,  with  but  very 
little  except  a  pair  of  willing  hands  and  an  industrious  disposition,  but 
by  dint  of  hard  work  and  good  management,  has  accumulated  a  large 
farm,  comprising  over  600  acres,  the  most  of  which  he  has  recently 
divided  among  his  children.  Himself  and  wife  have  been  life-long 
members  of  the  Christian  church.     She  died  August  29,  1881,  and  is 


176  HISTORY   OF    MERCEE   AJS^D    HEXDERSOX    COUNTIES. 

buried  at  the  Xew  Boston  cemetery.  His  five  li^^ng  children  are  : 
Hester,  wife  of  Mr.  Charles  Dryden ;  Mom*oe  ;  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Mr. 
Alexander  Calhoun ;  George  L. ;  and  Grind  V. ,  wife  of  Mr.  William 
Pryne. 

David  Pardee,  farmer,  was  born  in  New  Haven  county,  Connec- 
ticut, June  26,  1809.  Early  in  life  he  served  an  apprenticeship  at 
carpentering.  In  1831  he  went  to  New  Grleans,  where  he  worked  at 
his  trade  till  1840,  when  he  came  to  Illinois  and  bought  land  near 
Tiola,  in  Mercer  county,  where  he  lived  three  years.  At  the  time  he 
bought  his  land  he  paid  down  a  large  part  of  the  purchase  money, 
agreeing  to  pay  the  balance  out  of  money  then  due  him,  but  which  he 
failed  to  get,  and  consequently  lost  his  land.  He  then  came  to  Keiths- 
burg  and  built  a  ilat-boat  in  which  to  carry  himself  out  of  the  country. 
After  floating  down  the  Father  of  "Waters  into  Louisiana,  he  landed 
near  Port  Hudson,  where  he  remained  on  his  boat  till  by  chance  he 
met  a  friend  of  whom  he  borrowed  a  few  dollars,  went  ashore  and 
bought  a  suit  of  clothes,  and  then  soon  found  work.  In  1861  he  again 
came  to  Mercer,  purchased  his  present  home  in  Sec.  14,  T.  13,  R.  5, 
Keithsburg  township,  where  he  is  now  pleasantly  located  engaged  in 
farming.  Mr.  Pardee  has  been  twice  married ;  fii'st,  in  Louisiana,  to 
Miss  Ellen  Creiian,  by  whom  he  has  three  sons  living  in  Kansas  : 
John,  Thomas,  and  Josiah.  His  second  marriage  was  with  Miss 
Sophia  Green,  a  native  'of  Iowa,  by  whom  he  has  three  children  living  : 
Elbert  F.,  Stephen,  and  Ora  May. 

Martin  Wirt  was  born  in  Ohio  in  1820.  He  was  educated  in  the 
common  schools  of  his  native  state.  In  1840  he  came  to  Illinois  and 
settled  on  a  farm  near  the  ^-illage  of  Keithsburg,  Mercer  county,  Illinois, 
and  engaged  in  farming.  June  11,  1850,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Esther 
Groves,  a  native  of  London,  England,  who  was  born  January  24,  1831, 
and  came  to  America  in  1849.  They  became  the  parents  of  eight 
children,  seven  of  whom  are  living  :  Jane,  wife  of  Fred  Freter  ;  Ada 
C,  wife  of  J.  Lester  ;  George  G. ;  Emma  Y.,  wife  of  A.  L.  Emerson  ; 
Willie  M.,  Maggie  M.,  Fred.  N.  and  Samuel,  deceased.  In  1868 
Mrs.  Wirt  fulfilled  a  long  cherished  desire  of  her  heart  in  returning  to 
see  her  parents  in  the  old  home  in  England,  where  she  remained  on  a 
visit  six  months.  On  August  5,  1879,  Mr.  Wirt  died,  lea^dng  his 
aft'ectionate  family  a  comfortable  home. 

JosEPHTS  Wade  (deceased),  was  born  in  Highland  county,  Ohio, 
November  19,  1826,  and  spent  his  early  youth  on  the  farm.  His  edu- 
cation was  such  as  could  be  obtained  in  the  common  schools.  In  1840 
he  emigrated  with  his  parents  to  Illinois,  landing  at  Keithsburg  on 
December  4.       October  16,    1851,   he  was  united  in  marriage  with 


'1      * 


■4 


'•=^-> 


If 


^!< 


JAMES       HEATON. 


KEITHSBUKG    TOWNSHIP.  179 

Miss  Emilj  D.,  daugliter  of  John  M.  Nicholson,  who  was  born  in 
Washington  county,  Indiana,  February  18,  1833.  In  1853  he  peraia- 
nently  located  in  Keithsburg  and  engaged  in  the  livery  business, 
following  the  same  thrrmgh  life.  He  died  at  St.  Anthony's  Falls, 
Minnesota,  August  1,  1868,  where  he  had  gone  with  a  view  of  improv- 
ing his  health.  While  there  he  was  accompanied  by  his  wife  who 
brought  back  his  remains  to  Keithsburg  for  interment.  Besides  an 
affectionate  and  sori*owing  wife,  he  left  two  living  children.  Two  are 
deceased.  The  two  living  are  John  M.  and  Mary  J.  The  former, 
born  October  20,  1855,  was  married  November  24,  1880,  to  Miss  Mol- 
lie  E.  Cummins,  a  daughter  of  T.  S.  Cummins,  Esq.  Me  died  Janu- 
ary 18,  1880,  of  consumption.  Mr.  Wade's  only  surviving  child, 
Mary  J.,  was  born  in  Keithsburg,  January  13,  1861,  and  is  living  with 
her  mother,  and  by  the  pleasant  sunshine  of  her  presence  renders 
home  very  happy  and  agreeable.  Mr.  Wade's  mother  died  in  Keiths- 
burg, January  20,  1882,  and  was  at  tlie  time  of  her  death  the  oldest 
person  living  in  the  town. 

Among  the  few  early  settlers  of  Keithsburg  township  still  remain- 
ing we  find  Mr.  Ben.tajvon  L.  Haedin.  He  was  born  in  Wayne  county, 
Indiana,  April  29,  1818,  and  is  a  son  of  Tliomas  and  Polly  Wilson 
Hardin.  He  was  raised  on  a  farm  witli  only  the  advantages  of  a 
pioneer  log  cabin  school,  but  where  he  enjoyed  the  means  of  fully 
developing  his  muscular  powers  in  the  tall  tiriiber  of  Indiana. 
December  24,  1840,  he  married  Miss  Minerva,  daughter  of  James 
Gibson,  Esq.,  of  Indianapolis,  Indiana,  and  the  next  year  emigrated 
to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  and  settled  near  where  he  now  (1882)  lives 
in  the  township  of  Keithsburg.  After  his  first  settlement  in  the  new 
country  he  realized  tlie  lack  of  religious  worship  and  soon  engaged 
the  services  of  a  Methodist  preacher  to  hold  meetings  at  his  cabin, 
which  was  continued  till  a  more  suitable  place  could  be  provided. 
Sufiice  it  say  that  to  his  energy  and  untiring  zeal  is  largely  due  the 
prosperity  of  the  church  in  this  township.  Mr.  Hardin  has  reared  a 
family  of  nine  children,  all  living :  William,  now  farming  in  Iowa  ; 
Joseph  W. ,  now  farming  in  Iowa  ;  James  A. ,  also  farming  in  Iowa ; 
John  P.,  at  home  ;  Alvis,  on  a  farm  in  Keithsburg  ;  Thomas,  Lava, 
Perry  and  Frank,  at  home.  Mr.  Hardin's  farm  of  360  acres  is  located 
in  Sees.  11  and  12,  T.  13,  K.  5. 

Among  the  early  settlers  wlio  came  to  Mercer  county,  Plinois,  may 
be  mentioned  the  name  of  William  S.  EivrERSON,  who  was  born  in 
Wayne  county,  Indiana,  January  15,  1822.  He  is  the  fourth  child  of 
Edward  and  Sarah  (Swaford)  Emerson,  living  with  his  parents  until 
twenty-two  years  of  age,  when  he  commenced  farming  for  himself  on 
11 


180  HISTOKY    OF    MEROEE    AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

a  small  scale,  in  which  business  he  has  been  engaged  ever  since, 
having  accumulated  considerable  property,  160  acres  in  section  11, 
ninety  acres  in  section  10,  and  forty-eight  acres  in  section  10  of  the 
new  survey.  He  came  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  during  the  year  of 
1844,  leaving  his  parents  and  his  native  state  for  the  purpose  of 
securing  him  a  home  in  the  valley  of  the  Mississippi,  where  so  many 
have  accumulated  wealth  from  its  fertile  soil.  November  13,  1845, 
he  was  married  to  Delila  Hurst,  who  was  born  in  Wayne  county, 
Indiana,  February  15,  1828.  They  have  had  seven  children,  five  of 
whom  are  living  and  two  dead  :  Edward  L.  was  born  August  18,  1846  ; 
William  E.,  February  10,  1850  ;  Francis  M.,  May  8,  1852  ;  Lynden, 
August  19,  1857  ;  Thomas  H.,  April  16,  1861  ;  Nettie  F.,  October  22, 
1865  ;  Ida  May,  June  25,  1870.  Edward  L.  is  married  to  Miss  Ella 
Gailey,  and  is  at  present  practicing  medicine  in  New  Windsor,  Mercer 
county.  Lynden  is  married  to  Miss  Emma  Wirt,  and  is  engaged  in 
farming.  Francis  M.  and  Nettie  are  dead.  Thomas  and  Ida  remain 
at  home  with  their  parents.  In  politics  Mr.  Emerson  has  always  been 
a  republican.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  Christian  church  since 
twenty-two  years  of  age. 

Heney  G.  Calhoun,  fourth  in  a  family  of  ten  children,  by  Thomas 
and  Jane  (Gray)  Calhoun,  was  born  in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio, 
October  31,  1820.  He  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm,  obtained  a 
common  school  education,  learned  the  cooper's  trade,  and  after  working 
at  that  three  or  four  winters  took  up  with  carpentering.  In  1844  he 
left  the  home  of  his  childhood  and  embarking  at  Wheeling  came  by 
river  to  Keithsburg,  landing  here  on  the  tiftli  of  April.  He  worked 
three  years  at  carpentry,  and  meantime,  June  10,  1846,  was  married  to 
Miss  Sarah  J.  Brown,  who  died  ten  months  afterward,  leaving  twin 
daughters,  one  of  which  lived  a  year,  while  the  other,  Sarah  Jane,  is 
yet  li%ang  and  is  the  wife  of  William  S.  McCormick,  of  Oliio  Grove 
township.  From  1847  to  1849  Mr.  Calhoun  was  clerking  for  Messrs. 
Noble  &  Gayle.  After  that  he  was  in  the  employ  of  Abram  Rife  for 
some  time,  and  while  engaged  with  him  was  married  again  to  Mi's. 
Julia  A.  Hubbell,  November  29,  1849.  In  October  of  the  same  year  he 
opened  the  Calhoun  house  and  conducted  it  over  two  years,  and  in  the 
same  time  he  improved  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  near  the  town.  In  1853 
he  was  elected  to  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  and  was  appointed 
deputy  recorder,  and  also  held  the  appointment  of  notary  public.  He 
was  thus  engaged  in  public  business  for  eight  years.  September  30, 
1861,  he  enlisted  in  company  G,  30th  111.  Vol.,  and  was  elected  and 
connnissioned  first  lieutenant  of  his  comjtany.  He  was  taken  prisoner 
September  1,  ls62,  at  Brittain's  Lane,  Temiessee,   and  having  been 


KEITHSBURG   TOWNSHIP.  181 

paroled  on  the  16tli  he  resigned  and  came  home  broken  do^vn  in  health. 
iSince  that  time  he  has  been  yariously  engaged  in  building,  clerking, 
book-keeping  and  canvassing.  Mr.  Calhoun  is  prominent  in  the 
JVIasonic  order.  In  December,  1850,  he  was  made  a  Mason  in  Robert 
Eurns  Lodge,  No.  113,  A.F.A.M.,  and  hi  October,  1851,  he  took  the 
chapter  degrees  in  Horeb  Chapter,  No.  4,  R.A.M.,  at  Knox^'ille,  and 
in  June,  1880,  the  degrees  in  Galesburg  Commandery,  No.  8.  He  has 
iilled  all  the  offices  in  the  lodge  and  the  chapter,  and  has  been  a  repre- 
sentative to  the  grand  lodge  at  two  different  periods,  first  in  .1856  and 
at  a  subsequent  time  four  consecutive  years,  in  each  of  which  last  he 
held  the  appointment  of  district  deputy  grand  master.  He  was  also  a 
member  of  one  of  the  standing  committees  seven  or  eight  years  from 
the  expiration  of  his  service  as  representative.  Mr.  Calhoun  was 
-originally  a  whig.  On  the  dissolution  of  that  party  he,  with  the  Hon. 
•John  S.  Thompson,  was  the  first  to  take  active  measures  looking  toward 
the  organization  of  the  republican  party  in  Keithsburg  township,  and 
he  is  still  as  ardent  as  ever  for  the  success  of  the  same  party.  By  his 
second  marriage  he  has  two  daughters :  Josephine  Louisa  and  Augusta 
Belle.     The  latter  is  the  wife  of  C.  A.  Mertz. 

Jacob  Wolfe  was  born  in  the  State  of  Maryland,  near  Harper's 
Perry,  October  10,  1792.  His  parents  moved  to  the  State  of  Ohio  in 
1798  and  settled  twelve  miles  south  of  Dayton,  near  Germantown. 
May  Yount,  his  wife,  was  born  in  the  State  of  North  Carolina  May  9, 
1797,  near  the  Shallow  Ford  on  the  Yadkin  river.  Her  parents 
iremoved  to  Ohio  and  settled  in  the  same  neighborhood.  They  were 
married  in  the  State  of  Ohio  in  1814,  moved  to  Indiana  in  1822,  and 
raised  a  family  of  nine  children.  The  mother  died  October  19,  1838, 
^nd  the  father  August  23,  1881.  W.  Wolfe,  son  of  the  above,  was 
born  in  the  State  of  Ohio,  July  22,  1816,  and  his  wife,  Rebecca  Marlatt, 
in  the  State  of  Virginia,  November  14,  1810.  They  were  married  in 
Wayne  county  Octr>ber  19,  1839.  In  1844  they  moved  to  Mercer 
county,  Illinois,  landing  here  on  the  23d  of  October.  At  that  time 
there  was  but  one  house  on  what  w^as  called  the  Prairie  road  froni 
Henderson  Grove  to  the  bluff,  and  that  was  a  small  frame.  There  was 
then  only  a  track  where  the  horses  walked,  and  prairie  grass  was  as  high 
as  the  horses'  backs.  There  were  then  only  a  few  families  in  the 
bottom,  and  not  a  house  could  be  seen  from  the  bluff  to  Iveithsbui-g. 
At  that  time  there  was  not  what  could  be  properly  called  a  house 
where  Keithsburg  now  is.  He  says  the  first  time  he  was  in  town  he 
saw  Bill  Brewer  shooting  ducks  where  now  stands  the  Birch  building^ 
owned  by  T.  B.  Cabeen  and  occupied  as  a  drug  store.  There  was  then 
■only  one  small  frame  house  ])artly  finished  and  sided  half  way  up. 


182  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

The  town  improved,  and  built  up  smartly  in  a  short  time.  He 
recollects  being  present  at  the  first  triol  of  any  importance  that  was 
had  in  the  place.  The  newly-elected  justice,  by  the  name  of  Garner, 
was  the  court.  The  parties  to  tlie  suit  were  G.  Mossman,  plaintitf,  and 
I.  Lakey  and  I.  Eaynolds,  defendants.  The  attorneys  were  B.  C. 
Taliaferro,  for  the  plaintitf,  and  C.  M.  Harris,  of  Oquawka,  for  the 
defendants.  In  the  course  of  the  trial  there  was  some  trouble  as  to 
the  admissibility  of  some  evidence.  The  attorneys  argued  their  points 
before  the  court.  Wlien  one  of  them  would  get  through,  the  court 
would  admit  the  evidence.  Then  the  other  attorney  would  make  a 
speech  showing  the  case  in  a  different  light,  when  the  court  would 
exclude  the  e\ddence.  It  went  on  so  for  some  time,  when  the  attorneys 
as  well  as  the  court  became  much  excited  and  one  of  the  attorneys  used 

some  pretty  short  talk.     The  court  then  said  "he'd  be  d d,  if  he 

did  not  shut  up,  heVl  fine  him  for  contempt."     The  legal  man  told  the 

court  to   "fine  and  be  d d,  for  the   court  wouldn't   have   sense 

enough  to  collect  the  fine."  He  says  New  Boston  was  a  town  when 
he  came  here.  He  went  over  to  see  the  town  and  the  Mississippi. 
There  was  quite  a  crowd  there,  and  every  man  carried  a  gun  and  was 
followed  by  one  or  more  dogs.  Most  of  the  men  wore  the  coon-skin 
cap  with  the  tail  hanging  down  the  back.  After  Mr.  Wolfe  had  been 
here  some  time  he  thought  he  would  look  around  some  and  see  the 
country.  He  was  anxious  to  see  some  timber.  These  bluffs  were  com- 
paratively bare  of  timber  at  that  time.  The  first  growth  had  been  cut 
oft',  and  he  was  told  of  Sugar  Grove,  north  of  Aledo,  wdiich  was  repre- 
sented as  nice  timber  as  heart  could  wish,  so  he  sti'uck  out  for  the 
grove.  On  the  road  to  this  settlement  were  then  the  cabins  of 
H.  Riggs,  Eb.  Cresswell  and  N.  Edwards.  The  last  named  is  north 
of  the  road  and  is  still  standing.  Another  was  unoccupied.  At  the 
grove  he  found  the  Millers,  and  they  were  anxious  to  sell  out.  They 
had  the  Oregon  fever  badly,  but  he  did  not  like  the  location.  Mr. 
Wolfe  finally  bought  in  the  bottom  where  he  now  lives. 

Prominent  among  the  young  business  men  of  this  town,  who  have 
by  industry  and  good  management  succeeded  in  making  a  pleasant  home 
and  building  up  a  prosperous  business,  may  be  mentioned  Mr.  Joseph 
Venable.  He  was  born  in  the  county  of  Tyrone,  Ireland,  April  2, 
1843.  In  1856,  in  company  with  his  mother  and  her  family,  he  em- 
barked on  the  sailing  vessel  New  Australia  for  America.  Soon  after 
their  arrival  they  settled  in  Mercer  county,  Illinois.  At  the  age  of 
twenty  he  commenced  work  as  an  apprentice  with  Mr.  Charles  Clark, 
in  the  shop  he  now  owns,  and  in  which  lie  keeps  six  steady  workmen 
and  is  turning  out  a  superior  class  of  wagons,  carriages  and  other  farm 


KEITHSBrRG   TOWNSHIP.  183 

machinery.  ]S"ovember  16,  1865,  lie  was  niarried  to  Miss  Sarah 
Kremer,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  They  have  a  family  of  three  chil- 
dren, Frederick  L. ,  Harry  C.  and  Joseph  C.  He  is  a  member  of  Mercer 
Lodge,  No.  210,  I.O.O.F.,  and  also  of  the  encampment. 

The  Xoble  Fajviily. — Mrs.  Harriet  W.  Xoble,  who  is  the  widow 
of  James  A.  jS^oble,  was  born  in  Danville,  Columbia  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, September  22,  1830.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Frederick  and 
Nancy  A.  Frick.  She  was  married  to  Mr.  Noble  June  26,  1849.  They 
had  born  to  them  seven  children  (Alice  F.  and  Harry  F.  dead).  The 
livdng  are  Kate  A.,  Ida  J.,  Hattie  N.,  James  L.  and  M.  Adella.  Kate, 
the  eldest  child,  is  postmistress  at  Keithsburg,  and  has  served  in  that 
capacity  for  about  twelve  years,  and  it  may  not  be  out  of  place  to  say, 
in  this  connection,  that  in  every  particular  she  has  been  a  model  officer. 
The  ability  with  which  Miss  Noble  has  tilled  her  important  place  of 
trust  proves,  beyond  the  possibility  of  a  doubt,  that  woman  is  qualiiied 
as  well  as  man  to  hold  positions  of  responsibility.  Hattie  has  been 
deputy  postmistress  for  a  good  many  years,  and  slie,  also,  in  connection 
with  another  lady,  carries  on  a  millinery  establishment.  Tlie  home  of 
Mrs.  Noble  and  family  is  a  pleasant  and  desirable  one.  Mr.  Noble 
died  March  3,  1862,  which  placed  the  responsibility  of  rearing  their 
family  of  small  children  upon  the  mother,  and  the  result  proves  that 
she  was  equal  to  the  emergency.  Mrs.  Noble  is  a  member  of  the  Pres- 
byterian church. 

Among  the  business  men  of  Mercer  county  none  occupies  a  more 
truly  honorable  position  than  Wiilliajvi  Gayle.  The  thoughtless 
masses  bestow  hasty  credit  upon  men  who  have  only  climbed  the  hill  of 
fortune ;  but  it  may  be  necessary  to  pass  down  the  sharp  declivity 
on  the  other  side,  in  the  face  of  all  who  know  them,  to  discover  the  pro- 
portion of  pure  gold  in  their  characters.  Mr.  Gayle  is  a  conspicuous 
example  of  that  class  who  have  trod  the  wine-press  of  business  pros- 
perity and  adversity,  and  whose  rugged  qualities  of  integrity  and 
fortitude  have  been  proven  by  severe  trial.  He  is  a  native  of  Frank- 
fort. Kentucky,  where  he  was  born  August  16,  1819.  of  parents 
descended  from  purely  English  ancestry,  that  settled  in  this  country 
prior  to  the  Revolution.  In  the  autumn  of  1845  he  formed  a  partner- 
ship with  James  A.  Noble,  with  whom  he  had  been  co-clerk  in 
Louisville,  and  this  tirm  of  Noble  S:  Gayle  brought  a  stock  goods  at 
once  to  Oquawka  and  opened  out  in  trade.  The  following  spring  they 
divided  their  business,  and  Mr.  Gayle  came  to  Keithsburg  with  half 
their  stock  and  began  selling  goods  on  the  first  day  of  May.  This 
shortly  proved  to  be  a  superior  location,  and  the  next  tall  the  senior 
partner  came  here  from  (3quaw^ka  and  the  business  was  consolidated 


184  HISTORY    OF    MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

in  this  place.  Earlj  in  1850  Mr.  Noble  withdrew,  and  his  place  wa& 
taken  by  Mr.  Gayle's  brotlier-in-law,  K.  H.  Alvis,  of  Henderson, 
Kentucky,  who  was  a  partner  two  years.  Before  his  retirement,, 
B.  F.  Wilson,  who  had  been  clerking  in  the  house  a  number  of  years, 
.was  given  a  small  interest  and  continued  with  Mr.  Gayle  until  the 
crash  of  185Y,  when  the  latter  failed  with  assets  five-fold  greater  than; 
his  liabilities'.  The  exceeding  stringency  of  aftairs  caused  his  com- 
plete financial  ruin.  Declining  all  otfers  of  assistance,  he  at  once 
engaged  in  clerking,  first  in  St.  Louis  and  afterward  in  Keithsburg,. 
and  was  so  employed  until  1871  when  lie  again  started  in  trade  on  his 
own  account,  and  is  now  firmly  established  and  doing  a  large  business. 
in  grain,  flour,  coal,  lime  and  cement.  Mr.  Gayle  was  liberally 
educated,  chiefly  under  the  private  tuition  of  his  father,  George  Gayle, 
who  was  a  scholar  of  scientific  and  classical  attainments.  He  is  a 
man  who  enjoys  an  unconscious  exaltation  in  being  always  kind  and 
accommodating  to  all  men.  September  7,  1851,  he  was  married  to. 
Miss  Margaret  A.  Ungles,  who  has  been  the  mother  of  ten  children 
by  this  marriage,  four  of  whom  are  living. 

xVllen  F.  Glover,  tailor,  oldest  child  of  Silas  and  Mary  (Rob- 
ertson) Glover,  is  a  native  of  Abbeville,  South  Carolina,  where  he 
was  born  June  17,  18'23.  At  the  age  of  ten  he  emigrated  with  his 
father's  family  to  ( )hio.  At  Fairhaven  he  learned  the  tailor's  trade, 
and  in  1842  he  left  the  state  and  the  following  year  settled  at  Oquawka. 
In  the  spring  of  18-I-0  he  removed  to  Keithsburg,  and  next  year  was 
married  to  Miss  Sarah  L.,  youngest  daughter  of  Jesse  and  Christinia 
Brewer.  Her  birthplace  was  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  where  she  was. 
born  in  1827.  Her  parents  were  originally  from  North  Carolina,  and 
came  to  tliis  county  in  1835  and  settled  on  the  farm  now  owned  by 
Solomon  Wolf,  nortlieast  of  Keithsburg.  This  wife  died  without 
issue  in  1850,  and  three  years  afterward  he  was  married  a  second  time 
to  Miss  Minerva  Catlin,  who  bore  him  six  children  and  died  in  1873. 
In  1854:  Mr.  Glover  removed  to  A¥isconsin,  staying  there  two  years. 
During  some  eighteen  years  after  his  return  he  was  tending  grocery 
store  as  clerk  ;  since  that  time  he  has  worked  at  his  trade.  About 
eight  years  ago  lie  united  with  the  Methodist  church  and  is  now  one  of 
the  stewards.  He  has  been  a  member  of  Mercer  Lodge,  No.  210, 
I.O.O.F.  ;  he  has  passed  all  the  chairs  and  been  representative  to  the 
grand  lodge.  In  1864  he  was  "raised'"'  in  Eobert  Burns  Lodge, 
No.  113,  A.F.A.M.,  and  has  been  Secretary  of  that  lodge  since.  Ho 
has  been  elected  to  the  otfices  of  assessor  and  justice  of  the  peace  ; 
the  latter  proving  distasteful  he  resigned  it.  He  affiliates  politically 
with  the  republicans.     His  children  have  been  Irene,  who  died  at  the 


KEITHSBURG   TOAVNSHIP.  185 

age  of   nineeten  ;    Emma  ;    Ida,  now  Mrs.   Seth  Chandler  ;    Cliarlie, 
George,  and  Bell  (dead). 

John  Heaton  was  born  at  Xenia,  Oliio,  ISTovember  2,  1804.  His 
father  was  John,  son  of  Jonah  Heaton  of  Bryant's  Station,  Kentucky, 
who  was  from  Connecticut,  and  who,  history  says,  made  the  first  gun 
ever  manufactured  in  the  former  state.  Jonah's  son  John  was  edu- 
cated by  his  uncle  Daniel,  and  was  a  prominent  man  in  his  county, 
holding  the  office  of  county  commissioner  and  justice  of  the  peace  for 
twenty-two  consecutive  years.  James  Heaton  worked  at  and  thor- 
oughly learned  the  trade  of  his  father,  that  of  a  blacksmith  and  gun- 
smith. In  the  spring  of  1826  (May  25),  he  was  married  to  Miss  Nancy 
Henry,  daughter  of  William  Henry,  who  was  a  first  cousin  to  Patrick 
Henry,  of  Virginia.  It  may  be  proper  here  to  state  that  while  Patrick 
was  a  democrat  of  the  Jefferson  school,  William  was  a  federalist  and 
did  not  sympathize  with  him  as  his  descendants  have  done.  Mrs. 
Heaton  is  .  a  woman  of  great  practical  ability  and  native  good  sense, 
who  believes  that  the  patent  of  r^al  royalty  belongs  to  those  wlio  do 
right  and  live  by  industry.  They  have  lived  a  long  and  useful  life. 
Fifty-six  years  have  they  passed  together,  and  in  this  time  reared  a 
large  family  of  children  :  John,  of  Red  Bluff,  California,  the  eldest, 
and  William  Henry,  the  second  child,  now  of  Keithsburg,  being  the 
only  sons  of  six  born  to  them  now  living.  George  died  in  Texas  at 
the  age  of  forty-three  ;  James  at  the  age  of  eleven  ;  Chauncy,  when 
eight  months  old  ;  and  his  twin  brother  Oliver  at  the  same  age.  Their 
six  daughters  are  all  living.  These  are  :  Sarah  Salisbury,  at  Ped 
Oak,  Iowa  ;  Maria  Adair,  in  Hutchinson  county,  Dakota ;  Marienne 
Phares,  at  Keithsburg  (with  whom  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Heaton  make  their 
home)  ;  Margaret  Hanna,  at  Fort  Scott,  Kansas ;  Mattie  Hanna,  at 
Oquawka  ;  and  Sippie  Wolff,  at  Clarinda,  Iowa.  Mr.  Heaton  was  a 
great  lover  of  stock,  and  when  first  married  fenced  a  tract  of  3,000 
acres  on  the  head  of  the  Little  Miami  river  in  Clark  county,  Ohio, 
where  he  kept  in  pasture  several  thousand  head  of  cattle.  In  1836 
he  came  to  Edgar  county,  Illinois,  and  engaged  in  business.  In  1842 
he  moved  to  the  New  Purchase  in  Iowa.  In  the  fall  of  1843  he  came 
to  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  opposite  the  then  small  town  of  Bur- 
lington. In  the  spring  of  that  year  he  settled  on  a  farm  on  the  Elli- 
son, in  Warren  county,  and  the  same  season  bought  the  farm  where 
the  toAvn  of  Ellison  now  stands.  In  the  fall  of  1848,  wanting  better 
facilities  for  schooling  his  children,  lie  came  to  Keithsburg,  where  he 
lived  till  the  spring  of  1852,  when  he  moved  to  Bald  Blufi".  There  he 
and  his  boys  made  a  large  farm  and  gratified  tluit  old  love  of  stock  by 
raising  cattle,  hogs  and  horses.     In  1868  William  went  to  Abingdon, 


186  HISTOKY    OF   MERCER   AXD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Knox  county,  and  tlie  next  year  George  went  to  Texas.  It  was  then 
that  he  gave  np  the  farm  and  moved  to  Keithsburg,  where  he  now  has 
a  pleasant  home  and  varies  his  exercise  every  day  "vvith  a  walk  down 
towTi.  He  is  perhaps  the  best  known  man  in  the  county.  He  has 
always  lived  a  quiet,  unassuming  life,  has  worked  hard  and  aimed  to 
deal  fairly  with  all  who  have  had  intercourse  with  him.  He  is  in 
religion  a  predestinarian  Baptist,  in  politics  a  democrat,  havmg  cast  his 
first  vote  for  Andrew  Jackson  in  1828,  and  adhered  to  that  school  ever 
since.  Like  most  of  the  early  settlers,  Mr.  Heaton's  home  was  the 
abode  of  hospitality,  and  friend  or  stranger  who  came  his  way  was 
alike  welcome  to  share  its  refreshments.  In  his  old  age  he  still  I'etains 
his  love  of  society,  and  enjoys  recounting  the  incidents  and  adventures 
of  the  past.  This  worthy  couple  are  never  haj^pier  than  when  their 
house  is  full  of  their  children  and  grandchildren,  of  whom  they  have 
a  great  number. 

From  youth  to  asie  this  wedded  pair 

Have  journeyed  on  together  — 
Not  always  gentle  was  tlie  wind, 

Nor  always  bland  the  weather  ; 
Yet  few  and  light  have  been  their  cares, 

And  light  and  few  their  crosses, 
And  God  has  shown  his  pitying  face 

Amid  their  griefs  and  losses. 
Oh,  sore  the  travel  and  the  toil 

To  reach  the  ro^^eate  i)resent. 
Had  no  att'ection  cheered  the  way 

And  made  the  journey  pleasant. 

What  if  the  cheek  has  lost  its  bloom. 

The  eye  its  olden  lustre  — 
AVhat  if  the  locks  are  thinned  and  blanched 

Which  on  the  temples  cluster  — 
Still  hope  is  fresh  and  hearts  are  young. 

And  love  is  unabated, 
And  men  and  angels  hail  to-day 

The  married  and  the  mated. 

The  loveliest  thing  on  earth  is  love, 

The  loveliest  and  the  purest  ; 
The  dearest  thing  on  earth  is  love, 

The  dearest  and  the  surest ; 
And  not  alone  is  heavenly  sweet 

The  honey  of  its  kisses  : 
The  very  tears  of  love  are  sweet. 

Its  very  pangs  are  blisses ; 
And  they  who  love  with  love  the  best, 

The  fondest  and  the  strongest  — 
Love  with  the  loveliest  love  of  all  — 

Are  thev  who  love  the  longest. 


KEITHSBUEG    TOAVNSHIP.  187 

Ah  !  Love's  dear  veterans  well  deserve 

Our  greetin.Lrs  and  our  praises, 
Since  where  we  looked  for  Winter's  snows 

They  point  to  Sprinp:'s  sweet  daisies  ; 
Since,  when  the  sea  is  smooth  and  fair, 

Or  black  the  tide  is  flowing, 
Through  all  the  voyage  of  the  years 

They  keep  their  fond  hearts  glowing  ; 
Since,  though  the  frame  may  show  the  trace 

Of  many  a  blight  and  fever, 
The  teeming  vineyards  of  the  soul 

Are  fresh  and  green  as  ever ; 
Since,  through  the  long  sweet  married  days 

Their  faith  and  fervor  proving, 
They  make  a  noble  thing  of  life, 

A  godlike  thing  of  loving. 

Oh,  happy,  true  and  honored  pair! 

Oh,  ever  leal  and  loyal ! 
We  pay  you  willing  court  to-day, 

For  love  has  made  you  royal ! 
All  gentle  thoughts  and  hopes  are  yours. 

All  wishes  sweet  and  tender  — 
What  richer  tributes  can  we  bring, 

What  worthier  homage  render? 
God's  cherubs  still  your  steps  attend, 

His  peace  your  fond  hearts  strengthen, 
As  o'er  the  sky  above  your  heads 

The  evening  shadows  lengthen  ; 
And  when  the  night  comes  on,  at  last, 

And  brings  its  welcome  slumber, 
Sweet  angels  from  the  wondrous  host 

Which  none  may  name  or  number, 
Shall  lead  your  still  united  souls 

Through  shining  arch  and  portal. 
To  gardens  fair  and  pastures  green. 

Where  love  shall  be  immortal  ! 

Jerome  A.  Swezy,  deceased,  was  born  in  Goshen,  Orange  county, 
New  York,  August  15,  1815.  He  removed  to  Quincy,  Illinois,  in  an 
€arlj  day,  and  was  there  married  to  Miss  Mary  J.  Atkinson  October 
12,  1813.  He  removed  to  Oquawka  in  1816,  where  he  engaged  in 
merchandising  |till  1850,  when  he  started  on  an  overland  trip  to  Cali- 
fornia taking  with  him  two  four-horse  teams  and  tweh-e  men.  He 
remained  in  California  till  the  following  December,  when  he  started 
home  via  the  Isthmus,  on  a  passenger  steamer.  At  Grenada,  Central 
America,  he  was  taken  down  with  a  severe  fever  and  remained  there 
till  the  following  June.  When  he  reached  his  home  he  was  still  in 
feeble  health,  and  with  a  view  to  improving  it,   went  with  his  wife 


188         .  HISTORY    OF   FIERCER    A^'D    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

to  his  boyhood  liome  in  Xew  York.  In  1852,  having  regained 
his  health,  he  returned  and  settled  in  Keithsburg.  During  his  thirty 
years  residence  here,  he  was  in  business  as  book-keeper,  shipper, 
lumber  and  real  estate  dealer.  He  died  March  26,  1882.  His  wife 
and  six  children  survive  him.  The  latter  are:  Emma,  wife  of 
C.  T.  Combs;  Jessie  C. ;  Somerville  E.,  wife  of  H.  C.  Cook,  whose 
biography  follows ;  Hattie  E. ;  Georgia  A.  ;■  and  Huber. 

Heney  Chalmers  Cook  was  born  in  McConnellsburg,  Pennsyh'ania, 
February  7,  1856,  where  he  grew  to  manhood.  He  served  an  appren- 
ticeship of  three  years  in  the  office  of  the  "Fulton  Republican"  at 
McConnellsburg.  In  1876  he  came  to  Illinois  and  for  three  years 
worked  at  his  trade  of  printer  at  Princeton.  In  the  spring  of  1879  he- 
came  to  Keithsburg,  where  he  engaged  as  foreman  in  the  ""News" 
office  for  W.  H.  Heaton.  In  June,  1881,  he  formed  a  partnership  with 
R.  "Wolfe  and  started  the  ' '  Keithsburg  Times. ''  In  December  follow- 
ing he  sold  his  interest  to  his  partner  and  returned  to  his  fonner  place 
in  the  "]Srews"  office.  August  19,  1880,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
■v\nth  Miss  Swezy.  They  have  one  child,  Michael  Jerome,  born 
September  14,  1881. 

William  D.  Reynolds,  stock  dealer,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
September  14,  1841.  His  parents,  William  C.  and  Catharine  A. 
(Tiger)  Reynolds,  removed  to  Mercer  county  in  1846,  and  settled  in 
Ohio  Grove  township,  where  they  early  became  identified  with  the 
affairs  of  the  county.  Mr.  Reynolds,  Sr.,  remained  here  till  the  spring 
of  1882.  when  he  sold  out  and  went  to  reside  with  his  daughter  in 
Iowa.  Young  William  received  his  education  at  the  pioneer  schools 
of  this  county's  early  history,  as  well  as  a  thorough  knowledge  of  farm 
labor.  In  1861  he  responded  to  the  President's  call  for  men  to  pre- 
serve the  honor  of  their  country's  flag  and  became  a  member  of  com-^ 
pany  A.  30th  reg.  111.  Vol.  Inf  During  the  service  he  was  t^nce 
wounded,  first  at  Belmont,  Missouri,  and  afterward  at  Fort  Donelson, 
and  was  soon  after  discharged  on  account  of  disability.  He  was 
married  February  11,  1869,  to  Miss  Sarah  E.,  daughter  of  Lewis  and 
Maria  Sponsler,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  who^  came  to  Mercer  county 
in  1860.  They  are  the  parents  of  six  cliildren  living:  Maud  E., 
Qara  A.,  Lora  E.  (died  March  22,  1882),  Lewis  G.,  Guss,  Glenn,  and 
Lucy.  Mr.  Re^Tiolds  is  now  a  resident  of  the  town  of  Keithsburg, 
but  expects  to  remove  to  his  farm  of  160  acres  in  Edwards  county, 
Kansas. 

John  J.  Hawkins,  retired  farmer,  was  born  in  Bath  county,  Ken- 
tucky, September  7,  1829,  and  is  the  sou  of  Thomas  and  Malinda 
Hawkins.     In  1847  they  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Abington  town- 


KKITHSi;rK(T    ToWNSHII'.  181> 

ship,  Mercer  county,  where  he  engaged  in  farming.  December  1,  1850, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Maria  E.,  daughter  of  Russell 
"Wordin,  Esq.,  an  early  settler  of  Mercer  county.  She  was  born 
in  the  State  of  New  York,  June  7,  1831.  They  are  the  parents  of 
tln-ee  children,  as  follows :  Lucy,  wife  of  Mr.  A.  P.  AVinslow,  who  is  a 
conductor  on  the  Central  Pacilic  railroad  and  resides  at  Ogden.  Utah ; 
Alvis  T.,  and  Albert  D.,  on  the  farm  near  Keithsburg.  They  are  both 
members  of  the  Masonic  fraternity.  Mr.  Hawkins  is  a  member  of 
Robert  Burns  Lodge,  No.  113,  Illinois  C'liapter,  No.  IT,  and  Gales- 
burg  Commandery,  No.  8.  A  few  years  after  his  marriage  Mr. 
Hawkins  removed  to  the  north  part  of  Henderson  county,  where  he 
lived  till  1878,  when  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Keithsburg.  By  hard 
work  and  honest  industry  he  has  accumulated,  besides  his  town 
property,  466  acres  of  farming  land. 

Edward  Ott,  blacksmith,  was  born  in  Henderson  county,  Illinois, 
March  23,  181-8,  and  was  left  an  orphan  when  about  eleven  years  old. 
In  December,  1862,  when  but  a  little  over  fourteen  years  of  age,  he 
enlisted  in  the  war  for  the  L^nion  as  a  member  of  the  12th  Illinois 
cavalry  and  followed  the  fortunes  of  war  till  May,  1866.  On  returning 
home  he  engaged  in  the  butcher  business,  but  soon  after  turned  his 
attention  to  learning  the  trade  of  blacksmitli  and  permanently  located 
in  Keithsburg.  February  26,  1875,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  E. 
Hall,  of  Henderson  county,  Illinois.  They  have  two  children : 
Mary  C.  and  William  C. 

Thomas  Marlatt,  retired  farmer,  was  born  in  Wavne  countv, 
Indiana,  September  12,  1824.  His  father  was  a  farmer  and  reared 
his  children  !o  that  hardy  and  honorable  occupation.  Mr.  Marlatt 
obtained  such  an  education  as  the  common  schools  of  his  boyhood 
days  aftbrded.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  began  for  himself  at 
farming.  In  1849  he  came  to  Mercer  county,  where  he  permanently 
located  and  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising.  February  2,  1854, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Caroline,  daughter  of  James  M. 
and  Elizabeth  (Ellis)  Dryden.  Slie  was  born  in  Highland  county, 
Ohio,.  September  4,  1834,  and  came  to  Mercer  county  in  1853.  They 
are  the  parents  of  Alta  I.,  Adella  Y.,  Jessie  F.,  and  two  children 
deceased.  On  August  17,  1870,  Mr.  Marlatt  met  with  a  painful  mis- 
fortune, this  being  no  less  than  the  instant  loss  of  his  eyesight,  caused 
by  a  kick  in  his  face  from  a  mule.  The  following  year  he  gave  up 
farming  and  took  up  his  residence  in  Keithsburg,  where  he  is  now 
(1882)  enjoying  the  comforts  of  a  very  pleasant  home.  Early  in  life 
he  became  a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  church ;  in  1853  was 
licensed  to  preach,  and  is  now  a  member  of  Illinois  annual  conference. 


190  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

His  parents  are  of  English  and  German  ancestry,  and  were  born  in 
Burkley  county,  Virginia.  The  father,  Thomas  Marlatt,  was  born  in 
April,  1792,  and  the  mother,  Miss  Elizabeth  Bellar,  in  1799.  They 
reared  a  family  of  twelye  children  :  seyen  sons  and  fiye  daughters.  In 
1823  they  remoyed  to  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  where  they  resided  till 
the  time  of  their  death  after  a  life  of  industry  and  usefulness.  He  died 
in  March,  1877,  and  she  in  March,  1875.  They  were  consistent  mem- 
bers of  the  United  Brethren  church. 

Thomas  S.  Cummins,  justice  of  the  peace,  notary,  and  insurance 
agent,  Iveithsburg,  was  born  February  23,  1836,  in  ISTew  Concord, 
Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  and  was  the  son  of  Dayid  R.  and  Sarah 
(Speer)  Cummins.  In  1851  the  family  sold  their  home  and  embarked 
at  AVIieeling,  Virginia,  and  came  by  riyer  transportation  to  Keiths- 
burg,  arriving  in  ^April.  They  liyed  that  summer  in  Ohio  Groye 
township,  where  Mr.  Cummins  had  an  uncle,  Richard  Cummins,  who 
had  emigi-ated  as  early  as  1836  and  was  one  of  the  first  settlers. 
Most  of  the  family  fell  sick  of  the  ague,  and  getting  dissatisfied  with 
the  country,  returned  in  the  fall  to  Ohio.  They  remained  there  but 
two  weeks,  wlien  they  turned  their  faces  again  to  the  west  and  came  to 
Granyille,  Putnam  county,  Blinois.  Next  summer  their  experience 
with  ague  was  repeated,  and  when  autunm  came  they  were  so  much 
disheartened  by  the  gloomy  situation  and  prospect  that  they  went  back 
again  to  their  old  home  in  Ohio,  where  they  remained  till  1851.  That 
year  they  came  to  Keithsburg,  this  time  by  team,  and  Mr.  Cummins 
has  liyed  in  Mercer  county  since.  He  was  engaged  from  that  time  till 
1866  as  warehouseman  and  shipping  clerk.  From  that  year  till  1873 
he  was  constable  ;  he  was  then  elected  justice  of  the  'peace  and  has 
held  the  ofiice  continuously  until  this  time.  He  has  been  notary  public 
since  1871 ;  township  clerk  since  1873,  excepting  in  the  year  1877,  and 
yillage  clerk  the  last  two  years.  In  1871  he  began  doing  an  insurance 
business,  and  now  represents  the  Home  company  of  New  York.  His 
marriage  with  Miss  Martha  Knight  was  celebrated  September  3,  1857. 
Their  two  daughters  are  Mary  Etta  and  Maggie  Belle.  The  former  is 
the  widow  of  John  M.  Wade,  recently  deceased ;  she  and  her  mother 
are  communicants  in  tlie  Methodist  church.  Mr.  Cummins  has 
always  taken  much  interest  in  local  politics  and  is  a  liberal-minded 
■democrat. 

Auyis  Hardin  was  born  in  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  September  20, 
1852.     He  is  the  son  of  B.  F.  and  Minerya  Hardin.     He  was  married 
to  Miss  Nettie  Doak  January  1,  1882.     Mrs.  Hardin  is  the  daughter  of 
Matthew  and  Sarali  A.  Doak.     Mr.  Hardin  is  a  farmer. 


KEITHSBUEG    TOAVNSHIV.  191 

In  the  fall  of  1S53  Ciiaklp:s  J.  Soepson  came  from  Ohio  and  perma- 
nently located  in  the  village  of  Keithsbiirg,  where  he  now  enjoys  the 
comforts  of  a  pleasant  home.  He  was  born  in  Preble  county,  Ohio,  Feb. 
ruary  22,  1823.  He  is  a  son  of  Aaron  and  Hannah  (Smith)  Simpson, 
who  were  natives  of  New  Jersey,  and  are  of  Scotch  and  English  ances- 
try. He  was  bred  a  farmer.  May  2,  1841:,  he  married  Barbara, 
daughter  of  John  and  Dorothea  (Mowen)  Beaver.  She  was  born  in 
Franklin  county,  Pennsylvania,  April  19,  1827.  In  1860  Mr.  Simi> 
son  began  the  practice  of  veterinai-y  surgery  in  which  he  has  had  good 
success.  They  have  four  children,  Laura,  Daniel  A.,  who  has  a  brilliant 
war  record,  William  B.,  and  Pauline  G.  wife  of  E.  Loosley.  Mr.  Simp- 
son is  a  member  of  the  I.O.O.F.,  lodge  No.  210. 

John  Dl"nk,  butcher,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  February  1,  1814, 
and  is  a  son  of  Amos  and  Catherine  (Cameron)  Dunn.  In  1853  he 
with  his  parents  embarked  on  the  steamer  New  York  at  Pittsburgh, 
Pennsylvania,  for  Keithsburg,  Illinois,  and  made  the  entire  trip  without 
change.  They  at  once  went  to  Ohio  Grove  township  where  they  pur- 
chased a  farm  and  began  to  make  a  home  for  themselves.  They  first 
camped  out  till  they  could  build  a  cabin.  Here  John  grew  up  to  man- 
hood with  but  little  means  of  obtaining  an  education.  In  August,  1862, 
he  enlisted  in  company  G,  l02d  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  for  the  next  three  years 
devoted  his  time  in  the  defense  of  his  country's  flag.  At  the  battle  of 
Kesacca,  Georgia,  he  was  wounded  in  the  hips  and  was  placed  in  the 
hospital  for  treatment,  from  which  he  was  discharged  June  22,  1865, 
and  returned  to  Keithsburg.  March  21,  1867,  he  was  imited  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Maria  McPherren,  who  was  born  in  Suez  township,  Mercer 
county,  March  1,  1843.  They  are  the  parents  of  Catharine  R.,  Amos  D., 
and  Thomas,  and  three  deceased.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Dunn  en- 
gaged in  farming,  but  on  account  of  his  wound  disabling  him  for  farm 
labor  he  abandoned  forming  and  bought  an  interest  in  a  coal  mine  and 
five  years  later  sold  out  and  came  to  Keithsburg,  where  he  still  resides 
engaged  in  the  butcher  business.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.O.O.F., 
lodge  No.  210. 

BoBERT  C.  Humbert,  merchant,  is  a  son  of  Emanuel  and  Frances 
(McReynolds)  Humbert ;  was  born  in  Montgomery  county,  Ohio,  Jan- 
uary 26,  1831 ;  removed  with  his  parents  to  Fountain  county,  Indiana, 
when  about  three  years  of  age,  where  at  the  age  of  sixteen  he  became 
an  apprentice  as  bricklayer  and  plasterer.  In  1853  he  came  to  Mercer 
county,  Illinois,  and  engaged  in  working  at  his  trade  in  Keithsburg  till 
1857,  when  he  became  a  merchant  in  the  dry  goods  line,  following  the 
business  till  1864.  At  that  time  Mr. -Humbert  arranged  to  go  west  as 
far  as  Montana.     His  object  was  partly  speculative  but  more  particularly 


192  HISTORY    OF    MEKCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

for  the  benefit  of  an  invalid  brother-in-law,  George  Gore,  who  was  suf- 
fering with  that  dreaded  disease  consumption,  who  while  there  regained 
his  health.  On  their  way  out  they  purchased  a  stock  of  goods  which 
they  afterward  lost,  being  attacked  by  Indians  and  robbed.  The  next 
year  Mr.  Humbert  returned  to  his  home  in  Keithsburg  where  he  has 
since  had  a  continuous  residence,  except  three  years  spent  on  his  faym 
in  Henderson  county.  ]S"ovember  26,  1857,  Mr.  Humbert  was  united 
in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah,  daughter  of  Philip -Gore,  Esq.,  an  early 
settler  of  this  county.  She  was  born  in  Maryland,  January -31,  18B9. 
They  are  the  j^arents  of  seven  children:  Harry  P.,  George  C,  Edward  E., 
James  F. ,  Fannie  D. ,  Bart  G. ,  and  Pobert  R.  Mr.  Humbert  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Robert  Burns  Lodge,  No.  113,  Illinois  Chapter,  No.  17,  and 
Galesburg  Commandary,  No.  8. 

John  C.  Humphrey,  harness  maker,  is  a  native  of  Columbiana 
county,  Ohio,  and  was  born  February  12,  1827.  He  was  reared  on 
the  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  his  native  state.  In 
1854  he  made  a  trip  to  California,  where  he  remained  nearly  three 
years.  Soon  after  his  return  home  he  came  to  Keithsburg,  and  in 
company  with  Mr.  Samuel  Evans,  engaged  in  the  business  he  now 
follows.  September  2,  1858,  he  married  Miss  Amanda,  daughter  of 
Jacob  Wolf,  a  native  of  Cumberland  county,  Pennsylvania,  who  with 
her  j^arents  came  to  Illinois  in  1856.  They  are  the  parents  of  eight 
children:  Mary,  Harry  W.,  Willis  M.,  Ida,  Ernest  L.,  Mark  J., 
Edward  F.,  and  Eva  B. 

Clarence  S.  Frick,  grain  dealer,  is  a  son  of  Benjamin  P.  and 
Annie  E.  (Stewart)  Frick,  who  are  well  known  and  prominently  con- 
nected in  this  county.  He  was  born  in  Columbia  county,  Pennsyh'ania, 
January  2,  1848,  and  came  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  in  1855,  with 
his  parents.  His  education  was  principally  obtained  in  Keithsburg, 
though  he  attended  several  terms  of  high  school  in  Monmouth,  Illinois. 
In  1872  he  engaged  in  merchandising  and  grain  buying  in  Keithsburg 
under  the  firm  name  of  C.  A.  Frick  &  Bros.  He  was  also  for  a  time 
connected  with  the  Farmers'  National  Bank,  of  this  j^lace,  as  book- 
keeper. In  1881  he  began  his  present  business  of  buying  and  shipping 
grain.  February  2,  1876,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Nellie 
Ellett,  a  daughter  of  Benjamin  D.  and  Orjjha  (Myers)  Ellett,  early 
settlers  of  Keithsburg.  They  have  one  child,  George  Henry,  born 
February  17,  1879.  Mr.  Frick  is  a  member  of  Mercer  Lodge,  No.  210, 
LO.O.F. 

Captain  Wycolf 's  father  was  born  in  Allegheny  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, in  1793,  and  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  His  wife 
was  a  Miss  Susan  Peairs.     Soon  after  his  marriage  he  removed  to 


KEITHSBURG   TOWNSHIP.  '  193 

Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  where  he  reared  a  family  of  nine  children, 
two  sons  and  seven  daughters.  He  died  in  1857,  and  his  old  and  hon- 
ored wife  is  still  (1882)  living  at  her  old  home  in  Ohio.  Our  subject. 
Captain  J.  P.  Wycoff,  is  eldest  son  and  second  child.  He  was  born  in 
Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  September  18,  1819,  and  was  reared  on  the 
farm  with  but  limited  educational  advantages.  December  23.  181:0,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Matilda  Davis,  of  the  same  county. 
Her  parents  were  Samuel  and  Mary  (Geyer)  Davis,  who  were  also 
natives  of  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania.  The  year  after  his  mar- 
riage Mr.  Wycoif  removed  to  Allen  county,  near  Fort  Wayne*,  Indiana, 
and  settled  in  the  tall  timber,  and  there  hewed  out  for  himself  a  home 
on  land  previously  entered  by  his  father.  In  1855  he  bought  a  farm 
in  Sec.  11,  T.  13,  R.  5,  Keithsburg  township,  and  in  1856  sold  his 
home  in  Indiana  and  moved  to  his  new  home,  which  he  has  since  built 
up  to  be  one  of  the  most  pleasant  in  the  county,  and  contains  260  acres. 
In  August,  1862,  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  company  G,  102d  reg.  111. 
Vol.  Inf.,  to  which  he  was  at  once  elected  captain,  but  in  December 
of  the  same  year  was  forced  to  resign  on  account  of  sickness.  Mr. 
Wycolf  has  been  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  since  the  age 
of  seventeen  and  an  elder  for  the  past  thirty  years.  He  has  one  son 
(an  only  child),  Albert  P.,  born  January  1,  1842.  His  means  for  ob- 
taining an  education  were  quite  limited,  but  by  extensive  reading,  and 
being  a  close  observer,  he  has  gained  a  good  business  education. 
October  17,  1861,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Myra,  daughter  of  George 
and  Nancy  (Maxfield)  Jay.  She  was  born  in  Mercer  county,  Illinois, 
November  29,  1843,  and  is  one  of  this  county's  literary  ladies.  They 
have  a  family  of  three  interesting  children:  Earl  J.,  Lura  D.,  and 
Ethlin  Fern.  They  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
^nd  take  an  active  part  in  its  affairs. 

To  the  S(jldier  who  dared  death  that  a  great  nation  with  all  its 
legitimate  institutions  might  live,  not  only  belongs  praise,  but  the 
.  gratitude  of  a  whole  people.  The  pages  of  future  history  will  not 
shine  with  examples  of  generalshijj  alone,  but  the  captain,  liis 
subordinates  and  privates,  who  fought  in  the  thickest  carnage,  will 
lend  their  light  to  future  heroes.  Captain  David  M.  Holsted,  son  of 
David  and  Nancy  (xlllshaver)  Hoisted,  was  born  in  Oneida  county, 
New  York,  July  10,  1832.  He  resided  on  a  farm  till  fifteen  years 
of  age,  receiving  a  common  school  education.  He  early  engaged  in 
the  manufacture  of  brick.  In  1850  he  became  foreman  of  the  Cleve- 
land A:  Ohio  Railroad  Construction  Company,  and  soon  after  became 
a  contractor.  In  1856  he  came  to  Illinois.  In  1861,  when  war's 
cruel  tongue  called   for    soldiery,   he,   in   company   with   Col.   R.   G. 


194  "      HISTOEY    OF    MERCEK   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Ingersoll,  recruited  the  lltli  reg.  111.  cavalry,  Col.  Ingersoll  receiving- 
the  command.     In  1882  Mr.  Hoisted  aided  in  raising  the  85th  reg.  111. 
Vol.  Inf.,  whose  commander  was  Col.  Moore.      Mr.  Hoisted  volun- 
teered as  1st  lieutenant.     For  heroic  conduct  at  the  battle  of  Stone 
river,  Gov.  Yates  commissioned  him  captain.     At  the  battle  of  Chick- 
amauga  he  was  wounded,   necessitating  his  resignation.      For  four 
months  he  was  unable  to  feed  himself;  for  one  year  he  was  imable 
to  step  up  six  inches  high,  and  disabled  for  work  a  year  longer. 
After  regaining  his  health  he  resumed  contracting,  this  time  on  the 
Toledo,  P6oria  &  Warsaw  railroad.     In  1873  he  came  to  Keithsburg, 
and,  in  company  with  J.  K.  Hornish,  contracted  to  build  the  Keiths- 
burg  &   Eastern   narrow-gauge   railroad,  wdiicli,  on   account   of  the 
financial  crash  of  1873,  is  yet  unbuilt.     In  18.57  he  became  a  member 
of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd-Fellows,  and  now  holds  his  mem- 
bership in  Mason  Lodge,  143.     He  is  also  a  member  of  the  encamp- 
ment at  Keithsburg,  and  a  member  of  the  Order  of  the  Red  Cross 
organization  of  Faiiiield,  Iowa.     Mr.  Hoisted  was  married  March  28, 
1849,  to  Miss  Eveline  L.,  daughter  of  Orrin  Fen  ton,  Esq.,  of  Cleve- 
land, Ohio.     They  have  one  child  living.  Miss  Lottie. 

Hugh  Saqth  Scott,  farmer,  was  born  in  "Washington  county,  Vir- 
ginia, July  20,  1807,  and  is  the  son  of  Samuel  and  Jane  (Hutton)  Scott. 
He  was  reared  a  farmer.  His  education  was  received  in  the  pioneer 
schools  of  Virginia.  September  18,  1828,  a  few  months  after  obtaining 
majority  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Sarah,  daughter  of  James 
and  Jane  (Clark)  Lion,  also  a  native  of  the  same  county.  Soon  after 
marriage  they  emigrated  to  Indiana,  and  settled  in  Fountain  county, 
remaining  there  until  1856.  In  that  year  they  again  removed,  this 
time  to  find  a  final  resting  place  in  Mercer  county,  where  he  settled 
on  a  farm  previously  purchased  of  Mr.  Gavle.  While  a  resident  of 
Indiana,  in  1845,  Mr.  Scott's  fi'iends  put  him  forward  as  a  candidate 
on  the  democratic  ticket  for  representative  in  the  state  legislature,  to 
which  office  he  was  elected  by  a  large  majority.  As  an  evidence  of 
his  popularity,  the  township  in  which  he  resided,  that  usually  gave 
a  democratic  majority  of  about  80,  gave  him  the  compliment  of  144 
majority.  Fie  was  also  twice  elected  county  assessor  and  once  county 
collector  of  Fountain  county.  He  has  also  held  numerous  other 
offices  of  honor  and  trust,  among  which  have  been  that  of  supervisor 
of  Keithsburg  township,  and  also  of  justice  of  the  peace  for  eight 
years.  He  has  been  prominently  identified  with  the  Methodist  church 
of  Keithsburg  since  his  residence  here.  Of  his  large  family,  Samuel, 
Jane,  wife  of  Robert  Campbell,  of  Fountain  county,  Indiana,  Lilburn 


J.  S.  BROKAW 


KEITHSBUEG   TOWNSHIP.  197 

"S.,  Angeline  T.,  Julia  C.,  wife  of  C.  Dryden,  Howard  and  Florilla, 
^ife  of  William  Stewart,  are  living.     Susan  is  deceased. 

Samuel  Scott,  farmer  and  stock  raiser,  is  a  son  of  Hugh  S.  and 
'Sarah  (Lion)  Scott.  He  was  born  in  Fountain  county,  Indiana, 
November  21,  1829,  and  was  reared  principally  at  farming.  He 
received  the  best  education  obtainable  in  the  early  schools  of  his  native 
«tate.  Early  in  life  he  made  clerking  his  business  for  tive  years,  and 
spent  two  years  in  the  state  auditor's  ofhce  at  IndianajDolis.  In  1855 
he  came  to  Mercer  county  and  engaged  in  farming,  making  that  his 
permanent  business.  October  1,  1857,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Sarah  E.,  daughter  of  John  McH.  and  Margaret  (Cramer) 
Wilson,  a  native  of  Michigan,  who  came  to  Mercer  county  when  .about 
•six  months  old.  She  was  born  August  26,  1836.  They  are  the 
parents  of  tive  children,  viz:  Ctuv  C,  Edgar  S.,  Carrie  W.,  John 
McH. ,  and  Hugh  M.  Mr.  Scott  is  a  member  of  the  masonic  fraternit}^ 
and  holds  his  membership  in  Robert  Burns  Lodge,  No.  113.  He  is  a 
live,  energetic  business  man,  and  one  whom  it  would  be  well  for  our 
young  men  to  pattern  after. 

Mr.  C.  S.  Orth,  who  was  born  in  Lebanon  county,  Pennsylvania, 
in  1835,  educated  at  Franklin  and  Marshall  colleges,  at  Mercersburg, 
in  the  same  state,  emigrated  to  Iowa  City  in  1857 ;  came  the  next 
year  to  Keithsburg  where  he  located  in  general  merchandising  in  com- 
pany with  N.  B.  Cox.  In  1862  the  latter  was  replaced  by  J.  P.  Reed, 
who  died  in  1866 ;  afterward  Mr.  Orth  continued  in  the  same  line 
•of  trade  with  M.  A.  Weaver  as  partner,  and  in  1877  he  closed  up  his 
business  in  the  place.  He  is  now  in  trade  at  Bedford  and  Clarinda, 
Iowa,  but  his  family  reside  in  Keithsburg.  He  has  been  closely  iden- 
tified with  the  history  and  devotedly  attached  to  tlie  interests  of  this 
place  since  he  settled  here,  and  a  public-spirited  supporter  of  every 
worthy  undertaking.  He  was  president  of  the  town  board  one  year, 
and  for  seven  years  from  1874  was  a  director  of  the  public  school,  a 
position  in  which  he  won  credit  and  popularity  for  very  efficient  and 
acknowledged  valuable  services.  In  the  railroad  questions  which  have 
agitated  the  people  of  this  section,  he  has  taken  a  full  share  of  interest 
and  exhibited  his  well-known  vigilance  and  activity.  He  has  some- 
times directed  his  infiuence  and  energies  against  these  as  well  as  other 
enterprises,  and  time  has  generally  confirmed  his  judgment  and  fore- 
sight. His  marriage  W'ith  Miss  Fanny  M.,  daughter  of  Abram  B. 
Sheriif,  a  pioneer  settler  of  Mercer  county,  took  place  in  1863.  They 
are  the  parents  of  eight  living  children. 

George  W.  Whiting,  boot  and  shoe  dealer,   was  born  in  Cam- 
bridgeshire, England,  September  27,  1831,  and  was  the  eldest  son  of 
12 


198  HISTORY    OF    IMERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

William  and  Sarah  (Gothard)  AVhitiiig.  His  father  was  a  native  of 
Iladnam,  England,  where  he  was  born  June  12,  1814,  and  his  mother 
was  born  in  the  same  place  June  IT,  1815.  This  couple  was  joined 
in  marriage  May  11,  1833.  In  1837  the  family  emigrated  to  the 
United  States,  in  the  sailing  vessel  Xeptune,  and  having  settled  at 
Lockport,  New  York,  Mr.  Whiting's  father  began  manufacturing  boots 
and  shoes  in  a  small  way.  By  close  attention  to  his  trade  his  business 
grew  into  a  large  manufacturing  house  in  which,  after  a  few  years, 
he  employed  from  thirty  to  forty  men.  In  1854  he  lost  his  property 
by  fire,  and  in  October  of  the  same  year  he  brought  his  family  to 
Mercer  county,  where  he  arrived  on  the  23d  of  the  month.  He  settled 
in  Keithsburg  and  died  in  this  place  September  26,  1879.  His  wife 
preceded  him  to  her  final  rest  January  18,  1877.  The  subject  of 
this  notice  remained  at  home  with  his  father  and  learned  the  shoe- 
maker's trade.  In  March,  1855,  he  also  came  to  Keithsburg  with  liia 
newly-married  wife,  and  at  once  engaged  in  the  boot  and  shoe  trade, 
which  he  has  built  up  to  its  present  prosperous  condition.  His. 
marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  A.  Wilson  occurred  in  Lockport,  New  York, 
September  7.  1854.  She  was  born  at  Saratoga  May  1,  1835.  Mr. 
Wliiting  ranks  with  the  foremost  and  most  public  spirited  men  of  hia 
township,  and  his  family  is  justly  esteemed  for  their  social  qualities 
and  literary  tastes. 

William  L.  Range  is  a  son  of  Cliristian  and  Louisa  (Block) 
Range,  and  was  born  and  reared  a  Hessian,  in  what  is  now  a  province 
of  Prussia.  His  father  was  a  baker  bA'  trade,  and  he  was  reared  to 
that  business.  His  education  was  principally  obtained  in  the  common, 
schools.  September  24,  1858,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Caroline  Nagle, 
a  native  of  the  same  place.  On  the  4th  of  October  following  they 
left  their  native  home  to  seek  one  in  America,  and  after  a  perilous 
voyage  of  three  months  on  the  sailing  vessel  Aristiezer,  landed  in 
New  York  January  4,  1859.  During  their  last  four  weeks  on  the  sea 
they  were  reduced  almost  to  a  point  of  starvation,  the  ship  having 
gone  out  of  her  course  during  the  terrible  storms  that  prevailed  in 
the  early  part  of  the  voyage.  After  landing  in  New  York  they  at 
once  came  on  to  Rock  Island,  Illinois,  wdiere  they  remained  about  one 
year,  when  they  came  to  Mercer  county,  and  soon  after  permanently 
located  in  Keithsburg  and  established  a  bakery  and  restaurant,  making 
the  same  their  business  through  life.  They  are  the  parents  of  five 
children  :  Karl  A.  W.  C,  Lewis  W.,  Emma  A.,  Eda  L.,  and  AVilliam  F. 
They  are  members  of  the  Lutheran  Church  of  Rock  Island,  where  the 
older  ones  of  the.  children  have  been  sent  to  be  educated  and  confirmed. 


KEITHSBURG   TOWNSHIP.  199 

Mr.  Kange  was  born  November  24,  1834,  and  Mrs  Range  December 
19,  1832.     He  is  a  member  of  Mercer  Lodge,  Xo.  210,  I.O.O.F. 

Dr.  Samuel  Kelley,  physician  and  surgeon,  is  a  native  of  New 
Jersey,  though  lie  was  reared  in  Ohio,  his  parents  moving  to  Cincinnati 
when  he  was  quite  young.  He  was  born  February  17,  1812,  and  at 
the  age  of  about  twenty  began  the  study  of  law  at  Lexington,  Ken- 
tucky, and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Lafayette,  Lidiana,  where  he  had 
read  law  for  nine  months  with  Hon.  John  Petit  and  Hon.  Godlove 
Orth,  in  1841.  After  practicing  law  a  short  time  he  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  the  study  of  medicine,  which  he  successfully  practiced  in  Ohio 
and  Indiana,  the  last  twelve  years  prior  to  1859  being  spent  in  the 
latter  state.  In  Fountain  county  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Frances  E.,  daughter  of  Mr.  David  Parrott,  September  6,  1849. 
In  1859  Dr.  Kelley  came  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  where  he  has  con- 
tinued in  the  practice  of  his  profession,  and  has  been  a  citizen  of 
Keithsburg,  where  he  is  enjo}ang  the  society  of  his  many  warm  friends. 
He  has  one  son,  Wilber,  born  in  Fountain  county,  Indiana,  October 
27,  1858.  He  is  a  graduate  of  the  Physicians  and  Surgeons  Medical 
College  of  Keokuk,  Iowa,  where  he  received  his  diploma  February  28, 
1882. 

According  to  well  authenticated  tradition  the  Campbells  were  Scotch 
Highlanders  connected  with  the  House  of  Argyle.  During  the  period 
of  religious  persecution  they  fled  to  the  north  of  Ireland  where  John 
Campbell  was  born,  reared  and  married,  and  where  to  him  his  children 
were  born.  In  the  spring  of  1849  he  with  his  wife  Catherine  (McKee) 
emigrated  to  the  United  States,  sailing  in  the  Gerti'ude.  After  landing 
on  the  American  shores  they  at  once  came  on  to  Illinois,  settlmg  in 
Rock  Island,  where  Mr.  Campbell  died  from  sun  stroke  in  1851.  Mrs. 
Campbell  died  in  1857,  leaving  a  family  of  eight  children.  Hugh 
Campbell,  the  eldest  son,  was  born  in  county  Down,  Ireland,  April  7. 
1831.  Soon  after  settling  in  Rock  Island  he  became  an  apprentice  to 
a  wagon  and  carriage  maker.  After  completing  the  trade  in  1860  he 
came  to  Keithsburg  with  a  view  of  following  his  trade  in  this  place, 
which,  however,  was  abandoned  at  tlie  outbreak  of  the  rebellion  in  1861, 
when  he  enlisted  in  company  I,  17th  111.  Vol.  Inf.  After  following  the 
fortunes  of  war  three  years  and  going  safely  through  a  number  of  hard 
fought  battles  he  was  honorably  discharged  and  returned  to  Keithsburg, 
where  he  permanently  settled  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  wagons 
and  carriages.  October  3,  1867,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Mrs.  Mary  C.  Ball,  widow  of  Lieut.  L.  T.  Ball,  of-  company  H,  84th 
111.  Yol.  Inf.,  killed  in  the  late  war  Deceniber  31,  1862.  Mr.  Campbell 
has  been  for  a  number  of  vears  a  member  of  the  eitv  council,  and  his 


200  HISTORY   OF   MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

good  judement  and  thoroiigli  business  principles  have  won  for  him 
many  warm  friends.  Two  other  sons  of  John  Campbell,  John  and  Will- 
iam, are  extensive  farmers  of  Otoe  county,  Nebraska,  the  latter  of 
whom  was  elected  in  1881  state  senator  on  the  republican  ticket. 
Samuel  was  killed  at  Atlanta,  Georgia.  Alexander's  sketch  appears 
elsewhere  in  this  work.  There  were  also  three  daughters  :  Mary,  widow 
of  William  Collins  ;  Elizabeth,  widow  of  William  Walker,  who  is  now 
the  mother  of  eight  sons ;  and  Jane,  wife  of  Samuel  Warnock.  The 
first  two  are  now  residents  of  Nebraska,  the  last  of  Kansas.  Their 
father  was  born  August  14,  1799,  and  their  grandfather,  Hugh  Camp- 
bell, September  22,  1755. 

Charles  A.  Mertz,  lumber  dealer,  was  born  in  the  kingdom 
of  Bavaria,  January  30,  1844.  His  father  died  when  he  was 
four  years  old,  and  in  1854  the  widowed  mother,  taking  her  little 
family,  came  to  America  in  the  sailing  vessel  Magdalin,  and  settled  in 
Rochester,  New  York.  After  a  short  residence  there  they  went  to 
Wisconsin.  In  1861  our  subject  returned  to  New  York,  and  in  January, 
1853,  enlisted  in  company  G,  159tli  N.  Y.  Vols.,  being  a  recruit  in 
that  regiment.  The  first  considerable  battle  in  which  he  was  a  partici- 
pant was  that  of  the  Wilderness ;  then  followed  in  ra])id  succession 
Spottsylvania,  the  North  Anna,  Paumunky  Eiver,  Cold  Harbor,  and 
the  battle  in  front  of  Petersburg,  up  to  August  25th,  in  all  of  which  he 
was  engaged.  On  the  last  date  he  was  captured  at  Reams'  station  on 
the  Weldon  railroad  with  2,600  others.  He  was  confined  first  at 
Petersburg,  then  removed  to  Libby  prison,  and  from  there  to  Belle 
Isle.  In  the  last  two  places  he  spent  three  months.  He  was  taken 
next  to  Salisbury,  where  he  remained  till  February,  1865,  when  there 
began  a  general  perambulation  of  prisoners  in  that  region  of  the  Con- 
federacy on  account  of  the  movements  of  Gen.  Sherman's  army.  From 
Salisbury  he  went  to  Columbia  and  stayed  there  two  weeks  ;  then  about 
as  much  time  was  passed  in  Cliarleston ;  a  stop  of  a  few  days  was  made 
in  Raleigh ;  and  then  the  detatchment  went  on  to  Jamestown,  North 
Carolina,  where  Mr.  Mertz  and  eight  others  made  their  successful  escape 
from  a  camp  of  8,000  by  wading  neck  deep  in  water  past  the  rebel 
sentinel  and  swimming  the  rest  of  the  way  for  a  mile.  From  thence 
his  progress  to  the  Union  lines  was  a  repetition  of  the  experience  of 
every  escaped  prisoner :  he  was  fed  and  piloted  by  negroes,  and  he  hid 
and  wandered  about  in  racking  fear  and  anxiety  for  three  long  weeks, 
and  traveled  240  miles  when  the  squad  struck  the  16th  N.  Y.  cavalry 
in  the  neighborhood  of  Burkesville  Junction,  Virginia.  When  Mr. 
Mertz  was  captured  he  weighed  165  pounds  ;  when  he  got  back  into  the 
Union  camp  his  weight  was  98  pounds.     His  prison  life  forms  a  chapter 


KEITHSBUKG    TOWNSHIP.  201 

of  thnlling  experiences  and  terrible  sufferings,  while  he  was  the  helpless 
witness  of  the  most  atrocious  diabolism  in  the  treatment  of  Union 
prisoners  that  ever  blackened  the  page  of  human  history.  Wlien  the 
159th  was  mustered  out  in  May,  1865,  Mr.  Mertz  was  transferred  to 
company  H,  lOtli  N.  Y.  Inf.,  in  which  he  completed  his  term  of  service 
and  was  discharged  at  New  York  city  in  August  following.  He  came 
directly  to  Mercer  county,  but  shortly  after  went  to  the  oil  regions  of 
Pennsylvania  and  stayed  a  little  while,  after  which  he  went  west  in  the 
employ  of  the  Union  Pacific  Railway  Company.  In  1871  he  returned 
to  this  county  and  settled  in  Keithsburg,  engaging  in  tlie  furniture 
trade  mth  C.  C.  Wordin,  the  present  gentlemanly  clerk  of  the  county 
court.  In  May,  1880,  he  embarked  in  the  lumber  business  with  his 
brother,  their  place  of  trade  being  on  the  corner  Washington  and 
Third  streets.  Besides  a  saw-mill  here  they  have  another  on  the  Iowa 
side  above  ]N^ew  Boston.  October  27,  1873,  he  celebrated  his  nup- 
tials with  Augusta  Belle,  daughter  of  H.  G.  Calhoun.  She  was  born 
in  Keithsburg,  November  29,  1862.  They  have  one  child,  Ora  B., 
born  September  13,  1874.  Mr.  Mertz  is  a  member  of  Eobert  Burns 
Lodge,  No.  113,  Illinois  Chapter,  No.  17,  and  Galesburg  Commandery, 
No.  8.  Lewis  L.  Mertz,  brother  of  the  above,  was  born  also  in 
Bavaria,  February  11,  1847,  and  emigrated  to  this  country  with  the 
rest  of  the  familv.  On  February  1,  1864,  he  enlisted  at  Rochester, 
New^  York,  in  Battery  L,  1st  N.  Y.  Light  Artillery,  and  served  until 
mustered  out  at  Elmira,  June  19,  1865.  Beginning  with  the  battle 
of  the  Wilderness,  he  fought  throughout  the  campaign  following 
up  to  the  smTender  of  Lee.  At  the  age  of  tw^elve  he  entered 
the  AVoodbury  Engine  Works,  where  he  learned  the  trade  of  an 
engineer,  which  he  has  followed  in  difterent  places,  but  particularly 
in  the  oil  regions  of  Pennsylvania.  In  December,  1865,  he  came 
to  Keithsburg  and  sold  furniture  with  his  brother  a  short  while ; 
in  1867  he  engaged  with  a  surveying  party  on  the  L^nion  Pacific 
railway ;  in  1868  he  went  into  the  gold  mines  of  Montana,  where 
he  remained  nearly  four  years.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Janet, 
daughter  of  Daniel  Keith,  July  6,  1871.  She  was  born  in  this  place  in 
September,  1849.  They  settled  on  a  farm  of  320  acres  in  Boone  county, 
Iowa,  and  lived  there  six  years.  In  May,  1880,  Mr.  Mertz  removed 
with  his  family  to  Keithsburg,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  the 
furniture  and  lumber  business.  He  is  a  Royal  Ai'ch  Mason.  His  four 
children  are:  Sibyl  J.,  Jacob  R.,  William  B.,  Elizabeth  M.  The 
father  of  these  brothers  was  named  John  J.  Mertz,  and  was  a  native  of 
Bavaria,  where  he  was  bom  in  the  ^^ear  1800.  In  early  life  he  learned 
the  trade  of  a  cooper,  but  later  he  became  quite  wealthy,  and  engaged 


202  HISTORY    OF    >rERCER    -V>,'D    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

.in  farming.  In  the  Eevolution  of  1848,  lie  lost  his  property  by  sign- 
ing with  other  men,  and  in  the  same  year  died.  The  mother,  Mather 
Mina  (Watchter),  born  in  1805,  has  her  home  with  her  children  in  this 
place. 

Dennis  Murto,  merchant,  was  born  in  Sligo  county,  Ireland,  Jan- 
uary 1,  1882,  and  is  the  third  son  of  a  family  of  six  children  whose 
father  died  early  in  life,  leaving  them  to  the  care  of  their  widowed 
mother,  who  soon  after  sold  out  her  interest  there  and  went  to 
England,  where  she  remained  till  August  1860.  She  then  came  to 
America,  bringing  her  three  daughters.  Dennis,  the  subject  of  this 
notice,  left  England  in  a  full  clipper  American  sailing  vessel,  the 
Martha  Greenleaf,  and'  after  a  voyage  of  nineteen  weeks  arrived 
in  jSTew  Orleans  April  4,  1858.  He  at  once  pushed  on  up  the  Missis- 
sippi river  to  Davenport,  Iowa,  but  soon  returned  to  Oquawka, 
lUinois,  and  liu'ed  out  to  work  for  Mr.  C.  AY.  Harris,  beorinnino;  at 
$10  per  month,  and  remained  for  three  years.  He  was  also  for  a 
short  time  engaged  in  driving  stage  and  carrying  the  mail  fi-om  Sage- 
town  to  Keithsburg.  On  August  14,  1862,  being  refused  a  place 
in  the  ranks  of  the'  armv  in  the  war  for  the  Union,  he  started  for 
California,  from  where  he  returned  to  Keithsburg  in  October,  1865, 
and  at  once  engaged  as  a  day  laborer.  In  1874,  in  company  with  his 
brother,  he  began  the  mercantile  business  in  the  grocery  line,  and  in 
1880  he  become  sole  owner  of  his  present  prosperous  business. 
Besides  his  town  property  he  owns  two  good  farms  in  Mercer  county. 
December  6,  1865,  he  married  Miss  Bridget  Gilrain,  a  native  of  Ire- 
land, by  whom  he  has  one  child,  Mary  Rose. 

Alexander  Ca3ipbell  was  born  June  22,  1846,  in  countv  Down, 
Ireland,  from  whence  three  years  later  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
America  and  settled  in  Eock  Island,  lUinois.  In  the  early  part  of  the 
late  war,  though  only  sixteen  years  of  age,  he  enlisted  in  company  D, 
lltli  Iowa  Inf.,  and  carried  a  gun  three  years.  At  the  end  of  this 
time  he  re-enlisted  and  was  chosen  color-bearer,  and  carried  the  old 
flao-  to  the  end  of  the  war,  when  he  was  honorablv  discharged,  having 
served  his  country  as  a  soldier  four  years  before  he  was  twenty-one. 
On  the  23d  of  July,  1864,  in  front  of  Atlanta,  his  brother  Samuel  was 
killed  while  fighting  by  his  side.  After  his  return  from  the  war 
Mr.  Campbell  came  to  Keithsburg  and  learned  the  trade  of  wagon  and 
carriage  making,  which  business  he  followed  until  1878,  when  he  was 
appointed  mail  agent  on  the  Galva  and  Keithsburg  route  of  the 
Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  railroad,  which  position  he  has  since 
held.  December  16,  1870,  he  was  united'  in  marriage  "with  Sarah  A., 
daughter    of  John    and     Hannah    (Wilson)    Xe^^us,    early    settlers 


KEITHSBURG    TOWNSIIII'.  203 

of  Mercer  county.  She  was  born  in  Ohio,  February  19,  1848,  but 
was  reared  in  Keithsburg.  Tliey  haye  a  family  of  tiye  children  : 
Daisy  L.,  "Walter  C,  Maud  G.,  Mabel  X.  and  Harry  L. 

Dr.  George  B.  Sapp,  dentist,  was  born  in  Clermont  county,  Ohio, 
July  23,  1832.  He  receiyed  the  greater  part  of  his  education  in  a  log 
8chool-h<nise  in  his  natiye  county.  In  1854  he  came  to  Illinois.  In 
1860  he  began  studying  in  Decatur,  where  he  completed  a  course  of 
study  he  had  preyiously  begun.  In  1865  he  came  to  Mercer  county 
and  began  the  practice  of  his  profession.  The  doctor  has  been  twice 
married.  His  first  marriage  was  in  1860,  but  death  soon  depriyed 
him  of  his  partner.  His  second  marriage  was  on  June  22,  1871,  to 
Miss  Norah  Plesants.  They  haye  three  children,  whose  names  in  the 
order  of  their  ages  are  :  Ula,  Rosa  G.,  and  George  B. 

John  Helwig,  butcher,  is  a  son  of  Ohristopher  Helwig,  and  was 
born  in  Germany  December  26,  1830.  In  1856  he  emigrated  with  his 
parents  to  America,  and  with  them  settled  in  Dunkirk,  in  the  State  of 
New  York,  where  the  most  of  the  family  and  his  parents  still  reside. 
In  1868  he  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Hancock  county,  where  he 
remained  till  1875,  when  he  came  to  Keithsburg  and  engaged  in  his 
present  business.  Since  his  residence  in  Keithsburg  he  has  been  three 
times  elected  as  one  of  the  town  board,  and  is  one  of  the  school 
directors  He  is  a  member  of  Mercer  Lodge,  No.  210,  I.O.O.F.,  and 
of  Encampment  No.  89.  May  5,  1861,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to 
Miss  Katharine  Hacker,  a  natiye  of  Bayaria.  They  haye  four  children  : 
John  L.,  Frank  "W.,  Lewis  A.,  and  Charles. 

Charles  G.  Sloctmb,  lumber  dealer,  was  born  at  Albany,  White- 
side county,  Illinois,  January  1,  1843,  and  is  a  son  of  Mr.  Alfred 
Slocumb,  an  old  and  well  known  settler  of  that  county,  who  helped  to 
lay  out  the  tovm  of  Albany.  He  died  there  September  9,  1860,  after 
a  life  of  usefulness  and  industry.  Charles,  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  reared  as  most  boys  in  a  new  country,  at  hard  work,  with  but  lim- 
ited  means  of  obtaining  an  education,  yet  by  industry  and  close  a]:)pli- 
. cation  to  study  he  has  acquired  a  good  business  education.  In  1865 
he  went  into  the  army,  and  after  his  return  home  engaged  in  mer- 
chandising at  Hayana,  Mason  county,  Illinois.  This  he  followed  but  a 
short  time  when  he  sold  out  and  went  to  Chippewa  Falls,  Wisconsin, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  brick,  which  he  followed 
about  three  years.  After  this  he  engaged  in  boating  on  the  Mississippi 
riyer.  In  1876  he  came  to  Keithsburg,  where  he  permanently  located, 
and  engaged  in  the  lumber  business.  He  also  owns  a  mill  here  for  the 
manufacture  of  lumber.     March  20,  1875,  he  was  united  in  marriage 


204  HISTORY    OF   JMERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

with  Miss  Maria  E.  Stephens,  Df  Moiirit  Vernon.  Iowa.  They  hav& 
two  children :  Clyde  E.  and  Maud  S.  Mr.  Slocumb  is  a  member  of 
Eobert  Bm-ns  Lodge,  No.  113,  A.F.A.M. 

In  all  professions  and  occupations  there  are  those  who  are  "fussy," 
nervous  and  bombastic,  making  great  noise  over  small  achievements, 
while  others  are  quiet,  unobtrusive,  meritorious  workers  in  whatever 
sphere  they  occupy  in  the  world's  great  drama.  Such  an  one  is  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  Dr.  John  S.  Ai^len.  He  is  not  old  enough  to  be 
a  pioneer  of  the  country  or  in  his  profession,  but  is  performing  well  the 
part  which  he  has  chosen  in  life's  duties.  Dr.  Allen  is  comparatively 
a  young  man,  ha^dng  been  born  in  Galesburg,  Illinois,  November  23, 
1851.  He  is  the  seventh  son  of  Sheldon  W.  and  Fidelia  (Leach)  Allen. 
The  doctor  attended  the  common  schools  of  the  citv  of  Galesburg,  and 
also  Knox  College  and  Lombard  University.  He  also  took  a  course  in 
the  Western  Business  College  of  the  same  city.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
two  years  he  commenced  the  study  of  medicine  in  the  office  of  Dr.  J.  B. 
Vivion,  of  Galesburg,  and  after  a  due  course  of  study  he  attended  three 
terms  at  Hahnemann  Medical  College  of  Chicago,  and  graduated  in  1877. 
He  settled  in  Kewanee,  where  he  remained  but  a  short  time,  and  then 
removed  to  Keithsburg,  where  he  has  since  remained,  doing  a  fine 
business  in  his  profession.  Dr.  Allen  was  married  June  20,  1877,  to. 
Miss  Florence,  daughter  of  H.  M.  and  Jane  Condie,  of  Chicaga.  They 
have  two  children :  Harry  S.  and  John  L.  Dr.  Allen  is  a  member  of 
the  Order  of  Odd-Fellows,  and  is  quite  an  active  worker  in  the  interests, 
of  the  order.  Politically  he  is  a  republican,  but  pays  more  attention 
to  medicine  than  to  politics,  and  it  has  been  the  good  fortune  of  few 
young  professional  men  to  more  quickly  win  the  confidence  of  the 
majority  of  the  people  than  Dr.  Allen  has. 

Lansing  K.  Jenne,  veterinary  surgeon,  is  a  son  of  John  and  Sarah 
(Freeman)  Jenne.  He  was  born  in  Genesee  county,  ISTew  York,  June 
15,  1820.  November  -t,  181:0,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Submit  Ashley, 
a  native  of  Ontario  county,  New  York.  In  about  1850  he  removed  to. 
Michigan,  and  settled  near  Grand  Rapids,  where  he  bought  land  and 
made  a  farm  by  chopping  it  out  of  the  green  woods.  This  farm  he 
sold,  and  in  1872  removed  to  Muscatine,  Iowa,  where  he  remained  till 
1880,  when  he  came  to  Keithsburg.  Early  in  life  he  paid  some  atten- 
tion to  the  study  of  veterinary  surgery,  and  by  careful  study  and  good 
luck  has  become  master  of  his  profession.  He  is  the  father  of  six  chil- 
dren, living:  Newton  E.,  Edward  S.,  Frank  F.,  JohnW.,  Sarah  S.,  and 
Lua  M. 


MILLERSBURG    T()WNSIII1\  205 


MILLERSBURG  TOA\^SHIP. 

As  we  begin  tlie  task  of  wi-iting  th'e  lirst  liistory  of  this  township, 
knowing  that  ahnost  a  half  century  has  passed  since  tlie  first  settlement 
was  made  within  its  boundaries  by  civilized  men,  without  so  much  as 
a  diary  of  incidents  and  dates  being  kept  of  what  has  transpired,  we 
can  but  feel  that  the  task  is  a  ditticult  one.  The  resources  for  data 
concerning  the  early  settlement  has  been  rapidly  decreasing  during 
the  later  years,  till  at  present  only  a  very  small  number  of  the 
pioneers  remain  to  tell  the  story.  Were  the  memory  so  absolutely 
perfect  that  nothing  once  known  could  slip  away,  we  could  yet  expect 
to  pen  for  the  present  all  things  of  interest  that  have  transpired  in 
Millersburg  township  during  the  past  fifty  years. 

But  notwithstanding  all  the  imperfections  of  memory,  enough  of 
the  history  of  Millersburg  township  remains  to  impress  upon  the 
minds  of  the  rising  generation  the  noble  and  resolute  character  of 
the  pioneers  who  first  planted  civilization  and  civilized  institutions 
within  its  boundaries.  Those  old  pioneers,  'tis  true,  did  not  lead  great 
armies  like  Genghis  Khan,  or  a  Napoleon,  or  Caesar,  devastating 
whole  empires  and  kingdoms,  but  they  did  a  noble  work — a  work 
that  should  crown  their  memories  with  the  honor  of  pushing  out 
upon  the  frontier  and  laying  the  foundations  of  happy  and  pleasant 
homes  for  those  who  should  come  after  them,  in  a  wilderness  beset 
with  the  privations  and  toils  inherent  to  early  settlement  of  almost 
every  country.  Let  us  seat  ourselves  by  the  grassy  mound  that  marks 
the  resting  place  of  their  aged  dust  and  study  their  characters  and  the 
part  they  played  in  the  world's  drama,  and  then  ask  ourselves  these 
questions  :  Are  they  not  deserving  of  all  the  honors  we  can  heap  upon 
them  :'  Can  the  gay,  festive  boy  afford  to  pass  lightly  by  the  character 
of  his  now  sleeping  ancestor,  to  study  the  character  and  lives  of  those 
who  have  become  eminent  in  the  world's  history  because  of  the  cir- 
cumstances which  made  them^  Is  there  not  a  lesson  for  the  blithe 
and  lively  girl  of  to-day  in  the  patience  of  that  old  grandmother  now 
sweetly  sleeping  beneath  the  sod,  after  so  many  years  of  earnest  toil, 
that  her  granddaughter  might  live  the  life  of  a  queen  instead  of  the 
life  of  a  slave  in  a  desert? 

There  is  a  lesson  for  all  in  the  character  of  these  sturdy  pioneers, 
whose  toiling  hands  only  rested  when  the  angel  said :  ' '  Rest ;  your 
work  is  done.''  That  less(»n  can  only  be  learned  from  the  institutions 
they  planted  and  nurtured  till  they  were  called  away. 

Let  us  look  over  and  locate  the  territory  of  the  section  whose 


206  HISTORY   or   FIERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

liistorv  we  are  to  write.  It  consists  of  tliirtj-six  square  miles,  bounded 
on  the  north  by  Duncan  township,  on  the  east  by  Mercer,  on  the  south 
by  Abington,  and  on  the  west  by  'New  Boston. 

Let  us  imagine  ourselves  near  the  center  of  this  tract  of  country, 
looking  around  us  from  some  high  eminence,  a  half  century  ago. 
Almost  at  our  feet  is  the  Edwards  river,  Cjuietly  mo^^ng  along  to  join 
the  father  of  waters,  flowing  almost  directly  west  across  the  township. 
On  either  side  it  is  almost  invariably  fringed  wdth  narrow,  flat 
bottoms  overgrown  with  forest  trees,  and  hedged  in  by  abrupt  blufls 
reaching  to  the  height  of  sixty,  and  sometimes  eighty,  feet.  Casting 
our  eye  to  the  northwest  we  can  see  the  forest  undulations,  like  the 
billows  of  an  angry  sea,  where  breaks  of  Camp  creek  and  those  of  the 
Edwards  river  meet.  This  last-named  stream  flow^s  southwest  across 
sections  5  and  7.  The  Edwards  makes  a  sharp  curve  on  sections  8  and 
9,  approaching  almost  to  within  one  mile  of  the  north  line  of  the 
townshij).  Looking  to  the  northeast  of  the  township  we  see  the  undu- 
lations growing  smaller  and  smaller,  until  they  present  almost  a 
straight  line  on  the  horizon  ;  this  is  partly  timber  and  the  rest  prairie. 
Turning  to  the  south,  a  beautiful  landscape  meets  the  eye.  The  tall, 
waving  grass  marks  the  gentle  undulations  of  the  land  on  the  south 
and  southeast ;  on  the  southwest  the  breaks  of  Pope  creek  extend 
north  of  the  south  line  about  one  mile.  AVhat  were  at  flrst  low  sags, 
extending  back  from  the  streams,  recei^dng  quietly  the  water  exuding 
from  the  upland  and  bearing  it  on  without  a  ripple,  have  now  grown  in 
many  places  into  deep  gulches,  growing  deeper  with  each  freshet.  At 
the  time  of  the  flrst  white  settlement  the  Indians  of  this  part  of  the 
state  liad  been  conquered  and  most  of  them  were  gone.  Could  we 
have  stood  here  flfty  years  ago,  looking  down  into  the  Edwards  river  as 
it  rolled  gently  along,  we  would  have  realized  that  the  red  men  who 
once  in  awhile  come  to  ^^ew  the  hunting-grounds  of  their  fathers  and 
visit  the  graves  of  their  kindred  are  almost  the  only  visitors  to  this 
locality.  The  deer,  the  wolf,  the  wild  duck,  the  ])rairie  chicken  and 
the  sand-hill  crane  sport  upon  the  banks,  watching  the  flsh  as  they  play 
in  its  placid  waters,  without  fear  of  being  molested  even  by  the  skulk- 
.  ing  red  man  whom  they  had  been  accustomed  to  see  creei)ing  down  the 
ravine,  through  the  tall  grass,  to  surprise  them  in  their  haunts.  These 
were  balmy  days  for  these  inhabitants,  of  so  many  difterent  species. 
Tlie  red  man  of  the  forest  had  taken  up  his  march  in  the  direction  of 
the  setting  sun,  to  make  room  for  the  industrious  settler  who  was  soon 
to  follow,  taking  nothing  with  him  but  his  wigwam  and  weapons. 

As  the  red  man  moved  out  to  make  room  for  the  civilized  settler, 


MILLERSBURG   ToWNsiIIP.  ^  207 

SO  must  these  motley,  but  interesting  and  happy  groups  of  birds  and 
quadrupeds  move  out  and  give  place  to  the  domesticated  of  their  kind. 

Of  the  man  of  the  forest  but  few  traces  of  his  haunts  or  works 
remain,  save  a  few  mounds  on  section  4.  The  section  is  well  timbered 
with  oak,  hickory,  walnut  and  other  kinds  of  forest  trees.  Of  so  great 
antiquity  are  these  mounds  that  the  forest  trees  rising  from  their 
summits  compare  in  size  and  age  with  those  of  the  surrounding  forest. 
These  mounds  are  from  three  to  six  feet  high.  From  some  of  them 
have  been  taken  tomahaw^ks  of  stone,  arrow  heads,  human  bones, 
which  nature's  forces  had  not  yet  reduced  to  common  clay,  and  other 
trinkets.  To  us  here  is  the  history  of  a  race  unwritten  so  far  as  we 
can  tell,  save  by  the  implements  they  buried  with  their  dead.  Of  the 
lower  orders  of  the  early  inhabitants  few"  remain,  and  they  poke 
through  hedge  and  wood  to  escape  the  hunter  and  his  dog. 

The  whole  scene  is  now  changed.  The  northwest  quarter,  which 
was  originally  all  timber,  is  now  partly  cut  oif,  and  herds  of  cattle  and 
sheep  dot  its  hills  and  slopes.  Looking  to  the  northeast  quarte;*, 
beautiful  farms  of  waving  fields  of  wdieat  and  growing  corn,  w^ith  here 
and  there  a  forest  grove,  meet  the  eye.  Turning  to  that  part  of  the 
township  south  of  the  Edwards,  the  fields  of  tall  and  waving  wild 
grass  have  disappeared,  in  lieu  of  which  we  now  behold  beautiful 
■farms,  with  cozy  dwellings,  inhabited  by  a  prosperous  people.  This 
section  of  the  township  for  all  agricultural  purposes  cannot  be  excelled 
in  the  county ;  nor  can  the  part  north  of  the  Edwards  be  excelled  for 
fine  stock  farms. 

PIONEER  SETTLERS  AND  SETTLEMENTS. 

It  will  not  be  out  of  place  to  drop  a  few  remarks  as  to  the  charac- 
ter of  the  pioneers,  for  the  character  of  history  depends  upon  that  of 
the  men  who  made  it.  The  greater  part  of  the  pioneers  and  early 
settlers  wdio  located  in  Millersburg  township  were  from  Pennsylvania 
and  Ohio,  a  few  coming  from  Virginia,  some  from  Ireland,  some  from 
^ew  York  and  Kentucky,  with  now  and  then  a  settler  from  some 
'Other  quarter  of  civilization.  But,  remarkable  as  it  may  seem,  they 
belonged  for  the  most  part  to  the  same  class  of  society.  They 
"were  people  of  small  means,  whose  object  in  coming  to  the  western 
wilds  was  to  procure  for  themselves  and  their  families  homes  which 
their  means  would  not  procure  wdiere  they  were  reared.  They  were 
■of  that  industrious  and  economical  class  wIkj  had  not  only  been 
reared  under  the  influence  of  Christianity,  but  had  been  taught  to 
obey  its  precepts  from  a  high  sense  of  moral  honor  and  dignity. 
Like  the  Puritan  fathers,  tliev  were  scarcely  housed  in  their  cabins 


208  HISIYIRY   OF   MEKCER   AND   HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

before   they  began    to    erect  school-houses  and  churches,   the  same 
building  being  used  for  both  purposes.     Owing  to  their  proximity  to 
their  neighbors  on  the  Mississippi,  they  endured  less  privations  and 
hardships  than  did  the  colonists  who  came  over  in  the  Mayflower  ;  but 
they  were  men  and  women  who  possessed  no  less  courage  and  earnest- 
ness for  the  principles  which  had  been  taught  them  under  the  paternal 
roof.     Had  it  been  theirs  to  exercise  that  stubborness  to  the  edicts  of 
kings  and  priests  in  defense  of  human  rights,  as  it  was  that  of  the 
pilgrim  fathers,   they   would    have  proved    equally  indomitable  and 
immovable.      It  has  been  remarked  that  men  die,   are  buried,   and 
even  their  graves  are  lost ;    but   their  influence,   like  the  stains  of 
human  gore,  cannot  be  removed  from  the  coummunity  where  they 
resided.     This,  we  must  admit,  is  true  of  Millersburg  township ;  its. 
society-  is  pushing  along  in  the  direction  laid  out  by  its  first  settlers. 
The  township  is  divided  into  two  geographical  divisions  by  the 
Edwards  river.     Between  the  early  settlers  of  each  there  was  but  little 
communication,  because  of  there  being  no  bridges  across  this  stream. 
Settlements  were  made  in  the  township  both  north  and  south  of  the 
river  about  the  -same  time  in  the  flill  of  1834.     The  first  families  ta 
locate  south  of  the  river  were  Harrison    Kiggs,    Ebenezer  CreswelL 
and  Edward  Willitts.     The  first  located  on  section  30,  and  erected  the 
first  cabin  in  the  township  ;  his  wife,  Mrs.  Julette  Riggs,  still  resides, 
upon  the  same  farm  where  she  and  her  husband  fij'st  located,   and 
where  she  is  patiently  waiting  the  summons  that  shall  call  her  to  a. 
world  with  less  privations  and  cares.     The  second,  Ebenezer  Creswell, 
located  on  section  21,  where  he  built  a  saw-mill  in  1834  or  1835.    This, 
was  on  Camp  creek  and  was  the  first  mill   in  the  township.     The 
Willitts  family  located  on  the  same  section  as  did  Creswell.     Among 
others  who  came  shortly  after  were  :    Thomas  Riggs  in  1836,  on  sec- 
tion 25  ;  Rice  Peckingbaugh,  on  section  21,  in  1840  ;  Charles  Griffith, 
on  section  16,  in  1839,  where  he  yet  resides  ;  Isaac  Burson,  on  section 
20,  in  1837  ;  ^Y.  Hubbard,  on  section  32,  hi  1836  ;  Edward  Brady,  Sr., 
in  1842  ;  John  T.  McGinnis,  in  1846  ;  Richard  and  John  S.  Kidoa 
came  in  1845  ;  William  ludoo  and  his  father  came  in  1847  ;  John  and 
Edward  Brady  came  in  1842  ;  Peter  Spangler,  Thomas  Jackson  and 
others  came  about  1840,  and  located  south  of  the  Edwards.    Thus  was. 
civilized  society  planted  in  Millersburg    on   the  south  of  the  river. 
North  of  the  Edwards  the  first  settler  located  was  Benijah  Lloyd,  on 
section  5,  in  1834.     Two  years  later  the  town  of  Millersburg  was  laid 
out  by  the  Miller  brothers,  who  had  previously  settled    in  another 
township,  about  1834.     Among  those  who  located  in  and  around  the 
new  town  were  :    PI.   W.  Thornton,  in  1836  ;   James  Thompson,  in 


MILLERSBURG    TOWNSHIP.  209 

1838  ;  Esq.  Routzong,  in  1838  ;  Erastus,  William  and  Joseph  Deni- 
8on  came  prior  to  1840 ;  Judge  Gilmore  came  a-bout  1838,  and  after- 
ward moved  south  of  the  river  opposite  where  the  Peniel  church 
now  stands.  All  of  these  located  either  in  the  village  of  Millersburg 
or  near  bj.  I.  M.  Gilmore  located  east  of  the  village  about  1840  ; 
L.  B.  Howe,  Thomas  Brighton,  Elbridge  Howe,  W.  A.  Bridgford  and 
his  son,  O.  A.  Bridgford,  came  about  1840.  These  and  a  few  others 
were  the  pioneers  who  located  in  the  north  part  of  the  township 
during  the  period  of  its  early  settlement.  William  Cline  was  an 
€arly  settler  and  great  hunter ;  his  brother.  Christian  Cline,  located  in 
Millersburg. 

From  1840  to  1855  the  township  settled  rajiidl}',  and  but  little  land 
was  left  unoccupied.  For  the  names  and  history  of  manj  of  those 
families,  reference  may  be  had  to  the  biographical  department  of  this 
township.  Millersburg  township  was  one  of  the  first  to  be  settled 
away  from  the  Mississippi  river.  It  now  seems  a  short  journey  to 
the  river,  but  it  must  be  remembered  that  half  a  century  ago  there 
were  no  laid  out  roads  across  the  country  and  the  streams  were 
without  bridges.  Then  the  only  products  that  would  bring  money  or 
could  be  exchanged  for  the  necessities  of  life,  were  wheat  and  pork, 
and  these  must  be  transported  to  the  river  towns  ;  nor  was  this  all : 
there  were  but  few  wagons  in  the  country.  Sleds  were  used  in  summer 
as  well  as  in  winter.  Previous  to  the  settlements  in  Millersburg,  only 
three  or  four  years,  the  Indians  had  control  of  all  the  country  away 
from  the  river  to  Rock  Island.  Till  about  1840  the  settlers  saw  hard 
times.  Their  products,  wheat  and  pork,  were  exchanged  at  low 
figures  for  goods  at  enormous  prices.  Many  were  dependent  on 
credit.  But  economy  and  industry,  such  as  the  settlers  of  Millersburg 
possessed,  in  such  a  country  of  rich  land,  was  soon  to  overcome  the 
various  impediments  which  then  beset  her  people.  The  country  was 
wild  and  the  health  of  the  people  was  not  good.  Chills  and  fevers 
were  sure  visitors,  and  not  unfrequently  permanent  inmates  of  the 
pioneer  homes.  With  the  improvement  of  health  and  circumstances, 
many  who  had  found  it  difficult  to  get  the  benefit  of  the  merchant's 
credit,  established  for  themselves  a  better  credit  than  those  whose 
credit  they  had  sought  ever  had.  At  the  present  time  some  of  the 
most  wealthy  citizens  of  the  township  are  those  who  had  hard  work  to 
keep  the  wolf  from  their  door. 

The  manners  and  customs  of  the  early  settlers  and  pioneers  were 
those  of  a  plain  but  honest  people.  They  were  social  among  them- 
selves and  hospitable  to  strangers.  Their  houses  were  small  and  their 
food  coarse,  but  welcome  to  all.     Each  settler's  neighborhood  might  be 


210  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

bounded  by  a  circle  wliose  diameter  was  twenty  miles.     Were  a  family^ 
in  distress  willing  bands  were  ready  to  administer  to  its  wants. 

The  entertainments,  sncli  as  the  people  now  enjoy,  were  few  and  far 
between,  and  they  amused  themselves  in  hunting  the  wolf,  which  then 
could  be  heard  upon  every  elevation  and  hollow.  The  last  great  hunt 
of  this  kind  came  olf  in  1840.  A  large  tract  of  country  was  surrounded. 
The  point  for  meeting  was  southeast  of  Millersburg,  north  of  the 
Edwards.  Two  hundred  deer  were  corralled  in  the  ring,  but  the 
wolves  made  good  their  escape.  The  deer,  which  at  this  time  were 
plenty,  disappeared  almost  entirely  between  1844  and  1850.  Early 
settlers  were  annoyed  greatly  by  the  wolves.  "When  they  killed  fresh 
meat  the  wolves  would  come  around  the  house,  set  up  a  dismal,  heart- 
rending howl,  and  even  skip  about  over  the  roof,  but  they  were  so  sly 
that  one  was  seldom  killed. 

Among  tlie  early  settlers  came  a  few  who  delighted  to  spend  their 
time  in  hunting  and  fishing,  and  others  who  looked  upon  horse-racing 
and  other  kindred  amusements  as  the  highest  calling  of  humanity. 
These,  like  the  red  man,  could  not  endure  the  telling  blows  and  pros- 
perity of  the  more  civilized  habits  and  customs  which  predominated, 
and  have  long  since  disappeared  from  among  the  citizens  of  Millers- 
burg township. 

Mrs.  Julette  Riggs,  the  pioneer  settler,  now  living  on  section  30, 
had  great  anxiety  to  see  an  Indian  baby.  She  called  at  a  hut  near  by 
and  implored  the  inmates  to  bring  the  little  red  skin  out  that  she 
might  examine  it,  but  the  mother  was  not  so  desirous  of  exhibiting  her 
offspring  as  her  palefaced  sisters  seem  to  be,  and  coldly  imformed  Mrs. 
Riggs  if  she  desired  to  satisfy  her  curiosity  she  must  come  in,  and  in 
she  went.  William  Drury,  when  he  fii'st  came  to  the  settlement  south 
of  the  Edwards,  says  Mrs.  Riggs  was  exceedingly  hungry  for  meat, 
Mrs.  Riggs  being  out  of  that  article  at  the  time.  Drury  went  coon 
liunting  and  caught  several  coons,  which  he  had  cooked,  and  they 
were  eaten  by  him  with  the  remark,  "They  are  superior  to  mutton  in 
fiiavor  and  taste." 

Almost  with  the  early  settlers  of  Mercer  county  there  was  formed  a 
company  of  bandits,  supposed  to  have  theu-  rendezvous  in  the  north- 
east of  Mercer  and  the  south  part  of  Rock  Island  counties,  which 
greatly  alarmed  the  settlers  of  Millersburg  township,  especially  at  such 
times  as  they  had  received  any  money.  The  story  is  told  us  of  Joseph 
King,  living  near  Millersburg  at  that  time,  having  received  $700.  He 
could  not  secrete  it  in  his  pockets,  as  it  was  in  gold  and  silver,  and 
there  were  no  banks  in  the  country.  He  was  so  scared  that  he  would 
not  even  carry  it  home,  but  gave  it  to  a  friend,  who  took  it  home  for 


MILLERSBURG   TOWNSHIP.  211 

liim.  His  uneasiness  did  not  cease  here.  He  cleaned  up  his  fowling- 
piece  and  stood  guard  till  he  could  invest  his  money,  which  having 
been  done  he  remarked,  ' '  Money  is  a  good  thing  to  have,  but  a  source 
of  pleasure  to  be  rid  of  when  one  feels  unsafe." 

The  tirst  death  that  occurred  in  the  township  was  in  1835.  While 
Benijah  Lloyd  was  on  his  way  to  his  claim  on  section  4,  his  son,  nearly 
seven  years  old,  fell  out  of  the  wagon  and  was  run  over  by  the  wheels, 
killing  him  instantly.  There  were  no  neighbors  to  assist  in  the  funeral 
except  Ebenezer  Ci-eswell  and  his  hired  man.  The  remains  were 
interred  at  the  new  home  on  section  4.  We  have  been  told  by  good 
authority  that  Benijah  Lloyd  was  the  first  to  settle  in  Millersburg  town- 
ship, and  equally  good  authority  informs  us  that  Hiram  Hardy,  Albert 
P.  Taylor  (at  one  time  sheriif  of  the  county,  at  another  county  clerk) 
and  Ebenezer  Creswell  were  here  before  him. 

Alfred  Gray,  a  wagonmaker  by  trade,  and  John  Jackson,  a  black- 
smith, who  had  a  shop  near  where  Joy  is  now  located,  were,  we  have 
reason  to  believe,  the  first  tradesmen  of  this  kind  in  the  township. 

The  early  settlers  used  to  go  to  Bald  Bluff  (now  Henderson  county) 
for  medical  aid.  Benijah  Lloyd  thinks  the  first  physician  to  locate  in 
the  township  was  Dr.  Martin  Willitts,  at  Millersburg.  Another  early 
physician  was  Dr.  Daniel  Pickley,  an  early  sheriff  of  the  county.  The 
first  preaching  Mr.  Lloyd  remembers  of  in  the  township  was  at  the 
house  of  Abraham  Miller,  by  a  preacher  from  (John)  Farlow's  Grove, 
named  James,  a  predestinarian  Baptist. 

VILLAGES. 

Millersburg  township  has  two  villages,  Millersburg  and  Joy.  The 
former  is  the  oldest  laid-out  town  in  the  county  back  from  the  river, 
and  has  a  history  connected  with  the  county  second  to  none  in 
importance.  It  was  laid  out  in  1836  by  John  Miller,  after  whom  the 
town  and  township  was  named.  Of  the  Miller  family  there  were 
John,  George,  Abraham,  Isaac,  and  Philip,  who  were  brothers,  and 
Abraham,  Jr.,  son  of  George.  Abraham,  Jr.,  is  now  living  in 
Oregon,  The  Millers  came  to  Mercer  county  from  Indiana  (they 
were  formerly  from  Tennessee),  and  located  in  Perryton  at  Sugar 
Grove  in  1834.  Abraham,  Jr.,  was  one  of  the  first  county  clerks  of 
Mercer  county.  There  is  not  one  of  the  family  living  in  the  county  at 
this  time.  The  family  was  remarkable  for  their  love  of  pioneer  life, 
and  the  remaining  members,  when  the  country  here  became  settled, 
moved  west. 

When  Millersburg  was  first  laid  out  it  seemed  a  fit  location  for 
almost  anything  else  rather  than  a  town.  '  The  country  around  could 


212  HISTOKY    OF   IVIEECEE   AIv^D    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

scarcely  be  said  to  be  even  sparsely  settled.  Abraham  Miller,  Jr.,  is 
said  to  haye  built  the  first  dwelling-house  inside  the  corporation. 
•James  Thompson  and  William  Drury  soon  after  erected  the  first  store- 
room and  sold  the  first  goods.  In  1838  Erastus  Denison  erected  the 
first  hotel.  The  building  is  still  standing.  It  is  a  two-story  frame. 
The  lower  story  is  now  used  for  a  store-room.  The  upper  is  occupied 
by  the  I.O.O.F.  lodge.  William  Pmckney  established  a  pottery  here 
in  1837  or  1838.  The  first  doctor  to  locate  in  the  town  was  Martin 
Willitts.  Among  the  first  attorneys  to  locate  in  the  town  was  H.  W. 
Thornton,  who  has  retired  from  the  law  practice  and  now  lives  on  his 
farm  adjoining  the  village.  The  first  blacksmith  shop  located  here  was 
•erected  by  Thomas  Biglow  about  1836  or  1837.  The  first  postoflice 
was  established  at  Millersburg  in  1837  or  1838,  and  mail  was  received 
twice  a  week.  William  Drury  was  the  first  commissioned  postmaster. 
As  early  as  1839  Millersburg  had  grown  to  quite  a  village. 

The  county  seat  was  located  here  as  early  as  1836.  Courts  were 
held  in  the  hotel  till  the  court-house  was  completed,  which  was  in  1839. 
The  building  is  a  two-story  frame,  still  standing,  and  is  now  occupied 
by  Harrison  Bethuram  as  a  wagon  and  blacksmith  shop.  The  building 
'was  when  built  not  only  a  spacious  edifice,  but  fine,  for  the  time  ;  now 
it  is  a  dilapidated  structure,  presenting  every  appearance  of  the  ravag- 
ing hand  of  time.  It  was  used  till  18-17  as  the  office  of  justice.  For 
several  years  it  was  the  school-house  and  church  of  the  town.  It 
stood  formei'ly  on  the  south  side  of  Main  street,  toward  the  west  end 
of  the  town.  When  the  county  seat  was  moved  from  Millersburg  in 
1847,  H.  W.  Thornton  bought  the  court-house  and  moved  it  to  its 
present  location  on  the  south  side  of  the  ^'illage.  He  converted  it  into 
a  store-room.  A  jail  was  erected  about  the  same  time.  It  was  a  stone 
structure  lined  upon  the  inside  with  heavy  timbers.  The  first  prisoner 
who  became  its  inmate,  had  borrowed  a  horse  and  failed  to  return  as 
soon  as  was  expected,  hence  a  warrant  was  procured  and  A.  P.  Taylor, 
who  was  then  sherifl",  set  out  towards  ISTew  Boston  in  search  of  his 
game.  The  sherifi"  met  the  man  on  his  way  back  to  Millersburg  \yitli 
the  horse.  He,  true  to  his  office  oath,  arrested  the  man,  brought'him 
to  Millersburg  and  lodged  him  in  the  jail.  But  the  inhabitants  of  the 
town  w^ere  scarcely  wrapped  in  slumber  profound  before  the  prisoner 
made  his  escape.  All  were  confident  he  had  no  intention  of  stealing 
the  animal,  and  no  attempt  was  made  for  his  re-arrest.  The  second 
and  last  person  lodged  in  the  building  was  held  prisoner  for  debt.  He 
enjoyed  his  meals  at  the  hotel,  and  was  heard  to  remark  that  he  pre- 
ferred the  lodffino-  and  board  of  the  county  to  that  of  his  own  home. 
He  lias  since  become  quite  well  oft'  and  now  resides  in  the  county. 


MRS.  MARY  A.  BROKAW. 


MLLLEKSBURG    TOWNSHIP.  215 

The  jail  was  used  most  of  the  time  by  the  sheriff  for  a  granary  and 
fodder-lionse.  Sheriff  Taylor  remarked  it  ought  to  be  jnit  to  some 
use.  It  was  located  on  the  north  side  of  Main  street  a  Itttle  west  of 
where  the  court-house  stood. 

The  lirst  wagon  shop  erected  in  the  town  of  Millersburg  was  that 
of  A.  P.  and  Asa  G.  Shafer  in  1856.  The  former  still  carries  on  the 
business  in  the  same  old  shop.  Then  there  was  no  shop  of  this  kind 
nearer  than  New  Boston.  The  second  was  built  by  Crippin  and 
Powers  in  1857,  the  next  by  McGlathlin  and  Jones  in  1859,  the  fourth 
by  James  Gilmore  in  1861,  the  fifth  by  J.  H.  Longshore  about  1862. 
The  last  is  running  a  shop  doing  all  kinds  of  repairing  in  his  line. 

The  first  death  in  the  town  was  by  suicide.  The  person  was  a 
married  lady.  She  deliberately  took  a  handkerchief,  put  it  around 
her  neck  and  choked  herself  to  death  by  taking  hold  of  two  of  the 
corners  with  her  hands  and  ])ulling  till  she  closed  the  air  passage  to 
the  lungs. 

From  the  laying  out  of  Millersburg  till  after  the  county  seat  was 
removed,  it  was  the  best  business  point,  outside  of  Keithsburg  and 
New  Boston,  in  the  county.  The  country  trade  came  here  from  the 
east  for  a  distance  of  fifteen  miles.  But  as  other  towns  sprang  up  in 
different  parts  of  the  country  the  trade  was  divided,  and  when  the 
county  seat  was  taken  away  the  trade  that  came  here  because  of  the 
county  seat  went  elsewhere.  The  unnatural  attraction  which  had 
brought  the  business  to  this  point  was  gone,  and  Millersburg  was  cut 
short  in  the  zenith  of  her  prosperity,  and  many  of  her  business  men 
went  elsewhere.  The  improvements  that  have  been  made  here  since 
1857  are  few  beyond  a  few  cozy  dwellings.  But  notwithstanding  the 
antiquated  appearance  of  the  village,  it  has  a  good  local  trade.  It  has 
two  stores  of  general  merchandise,  one  kept  by  W.  W.  Egbert,  the 
other  by  John  Farran,  two  blacksmith  shops,  one  grocery  store  kept 
by  David  T.  Howe,  one  barber  shop,  one  shoe  shop,  one  harness 
shop,  one  hotel,  kept  by  William  Dunn.  The  creamery  erected  here 
in  1881,  by  Sti-attan,  is  the  leading  business  of  the  village.  It  is  run 
by  a  four  horse-power  ehgine,  and  uses  the  Elgin  cream  vats.  Its  full 
working  capacity  is  15,000  pounds  of  butter  per  day,  and  gives  em- 
ployment to  twenty  men  and  fifteen  teams. 

The  first  and  only  mill  ever  erected  in  the  town  was  built  by  Steven 
Strattan  about  1850,  and  run  till  1875,  when  it  was  torn  down  and 
moved  south  of  Millersburg,  on  the  Edwards,  and  water  power  is  used 
instead  of  steam.  Since  the  establishing  of  the  postoflice  here,  with 
"William  Drury  as  first  postmaster,  the  following  persons  have  had 
the  office :    James  Thompson,  Dr.   Allen,   H.   W.   Thornton,    J.    M. 


'216  HISTORY    OF    MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Nevans,  "William  H.  Green  and  liis  wife  (Mrs.  Green  held  tlie  office 
for  fifteen  years,  and  was  postmistress  during  the  war),  J.  D.  Strattan 
and  John  Farri^n,  who  is  present  postmaster.  Mail  is  received  twice 
each  day. 

While  Millersburg  lost  to  a  great  degree  her  former  vivacity  in 
business,  she  retained  her  good  morals,  out  of  which  has  grown 
one  of  the  finest  temperance  societies  in  the  county,  if  not  in  the 
state,  considering  her  population.  Previous  to  1868  a  temperance 
society  was  organized  which  was  of  short  duration.  It  seemed 
to  be  an  aid  to  the  dram-sliop,  as  they  located  here  almost  simultane- 
ously. The  more  moral  and  lovers  of  good  society,  becoming  tired 
of  the  increasing  vices,  products  of  the  dram-shop,  met  in  deliberate 
assembly  for  the  purpose  of  driving  out  from  their  midst  the  licensed 
traffic  of  intoxicating  liquors.  The  result  is,  the  voice  of  the  people 
has,  since  1868,  ruled  supreme,  and  not  a  saloon  has  been  kept  here 
since  that  time.  The  fire  that  drove  the  demon  from  the  village  has 
been  kept  burning  brightly  since  its  embers  were  first  fanned  into  a 
fianie,  and  out  of  this,  in  1879,  grew  the  Millersburg  Christian  Tem- 
perance Union,  organized  by  T.  J.  Adams,  who,  prior  to  effecting  the 
organization,  delivered  a  series  of  lectures  on  the  subject  of  temperance. 
The  society  was  organized  with  160  members,  and  now  numbers  400. 
It  uses  the  blue  ribbon  badge  and  the  Murphy  pledge,  and  is  auxiliary 
to  the  state  and  JS^ational  Temperance  Union.  Unlike  most  societies 
of  its  kind,  it  has  no  assessments,  the  funds  necessary  to  defray  its 
expenses  being  supplied  by  public  collection.  Its  meetings  are  held 
alternately  at  the  Presbyterian  and  Methodist  Episcopal  churches  on 
Sunday  evening  of  each  week.  It  is  now  a  prosperous  society.  Its 
meetings  are  conducted  in  the  form  of  entertainments,  and  the  society 
performs  the  double  office  of  cultivating  the  morals  of  the  rising 
generation  and  at  the  same  time  gives  its  members  an  opp^ortunity  to 
cultivate,  expand  and  air  their  literary  powers.  Its  first  officers  were  : 
President,  -I.  W.  Madox,  who  still  occupies  the  chair,  with  Thomas 
Herman,  Mrs.  J.  M.  Gilmore  and  Mrs.  Eddy  as  vice-presidents ; 
Recording  Secretary,  J.  M.  Grady ;  Corresponding  Secretary,  J.  D. 
Strattan  ;  Board  of  Managers,  IS^elson  Taylor,  Miss  A.  Sliafer,  William . 
Dunn,  Rev.  G.  M.  Morey  and  William  Long;  Treasurer,  Geneva 
Farran.  Present  officers  are :  president,  same  as  the  first,  with  James 
Repin,  Alexander  Greene,  and  James  W.  Terry,  vice-presidents ; 
Recording  Secretary,  James  Grady;  Corresponding  Secretary,  Jane 
Gilmore ;  Treasurer,  Miss  Mattie  Bay ;  Board  of  Managers,  Mrs. 
Maggie  Egbert,  Ephraim  Gilmore  and  Annie  Williams.  The  charter 
was  given  the  society  by  John  P.  St.  John,  president,  and  J.  E.  Letton, 
secretary,  of  the  national  societv. 


MILLERSBURG   TO^\^S^SIIIP.  '  217 

There  is  yet  another  society  now  in  operation  at  Millersburg,  for 
the  moral  cnltivation  of  its  children.  This  is  the  Woman's  Christian 
Temperance  Union.  It  was  organized  in  1880,  at  the  Methodist 
clun-ch.  The  first  members  of  the  society  deserve  to  be  remembered 
by  those  who  come  after,  as  they  embrace  the  ladies  of  most  of  the 
leading  families  in  and  about  Millersburg.  They  are  as  follows  :  Mrs. 
Eddy,  Mrs.  M.  Bay,  Miss  S.  E.  Thornton,  Miss  A.  Sliafer,  Mrs.  Bur- 
gess, Mrs.  B.  C.  Greene,  Mrs.  M.  Boyd,  Mrs.  M.  E.  Boyd,  Mrs. 
T.  Cornell,  Mrs.  Boyles,  Mrs.  Yernon,  Mrs.  L.  Thornton,  Mrs. 
L.  Landreth,  Mrs.  M.  A.  Lee,  Mrs.  M.  E.  Sivens,  Mrs.  Norbury,  Mrs. 
T.  Cxilmore,  Mrs.  J.  M.  Gilmore,  Mrs.  Dr.  Chowning,  Mrs.  Ellen 
Everett,  Mrs.  J.  Morey,  Miss  J.  Farran.  The  funds  accumulating 
from  initiation  fees  and  term  dues  are  used  to  procure  reading  matter 
that  will  interest  the  children,  and  direct  them  in  a  right  direction  as 
to  other  literature.  The  present  number  of  members  is  eighteen. 
The  iirst  officers  of  the  society  were :  President,  Mrs.  E.  Eddy ;  Vice- 
presidents,  Mrs.  E.  Bay,  Mrs.  Burges  and  Mrs.  E.  Dunn ;  Correspond- 
ing Secretary,  Mrs.  R.  Green ;  Recording  Secretary,  Miss  S.  E. 
Thornton ;  Treasurer,  Miss  A.  Sliafer.  The  present  officers  are : 
Mrs.  M.  Merriman,  president,  with  Mrs.  Burges  and  M.  Egbert,  vice- 
presidents  ;  corresponding  and  recording  secretaries  same  as  the  first. 

The  Cliildren's  Temperance  Society  was  organized  in  1882,  with 
twenty-two  members.  Its  officers  are :  President,  Mrs.  Dr.  Chown- 
ing; Vice-Presidents,  Miss.  A.  Shafer  and  Mrs.  W.  Egbert.  This 
society  is  kept  in  the  interest  of  the  Woman's  Christian  Temperance 
Union.  Credit  must  be  given  the  ladies  of  Millersburg  and  the  sur- 
rounding country  for  the  active  and  energetic  part  they  liave  ever 
taken  to  build  up  a  good  class  of  society  around  them,  and  banish 
from  their  midst  those  evils  and  temptations  which  tend  to  destroy 
the  harmonious  progression  of  well  regulated  society, 

CHURCH  HISTORY. 

This  part  of  the  history  of  Millersburg  is  no  less  interesting  than 
her  temperance  history.  As  we  have  before  stated,  in  the  cabin  of  the 
first  settler  in  the  town  in  1836  begins  this  dei)artment  of  Millersburg's 
history.  Until  the  court-house  was  completed  in  1839  the  several 
denominations  represented  here  held  their  meetings  at  the  houses  of 
their  members  and  in  the  groves,  when,  in  1814,  the  first  school- 
house  was  built,  and  meetings  were  held  in  it  and  at  the  court-house 
till  churches  were  erected.  The  first  organization  of  the  Presbyterian 
faith  in  Mercer  county  was  at  what  is  now  known  as  Pope's  Creek,  in 
1837,   with  John  Montgomery  as  pastor.     The  advocates  o    Presby- 


218  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AXD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

terianism  living  at  Millersbnrg  and  the  surrounding  country  attended 
churcli  at  that  place  and  made  uj)  a  part  of  the  society.  In  1839  they 
began  to  have  regular  services  at  Millersbnrg,  which  were  held  in  the 
court-house  till  181-1,  but  had  no  organization  of  their  own  till  about 
the  close  of  1843  or  the  beginning  of  1844.  John  Montgomery  was 
their  first  regular  preacher  in  the  court-house.  In  1844,  the  time  of 
the  building  of  the  first  school-house  in  Millersbnrg,  the  house  was 
made  larger  than  was  needed  for  school  that  it  might  serve  for  both 
school-house  and  church.  At  this  time  the  following-named  persons 
were  dismissed  from  the  Pope  Creek  church  to  organize  a  society  at 
Millersbnrg :  Messrs.  E.  Gilmore,  J.  M.  Gilmore,  Ilemy  Lee,  Edward 
and  John  Brady,  J.  T.  McGinnis,  J.  G.  Gilmore,  A.  A.  Sherer,  Samuel 
Guify,  John  Kiddoo,  Graham  Lee,  David  Morrow  and  H.  "W.  Thornton. 
The  ladies  were :  Betsy  King,  Margaret  S.  Gilmore,  Ann  J.  Taylor, 
Martha  Lee,  Mary  Marsh,  Mary  E.  Murphy,  Sarah  E.  Lloyd,  Sarah 
Clark,  Elizabeth  A.  Edgar,  Elizabeth  Davis,  Mary  M.  Steele,  Mary 
Sherer,  Eliza  Brady,  Catherine  Gilmore,  Tabitha  W.  Bay,  Mary  A. 
McGinnis,  Mary  Guify,  Eliza  Kiddoo,  Elizabeth  Morrow,  E.  F. 
Thornton,  Bacliel  T.  Willitts  and  Hannah  Heed,  making  in  all  forty- 
four  members  to  organize  and  establisli  the  first  church  in  Millersbnrg. 
The  society  held  services  in  the  above-mentioned  school-house  till  1854, 
when  was  erected  the  present  church  edifice,  a  frame  building,  at  a  cost 
of  $1,600.  Its  size  is  40x50,  with  a  seating  capacity  for  300  persons. 
It  has  several  times  been  refitted,  and  even  now,  as  to  outward  appear- 
ances, is  comparatively  a  new  building.  The  ministers  who  have 
served  this  congregation  since  it  began  to  have  preaching  are :  Rev. 
John  Montgomery,  from  1839  to  1843  ;  Thomas  Vail,  till  1848  or  1849  ; 
L.  V.  Crittenden,  1854;  A.  Loomis,  till  1858 ;  J.  N.  Jamison,  till  1861 ; 
William  Dool,  from  1865  to  1869 ;  J.  McBride,  till  1872  ;  Joel  Kennedy, 
three  years,  and  till  1879.  The  present  pastor  is  W.  B.  Phelps.  The 
first  ofticers  of  the  church  were :  Elders,  Ephraim  Gilmore,  J,  W. 
IS^evius.  Shortly  after  the  organization  J.  T.  McGinnis,  J.  M.  Gilmore 
and  Henry  Lee  were  added  to  the  eldership. 

The  largest  membership  the  society  ever  numbered  at  any  one 
time  was  140  members.  It  now  numbers  little  more  than  one-fourth 
that  number.  This  reduction  has  been  owing  to  circumstances.  The 
greatest  drain  up(^n  the  society  has  been  the  number  that  liave  been  dis- 
missed to  organize  other  societies.  At  one  time  there  were  dismissed 
forty-five  members  to  organize  a  society  south  of  the  Edwards,  at  what 
is  now  Peniel  churcli ;  at  another,  eighteen  were  dismissed  to  organize  a 
society  at  Hamlet  in  Perry  ton  township  ;  and  several  were  dismissed  to 
unite  with  the  Perryton  society  in  Perryton  township.     This  church 


MILLERSBURG   T0\VXSHI1'.  219 

society  has  always  had  Simday-school  at  its  church-house,  but  not  con- 
nected with  the  church.  The  Sunday-school  which  it  has  always 
supported  was  organized  at  Millersburg,  in  the  court-house  in  1842,  by 
the  American  Sunday-school  Union.  Among  the  members  of  this 
society  since  its  organization  are  the  names  of  many  prominent 
families,  both  of  the  past  and  present. 

The  next  church  oro-anization  in  age  and  extent  is  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  The  people  of  this  faith  who  located  here  at  an 
early  day,  like  the  Presbyterians,  held  their  meetings  at  private  houses 
and  in  groves  till  the  court-house  was  erected,  when  they  used  that  till 
the  sehool-house  was  built  in  1844:,  when  they  held  services  there  till 
they  erected  their  first  church  building. 

The  early  pioneers  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  worshiped 
at  Camden  Mills  (now  Milan,  Rock  Island  county),  and  for  several 
years  only  had  preaching  at  Millersburg  now  and  then.  It  remained 
a  part  of  the  Camden  Mills  circuit  till  1865,  when  it  became  the  Mil- 
lersburg circuit,  then  including  Aledo,  which  was  afterward  detached 
from  the  circuit.  They  began  to  have  regular  preaching  about  1850, 
but  no  organization  distinct  from  the  Camden  Mills  church  till  1857, 
when  the  organization  was  eifected  and  included  in  the  Peoria  con- 
ference. Jx.  N.  More  was  the  elder  who  presided  here  at  the  organi- 
zation. J.  W.  Long  was  secretary  of  the  meeting.  D.  M.  Falkinbury 
was  first  pastor  in  charge.  James  Sherifi",  Jacob  Wliarton  and  John 
Ashbauo-h  were  the  first  class-leaders.  The  first  stewards  were: 
J.  ^y.  Lane,  Ambrose  Eddy,  Jacob  Colier,  Peter  Blue,  E.  C.  Partlet, 
William  T.  Shafer,  and  Joseph  Richmond.  Samuel  Wharton  was 
appointed  Sunday-school  superintendent,  and  Samuel  Artz  assistant 
superintendent.  The  Methodist  Episcopal  society  erected  their  first 
and  })resent  church  building,  40x60,  seating  room  40  X  50  feet,  in  1857, 
at  a  cost  of  S4,000.  Previous  to  erecting  this  present  church  a  build- 
ing was  begun  on  the  same  foundation,  and  when  partly  completed, 
was  blown  down  by  a  storm.  This  was  a  sad  thing  for  the  chm*ch ;  it 
needed  a  place  for  worship,  and  the  generosity  of  many  had  received 
considerable  tension,  and  it  seemed  like  raising  mountains  of  granite 
from  their  foundations  to  arouse  the  people  again  to  a  necessity  of 
beginning  a  second  building,  and  to  renew  their  subscriptions  for  that 
purpose.  Citizens  with  money  to  loan  were  less  common  than  now. 
But  in  the  face  of  all  this  opposition  the  Methodist  Episcopal  people 
went  to  work  with  a  ^^dll  which  meant  to  carry  the  point,  and  did  so. 
The  building  is  well  furnished,  and  the  best  in  the  town.  The  church 
has  enjoyed  a  good  degree  of  prosperity  since  its  organization.  Like 
the  Presbyterian  church,  it  has  come  up  from  the  pioneer  days,  and 


220  HISTORY    OF    MERCER   AJS^D    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

among  its  members  since  the  chnrcli  was  established  here,  and  before^ 
are  many  of  the  prominent  families,  not  only  of  Millersburg  township,. 
but  of  the  county. 

The  ministers  who  have  labored  here  since  1S57,  are :  F.  A. 
Falkinbury,  from  1857  to  1858,  during  which  time  Josepli  Richmond 
was  exhorter  in  the  church ;  L.  D.  Crouch,  till  18<iO ;  Z.  E.  Kaufman, 
till  1861;  J.  D.  Taylor,  till  1863;  L.  S.  Ashbaugh,  till  1861;  J.  D. 
Taylor  again,  till  1865 ;  James  Cowden,  till  1866  ;  M.  P.  Armstrong, 
till  1868,  who  came  here  from  Indiana,  and  as  the  conference  year  of 
the  two  conferences  did  not  end  at  the  same  time,  his  place  was  tilled, 
till  his  time  expired  in  Indiana,  by  J.  H.  Payton  ;  A.  Morey,  till 
1870;  A.  Peeler,  till  1871;  Thomas  Head,  till'  1871;  J.  J.  Walter, 
till  1875;  G.  M.  Morey,  till  1878.  Present  pastor  in  charge  is 
G.  W.  Frizell.  The  present  officers  are:  Ambrose  Eddy,  J.  D.  Strata 
tan,  J.  II.  Purdum  and  Dr.  J.  P.  Chowning,  church  stewards ;  Jacob 
Whai-ton,  William  Dunn,  And^rose  Eddy,  J.  D.  Strattan  and  S.  H. 
Eiddell,  trustees  ;  Charles  York,  J.  H.  Purdum  and  William  Robinson, 
parsonage  trustees. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  has  had  connected  with  its  organi- 
zation, since  1857,  a  live  and  profitable  Sunday-school.  Previous  to 
1857  they  labored  in  the  capacity  of  a  Sunday-school  in  tlie  interest 
and  under  the  auspices  of  the  American  Smiday  School  Union.  The 
school  is  now  kept  in  operation  throughout  the  year,  and  is  in  a 
prosperous  condition. 

LATTEE-DAY  SAINTS'  CHURCH. 

Tlie  third  and  last  of  the  churches  now  represented  in  Millersburg 
is  the  Latter-Day  Saints'  cliurch,  not  unfrequently  called  Monnons, 
but  the  people  of  tliis  faith  here  detest  the  very  idea  of  polygamy. 
This  doctrine  of  the  church  was  first  preaclied  in  the  county  about 
1840,  bv  Elder  G.  M.  Ilinkle.  The  first  society  in  the  county  was. 
organized  in  1861  in  Duncan  township.  The  members  of  this  faith 
then  at  Millersburg  worshiped  with  the  congregation  in  Duncan  town- 
ship till  1872,  when  they  were  organized  into  a  distinct  society,  which 
met  at  private  residences  for  worsliii)  for  a  short  time  after  its  organ- 
ization, and  other  buildings  suitable,  till  1876,  when  they  built  their 
present  church-house  at  a  cost  of  $600.  The  first  members  were  as. 
follows :  W.  S.  Morrison,  Joseph  Harris,  James  Yernon,  Eliza  Yernon, 
Yiola  Yernon,  J.  M.  Terry,  Mary  Terry,  Elizabeth,  Emma,  Stephen, 
Tlieresa,  James  and  Nancy  Miller,  Jasper,  Mary,  Mary  E.,  Clara, 
Juliet.  Adelaide  and  Edward  Duncan,  Hannah  Terry,  Margaret  Brown, 
William  Cardman,  Sarah  Cardman,  Elizabeth  Webb.  The  present 
members  number  forty-six. 


AIILLEKSBUEG   TOWNSHIP.  221 

A  partial  list  of  the  ministers,  as  furnished  us,  is  as  follows: 
J.  M.  Terry,  J.  W.  Terry,  E.  Bryant,  J.  L.  Terry  and  J.  B.  Harris, 
present  pastoi-  in  charge.  The  iirst  ofRcers  were  J.  B.  Harris  and 
J.  M.  Terry.  The  present  ofKcers  are  J.  L.  Terry,  E.  Bryant  and 
J.  W.  Terry.  Tlie  first  death  that  occurred  in  the  society  was  that  of 
W.  S.  Morrison  in  1873.  The  society  is  in  a  prosperous  condition. 
It  receives  much  uncalled-for  censure  because  of  the  infamous  doctrine 
preached  by  the  Utah  church. 

While  these  three  church  societies  compose  those  who  have  erected 
church  buildings  in  Millersburg,  they  do  not  embrace  all  the  creeds 
represented  by  her  people.  The  earliest  preaching  at  Millersburg  was 
of  the  predestinarian  Baptist  faith,  which  at  that  time  was  rapidly 
losing  its  fayor  with  the  people  from  whence  came  the  greater  })art 
of  the  early  settlers  of  Millersburg.  In  addition  to  these  Baptists 
were  the  Missionary  Baptist,  who  have  had  at  no  time  in  the  history 
of  the  settlement  of  the  township  a  church  building  and  a  regular 
organized  society,  but  have  had,  at  irregular  intervals,  preaching 
almost  from  the  beginning  of  the  settlement.  The  peo])le  a  part  of 
the  time  held  their  meetings  in  the  Presbyterian  church  building,  and 
the  remainder  in  the  school-house  and  at  other  places.  In  1870 
G.  M.  Zook  preached  here  regularly  for  one  year ;  he  was  followed 
by  A.  F,  Sharpner.  Among  others  who  have  from  time  to  time 
labored  here  in  the  ministerial  capacity  ar©  M.  D.  Murdock  and 
J.  W.  Washdale.  Owing  to  the  fact  that  no  record  of  the  early 
settlers  who  held  to  the  Missionary  Baptist  faith  has  been  kept  of 
those  who  resided  at  and  around  Millersburg,  we  are  not  able  to  give 
a  list  of  their  names,  and  give  only  the  names  of  this  faith  at  this 
time  residing  here :  A.  P.  Sharjmer  and  family,  Thomas  Landreth 
and  family,  James  Burges  and  wife,  Herschel  Felton  and  wife,  and 
James  C^ash.  Tliese  hold  their  membership  at  Antioch,  in  Duncan 
township,  or  at  Aledo.  Such  is  the  history  of  the  religious  sects  of 
the  town  of  Millersburg  from  its  first  settlement. 

INDEPENDENT  ORDER  OF  ODD-FELLOAVS. 

This  society  ranks  high  in  this  vicinity  in  morals,  business  ability 
and  intelligence.  The  history  of  its  organization  and  progress, 
as  follows,  has  been  prepared  \>j  a  committee  appointed  for  the 
purpose. 

Iris  Lodge,  No.  267,  I.O.O.F.,  was  organized  December  13, 
1858,  by  William  L.  Green,  James  McJenkins,  J.  W.  Close,  John  S. 
Moore  and  O.  C.  Allen,  over  the  old  store  of  O.  A.  Bridgford. 
J.  W.  Close  is  the  only  living  charter  member,  as  known  by  the 


222  HISTORY    OF    ]MERCER    AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

lodge  at  the  present  time.  The  first  otfieers  of  the  lodge  were  as 
follows:  X.G.,  AV.  L.  Green;  Y.G.,  J.  W.  Close;  Sec,  James 
McJenkins;  Treas.,  J.  S.  Moore.  The  first  members  of  Iris  Lodge 
had  a  pretty  hard  struggle  to  keep  life  in  the  organization  ;  for,  when 
the  lodge  was  yet  young,  a  number  of  the  members  were  called  away 
to  the  army,  which  left  only  about  a  qnorum,  and  it  was  a  hard  matter 
to  get  all  out  at  once.  But  by  hard  work  they  pulled  through.  The 
brethren  never  forgot  those  who  were  called  away  to  help  in  the  sup- 
pression of  rebellion,  and  showed  their  interest  in  the  absent  ones  by 
paying  all  back  dues,  and  in  gaining  help.  The  first  death  in  the  lodge 
was  that  of  Lewis  Trimble,  and  the  whole  number  of  deaths  since  the 
lodge  was  organized  is  five.  The  progress  of  the  lodge,  since  the  close 
of  the  war,  has  been  very  rapid,  increasing  from  the  five  charter 
members  to  an  average  of  forty  members  in  good  standing,  and  from  a 
state  of  bankruptcy  to  a  surplus  of  $1,500.  The  society  now  owns 
their  own  hall,  which  is  very  neat  and  attractive,  and  claims  as  a  mem- 
bership the  best  men  that  society  afibrds.  The  present  officers  of  the 
lodge  are  as  follows :  KG.,  C.  C.  Brown;  Y.G.,  W.  W.  Wakeland  ; 
Sec. ,  J.  U.  Roberts ;  Treas. ,  J.  N.  Close.  The  number  of  members  at 
present  is  forty-five.  The  society  has  occupied  one  building  almost  all 
the  time,  and  it  cost  $500.  The  lodge  is  now  in  a  prosperous  condition, 
and  is  one  of  the  ablest  lodges  in  the  county. 

Millersburg  public  schools  is  one  of  the  institutions  in  which  her 
people  take  great  pride,  and  it  is  well  that  they  should  feel  proud  of  an 
institution  that  can  prepare  her  sons  and  daughters  to  become  men  and 
women  among  men  and  women.  About  the  first,  if  not  the  very  first, 
school  taught  in  Millersburg,  was  kept  in  IL  W.  Thornton's  law  oflice 
by  a  man  named  Bell,  in  1838.  After  this,  school  was  held  in  the 
court-house  till  1844,  when  the  first  house  for  school  purposes  was 
erected.  Harry  Scenter,  David  Felton,  Hiram  Hardie,  Mrs.  H.  W. 
Thornton,  David  Lloyd,  Charles  Winchip  and  Joseph  McChesney  were 
pioneer  teachers  of  Millersburg,  some  of  whom  taught  both  in  the 
rural  districts  and  in  town.  The  first  school  building  was  used  for 
school  purposes  till  1862,  when  the  present  spacious  brick  school-house 
was  erected,  with  four  departments.  Tlie  present  principal  is  Prof. 
Daniel  Farmer,  of  Normal,  Illinois.  A  word  complimenting  the  sys- 
tematic course  of  instruction  is  not  out  of  ])lace.  Students  are  fitted 
here  for  teachers  without  further  drill. 

The  other  village  in  the  township  is  Joy,  located  on  the  Keithsburg 
division  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  ct  Quincy  railroad.  It  was  laid 
out  in  1869  by  L.  W.  Thompson  and  William  Ungles,  on  section  19, 
The  first  business  house  in  the  place  was  a  store  of  general  mer- 


]S[ILLERSP>URG   TOWNSHIP.  223 

-chandise,  kept  by  C,  S.  Ricliey,  and  the  tirst  drug  store  bj  John  Moss. 
The  tirst  bhicksmith  to  locate  here  was  Joseph  Hughes.  The  tirst 
religious  meetings  in  the  town  were  held  by  the  Presbyterians,  Metho- 
dists, and  Later  Day  Saints,  in  the  school-house.  The  population  of 
the  town  is  about  150.  It  has  two  stores :  one  kept  by  J.  H.  Crane ; 
the  other  by  J.  T.  Cxalloway ;  both  have  a  good  trade.  One  wagon 
•shop  is  run  by  Joseph  Hughes,  and  one  blacksmith  shop  by  G.  W. 
Cook.  The  hotel  is  kept  by  J.  W.  Wood.  The  tirst  hotel  ever  kept 
in  the  village  was  by  ().  F.  Green. 

The  village  is  quite  a  shipping  point.  The  railroad  established  a 
station  here  the  same  vear  the  village  was  laid  out.  For  some  time 
the  business  of  the  station  was  almost  nothing;  the  people  had 
become  so  accustomed  to  take  their  produce  to  the  river  that  it  seemed 
hard  to  get  out  of  the  old  ruts.  The  tirst  station  agent  was  H.  N. 
McNeil.  The  present  agent  is  Hiram  Standish ;  he  came  here  in 
1870,  and  took  hold  of  the  business  for  both  the  company  and  the 
farmers ;  his  object  was  to  bring  to  this  point  the  shipping  both  of 
grain  and  live  stock  that  properly  belonged  here.  In  ISSl  there 
were  loaded  at  this  place  196  cars  of  stock  and  7-1  of  grain ;  the 
number  of  cattle  shipped  was  1,338;  of  hogs,  7,678,  To  bring  the 
business  of  the  surrounding  country  here  the  agent  received  the 
produce  from  the  producer  and  shipped  it.  At  that  time  there  were 
no  buyers  here.     J.  H.  Crane  is  the  present  grain  merchant. 

The  post-ofhce  now  at  Joy  was  first  established  in  18-17,  and  named 
High  Point.  Geoi-ge  Scott  was  the  first  postmaster,  and  kept  the 
otfice  at  his  home,  where  Edward  Gritfith  now  resides.  The  next 
appointed  postmaster  was  Samuel  Eayle,  who  kept  the  otfice  one  year, 
when  it  was  given  again  to  George  Scott.  In  1865  Peter  Spangler 
was  appointed  postmaster  and  held  the  otfice  till  1870,  when  it  was 
moved  to  Joy,  and  the  name  changed  from  High  Point  to  that  of  Joy, 
and  the  otfice  given  to  O.  F.  Green.  In  1871  J.  T.  McGinnis  was 
made  postmaster.  The  present  postmaster  is  J.  H.  Crane,  appointed 
in  1878,  but  has  kept  the  otfice  since  1873. 

Joy  has  one  church,  the  Methodist  Episco})al.  It  was  organized 
in  1874  by  Rev.  Head.  Previous  to  this  time  they  had  irregular 
preaching  at  the  school-house  at  Joy  and  at  the  brick  church  two  miles 
southeast  of  the  villaije.  The  societv  was  oro-anized  with  the  follow- 
ing  named  members  :•  J.  W.  Wood  and  wife,  W.  P.  Zentmire  and 
wife,  AVilliam  Kiddoo  and  wife,  Richard  Edgar  and  wife,  Eliza  Kiddoo, 
K.  II.  Dav  and  wife,  Frank  More  and  wife,  and  Aug-usta  Mavs.  The 
society  now  numbers  forty  members.  In  1877  it  built  its  first  and 
present  churcli  edifice,  a  frame,  at  an  outlay-  of  $1,800.     The  trustees 


224  HISTORY    OF   SfERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

at  present  are  :  William  Kidcloo,  P.  P.  Zentmire  and  J.  M.  Shingle- 
decker.  The  stewards  are :  J.  M.  Sliingiedecker  and  Mrs.  Ma^^s, 
The  class-leader  is  W.  P.  Zentmire.  The  ministers  who  have 
labored  here  are  :  J.  J.  Walters,  instrumental  in  bringing  about  the 
building  of  the  church  ;  M.  Morey,  and  W.  B.  Frizell,  present  pastor 
in  charge.  The  society  has  lost  by  removals  several  of  its  valuable 
members. 

A  Sunday-school  was  organized  shortly  after  the  church  organiza- 
tion was  effected,  which  has  since  been  in  operation,  and  now  numbers 
forty  scholars.  W.  P.  Zentmire  is  the  present  superintendent.  Both 
the  church  and  Sunday-school  are  in  a  prosperous  condition. 

In  addition  to  those  church  societies  in  the  town  of  Millersburg 
and  the  village  of  Joy,  there  are  the  Seventh  Day  Adventists  church 
at  the  Marsh  school-house  in  the  southeast  part  of  the  township  ;  the 
Peniel  church,  four  miles  south  of  Millersburg,  and  the  free  Presby- 
terian church,  familiarly  known  as  the  old  brick  church  a  half  mile 
south  of  the  Peniel  church. 

The  Seventh  Dav  Adventists  are  of  recent  date  in  Millersburg 
township,  being  as  late  as  1871  ;  though  there  was  a  society  of  this, 
belief  much  earlier  in  Aledo,  with  Elder  Andrews  as  pastor,  who  came 
to  the  Marsh  school-house  previous  to  1871,  and  preached  for  the 
benefit  of  the  members  of  the  church  li^ans;  in  that  commuiiitv,  at 
irregular  intervals.  The  societ\^  was  organized  with  about  thirty  com- 
municants, and  at  this  time  numbers  twenty  members.  The  society 
has  been  very  much  affected  by  the  unsettled  condition  of  the  popu- 
lation. The  first  officers  were  :  J.  E.  Witliam,  elder ;  C.  Dreyden, 
deacon ;  J.  C.  Middaugh,  clerk.  The  present  officers  are :  elder, 
same  as  the  first  ;  clerk,  Mary  Miller.  The  society  is  flourishing,  and 
proposes  to  erect  a  church-house  for  worship  at  the  earliest  possible 
period. 

The  Presbyterian  congregation,  known  as  the  Peniel  class,  was 
organized  into  a  distinct  society  in  1871.  From  the  early  settlement 
of  the  township  there  were  several  of  this  faith  in  this  community, 
but  not  sufficient  for  sometime  lo  support  an  inde])endent  society ;: 
hence  they  held  their  membership  at  Millersburg.  For  several  years 
they  had  preaching  at  the  Pleasant  Hill  school-house,  two  miles  east 
of  Joy,  and  occasionally  held  meetings  in  the  brick  church  one  mile 
south.  In  1871  the  organization  was  effected  by  forty-five  members, 
who  were  dismissed  from  the  Millersburg  society  for  that  purpose. 
They  met  at  the  brick  church  and  proceeded  to  form  themselves  intO' 
a  society,  and  forthwith  adopted  measures  for  the  erection  of  a  church 
edifice,  which  was  completed  in  1872,  at  an  outlay  of  $4,500.     This  is 


MILLERSBURG   TOWNSHIP.  225- 

by  far  tlie  finest  eliiircli  in  tlie  township.  It  is  a  frame  structure 
40x60,  witli  a  seating  capacity  for  300  persons.  J.  Downing  donated 
the  ground  for  the  church  and  cemetery.  In  aiklition  to  tliis  a  par- 
sonage was  built  at  an  outlay  of  $1,600,  Edwin  Gilmore  donating  the 
ground  on  which  it  stands,  one-fourth  mile  north  of  the  church.  This 
society  and  the  one  at  Millersburg  employ  the  same  pastor  ;  hence  it 
is  not  necessary  to  repeat  the  names  of  the  ministers  who  have  labored 
here  since  the  organization  was  effected  ;  nor  before,  as  they  will  be 
found  in  the  list  of  ministers  in  connection  with  the  society  at  Millers- 
burii-.  The  first  elders  of  the  society  were  :  J.  Downing,  William 
Miller,  J.  T.  McGinnis  and  John  Love.  A  few  years  after  there  were 
two  more  added  to  this  number:  Richard  Kiddoo  (deceased)  and 
Henry  Dool.  The  present  eldership  is  the  same.  The  largest  mem- 
bership the  society  has  had  at  any  one  time  was  125  members,  which 
has  been  reduced  to  84  by  removals.  The  society  dedicated  its 
building  out  of  debt.  Many  of  the  friends  of  the  church  came  on 
dedication  day  wdtli  their  pocketbooks,  and  went  away  surprised  to 
think  that  no  collection  was  taken.  The  Presbyterian  element  is 
largely  predominant  in  the  section  surrounding  this  church.  The 
society  has  kept,  in  connection  wdth  the  church  work,  an  interesting 
Sabbath-school.  Until  quite  recently  it  was  discontinued  during  the 
winter  months,  but  now  continues  throughout  the  year.  The  present 
superintendent  is  William  Jewel.     The  average  attendance  is  100. 

The  brick  church  one  and  a  half  miles  north  of  the  south  line  of 
the  towniship,  and  directly  south  of  Millersburg,  was  the  first  church 
building  erected  in  the  township.  It  was  built  in  1847.  It  is  in  size 
40  X  60,  and  is  still  standing.  It  was  built  not  so  much  by  subseription 
as  bv  contributions  in  work.  The  society  was  that  of  the  Free  Presby- 
terian  faith.  The  leading  members,  and  those  who  were  instrumental 
in  building  the  church,  were  the  Kiddoo  brothers,  James,  Richard, 
William  and  Jolni,  and  others  of  the  neighbors  whose  names  we 
failed  to  get,  as  the  records  are  either  lost  or  have  been  carried  aw-ay. 
The  brick  were  burned  by  Richard  Kiddoo.  The  men  who  did  the 
work  were  kept  by  the  people  who  were  interested  in  its  erection. 
Rev.  James  Pogue  was  the  first  minister  in  charge.  The  first  elder 
was  James  Kiddoo,  who  moved  west  a  few  years  since.  This  society 
was  an  advocate  of  freedom,  not  at  that  time  inherent  with  the 
other  branches  of  Presbyterianism.  The  organization  was  kept  uj:) 
till  sometime  during  the  war,  when  the  principles  of  the  denomina- 
tion, whose  mission  it  was  to  demonstrate,  became  impressed  upon 
the  community  ; ,  and  the  society  having  become  reduced  in  its  mem- 
bership by  frecpient   removals   of  its    members,   it   united   with   the 


'226  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

Methodist  Episcopal  church  society  now  located  at  Joy,  as  the  prin- 
ciples of  freedom  advocated  by  the  two  societies  were  one  and  the 
same.  The  society  was  reincorporated  under  the  name  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church,  which  held  its  meeting  here  regularly  till  the 
present  church  building  was  erected  in  Joy. 

Connected  with  the  church  is  the  first  established  cemetery  in  the 
•  township,  south  of  the  Edwards.     Here  reposes  the  dust  of  several  of 
the  early  settlers  of  the  surrounding  country. 

The  lirst  Sunday-school  in  this  part  of  the  township  was  organized 
at  this  church,  about  the  time  of  its  dedication,  under  the  auspices  of 
the  American  Sunday  School  Union,  which  was  kept  up  till  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  society  ceased  to  hold  meetings  here.  The  only 
use  now  made  of  the  church  building,  is  for  funeral  services  at  the 
■cemetery.  The  erection  of  this  church,  at  the  time  it  was  effected,  if 
we  consider  the  financial  circumstances  of  the  community,  and  the 
durability  of  the  building  itself,  clearly  illustrates  the  character  of  the 
people  of  the  surrounding  community. 

Among  the  societies  of  the  township,  held  at  Millersburg,  which 
clearly  illustrates  the  progress  of  agriculture  and  stock  raising  is  the 
•county  fair.  It  was  the  first  association  of  the  kind  in  the  county. 
The  fair  grounds  were  located  southwest  of  Millersburg,  adjoining  the 
town,  and  originally  consisted  of  three  acres,  and  enlarged  to  nine, 
at  the  time  of  its  removal  to  Aledo.  The  expenses  were  kept  within 
the  annual  income.  The  labor  necessary  to  make  .the  needed 
improvements  was  donated  by  the  members  of  the  association.  Any 
one  could  become  a  member  of  the  society  by  paying  the  fee  of  one 
dollar  at  each  annual  meeting.  The  sole  interest  of  the  society  was 
manifested  in  behalf  of  the  products  of  the  county,  and  was  con- 
ducted on  strictly  moral  principles.  Very  little  racing  was  permitted, 
and  no  gambling  within  the  enclosure.  Those  who  attended  its 
amiual  show  of  stock,  agricultural  products  and  woman's  w^ares,  say 
that  a  marked  progress  in  each  department  was  perceptible,  and  it 
is  not  unfrequentl}"  the  remark  is  made  of  the  good  social  times 
enjoyed  at  the  Millersburg  fair.  Tlie  ladies  of  the  county  are  equally 
entitled  to  their  share  of  the  praise  for  the  success  of  the  institution 
while  at  Millersburg.  The  officers  of  the  association  gave  free  of 
charge  their  services,  without  even  charging  up  their  expenses  while 
conducting  the  business  of  the  association.  When  the  place  of  its 
annual  meeting  was  moved  to  Aledo,  the  society  was  out  of  debt 
and  had  a  surplus  of  twelve  or  fifteen  hundred  dollars  in  the  bank. 
We  now  leave  the  history  of  the  society  to  be  continued  in  the  history 
of  Mercer  township. 


MILLERSBURG    TOWNSHIP. 


227 


TOWNSHIP  ORGANIZATION. 

In  1854  the  people  of  Millersbnrg  township  met  at  the  school-house 
near  Edward  Brady's  corner,  with  Ephraim  Gilmore,  chairman,  ap- 
pointed by  L.  B.  Howe,  and  L.  B.  Howe,  secretary.  These  temporary 
officers  became  the  permanent  officers  for  the  year.  The  towniship  was 
divided  into  three  road  districts :  Xo.  1,  north  of  the  Edwards ;  No.  2^ 
embraced  the  east  half  of  the  township,  south  of  the  Edwards ;  No. 
3,  the  west  half  of  township,  south  of  the  Edwards. 

The  following  list  of  township  officers,  taken  from  the  records,  will 
prove  of  great  interest  as  being  a  list  of  gentlemen,  who  at  various 
times,  were  considered  worthy  of  the  votes  of  their  constituents  and 
well  fitted  for  the  offices  to  which  they  elected  them : 


So 


1854 
1855 
1856 
1857 
1858 
18.59 
1860 
1861 
1862 
1863 
1864 
1865 
1866 
1867 
1868 

1869 

1870 
1871 
1872 
1873 
1874 
1875 
1876 
1877 
1878 
1879 
1880 
1881 
1882 


Supervisors. 


David  Llovd 

M.  L.  Marsh 

James  Haverfield. 
James  Haverfield. 
J.  T.  McGinnis.... 

J.  T.  McGinnis 

J.  T.  McGinnis.... 
Ephraim  Gilmore. 

A.  P.  Tavlor 

A.  P.  Tavlor 

J.  T.  McGinnis 

J.  T.  McGinnis 

J.  T.  McGinnis.... 
J.  T.  McGinnis.... 
Thos.  Merriman . . 

J.  T.  McGinnis.... 

J.  T.  McGinnis 

R.  H.  Day 

R.H.  Dav 

R.H.Day 

J.  T.  McGinnis.... 

J.  E.  Bay 

J.  E.  Bav 

J.  T.  McGinnis.... 
J.  T.  McGinnis.... 

J.  W.  Close 

J.W.  Close 

J.  W.  Close 

S.  H.  Riddell 


Clerks. 


J.  E. 
J.  O. 
J.  O. 
S.J. 
Wm. 
Wm. 
J.  M. 
Wm. 
J.  E. 
J.  E. 
J.  E. 
J.  E. 
J.  E. 
J.  E. 
J.  E. 


Bav 

Allen 

Allen 

Strattan 

A.  Crane  . 

Greene 

Nevius 

L.  Greene,. 

Bav 

Bav 

Bav 

Bav 

Bav 

Bav 

Bav 


J.  E.  Bay 

J.  E.  Bay 

J.  E.  Bav 

J.  E.  Bav 

J.  E.Bay 

John  Brady 

John  Brady 

John  Brady 

John  Brady 

John  Brady 

Jcihn  Brady 

John  Brady 

John  Brady 

J.  G.  Haverfield. 


Assessors. 


Benijah  Llovd,  Jr. 
R.W.Bay..'. 


J.  T.  McGinnis.... 
O.  A.  Bridgford  ... 
W.  A.  Bridgford . . . 
James  Kiddoo,  Jr. 
James  Haverfield . 
Wm.  M.  Brown.. . . 
Wm.  M.  Brown.. . . 
Wm.  M.  Brown.. . . 

L.  B.  Howe 

Johnson  E.  Beatv. 

J.  E.  Beaty ". . 

R.H.Day 


Collectors. 


J.  R.  Lemon 

W.  A.  Bridgford. 
W.  A.  Bridgford. 

W.  L.  Craue 

J.  R.  Lemon 

Wm.  L.  Greene.. 
Wm.  L.  Greene. 
Wm.  L.  Greene.. 
W.  A.Bridgftjrd. 
W.  A.  Bridgford. 
W.  A.  Bridgford. 

J.  E.Bay 

M.  L.  Detuler  . . , 

J.  H.  Grady 

J.  H.  Grady 


Commissioners 
OF  Highways. 


R.  H.  Day |  John  Brady. 

O.  A.  Bridgford... 

E.  L.  Emerson 

E.  L.  Emerson 

i  Ed.  Griffith 

Ed.  Griffith 

1  J.  G.  McCarnahan. 

'  J.  A.  Gilmore 

I  J.  E.  Bav 

J.  E.  Bav 

J.  E.  Bav 

J.  E.  Bav 

J.  E.  Bav 

j  J.E.Bay 


A.  W.  McClain.. 
W.  A.  Bridgford. 
W.  A.  Bridgford. 

John  Love 

L.  B.  Childs t 

John  Brady 

Jahn  Bradv 

J.  R.  Wartwiek.. 
J.  R.  Wartwiek..! 

John  Harvey 

W.  R.  Lemon I 

W.  R.  Lemon j 

W.  C.  Irwin  i 


W.  O.  Dungau. 
(Ed.  Brady, 
t  J.  W.  Close. 
W.  A.  Marsh. 
J.  W.  Close. 
Ed.  Brady. 
Richard  Kiddoo. 
J.  W.  Close. 
Edw#rd  Brady. 
R.  Kiddoo. 
J.  W.  Close. 
Ed.  Brady. 
R.  Kiddoo. 
Tavlor  Gilmore. 
Ed.  Brady. 
S.  A.  Steele. 


Previous  to  1S6S  there  were  elected  each  year  three  commissioners 
of  highways,  whose  names  are  as  follows  :  1854,  J.  Falls,  S.  Carnahan 
and  Charles  Griffith  ;  1855,  J.  Falls,  C.  Griffith  and  O.  A.  Bridgford ; 
1856,  C.  Griffith,  J.  P.  Boyd  and  H.  L.  Marsh;  1857,  C.  Griffith, 
J.  P.  Boyd  and  James  Kiddoo ;  1858,  C.  Griffith,  A.  Eddy  and  J.  P. 
Marsh ;  1859,  A.  Eddy,  Charles  Griffith  and  William  Brown ;  1860, 
William  Brown,  Ed.  Brady  and  A.  Eddy ;  1861  and  1862,  same  as  in 
1860;  1863,  Ed.  Brady,  A.  Eddy  and  D.  Thatcher;  1864  and  1865, 
same  as  1863 ;  1867,  J.  M.  and  R.  H.  Gilmore. 


228  HISTORY    OF   IVCERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COLTNTIES. 

Ill  1855  the  vote  as  to  whether  or  not  the  township  organization 
shoukl  he  adopted,  the  result  was  21  votes  for  and  19  against  the 
organization. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  justices  of  the  township  since  1835 : 
Ebenezer  Creswell,  appointed  May  3,  1835  ;  Abraham  Miller,  Octo- 
ber 5,  1835  ;  Isaac  Beson,  April  30,  1838,  refused  to  accept;  Christian 
Routzong,  1838  ;  Frank  Miller,  probate  justice,  1838  ;  Abraham 
Thorp,  1839 ;  E.  Gilmore,  1839  ;  John  Carnahan,  1839  ;  Daniel  Pink- 
lev,  1840 ;  Joseph  ^Y.  Lloyd,  1841 ;  William  J.  Phelps,  1842 ;  Isaac 
McDaniel,  1848  ;  Daniel  Piiikley,  1843  ;  Hiram  Hardy,  1843  ;  Charles 
Sulli\an,  1845 ;  J.  W.  Wood,  1845 ;  W.  A.  Bridgford,  1847  ;  Charles 
Sulli\an,  1847  ;  J.  W.  Wood,  1847  ;  W.  A.  Bridgford,  1847  ;  Lucian 
B.  Howe,  1849  ;  W.  A.  Bridgford,  1849  ;  Ephraim  Gilmore,  Jr.,  1849  ; 
W.  A.  Bridgford,  1851  ;  W.  A.  Bridgford,  1858 ;  W.  L.  Green, 
1858  ;  W.  A.  Bridgford,  1862  ;  S.  W.  Galley,  1862  ;  S.  H.  Pdddell, 
18ii6  ;  B.  F.  Brock^  1866  ;  Lucien  B.  How,  1869 ;  W.  A.  Bridgford, 
1870 ;  O.  F.  Green,  1870  ;  S.  H.  Riddell,  1870  ;  Joseph  Lyle,  1873  ; 
W.  A.  Bridgford,  1873;  J.  W.Wood,  1877;  S.  H.  Eiddell,  1877; 
W.  A.  Bridgford,  1881  ;  I.  W.  Huckins,  1881. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  free  schools  of  Millersburg  have  kept  pace  with  the  progress 
of'  the  towmship.  In  1841  the  money  paid  out  for  teaching  was 
-$124.86,  that  being  the  available  school  fund.  At  that  time  there 
were  onlv  three  districts,  one  north  of  the  Edwards  and  two  south. 

The  treasurer's  report  in  1863  shows  seven  districts  ;  503  persons 
■of  school  age  in  the  township,  with  an  attendance  of  320.  The 
amount;  paid  out  for  teaching,  $1,134.42  ;  highest  wages  paid  per 
month  was  $30  ;  lowest,  $14.  School  fund,  $1,600.  The  report  of 
1881  shows  the  same  number  of  districts  ;  580  children  of  school  age, 
with  an  enrollment  of  360  pupils;  total  days'  attendance,  33,340; 
the  school  fund,  $2,322.38  ;  teachers'  wages  for  the  year,  $2,259.80  ; 
incidental  expenses  of  the  schools,  $382.82.  Highest  wages  paid, 
$60  per  month. 

Tlie  improvements  in  roads  have  been  no  less  rapid  since  1835. 
The  amount  of  road  in  the  township  is  sixty  miles,  with  an  average 
width  of  three  rods.  In  1854  the  road  tax  was  ten  cents  on  the  one 
hundred  dollars  of  taxable  property;  in  1856,  twenty  cents  ;  from  1856 
to  1865,  ten- cents;  from  1865  to  1877,  the  levy  was  twenty  cents  on 
the  one  hundred  dollars,  when  the  roads  passed  under  the  commis 
sioners'  law.  In  1881  the  lew  was  twentv  cents  on  the  one  hundred 
dollars  ;  in  1882,  twenty  cents. 


MILLEESBURG   TOWNSHIP.  229 

The  township  elections  were  first  held  at  the  school-house  near  Ed- 
ward Brady's  corner,  but  continued  to  be  changed  from  here  to  Millers- 
burg,  and  then  from  Millersburg  back  to  Brady's  corner,  as  it  is  called, 
till  1879,  then  by  vote  the  place  of  holding  elections  was  settled  perma- 
nently at  Brady''s  corner,  and  a  town-hall  built  over  the  school-house 
for  town  and  public  purposes,  except  for  dances,  shows  and  such  things 
that  are  considered  to  be  detrimental  to  morality.  The  cost  of  the  hall 
was  $387,  a  part  of  which  was  made  up  by  private  subscription  to 
secure  the  use  of  the  building  from  entertainments  of  the  character 
mentioned. 

The  census  report  of  1880  gives  the  population  as  1,071.  The 
taxable  property  in  the  township  in  1881  was  valued  at  $-161,618.  The 
real  estate  was  valued  at  $328,1:10,  town  lots  at  $16,060,  personal 
property  at  $117,148.     The  equalized  value  was  $125,127. 

The  tax  money  collected  on  the  above  assessment,  for  general  state 
purposes  and  schools,  $2,255.45  ;  county  purposes,  $1,065.25  ;  road  tax 
$661.35  ;  district  school  tax,  $2,391 ;  dog  tax,  $166. 

The  township  has  one  railroad,  the  Keithsburg  &  Galva  division 
of  the  Chicago  Burlington  &  Quincy.  For  voting  a  tax  of  $13,400 
to  the  American  Railroad  Company,  which  built  the  road,  a  meeting 
was  called  in  1868,  wdiicli  carried  by  114  votes  for,  to  27  against  such 
donations.  The  bonds  were  issued  in  1869,  on  ten  years  time.  They ' 
have  all  been  paid,  the  last  in  1881,  and  the  townshi]-)  feels  wise  enough 
not  to  vote  any  more  such  taxes,  as  the  following  call-meetings  show. 

In  IS 70  a  meeting  was  called  with  the  expectations  that  the  town- 
ship would  vote  an  appropriation  to  the  Rockford,  Rock  Island  S: 
St.  Louis  Railroad  Company,  and  for  the  donation  there  were  107 
votes  against  126.  A  second  attempt  was  made  to  get  the  township  to 
vote  the  tax,  but  with  no  better  result  thistiiiie;  the  votes  when  counted 
showed  106  for  taxation  and  117  against. 

In  conclusion  let  us  add,  the  present  population  of  the  township  are 
a  thrifty,  energetic,  well-to-do,  and  hospitable  people.  In  agriculture  and 
stock  raising  they  are  up  with  the  times,  and  few  laggards  exist  among 
them.  For  a  more  extensive  histor}-  of  the  prominent  business  men, 
farmers  and  stock  raisers  of  the  township,  reference  may  be  had  to  the 
biographical  department  of  Millersburg  township,  where  the  personal 
and  family  history  of  almost  all  of  them  may  be  found. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Among  the  pioneer  settlers  yet  liWng  is  William  H.  Riggs,  a 
farmer  and  stock  raiser,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  born  in  1828,  son  of 
Thomas  M.  and  Rebecca  B.  (Jenkins)  Riggs,  both  of  Kentucky.     The 


230  HISTOKY    OF    FLEECER    A^^D    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Riggs  family  came  from  Virginia  to  Kentucky,  but  are  of  Scotch 
descent,  as  also  is  the  Jenkins  family.  Both  tamilies  emigrated  to- 
America  at  an  early  period  in  the  history  of  the  colonies.  William 
H.  Eiggs'  grandfather,  Eichard  Jenkins,  came  to  Mercer  county  in 
1836,  and  ^vas  constable  before  the  township  organization.  '  He  died 
in  Aledo.  After  his  death  his  \yife  returned  to  Kentucky.  William 
H.  located  in  Mercer  county,  where  he  now  resides,  in  1836,  where 
he  has  been  engaged  in  larming  and  stock  dealing.  His  early  educa- 
tion was  limited,  as  the  adyantages  at  that  early  period  for  education 
were  few.  When  a  young  man  he  went  one  year  to  an  academy  at 
Galesburg.  In  1851,  he  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Dungan,  natiye  of 
Indiana,  born  1830,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  DeLabor  Dungan,  by 
occupation  farmers.  The  former  Ayas  a  carpenter  by  trade.  They 
were  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  came  to  Mercer 
county  with  the  early  settlers.  By  this  marriage  AVilliam  H.  Biggs- 
has  one  child,  Thomas  B.,  educated  at  Abingdon.  He  was  married 
in  1872  to  Loretta  D.  McClanahan,  natiye  of  Mercer  county,  born  in 
1851,  and  daughter  of  James  McClanahan,  who  came  in  1837  and 
located  in  Mercer  county,  and  now  resides  in  Henderson.  Thomas  R. 
Riggs  has,  by  this  marriage,  four  children  :  Guy  H.,  Robert  A., 
Lillian  (deceased),  and  James  H.     Tliomas  B.  liyes  on  the  farm  of  his 

*  father,  and  helps  to  carry  on  the  business.  Among  the  tine  stock  men 
of  Millersburg  township  AVilliam  H.  Riggs  has  been  known  for  many 
years.  He  imports  the  best  of  cattle  from  the  noted  fine  stock  locah- 
ties.  While  he  makes  cattle  a  specialty,  both  as  to  fine  stock  and 
feed  cattle,  he  by  no  means  keeps  a  poor  grade  of  hogs  and  horses. 
His  farm  of  330  acres  of  plow  land  and  seyenty  acres  of  timber  is 
second  to  none,  as  a  stock  farm,  in  the  township.  Mr.  Riggs  is  a 
genius,  doing  almost  all  his  own  work  whether  it  be  smithing,  car- 
penter work  or  otherwise.  AVhile  he  has  raised  but  one  child  of  his 
own,  seyeral  orphans  haye  found  under  his  roof  a  pleasant  home, 
where  they  were  the  recipients  of  motherly  and  fatherly  kindness. 
Tlie  subject  of  this  sketch,  J.  F.  HARyEY,  is  a  natiye  of  Indiana, 

"  born  in  1833,  son  of  Beauchamp  and  Alargaret  Haryey,  both  of  Mary- 
land. They  emigrated  to  Indiana  and  settled  on  White  riyer  about 
1825.  They  were  both  members  of  the  Christian  church.  The  former 
died  in  1874,  as-ed  sixty-three  years,  the  latter  now  makes  her  home 
with  her  children.  Mr.  Haryey  was  married  in  1866  to  E.  J. 
McClure,  of  Indiana,  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  McClure.  They 
came  to  Mercer  county  about  1847,  and  now  liye  in  Abingdon  town- 
ship. J.  F.  Haryey  has,  by  this  marriage,  two  children :  Charley  B. 
and  George  F.     Mr.  Haryey  came  to  Illinoi*;  in  1838  and  located  in 


:■:"    :1 


w^- 


RICHARD      KIDDOO. 


MILLERSBURG   TOWNSHIP.  233 

Champaign  county.  He  then  emigrated  to  Missouri,  and  aftei-ward 
came  to  Mercer  county  and  h)cated  where  lie  now  resides.  He  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  He  lias  a  farm  of  125 
acres,  fairly  improved  and  stocked  with  good  grades.  He  served  in 
the  army,  during  the  late  war,  from  1861  to  1865,  a  period  of  three 
years  and  ten  months,  in  the  IStli  111.  Vol.  He  was  in  the  battles  of 
Fort  Donelson,  Pittsburg  Landing,  Britton's  Lane  ;  went  down  the 
Mississippi  with  Grant  to  Watervalley  and  back  to  Memphis ;  was  in 
the  siege  of  Vicksburg;  was  with  Sherman  on  his  march  to  the  sea, 
then  on  the  ocean,  through  the  Carolinas,  then  to  Richmond,  Wash- 
ington and  Louisville,  where  he  was  mustered  out.  During  his  term  of 
service  in  the  army  he  passed  through  ten  of  the  southern  states. 

Among  the  several  old  settlers  and  prominent  gentlemen  of  Mercer 
county  who  have  taken  an  active  part  in  its  development,  we  mention 
the  name  of  Edwaed  Griffith,  who  was  bom  November  13,  1834,  in 
Hancock  county,  Indiana,  and  is  the  oldest  child  of  Charles  and 
Martha  (Scott)  Griffith.  He  came  with  his  parents  to  Mercer  county  in 
1839.  As  he  was  the  oldest  child  he  was  so  much  needed  at  home 
that  his  education  was  limited  to  a  common  school.  He  remained  at 
home  until  twenty-four  years  of  age,  when  he  started  out  in  life  for 
himself  as  a  tiller  of  the  soil.  He  purchased  the  S.  ^  of  the  N.  W.  ^, 
Sec.  14,  in  Millersburg  township.  He  remained  on  this  place  for  seven 
years,  when  he  sold  out  and  bought  the  N.  E.  J,  of  Sec.  12,  where  he 

.  remained  for  eight  years,  when  he  sold  out  and  bought  the  S.  W.  ^  of 
Sec.  18,  Millersburg  township,  where  he  resides  at  present.  He  has 
been  very  successful  in  accumulating  considerable  property.  March  24, 
1859,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Church,  daughter  of  Thomas 
and  Rachel  Church.  She  was  born  March  25,  1838.  Mr.  Griffith  has 
been  a  member  of  the  order  of  Masons  since  1869. 

William  Kiddoo,  farmer  and  stock  raiser,  is  a  native  of  Pennsylva- 
nia. His  jjarents  are  Richard  and  Eliza  Kiddoo.  He  came  to  Mercer 
county  with  his  parents  when  a  child,  and  was  reared  on  the  farm,  re- 
ceiving only  such  educational  training  as  the  pioneer  school  of  his 
neighborhood  could  furnish.     He  has  always  pursued  the  occupation  of 

•  his  father.  He  takes  great  pride  in  keeping  a  good  grade  of  stock  of 
all  kinds.  He  is  introducing  on  his  farm  shorthorn  cattle.  He  was 
married  in  1864  to  Mary  Edgar,  daughter  of  R.  S.  and  Elizabeth 
Edgar.  She  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  came  with  her  parents  to 
Mercer  county  when  a  girl.  By  this  union  William  Kiddoo  has  eight 
children  :  Henry  G.,  Harry  (de),  Francis  (de),  Maggie  M.,  Alvin  A., 
Nettie  B.,  Nora  B.,  Mary  V.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Metho- 
14 


234  HISTORY    OF    MERCER    AJN'D    HEXDERS0:N^   COCXTIES. 

dist  Episcopal  cliiirch  at  Joy.     He  lias  a  farm  of  330  acres  of  line  land, 
located  in  the  south  part  of  the  township. 

Jefferson  Fuller,  farmer,  now  resident  of  Millersburg  township, 
near  Joy,  is  a  native  of  Maine,  born  in  1839,  and  came  with  his  parents 
in  1842  to  Mercer  county,  where  he  has  since  resided ;  here  he  was 
reared  on  the  farm.  He  enlisted  in  company  I,  ITth  III.  Vol.,  in  1861, 
in  which  regiment  he  served  three  vears,  and  then  veteranized  and 
was  transferred  to  the  8th  111.  Yol.,  and  continued  in  the  service  till 
June,  1866.  He  was  in  tlie  battles  of  Frederickton,  Shiloh,  Fort  Donel- 
son ;  in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  Mobile,  and  numerous  skirmishes  in 
Texas.  At  Fort  Donelson  he  received  a  slight  wound,  the  only  one 
received  during  his  term  of  service.  He  was  married  in  1866  to 
Josephine  Awbery,  native  of  Kentucky,  and  daughter  of  Gabriel  W. 
Awbery,  of  Kentucky,  who  served  during  the  war  in  the  federal  army 
as  a  volunteer  from  his  native  state.  In  1865  the  southern  sentiment 
becoming  too  warm  for  a  federal  soldier  in  his  own  state  he  came  north. 
Mr.  Fuller  has  bv  this  marriao-e  two  children:  Mary  O.,  and  Dora  E. 
His  parents  Jetierson  and  Tabitha  (Libby)  Fuller,  located  in  Kew  Bos- 
ton township,  where  the  former  still  lives,  his  wife  having  died  when 
their  son  Jefferson  was  a  child.  Jefferson  Fuller,  Jr. ,  raised  four  sons, 
three  of  whom  were  in  the  army.  He  and  wife  were  members  of  the 
Baptist  church.  Jefferson  Fuller,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  began  life 
for  himself  with  such  capital  as  nature  supplied  him,  energy  and 
muscle.  He  now  owns  a  good  farm  of  100  acres,  which  he  has  well 
stocked. 

Da^-id  and  Lucinda  (Baldwin)  Felton,  the  parents  of  our  subject, 
Herchel  Feltox,  came  to  Scott  county,  Illinois,  in  the  latter  part  of 
1840,  where  they  remained  till  the  following  spring,  when  they  came 
to  Millersburg,  Mercer  county,  where  the  former  died  in  1849,  at  the 
age  of  thirty-six  years.  The}'  were  both  natives  of  Vermont :  he  of 
Tunbridge,  Orange  county ;  she  of  Sharon,  Windsor  county.  The 
parents  of  Da^-id  Felton  were  Amos  and  Sarah  Felton,  both  of  Massa- 
chusetts. The  parents  of  Lucinda  Baldwin  Felton  were  John  and 
Lucinda  (Clark)  Baldwin.  The  former  was  born  in  1783,  the  latter 
1785.  David  Felton  was  by  profession  a  school  teacher,  which  busi-  ' 
ness  he  followed  till  his  death,  clerking  during  the  intervals  between 
his  schools.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church,  Mrs. 
Felton  after  the  death  of  her  husband  returned  to  Vermont  with  her 
family,  wliere  she  remained  ten  years.  She  now  lives  with  her  son 
Herchel,  one  mile  east  of  Millersburg.  Herchel  was  married  in  1864 
to  Elizabetli  Shafer,  born  in  1842,  daughter  of  Aaron  P.  Shafer,  whose 
history  will  ap]>ear  on  another  page.      By  this  marriage  he  has  live 


,  MILLERSBURG    TOWNSHIP.  235 

■children  :  Milo  P.,  deceased,  Anna  E.,  Benjamin  R.,  Liicinda  B.,  and 
Hiram  E.  He  and  wife  hold  to  the  Missionary  Baptist  faith.  He  was 
born  in  ISil.  in  Millersbiirg  township,  where  he  now  resides.  His 
•early  education  was  that  of  the  common  school.  He  enlisted  August, 
1S61,  in  company  H,  37th  111.  Yol.  He  was  wounded  at  Prairie  Grove, 
Arkansas,  December  8,  1862,  and  was  discharged  the  following  Feb- 
ruary. Previous  to  his  being  wounded,  he  was  in  the  battle  of  Pea 
Ridge.  He  held  the  office  of  sergeant  in  his  comjjany.  His  brother, 
Aaron  D.,  enlisted  in  company  C,  -Jrotli  111.  Yol.,  and  died  shortly 
after  he  was  mustered  into  the  service.  His  brother  Hiram  died  in 
1875,  at  the  age  of  thirty-five,  at  home  with  his  mother. 

One  of  the  old  settlers  of  Millersburg  township  that  remains  is  Asa 
-Knox,  who  came  to  Mercer  county  in  1842,  and  located  where  he  now 
lives.  In  1841  he  took  a  claim  in  what  is  now  Xew  Boston  township. 
Mr.  Knox  is  a  native  of  Maine,  born  in  1S14,  and  reared  in  the  town 
-of  Jay,  New  Hampshire.  His  parents  were  Moses  and  Susana  Knox, 
natives  of  Dover,  'New  Hampshire.  They  emigrated  to  Maine  shortly 
after  their  marriage.  He  was  by  trade  a  shoemaker.  About  1841  he 
and  wife  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  In  1841  he  located 
in  Millersburg  township,  where  he  died  in  1858,  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
five  years  ;  his  wife  died  in  1848,  aged  sixty-four  years.  Asa  received  no 
-literary  training  beyond  the  common  school.  Disliking  the  trade  of 
his  father  he  chose  farming  for  a  livelihood,  which  he  has  always  fol- 
lowed. He  was  married  in  1836  to  Elmira  Perkins,  native  of  Fairfield, 
Maine,  born  in  1815,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Polly  Perkins,  both  of 
whom  resided  in  Maine  till  their  death.  By  this  marriage  Mr.  Knox 
has  eight  children:  David  P.,  Sumner  B.,  James  T.,  Asa  D., 
Margarette,  Elzina,  Ellen  M,  (deceased),  Elmira  (deceased).  Sumner  B. 
and  James  T.  served  in  the  army  during  the  late  war.  The  former  en- 
listed March  14,  1865,  in  the  83d  111.  Yol.,  and  was  transferred  to 
company  E,  61st  111.  Yol.,  and  served  eight •  months.  The  latter 
enlisted  in  company  I,  17th  111.  Yol.,  and  was  in  the  battles  of 
Fort  Blakely,  Spanish  Fort,  and  Jackson,  Mississippi,  and  served  three 
years.  They  both  now  live  in  Millersburg  township.  Asa  Knox  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  United  Brethren  church,  at  the  Palestine  con- 
gi-egation  in  Abington  township.  He  has  a  farm  of  sixty  acres,  on 
wliich  he  keeps  a  good  grade  of  farm  stock. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  is  a  native  of  Bloomsburg,  Pennsylva- 
nia; was  born  October  16,  1812,  and  is  the  son  of  Eli  and  Rachel 
Thornton,  both  of  whom  were  of  English  descent  and  natives  of  Penn- 
sylvania. H.  W.  Th()rxt<)X*s  early  education  was  limited  to  tlie  com- 
mon   schools  of  the   country   at  that  time.     In   his  eiu'liteenth   year. 


236  HISTORY   OF   AIERCER   AND    HENDERSON    (X)UNTIES. 

Williani  G,  Hurley,  Esq.,  a  prominent  lawyer  in  the  county,  gave- 
him  the  privilege  of  his  office  for  study  (and  with  whom  he  read  law), 
and  in  1S37  was  admitted  to  practice  in  the  courts  of  Columbia  county. 
He  came  to  Illinois  and  located  in  Millersburg  in  1838,  where  for 
several  years  he  followed  his  profession.  In  1839  he  was  elected 
clerk  of  the  county  court,  which  office  he  resigned  the  following  spring, 
being  nominated  and,  in  1840,  elected,  with  Hon.  Thomas  Drummond, 
now  judge  of  the  United  States  court  in  Chicago,  to  represent  the  ten 
northwest  counties  in  the  state  legislature.  In  18-42  he  was  elected 
recorder  of  the  county  to  till  a  vacancy,  and  in  1844  re-elected  for  four 
years.  At  the  end  of  the  term  the  county  seat  was  located  at  Keiths- 
burg.  For  six  or  eight  years  he  engaged  in  selling  goods  and  in 
improving  his  farm  adjoining  the  town  of  Millersburg.  In  1858  he 
was  elected  president  of  the  Warsaw,  Eock  Island  &  Galena  Kailroad 
Company,  which  position  he  held  for  ten  years,  and  during  his  term 
of  presidency  secured  the  building  of  the  line  from  Port  Byron  junction 
(six  miles  above  Hock  Island)  to  Savanna,  a  distance  of  forty-eight 
miles.  After  the  completion  of  the  road  from  Port  BjTon  to  Savanna^ 
thirty-eight  miles,  Richard  Irvin,  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Irvin 
&  Brother,  bankers,  of  New  York,  and  financial  agents  of  the  Bank 
of  Glasgow,  Scotland,  who  furnished  funds  for  the  w^ork,  gave  him  the 
following  letter  as  a  testimonial : 

"  New  York,  April  25,  1866. 
"  Dear  Sir, — I  have  pleasure  in  stating  it  as  my  opinion  that  to  your  exertions 
in  presenting  plans  and  surveys  for  extending  the  Northern  Illinois  railroad  from 
Savanna  to  Fort  Byron,  and  in  setting  forth  the  feasibility  and  probable  advan- 
tages of  such  extension,  has  it  been  owing  that  the  work  was  undertaken  and 
completed  at  a  period  of  very  high  prices  both  of  material  and  labor.  Whatever 
benefit  to  your  district  of  country  has  accrued,  or  may  in  future  accrue,  from  the 
work  referred  to,  you  are  fairly  entitled,  I  should  say,  to  great  credit  for  thft 
active  and  intelligent  part  you  took  in  forwarding  it. 

"  I  remain,  dear  sir,  vours  trulv, 

"  RICHARD  IRVIN. 
"H.  W.  Thornton,  Millersburg,  111." 

Mr.  Thornton  was  married  February  25,  1839,  to  Elizabeth  F. 
ISTorbm-y,  of  Philadelphia,  born  December  19,  1816,  daughter  of  Joseph 
B.  and  Rebecca  M.  Norbury,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  By  this 
marriage  they  had  seven  children  ;  two  died  in  infancy,  one  (Susan)  at 
the  age  of  twenty-one  ;  four  are  now  living :  Martha  ]S^.,  Sarah  E.,  IS'or- 
bury  W.,  and  George  E.  Since  1868  he  has  lived  quietly  on  his  farm, 
and  in  the  same  house  he  built  forty-three  years  ago. 

Richard  Kiddoo,  deceased,  was  a  native  of  Beaver  (now  Lawrence) 
county,  Pennsylvania ;  born  April  25,  1816.  His  parents,  James  and 
Mary  Kiddoo,  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  emigrated  to  Millers- 


ISIILLERSBUKG    TOWNSHIP.  23 T 

burg  township,  Illinois,  some  two  (n*  three  j^ears  after  their  son 
Richard.  They  located  where  Mrs.  Bryant,  formerly  Mrs.  John 
Kiddoo,  now  resides.  Here  they  liyed  out  their  days  in  the  faith  of 
the  Presbyterian  church.  Richard  Kiddoo  was  married  October  12, 
1837,  to  Eliza  Yamiatta,  native  of  Pennsylyania,  born  in  1821,  and 
■daughter  of  James  and  Betsy  Vannatta,  both  of  Pennsylvania.  The 
former  died  in  1837,  aged  sixty-one  years;  the  latter  came  "in  1844 
to  Mercer  county,  where  she  remained  four  years ;  went  to  Jasper 
county,  this  state,  and  there  died  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  seventy- 
two  years.  They  were  of  good  family,  well-to-do  farmers,  and  honored 
members  of  the  Presbj^terian  church.  By  this  marriage  Richard 
Kiddoo  raised  a  family  of  thirteen  children  :  Mary  (deceased),  William, 
James,  John  (deceased),  Nancy,  Eliza,  Martha  (deceased),  Thomas, 
Hannah,  Amos  F.,  Cyrus  C,  Adda,  Caroline  S.  In  1845  with  his 
family  he  came  to  Mercer  county  and  located  in  Millersburg  township, 
where  he  resided  till  his  death,  which  occurred  February  3,  1882. 
He  came  here  with  small  means,  which,  combined  judiciously  with  his 
good  business  judgment  and  industry,  crowned  his  life  with  success. 
He  never  engaged  in  speculation  but  made  his  money  by  raising  grain 
and  feeding  stock.  He  left  his  family  a  property  valued  at  $50,000. 
To  use  the  words  of  his  neighbors,  he  accumulated  wealth  rapidly  and 
practiced  strict  economy.  But  his  economy  was  not  of  a  close  and 
penurious  kind ;  his  family  lived  comfortably  and  he  gave  generously 
to  every  public  benefit.  He  was  a  man  of  warm  impulses  and  strong 
conA^ctions,  and  never  inconsiderate  of  the  convictions  of  others,  a 
helper  of  the  needy  and  a  fi'iend  to  all.  His  great  simplicity  of 
character  and  moral  integrity  won  the  esteem  of  many  and  commanded 
the  respect  of  all.  If  many  who  are  disposed  to  complain  of  their 
surroundings  would  adopt  his  rules  of  life  they  would  move  more 
smoothly  over  life''s  impediments.  No  man  manifested  greater  interest 
in  the  upbuilding  of  Christianity  and  morality  in  the  community  than 
did  Richard  Kiddoo.  ''It  will  not  be  regarded  a  disparagement  to 
others  who  were  helpful  in  the  same  direction,  to  say  the  high 
morality  and  marked  religious  character  of  this  community  are 
largely  due  to  the  influence  and  efforts  of  Richard  Kiddoo.'"  The 
•expression  of  all  who  knew  him  is  that  a  good  man*  has  gone  out 
from  among  us.  He  and  his  ancesters  so  far  back  as  we  are  able  to 
•ascertain  have  been  strict  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  His 
widows  who  was  a  coworker  in  all  his  undertakings  to  build  up 
society,  the  church,  and  to  make  home  happy  and  pleasant  for  all, 
still  resides  on  the  farm  where  they  have  lived  since  they  came  to 
Illinois. 


238  HISTORY    OF    MEKCEK    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Among  the  first  settlers  of  Millersburg  township  was  M.  H.  Riggs- 
and  family.  Thev  located  on  section  30  as  early  as  1834.  The  sur- 
rounding country  was  then  only  a  wilderness.  He  planted  his  first 
crop  and  fenced  it  afterward.  Mr.  Riggs  is  a  native  of  Kentucky. 
He  married  in  1837  Julette  Froman,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Dice- 
(Hichison)  Froman,  both  of  Virginia,  but  emigrated  to  Kentucky  as 
pioneers,  wdiere  their  daughter  Julette  was  born  and  reared.  They 
both  died  in  Kentucky,  members  of  the  Baptist  church.  The  oftspring 
of  this  marriage  is:  Thomas,  Isaac,  William,  James,  Filman,  Wash- 
ington, Marion,  Jasper,  Clay.  Mrs.  Riggs  lives  on  the  old  farm  of  400 
acres  where  they  first  located,  and  is  the  oldest  settler  living  in  the 
township  at  this  time.  Her  son  Marion  resides  with  her.  He  was 
born  and  reared  where  he  now-  lives.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in  the  124th 
reg.  111.  Yol.  Inf ,  company  G,  and  served  three  years  and  a  few 
days.  He  was  in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  with  Smith  at  Mobile,  the 
taking  of  the  Spanish  fort.  He  returned  home  and  was  married  in 
1865  to  Sarah  A.  Hubbard,  native  of  Illinois  and  daughter  of  Willard 
and  Xancy  Hubbard,  the  former  of  Massachusetts,  the  latter,  Kentucky. 
By  this  union  Marion  Riggs  has  three  children:  Julette,  Xancy  and 
Adda.  He  is  a  farmer,  and  keeps  a  good  grade  of  farm  stock,  grade 
cattle  and  hogs  and  Cotswold  sheep.  In  jjolitics  he  is  a  republican 
straight. 

W.  A.  Bridgford,  farmer,  is  by  birth  a  Kentuckian,  born  in  1810, 
and  the  son  of  W.  J.  and  Elizabeth  Bridgford,  both  of  whom  were 
natives  of  A^irginia  and  emigrated  to  Scott  county,  Kentucky,  where 
our  subject  was  born.  In  1813  they  moved  to  Ohio,  where  they  both 
died,  the  former  aged  eighty-four,  the  latter  thirty-six  years.  Mr. 
Bridgford  was  reared  and  educated  in  Ohio,  where  he  resided  till  1832, 
when  he  emigrated  to  Indiana,  near  Indianapolis,  where  he  remained 
eight  years,  and  tlien  came  to  Illinois  and  located  in  Richland  Grove 
township,  where  he  remained  till  1856,  when  he  moved  to  Millers- 
burg, where  he  has  since  lived.  He  was  married  in  1839  to  Xancy 
Workland,  native  of  Kentucky  and  daughter  of  Charles  and  Permelia 
Workland.  They  have  ten  children,  five  of  whom  are  living :  Oliver  A. , 
Malinda,  Mary  E.,  Martha  and  Laura,  two  of  whom  live  in  this  county 
and  three  in  Kansas.  He  has  held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace 
for  about  forty  years  and  is  now  acting  in  that  capacity.  He  also  holds 
the  ofiice  of  notary  public.  AYlien  his  present  term  expires  he  will 
have  served  in  that  ofiice  sixteen  years.  He  held  the  ofiice  of  collector 
eleven  years.  He  belongs  to  both  the  secret  orders,  I.O.O.F  and 
Masons.  He  sold  goods  in  Millersburg  from  1850  to  1860.  The  last 
few  vears  he  has  been  engaged  in  farming.     Previous  to  leaving  Ohio. 


MILLERSBURG   TOWNSHIP.  239 

he  studied  law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  at  Oxford  in  1832,  but 
never  engaged  in  active  practice.  When  he  arrived  in  Mercer  county 
his  wealth  in  this  world's  goods  for  most  part  consisted  of  a  team,  and 
cow  and'  six  sheep,  lie  now  owns  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  Mercer 
county,  eighty  acres  in  Kansas,  and  considerable  town  property. 

Among  the  early  settlers  of  Millersburg  is  Mr.  Ja:mes  Vernon. 
He  made  his  advent  into  this  county  when  it  was  yet  almost  a  wilder- 
ness. His  parents,  Joseph  and  Sarah  Vernon,  settled  in  Warren 
county,  Ohio,  in  1812,  where  their  son  James  was  born  ;  then  moved  to 
Preble  county,  Ohio,  then  to  Shelby  county,  Indiana,  where  they  lived 
out  their  natural  lives.  Mr.  Joseph  Vernon  was  a  native  of  ISTew  Jersey, 
his  wife  of  South  Carolina.  James  Vernon,  disliking  the  vocation  of 
his  father,  which  was  that  of  mechanic,  in  early  life  engaged  in  farm- 
ing, which  he  has  pursued  successfully  till  within  the  past  few  years, 
when  he  sold  his  land,  resei'ving  seventy-three  acres  for  a  home,  and 
has  virtually  retired.  In  1836  he  married  Eliza  Duncan,  native  ot 
Virginia,  and  daughter  of  Buford  and  Fanny  Duncan,  both  of  Virginia 
and  among  the  first  settlers  of  Duncan  township.  This  marriage  was 
blessed  with  three  children:  Thomas  A.,  Sarah  F.,  and  Viola  I.  He 
and  family  are  members  of  the  Latter  Day  Saints  church,  but  very 
different  to  the  church  at  Utali.  They  disapprove  of  the  doctrine  ot 
plurality  of  wives. 

Edward  Brady,  native  of  the  "Buckeye"  State,  born  in  1825,  is 
the  son  of  John,  Sr.,  and  Eliza  Brady.  The  former  is  a  native  ot 
Ireland,  born  about  1792,  and  came  to  America  in  1813.  He  located 
in  Green  county,  Ohio,  where  he  remained  about  twenty-live  years, 
when  he  came,  about  1842,  to  Mercer  county  and  settled  on  the  farm 
where  his  son  John  now  resides,  where  he  lived  during  the  rest  of  his 
life.  His  wife,  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  is  yet  living,  and  is  seventy- 
seven  years  old,  hale  and  hearty  for  a  person  of  her  age.  They  raised 
a  family  of  twelve  children,  live  of  whom  now  live  in  Mercer  county. 
Edw^ard's  early  literary  training  was  that  of  the  common  school.  In 
1848  he  was  married  to  Jane  Gingles,  native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  in 
1827,  and  a  daughter  of  James  and  Elizabeth  Gingles,  both  of  Penn- 
sylvania. They  came  to  Mercer  county  in  1839  and  settled  in  Perry- 
ton  township,  where  he  died  in  1872.  His  wife,  Elizabeth,  is  yet 
living.  Edward  Brady  has  by  this  union  five  children:  James  N., 
Clara  E.,  Ella  M.,  Nellie  J.  (deceased),  and  Eddie  G.  He  and  wife 
are  Presbyterians  and  belong  to  the  society  at  Peniel  church.  He  has 
held  the  office  of  school  treasurer  in  Millersburg  towmship  for  the  past 
twenty  years,  and  has  been  severel  times  elected  commissioner  of 
highways.     In  politics  he  is  a  straight  out  republican.     He  has   a 


240  HISTORY    OF   IVIERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

well-improved  farm  of  sixty  acres,  where  lie  lias  resided  since  he  came 
to  the  county.     He  keeps  a  good  grade  of  farm  stock. 

LuciEN  B.  Howe  is  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  township  and 
county.  He  came  here  when  the  deer  were  yet  plenty  on  the  prairies 
of  Mercer  county.  He  was  born  in  Vermont,  shortly  after  which  his 
parents,  Ezekiel  and  Louisa,  moved  to  Troy,  New  York,  where  he 
was  reared  and  educated.  His  parents  were  natives  of  Massachusetts, 
and  descendants  of  the  pioneer  tamilies.  The  Howe  family  at  first,  in 
America,  consisted  of  three  brothers  who  came  from  England  to 
Massachusetts.  Among  their  descendants  is  the  great  inventor  of  the 
Howe  sewing  machine.  Lucien's  father  was  a  carpenter  and  joiner. 
He  died  in  1837,  aged  sixty-two  years.  His  grandfather  Howe  fought 
at  the  battle  of  Bunker  Hill.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  graduated  at 
Union  college,  Schenectady,  ISTew  York,  in  1840,  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
six,  in  the  classical  course.  Then  read  law  with  J.  P.  Abertson,  at 
his  home  in  New  York;  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  1841,  and  practiced 
in  Troy  two  years,  then  he  came  to  Mercer  county  and  located  at 
Millersburg,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  has  held  the  otfice  of 
justice  of  the  peace  two  tenns.  He  is  a  chaiter  member  of  the 
masonic  lodge,  at  Aledo,  and  formerly  a  member  at  New  Boston.  He 
was  married  in  1846,  to  Martha  King,  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  King.  They  have  six  children,  four 
of  whom  are  now  living :  Charlotte  A. ,  Otis  M. ,  Cahdn  K. ,  and 
David  T.  He  has  a  farm  of  seventy  acres  and  pursues  his  profession. 
In  politics  he  is  an  old  line  democrat. 

Charles  York  emigrated  with  his  father  to  Illinois,  in  the  tall  of 
1843,  and  located  in  Keithsburg  township,  where  they  remained  a 
short  time  when  they  bought  a  farm  in  Abington  township,  which  they 
sold  and  then  went  to  Henderson  county,  where  his  mother  died.  His 
father  died  in  October,  1874,  aged  eighty-two  years.  Charles  York 
was  born  in  Kentuckv,  in  1825,  and  is  the  eldest  of  a  familv  of  six 
children.  His  early  educational  training  was  limited.  For  eighteen 
years  after  he  came  to  Illinois  he  broke  prairie.  He  was  married  in 
1855  to  Mary  J.  Landreth,  native  of  Mercer  county,  and  daughter  of 
Zacharia  and  Elenor  Landreth,  both  natives  of  Virginia  and  among  the 
early  settlers  of  Mercer  county.  By  this  union  he  has  seven  children 
living:  Nancy  E.,  Nettie,  Alice,  Olive,  Eva,  William  L.,  and  Linie. 
Mr.  York  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
at  Millersburg.  He  has  given  his  entire  attention  to  farming  and 
stock  raising,  both  of  which  he  has  made  successful.  He  now  owns 
three  tarms  in  Mercer  county,  containing  432  acres.  He  brought  with 
him  and  still  retains  the  appreciation  of  a  good   horse,    for  which 


MILLERSBURG   TOWNSHIP.  241 

Kentucky  is  so  noted.      He  was  assessor  of  Perrvton  townsliip  two 
years.     Few  men  have  been  more  successful  tlian  Mr.  York. 

Capt.  Oliver  A.  Bridgford  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  in  1830,  and 
is  the  son  of  W.  A.  and  Nancv  (Wakland)  Bridgfol-d,  whose  sketch 
will  appear  in  the  biographical  department  of  this  township.  Capt. 
Bridgford  was  educated  in  the  common  school,  and  came  to  Mercer 
countv  in  181:3,  one  year  after  his  lather.  His  earlv  life,  till  he  was 
nineteen  years  old,  was  spent  on  the  farm.  At  that  age  he  went  to 
California  on  a  gold  hunt ;  he  went  across  the  })lains  with  a  team, 
remained  in  California  two  years,  when  he  i-eturned  by  way  of  Cuba 
and  ]^ew  York,  satisfied  that  gold  was  cheaper  in  Illinois  than  in  the 
gold  regions.  In  1851  he  settled  in  Millersburg,  bought  a  half 
interest  in  his  father's  store,  in  which  business  he  remained  till  1861, 
when  he  raised  Company  I,  45th  111.  Yol. ,  and  entered  the  army, 
having  been  commissioned  captain  by  Gov.  Yates.  He  was  in  the 
battles  of  Fort  Donelson,  Fort  Henry  and  Shiloli ;  was  wounded  in  the 
last  named  engagement.  Having  remained  some  time  in  the  hospital 
at  Savannah,  he  was  furloughed  home,  and  returned  after  forty  days. 
At  the  end  of  twelve  months  after  he  entered  the  service,  he  resigned 
his  commission  because  of  disability  to  discharge  the  duties  of  his 
office,  caused  by  the  wound  received  at  Shiloh,  and  was  discharged 
from  the  service  and  returned  to  his  home  in  Millersburg.  In  the  fall 
of  1862  he  was  elected  sheriif  of  Mercer  county,  and  served  tlie  full 
term,  and  then  he  returned  to  his  store  in  Millersburg,  where  he  con- 
tinued till  March,  1878.  The  following  year  he  moved  upon  his  farm 
near  Joy,  where  he  now  resides,  since  which  time  he  has  given  his 
farm  his  entire  attention.  Capt.  Bridgford  was  married  in  February, 
1852,  to  Miss  Eliza  A.  McLain,  native  of  Kentucky,  born  in  1833,  and 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Susan  McLain,  now  residents  of  Millersburg. 
They  have  ten  children,  five  living:  Medora  E.,  Clayton  W.,  Minnie 
L.,  Archie  G.,  Miles  E.  He  owns  a  farm  of  1,720  acres  of  land,  all  of 
which  except  eighty  acres  is  in  Mercer  county.  He  raises  thorough- 
bred cattle,  Poland  china  hogs  and  Leicester  sheep.  He  keeps  on  his 
farm  100  head  of  stock  cattle,  200  hogs,  150  sheep,  and  horses  to  carry 
on  his  farm  work.  He  is  among,  if  not  the  largest,  tax  payers  in 
Millersburg  townsliip.  He  is  a  charter  member  of  the  I.O.O.F.  lodge 
at  Millersburg,  only  t\yo  of  whom  are  now  living.  Notwithstanding 
his  disability  from  the  wf )und  received  at  Shiloh,  lie  receives  no  pen- 
sion, neither  has  he  made  ai^plication  for  one.  Politically  he  is  a 
republican. 

The  parents  of  Edwin  Gilmore,   Judge   Ephraim   and   Julia   A. 
Gilmore,   both  of  Ohio,  came  with  the  first  settlers  to   Millersburg 


242  HISTORY    OF    MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

township  and  located  near  the  Peniel  chin-ch.  He  was  the  coimtj 
surveyor  at  the  tmie  the  country  was  being  settled,  and  held  the  office 
of  judge.  He  raised  his  family  in  Millersburg  township,  and  is  now  a 
resident  of  Aledo.  Edwin  Gilmore  was  reared  and  educated  on  the  farm. 
The  advantages  for  obtaining  an  education  at  that  early  period  in  the 
settlement  of  this  part  of  the  county  were  few.  He  was  born  in 
1S44,  on  the  farm  where  he  now  lives,  on  section  21.  In  1862  he 
enlisted  in  the  service  in  Company  C,  102d  111.  Vol.,  and  served  till 
the  war  closed.  He  was  on  the  skirmish  line  till  he  left  Chattanooga, 
with  Sherman's  division  on  his"  march  to  the  sea.  He  was  married  in 
1870  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Morrow,  native  of  Pennsylvania,  daughter  of 
David  and  Elizabeth  (Kiddoo)  Morrow.  They  have  three  children : 
N'ellie,  Burton,  and  Newton  K.  Mr.  Gilmore  and  wife  are  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  church  at  Peniel.  He  has  a  fine  stock  farm  of  320' 
acres,  and  raises  a  good  grade  of  cattle,  sheep  and  hogs. 

John  T.  McGinnis,  came  to  JMercer  county  in  1846,  and  located  in 
Millersburg  township.     At  that  time  the  country  was  sparsely  settled. 
Like  most  of  the  pioneers,  he  came  with  small  pecuniary  means,  to- 
seek   a  home.       He  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  1821.      His 
parents  are  William  and  Elizabeth  McGinnis,  both  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, his  father  of  Irish,  and  liis  mother  of  Scotch  descent.     They 
followed  agriculture  for   a   livelihood,    and   belonged   to   the   United 
Presbyterian  church.     John  T.  received  little  literary  training  in  his. 
early  life,  but  was  well  bred  in  the  characteristics  of  the  people  of  the 
Quaker  state,  namely,  energetic  industry  and   honesty.      Two    years 
before  his  coming  to  Mercer  county  he  was  married  to  Margaret  Kid- 
doo, of  Pemisylvania,  born  in  1824,  and  daughter  of  James  and  Mary 
Kiddoo,  both  natives  of  Pennsylvania.     Mr.  and  Mrs.  McGinnis's  chil- 
dren are  Mary  E.,  Sarah,  Emily,  William,  Alice,  Maggie,  Charlie  E., 
and  Cora  S.     He  was  justice  of  the  peace  before  the  township  organiza- 
tion, and  has  held  the  office  of  supervisor  fourteen  years.  He  represented 
Mercer  and  Knox  counties  in  the  legislature  during  the  sessions  of  1874 
and  1875.      Apart  from  the  offices  mentioned  he  has  been  chosen  to  fill 
most  of  the  offices  of  the  township.      Mr.  McGinnis  has  a  beautiful 
home  of  100  acres,  located  on  section  21.     Here  he  lives  a  quiet  farmer's 
life,  while  his  accumulated  capital  is  employed  in  other  directions.     He 
has  never  engaged  in  speculation,  but  kept  his  means  employed  where 
reasonable  returns  were  certain.     He  was  at  one  time  stock  holder  in  a 
bank  at  Keithsburg,  and  at  this  time  owns  an  interest  in  the  Farmer's 
Bank  in  Aledo,  and  also  in  one  in  Kansas.     He  and  wife  are  members, 
of  the  Peniel  Presbyterian  church.     Politically  he  is  a  republican. 

John  Brady,  Jr.,  is  the  son  of  John  and  Eliza  Brady,  whose  history 


^ilLLEKSBlKU    'RAVXSHIP.  24:2' 

will  be  found  in  connection  with  the  sketch  written  of  Edward  Brady. 
John  Brady,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Green  county,  Ohio,  in  lbi3S.  He  came 
witli  his  parents  to  Mercer  county  in  1 842.  He  received  no  educational 
training  beyond  the  district  sc]io(j1.  He  was  reared  to  the  business  of 
fanning,  which  pursuit  he  has  followed  for  a  livelihood.  In  1862,  he 
enlisted  in  company  D,  83d  111.  Vol.,  and  served  till  Jul}^  1865, 
making  his  term  of  service  two  years  and  eleven  months.  He  was  with 
the  army  of  the  Cumberland,  in  the  second  battle  fought  at  Fort  Donel- 
son,  and  at  Franklin,  and  Lawrenceburg.  The  remainder  of  the  time 
he  was  kept  chasing  guerrillas.  At  Fort  Donelson  he  was  wounded. 
He  was  married  in  1861  to  Martha  C.  Gibson,  daughter  of  George  and 
Isreal  Gibson,  the  former  a  native  of  Tennessee,  the  latter  of  Ohio. 
They  were  among  the  first  to  locate  in  Warren  county,  Illinois,  in  1832. 
The  Indians  had  not  quit  the  country.  Among  the  slain  by  the  Indians 
of  Warren  county  was  a  brother  to  George  Gibson.  They  were  mem- 
bers of  the  Associate  Presbyterian  church.  John  Brady  has  four 
children :  William,  George  P. ,  Harry  (deceased),  and  Mary.  They 
hold  letters  of  membership  in  the  Presb_yterian  church.  He  has  a  well 
improved  farm  of  160  acres,  and  keeps  a  good  grade  of  farm  stock. 
He  held  the  office  of  township  clerk  for  several  years,  and  is  now  com- 
missioner of  public  highways.     In  politics  he  is  a  republican. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  William  Kiddoo,  is  a  native  of  Lawrence 
county  (now  Beaver  county),  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  born  in  183() ; 
came  to  Mercer  county  in  181:7,  and  located  with  his  parents,  James 
and  Margaret  Kiddoo,  where  his  widow,  now  Mrs.  Bryant,  resides. 
He  and  Avife  and  parents  w^ere  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 
He  married  in  1853  Catharine  Yance,  native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  in 
1834,  and  wlio  came  with  her  parents,  W^illiam  and  Rachel  (Yannatta) 
Yance,  to  Mercer  county,  and  located  in  Keithsburg  in  1836.  They 
were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  The  former  died  in  1867, 
the  latter  now  resides  with  her  daughter  Caroline,  and  is  seventy-eight 
years  old.  William  Kiddoo  had  by  this  marriage  seven  children : 
E.  Yila,  Nancy,  Olive,  Forbes  M.,  Mary,  William  M.,  and  Rachel  E. 
He  left  his  family  in  good  circumstances.  Like  the  rest  of  the  Kiddoo 
family  he  was  a  man  of  exemplary  habits,  a  good  citizen,  kind  liusband 
and  father.  His  widow^  married  in  1871  Frank  B.  Brvant  of  Ohio, 
by  whom  she  has  three  children:  Laura  B.,  Frank  (deceased),  and 
Archie  H. 

John  S.  Kiddoo,  deceased,  emigrated  from  his  native  state,  Penn- 
sylvania, to  Illinois,  in  1847.  and    located  in  Millersburg  township, 
where  he  resided  till  his  death  in  1866,   in  the  thirty-seventh  year  of 
his  age.     His  parents  were  James  and  Mary  Kiddoo,  who  emigrated 


244  HISTORY    OF    MERCER    AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

to  Mercer  county  at  the  same  time  as  their  son  John  S.  Their  remains 
repose  in  the  cemetery  of  the  old  brick  church.  John  S.  Kiddoo,  was 
married  in  1850  to  Eliza  Day.  of  Pennsylvania,  born  in  1821,  and  emi- 
grated with  her  parents,  John  and  Mary  Day,  to  Iowa,  in  1836,  and 
then  to  Mercer  county  in  1846,  where  they  still  reside.  Her  father, 
John  Day,  in  early  life  was  a  boatman  on  the  Mississippi  river.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  United  Brethren  church,  his  wife  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  John  S.  Kiddoo  had  by  this  marriage  six  children: 
John.  Robert  (deceased),  Mary  (deceased),  Alonzo,  William  (deceased), 
and  Lizzie.  John  S.  Kiddoo  .and  wife  were  members  of  the  Free 
Presbyterian  church,  but  both  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  a  few  years  before  his  death.  His  wife  still  remains  a  member 
of  the  church.  He  beo-an  in  this  county  with  small  means  :  when  he 
died  left  his  family  a  property  worth  $8,000.  Alonzo,  son  of  John  S. 
and  Eliza  Kiddoo,  was  born  in  1860,  near  where  he  now  resides,  in 
Millersburg  township.  His  early  educational  training  was  that  of  the 
common  school  of  the  neighborhood.  He  is  by  occupation  a  farmer. 
He  was  married  in  1881,  to  Florence  Shingledecker,  born  in  1858,  and 
daughter  of  James  and  Caroline  Shingledecker,  both  of  Pennsylvania. 
They  came  to  Mercer  county  in  1858,  and  located  near  Joy,  where 
they  have  since  resided.  Both  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church  at  Joy.  Alonzo  Kiddoo  and  wife  are  members  of  the  same 
church.  They  have  a  farm  of  140  acres  well  stocked.  In  politics  he 
votes  the  republican  ticket. 

Mr.  J.  H.  Crane  located  in  Millersburg  township  in  1849.  His 
early  education  was  that  of  the  common  school.  He  began  business 
for  himself  as  a  farmer,  which  he  followed  ten  years,  when  he  opened 
a  store  in  Joy  and  engaged  in  shipping  grain,  both  of  which  he  still 
carries  on.  He  is  the  son  of  Dr.  John  W.  and  Kuth  Crane,  of  Ohio, 
early  settlers  of  Fountain  county,  Indiana.  J.  H.  Crane  was  born 
in  1837.  His  parents  came  to  Mercer  county  in  1847,  and  located 
•on  the  old  Bassett  farm,  where  they  died,  his  father  in  1850,  aged 
forty  years,  his  mother  in  1841.  His  parents  were  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  His  father  by  profession  was  a 
doctor,  and  ])racticed  in  Illinois  till  his  death.  Mr.  Crane  was 
married  in  1861  to  Sarah  A.  Griffith,  a  native  of  Indiana,  and 
daughter  of  Charles  and  Martha  Griffith.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in  the 
aiTny  of  the  late  war,  in  comj^any  K,  102d  111.  Vol.  He  was  out 
twelve  months,  when  he  was  discharged,  because  of  ill  health.  He 
owns  a  line  farm  of  240  acres,  and  is  present  postmaster  at  Joy. 

Among  the  oldest  citizens  now  living  in  Millersburg  township  is 
Mr.  J.  M.  GiLMoRE.     In  1840  he  located  in  the  village  of  Millersburg 


TVtILLERSBURG   TOWNSHIP.  245 

and  kept  hotel  for  two  and  a  half  years,  then  moved  upon  his  farm  east 
of  the  village,  where  he  remained  till  seven  years  ago  when  he 
retin-ned  to  take  up  his  residence  in  Millersburg,  where  he  now 
resides.  lie  came  to  Mercer  county  with  small  means  which,  com- 
bined with  unabating  energy,  has  made  him  a  successful  farmer. 
He  owns  a  fine  farm  of  354  acres  of  plow  land  and  100  acres  of  timber. 
He  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  in  1814;  his  father  of  Pennsyl- 
vania and  his  mother  of  New  Jersey.  In  1847  they  came  and  settled 
in  Perryton  township,  Mercer  county,  where  the  former  died  in  1857, 
aged  seventy-two.  His  wife,  who  is  still  living,  is  a  devoted  member 
of  the  Presbyterian  church.  They  raised  a  family  of  nine  children,  all 
of  whom  grew  up  to  adult  age.  Three  yet  remain  in  Mercer  county. 
J.  M.'s  early  educational  training  was  such  as  the  common  schools  of 
his  neighborhood  could  ftirnish.  He  served  an  apprenticeship  to  a 
tanner,  and  began  immediately  to  raise  the  material  for  making  leather 
instead  of  dressing  it.  He  held  the  oflSce  of  county  assessor  for  six 
years,  and  also  the  office  of  county  treasurer  for  the  same  time.  He 
was  married  in  1888  to  Margaret  Taylor,  of  Pemisylvania,  born  in 
1815,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  E.  (Hoover)  Taylor,  both  of  Pennsylva- 
nia. By  this  union  Mr.  Gilmore  had  eight  children,  five  of  whom  are 
now  living:  George  M.  (deceased),  Eva  C,  Catharine  (deceased), 
Taylor,  Mary,  Richard  (deceased),  Jannett,  and  Fanny  A.  George  M. 
served  three  years  in  company  E,  9tli  111.  Inf.;  was  veteranized  and 
promoted  to  steward.  He  was  wounded  at  Fort  Donelson,  having 
his  index  finger  on  the  left  hand  carried  away  by  a  ball.  He  was  with 
Sherman  on  his  march  to  the  sea,  and  died  of  disease  in  the  service 
two  months  before  the  war  closed.  Taylor  served  three  j-ears  in  the 
14tli  111.  cavalry,  and  was  commissioned  hospital  steward.  He  and 
wife  are  ardent  supporters  of  Christianity  and  good  morals,  and  belong 
to  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Millersburg.  In  politics  he  has  always 
been  a  democrat. 

J.  D.  Thornton  is  a  native  of  Columbia  county,  Pennsylvania,  and 
born  in  1828,  and  is  a  son  of  Eli  and  Abagail  (Hittle)  Thornton,  both 
natives  of  Pennsylvania.  J.  D.'s  early  education  was  limited  to  the 
subscription  school  of  his  home.  He  learned  the  trade  of  blacksmith- 
ing  in  his  father's  shop.  This  he  followed  ten  years,  when  he  left  the 
forge  to  enlist  in  the  ser\ace  of  his  country.  He  served  in  the  army 
through  the  Mexican  war.  His  soldierly  qualities  were  soon  recog- 
nized, and  he  was  appointed  to  fill  the  first  vacancy  in  Capt.  Pember- 
ton's  company,  to  which  he  belonged,  which  was  the  office  of  sergeant. 
He  was  with  Scott  when  he  made  his  campaign  to  the  city  of  Mexico. 
Then  he  joined  the  U.  S.  marines  and  went  to  West  Africa  to  suppress 


"246  HISTORY    OF    FIERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

the  slave  trade.  In  lS«i2  he  again  enlisted  in  the  124th  111.  Yol.  Inf., 
company  G,  and  served  three  years  as  sergeant.  He  was  with  Grant 
and  in  all  the  rear  battles  at  Yicksbnrg,  the  siege  of  the  Spanish  Fort, 
-and  the  taking  of  Mobile,  making  in  all  seven  years  he  has  served  his 
•country  as  a  soldier.  In  1849  he  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  at 
Millersburg  where  he  has  since  resided.  J.  D.  Thr)rnton  was  married 
in  1855  to  Lucy  Wharton,  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Martha  Wharton.  She  died  in  1871.  He  was  married  a  second  time 
to  Letticia  L.  Carver,  a  native  of  Pennsvlvania,  and  dauo-hter  of  Jesse 
•Carver,  a  descendant  of  Gov.  Carver,  first  governor  of  Massachusetts. 
Mr.  Thornton  has  been  a  republican  since  the  organization  of  the 
party. 

J.  W.  Wood  is  a  native  of  Tennessee,  born  in  1810,  and  is  the 
«on  of  Isaac  and  Elenor  Wood,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Virginia. 
They  located  in  Indiana  in  1822,  where  they  died,  the  former  in  1839, 
aged  sixty  years ;  the  latter  in  1852,  aged  eighty-two  years.  They 
were  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  respected  mem- 
bers of  society.  Isaac  Wood  by  trade  was  a  wheelwright,  by  profes- 
sion a  local  preacher.  J.  W.  Wood  emigrated  to  Indiana  with  his 
parents  where  he  remained  till  1842,  when  he  came  to  Mercer  county 
where  he  has  since  lived.  He  is  a  carpenter  by  trade,  which  he  fol- 
lowed till  within  the  few  years  past.  He  was  first  married  in  1832  to 
Frances  Reed,  native  of  Indiana,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Mary  Reed, 
of  South  Carolina.  She  died  in  1869,  aged  fifty-eight  years,  leaving 
nine  children,  of  whom  the  living  are  James  R.,  Enos  A.,  and 
Samuel  S.  He  was  married  a  second  time  to  Mrs.  M.  C.  Robinson, 
native  of  England,  born  in  1830,  and  daughter  of  George  and  Cath- 
arine Staftbrd,  natives  of  England.  J.  AV.  Wood  has  held  the  oflice 
of  justice  of  the  peace  most  of  the  time  during  his  residence  in  Illinois, 
is  now  notary  public,  and  served  one  term  as  constable.  He  and  wife 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Joy.  In  politics  he 
votes  the  republican  ticket.     He  keeps  the  only  hotel  in  Joy. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  David  A.  Steele,  came  to  Mercer 
county  with  his  parents,  James  and  Mary  Steele,  in  1860.  They 
located  on  section  29  in  Millersburg  township,  where  they  both  died, 
the  former  in  1856,  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years ;  the  latter  in  1868, 
aged  seventy-six  years.  They  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
successful  farmers,  and  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  David 
was  born  in  1832,  and  reared  and  educated  on  the  farm  of  his  lather  in 
the  Quaker  state.  In  1859  he  was  married  to  Matilda  Denison,  native 
•of  Illinois,  and  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Sarah  Denison,  both  of  whom 
were  from  Ohio.     By  this  union  he  has  ten  children,  seven  of  whom 


MILLERSBURG    TOWNSHIP.  247 

are  living:  Elizabeth,  William,  Walter,  Cora,  Maud,  Fred.,  and  Asliel. 
He  has  a  farm  of  130  acres,  well  improved  and  fairly  stocked  with  a 
good  grade  of  farm  stock.  In  ]iolitics  he  votes  with  the  republican 
party.  He  is  a  man  who  takes  great  interest  in  supplying  his  children 
with  literature  to  feed  their  minds.  He  has  always  lived  a  quiet  life 
without  seeking  the  notoriety  of  office. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  James  E.  Bay,  is  the  son  of  James  and 
Hannah  E.  Bay,  both  of  whom  are  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and 
emigrated  to  Oliio  at  an  early  period  of  its  settlement.  They  were 
farmers.  The  former  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  IS]  2,  and  emigrated 
to  Cedar  Rapids,  Iowa,  where  he  died  in  1843,  aged  fifty-two  years ; 
the  latter  died  in  1856,  aged  fifty-six  years.  J,  E.  Bay  was  born  in 
1829,  in  Guernsey  county,  and  in  1851  came  to  Millersburg  where  he 
has  since  lived.  He  was  married  in  1860  to  Mary  Marsh,  a  native  of 
Gettysburg,  Pennsylvania,  and  daughter  of  John  B.  and  Lydia  (Porter) 
Marsh,  the  former  of  New  Jersey,  the  latter  of  Pennsylvania.  The 
former  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  and  family  moved  in 
1848  to  Illinois,  where  he  died  in  1864,  aged  seventy-three  years ;  his 
wife  in  1834,  aged  thirty-six  years.  He  was  by  trade  a  carriage  trim- 
mer. He  first  emigrated  to  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  from 
New  Jersey.  The  Marsh  family  were  formerly  fi-om  Scotland. 
J.  E.  Bay  has  by  this  union  four  children  :  H.  M.,  John  M.,  Fanny  S., 
and  Catharine  M.  Mr.  Bay  is  a  farmer  and  stock  trader.  He  has 
several  times  been  chosen  by  the  voters  of  his  township  to  fill  various 
•offices.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Millers- 
burg.    Mr.  Bay  and  family  are  quiet  and  respectable  citizens. 

Among  the  early  settlers  of  this  township  is  Pichard  S.  Edgar. 
He  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1818,  and  came  to  Mercer  county  in 
1851  and  located  in  Millersburg  township  where  he  has  since  been  a 
■citizen.  His  parents  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  members  of  the 
Associate  Presbyterian  church,  and  died  there,  his  father,  Richard,  in 
1861  at  the  age  of  sixty-five  years  ;  his  mother.  Margaret,  in  1862,  aged 
sixty  years.  R.  S.  Edgar  was  married  in  1841  to  Elizabeth  A.  Steele, 
daughter  of  James  and  Mary  Steele,  of  Pennsylvania.  They  have 
three  children :  Margaret,  James  S. ,  and  Mary  A.  He  served  three 
years  in  the  late  war  as  a  soldier,  in  Company  A,  30tli  111.  Yol.  Inf , 
during  which  service  he  lost  his  health  and  now  receives  a  pension. 
He  owns  a  well  improved  farm  of  thirty  acres,  and  keeps  a  good  grade 
of  farm  stock.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  at  Joy.     In  politics  he  is  a  republican. 

Jacob  Braucitt,  son  of  David  and  Mary  Braucht,  was  born  in  1828 
and  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvaiua,  as  were  his  ])arents.     They  emigrated 


248  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

to  Ohio  when  their  son  Jacob  was  a  mere  child,  where  they  resided 
the  remainder  of  their  lives.  They  were  pioneer  settlers  of  Ohio. 
Jacob  remained  in  Ohio  until  he  arrived  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  and 
then  came  to  Mercer  connty  and  located  on  section  19,  Millersburg 
township,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  has  pursued  the  occupation 
of  farming,  the  vocation  of  his  father.  He  married,  in  1851,  Christina 
Riter,  a  native  of  Germany  and  daughter  of  John  F.  and  Machdalana 
Riter,  who  came  to  America  in  1831  and  located  in  Ohio,  and  after- 
ward to  Mercer  county,  locating  in  Millersburg  township.  The  latter 
died  in  1871,  aged  seventy  years.  The  former,  John  F.  Riter,  resides 
with  his  daughter,  Christina.  He  served  as  a  soldier  in  his  native 
country,  Germany.  Jacob  Braucht  has  by  this  marriage  six  children : 
Jemima,  David  W.,  Lucinda,  Sarah  (deceased),  George,  and  Catharine. 
He  has  a  fine  farm  of  227  acres,  well  improved  and  well  stocked  with 
the  best  of  farm  stock.  No  better  stock,  farm  is  to  be  found  in  this 
section.  In  politics  he  is  a  democrat.  His  parents  and  also  his  wife's 
parents  were  of  the  Lutheran  faith.  His  wife's  father,  John  F.  Riter, 
still  holds  his  membership  in  that  church. 

Among  the  citizens  and  soldiers  now  resident  of  Millersburg  town- 
ship is  George  Boone,  native  of  Ohio,  born  in  Medina  county  in  1837. 
His  parents  were  Hezekiah  and  Sarah  A.  (Greene)  Boone,  the  former 
of  Pennsylvania,  a  great-nephew  of  Daniel  Boone,  the  Kentucky  hunter, 
the  latter  also  of  Pennsylvania.  They  emigrated  to  Medina  county 
with  its  early  settlers  with  their  parents,  and  were  married  there.  They 
came  to  Mercer  county  in  1851.  The  latter,  George's  mother,  died  in 
1857,  aged  thirty-eight  years.  Her  remains  repose  in  the  Millersburg 
cemetery.  The  former  is  a  tailor  by  trade  and  now  lives  at  Fort 
Dodge,  Nebraska,  and  is  a  member  of  the  Lutheran  church.  His  wife 
was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  George  Boone 
came  to  Mercer  county  with  his  parents  and  located  in  this  township, 
then  went  to  Perryton  township,  where  he  resided  for  a  time,  and  also 
for  a  while  in  Aledo.  His  early  education  was  that  of  the  common 
school.  He  first  enlisted  in  Company  I,  17th  111.  Vol.,  served  two 
years  and  was  discharged  because  of  ill  health.  In  1864  he,  in  com- 
pany with  R.  S.  Osborne,  raised  a  company  for  the  140th  HI.  Vol. 
Osborne  was  captain  of  the  company,  and  George  held  the  office  of  first 
lieutenant.  The  company  was  out  seven  months.  He  was  in  the 
battle  of  Fort  Donelson  and  a  part  of  the  tw^o  days'  fight  at  Shiloh. 
During  his  second  term  of  service  the  com|)anv  was  detailed  to  fight 
the  guerrillas.  He  was  married  in  1865  to  Mrs.  Nancy  J.  FuUerton, 
daughter  of  Robert  and  Eliza  Shearer.  By  this  marriage  George 
Boone  has  one  child,  Ella  F.     His  wife  bv  her  former  husband  has  one 


MILLERSBURG    TOWNSHIP.  251 

daughter,   Marv  A.  Fullerton.      lie  lias  a  nicely  improved  farm  of 
eighty  acres,  and  a  good  grade  of  farm  stock. 

Jaivies  3v.  Morrow  was  born  in  1S52,  on  the  farm  where  he  now 
resides.  His  parents,  David  and  Elizabeth  (Kiddoo)  Morrow,  were 
both  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  The  latter  was  the  daughter  of  James 
Kiddoo.  David  Morrow  came  to  Mercer  county  witli  his  famil}^  in 
1S4T  and  located  in  Millersburg  township,  where  he  resided  till  his 
death,  which  occurred  in  1854,  in  his  thirty-seventh  year.  His  wife, 
mother  of  James  K.,  died  in  1872.  They  were  married  in  1846  and 
raised  a  family  of  four  children,  two  sons  and  two  daughters.  They 
were  quiet  farmers  and  good  citizens  and  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
church.  They  left  their  children  in  good  circumstances.  Their  son, 
James  K.,  occupies  the  old  homestead  of  120  acres.  He  pursues  the 
vocation  of  liis  father.  He  keeps  a  good  grade  of  farm  stock.  He 
has  imbibed  the  republican  spirit  of  his  neighborhood.  His  early 
educational  training  was  that  of  the  common  school. 

Dr.  Jr)SEPH  P.  Boyd,  deceased,  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  Indiana, 
in  1826.  His  parents  were  James  and  Hester  Boyd,  both  members  of 
the  Christian  church.  Dr.  Boyd  early  exhibited  a  fondness  for  books, 
and  at  the  age  of  sixteen  entered  the  profession  of  school  teaching, 
whicli  he  followed  till  he  began  reading  medicine  with  Dr.  James  Puby 
at  Abington,  Indiana.  He  began  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession 
at  Bentonville,  Lidiana,  then  went  to  Randolph  county,  where  he 
remained  two  years,  and  then  came  to  Millersburg  in  1852,  where  he 
had  a  large  practice.  He  began  life  for  himself  with  limited  means, 
but  died  in  1878,  leaving  his  family  in  easy  circumstances.  He  was 
married  to  Ellen  Commons,  daughter  of  William  and  Sarah  Commons, 
who  emigrated  from  England  to  America.  The  Commons  family 
in  England  were  members  of  the  aristocracy.  The  offspring  of  this 
marriage  were  three  children:  William  C,  Sarah  H.,  and  Omer.  He 
was  a  member  of  the  masonic  order  at  Aledo,  and  the  Mercer  County 
Medical  Society.  The  community  mourned  his  death  as  a  great  loss. 
He  was  a  man  respected  for  his  ability  and  thorough  going  business 
ability. 

Thomas  Landreth  is  a  native  of  Owen  county,  Indiana,  where  he 
was  born  in  1842.  His  parents,  Zacharia  and  Elonder  (Fender),  both 
natives  of  Virginia,  settled  in  Owen  county,  Indiana,  about  1825, 
where  the  subject  of  our  sketch  was  reared  and  educated  on  the  farm. 
In  1852  they  came  to  Mercer  county  and  located  in  Perrvton  township, 
where  the  former  died  in  1872,  aged  sixty  years ;  the  latter  in  1875, 
aged  sixty  years.  They  were  quiet,  good  farmers  and  earnest  su])- 
porters  of  good  society,  and  were  members  of  the  Missionary  Baptist 
15  ' 


252  HISTORY    OF   MERCER    AND    HENDERSOiSr   COrNTIES. 

cliurcli.  Our  subject  came  to  Mercer  county  when  a  small  boy  with 
his  parents.  He  had  two  brothers,  Crisbj  and  Andrew,  in  the  army 
in  the  late  war.  The  former  belonged  to  the  126th  111.  Vol.,  and 
•died  at  La  Grange,  Temiessee,  but  a  few  months  after  his  enlistment ; 
the  latter  died  two  days  later  at  the  same  place.  Mr.  Landreth  is  a 
member  of  the  I.O.O.F.  at  Millersburg.  He  was  married  in  1865,  to 
Rachael  Reed,  a  native  of  Mercer  county,  born  in  1843,  and  a  daugh- 
ter of  Harper  and  Louisa  (Drurv)  Reed,  early  settlers  in  Mercer  count}'. 
They  have  three  children:  Lillie  M.,  William  R.,  and  ISTola  L.  He 
has  a  farm  of  ninety  acres  well  suited  to  stock  raising.  He  keeps  a 
good  article  of  farm  stock.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Mission- 
ary Baptist  church.     In  politics  he  is  a  Greenbacker. 

Gary  Dryden  is  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  in  1840,  and  is  a  son  of 
J.  M.  and  Elizabeth  (Ellis)  Dryden,  the  former  of  Ohio,  the  latter  of 
Yirginia.     She  carpe  to  Ohio  with  her  parents  when  eleven  years  old. 
J.  M.  and  Elizabeth  Dryden  came  to  Illinois  in  1851,  and  located  in 
Peoria  county,  where  they  remained  till  1853,  when  they  came  to  Mer- 
cer county.     In  1855  they  went  to  Iowa,  but  returned  to  Mercer  county 
in  1864,  where  the  former  died  in  1872,  aged  sixty-eight  years ;  the 
latter  is  living  in  Keithsburg,  this  county,  and  is  seventy-four  years  old. 
Oary  Dryden  accompanied  his  jjarents,  first  to  Peoria  county,  then  to 
Mercer  county  and  to  Iowa,  and  returned  in  1858  to  Mercer  county, 
where  he  has  since  lived.     He  has  pursued  the  occupation  of  farming 
all  his  life,  except  three  years  and  one  month  he  served  in  the  army. 
He  enlisted  in  1861  in  company  G,  27th  111.  Vol.     He  was  a  non-com- 
missioned officer  all  the  time  of  his  service,  and  was  in  the  battle  of 
Belmont,  siege  of  Island  No.  10,  the  numerous  skirmishes  around  Cor- 
inth,  battle  of  Stone  River,   Chickamauga,   siege  of  Knoxville,  Res- 
aca,  Georgia,  and  Kenesaw  Mountain,   where  he  was  wounded  and 
taken  to  the  hospital,  where  he  remained  till  after  his  term  of  enlist- 
ment expired.     In  1867  he  was  married  to  Catharine  Wolfe,  native  of 
Illinois  and  daughter  of  Solomon  and  Evaline  (Marlatt)  Wolfe,  both  of 
Indiana,  and  came  to  Mercer  county  with  its  early  settlers.     Mr.  Dry- 
den by  this  marriage  has  four  children:  Eva  (deceased),  Mary,  Fred- 
erick, Nellie  L.     He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Seventh  Day 
Advent  church,  at  the  Marsh  school-house.     He  lias  a  farm  of  160 
acres  of  fine  land,  well  improved,  located  near  the  south  line  of  the 
township,   upon  which  he  keeps  a  good  grade  of  all  kinds  of  farm 
stock. 

John  Bell  is  a  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Clifford)  Bell,  b(^th  of  Ire- 
land. He  was  born  in  Ohio  in  184S,  and  came  with  his  parents  to 
Illinois  in  1862.     He  was  reared  on  the  farnL     His  early  education 


MILLERSBURG   TOWNSHIP.  •  253 

was  sucli  as  he  could  get  in  the  district  schooh  He  was  married  in 
18S1  to  Florence  S.  Adams,  native  of  Illinois,  born  in  1858,  and  daugh- 
ter (.)f  Samuel  and  Mary  Adams,  of  Kentucky.  They  came  to  Rock 
Island  county,  Illinois,  with  its  early  settlers,  and  now  reside  in  Eliza 
township,  Mercer  county.  The  former  is  a  member  of  the  Latter  Day 
Saints  church.  Mr.  Bell  has  by  this  marriage  one  child,  Harry  Earl. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  lodge  at  Aledo ;  his  wife  is  a  member 
of  the  Latter  Day  Saints  church.  He  has  a  farm  of  160  acres  of  line 
land  fairly  stocked.     Politically  he  is  a  democrat. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  William  A.  Marsh,  is  by  birth  a  native 
-of  New  York,  born  in  1833,  son  of  M.  L.  and  Eliza  Marsh,  both  of 
New  York.  They  came  to  Mercer  county  in  1853,  and  are  now  resi- 
dents of  Aledo,  where  the  former  is  justice  of  the  peace.  M.  L.  Marsh 
is  by  vocation  a  farmer.  He  first  settled  in  Illinois,  in  Millersburg 
township,  where  he  now  owns  a  farm  of  150  acres.  He  and  wife  first 
moved  to  New  York  city,  where  their  son,  William  A.,  was  born :  then 
to  Buftalo,  New  York ;  from  there  to  Licking  county,  Ohio ;  then  to 
Illinois,  where  they  have  since  resided.  William  A.\s  early  education 
was  that  of  the  common  school  and  two  years  as  a  student  in  a  graded 
school.  He  accom2:)anied  his  parents  in  all  their  removals  till  they 
located  in  Mercer  county,  and  then  he  located  on  the  farm  where  he 
has  since  resided.  While  he  has  jxirsued  the  vocation  of  farming  for  a 
livelihood,  he  has  by  no  means  given  all  his  time  and  thought  to 
n:!aking  the  farm  pay,  but  is  one  of  the  most  active  members  of  the 
Mercer  County  Historical  and  Scientific  Society,  the  truth  of  which  his 
lai-ge  collection  of  well-arranged  specimens  of  shells,  woods,  grasses 
and  Indian  implements  demonstrate  without  further  question.  No  one, 
we  have  good  reason  to  believe,  has  added  more  to  the  conchology  and 
botany  of  Mercer  county  than  Mr.  Marsh.  So  large  is  his  collection 
in  these  two  sciences,  and  that  of  Indian  implements,  that  one  who 
has  any  taste  in  either  of  these  directions  could  spend  months  in  his 
cabinet  with  both  pleasure  and  ])rofit.  The  proficiency  Mr.  Marsh  has 
acquired  in  these  branches  of  science  clearly  shows  that  success  depends 
upon  the  amount  of  labor  we  give  to  one  thing,  and  not  to  the  num- 
ber of  branches  we  take  up.  Mr.  Marsh  was  married  in  1855  to 
Mary  J.  Patterson,  of  Licking  cc)unty,  Ohio,  born  in  1837,  daughter  of 
Wilson  and  Isa  Patterson,  both  of  Pennsylvania.  They  emigrated 
in  1835  to  Mercer  county,  where  they  are  both  living.  They  are 
members  of  the  predestinarian  Baptist  church,  and  farmers  by  occu- 
pation. Mr.  Marsh  has  nine  children :  Phili}),  Eliza,  Francis  L. 
(deceased),  Mary  J.,  Isa  R.,  William  A.,  Frederick  A.,  Wilson,  and 
Estella  E.     Mr.  Marsli  has  a  good  farm  of  240  acres,  well  improved 


254  niST<:>RY    of    mercer    and    HE^"T)ERSON    COrXTIES. 

and  fairly  stocked  with  .a  good  grade  of  farm  stock.     In  politics  he 
votes  for  the  man,  not  for  the  party. 

A.  A.  Sherer,  the  subject  of  this  history,  is  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, Lawi-ence  connty,  bom  in  1839.  His  parents  were  Robert  and 
Eliza  Sherer,  both  of  Pemisylvania.  The  latter  died  in  1841  ;  the 
former  was  married  a  second  time  in  18-43,  and  came  to  Mercer  county 
in  1853,  where  he  died  in  1861,  aged  fifty-six  years.  His  business  was 
that  of  stock  dealing.  At  the  time  of  his  death  he  owned  600  acres  of 
land.  He  was  a  devoted  Christian  and  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  as  was  also  both  his  wives.  His  second  wife  now  lives  in  Joy. 
Robert  Sherer  did  much  to  improve  the  stock  of  horses  in  the  county. 
No  one  carried  oft"  more  first  premiums  fi-om  the  county  fairs  than  he. 
A.  A.  Sherer  came  to  Mercer  county  with  his  father.  His  early  educa- 
tion was  limited  to  the  district  school.  He  was  reared  to  the  business 
of  the  farm,  which  he  has  always  followed.  He  was  married  in  1861 
to  Hannah  Church,  native  of  Blinois,  born  in  1841,  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Rachel  Church,  both  of  Indiana,  and  earlv  settlers  of  Xew 
Boston  township.  Tliey  were  prominent  farmers  and  respected  citizens 
of  the  community  where  they  resided.  Tlie  former  died,  1859,  aged 
forty-eight  years;  the  latter  in  1871,  aged  seventy-three  years.  Mr. 
Sherer  has  by  this  marriage  seven  children :  Ella  M. ,  Willie  T. 
(deceased),  Robert  C,  Jane  E.,  Adda  P.  (deceased),  Rachel  C,  and 
Frank  E.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  feith  and 
hold  their  membership  with  the  congregation  at  the  Peniel  church  ; 
and  also  his  two  eldest  children  have  embraced  Christianity  in  the  same 
church.  Mr.  Sherer  has  a  fine  stock  farm  three  miles  south  of  Millers- 
burg,  which  consists  of  420  acres.  He  deals  in  both  stock  and  fat 
cattle.  His  herd  of  sheep  is  of  the  Leicester  stock;  hogs,  Poland 
China.  He  follows  in  the  footsteps  of  his  father  as  to  class  of  stock  he 
keeps. 

The  Wilitts  family  came  from  Pennsylvania  to  Mercer  county 
among  its  early  settlers ;  but  at  the  present  wi-iting  but  few  of  the  once 
large  family  resident  remain.  Thomas  Wilitts  was  born  in  Columbia 
county,  Tennessee,  in  1804.  His  parents,  Xathaniel  and  Sarah  AYilitts, 
were  natives  of  Pennsvlvania,  where  thev  lived  out  their  lives.  His 
mother  lived  to  the  ripe  old  age  of  60 ;  his  father  died  ten  years 
younger.  His  vocation  was  that  of  a  shoemaker.  Thomas  came  to 
Mercer  county  in  1854  and  settled  in  Duncan  township,  where  he  now 
owns  a  farm,  and  lived  there  till  the  winter  of  1881-2,  when  he  retired 
from  active  farm  life  and  took  up  his  abode  in  Millersburg.  In  1828 
he  was  married  to  Margaret  Taylor,  of  his  native  state.  She  was  born 
in  1810,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Christopher  Kahler,  a  native  of  Germany. 


MILLERSBURG   TOWNSHIP.  255 

Tliej  had  twelve  children,  eight  of  whom  are  now  living:  "William, 
Townsend,  practicing  physician  in  Philadelphia ;  Horace,  Charles, 
Korman,  Thomas,  Maggie,  and  Chester.  His  four  sons,  Norman, 
Chester,  Charles,  and  Horace,  were  soldiers  in  the  late  war.  The  tirst 
served  as  quartermaster;  the  second,  in  the  102d  reg.  111.  Yol.  Inf., 
was  out  three  years,  and  was  with.  Sherman  on  his  march  to  the  sea ; 
the  third  served  eight  months  in  the  9th  111.  cavalry  ;  the  fourth  served 
six  months  in  the  27th  reg.  Ill,  Yol.  Inf.  He  and  wife  are  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  Millersburg.  In  politics  he  is  a 
straight  out  republican. 

S.  H.  KiDDELL  is  a  native  of  Clinton  county,  Ohio,  born  in  1840, 
and  came  to  Mercer  county  with  his  parents,  Humphrey  and  Mary 
(Mori)  Riddell,  in  1855.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Maryland,  his 
mother  of  Pennsylvania.  The  former  emigrated  from  his  native  state 
to  Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  married,  and  emigrated  to  Ohio  in 
1836,  where  he  remained  till  he  came  to  Mercer  county.  He  died  in 
1871,  at  the  ripe  age  of  seventy  years.  His  wife  now  resides  in  Aledo 
and  is  sixty-four  years  old.  He  was  by  trade  a  shoemaker,  by  voc^ation 
a,  farmer,  and  superintended  the  county  farm  for  ten  years.  He  and 
wife  were  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  The  early 
literary  training  of  S.  H.  Riddell  was  that  of  the  common  school.  He 
began  a  collegiate  course  at  Delaware,  Ohio,  but  owing  to  his  ill  health 
it  had  to  be  abandoned.  From  the  age  of  twelve  he  was  reared  on  the 
farm,  which  business  he  followed  for  himself  only  three  years.  In 
1861  he  was  married  to  Sarah  F.  Yernon,  born  in  1813,  daughter  of 
James  and  Eliza  Yernon,  whose  history  will  appear  elsewhere.  Mr. 
Riddell  by  this  union  has  five  children :  Jennett,  James  (deceased), 
Frank  A.,  Milo  A.,  and  Thomas  Y.  In  1865  he  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business  in  Millersburg,  which  he  carried  on  till  1871. 
Since  that  time  he  has  been  employed  as  clerk,  and  is  now  engaged  by 
W.  W.  Egbert.  He  now  holds  the  otfices  of  notary  public  and  super- 
visor, and  has  filled  most  of  the  townshij)  offices.  He  and  wife  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
I.O.O.F.  lodge. 

John  Farax  came  to  Millersburg  in  1855,  where  he  has  since 
resided.  He  is  by  trade  a  plasterer,  which  trade  he  followed  till  1879, 
when  he  engaged  in  the  grocery  business.  In  1882  he  bought  the 
store  of  J.  D,  Strattan,  and  now  is  engaged  in  general  merchandise. 
In  connection  with  his  store  he  keeps  the  postoffice.  Mr.  Faran  is  a 
native  of  Dearborn  county,  Indiana,  born  in  1832,  son  of  John  and 
Stinche  Faran.  The  former  was  a  native  of  Ireland.  He  first  located 
in  Cincinnati,  where  he  was  married,  and  then  came  to  Indiana  and 


256  HISTOKY    OF    MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

settled  in  Dearborn  county,  where  his  son  John  was  born.  The  wife  of 
the  latter  was  a  native  of  Ohio.  Both  were  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  chnrch.  The  former  died  in  1835,  at  the  age  of  thirty-eight 
years.  The  latter  then  moved  to  Topeka,  Kansas,  where  she  died  in 
1867.  Mr.  Faran  was  married  in  1857  to  Harriet  Riddell,  daughter  of 
Humphrey  and  Mary  Riddell,  whose  history  will  appear  in  the  sketch 
of  S.  H.  Riddell.  By  this  marriage  he  has  three  children :  Je.neva  J., 
Ida,  and  Howard.  Mr.  Faran  is  one  of  the  men  now  living  in  Millers- 
burg  who  was  instrumental  in  driving  the  saloons  from  the  village  and 
stopping  the  whisky  traffic.  He  now  has  a  good  business,  with  an 
increasing  trade. 

Henry  Huffman,  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  Aledo,  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania  in  1824,  and  is  the  son  of  Henry  and  Charity  (Feazel) 
Huffnum,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  and  resided  in 
Washington  county.  The  former  died  in  1827,  aged  forty-iive  years, 
and  the  latter  in  1845,  aged  tiftv-two  vears.  Thev  were  farmers  and 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  were  quiet,  well-to-dO' 
and  highly-respected  people  in  their  community.  Henry  Huffman 
came  to  Mercer  County  in  the  fall  of  1854,  and  located  in  Iveithsburg, 
where  he  resided  till  the  following  spring,  when  he  located  on  section  25, 
Millersburg  township,  where  he  has  since  lived.  He  was  married  in 
1854  to  Mary  Witherspoon,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  in  1831. 
daughter  of  John  and  Margaret  (Kennedy)  Witherspoon.  They  were 
members  of  the  Presbvterian  church,  known  as  Seceders.  Thev  were 
peaceable  farmers  and  highly  respected  citizens.  Mr.  Huffman  has  six 
children  :  John  (deceased),  Maison  B.,  Samuel  L,  Willie  E.  and  Dora  A. 
(twins),  and  George  W.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  United  Pres- 
byterian church.  He  has  a  farm  of  208  acres  of  fine  farming  land, 
located  one-half  mile  from  the  east  line  of  Millersburg  township  and 
four  miles  from  the  county  seat.  He  keeps  a  good  grade  of  all  kinds 
of  farm  stock. 

Among  the  business  men  of  Millersburg  is  J.  D.  Strattan,  native 
of  Clinton  county,  Ohio,  born  in  1839.  His  parents  were  David  and 
Harriet  (Hinman)  Strattan  ;  the  former  of  Lynchburg  county,  Virginia, 
the  latter  of  Connecticut,  near  Xew  Salem.  They  came  to  Mercer 
county  and  located  at  Millersburg  in  1855,  then  emigrated  to  West 
Liberty,  Iowa,  where  the  former  died  in  1867,  aged  seventy-four  years. 
The  latter  then  m(:)ved  to  Mt.  Vernon,  Illinois,  where  she  died  in  1880, 
at  the  age  of  seventy-three  years.  David  Strattan  was  by  piv)fession  a 
merchant  and  did  business  in  Cincinnati  as  early  as  1812-13.  He  sold 
goods  both  at  Millersburg  and  West  Liberty,  Iowa,  where  he  resided  at 
the  time  of  his  death.     David  Strattan  and  wife  were  members  of  the 


MILLERSBURG   TOWNSHIP.  257 

Hicksite  Friends.  J.  D.'s  literary  education  was  that  of  the  common 
school.  He  learned  the  business  of  merchandise  with  his  father.  He 
began  business  for  himself  as  a  merchant  in  1863,  in  Millersburg,  at 
which  he  continued  till  1882,  with  the  exception  of  one  and  a  half 
years,  during  which  time  he  engaged  in  farming.  In  1881  he  and 
Lunn  established  in  Millersburg  a  creamery,  to  which  he  now  gives  all 
his  time  and  attention.  He  was  married  in  1862  to  Fanny  E.  Merrimar, 
native  of  Maine,  born  in  1843,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Mary  E.  Merri- 
man,  who  came  to  Illinois  about  1814.  By  this  marriage  he  had  six 
children,  three  of  whom  are  living :  Ora  A. ,  Frank  P. ,  and  Cleoi-ge  C. 
The  mother  of  these  died  in  1880.  He  was  married  a  second  time  to 
Adella  Y.  Turner,  native  of  Illinois,  daughter  of  John  H.  and  Mary"  J. 
Turner.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  I.O.O.F.  lodge  at  Millersburg. 

William  Valentine  is  the  son  of  Absalom  and  Susan  Valentine, 
the  former  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  came  to  Ohio  when  a  child, 
with  his  parents.  The  latter  is  a  native  of  Ohio.  They  emigrated  to 
Mercer  county  in  1855,  having  spent  the  winter  of  1854-5  in  Lawrence 
county,  Illinois.  They  located  in  Mercer  county,  where  Absalom 
Valentine  died,  in  1864,  aged  sixty-two  years.  His  wife  is  now  living 
with  her  son  William,  and  is  seventy-four  years  old.  She  is  an  old  sol- 
dier of  the  cross  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal  clmrch,  and  holds  her 
membership  at  Joy.  William  Valentine  received  but  a  meager  literary 
education  such  as  he  was  able  to  obtain  during  the  winter  months,  in 
the  district  school  of  his  neighborhood.  He  was  reared  to  the  vtucation 
of  farming,  which  he  has  followed.  He  was  born  in  Ohio  m  1837, 
and  came  with  his  parents  to  Mercer  county  in  1855,  where  he  has 
since  resided.  He  enlisted  in  the  service  of  his  country  in  1862,  in 
company  K,  102d  111.  Vol.,  and  served  till  the  close  of  the  war,  and 
was  mustered  out  June  6,  1865.  He  was  in  the  battles  of  Resaca, 
Georgia,  at  the  siege  of  Atlanta,  and  with  Sherman,  on  his  march  to 
the  sea,  at  Goldsborough,  and  Savannah,  and  from  there  to  Richmond, 
and  Washington.  He  was  married  in  1869  to  Easter  Bell,  daughter 
of  John  and  Margaret  Bell.  By  this  marriage  he  has  one  child,  Ben- 
jamin H.  He  has  a  farm  of  120  acres  of  line  land,  and  keeps  a  good 
grade  of  farm  stock. 

Wilson  P.  Zentisiire's  parents,  Da\ad  and  Dianna  (Minick)  Zent- 
mire,  emigrated  from  their  native  state,  Ohio,  where  their  son,  Wilson  P., 
was  born,  to  Illinois,  in  1855,  and  located  in  Abington  township,  Mer- 
cer county,  where  the}^  resided  nine  years.  They  then  moved  to 
Millersburg  township,  where  the  former  died  in  1870,  aged  sixty  years, 
the  latter  in  1869,  aged  forty-nine  years.      He  was  a  carpenter  and 


258  HISTORY   OF    jSIERCEE    AXD    HE^TDERSOX    COUiS'TIES. 

farmer.  The  Zentmires  family  emigrated  to  America  from  Germany 
at  an  early  time.  Wilson  P.  came  to  Mercer  county  with  his  parents, 
when  eight  years  old.  His  early  education  was  such  as  the  common 
schools  of  that  time  could  furnish.  He  has  2:iven  his  entire  time  to 
farming.  He  was  married  in  1868,  to  Miss  Xancy  Ividdoo,  daughter 
of  Richard  and  Eliza  (Vannatta)  Kiddoo,  whose  sketch  will  appear  in 
the  work.  They  have  five  children ;  Harry,  Hattie,  Eay  (deceased), 
Velly  (deceased),  and  Tuse.  He  owns  a  tine  stock  farm  of  160  acres, 
and  keeps  a  good  grade  of  farm  stock.  In  1881  he  had  his  house  on 
section  33,  burned,  loss  $2,200,  $1,300  of  which  was  covered  by  insur- 
ance.    Politically  he  is  a  republican. 

"William  M.  Miller,  farmer  and  teacher,  is  one  of  the  early  teachers 
in  Millersburff.  He  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  in  1829.  His 
early  educational  training  was  that  of  the  common  school  of  his  home, 
and  ten  months  at  an  academy.  Five  years  previous  to  his  coming  to 
Illinois,  which  was  in  1855,  he  began  teaching  in  his  native  state, 
when  he  was  in  his  nineteenth  year,  and  has  taught  school  eighteen 
years  in  Millersburg  township,  lodging  at  the  same  house  all  this  time, 
making  twenty-three  years  he  has  spent  in  the  profession.  His  parents, 
James  and  Mary  (McCreary)  Miller,  were  natives  of  the  Quaker  state. 
The  former  died  in  1881,  aged  seventy-seven  years,  the  latter  is  yet 
living  and  is  in  her  seventy-third  year.  His  parents  were  well-to-do 
farmers,  and  members  of  the  Westiield  Presb^-terian  churcli.  His 
father  came  from  Ireland;  his  mother's  family,  the  McCrearys,  em- 
igrated to  Pennsylvania  in  its  early  settlement.  Mr.  Miller  was  mar- 
ried in  1856  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Galawav.  native  of  Ohio.  She  came 
with  her  parents  to  Mercer  count}'  in  185-1  and  located  in  Millersburg 
towaiship.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  Ohio.  They  had  pre^-iously 
emigrated  to  Kansas.  There  the  father  died  in  187-1,  aged  sixty-three 
years.  The  mother  is  still  living.  Mr.  Miller  by  this  marriage  has  a 
family  of  eight  children :  Mary  J.,  Laura  B.,  Eva  S.,  Granville  S., 
Jessie  S,,  John  G.,  Mattie  P.,  and  Lizzie  L.  He  and  family,  except 
the  three  youngest,  are  members  of  the  Presb^-ferian  faith.  His  present 
occupation  is  that  of  farming.  He  has  a  fine  farm  of  eighty  acres,  on 
which  he  keeps  a  good  grade  of  farm  stock.  In  politics  he  is  a 
republican. 

Aaron  P.  Shaker  is  a  native  of  New  York  state,  born  in  1811,  son 
of  Adam  and  Hellena  Shafer,  both  of  ISTew  York.  He  was  by  occupa- 
tion a  farmer.  For  a  number  of  ^^ears  he  held  the  office  of  colonel  of 
the  state  militia.  Both  were  members  of  the  Baptist  church.  They 
were  reared,  educated  and  spent  their  lives  without  emigrating  from 
their  native  state.     Their  son,  Aaron  P. ,  was  reared  on  the  fiirm  with 


MILLERSBL'RG   TOWNSHIP.  •  259 

«uch  educational  advantages  as  the  pioneer  schools  of  his  boyhood 
could  furnish,  which  were  limited.  He  lived  on  the  farm  till  he 
arrived  at  the  age  of  twenty-three.  He  was  then  engaged  for  a  time  as 
clerk  in  a  store,  then  began  in  the  mercantile  business  in  Xew  York 
for  himself,  which  he  followed  for  a  time  when  he  sold  out  his  business 
and  bought  a  farm  which  he  sold  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1856,  and 
located  in  Millersburg,  where  he  has  since  resided.  Here  he  learned 
the  wagonmaker's  trade  and  has  carried  on  a  shop  since  1856.  He  was 
married  in  1841  to  Eliza  Davis,  of  New  York,  born  in  1818,  daughter 
of  John  S.  and  Elizabeth  Davis,  both  of  IS'ew  York.  They  were  well- 
to-do  farmers.  Mr.  Shafer  has  by  this  marriage  two  children : 
Elizabeth,  now  Mrs.  Felton,  and  Annie  A.  Their  mother  died  in 
1816.  He  has  since  remained  unmarried.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  church,  and  a  republican  in  politics. 

William  C.  Buyd,  farmer  and  stock  raiser,  was  born  in  Indiana  in 
1847,  and  is  the  son  of  Dr.  Joseph  P.  and  Ellen  (Commons)  Boyd, 
■whose  history  will  appear  in  the  sketches  of  Millersburg  township. 
William  C^  came  to  Mercer  county  with  his  father  when  a  mere  boy. 
His  educational  training  was  that  of  the  village  school  at  Millersburg. 
During  his  boyhood  his  father  was  engaged  more  or  less  in  stock 
raising,  for  which  AVilliam  C.  formed  a  liking  and  has  chosen  for  a 
livelihood.  He  lives  one  mile  west  of  Millersburg,  near  the  line 
between  Millersburg  and  Duncan  townships,  on  a  part  of  the  farm 
owned  by  his  father,  which  consists  of  640  acres,  and  is  yet  undivided 
between  his  thi-ee  children.  William  C.  Boyd  was  married  in  1873  to 
Emma  Longshore,  native  of  Indiana,  born  in  1853,  and  came  to  Mercer 
county  with  her  parents,  J.  H.  and  Sally  (Hadley)  Longshore.  Mr. 
Boyd  has  by  this  marriage  two  children :  Archie  L.  and  Edna.  His 
wife  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Millersburg. 
In  politics  he  is  a  republican. 

Joseph  A.  Downey  is  the  son  of  Andrew  and  Elizabeth  (Wilson) 
DowTiev,  both  of  whom  are  natives  of  Ireland.  He  first  located  in 
Pennsylvania  where  he  w^orked  upon  the  railroad  f(^r  seAeral  years, 
then  came  to  Mercer  county  where  he  rented  land  for  a  while,  and  now 
owns  a  fine  farm  of  419  acres  in  Millersburg  township,  where  he 
resides.  He  was  married  in  Philadelphia  and  has  a  family  of  eleven 
children:  Joseph  A.,  John,  Mary  (deceased),  William,  Wilson, 
Andrew,  Martha,  Annie  (deceased),  Moses,  George  (deceased),  and 
Harry.  Joseph,  the  eldest  of  his  father's  family,  is  a  native  of  Mercer 
county,  born  in  1858.  He  was  married  in  1881  to  Mary  McGinnis,  of 
Mercer  county,  daughter  of  John  J.  McGimiis  now  a  resident  of  Duncan 
township,  Mercer  county.     Joseph  A.  lives  on  the  farm  of  his  father 


260  HISTORY    OF   IVIERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

and  keeps  a  good  grade  of  farm  stock.  His  early  educational  training- 
was  tliat  of  the  common  scliool.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  this 
business  he  has  always  followed. 

James  H.  Longshore  was  formerly  from  Bucks  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania.    He  first  emigrated   from  his   native  state  to  Ohio'    Clinton 
county,  where  he  remained  till  1852,  then  he  moved  to  Indiana,  where 
he  remained  seven  years,  when  he  came  to  Mercer  county  and  located 
in  Millersburg,  where  he  has  since  remained,  pursuing  the  trade  of 
his  choosing  for  a  livelihood.     He  was  born  in  1823.     His  parents, 
James  and  Sarah  Longshore,  remained  in  their  native  state  all  their 
lives.     His  father  was  a  wagon  builder  by  trade.     The  religion  of  his 
parents  was  that  of  the  Hicksite  Quakers.     Mr.  J.  H.  Longshore's 
early  educational  training  was  such  as  the  common  schools  of  his  time 
could  ftirnish.     When  a  boy  he  learned  his  trade  with  his  father.     In 
1849  he  was  married  to  Sally  Hadley,  of  Clinton  county,  Ohio,  whose- 
birth  dates  to  1842.     She  is  the  daughter  of  William  and  Susanna 
Hadley,  both  of  whom  are  natives  of  Virginia.     They  came  to  Ohio 
quite  early,  where  they  both  departed  this  life,  the  former  at  the  age  of 
fifty  years,  the  latter  at  eighty-seven  years.     Both  were  members  of 
the  orthodox  Friend's  church.     By  this  marriage  Mr.  Longshore  has. 
four  children:  Alvin   E.,  now  in  California,  Emma  B.,  Carrie,  and 
Howard.     In  politics  his  principles  are  those  advocated  by  the  republi- 
can party.     He  was  one  of  those  men  who  came  to  Millersburg  in  the 
zenith  of  its  prospects  of  prosperity  and  yet  remains,  having  secured  a. 
good  run  of  trade  in  his  line. 

D.  A.  Davison  was  born  in  1833,  in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania. 
His  parents  were  Moses  and  Elizabeth  Davison,  both  of  Pennsylvania. 
They  emigrated  to  AVells  county,  in  1843.  There  they  died,  the  former 
in  1880,  aged  seventy-seven  years ;  the  latter  in  1864,  aged  fifty-seven 
years.  The  former  was  a  farmer,  miller  and  millwright.  D.  A.  came 
from  Pennsj^vania  to  Mercer  county  in  1859,  and  located  in  New  Bos- 
ton township,  where  he  remained  two  years,  then  moved  to  Keithsburg 
two  years.  In  1866  he  located  in  Millersburg  township,  where  he  now 
resides,  near  the  south  line.  He  was  married  in  1860  to  Evaline  \Yolfe, 
a  native  of  Indiana,  born  in  1842,  and  daughter  of  Solomon  and. 
Evaline  (Marlatt)  Wolfe.  They  came  to  Illinois  in  1846.  They  are 
both  natives  of  Indiana,  and  are  now  citizens  of  Abington  township, 
Mercer  county,  and  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Mr. 
Davison  has  by  this  marriage  twelve  children :  Ida  (deceased).  May, 
Cora,  Kalph,  Walter,  Edward  (deceased),  Albert,  Clarence,  Morgan, 
Grace,  Rose,  and  Maud.  Mi-.  Davison  enlisted  in  1862  in  tlie  late 
war,  in  company  G,  124th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  served  three  years,  and  was 


MILLERSBURG    TOWNSHIP.  261 

in  the  following  engagements:  Fort  Gibson,  Brownsville,  Jackson^ 
Clunnpion  Hills,  Black  river,  siege  of  Vicksburg,  numerous  skirmishes^ 
and  at  Spanish  Fort.     He  lives  on  a  fine  farm  of  32<)  acres. 

W.  W.  Egbert  is  a  native  of  Stark  county,  Illinois.  His  parents, 
James  C.  and  Catharine  (Swank)  Egbert,  the  former  a  native  of  ISTew 
Jersey,  the  latter  of  Pennsylvania,  came  witli  the  early  settlers  to- 
Stark  county,  where  our  subject  was  born  in  1S54.  There  his  father 
departed  this  life  in  1863,  aged  thirty-six  years.  W.  W.  Egbert 
received  a  fair  common  school  education  and  live  terms  at  Hedding 
college.  He  first  began  business  for  himself  as  druggist  in  partnership 
with  Dr.  D.  J.  Perry  at  West  Jersey,  Illinois.  In  1876  he  brought  a 
stock  of  drugs  to  Millersburg  and  opened  a  store.  In  1878  he  engaged 
in  general  merchandise  in  which  business  he  is  at  present.  He  has  a 
good  trade.  In  1878  his  store  was  burned;  loss  $2,000,  $1,000  of 
which  was  paid  by  the  insurance  company.  He  was  married  in  1877 
to  Miss  Margaret  M.  Green,  native  of  Illinois,  daughter  of  W.  L.  and 
Rebecca  E.  Green,  both'  of  Pennsylvania,  and  came  to  Mercer  county 
in  1854.  The  former  was  by  trade  a  carver  and  gilder.  He  held  the- 
office  of  justice  of  the  peace  for  several  years,  was  in  the  mercantile 
business  vntli  H.  W.  Thornton,  and  was  for  a  time  postmaster  at 
Millersburg.  He  enlisted  in  the  army  in  1861  in  the*  Irotli  111.  Vol. 
Inf.,  in  company  I,  as  second  lieutenant.  He  was  in  the  battle  of 
Shiloh,  and  died  of  wounds  in  1862,  while  in  the  service.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  I.O.O.F.  His  widow  now  receives  a  pension  and 
resides  in  Millersburg.  She  was  at  one  time  postmistress  at  Millers- 
burg for  about  fifteen  years.  W.  W.  Egbert  has  by  this  marriage 
two  children  :  William  C.  and  Frederick  W.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
I.O.O.F.  lodge  at  Millersburg.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Among  the  well-to-do  citizens  and  farmers  of  Millersburg  township 
is  John  Hubert,  born  in  New  York  in  1838,  and  son  of  John  and 
Magdalena  (Chat)  Rubert,  the  former  a  native  of  France,  the  latter  of 
New  York,  and  of  German  descent.  John  Jr.'s  father  died  when  he 
was  an  infant ;  his  mother  died  when  he  was  fourteen  years  old,  aged 
thirty-seven  years.  She  came  to  Chicago  in  1843,  where  she  resided 
for  a  time,  when  she  removed  to  Peoria  county.  John's  parents  were 
members  of  the  Christian  church.  Mr.  Rubert's  early  education  was 
limited.  He  came  to  Mercer  county  in  1858  and  located  near  New 
Windsor,  where  he  remained  till  1861,  when  he  enlisted  in  the  army 
in  August  of  that  year,  in  company  A,  3()th  111.  Yol.  Inf ,  and  served 
till  December,  1862,  He  was  in  the  battle  of  Belmont  and  bombard- 
ment of  Fort  Henry.     At  Fort  Donelson  he  was  taken  prisoner,  and 


'262  HISTORY    OF    MERCER    A^SD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

taken  first  to  Memphis  wliere  he  remained  six  weeks,  then  to  Mobile, 
then  to  Tuscaloosa,  from  whence  he  was  sent  t(j  parole  camp  at  St. 
Louis,  and  discharged  December,  1862.  He  returned  home  and 
located  in  Millersburg  township  in  1863,  where  he  now  resides.  In 
1863  he  was  married  to  Miss  E.  J.  Hughes,  of  Pennsylvania,  born  in 
1842,  and  daugliter  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  Hughes,  the  former  of 
Pennsylvania,  the  latter  of  Ohio.  They  came  to  Mercer  county  in 
1857  and  located  in  Millersburg  township,  where  both  now  reside.  He 
is  a  wagon  maker  b}'  trade  and  carries  on  a  shop  in  the  callage  of  Joy. 
Both  are  members  of  the  Seventh  Day  Advent  church  at  Marsh 
school-house.  John  Rubert  has  by  this  marriage  three  children : 
Bertha  E.  (deceased),  Joseph  B.,  John  C,  and  Jennie  E.  He  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  Seventh  Day  Advent  church.  He  owns  a 
well-improved  farm  of  eighty  acres,  fairly  stocked  with  a  good  grade 
of  stock. 

One  of  the  early  families  yet  resident  in  Millersburg  towhship  is 
the  Dool  family.  Of  that  family  now  resident  of  this  township  is 
John  Dool.  His  father,  Robert  Dool,  was  a  native  of  Ireland  (Antrim 
county),  and  came  to  America  in  1819,  landing  in  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  remained  two  years  when  he  moved  to  Ohio,  and  died  in  1829, 
aged  forty-two  years,  leaving  a  wife  and  eight  children  to  mourn  his 
loss.  His  ^\dfe,  Margaret  (Spears)  Dool,  was  a  native  of  Ireland ;  her 
parents  were  John  and  Mary  (Hannah)  Spears,  who  came  to  Ameiica 
in  1824  and  settled  in  Ohio,  where  they  both  died.  Robert  DooFs 
children  were  named  as  follows:  William  S.,  Henry  and  Hannah 
(twins),  Rosanna,  Margaret,  Mary,  John,  Thomas.  Robert  Dool  and 
AN-ife  were  farmers  both  in  Ireland  and  America,  and  were  members  of 
the  Presbyterian  church.  His  wife,  who  still  survives,  lives  mth  her 
daughter  on  the  farm  of  her  son  John,  and  is  now  eighty-eight  years 
old.  John  Dool  was  born  in  1826  in  Harrison  county,  Ohio,  where  he 
remained  till  1858,  when  he  came  to  Mercer  county  with  his  mother 
and  her  eight  children.  Here  he  has  since  resided.  He  was  married 
in  1863  to  Sarah  Haverfield,  daughter  of  James  and  Mary  Haverfield, 
the  former  .of  Ohio,  the  latter  of  Ireland.  The  former  died  in  1862, 
aged  sixty-two  years,  while  in  the  service  of  the  9th  111.  Yol.  Inf  The 
latter  died  in  1857.  They  were  both  members  of  the  United  Presby- 
terian church.  By  his  marriage  John  Dool  has  four  children :  Anna 
L.,  James  I.,  William  H.,  and  Robert  B.  He  and  wife  are  members 
of  the  Presbyterian  church.  He  has  a  farm  of  120  acres  of  fine  farm- 
ing land,  well  improved  and  fairly  stocked,  and  fifteen  acres  of  timber. 
In  politics  he  is  a  democrat. 

Timothy  Noonan,  farmer  and  stock  raiser,  is  a  native  of  Tipperary 


MILLERSBUKG    TOWNSHIP.  .  263 

county,  Ireland,  born  in  1837,  and  came  to  America  with  liis  parents, 
Daniel  and  Ellen  Xoonan,  both  (jf  Tipperary  county,  Ireland,  in  1859. 
They  first  located  for  a  time  in  Massachusetts ;  tlien  came  to  Mercer 
county.  •  Both  were  members  of  the  Eoman  Catholic  church.  The 
former  died  in  1878,  aged  ninety-live  years ;  the  latter,  his  wife,  lives 
in  the  village  of  Millersburg,  and  is  ninety-two  years  old,  hale  and 
hearty  for  one  twenty  years  her  junior.  Timothy  Noonan  learned  the 
trade  of  his  father,  which  was  that  of  shoemaker.  He  and  his  father 
carried  on  a  shoe  shoj)  for  a  time  in  the  village  of  Millersburg.  In 
1859  he  made  a  trip  to  the  Rocky  Mountains,  and  was  gone  nearly  one 
yccir,  when  he  returned  to  Millersburg  and  opened  a  shoe  shop,  but 
soon  left  the  sliop  for  the  farm  where  he  now  resides,  some  three  miles 
west  of  Aledo.  He  was  married  in  1860  to  Sarah  McGinnis,  born  in 
1839,  and  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Mary  McGinnis,  both  of  Ireland. 
They  first  located  in  Pennsylvania ;  then  moved  to  Keithsburg,  Mercer 
county,  when  their  daughter  Sarah  was  seven  years  old.  The  foniier 
died  in  1863 ;  the  latter  in  1872.  Both  were  of  the  Eoman  Catholic 
faith.  By  this  marriage  Mr.  Noonan  has  six  children:  Thomas  F., 
William,  John  L.,  Eddy  H.,  Mary  J.,  and  an  infant.  He  and  wife 
are  members  of  the  same  church  as  their  parents.  He  has  a  fine  farm 
of  240  acres,  well  improved  and  well  stocked. 

P.  D.  Shingledecker,  Aledo,  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  in 
1852,  son  of  John  and  Sarah  Shingledecker,  both  of  Pennsylvania. 
They  emigrated  to  Mercer  county  in  1852,  remained  one  year,  and 
returned  to  their  native  state,  where  they  spent  the  remainder  of  their 
days.  The  former  died  in  1858,  at  the  age  of  fifty-two ;  the  latter  in 
1872,  aged  fifty-one  years.  They  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
faith.  P.  D.'s  early  education  was  that  of  the  common  school.  He 
came  to  Illinois  in  1862,  staid  five  years  and  returned  to  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  remained  seven  years,  when  he  came  again  to  Mercer  county, 
where  he  now  resides.  He  was  married  in  1872  to  Rachel  Richards, 
of  Whitesides  county,  Illinois,  born  in  1858,  daughter  of  George  and 
Eliza  Richards,  both  of  Illinois.  The  latter  died  in  1864,  and  was  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  church ;  the  former  is  now  living  in  Colo- 
rado. Mr.  Shingledecker  is  a  man  of  steady  habits  and  industrious 
turn.  He  keeps  a  good  grade  of  farm  stock,  but  raises  grain  to  sell 
rather  than  t<:)  teed. 

John  Bell,  farmer  and  stock  raiser,  Aledo,  was  born  in  1805,  is  a 
native  of  Ireland,  and  came  to  America  in  1841.  His  parents  were 
Benjamin  and  Ann  Bell,  both  of  whom  were  Presbyterians.  Mr.  Bell 
first  landed  at  Philadelphia,  and  proceeded  to  Ohio,  where  he  remained 
till  1863,  when  he  came  and  settled  in  Millersburg  township,  on  tlie 


'264  .      HISTORY    OF    ilEECER    AXD    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

farm  of  360  acres  where  he  now  resides.  He  was  married  to  Margaret 
Clifford,  nati^-e  of  Ireland,  and  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  Clifford,  of 
Ireland,  both  of  whom  came  to  America  in  1S41.  They  were  farmers 
and  members  of  the  Presbyterian  chnrch.  Mr.  Bell  by  this  'marriage 
has  six  children:  Mary,  John  C,  Easter,  George,  Aim,  and  Jane.  His 
wife  is  of  the  Presbyterian  faith.  In  politics  he  is  strictly  a  democrat. 
He  keeps  on  his  farm  a-  good  grade  of  farm  stock.  His  farm  is  the 
result  of  his  own  labor,  economy  and  business  ability. 

Zachariah  Jewel,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  a  natiye  of  Harrison 
c-ounty,  Ohio,  born  in  1824.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm  in  his  natiye 
state,  where  he  resided  till  1873  when  he  came  to  Mercer  county  where 
he  now  resides.  During  the  late  war  he  was  a  member  of  the  Harrison 
County  Home  Guards,  and  was  called  out  to  driye  Morgan  from  the 
state.  He  was  married  in  184T  to  Mary  Dool,  native  of  Ohio,  daughter 
of  Robert  and  Margaret  Dool.  By  this  marriage  he  has  seven  chil- 
dren: Margaret  A.,  iSTancy  E.,  James  W.,  Rebecca  J.,  Hannah  L., 
Mary  O.,  John  AV.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  at  Peniel.  Mr.  Jewel's  parents  were  James  and  jS^ancy  (Spring) 
Jewel,  both  of  whom  came  to' Harrison  county,  Ohio,  from  their  native 
state,  Virginia.  They  were  pioneer  settlers  of  Harrison  county, 
and  still  Teside  in  Ohio.  They  are  farmers  and  members  of  the  Baptist 
■church. 

Dr.  John  P.  Chowning,  Millersburg,  was  born  January  21,  1843, 
in  the  town  of  Payson,  Adams  county,  Illinois.  His  parents,  Thomas 
J.  and  Louisa  (Holman)  Chowning,  were  nati^'es  of  Tennessee,  of 
Scotch  descent.  They  emigrated  to  Adams  county  in  1840,  and  located 
•on  a  farm  near  Pavson.  In  1850  thev  removed  to  Adair  county.  Mis- 
souri,  but  returned  to  Adams  county,  after  an  absence  of  three  years, 
where  they  remained  till  the  close  of  the  rebellion.  They  are  at 
present  living  in  Fort  Worth,  Texas.  Dr.  Chowning  was  the  oldest  of 
nine  children,  eight  of  whom  are  still  living.  After  completing  the 
common  school  studies  he  spent  two  years  in  the  academy  of  his 
native  town.  The  rebellion  having  broken  out  he  enlisted  August  7, 
1862,  in  Company  E,  84th  111.  Vol.,  in  which  he  served  till  the  close 
of  the  second  days'  fight  at  Chickamauga,  when  he  was  taken  prisoner. 
He  was  taken  to  Richmond,  Virginia,  and  confined  in  what  was  known 
as  ''Castle  Pemberton,"  for  one  and  one-half  months,  after  which  he 
was  removed  to  Danville,  Virginia,  where  he  remained  four  and  one- 
half  months,  from  thence  to  Andersonville,  Georgia,  where  for  seven 
months  he  was  subjected  to  scenes  of  cruelty  and  suffering  that  beggar 
description.  On  the  night  of  October  1,  ls64,  while  being  transferred 
from  Andersonville  to  Charleston,  South  Carolina,  he  escaped  with  one 


MILLEKSBURG   TOWNSHIP.  265 

of  his  fellow  prisoners,  by  jumping  from  the  train  while  in  motion. 
Reduced  by  starvation  and  disease  to  a  mere  skeleton,  the  tendons  of 
of  his  limbs  contracted  till  he  was  literally  compelled  to  walk  on  tip 
toe  by  the  aid  of  a  "walking  stick."  After  a  perilous  journey  of 
eighteen  days,  through  an  enemy's  country,  subsisting  on  sweet  pota- 
toes and  such  other  edibles  as  were  obtainable,  he  at  last  reached  the 
Union  lines,  then  at  Atlanta,  Georgia.  Through  the  kindness  of  Gen. 
Stanley  he  was  at  once  detailed  as  a  clerk  in  the  diWsion  hospital, 
where  he  remained  till  the  close  of  the  war.  In  the  fall  of  .186i  he 
■entered  the  Iowa  Wesleyan  University,  from  which  he  graduated  in 
1869,  defraying  his  expenses  by  teaching  during  the  winter  months 
and  working  at  the  carpenter's  trade  during  the  summer  vacations. 
In  the  spring  of  1870  he  commenced  the  study  of  medicine,  with 
Dr.  E.  L.  Marshall,  of  Keithsburg,  Illinois,  as  preceptor.  He  con- 
tinued his  medical  studies,  teaching  in  the  meantime  ;  was  j^rincipal  of 
the  schools  in  Keithsburg  and  Barry,  Illinois,  respectively.  During 
the  winter  of  1872-3  he  attended  lectures  at  Rush  medical  college. 
Locating  at  Millersburg,  he  practiced  two  years  and  six  months,  wdien 
he  again  attended  lectures  at  Bellvue  hospital  medical  college,  New- 
York,  from  which  he  received  the  degree .  of  M.  D.  Dr.  Chowning 
was  married  to  Florence,  daughter  of  A.  B.  and  Anna  Sheriff",  in  1871; 
her  father  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  her  mother  of  Ohio.  By  this 
marriage  they  have  four  children :  Florence  M.,  William  M.,  Josephine, 
and  Eva.  They  are  both  members  of  the  Metliodist  Episcopal  church. 
The  doctor  is  a  member  ctf  the  masonic  fraternity ;  is  also  a  member  of 
military  tract  medical  society. 

John  Downing,  Aledo',  is  a  native  of  Belmont  county,  Ohio,  born  in 
1 81:0,  son  of  John  and  Ellen  Downing ;  former,  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
the  latter  of  Ohio.  They  came  to  Mercer  county  in  1864,  and  located  one 
and  a  half  miles  east  of  where  their  son  John  now  resides,  and  where 
they  both  died ;  the  former  in  1873,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two ;  the  latter 
in  1871,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years.  They  were  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  and  their  remains  repose  in  the  cemetery  of  the 
Peniel  church.  John  Downing  came  to  Mercer  county  with  his 
parents.  He  was  married  in  1863  to  Rachel  J.  Campbell,  native  of 
Belmont  county,  Ohio,  daughter  of  John  and  Jane  Campbell,  both  of 
Ohio,  and  are  now  residents  of  their  native  state.  Mr.  Downing  has 
by  this  union  live  children:  Jane  E.,  Maggie  L.,  Robert  L.,  Birdie  S., 
and  John  C.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 
He  served  in  company  K,  102d  111.  Vol.,  was  mustered  into  the  service 
in  1862,  served  six  months,  and  was  discharged  because  of  ill  health. 
He  moved  upon  the  farm  where  he  now  lives  in  1877.     His  farni  con- 


266  HISTORY    OF    MERCER   A^'D    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

tains  150  acres,  which  cost  $50  per  acre.     It  is  fairly  improved  and 
stocked  with  a  good  grade  of  cattle,  hogs  and  horses. 

W.  E.  Lemon,  Aledo,  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  in  1837, 
son  of  John  and  Eliza  Lemon,  both  of  Pennsylvania.  They  came  to 
Mercer  connty  in  1867,  and  located  in  Aledo,  where  they  resided  till 
1871,  when  they  moved  npon  a  farm,  where  the  latter  died  in  1874,  at 
the  age  of  fifty-seven  years,  when  the  former  returned  to  Aledo,  where 
he  now  resides.  Having  sold  his  farm  he  now  lives  a  retired  life.  He 
and  wife  were  Presbyterians.  W.  P.  was  reared  on  the  farm.  His 
educational  training  was  such  as  he  could  get  in  the  district  school. 
During  the  war  he  was  a  member  of  the  home  guards  in  his  native 
state,  and  was  ordered  out  once.  He  was  married  in  1868  to  Alice 
Lair,  native  of  Lidiana,  and  came  to  Mercer  when  she  was  a  girl  with 
her  parents.  She  died  in  1870,  at  the  age  of  thirty  years.  He  was 
married  a  second  time  to  Julia  A.  Barcroft,  of  Ohio,  daughter  of 
William  and  Anna  Barcroft,  both  of  Ohio.  By  this  last  marriage  he 
has  three  children :  Frank,  Lena,  and  Earl.  Mr.  Lemon  has  a  fine 
stock  farm  of  120  acres,  lying  upon  both  sides  of  the  railroad,  three 
and  a  half  miles  west  of  Aledo.  He  keeps  a  high  grade  of  cattle, 
sheep,  liogs  and  horses,  the  latter  of  the  Clidesdale  and  Norman  stock. 
His  sheep  are  of  the  Merino  breed.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Presby- 
terian church  at  Aledo. 

S.  A.  Oliver  was  born  in  1855  in  Henry  county,  Illinois,  and  is  the 
son  of  Robert  P.  and  Mary  E.  Oliver,  both  of  Ohio,  now  citizens  of 
Henry  coimty.  By  vocation  they  are  farmers.  S.  A.  was  reared  and 
educated  to  the  farm,  which  pursuit  he  has  always  followed.  His 
early  educational  training  was  such  as  the  common  schools  of  his 
neighborhood  could  fiirnish.  He  was  married  in  1874  to  Maggie  Lyle, 
native  of  Henry  county,  Illinois,  born  in  1855,  daughter  of  AVilliam  and 
Margaret  Lyle,  both  of  Scotland.  They  came  to  Henry  county  with  its 
early  settlers.  By  this  marriage  Mr.  r)liver  has  two  children,  twins : 
Marian  and  Mary.  He  came  to  Mercer  county  and  located  in  1879, 
where  he  now  resides.  He  has  a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  fairly  improved 
and  stocked  with  a  good  grade  of  cattle,  sheep,  hogs  and  horses. 

Ct.  "W.  Pickup,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  a  native  of  Iowa,  born 
in  1848,  and  came  with  his  parents,  John  and  Mary  E.  Pickup,  to 
Burlington.  Iowa.  They  were  natives  of  England,  and  emigrated  to 
America  in  1838.  They  both  died  during  the  cholera  scourge  of  1849, 
the  former  before  G.  W.  was  born.  G.  W.'s  mother  was  a  member  of 
the  Episcopal  church.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in  company  D,  7th  111.  Vol., 
ninety  days'  men,  then  re-enlisted  in  com])any  G,  10th  111.  Vol.,  and 
served  till  July  4,  1865.     He  was  in  the  siege  of  New  Madrid;  then 


^MIWIiii  »w.*». 


f   ; 


'■lA^ 


ELIZA    TOWNSHIP.  '  269 

went  to  Memphis  ;  was  in  the  battles  of  Shiloh  and  Corinth  ;  witli  Gen. 
E.  A.  Payne,  who  was  sent  to  reinforce  Nashville ;  in  1863  was  placed 
in  Rosecrans'  division ;  was  in  the  battles  of  Stone  river,  Chickamauga, 
and  was  with  Sherman's  division  in  his  march  to  the  sea,  at  Golds- 
borongh,  and  then  went  to  Richmond,  AVashington  and  Lonisville,. 
where  he  was  mustered  ont  of  the  service  July  -i,  1S65.  lie  was: 
married  in  1871  to  Mary  E.  Griffith,  of  Mercer  county,  born  in  1853, 
and  daughter  of  Charles  and  IMartha  Griffith ;  the  former  of  Indiana, 
the  latter  of  Ireland.  They  came  with  the  early  settlers  to  Mercer 
county,  and  located  in  Millersburg  township,  where  the  former  now 
resides,  his  wife  having  died  in  1879,  aged  sixty-seven  years.  Mr. 
Pickup  by  this  marriage  has  one  child,  George  A.  He  resides  two 
miles  south  of  Millersburg,  on  a  farm  of  eighty  acres,  which  is  nicely 
improved  and  well  stocked.     In  politics  he  is  a  republican. 


ELIZA   TOWNSHIP. 

This  is  No.  15,  in  range  5,  of  the  fourth  principal  meridian.  Rock 
Island  county  bounds  it  on  the  north,  and  the  Mississippi  river  on  the 
west.  A  chain  of  irregular  and  abriij)t  bluffs  extends  from  north  to 
south,  through  the  center  of  the  township,  from  the  south  line  of 
section  32  to  the  northern  boundary  line  between  Eliza  township  and 
Rock  Island  county,  at  the  northwest  corner  of  section  6.  Three 
creeks  run  in  a  southwesterly  direction  through  the  town,  the  principal 
one  of-  which  is  Eliza  creek,  whose  source  is  in  the  N.  E.  ^  of  Sec.  12, 
of  Duncan  township.  Fed  by  small  tributaries  on  both  sides,  it  runs 
southwest  through  that  township,  crossing  the  eastern  boundary  line 
between  the  two  townships  in  the  N.  E.  J  of  Sec.  24 ;  runs  southwest 
to  the  center  of  section  23 ;  thence  northwest  to  the  north  section  line 
between  sections  15  and  22  ;  thence  southwest,  crossing  the  west  section 
line  between  sections  21  and  22,  through  sections  21,  29,  30,  25,  and 
36,  and  emptying  into  the  head  of  lower  Eliza  lake.  AVinters  creek 
enters  the  township  in  the  N.  E.  J  of  Sec.  25  ;  flows  soutliwest  through 
sections  25  and  35.  Glancy  branch  enters  the  township  at  the  north- 
ern boundary  line  between  Eliza  township  and  Rock  Island  county,  in 
section  5,  and  runs  southwest  through  sections  5  and  7.  These  streams 
and  their  tributaries  furnish  ample  supj)lies  of  water  for  stock  at  all 
seasons  of  the  year. 

In  the  western  part  of  the  township,  below  the  bluffs  and  between 
the  river,  are  nestled  numerous  small  lakes  and  ponds.  The  most 
prominent  of  the  lakes  are  Upper  Eliza,  Glancy,  and  Swan,  the  largest 
16 


270  HISTORY   OF   aiEECER   A^D    HE^'DEESON   COUNTIES. 

being  Swan,  part  of  which  extends  south  into  Xew  Boston  township ; 
this  lake  is  two  and  a  half  miles  long  and  a  half  mile  wide,  and,  like  all 
the  rest,  the  water  in  tliis  lake  is  clear  and  from  four  to  five  feet  in 
depth.  Upper  Eliza  is  one  mile  long  and  a  quarter  mile  wide,  and 
from  three  to  eight  feet  deep.  Glancv  extends  north  into  Rock  Island 
county,  and  is  about  two  miles  long,  one-eighth  mile  in  width,  and 
from  five  to  twenty  feet  in  depth.  These  lakes  and  their  tributaries  are 
mostly  skirted  with  timber  and  a  species  of  willow  commonly  called 
buck  brush.  The  timber  consists  of  the  various  oaks,  hickory,  maple, 
sycamore,  hockberry,  buckeye,  ■v\dld  honey-locust,  ash,  walnut,  and 
pecan,  of  which  a  fine  young  gi'owth  is  now  growing.  Grape  and 
other  wild  climbers  also  abound  along  the  banks  of  creeks  and  lakes. 
These  lakes  and  tributaries  abound  in  game  and  fish  of  fine  flavor,  and 
the  business  of  fishing  is  carried  on  to  some  extent  by  paiHes  who 
lease  the  grounds  for  that  pui-jDose.  Wild  ducks  and  geese  are  also 
plentiful  in  seasons  when  they  migrate  from  north  to  south,  and  vice 
versa. 

The  soil  of  Eliza  township  is  admirably  adapted  to  agricultural 
purposes.  The  land  lying  on  the  southeast  side  of  Eliza  creek  is 
mostly  prairie,  and  is  composed  of  rich  black  loam,  with  yellow  and 
brown  clay  subsoil  in  places,  which  produces  heavy  crops  of  corn  and 
other  agricultural  staples.  The  land  lying  north  of  the  creek  is  undu- 
lating, and,  near  the  blufi",  quite  hilly ;  is  mostly  covered  with  timber, 
and  is  used  for  pasture,  for  which  it  supplies  a  fine  growth  of  blue 
grass. 

The  land  on  the  blufi'  and  in  the  vicinitv  of  the  river  seems  to  have 
been  the  favorite  abode  of  the  ancient  moimd  builders,  of  which  race 
of  people  we  know  but  little  at  the  present  day.  All  along  below  and 
on  the  summit  of  these  bluft's  can  be  seen  these  mounds,  the  most 
noted  of  which  are  on  sections  28  and  29,  north  of  Jay  Wilson's  farm, 
Martin  Bear  place,  on  section  16,  now  occupied  by  Edwin  Bishop's 
house,  and  on  the  east  part  of  sections  19  and  30,  the  most  prominent 
of  which  are  on  sections  19  and  30.  All  through  the  timber  on  these 
lands  can  be  seen  what  appears  to  have  been  at  one  time  a  line  of 
earth-works,  thrown  up  for  a  defense,  inside  of  which  are  hundreds  of 
these  mounds.  Some  of  them  measure  forty  feet  at  the  base,  and  on 
top  large  oak  trees,  four  feet  in  diameter,  have  grown.  Many  of  these 
mounds  have  been  opened  by  scientific  men  and  curiosity  seekers.  In 
some  of  them  have  been  found  specimens  of  several  grades  of  pottery, 
from  the  common  clay  to  some  artistically  decorated  and  apparently 
glazed.  Some  curiously  shaped  pipes  and  axes  have  also  been  found, 
among  which  was  a  double  edged  one,  having  a  round  hole  in  the 


ELIZA   TOWNSHIP.  271 

center  for  an  eye.  The  most  important  thing  found  in  these  mounds 
was  a  skeleton  measuring  nine  feet  in  length.  The  bones  taken  from 
the  mounds  are  all  w^ll  preserved. 

All  that  portion  of  land  extending  westward  and  nearest  the  river 
is  of  the  ^nest  quality,  but  owing  to  tlie  exposure  to  overflow  and  the 
damp  nature  of  the  soil  in  seasons  for  planting,  is  not  farmed.  It  is 
covered  with  a  heavy  growth  of  tall  coarse  grass  which  makes  line 
j)asture  for  cattle,  hundreds  of  which  are  grazed  upon  it  annually  and 
hundreds  of  tons  of  hay  are  made  and  stacked  for  winter  use.  The 
land  nearer  the  bluff"  is  of  the  finest  grade,  the  soil  being  from  tive 
to  ten  feet  deej),  and  susceptible  of  the  highest  state  of  cultivation,  and 
in  favorable  seasons  unaccompanied  by  overflow,  has  produced  more 
corn  per  acre  than  any  other  land  in  the  country;  but  in  seasons  of 
extreme  rainy  weather  in  the  northern  states,  it  is  subject  to  ovei'flow, 
as  was  too  truly  the  experience  in  that  locality  in  the  spring  and  fall  of - 
1881.  After  the  farmers  had  planted  their  corn  and  it  had  grown  a 
foot  or  more  the  land  began  to  overflow,  and  in  the  course  of  a  few  days 
crops  were  completely  submerged  in  a  vast  sea  of  water  extending  from 
the  bluff'  to  the  Mississippi.  Crops  of  all  kinds  were  completely 
destroyed.  Many  cattle,  horses  and  hogs  were  drowned  and  those 
only  were  saved  that  could  be  brought  out  on  flat-boats.  The  sudden 
and  unexpected  appearance  of  this  flood  was  without  a  parallel  to  the 
oldest  inhabitants.  The  water  reached  a  height  equal  to  that  of  1851, 
soon  subsided  and  disappeared.  The  inhabitants  were  at  flrst  discour- 
aged at  the  prospect  for  a  crop  that  season,  but  they  went  to  wqi"k 
replanting  their  corn  hoping  to  be  favored  by  a  long  season  to  mature 
the  second  crop ;  the  second  })lanting  germinated  and  grew  and  soon 
looked  better  than  the  flrst.  The  season  of  1881  being  unfavorable  for 
corn  throughout  the  state,  proved  the  best  in  this  locality  on  account 
of  the  peculiar  adaptability  of  the  soil.  The  crop  raised  that  season 
was  the  best  in  the  county,  but  when  harvest  time  came  and  the 
farmers  were  about  to  realize  the  results  of  their  labor,  with  corn  at 
sixty  cents  per  bushel,  a  repetition  of  what  had  taken  place  in  the 
spring  ensued  ruining  the  crops  and  sweeping  away  horses,  cattle, 
hay  and  fences.  Xo  portion  of  land  could  be  seen  anywhere.  Unlike 
the  previous  overflow  in  the  spring,  the  water  was  slow  to  pass  off'  and 
covered  the  land  for  two  -months,  during  which  time,  drawn  there  by 
the  excellent  feeding,  the  wdld  ducks  swarmed  in  by  the  thousands, 
completely  stripping  the  corn  that  was  standing  out  in  the  water. 
Sportsmen  came  from  all  parts  of  the  state,  the  reports  of  whose  guns 
sounded  to  the  old  soldier  like  a  distant  skirmish  line.  It  has  been 
estimated  that  during  that  season  forty  thousand  du«ks  were  killed  and 
shipped  from  that  place  to  the  large  cities. 


272  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

FIRST   SETTLEMENTS. 

The  first  early  settlers  of  Eliza,  with  but  few  exceptions,  came  from 
Indiana  and,  in  most  instances,  brought  their  families  with  them, 
making  the  journey  through  the  open  prairie  and  enduring  all  the 
hardships  incident  to  the  times.  There  being  at  that  time  a  few  trad- 
ing places  at  'New  Boston,  that  point  was  mostly  aimed  for  on  account 
of  the  freight  and  commercial  advantages  it  then  aftbrded.  Another 
atti-action  was  the  timber  along  the  bluff.  The  majority  of  these 
people  having  been  raised  in  and  adjacent  to  timber  in  the  former 
state,  looked  upon  farming  without  the  use  of  timber  as  impracticable, 
and  without  which  they  were  unable  to  construct  their  rude  log  cabins 
and  fence  their  farms. 

J.  H.  Witter  was  the  first  settler  in  Eliza  township.  He  came 
from  Indiana  to  Eliza  in  the  spring  of  1833  and  settled  on  Witter's 
creek,  then  named  for  liim,  but  afterward  changed  to  Winter,  who  was 
the  next  man  to  settle  near  the  same  place.  Witter  did  not  stay  long 
in  Eliza,  but  sold  out  and  moved  to  Iowa. 

In  the  fall  of  that  year  David  Sliaunce  and  family,  accompanied  by 
his  son,  John  Shaunce,  arrived.  They  entered  the  E.  ^  of  the  S.  E.  |- 
of  Sec.  29,  but  by  mistake  settled  on  a  quarter  of  land  in  the  W.  -J  of 
the  S.  W.  J  of  Sec.  29,  soon  after  which  William  Wilson  and  John 
Hill  came.  Wilson  was  from  Indiana  and  Hill  from  Kentucky.  Hill 
took  a  claim  and  built  the  best  house  then  in  the  township,  on  the  E. 
^  of  the  S.  E.  J  of  Sec.  29,  which  land  by  right  belonged  to  Shaunce. 
As  soon  as  the  mistake  was  discovered  a  difliculty  between  the  parties 
ensued,  causing  a  bitter  enmity  in  both  men.  After  considerable 
quarreling  over  the  disputed  land,  Shaunce  sold  it  to  Mr.  D.  F. 
Noble  on  condition  that  he  (Shaunce)  should  take  possession  of  the 
place.  Shaunce  first  tried  to  get  Hill  off  the  place  by  legal  process, 
but  failing  in  that  he  then  undertook  it  by  force,  which  was  the  cause 
of  some  heavy  fist  battles  in  the  neighborhood.  Hill,  however,  relin- 
quished his  right  to  the  property  by  moving  off  the  premises,  of  which 
Noble  took  possession.  Hill  then  bought  a  piece  of  land  on  section  31, 
where  he  lived  for  a  short  time,  and  sold  out  to  Samuel  Elliott  and 
moved  to  Iowa.  Shaunce's  name  is  familiarly  remembered  by  all  the 
old  settlers  of  the  present  time.  His  house  was  the  radiating  point. 
A  traveler  inquiring  the  way  to  a  place  was  invariably  told  that  the 
place  inquired  for  was  so  far  to  or  from  Shaunce's.  Shaunce  was  one 
of  the  first  grand  jurors  chosen  in  the  county,  and  also  one  of  the  first 
parties  in  a  law  suit. 

In  the  spring  of  1834  Silas  Drury  and  father,  accompanied  by  a 
cousin,   Charles  Drury,   and  J.   P.   Reynolds,   arrived.      Silas  Drury 


ELIZA   TOWNSHIP.  273 

entered  a  piece  of  land,  where  he  built  a  cabin  and  lived  until  he  sold 
out  to  Daniel  Noble,  when  he  moved  to  Rock  Island  county,  town 
of  Drurj,  which  bears  his  name.  He  then  built  a  large  mill  on 
Copperas  creek,  familiarlv  known  to  all  the  old  settlers  as  Drury's  mill. 
Mr.  Drury's  father,  Charles  Drury,  and  J.  P.  Eeynolds  did  not  remain 
long  in  Illinois,  but  took  passage  on  board  a  steamboat  at  New  Boston 
on  their  way  back  to  Indiana  by  way  of  Cincinnati.  Reynolds  return- 
ing the  same  season  lived  with  Dr.  Rejaiolds  until  the  following 
spring  of  1835,  when  he  was  married  to  Miss  Hettie  Elliott,  formerly 
from  Morgan  county,  Indiana.  This  was  the  first  marriage  in  the 
township,  which  event  is  distinctly  remembered  from  the  circumstance 
that  followed.  Reynolds  died  in  just  four  weeks  after  the  wedding 
day,  and  was  buried  in  Eliza  cemetery.  Charles  Drury,  returning  in 
the  fall  of  1S35,  was  also  married  to  Miss  Nancy  Prentice,  wdio  died 
eleven  months  after.  He  then  moved  to  Rock  Island  county  and 
studied  medicine  with  Dr.  Reynolds,  after  which  he  married  Mrs. 
Eliza  McGreeiv,  moved  back  and  practiced  medicine  throughout  the 
township,  living  upon  wdiat  is  known  as  the  E.  W.  Mardock  farm. 
He  quit  the  practice  of  medicine  in  1851  and  moved  to  Oregon. 

In  the  fall  of  183-1  Jesse  AYillits  and  family,  also  from  Indiana, 
settled  on  section  32,  the  place  now  owned  by  Frank  Willits.  Willits 
was  the  lirst  probate  judge,  and  one  of  the  first  justices  of  the  peace ; 
also  one  of  the  first  grand  jurors  chosen  in  1835.  He  lived  on  the 
place  where  he  first  settled  until  the  time  of  liis  death  m  1813.  Dr. 
Mark  Willits  settled  on  the  same  piece  of  land  with  Jesse  Willits,  on 
section  32,  which  he  sold  after  living  upon  the  place  one  year.  Dr. 
Mark  Willits  was  also  one  of  the  first  grand  jurors  chosen  fi"om  the 
township  that  year.  Dr.  Willits  was  a  native  of  Indiana.  Mark 
Mullen  and  famil}^  arrived  late  in  the  fall  of  that  year  and  settled  on 
section  7,  where  he  built  a  cabin  and  small  blacksmith  shop,  near  the 
bluff,  which  is  still  standing.  Mullen  was  the  fii-st  blacksmith  in  the 
towmship,  and  it  is  presumed  he  was  not  troubled  much  with  compe- 
tition, as  the  nearest  shop  to  him  was  at  North  Henderson,  some  thirty 
miles  distant.  Mullen  lived  but  a  short  time  on  the  place  where  he 
settled,  and  selling  his  place  to  Samuel  Elliott  he  moved  to  Iowa. 
Isaac  Dawson  and  William  Jackson  came  next.  Dawson  settled  on 
land  now  the  August  Schrader  place,  wdiicli  he  sold  to  Martin  A.  Cook 
in  1851,  and  moved  to  Iowa.  Both  men  were  from  Montgomery 
county,  Indiana.  Jackson  settled  on  Pope  creek,  near  Keithsburg. 
Lewns  Noble  and  family  settled  on  section  32,  where  he  built  a  house 
and  improved  a  farm,  which  he  afterward  sold,  and  moved  to  Decatur 
county,  Iowa. 


274:  HISTORY   OF   MERCEK    AXD    HENDERSON    COrNTIES. 

The  glowing  accounts  of  the  then  far  west  sent  back  by  those  who 
had  settled  here,  induced  others  to  follow  them,  and  the  next  one 
coming  in  the  spring  of  1S35  was  John  Drury  and  family.  They 
settled  on  section  35,  now  kno^vn  as  the  A.  B.  Cliilds  place,  on  which 
he  lived  until  the  time  of  his  death.  Aaron  Mannon  then  bought  a 
piece  of  land  on  section  29,  which  is  now  owned  by  Harvey  Mills. 
After  Mannon  bought  the  land  he  returned  to  Indiana  for  his  family, 
leaving  his  son,  who  had  come  with  him,  in  charge  of  the  place. 
During  his  father's  absence  he  built  a  house  on  section  30,  which  land 
he  had  entered  soon  after  his  first  arrival  with  his  father.  His  father 
returning  in  the  following  May,  settled  oh  section  30,  land  now  owned 
by  AY.  H.  Mills.  Abijah  Wilson  and  Allen  Wilson  came  in  the 
summer  of  1S35 ;  they  took  up  land  on  section  33,  which  they  after- 
ward sold.  Robert  Childers  settled  on  section  16,  where  he  built  a 
cabin,  lived  a  short  time,  sold  out  and  moved  to  Iowa.  John  and 
"William  Fisher  came  in  the  fall  and  settled  on  section  18,  the  Joseph 
Bush  place.  John  also  bought  land  in  section  23.  William  settled  on 
the  L'a  Xoble  place,  at  the  foot  of  the  blufi".  Jesse  L.  Adams  settled 
on  section  19,  from  which  place  he  moved  to  section  22,  where  he  now 
resides.  Eezin  Pratt  came  from  Indiana  to  Mercer  county  in  1S36. 
He  first  bought  in  section  30,  and  subsequently  bought  land  adjoining. 
He  then  returned  to  Indiana  the  same  season  for  his  family.  Pratt  was 
the  first  postmaster  in  the  township  and  had  liis  office  in  the  house  in 
which  he  lived.     He  was  also  the  first  justice  of  the  peace. 

Daniel  Xoble  and  family,  accompanied  by  his  son,  D.  F.  Koble, 
and  wife,  came  soon  after  Pratt.  Thev  rented  land  the  first  season  of 
Jessie  Willits,  and  the  same  year  Daniel  jS^oble  bought  some  land  from 
Silas  Drury,  and  at  the  same  time  entered  on  sections  30,  18  and  19. 
He  built  a  house  on  the  S.  E.  J  of  Sec.  30  the  same  year.  D.  F.  Noble 
first  entered  land  in  sections  31  and  20,  which  he  afterward  sold  ;  he 
also  bought  eighty  acres  in  section  29  at  the  same  time,  as  did  David 
Shaunce,  where  he  first  settled.  He  afterward  bought  land  in  section 
30,  near  the  bluft",  upon  which  there  was  a  small  house,  in  which  he 
lived  until  1881,  at  which  time  he  built  a  fine  new  frame,  near  the 
site  of  the  old  one.  Thomas  Morgan,  of  Montgomery  count}',  Indiana, 
settled  with  his  family  on  section  22.  on  which  place  he  died  in  1850. 
The  place  is  now  owned  by  Martin  Bear,  and  occupied  by  his  son 
Madrew.  The  first  log  cabin  built  upon  the  place  is  still  standing  in 
a  good  state  of  preservation.  Morgan  was  buried  in  Eliza  cemetery. 
Samuel  Elliott  bought  the  Mark  Mullen  place  in  1836,  in  section  7. 
George  Moore  came  in  the  spring  and  settled  on  the  S.  W.  ^  of  Sec.  30, 
which  he  sold  in  the  spring  to  his  brother  John  Moore,  who  came 


ELIZA   TOWNSHIP.  275 

during  the  previous  winter.  Moore  started  early  in  tlie  winter  to  make 
the  journey  by  boat,  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  a  small  child. 
When  boarding  the  boat  at  Cincinnati  he  fell  through  a  hatchway  and 
was  severely  injured.  On  arriving  at  Fort  Madison  they  found  that 
they  could  not  proceed  farther  by  boat,  owing  to  the  river  being  frozen 
over  at  that  point.  They  left  the  river  at  that  place  and  began  the 
balance  of  the  journey  on  foot,  through  a  wilderness  of  prairie  grass 
and  howlinai;  wolves.  The  sufterinij-s  thev  endured  on  account  of  cold 
and  hunger  was  intense,  but  after  several  days  painful  travel,  tired  and 
foot  sore  they  finally  arrived  at  the  house  of  Joseph  Glancey,  where 
they  stayed  during  the  winter,  and  in  the  spring  settled  in  Eliza 
on  land  bought  of  his  brother  George.  John  Moore  seems  to  have 
been  exceedingly  unlucky,  for  in  the  spring  of  1839,  while  in  the 
timber  s])litting  rails,  a  tree  fell  upon  him  crippling  him  for  life. 
But  notwithstanding  all  the  sufferings  he  had  previously  endured, 
he  went  to  work  and  built  a  saw-mill  on  Eliza  creek,  the  first  of 
the  kind  in  the  township.  Martin  and  Jacob  Bear  came  next. 
They  started  from  Indiana  about  April  16,  in  company  with  John 
Thompson,  and  Abraham  Piatt.  Thompson  and  Piatt  were  from 
Ohio,  and  settled  in  Walnut  Grove,  in  Knox  county,  Illinois.  The 
Bears'  outfit  consisted  of  four  yoke  of  oxen  hitched  to  an  old  fashioned 
Yirginia  road  wagon,  heavily  loaded,  in  consequence  of  which  the 
journey  was  a  slow  and  tedious  one.  Often  the  drivers  had  to  unhitch 
their  teams  and  carry  their  loads  out  of  a  slough  on  their  backs,  and 
often  this  interesting  performance  was  repeated  several  times  during 
each  days'  journey.  Many  times  they  would  hitch  all  the  oxen  to  one 
wagon  to  pull  it  through  a  slough,  and  when  that  failed  then  the  inter- 
esting process  of  wading  through  the  mud  was  resorted  to.  Mr.  Jacob 
Bear's  experience  on  the  occasion  as  related  by  him  must  have  been  an 
exceedingly  interesting  one  to  him.  Among  the  party  there  was  a 
small  child  who  was  very  fond  of  him,  and  when  not  in  his  company 
would  continually  cry  for  him,  and  as  Mr.  Bear's  part  of  the  programme 
was  to  drive  the  cattle,  he  was  forced  to  strap  the  child  to  his  back,  in 
which  manner  they  made  the  trip  to  Illinois  together.  The  party 
arrived  in  Mercer  county  on  the  evening  of  May  10,  1836,  having  been 
twenty-four  days  on  the  road.  Arriving  at  a  point  two  miles  below 
Pope  creek,  they  went  into  camp  for  the  night,  on  top  of  a  liigh  bluff. 
Tliey  turned  their  cattle  out  to  graze,  built  a  fire  and  began  preparations 
for  supper.  A  heavy  storm  that  had  been  threatening  for  a  few  hours 
before  suddenly  broke  with  great  violence  upon  the  party,  putting  out 
their  fires  and  carrying  away  their  tents,  leaving  them  to  sit  all  night  in 
a  drenching  rain.     As  soon  as  daylight  came,  they  moved  forward  to 


276  HISTOET    OF   FIERCER    AXD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

]Mi-s.  T\"illiam  "Willits",  where  a  breakfast  was  prepai-ed  for  them,  after 
which  they  continued  their  journey,  reaching  the  place  where  thev 
settled  and  still  own.  George  and  Isaac  Dawson,  learning  of  their 
arrival  in  the  neighborhood,  concluded  to  frighten  them,  and  accord- 
ingly prepared  their  toilets  in  tnie  Indian  style,  painted  their  faces 
with  blood  root,  and,  to  give  them  a  more  hideous  look,  they  bedaubed 
theii-  hail"  with  vellow  clav.  in  wliich  stvle  thev  suddenly  rushed  upon 
the  emigrant  paity.  It  is  hai-dly  necessiiry  to  add  that  the  scheme  had 
the  desu-ed  effect  upon  the  pait}*.  Maitin  Bear  bought  his  land  of 
Thomas  Morgan,  on  section  22,  upon  wliich  he  Kved  until  a  few  years 
since  when  he  moved  to  Aledo.  Jacob  Bear  still  lives  where  he  first 
settled,  and  has  at  different  times  since  bought  other  lands  adjoining. 
For  the  first  few  vears  after  coming  to  the  counti-v,  he  lived  with  Ins 
brother  Maitin.  He  first  broke  ten  acres  the  fii'st  season,  and  built  a 
cabin  neai-  the  site  of  which  he  has  since  built  a  large  irame  house. 
John  Glancy  settled  in  Eliza  in  1S37.  He  still  lives  where  he  first 
settled,  on  section  7.  He  bought  the  land  of  Samuel  Elliott,  and  from 
time  to  time  bought  lands  adjoining  it,  and  now  owns  one  of  the  largest 
farms  in  the  county. 

The  Indians  were  plentiful  here  in  the  days  of  the  fij'st  early  settlers. 
They  were  peaceful,  however,  and  disposed  to  trade  honorably  with  the 
whites.  Thev  belonged  mostlv  to  Black  Hawk's  ti-ibe.  Black  Hawk 
himself  was  a  frequent  visitor  to  Mi".  Silas  Drury's  cabin,  where  he  was 
accustomed  to  stop  to  enjoy  a  night's  rest  on  his  cabin  floor.  Among 
Black  Hawk's  tribe  was  one  lamiliarily  known  to  the  old  settlers  as 
Slim  Jim,  who  was  noted  for  his  cunning,  and  of  whom  manv  good 
stories  are  still  told  bv  the  sm-viving  settlers.  Jim  lived  in  the  bottoms 
below  the  bluff,  but  was  quite  fond  of  lounging  about  the  settlers' 
cabins,  and  especially  at  Mark  Mullen's.  One  day  Jim  came  up  out  of 
the  bottom  and  reported  to  Mullen  that  he  had  foimd  a  bee  tree  in  the 
timber  below,  which,  after  considerable  bartering,  he  succeeded  in 
buying  Jim's  right  in  the  tree  for  one  dollar  in  silver.  Then  Mullen 
and  Jim  started  to  hunt  for  the  tree,  which  they  found  as  Jim  had 
stated.  MuUen  then  set  to  work  chopping  the  tree,  which  was  a  large 
one.  ]Mr.  D.  F.  Xoble  and  John  Pratt,  beincr  in  the  neighborhood,  on 
hearing  the  noise  went  to  where  the  paities  were  at  work,  and  offered 
their  assistance  for  a  part  of  the  honey.  Thus  reinforced  the  tree  soon 
began  to  fall,  and  on  its  downward  course  fell  against  another  near  by, 
breaking  off'  a  lai'ge  limb,  from  the  opening  of  which  there  fell  out 
upon  the  snow  a  comb  of  honey,  about  the  size  of  Jim's  fist,  which  he 
quickly  picked  up  and  ate.  Upon  further  examinati<.)n  it  was  soon 
found  that  Jim  had  got  all  the  honev  the  tree  contained,  besides  a  ^ood 


ELIZA    TOWNSHIP.  277 

joke  on  the  parties  present  and  a  dollar  in  silver.  Mullen  concluded 
to  keep  cool  about  the  matter  and  revenge  himself  in  some  other  waj-. 
lie  used  to  keep  liquor  for  sale  at  his  cabin,  an  article  that  Jim  had  a 
peculiar  liking  for.  One  day,  not  long  after  the  bee-tree  transaction, 
Jim's  thirst  for  fire  water  became  so  great  as  to  force  him  to  pawn  a 
iine  new  blanket  to  him  for  a  quart  of  the  ardent,  which,  if  he  failed  to 
redeem  in  a  speciiied  time,  was  tp  be  the  j^ropertj'  of  Mullen.  When 
redemption  day  came  around,  Jim's  cash  account  being  short,  he 
forfeited  his  right  to  the  blanket.  Jim  took  in  the  situation  at  once, 
but  said  nothing,  and  quietly  w.ilking  away  was  not  seen  about  the 
place  for  many  days  after,  and  while  the  settlers  were  feeling  alarmed 
lest  some  evil  had  befallen  him  he  one  day  suddenly  made  his  appear- 
ance, with  a  large  powder  horn  filled  with  lead  ore,  which  he  took  into 
Mullen's  cabin  and  began  to  mold  bullets  from.  This  excited  Mullen's 
curiosity  greatly  to  know  where  Jim  had  found  the  ore.  Upon  inquiry 
Jim  pointed  across  the  river,  and  by  signs  and  gestures  conveyed  the 
impression  that  the  jjlace  was  quite  a  distance  away.  Mullen  began 
at  once  to  enter  into  negotiations  with  Jim  to  be  conducted  to  the 
El  Dorado.  Mullen  wished  to  start  immediately  for  the  place,  but 
Jim,  pointing  to  the  ground,  told  Mullen  that  the  place  could  not  be 
reached  in  the  winter  season,  but  that  they  must  wait  until  the  grass 
grew  in  the  spring,  so  the  oxen  could  graze.  This  philosophical  state- 
ment satisfied  Mullen,  and  he  took  Jim  and  his  squaw  in  the  cabin 
with  him,  where  they  both  enjoyed  Mullen's  hospitalities  during  the 
winter,  but  when  spring  came,  and  they  were  nearly  ready  to  start  for 
the  promised  land,  Jim  suddenly  disappeared,  and  was  not  seen  again 
for  many  years. 

MILLS. 

The  first  mill  built  in  the  township  was  by  Rezin  Pratt  and  John  H. 
Mannon,  about  1S3T.  It  was  situated  just  above  Daniel  I^oble's,  and 
was  built  about  1844,  or  1845.  This  was  a  grist  mill,  and  disappeared 
years  ago.  No  other  mill  has  since  taken  its  place,  owing  to  an  insuffi- 
cient body  of  water  of  late  years  to  run  one.  A  saw  mill,  built  by 
Eezin  Pratt  and  E.  Esley,  stood  on  the  same  stream,  a  little  below  Mr. 
Noble's,  and  was  built  somewhat  later ;  no  remains  of  it  can  be  seen 
there  now.  The  mill  was  a  large  one  and  was  well  patronized  at  the 
time.  For  a  long  time  after  this  mill  ceased  running  there  was  no 
other  mill  in  the  township,  until  about  1864,  when  a  steam  saw  mill 
was  erected  by  Jesse  Bogart,  which,  for  the  want  of  patronage,  did  not 
do  much  business.  A  steam  grist  mill  for  grinding  feed  was  staited  on 
secti<m  16  bv  J.  C.  Achison.      Before  the  establishment  of  the  first 


278  HISTORY   OF   MEECER    AJ^D    HEIfDERSON    COUNTIES. 

mill  in  the  township,  the  inhabitants,  having  then  to  go  as  far  as  Xorth 
Henderson  and  Monmouth,  one  man  would  generally  do  the  business 
for  several  of  his  neighbors ;  he  was  usually  detained  from  six  to  ten 
days,  according  to  the  stage  of  water  and  the  number  of  persons  ahead 
awaiting  their  turn.  They  usually  started  with  a  supply  of  rations  and 
feed  for  an  emergency.  The  teams  quartered  about  these  mills  gave 
the  place  the  appearance  of  a  camp-meeting  ground. 

The  only  town  of  importance  in  the  township  was  started  by  Edwin 
Bishop,  who  settled  there  in  1850.     Being  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  he 
there  started  a  shop  on  the  corners,  and  the  place  was  then  called 
Bishop's  Corners  until  Mr.  Bishop's  appointment  as  postmaster;  the 
office  having  formerly  been  called  Eliza,  that  name  was  substituted. 
The  place  is  located  near  the  center  of  section  16.     On  or  about  the 
year  1876  Dr.  Thomas  L.  Edwards  bought  a  house  and  moved  to  the 
place,  where  he  followed  his  profession  until  a  few  years  since,  when 
he  retired  from  practice  on  account  of  advanced  age,  and  was  succeeded 
by  Dr.  Reynolds,  who  is  the  only  physician  in  the  place.     Harrison, 
son  of  Edward  Bishop,  built  a  large  house  in  the  place  a  few  years 
ago,  on  the  opposite  corner  from  his  father's,  where  he  resides  and 
follows  the  carpenter  trade.     The  next,  a  building  sixteen  feet  square, 
was  built  for  a  store  by  Isaiah  Bishop  in  1876,  wliich  was  stocked  and 
opened  up  for  the  first  time  on  the  morning  of  the  annual  town  meet- 
ing of  that  year.     His  stock  consisted  of  a  barrel  of  kerosene  and  a 
few  other  light  goods  which  he  had  carried  on  his  back  from  Muscatine 
the  day  before.     Not  having  a  large  stock,  his  business  at  first  was 
slow  and  perplexing ;  some  of  his  customers  greatly  annoyed  him  by 
calling  for  such  goods  as  they  knew  he  did  not  have  on  hand.     After 
a  careful  survey  of  his  stock,  one  of  his  customers  remarked  that  his 
was  the  only  store  he  ever  saw  which  he  felt  able  to  buy  out.     Remem- 
bering the  old  adage,  that  from  small  acorns  large  trees  grow,   he 
continued  in  business,  and  by  careful  watching  of  the  wants  of  his 
customers,  has  built  up  a  large  trade,  and  added  an  addition  to  his 
store-roon\,  which  is  now  well  stocked  with  such  merchandise  as  is 
usually  needed  by  farmers.     Before  the  establishment  of  this  store,  the 
trade  of  the  township  was  divided  between  J^ew  Boston  and  Musca- 
tine, Iowa.     The  place  also  contains  a  jeweler  shop  and  the  business  is 
carried  on  by  Mr.  Taylor. 

Soon  after  the  organization  of,  and  at  the  September  term  of  the 
board  of  supervisors  of  1854,  on  order  was  made  by  that  body  author- 
izing the  issuing  of  a  bond  of  $100,000  to  the  capital  stock  of  the 
Warsaw  &  Rockford  Railroad  Company,  to  be  paid  in  county  bonds  to 
run  twenty  years  with  interest  at  six  per  cent,  providing  that  the  bonds 


ELIZA    TOWNSHIP.  279 

should  not  be  issued  until  a  sufficient  amount  of  available  capital  stock 
was  subscribed  to  build  the  road ;  and  providing  that  the  money  from 
the  sale  of  the  bonds  should  be  expended  within  the  limits  of  the 
county.  In  1S55  Mr.  Hiram  Thornton,  agent  for  said  company,  filed 
a  petition  asking  a  modification  of  the  terms  of  the  bonds,  and  asking 
that  the  bonds  be  made  unconditional  and  payable  on  demand  of  the 
company  or  its  agents.  The  question  of  rescinding  the  former  action 
was  submitted  to  the  voters  of  the  seveiml  townships  in  the  spring  of 
1856,  Eliza  township  cast  eight  votes  for  rescinding  the  former  vote, 
and  twenty-eight  against. 

SPECULATORS. 

For  a  few  years  after  the  first  settlement  here  the  settlers  were 
greatly  annoyed  by  speculators  and  land  grabbers,  in  consequence  of 
which  they  were  ever  upon  the  lookout  for  intruders,  who  usually 
appeared  in  the  guise  of  emigrants  seeking  homes,  therefore  all 
new  comers  were  eyed  with  suspicion.  Upon  one  occasion  three 
strangers  were  noticed  in  the  neighborhood  whose  actions  aroused  the 
suspicions  of  Mr.  Silas  Drury,  then  sheriff  of  the  county,  as  to  the  real 
nature  of  their  business.  After  carefully  examining  several  of  the  best 
pieces  of  land  in  that  vicinity,  they  came  to  Drury  and  requested  him 
to  show  them  such  lands  as  had  not  already  been  taken,  saying  that 
they  were  seeking  places  upon  which  to  settle.  Supposing  that  they 
were  land  sharks,  he  took  them  up  on  top  of  the  blufi"  in  a  thickly 
timbered  place  where  left  them,  knowing  that  they  would  get  lost. 
Then  returning  to  his  cabin  lie  mounted  a  swift  horse  and  notified  his 
neighbors  of  the  threatening  danger.  They  all  met  that  night  at  a  cabin 
at  the  foot  of  the  bluff  to  determine  the  best  course  to  pursue  in  the  mat- 
ter. Believing  the  parties  to  be  speculators,  they  began  to  realize  the 
importance  of  quick  action,  and  accordingly  concluded  to  gather  all  the 
money  in  the  neighborhood  and  start  Mr.  Drury  to  the  land  office  to  buy 
in  their  lands  for  them.  Drury  left  that  night  in  company  with  a  neighbor 
who  was  going  a  part  of  the  way.  They  took  a  trail  leading  through 
Rock  Island  county,  at  which  place  it  was  their  intention  to  have  staid 
for  the  night,  at  a  cabin  owned  by  one  Dunlap.  On  arriving  they  rode 
up  to  the  cabin,  and  looking  through  a  partly  open  door,  saw  the  same 
parties  whom  Mr.  Drury  had  left  in  the  timber  but  a  few  hours  before. 
Mr.  Drury  at  once  came  to  the  conclusion  that  the  parties  were  head- 
ing for  the  land  office,  and  determined  to  get  ahead  of  them  if  possible. 
Not  wishing  to  proceed  farther  that  night,  the  man  accompanying 
Drury  rode  forward  to  the  cabin  and  called  Mr.  Dunlap,  who,  being  in 
sympathy  with  the  settlers,  was  confidentially  told  their  business.     A 


280  HISTOKY   OF   IMEECEE   AJST)    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

cabin  a  short  distance  away  was  i»ointe(:l  out  to  them,  where  they  were 
assured  they  could  find  quarters.  Drury  started  from  that  place  early 
the  next  morning,  and  reaching  Andalusia  just  at  sun  up  in  the  morn- 
ing, was  directed  to  cross  the  river  at  that  point  and  take  a  trail  made 
the  day  before,  from  Rock  Island  down  the  river  by  drawing  a  log 
through  the  snow,  to  allow  the  Indians  to  go  there  to  trade.  Ai-riving 
at  Rock  Island  about  noon,  he  stopped  at  a  tavern  kept  by  a  man 
named  Dixon,  who  was  coun|,y  clerk  of  the  county.  He  was  instructed 
by  him  as  to  the  route  to  take,  and  also  informed  him  that  he  should 
stop  at  Port  Byron  for  the  night,  which  if  he  passed  he  would  not  find 
another  stopping  place  within  forty  miles.  Soon  after  leaving  Rock 
Island  Mr.  Drury  looked  back  and  saw  a  man  on  horseback,  appar- 
ently in  pursuit,  which  he  supposed  to  be  the  speculator.  On  arriving 
at  Port  Bvron  the  man  o^•ertook  him  and  remarked  that  Drurv  must 
have  a  fine  horse  as  he  had  tried  all  the  afternoon  but  had  failed 
to  overtake  him.  They  left  in  the  morning  in  company,  but  had 
not  gone  far  until  Drury  noticed  that  the  stranger's  horse  was  a 
superior  animal,  which,  not  agreeing  with  the  statement  he  had 
made  the  day  before,  caused  Drury  to  fear  that  the  man  was  fol- 
lowing him  for  the  purpose  of  waylaying  him  at  the  first  opportunity. 
After  a  few  hours'  ride  together  he  told  Drury  that  he  had  just  come 
from  Eliza  township,  where  the  day  before  he  had  beaten  a  citizen 
doctor  in  a  horse  race  and  taken  $500  from  him.  Drury  also  noticed  by 
the  actions  of  the  man  that  he  likewise  suspicioned  him,  and  thus 
the  two  men  rode  along  together  in  silence,  the  one  watching  the 
movements  of  the  other.  Presently  the  stranger  asked  Drury  if  he  had 
any  money  about  him.  He  replied  that  he  had  $2.50  and  was  hurry- 
ing to  get  to  Galena  to  find  work,  and  asked  if  he  was  acquainted  there. 
The  man  said  that  he  was,  but  that  work  was  scarce.  He  ofiered  to 
bet  Drurv  that  his  monev  was  counterfeit,  and  demanded  an  examina- 
tion,  after  which  he  passed  it  back,  and  producing  some  of  the  same 
kind  from  his  own  pocket,  said  that  he  was  well  acquainted  with  the 
parties  in  Galena  who  made  it.  This  statement  aroused  Drury's  fears 
more  than  ever,  and  as  it  was  now  growing  dark  both  parties  watched 
closer  than  ever.  They  however  reached  Dubuque  in  safety,  and  Drury 
going  straight  to  the  land  office  was  there  informed  that  they  were 
three  weeks  behind  with  their  books  and  that  he  would  have  to  await 
his  turn  to  make  the  entries.  Xot  satisfied  he  went  back  and  enlisted 
the  co-operation  of  a  friend  and  the  two  succeeded  in  making  the 
entries  that  same  night.  The  next  morning  just  as  Drury  was  prej^ar- 
ing  to  start  back  the  speculators  made  their  appearance,  and  going  to 
the  oflice  were  told  that  the  lands  had  all  been  entered  the  dav  before, 


ELIZA   TOWNSHIP.  281 

at  wliicli  tliey  broke  ont  in  a  fit  of  rage  and  said  the  trick  bad  been 
played  by  that  little  sheritf  of  Mercer  county,  and  if  he  could  be  found 
they  would  cowhide  him  within  an  inch  of  his  life.  Instead  of  being 
settlers  looking  for  homes,  they  turned  out  to  be  Virginia  land  aii'ents. 

EOADS. 

The  first  road  laid  out  in  the  township  was  one  leading  from  the 
bluff  to  Rezin  Pratt's  mill,  on  Eliza  creek.  This  road  was  located  in 
1850.  In  the  same  year  a  road  was  laid  out  from  the  bluff  to  the  old 
Bloomington  road,  at  Bear's.  Another  road,  commencing  where  the 
Millersburg  and  Muscatine  road  crossed  the  county  line,  running  west 
in  Mercer  county,  through  H.  Mardock's  land,  intersecting  the  county 
line  at  John  Boruif 's,  then  west  into  Rock  Island  county,  was  laid  out 
in  1851.  A  road  leading  from  George  Scott's  house  in  New  Boston 
township  to  D.  F.  Noble's,  was  laid  out  in  1851. 

A  portion  of  an  old  Indian  trail,  leading  from  New  Boston  to  Bock 
Island,  is  still  yisible  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  township. 

ORGANIZATION. 

The  first  town  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  Daniel  Noble 
April  2,  1854.  J.  P.  Mannon  was  chosen  moderator  and  Joseph 
Leonard  clerk.  The  first  election  resulted  in  the  choice  of  John 
Glancy,  for  superyisor  ;  L.  W.  Noble,  town  clerk ;  James  M.  Mannon, 
assessor ;  William  Ir\an,  M.  A.  Cook  and  D.  W.  Noble,  commis- 
sioners of  highways  ;  H.  H.  Bandolph  and  G.  W.  Black,  oyerseers  of 
highways ;  Dudley  Willits,  overseer  of  the  poor ;  and  Eli  Mills,  pound- 
master.  The  whole  number  of  yotes  cast  was  thirty.  At  an  annual 
town  meeting  held  at  the  school-house  in  district  No.  2,  twenty-fiye 
yotes  were  cast  for  supervisor  ;  twenty  for  tov\Ti  clerk  ;  twenty-five  for 
assessor ;  twenty-three  for  commissioner  of  highways ;  twenty-four  for 
overseer  of  the  poor,  and  five  for  pound-master.  A  vote  was  taken  to 
decide  the  question  of  township  organization,  which  received  eight 
votes  in  favor,  and  twenty-three  against  it. 

D.  F.  Noble  has  served  as  supervisor  nine  years ;  Martin  Bear,  six ; 
and  A.  B.  Swisher,  eight  years.  J  H.  Nolan,  J.  Y.  Merritt  and 
J.  H.  Leech  have  each  served  one  year. 

The  Nobles  at  times  held  nearly  all  the  ])rincipal  offices  in  the 
township.  The  Bishops  have  also  held  numerous  offices,  notably  that 
of  town  clerk,  which  was  filled  by  one  or  the  other  for  ten  consecutive 
years. 


282  HISTORY   OF   SLERCER   AXD    HEXDERSON    COUXTIES. 

SOLDIERS. 

At  the  first  breaking  out  of  the  late  ci^dl  war,  the  question  as  to 
"my  duty  to  go,"  was  responded  to  affirmatively  by  many  of  Eliza's 
truest  patriots,  and  fi*om  the  beginning  to  the  termination  of  the  great 
struggle,  they  bravely  answered  every  call  for  troops  ;  father  and  son 
left  the  farm  to  offer  their  lives,  if  need  be,  that  the  nation  might  be 
peipetuated.  And  it  was  not  until  the  town  had  almost  exhausted  her 
resources  that  men  were  hired  to  fill  the  quota.  Many  from  Eliza 
enlisted  in  Iowa  regiments,  among  whom  were  P.  Wlialey,  B.  E. 
Whaley,  Jasper  Reed,  Da^-id  Noble,  Monroe  Leech,  Eli  Mills,  Pyrhus 
Glancy,  Isaiah  Bishop,  E.  A.  Wood,  S.  S.  Wood,  Walter  Keneday, 
John  I.  Reed,  Alexander  Irwin,  Harrison  Bishop,  wounded.  Those 
who  enlisted  in  the  102d  reg.  111.  Vol.  Inf.  were :  J.  G.  Merritt  (who 
entered  company  K  as  a  private  and  was  promoted  to  captain,  and 
was  wounded  at  Averysborough,  I*^orth  Carolina),  Madison  Reth- 
erford,  Jacob  A.  Reed,  Tliomas  Beverlin,  James  A.  Barlett,  William 
Carr,  Ezra  Fuller,  H.  J.  Frazier,  Josiali  Spicher,  James  R.  Wood, 
Abram  Fuller  (died  of  disease  Februar}-  8,  1862),  James  Collier  (died 
of  disease  December  4,  1862),  George  Barlett  (died  May  18,  1864,  of 
wounds  received  at  Resaca),  ISToah  Spicher  (died  of  disease  October  17, 
1863),  Otis  Albee  (discharged  on  account  of  wounds),  Peter  O.  Pierce 
(died  May  IT,  1864),  M.  Biverlin,  John  H.  Murfin,  Franklin  Ferguson, 
Daniel  KnajDp,  Walter  Smithers,  Henry  Smithers,  Harvey  J.  Fisher 
(wounded  at  Averysborough,  North  Carolina),  J.  F.  Essly  (enlisted  in 
company  outside  of  the  county),  H.  C.  Esley,  W.  D.  Maladay  (who  was 
killed  at  Stone  River),  and  Yan  A.  Noble  (wounded  at  Qiickamauga). 

BURIAL  PLACES. 

There  are  several .  burial  places  in  the  township,  the  most  noted  of 
which  are  Eliza  and  Leech's.  Eliza  cemetery  is  situated  just  east  of 
Mr.  D.  F,  Noble's  house,  on  top  of  the  bluft',  on  a  beautiful  site  over- 
looking the  Mississippi.  More  than  a  hundred  have  been  buried  here. 
The  first  person  buried  in  this  cemetery  was  Miss  Elizabeth  Pratt,  who 
was  also  the  first  person  to  die  in  the  township.  Leech's  cemetery  is 
located  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  township,  just  south  of  William 
Leech's  house,  and  contains  some  fifty  graves.  There  is  also  a  burial 
place  on  the  old  Miller  farm,  and  one  at  John  Glancy's. 

The  first  child  born  in  the  township  was  Mrs.  John  Shaunce. 

TIMBER. 
At  the  time  of  the  first  settlement  of  the  township,  old  timber,  such 
as  the  various  oaks  and  hickory,  ash  and  elm,  was  found  in  abundance 
on  the  upper  lands  along  the  edge  and  on  top  of  the  bluffs  and  in  the 


ELIZA   TOWNSHIP.  283 

bottoms  near  the  lakes,  but  young  timber  could  not  be  found,  having 
been  destroyed  by  prairie  tires  started  by  the  Indians  to  drive  out  the 
deer  and  other  game  to  points  where  they  could  the  more  easily  cap- 
ture them.  Noticing  the  destruction  of  the  young  timber  by  these 
fires,  man}-  of  the  settlers  began  plowing  around  the  edges  of  the 
timber  to  protect  it,  which  had  the  desired  eft'ect,  and  in  a  few  years 
young  saplings  sprang  up,  and  where  once  only  large  trees  could  be 
seen  the  ground  is  now  thickly  dotted  with  a  fine  new  growth  of  oaks 
and  hickory  large  enough  to  convert  into  rails.  Many  of  the  large 
oaks  now  standing  were  here  when  the  early  settlers  first  came.  On 
the  land  of  Harrison  Bishop,  a  large  white  oak  is  standing,  as  straight 
as  an  arrow,  three  feet  through  at  the  base,  and  sixty  feet  to  the  first 
limb.  Another,  the  largest  tree  in  the  county,  is  standing  in  the  door- 
yard  of  J.  Y.  Merritt.  It  is  an  elm  measuring  37|-  feet  in  circum- 
ference at  the  ground,  and  34  feet  three  feet  from  the  ground.  It  is 
108  feet  high  and  has  a  spread  of  top  of  lOI:  feet.  Much  notice  has 
been  taken  of  this  tree  by  the  press  throughout  the  country,  and  having 
several  times  been  measured  by  competent  surveyors  is  pronounced 
the  largest  in  the  county.  It  is  said  that  Black  Hawk  used  to  hold 
council  under  the  shade  of  its  branches. 

LAKES. 

In  the  bottom  lands  west  of  the  bluft'  and  near  the  Mississippi 
river  is  nestled  numerous  small  lakes,  all  linked  together  by  a  chain  of 
tributaries  extending  from  one  to  another  from  north  to  south,  the 
currents  in  these  outlets  being  strong  in  places.  The  lakes  are  all  fed 
by  the  under  drainage  of  the  river  and  from  numerous  springs  along 
the  summit  of  the  blufis,  in  consequence  of  which  the  water  is  fresh 
and  clear.  In  many  places  the  lakes  are  shaded  by  large  trees,  and 
the  sun's  silvery  rays  shining  through  the  tree-tops  on  the  face  of  the 
water  gives  it  a  picturesque  beauty.  Fish  and  wnld  game  are  plentiful, 
and  the  angler  and  hunter  find  enough  to  occupy  them  pleasantly  for  a 
short  stay.  Late  in  the  summer  season  these  lakes  become  thickly 
matted  along  the  edges  with  a  tall  green  moss  growing  from  the  bottom 
to  the  surface  of  the  water.  At  the  time  of  the  first  settlement  here, 
these  lakes,  with  the  exception  of  Glancy  lake,  were  much  wider  and 
deeper  than  at  the  present  time,  owing  to  the  accumulation  of  decayed 
vegetation  and  continual  washing  from  the  blutt'.  Glancy,  however, 
still  maintains  its  usual  depth,  owing  to  a  swift  current  passing  through 
it  from  the  river  in  seasons  of  high  water.  At  the  present  time  the 
deptli  of  Glancy  lake  is  from  twenty  to  twenty -five  feet  in  places ; 
Eliza,  three  to  five ;  Swan,  four  to  six.  All  along  these  lakes  was 
the  favorite  hunting  ground  of  the  Indiiins. 


284  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  first  school-lioiise  in  the  township  was  built  on  top  of  the 
bluff,  a  short  distance  from  where  D.  F.  JSToble  now  lives.  The  house 
was  built  of  logs,  and  the  first  'school  tauglit  in  it  was  presided  over 
bv  Miss  Mary  Ann  Delabar,  and  afterward  by  Miss  Emily  Cawkins. 
The  school  was  kept  up  for  many  years  by  subscription,  until  the 
legislature  passed  a  law  authorizing  such  townships  as  desired  to  levy 
a  tax  for  the  maintenance  of  schools,  soon  after  which  a  meeting  was 
called  to  discuss  the  merits  and  demerits  of  changing  to  that  system. 
It  being  determined  at  that  meeting  to  accept  the  provisions  of  that 
act,  the  schools  have  thus  been  kept  up  ever  since.  Before  the 
change  was  made  the  township  had  but  one  district,  which  was  com- 
posed of  what  is  known  now  as  districts  1,  2,  and  3,  since  which  the 
town  has  been  divided  into  six  school  districts,  as  follows :  Center, 
No.  1 ;  Borutf,  No.  2 ;  Glancy,  No.  3 ;  White  Eagle,  No.  4 ;  Eliza 
Creek,  No.  5 ;  Winter  Creek,  No.  6.  The  following,  as  shown  by 
Mr.  A,  B.  Swisher,  present  school  treasurer,  are  the  amounts  received 
and  disbursed  by  him  for  school  purposes  for  the  year  1880  : 

Amount  levied  for  1881 $1,600  00 

State  funds  received 364  62 

Interest  received  from  town  fund 161  65 

12,126  27 
RELIGIOUS  MEETINGS. 

Many  of  the  early  settlers  here  were  church  members,  and  re- 
ligious meetings  date  from  1836.  At  the  request  of  Mr.  Daniel 
Noble,  the  first- was  held  at  his  son's  (D.  F.  Noble)  house  which,  at 
the  time,  was  the  largest  house  in  the  neighborhood ;  and  afterward 
at  David  Shaunce's  and  other  places  in  the  township,  until  the  first  log 
cabin  was  built  on  the  bluff',  which  was  then  used  for  all  meetings, 
public  and  religious.  The  Methodists  were  the  most  numerous  at  that 
time,  but  the  meetings  were  of  a  union  character,  and  were  partici- 
pated in  by  members  of  all  other  religious  sects.  The  Methodists 
afterward  became  a  regular  organized  body  here,  which  has  since  been 
broken  up  owing  to  many  of  its  members  having  joined  churches 
located  elsewhere  outside  of  the  township.  They,  however,  as  well  as 
the  Baptists  and  Christians,  still  continue  to  hold  meetings  at  the 
several  school-houses  in  various  parts  of  the  town.  Neither  denomina- 
tion being  sti-ong  enough  to  support  a  regular  minister,  the  services 
are  conducted  by  transient  preachers.  Asa  McMerter  and  Samuel 
Pinkly  were  the  first  preachers,  who  were  at  that  time  termed  ex- 
horters.     Soon  after  the  first  log  cabin  on  the  bluff'  was  built,  a  regular 


"^-^-?^-' 


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1  i>&  ^- 


-<"; 


MARTIN       BEAR 


ELIZA   TOWNSHIP.  28Y 

camp-meeting  ground  was  established  near  the  site  of  it,  where  the 
people  of  the  whole  neighborhood  congregated  to  worship  and  talk  to 
familiar  friends  and  acquaintances. 

In  1842  a  kiln  of  brick  was  burned  in  the  township,  on  the  premises 
of  Samuel  Strauss,  from  which  several  houses  in  the  neighborhood  were 
built  the  same  season. 

Eliza  township  has  never  yet  sent  a  man  to  state  prison  for  crime. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Martin  Bear,  a  retired  farmer,  now  residing  in  Aledo,  was  born  in 
ISTortljumberland  county,  Catawissa  township,  Pennsylvania,  April  6, 
1808,  and  moved  with  his  father  at  an  early  date,  to  Pickaway  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  was  raised  and  educated  at  a  common  school,  and 
resided  till  his  marriage  with  Miss  Catherine  Dodson,  September  8,* 
1831.  In  the  same  month  they  were  married  they  emigrated  to  Cov- 
ington, Fountain  county,  Indiana,  and  after  a  residence  of  four  years 
there  they  came  to  Mercer  county  in  1836,  arriving  May  lOtli  and 
settling  near  Eliza  creek,  in  what  is  now  Eliza  township.  Jacob  Bear, 
his  brother,  then  a  single  man,  accompanied  and  settled  near  him.  In 
1835  Mr.  Bear  first  came  out  to  look  at  some  land,  and  traveled 
pretty  much  all  over  northern  and  central  Illinois,  and  bought  a  claim 
I'rom  Thomas  Morgan.  In  1836  he  went  to  Galena  and  entered  the 
tract,  with  some  other  pieces  to  which  he  had  obtained  the  choice 
immber.  When  Mr.  Bear  came  out  here  in  1835,  somewhere  about 
the  head  of  the  Edwards  river,  night  overtook  him,  and  the  darkness 
was  not  relieved  by  moon  or  stars.  No  house  could  be  seen,  so  without 
anything  to  eat,  he  slipped  the  reins  over  his  horse's  head  and  sat 
down  in  the  tall  grass  to  hold  his  horse  while  he  was  grazing.  He  fell 
asleep,  and  in  the  morning  when  he  awoke  found  that  his  horse  had 
gotten  away  from  him.  After  finding  his  horse  he  journeyed  on  and 
the  following  night  reached  Major  Lloyd's  at  Camp  creek  a  little  below 
Millersburg.  That  was  the  only  house  around.  Mr.  Bear  felt  at  home 
here.  The  major  was  bragging  about  the  fat  of  the  land,  which  the 
good  housewife  illustrated  with  a  very  fat  coon  for  supper,  the  first  Mr. 
Bear  had  ever  tasted.  Li  early  times  Mr.  Bear  used  to  go  to  Spoon  river 
to  get  his  milling  done,  and  to  Knoxville  to  get  his  plows  sharpened  and 
general  smithing  done.  When  Mr.  Bear  first  came  here  he  found  the 
following  persons  living  in  the  neighborhood  :  Isaac  Dawson,  Esq., 
John  Drury,  Daniel  Noble,  D.  F.  Noble,  Aaron  Mannon,  Elisha 
Essley,  John  Shaunce,  Isaac  Drury,  William  Fisher,  Jesse  L.  Adams, 
all  from  Indiana;  David  Shaunce,  from  Carolina;  Abijah  Wilson, 
from  Connecticut;  John  Shaunce  and  Thomas  Morgan,  from  Oliio; 
17 


288  HISTORY   OF   MERCEK   AKD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Martin  Fisher  (father  of  William  Fisher),  Jacob  Bear  and  John  Pratt, 
all  from  Indiana,  in  1836.  Thomas  Miller  came  about  1837;  ATilliam 
Retherford,  in  1840 ;  James  Larue,  about  181:2 ;  J.  J.  Huston  arrived 
about  181:7;  Edwin  Bishop,  in  1850;  William  Irvin,  about  1849. 
A.  B.  Chilas,  still  residing  in  the  township,  settled  here  June,  1838,  at 
which  time  there  were  residing  in  the  northern  part  of  the  township, 
John  Glancey,  AVilliam  and  John  Fisher,  Valentine  BoruiF  (and  his 
sons,  Feltv  and  John),  Miles  Bovd,  and  Martin  Bear.  In  the  northern 
part  of  the  township  was  Daniel  Strauss,  who  fell  from  a  tree  while  gath- 
ering hickory-nuts,  and  was  partly  devoured  bv  hogs  before  found. 
John  Shaunce  lived  near  Boruif 's.  Mr.  Chilas  was  a  blacksmith,  and 
worked  at  his  trade  there ;  was  a  smith  in  IN'ew  Boston ;  he  sharpened 
^  plows  and  shod  horses  for  twenty  miles  around. 

Francis  Lambert  was  born  in  the  southern  part  of  Ireland,  in  1816, 
and  moved  to  America  with  his  father's  family  in  1840,  landing  first 
at  St.  Johns,  Xew  Bruns\\ack,  where  he  resided  for  two  years,  and  then 
went  to  New  York,  in  which  city  he  resided  for  ten  years.  Being  of  a 
roving  disposition,  he  next  went  to  Pennsylvania,  where  he  staid  one 
year ;  then  went  to  Tazewell  county,  Illinois,  where  after  a  short  stay 
he  started  back  to  New  York,  but  changed  his  mind  when  arriving  at 
St.  Louis,  and  started  north  for  Galena,  at  which  place  he  resided  ten 
months.  He  then  came  to  Eock  Island,  and  from  tliere  to  Buffalo,  Iowa, 
and  from  there  to  Eliza,  settling  on  section  10,  where  he  made  a  farm 
and  now  resides.  He  was  married  in  Iowa  in  1844  to  Miss  Nancy 
Moore,  who  was  a  native  of  Ohio.  Mr.  Lambert  was  educated  in  this 
country,  and  has  followed  farming  as  an  occupation.  He  began  life 
poor,  but  by  industry  and  close  attention  to  business  has  attained  an 
easier  position  in  life.     In  politics  Mr.  Lambert  is  a  democrat. 

George  Moore,  of  New  Boston  township,  was  born  in  Pickaway 
county,  Ohio,  October  5,  1807.  He  moved  with  his  parents  while 
young,  from  that  state  to  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  in  1814,  where  he 
was  educated  at  a  common  school  and  afterward  worked  at  the  car- 
penter and  wheelwi-ight  trades  until  his  marriage,  when  he  moved  to 
Mercer  county,  settling  in  Eliza,  near  where  D.  F.  Noble  now  lives. 
Since  his  residence  in  the  county  he  has  followed  farming.  In  April, 
1852,  Mr.  Moore  crossed  the  plains  to  Oregon,  and  was  five  months 
making  the  journey,  in  company  with  other  parties.  They  stopped 
first  at  Yam  Hill  county,  Oregon,  and  went  from  there  to  the  southern 
part,  where  they  stayed  until  February  20,  then  went  back  to  Yam 
Hill  county,  where  they  stayed  until  October  7,  and  then  started  for 
home.  Lea\'ing  Port  Louis,  Oregon,  on  board  a  steamer  they  went  by 
way  of  San^Francisco  and  the  Isthmus  of  Darien  to  New  York,  then 


ELIZA   TOAVKSIIIP.  289 

up  the  Hudson  to  Buffalo,  and  from  thence  to  Cliicago,  reachinfy  home 
December  8,  1853.  George  Moore's  great-grandfjither  was  born  on 
December  19,  1732.  His  grandmother  was  born  February  24,  1766. 
Mrs.  George  Moore,  wife  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in 
Ohio  September  27,  1813.  They  have  seven  children,  one  of  whom, 
Leslie  G.,  died  a  soldier,  at  St.  Louis,  January  l-i,  1862.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  2d  Iowa  cavalry.  Sarah  Jane,  Helen  L.,  Araminta  E., 
Cara,  Eobert  G,  are  living.  Ella  Clarissa  is  deceased.  In  religion 
Mr.  Moore  is  a  LTniversalist,  and  in  politics  a  republican. 

Edwin  Bishop  was  born  in  New  Jersey  October  29,  1815,  and 
moved  with  his  parents  to  this  state  November  13,  1850.  They  made 
the  journey  through  by  canal  and  steamboat  up  the  Mississippi  river, 
landing  first  at  Muscatine,  Iowa,  where  he  stayed  until  December  2, 
1850,  when  he  settled  in  Eliza.  He  received  a  common  school  educa- 
tion in  the  former  state,  and  learned  the  blacksmith  trade,  which  he 
has  followed  during  his  residence  in  Eliza.  He  was  married  in  Penn- 
sylvania August  31,  1837,  to  Miss  Sallie  Meeker,  who  was  born  in 
Crawford  county,  that  state,  in  1819.  Mr.  Bishop's  father  was  an 
American  and  his  mother  Scotch.  They  left  New  Jersey  in  January, 
1816,  and  moved  to  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Bishop  has  from  time  to  time 
filled  all  the  various  offices  in  this  town,  and  has  served  as  justice  of 
the  peace  for  twenty-four  years,  and  is  at  present  postmaster.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  His  family  of  children 
consists  of  Delilah,  Isaiah,  Harrison,  Barbara  A.,  Le\'i  A.,  and  Sarah 
(deceased). 

Silas  Drury  was  born  in  Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  in  1808,  and 
moved  with  his  parents  to  "Wayne  county,  Indiana,  in  1811,  and  from 
Wavne  countv  to  Morgan  countv  in  1820,  where  he  received  a  common 
school  education  and  was  brought  up  to  farming.  His  father  was 
English  and  his  mother  Welch.  His  grandfather  was  also  English, 
and  was  born  in  London  (Drury  Lane,  which  bears  the  name  of 
the  family),  where  he  was  educated  for  a  lawyer.  After  this  he 
turned  Quaker  and  moved  to  America,  settling  in  Baltimore,  Mary- 
land, where  he  followed  legal  writing  as  a  profession.  Silas  Drury, 
the  subject  of  the  sketch,  came  fi'om  Indiana  to  Mercer  county  in  the 
spring  of  1834,  just  after  serving  as  a  soldier  in  the  Black  Hawk  war, 
which  service  he  entered  in  1832.  He  first  settled  in  Eliza  township, 
and  was  the  first  sheriff  elected  in  the  county,  April  6,  1836,  after 
which  he  moved  to  Rock  Island  county,  Illinois,  where  he  now  resides. 
He  has,  since  his  residence  in  that  county,  held  the  office  of  justice  of 
the  peace,  assessor,  and  several  minor  offices,  for  twenty-six  consecu- 
tive years.     Mr.  Drury  is  a  member  of  the  masonic  fraternity,  and  a 


290  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

member  of  tlie  Illinois  City  Lodge ;  also  a  member  of  the  Old  Settlers' 
Association,  of  Eock  Island  county.  In  politics  lie  is  a  national. 
His  business  is  farming  and  trading  along  the  river.  He  was  married 
in  Eock  Island  county  in  18-13  to  Miss  Malinda  Bentley,  by  wliicb 
marriage  tliey  had  four  children  :  Silas,  Sarah,  Oscar,  and  Byron. 

J,  y.  Meritt,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Wayne 
county,  Indiana,  January  5,  1828,  and  is  the  third  child  of  a  family 
of  eight,  all  of  whom  are  living  except  Aaron  J.,  who  died  a  soldier 
at  Bardstown,  Kentucky.  He  was  a  member  of  the  36th  reg.  111.  Yol. 
Inf.  Moses,  a  merchant,  resides  in  Appanoose  county,  Iowa.  Eliza, 
wife  of  A.  C.  Eeynolds,  whose  husband  is  a  farmer,  also  resides  in 
that  county.  Mary,  wife  of  Samuel  Spangler,  a  farmer,  resides  in 
Whitesides  county,  Illinois,  near  Port  Byron.  Sarah  Free  also  lives  in 
that  county.  Mary  M.  Ivirlin  lives  in  Mercer  county,  Illinois.  John, 
a  farmer,  lives  in  Wayne  county,  Indiana.  J.  Y.  Meritt's  mother's 
maiden  name  was  Margaret  Trindall,  and  of  Scotch-Irish  descent ;  was 
raised  in  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania.  His  father,  E.  J.  Meritt, 
was  born  and  raised  in  Belmont  county,  Ohio,  and  served  as  a  soldier 
in  the  war  of  1812.  J.  Y.  Meritt  received  a  common  school  education 
in  Indiana,  and  was  there  raised  to  farming.  He  came  to  Mercer 
county,  Illinois,  in  1848,  and  for  the  first  few  years  worked  at  the 
carpenters'  trade,  which  he  picked  up  after  coming  to  the  state.  He 
bought  the  land  where  he  now  resides  in  1856,  and  on  December  25 
of  that  year  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Prine,  and  in  1858  moved 
upon  the  place.  His  residence  is  marked  by  a  large  elm  tree,  the 
largest  tree  in  Mercer  county.  J.  Y.  Meritt  enlisted  in  the  three 
}'ears'  service  in  the  late  war  in  1862,  as  a  private  in  company  K., 
102d  111.  Yol.  Inf ,  and  was  afterward  promoted  to  the  captaincy  of 
the  company,  and  participated  in  all  the  battles  in  which  his  regiment 
was  engaged.  He  was  wounded  at  Averysborough,  North  Carolina,  in 
March  1865.  Unlike  many  who  enlisted  at  that  time,  he  served  until 
the  close  of  the  war,  in  1865,  when  he  was  mustered  out  of  service 
after  participating  in  the  grand  review  at  Washington,  D.C.  In 
politics  Capt.  'Meritt  is  a  republican. 

D.  F.  Noble  was  born  in  Fayette  county,  Indiana,  February 
9,  1813,  and  is  the  son  of  Daniel  and  Sarah  Noble.  His  father 
is  Scotch-English,  and  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  August  22,  1787 ; 
his  mother  is  German,  and  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  January  20, 
1788.  His  father  left  North  Carolina  with  his  parents  at  the  age 
of  six  years,  and  went  to  Tennessee,  where  he  remained  until  he  was 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  at  which  time  he  moved  to  Ohio,  where  he 
was  married  in  1810  to  Miss  Barbara  Fruit,  soon  after  which  he  went 


ELIZA   TOWNSHIP.  291 

to  Indiana,  where  lie  resided  until  1836  ;  lie  then  moved  to  Mercer 
eoimtj,  Illinois.  He  was  drafted  for  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  but 
did  not  serve,  owing  to  the  termination  of  the  war  soon  after  his 
enrollment.  His  father  was  a  soldier  in  the  revolutionary  war.  On 
coming  to  this  county  Daniel  ]Sroble  first  settled  in  Eliza  township, 
where  he  remained  until  the  time  of  his  death  in  1880,  his  wife  having 
j^receded  him  in  1875.  They  were  buried  side  by  side  in  Eliza  ceme- 
tery, which  jAacG  is  marked  by  an  appropriate  monument.  They  had 
lived  together  sixty-five  years.  D.  F.  Noble,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  is  widely  and  favorably  known,  having  from  time  to  time 
served  in  all  the  various  offices  in  this  tow^nship.  Soon  after  township 
organization  he  was  elected  supervisor  of  his  town,  which  office  he 
held  for  several  years  in  succession  ;  he  also  served  as  justice  of  the 
peace,  and  was  postmaster  for  twenty  consecutive  years  when  the 
salary  of  the  office  amounted  to  one  dollar  per  year.  After  serving  in 
that  office  for  twenty  years  he  received  his  twenty  years'  salary, 
amounting  to  $20  and  a  few  cents.  During  the  late  war  of  the  re- 
bellion he  was  appointed  enrolling  officer  for  Eliza  and  Millersburg 
townships.  He  has  also  served  as  school  director  for  thirty-six  con- 
secutive years.  Mr.  JSToble  received  a  common  school  education  in 
Indiana,  and  moved  with  his  parents  to  Eliza  in  1836,  since  which  he 
has  been  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising.  He  was  married  in 
Union  county,  Indiana,  January  26,  1836,  to  Miss  Sarah  Pratt,  who 
died  in  1881  and  was  buried  in  Eliza  cemetery.  Eight  cliildren  have 
been  born  to  them,  six  of  whom  are  living.  Miss  Avarilla  married 
Elislia  L.  Essley,  to  whom  four  cliildren  were  born ;  Essley  having 
died,  Mrs.  Essley  married  Michael  Shannahan.  Ira  Noble  married 
Miss  Caroline  Reed,  who  also  died.  The  result  of  that  marriage  was 
ten  children,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  Ira  lives  just  a  mile  north 
of  his  fatlier's  place.  David  Noble  married  Eliza  Hampton,  of  Eock 
Island  county,  and  they  had  five  children,  one  of  whom  died  while 
young.  Miss  Barbara  E.  lives  with  her  father  on  the  home  place. 
J.  F.  Noble  also  lives  at  home.  Edward  H.  was  married  to  Miss 
C,  A.  Bean  in  1881,  and  lives  with  his  father  and  farms  the  place. 

William  Shields  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  January  9, 
1819.  He  there  received  a  common  school  education,  and  was  also 
raised  to  farming.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Westmoreland  county, 
Virginia ;  and  his  mother,  of  Kentucky.  They  moved  to  Hamilton 
county,  Ohio,  where  they  were  married.  William  Shields  came  to 
Mercer  county  in  the  spring  of  1840,  and  first  settled  in  New  Boston 
township,  after  which  he  moved  to  Eliza  and  settled  on  section  33, 
which  land  was  then  owned  by  Abijali  Wilson,  whose  daughter  Lucy 


292  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

lie  married  April  12,  1849.  His  iatlier  and  mother  following  in  the 
same  fall,  settled  in  New  Boston  township,  in  sight  of  their  son's  resi- 
dence. William  Shields  has  long  been  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  and  also  a  Mason  for  thirty-two  years ;  he  is  a  mem- 
ber of  New  Boston  Lodge,  No.  59.  Out  of  a  family  of  eight  children 
only  three  are  li\dng:  Mariali  Willits,  Ira,  and  Jo.  The  two  last 
named  are  living  with  their  parents. 

John  Glancey,  a  farmer  and  stock  raiser,  was  born  in  York  county, 
Penns^dvania,  January  11,  1800.  He  moved  with  his  brother  fi-om 
that  state  to  Indiana  in  1820,  where  he  received  a  common  school 
education,  and  for  a  while  after  followed  wool  carding  and  cloth 
dressing.  Joseph  Glancey,  his  father,  was  Irish ;  and  his  mother, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Maitli  "Willits,  was  English  and  the  second 
wife,  his  father  having  been  twice  married.  Mr.  Glancey  was  the  sixth 
child  of  that  family.  His  father's  third  wife  was  Lura  Chambers. 
Mrs.  John  Glancey's  father's  name  was  Robert  Moore,  Scotch-Irish ; 
his  mother's  maiden  name  was  Deborah  Willitts,  of  English  descent, 
and  having  formerly  lived  in  York  county,  Pennsylvania,  moved  from 
that  state  to  Ohio,  and  then  to  Indiana  in  1812.  Mrs.  Glancey's  father 
was  married  twice,  and  Mrs.  Glancey  is  the  seventh  child  of  the  second 
family.  John  Glancey,  the  subject  of  the  sketch,  came  to  Illinois  and 
settled  in  Eliza  in  1837,  and  still  resides  where  he  first  settled.  Mr. 
Glancey's  name  has  been  familiar  to  the  public  for  many  years.  The 
most  striking  points  in  his  character  are  his  disposition  to  help  others 
in  their  life  struggles ;  his  generosity ;  his  animated  and  kind  nature ; 
his  earnestness  in  his  neighbors'  success ;  and  these  have  made  for  him 
friends  everywhere,  and  he  lives  to  see  his  bright  dreams  realized  at 
the  golden  age  of  eightj-two.  Mr.  Glancey  was  elected  first  super- 
visor of  his  township ;  he  was  also  one  of  the  first  county  commis- 
sioners. 

John  Mason  was  born  in  Switzerland,  December  8,  1812.  Casper 
Mason,  his  father,  was  born  in  the  same  parish  in  1Y87,  as  was  also  his 
grandfather,  Casper,  July  11,  1762.  Jacob  John  Mason,  son  of  Casper, 
was  born  in  the  same  parish,  October  28,  1722.  Susana,  wife  of  John 
Mason,  was  also  born  in  the  same  parish.  May  3,  1816.  They  were 
married  January  10,  1834,  by  which  marriage  they  had  eight  children  : 
Jacob,  Henry,  Albert,  August,  Jacob  John,  and  John.  Two  not 
named  died  in  infancy.  John  Mason  received  a  high  school  educa- 
tion in  the  parish,  which  school  was  controlled  by  the  family.  He  also 
served  as  a  soldier  in  the  Zurich  war  before  coming  to  this  country. 
He  left  his  native  country  for  America  June  20,  1847,  and  arrived  at 
New  York  city  July  21.     After  his  arrival  in  this  country  he  S]>ent 


ELIZA   TOWNSHIP.  293 

several  years  traveling  from  place  to  place,  finally  settling  in  Berks 
county,  Pennsylvania,  where  be  remained  six  years,  from  wliich  place 
he  moved  to  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  where  he  stayed  ten  months. 
He  then  came  to  Illinois,  settling  on  the  Essley  place.  After  a  resi- 
dence of  five  years  he  moved  where  he  now  resides.  Like  many 
others  of  the  first  settlers,  Mr.  Mason's  circumstances  in  life  were 
exceedingly  limited,  but  by  industry  and  economy  in  his  business  he 
has  managed  to  acquire  a  good  farm,  with  plenty  around  him. 

Thomas  Be^-erlin  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  November 
10,  18i3.  His  father  was  born  in  Hamilton  county,  Indiana,  and  his 
mother  in  Virginia.  They  were  married  in  Indiana,  and  moved  to 
this  state  in  1816.  Thomas  Beverlin  received  a  common  school  educa- 
tion in  this  state,  having  come  Vvdth  his  parents  while  young.  His 
occupation  is  that  of  farming.  He  enlisted  in  the  three  years'  service 
in  the  late  war  in  1862,  in  company  K,  102d  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  commanded 
by  Capt.  J.  Y.  Meritt,  and  after  serving  for  nearly  three  years  was 
mustered  out  of  the  service  in  1865,  having  been  engaged  in  all  the 
battles  with  his  regiment.  On  arriving  in  Illinois  Mr.  Beverlin's 
father  first  settled  in  Rock  Island  countv  and  afterward  in  Eliza,  Mercer 
county,  on  the  place  where  Henry  Brockett  now  lives,  at  which  place 
he  died  August  8,  1878.  His  family  consisted  of  eight  children,  of 
whom  only  two  are  now  li\ang.  Thomas  Beverlin  was  married  July 
16,  1866,  to  Miss  Mary  L.  Denison.  Four  children  born  to  them  are 
all  living:  Cmaranda,  Fannie  E.,  Estel,  and  Carrie.  Mr.  Beverlin  is  a 
member  of  the  republican  pa^ty,  and  also  a  member  of  the  Masonic 
fraternity,  Illinois  City  Lodge,  Rock  Island  county. 

August  Scheader,  a  native  of  Germany,  was  born  in  King  county, 
Hanover,  December  27,  1830.  He  was  educated  at  a  common  school, 
and  afterward  learned  the  wheelwright  trade,  which  he  followed  until 
he  came  ^vith  his  parents  to  America.  The  family  first  landed  in  New 
Orleans,  where  they  remained  a  short  time,  and  then  moved  to  Mercer 
county,  settling  at  ISTew  Boston,  where  August?  followed  his  trade  for  a 
while.  After  a  residence  of  twelve  years  at  New  Boston  he  moved  to 
Eliza,  settling  on  the  old  Martin  A.  Cook  farm,  which  he  improved  and 
still  resides  upon.  Mr.  Schrader  was  married  in  New  Boston  in  1851. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  also  of  the 
masonic  lodge  of  that  city.     In  politics  he  is  a  republican. 

Jacob  Bear  was  born  in  Pickawav  countv,  Ohio,  November  29, 
1812.  Peter  Bear,  his  father,  was  a  German,  a  native  of  Hamburg, 
who  on  first  coming  to  America  settled  in  Pennsylvania,  after  which  he 
moved  to  Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  about  the  year  1811.  Catharine,  his 
mother,  was  a  native  of  Pennsvlvania  also.     Jacob  Bear  is  the  third 


29-J:  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   A^il)   HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

child  of  a  fiimilj  of  eight,  six  of  whom  are  still  living.  He  came  to 
3Iercer  coimty  in  company  -w^tli  his  brother  Martin  in  1836,  and 
immediately  began  improving  a  farm,  upon  which  he  broke  ten  acres 
the  first  year.  He  was  married  in  1844  to  Miss  Jemima  Carson,  of 
Morgan  county,  Ohio.  His  family  are  Clinton,  Carlton,  and  Eolland. 
Clinton  is  at  home.  Carlton  is  at  present  absent  from  home.  Eolland 
is  deceased.  Mr.  Bear  received  a  common  school  education  in  Indiana 
and  was  brought  up  to  farming.  He  is  now  engaged  in  farming  and 
stock  raising. 

John  Humphries  Leech  was  born  April  8,  1811,  in  Monroe  coimty, 
now  West  Virginia.  His  parents  were  Chichester  and  Margaret 
Leech.  His  mother's  maiden  nailie  was  Humphries.  Chichester 
Leech  was  born  in  Culpepper,  Yirginia.  His  parents  were  Andrew 
and  Elizabeth  Leech.  Chichester  Leech  was  of  English  origin,  his 
grandparents  being  among  the  first  early  settlers  of  America.  Losing 
his  father  very  young,  his  mother  married  one  Burns  and  moved  west 
to  Monroe  county.  He  had  two  uncles  in  the  revolution,  George  and 
Valentine  Leech,  who  entered  that  service  at  the  age  of  sixteen  and 
eighteen.  They  went  to  Georgia  and  were  never  after  heard  of. 
Margaret  Humphries  was  the  daughter  of  John  and  Catharine  Hum- 
phries, whose  name  before  marriage  was  Dickison.  Her  parents 
were  from  L-eland,  but  raised  in  America,  near  the  Cow  Pasture 
river  in  Virginia.  John  Humphries  was  raised  in  Ireland,  near 
Dublin.  His  mother  was  the  only  daughter  of  Sir  Toby  Butler,  lord 
mayor  of  Dublin.  Young  Humphries  first  landed  in  Pennsylvania, 
and  from  thence  went  to  Virginia,  where  he  became  acquainted  with 
and  married  Catharine  Dickison,  after  which  he  moved  to  West 
Virginia.  He  there  laid  a  warrant  on  1,0(»0  acres  of  land,  had  the 
same  surveyed  and  recorded  at  Richmond.  He  there  made  his  home, 
and  raised  a  familv  of  ten  children,  six  bovs  and  four  2:irls,  namelv : 
John,  James,  William,  Samuel,  Richard,  Robert,  Elizabeth,  Isabel, 
Margaret,  and  Martha.  John  was  a  miller  by  trade,  Robert  a  shoe- 
maker; the  rest  were  all  farmers.  Samuel  and  Robert  were  in  the 
war  of  1812.  Robert  was  present  at  the  surrender  of  Hull  in  Canada. 
After  the  war  he  moved  to  Calloway  county  in  1818.  Richard,  follow- 
ing in  1820,  settled  in  the  same  county  where,  after  a  short  time,  they 
were  followed  by  their  grandparents,  accompanied  by  Isabel  Carlton 
and  husband,  the  rest  of  the  family  remaining  in  Virginia,  where  they 
died.  William  was  elected  hio-h  sherift'  of  the  countv  where  he  was 
raised.  Richard  was  elected  county  judge  in  Missouri,  and  was  also 
there  elected  to  the  legislature  of  that  state.  In  1832  Chichester  Leech 
and  a  family  of  nine  children,  all  single  but  Samuel,  started  for  Madi- 


ELIZA   TOWNSHIP.  295 

son  county,  Indiana,  on  which  journey  they  lost  one  of  the  family. 
On  the  fourth  morning  of  their  journey  they  met  thirty-five  droves  of 
hogs  being  driven  from  Kentucky  to  the  markets  of  Philadelphia, 
Baltimore,  and  Richmond.  The  journey  was  an  exceedingly  liazardous 
one,  it  having  rained  almost  incessantly  and  the  muddy  roads  were 
almost  impassable.  On  the  first  day  of  December  the  party  arrived  at 
Henry  Warner's,  in  Wayne  county,  where  they  went  into  a  log  cabin 
for  the  winter.  Here  they  found  times  good;  wheat  50  cents  per 
bushel;  corn,  37^-;  pork,  §3  per  hundred;  day's  wages,  37^  cents; 
rail-making,  37|-  cents  per  hundred.  When  the  spring  opened  up  the 
party  started  for  Madison  county,  forty  miles  distant,  which  place  they 
reached  in  a  week's  travel.  J.  IT.  Leech  at  this  time  was  twenty-two 
years  old,  and  he  concluded  to  begin  life  for  himself,  and  accordingly 
apprenticed  himself  to  C.  T.  Hoover,  a  cabinet  maker  of  Pendleton. 
At  this  place  in  1842  malarial  fever  was  prevalent  and  the  family 
suffered  terriblv  from  its  ravao;es,  their  father  fallino;  a  victim  to  the 
malady  in  the  spring  of  1835.  The  family  still  stayed  at  Madison, 
where  they  experienced  the  financial  crash  of  1837.  This  caused  a 
reverse  in  the  familv  affairs,  endins:  in  e-reat  financial  difficultv  to 
them.  At  this  time  J.  II.  Leech  went  into  partnership  with  Samuel 
Dale,  his  old  employer,  bought  his  uncle's  interest,  and  they  carried  on 
the  business  until  1839,  when  Leech  entered  the  carpenter  trade  with 
Isaac  Williams.  In  the  fall  of  that  year,  money  being  scarce,  they 
wound  up  that  business,  and  from  that  time  till  1842  they  were  en- 
gaged in  fixing  up  their  business  preparatory  to  moving  farther  west, 
and  in  that  fall  they  came  to  Illinois,  first  landing  in  Mercer  county 
near  where  J.  Y.  Merritt  now  lives,  on  section  31.  In  the  early  part 
of  1839  Mr.  Leech  was  married  to  Elener  P.  Sibley,  by  which  mar- 
riage they  have  had  eight  children,  as  follows:  James  W.,  Marianna 
H.,  Leander  M.  (who  was  a  member  of  the  9th  Iowa  cavalry), 
Corydon,  Adolphus  M.,  Sarah  E.,  Virginia  C.  and  Mary  B. 

The  Leeches  are  widely  and  favorably  known  throughout  *  Mercer 
county.  They  came  to  Mercer  county  in  an  early  day,  with  but  little 
means  with  which  to  begin  life  in  the  new  country,  but  by  energy  and 
honest  diligence  have  attained  an  enviable  position  in  the  community 
in  which  they  live.  The  three  brothers,  William,  Andrew,  and 
J.  H.,  live  but  a  few  miles  apart  in  Eliza  townsliip.  William  Leech 
was  born  in  Monroe  county,  Virginia,  in  1821,  and  came  to  this  state 
at  the  age  of  twenty-one.  He  was  married  in  Eliza  township  to  Miss 
Eliza  Spirling.  Viewing  his  fine  residence  now  one  would  hardly 
suppose  that  he  came  to  this  country  with  but  half  a  dollar  in  his 


296  HISTORY    OF    MERCER    A>"D    HENDERSON    COIINTIES. 

pocket,  yet  .such  was  the  case.  Andrew  Leech  was  born  in  Virginia, 
in  1819,  and  when  he  left  that  state  for  Indiana  was  but  twelve  years 
old.  After  his  arrival  in  Mercer  county  he  first  bought  eighty  acres 
before  he  was  married  to  Miss  Matilda  Spirling.  His  wife  was  born 
December  25,  1S30.  From  this  union  they  had  born  to  them  :  Daniel, 
AYilliam,  Eliza  J.,  Delphia  A.,  George  R.,  Mary  E.,  Ulysses  G., 
Susan  F.,  and  D.  A.  Leech.  His  daughter,  Eliza  J.,  married 
S.  W.  Anderson,  who  died  October  22,  1873.  Geoi-ge  married 
Maggie  Sloan  December  26,  1878.     Delphia  died  June  27,  1867. 

Mrs.  Hariet  Noble,  widow  of  Jonathan  Xoble,  formerly  a  native 
of  Indiana,  was  born  in  that  state  in  1821.  He  spent  his  youth  in  that 
state  where  he  also  received  a  part  of  his  education,  finishing  in  Illinois 
after  his  removal  here  Tvnth  his  parents.  He  was  married  in  1861  to 
Miss  Harriet  Irvin,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  Eight  children  resulted 
in  this  union:  Peter,  George,  Cora,  Omar,  Charles,  Jennie,  Beecher, 
and  Henry,  named  in  order.  Mr.  Xoble  first  began  business  with  his 
father  which  he  continued  for  some  length  of  time,  when  he  removed 
to  Iowa  where  he  purchased  160  acres  of  land  near  Iowa  City.  Then 
returning  he  was  married  and  soon  after  bought  a  farm  of  280  acres 
on  sections  17  and  18,  upon  which  Mrs.  Xoble  is  now  liWng,  and 
which  is  superintended  by  the  oldest  son.  Mr.  Xoble  was  a  hard- 
working, thorough  business  man,  and  highly  esteemed  by  all  who 
knew  him.     He  was  a  member  of  the  masonic  fraternity. 

Ira  Xoble,  son  of  D.  F.  Xoble,  was  born  in  Mercer  county  in  1839, 
and  was  married  in  1860  to  Miss  Caroline  Tteed,  of  the  same  county. 
She  died  December  28,  1878,  leaving  a  large  family  of  children,  all  of 
whom  are  residing  at  home  with  their  father:  Sarah,  Eva,  Blanch, 
Clarinda,  Gertie,  Avarilla,  Tom,  and  Caroline.  The  two  oldest,  Fred 
and  Flora,  were  twins  and  died  while  young.  Mr.  Noble  is  a  repub- 
lican in  politics,  and  a  member  of  the  masonic  order  of  New  Boston. 

Mrs.  Eliza  Martix,  wife  of  the  late  sergeant  J.  Martin,  was  born 
in  Franklin  county,  Ohio,  and  went  from  there  to  Burlington,  Iowa,  in 
company  with  her  sister  in  1859.  Mrs.  Martin  has  been  twice  married, 
first  to  Charles  Sabin,  after  whose  death,  July  19,  1865,  she  married  a 
second  time  to  J.  Martin,  who  was  well  and  favorably  known,  especially 
among  his  army  associates,  whose  friendship  and  esteem  he  merited. 
He  was  chosen  first  sergeant  of  his  company,  124th  Yol.  Inf.,  and 
credibly  distinguished  himself  in  the  battles  of  Eaymond,  Jackson, 
Fort  Gibson,  Champion  Hill,  Fort  Hill,  Siege  of  Yicksburg,  Browns- 
ville, Spanish  Fort,  Yazoo  City,  Benton,  and  was  present  with  his 
regiment  during  the  Meridian  cam])aign.     He  served  from  the  com- 


ELIZA   TOWNSHIP.  297 

mencement  of  the  great  struggle  to  its  close  in  1865.  He  died  in  1870, 
leaving  four  children  to  lament  his  death:  Albert  J.,  Laura,  Grant, 
and  Jenny.     Grant  is  superintending  the  farm. 

L.  B.  IS^OBLE,  son  of  Lewis  and  Matilda  Noble,  was  born  in  Eliza 
township  in  1880.  His  great-grandfather  was  Irish  and  his  great- 
grandmother  English.  They  settled  in  A^irginia  in  an  early  day,  where 
our  subjects  grandparents  were  born  and  raised  near  Lynchburg,  and 
where  his  parents  were  also  born.  They  moved  from  that  state  to 
Tennessee,  then  to  Ohio  and  from  there  to  Indiana,  in  an  early  day. 
Here  they  resided  about  twenty  years,  after  which  they  moved  to  this 
state  in  1834,  and  were  among  the  first  early  settlers  of  the  township. 
Immediately  after  arriving  here  he  took  a  claim  and  began  improving 
a  farm  upon  which  our  subject  was  raised.  L.  B.  Noble  enlisted  in 
the  late  war,  in  the  2Tth  111.  Inf.,  in  which  he  served  three  years.  He 
was  wounded  at  Kenesaw  Mountain  in  1864.  After  the  close  of  the 
war  he  returned  home  and  continued  farming.  In  1873  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Irabell  Stephens,  of  Adams  county,  Iowa.  By  this 
marriage  they  had  four  children:  Archer  L.,  Elsie  M.,  Don  L.,  and 
Ethel  J.,  all  whom  are  residing  at  home. 

Joirx  Pratt,  son  of  John  and  Avarilla  Pratt,  and  brother  of  Rezin 
Pratt,  was  born  in  Fayette  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1815.  His  father, 
a  German  by  descent,  and  a  native  of  Maryland,  moved  with  his 
parents  to  Fayette  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  a  veiy  early  day,  where 
he  was  married  to  Mrs.  Avarilla  Boner.  Eleven  children  was  the 
result  of  this  union,  all  born  in  Pennsylvania.  His  father  first  moved 
to  Union  county,  Indiana,  in  1830,  where  they  remained  until  1838,  at 
wliich  time  they  moved  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  first  settling  in 
Eliza  townshij),  on  section  29,  where  he  lived  until  they  moved  to  his 
son  Jonas'  house  in  New  Boston  township.  Here  he  died,  his  wife 
following  seven  years  later.  His  oldest  daughter,  Eliza,  died  in  1839, 
and  was  the  first  death  in  Eliza  township.  They  are  all  reposing  in 
the  Eliza  Creek  cemetery.  Benjamin  died  in  1868,  Lacey,  in  1866, 
and  Pezin  in  1880.  Jonah  resides  in  New  Boston  township  where  he 
settled  about  the  year  1852.  Nancy,  widow  of  Wesley  Wicks,  resides 
with  her  brother  Jonah.  Avarilla,  wife  of  Elisha  Essley,  resides  in 
Kansas.  Tamar  resides  in  New  Boston.  Annie,  wife  of  John  Dun- 
gan,  in  Kansas.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  in  1852  to 
Miss  Nancy  Fergason,  by  which  marriage  they  have  had  nine  children 
born  to  them.  Sarah,  the  oldest,  married  Joel  Woodward,  a  farmer, 
and  they  reside  in  Adams  county,  Iowa.  Avarilla,  wife  of  Oliver 
Essley,  also  resides  in  the  same  countv.     Louis  married  Miss  M.  Mol- 


298  HISTORY    OF   INfERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

inger,  of  Iowa.  Maiy,  wife  of  Henr j  Taylor,  resides  in  Adams  coniity, 
Iowa.  ]S[ancj,  wife  of  John  Jones,  resides  in  Adams  county,  Iowa. 
Harvey,  Malisse,  Rutli,  and  Nellje  are  at  home  with  their  parents. 
Our  subject  began  the  busines  of  farming  in  Eliza  township,  on  section 
30,  where  he  lived  five  vears  and  in  1853  bought  a  farm  in  section  36 
and  soon  after  eighty  acres  adjoining  it,  where  he  built  a  handsome 
residence  and  is  now  living  in  comfort  and  ease.  His  business  has 
been  farming  and  stock  raising. 


PERRYTON  TOWNSHIP. 

In  writing  a  history  of  the  town  of  Perryton,  I  have  considered 
it  desirable  to  embrace  in  it  only  those  facts  that  at  jDi'esent  have 
no  historical  record  in  existence  elsewhere,  and  which  would  otherwise 
be  lost  with  the  present  generation.  I  have  also  endeavored,  as  far  as 
possible,  to  place  myself  with  the  people  who  will  occupy  our  places  at 
the  recurrence  of  our  national  centennial  anniversary,  and  relate  such 
things  as  will  be  of  most  interest  to  them,  as  well  as  our  more  imme- 
diate successors. 

Owing  to  the  fact  that  the  earlier  settlers  kept  no  wa-itten  history  or 
record  or  even  regular  accounts,  and  also  to  the  fact  that  many  of  them 
have  died  or  moved  to  distant  localities,  it  has  been  very  difficult  to 
gather  the  facts  herein  recorded,  and  tliey  must  be  my  excuse  for  any 
errors  of  matter  or  data  herein  contained. 

I  would  here  acknowledge  my  indebtedness  to  all  those  who  have 
kindly  furnished  assistance  in  this  historical  record  of  the  town  of  Per- 
ryton, and  I  would  especially  acknowledge  my  obligations  to  "William 
Doak,  now  living  among  us,  and  to  Abraham  Miller,  Jr.,  who  since 
1847  has  resided  in  Oregon. 

The  physical  features  of  the  town  that  will  not  change  with  time, 
are  only  those  that  are  affected  by  amount  of  prairie  woodland  and 
such  features  of  water  courses  as  would  be  affected  by  cultivation  and 
by  domestic  animals.  When  the  white  man  came  he  found  tlie  surface 
in  the  condition  created  by  natural  causes,  or  as  affected  by  the  annual 
prairie  fires  of  the  Indians.  The  better  and  more  level  land  was  prairie 
covered  by  a  coat  of  mixed  natural  grasses  and  plants  that  grew  in 
'  stools,  each  independently,  to  the  hieight  of  eighteen  to  twenty-four 
inches ;  some  like  the  polar  plant,  or  rosin  weed,  running  up  in 
alternate  years  to  five  or  six  feet.  The  ground  seemed  covered  like  a 
meadow,  yet  there  was  no  sward  as  in  blue  grass,  although  the  matting 


I'ERRYTON   TOWNSHIP.  299 

of  roots  below  bound  the  soil  very  firmly,  each  plant  growing  by 
itself  as  a  tuft.  As  a  pasture  and  for  hay,  it  would  yield  from  one  to 
two  tons  per  acre,  and  most  of  the  plants  were  eaten  by  stock,  but 
when  closely  pastured  were  sure  to  die  out,  giving  place,  subsequentl}-, 
to  the  cultivated  grasses.  The  broken  grounds  furnished  the  same 
grasses  but  in  much  less  quantity,  and  in  many  places  the  coat  was  so 
light  that  the  autumn  fires  were  not  hot  enough  to  destroy  certain  kinds 
of  timber  in  the  most  protected  places,  as  on  the  south  sides  of  ravines 
and  creeks,  and  such  as  black  oak  and  wdiite  hickory.  In  some  few 
places  the  more  valuable  white  and  burr  oaks  had  established  small 
groves. 

As  it  may  in  the  future  be  desirable  to  know  what  part  of  the  town 
once  grew  timber,  I  will  in  brief  specify  tracts  which  it  occupied  in 
1845.  In  the  fork  of  Camp  creek,  on  sections  23  and  24  was  some 
sixty  acres  of  very  fine  w^iite  oak,  and  there  were  forty  acres  of  good 
mixed  timber  in  the  southeast  corner  of  section  21.  The  land  that  lay 
betw;een  the  level  and  Camp  creek  on  the  north  on  sections  30  and  19, 
and  a  little  on  section  29  had  large  old  white  oak  trees  upon  it.  On 
the  north  side  of  the  creek  there  was  timber,  white  and  burr  oak,  on 
KE.,  N.E.  18,  on  S.E.,  KW.  IS;  a  little  on  S.E.  of  KW.  17,  and 
N.E.  ofX.E.  16.  The  broken  ground  in  the  southeast  corner  of  the 
town  had  some  scattering  timber,  mostly  grown  since  the  Indians  had 
left;  also  most  of  section  24,  and  that  part  of  sections  12,  13  and  14 
that  lay  between  the  two  large  ravines  up  to  the  centre  of  section  12. 
The  N.  ^  of  19,  S.  ^  of  18,  S.  W.  IT,  and  north  to  section  20  was  more 
or  less  occupied  by  scattering  young  black  oaks,  or,  as  commonly  called, 
blacks  jacks,  and  white  hickory ;  also  a  small  body  of  mixed  timber  on 
northeast  corner  of  16  and  southeast  corner  of  9. 

In  the  early  settlement  of  Perryton  none  of  the  woodland  was  con- 
sidered as  of  any  value  but  that  containing  white  and  burr  oak,  and  for 
that  reason  was  the  last  entered  or  bought  of  the  Government.  The 
ravines  (or  sloughs,  as  called  by  early  settlers)  were  covered  with  a 
dense  growth  of  grass  and  weeds,  rising  often  to  the  height  of  six  to  ten 
feet,  and  were  the  hiding  places  of  deer  and  wolves.  Wliere  there  -was 
sufficient  water  to  create  a  channel,  it  was  often  not  more  than  one  or 
two  feet  wide  and  deep,  even  a  mile  from  its  source  on  the  prairie. 
The  channel  being  tortuous,  and  the  bottom  soil  bound  by  very  strong 
roots,  it  was  only  a  channel  for  low  water  that  apparently  rarely 
changed  or  increased  in  size,  the  flood  water  running  over  the  level 
bottoms  without  washing.  Where  now  channels  are  washed  twenty 
feet  wide  and  six  feet  deep,  the  writer  has  stepped  across  the  original 
channel  without  much  eflbrt. 


300  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

After  tlie  removal  of  the  Indians,  and  previous  to  18-16,  tliej 
returned  to  liimt  bj  permission  of  tlie  Indian  agents.  The  last  evidence 
of  their  visit  was  in  that  year.  Besides  their  knives  and  arrow  heads, 
of  which  numbers  are  still  found,  they  left  no  mark  save  the  great  trail 
their  tribes  followed  in  cutting  off  the  bend  of  the  Mississippi  to  the 
west,  in  their  navigations  up  and  down  the  river.  This  trail  entered 
the  town  on  the  south  side  of  31 ;  thence  along  the  divide  to  Camp 
creek,  crossing  at  a  ford  in  19 ;  then  along  the  ridge  through  20  and 
17,  and  nearly  diagonally  through  the  north  half  of  9,  southeast  of  4, 
and  northwest  of  3.  In  1845  there  were  still  five  or  six  distinct,  deep 
worn  paths  tliroughout  the  entire  distance,  and  were  the  guiding  path 
to  Rock  Island  and  Oquawka,  the  two  points  where  it  left  the  river. 
It  is  said  that  the  army  pursued  Black  Hawk  upon  this  ti'ail,  and  that 
Camp  creek  got  its  name  from  having  been  one  of  the  camping  places 
of  the  army.  The  pioneers  found  the  country  abounding  in  deer, 
wolves  and  prairie  chickens,  with  many  quails,  turkeys,  rabbits,  and 
occasionally  the  wildcat  and  badger.  The  elk  and  buffalo  had  been- 
abundant  at  no  very  distant  period,  as  attested  by  their  liorns  and 
skeletons,  which  were  found  all  about  this  region  even  as  late  as  1845. 

As  was  the  case  everywhere  in  the  prairie  country,  the  earliest 
settlers  made  their  claims  adjacent  to  a  body  of  timber  suitable  for 
fencing  and  building,  and  believed  almost  universally  that  farms  could 
only  be  made  by  the  few  who  were  early  enough  to  secure  a  tract,  or 
take  from  the  government  land  the  scattering  white  oaks ;  and  it  was 
for  this  reason  that  the  best  prairie  land  was  the  last  selected. 
Although  not  strictly  belonging  to  the  history  of  the  town  of  Perryton, 
the  early  settlement  and  history  of  Sugar  Grove  is  so  thoroughly  inter- 
mixed, that  no  record  of  either  can  well  be  complete  without  encroach- 
ing somewhat  on  the  domain  of  the  other.  The  first  settlement  in  this 
vicinity  was  at  Sugar  Grove,  April  24,  1834.  In  the  month  of  March, 
1834,  the  following  named  persons  left  Montgomery  county,  Indiana, 
bound  for  the  Mississippi  river :  Abraham  Miller,  Jr. ,  and  family, 
consisting  of  self,  wife,  and  wife's  sister;  George  Miller,  Sr.,  Abraham 
Miller,  Sr.,  Isaac  Miller,  Jr.,  Jacob  Miller,  John  Miller,  Elias  Moore, 
Ben.  Welch,  Dr.  John  Kester,  William  Shuck,  Thomas  Dauson,  James 
Ivester,  and  William  Moore.  This  company  was  fitted  out  with  six  ox 
teams,  with  breaking  plows  and  other  necessary  farming  utensils. 
They  intended  putting  in  crops  and  then  returning  for  their  families. 
George  Miller,  Sr.,  was  selected  as  guide,  because  of  his  extensive 
experience  as  a  pioneer,  and  he  steered  his  trackless  route  through  the 
boundless  prairies  for  days  and  days,  without  the  aid  of  a  compass, 
consulting   only   the    stars    to  guide  him   to  his    destination.      This 


PERRYTON    TOWNSHIP.  301 

company  first  landed  at  Sugar  Grove,  April  24,  1S34,  and  built  a  small 
cabin  made  of  split  linn  logs,  on  the  east  side  of  the  grove,  on  the 
claim  of  Abraham  Miller,  Sr. ;  and  under  the  protection  of  this  rude 
cabin  the  entire  company  were  sheltered  until  they  had  each  broken 
.up  and  planted  a  piece  of  sod  corn,  interspersed  with  pumpkins  and 
melons.  Tlie  wife  of  Abraham  Miller,  Jr.,  did  the  cooking  for  the 
entire  colony.  None  of  the  crops  were  fenced  that  season,  for  as 
soon  as  planted  they  all  started  back  to  Indiana,  with  the  exception  of 
Abraham  Miller  and  faiftily.  At  that  time  there  were  no  other  inhab- 
itants within  a  circuit  of  ten  miles.  Abraham  Miller,  Jr.,  with  his 
family,  remained  in  their  cabin  at  Sugar  Grove  until  the  corn  had  got 
well  out  of  the  ground,  when  he  removed  to  New  Boston,  where  he 
remained  until  fall,  and  until  the  balance  of  the  company  returned  with 
their  families  from  Indiana.  Of  the  original  company  of  settlers  at 
Sugar  Grove,  all  but  the  Millers  and  Elias  Moore  went  back  to  Indiana 
to  remain,  or  settled  in  the  vicinity  of  New  Boston,  while  a  few  addi- 
,  tions  were  made  to  this  colony  by  several  families  that  returned  with 
them  in  the  fall.  After  the  corn  crops  were  all  gathered,  cabins  were 
built  for  the  different  families  and  preparations  were  made  to  settle 
down  for  the  winter.  As  the  nearest  grist  mills  were  on  Spoon  river, 
most  of  the  meal  for  subsistence  was  procured  by  pounding  the  corn  in 
improvised  and  rudely-constructed  mortars. 

George  Miller,  Sr.,  father  of  Abraham  Miller,  Jr.,  to  whom  I  am 
greatly  indebted  for  many  of  these  facts,  emigrated  to  Oregon  in  1847. 
In  many  respects  he  was  a  remarkable  man,  a  noble  type  of  the 
material  out  of  which  our  early  settlers  were  made.  He  was  the  father 
of  twenty-four  children,  all  of  whom  he  lived  to  see  grown  men  and 
women,  and  bought  and  gave  to  each  of  them  a  home.  All  of  his  chil- 
dren living,  but  one,  are  now  in  Oregon.  He  died  in  Oregon,  Septem- 
ber 11,  1874,  in  his  ninetieth  year,  and  until  a  short  time  before  his 
death  was  as  vigorous  as  most  men  at  forty-five.  Nearly  all  of  the 
Millers  moved  to  Oregon  about  the  same  date.  They  were  originally 
from  the  State  of  Tennessee,  Crab  Orchard,  on  Doe  river,  Carter  county. 
They  left  there  for  Indiana  in  the  fall  of  1812,  when  the  entire  country 
embraced  within  the  limits  of  that  state  was  occupied  by  the  Indians, 
and  when  pioneer  life  was  one  of  constant  danger.  It  1834  they  left 
Montgomery  county,  Indiana,  for  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  which  brings 
them  to  the  time  of  our  history.  Of  the  four  elder  Millers  who 
originally  settled  at  Sugar  Grove  two  were  democrats  in  politics  and 
two  whigs ;  two  were  pro-slavery  and  two  anti-slavery ;  two  were 
Methodists  and  two  old  school  predestinarian  Baptists.  The  children 
followed  their  fathers  in  both   politics  and   religion.     Coming  from 


302  HISTORY   OF   MERCP:E    AXD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Tennessee  and  pioneering  in  Indiana  these  early  settlers  were  indepen- 
dent of  most  of  the  aids  of  civilized  society  ;  their  clothing  was  mostl^y 
home-made,  from  wool  and  flax ;  a  spring  pole  mortar  pounded  their 
meal;  their  axes  built  houses,  fences  and  implements;  their  rifles 
repleted  empty  larders.  Those  who  were  the  earliest  settlers  of  the 
riclge  south  of  Camp  creek  were  from  Pennsylvania  and  other  eastern 
states,  and  being  less  practiced  in  the  art  of  ])ionoering  were  subject  to 
more  privations  and  experienced  more  difiiculties  in  supplies  of  meat 
and  bread.  Mr.  Perry  says  that  they  were  obliged  to  go  to  Kickapoo, 
in  Peoria  county,  for  their  milling  in  1836,  and  to  Henderson  for  black- 
smithing  ;  yet  there  must  have  been  mills  near  Henderson,  for  William 
Doak  relates  an  experience  in  going  there  to  mill  in  the  winter  of 
1837-8,  when  with  two  neighbors  he  made  the  trip  with  a  wagon  and 
three  yoke  of  oxen.  In  order  to  pass  two  farms  before  a  supply  of 
corn  for  a  grist  could  be  obtained  they  were  obliged  to  make  a  wide 
detour  to  the  east,  became  lost  in  the  night  upon  the  trackless  prairie, 
were  obliged  to  break  ice  and  ford  streams,  and  only  near  morning, 
wet  and  frozen,  they  reached  the  second  place,  where  they  bought  and 
shelled  the  last  of  their  grist. 

Soon  after  the  Millers  settled  at  the  Grove  they  made  of  a  boulder 
a  small  grist  mill,  and  upon  it  they  and  their  neighbors  ground  their 
grain.  About  1839  they  built  a  saw  mill  on  Edwards  river,  and  the 
year  after  a  grist  mill,  and  shortly  after  this  a  flour  mill  was  built  on 
the  "slough,"  where  MiL^n  now  stands.  The  following  description  of 
the  first  grist  mill  ever  erected  in  Mercer  coimty  will  no  doubt  prove 
interesting  to  the  readers  of  this  history.  It  was  built  by  the  Millers 
at  Sugar  Grove,  and  was  used  for  several  years.  They  sawed  off  an 
oak  log  about  three  feet  long,  stood  it  on  end.  and  placed  coals  of  fire 
in  the  center  of  the  top,  burning  out  a  hole  in  the  shape  of  a  basin, 
which  they  dressed  out  nicely  to  receive  the  corn.  They  then  took  a 
long  pole  and  fastened  the  butt  in  or  on  the  ground,  set  a  forked  stick 
in  the  ground  and  laid  the  pole  in  it,  about  the  middle,  something  after 
the  style  of  an  old-fashioned  well  sweep.  They  then  took  another  pole 
and  fastened  to  the  top  of  this,  like  a  rope  to  the  top  of  a  well  sweep. 
In  the  lower  end  of  this  pole  was  inserted  an  iron  wedge,  with  the  butt 
down.  Then  a  hole  was  bored  through  this  pole,  about  eighteen  inches 
above  the  wedge,  and  a  pm  pu  thi-ough  it,  which  pin  was  seized  with 
both  hands  and  the  pole  worked  up  and  down.  Afterward  the  Millers 
found  a  stone  of  suitable  grain,  which  they  split  open  and  made  two 
good  mill  stones,  twenty-two  inches  in  diameter,  which  was  an  improve- 
ment on  the  first  mill.  Three  of  the  Millers  were  blacksmiths  and 
they  made  all  their  own  mill  irons  when  later  they  built  a  better  grist 
mill  and  also  a  saw  mill. 


:\ 


is 


MRS    MARTIN    BEAR  . 


PERRYTON    TOWIsSIIIP.  305 

Previous  to  the  settlement  of  Perry  ton  there  was  a  road  hiid  out  by 
Warren  county,  of  which  Mercer  was  then  a  part,  from  Monmouth  to 
Chirk's  Ferry,  now  Andahisia,  on  the  Mississippi,  which,  like  all  the 
earlier  roads,  was  laid  with  reference  to  fords  and  ridges,  regardless  of 
section  lines.  Probably  but  little  of  the  original  road  is  now  a  high- 
way, excepting  that  from  the  bluffs  of  Camp  creek  to  section  9, 
Although  this  was  the  only  laid  out  road,  yet  the  nature  of  the  prairie 
turf  and  the  opportunity  of  selection  of  route  in  an  open  country  made 
the  traveling  very  good.  Even  the  most  spongy  sloughs  were  covered 
with  a  soil  firm  enough  to  bear  a  loaded  wagon. 

In  a  community  where  all  were  dependent  upon  labor  that  brought 
food  in  abundance  but  no  money,  all  were  equally  rich,  or  rather 
equally  poor.  Fashion  in  fabric  or  style  was  unknown.  Those  who 
were  able  to  work  their  own  wool  and  flax  into  garments  were  the 
most  independent,  and  the  tow-cloth  kersey  and  jeans  of  the  house- 
wives' loom  sufficed  for  nearly  all  their  wants.  Dependent  upon  each 
other,  a  Avarm  heart  and  a  ready  hand  were  of  vastly  more  value  in  a 
neighbor  than  worldly  possessions.  Every  house  was  a  tavern  where 
the  traveler  found  hospitality,  and  the  rude  log  cabin  never  was  so  full 
as  to  shut  out  the  belated  wanderer.  ISTo  cftste  of  wealth  or  birth 
interfered  with  the  social  relations  of  those  who  made  up  a  community. 
Illustration  of  the  plainness  of  dress :  A  young  man  of  this  primitive 
period,  courting  the  daughter  of  one  of  our  earliest  settlers,  proposed  to 
his  sweetheart  and  her  friend  a  walk  of  two  miles  across  the  prairie  to 
a  neighbor's,  and,  like  all  young  men  in  like  circumstances,  aftected  as 
much  style  as  possible.  The  neighbor  described  the  girls  as  clad  in 
linsey  dresses  and  sun-bonnets,  each  one  hanging  on  the  arm  of  the 
young  man.  lie  was  clad  in  very  short  tow  pants,  a  white  shirt,  with 
a  high  and  stiff  collar,  and  a  home-made  straw  hat,  holding  an  umbrella 
over  his  head,  his  big  feet,  brown  and  bare,  a  very  visible  means  of 
support. 

With  the  pioneer  settler  comes  the  pioneer  preacher,  usually  a 
farmer.  Knowing  more  of  his  Bible  than  any  other  book,  he  made  up 
in  spirit  and  earnestness  what  he  lacked  in  education.  Preaching  in 
log  cabins  or  groves,  where  the  school-houses  had  not  yet  arisen,  he 
always  found  an  audience  in  the  entire  community.  Denominational 
preferences,  however  strong,  never  prevented  the  attendance  of  all,  no 
matter  who  preached.  To  show  the  plain  style  of  one,  a  good  old  man, 
who  most  frequently  preached  in  this  neighborhood,  in  illustrating  the 
doctrine  of  perseverance  he  said  :  "  It  is  like  the  man  who  took  a  coon 
skin  to  the  store,  ah,  and  says  he  you  may  have  this  coon  skin  for  flfty 
cents,  ah,  and  the  merchant  said  he  did  not  want  it  for  fifty  cents,  ah  ; 
18 


306  HISTORY    OF    MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

then,  says  he,  you  may  have  it  for  twenty-five  cents,  ah,  and  the  mer- 
chant said  he  did  not  want  it  for  twenty-five  cents,  ah ;  then  the  man 
says,  you  may  have  it  for  a  bit,  ah,  and  the  merchant  said  he  did  not 
want  it  for  a  bit,  ah ;  then  the  man  goes  away  and  leaves  it  on  the 
counter,  ah,  and  the  merchant  runs  after  him  with  the  coon  skin,  ah. 
So  it  is  with  religion ;  when  you  have  got  it  you  can't  sell  it,  nor  give 
it  away,  nor  lose  it,  ah ! "  The  fu'st  religious  services  held  in  Sugar 
Grove  was  by  a  branch  of  the  old-school  Baj^tist  church,  of  Henderson 
Grove,  extended  to  Sugar  Grove,  and  held  once  each  month,  lasting 
two  days.  This  denomination  was  more  commonly  known  by  the 
name  of  hard-shell  Baptists.  Shortly  afterward  a  church  was  regularly 
constituted  at  Sugar  Grove,  called  the  Edwards  river  church,  in  corres- 
pondence with  the  Spoon  river  association  of  old-school  predestinarian 
Baptists.  ■  Elder  Joseph  Jones  was  pastor  of  that  church,  and  Abraham 
Miller,  Jr.,  was  ordained  to  a  deaconship.  There  was  no  church  build- 
ing, and  the  meetings  were  generally  held  at  private  houses,  or  in  a 
log  school-house,  when  one  had  been  erected.  At  a  more  recent  date 
the  Methodists  established  a  class  at  the  house  of  John  Miller,  in  Sugar 
Grove.  They  finally  had  a  camp  ground  in  the  Grove,  with  yearly 
attendance.  One  of  the  original  settlers  says  that  there  never  was  a 
temperance  lecture  delivered  at  the  Grove  from  1834  to  1846  ;  and  says 
further,  that  they  had  no  habitual  drunkards,  idlers,  fanatics  or  unneces- 
sary babblers,  and  no  earthly  use  for  temperance  lecturers. 

In  regard  to  postoflices  I  have  not  been  able  to  ascertain,  with  any 
certainty,  what  were  the  earlier  mail  facilities.  Previous  to  1845  a 
post  route  had  been  established  through  this  town,  with  an  office  at 
Millersburg.  Letter  postage  cost  twenty-five  cents,  just  the  price  of  a 
bushel  of  wheat.  But  little  coiTesj)ondence  was  carried  on.  In  1847 
our  people  succeeded  in  getting  an  office  at  James  Gingles',  it  being 
the  only  office  until  the  establishment  of  a  route  from  Millersburg  to 
Rock  Island,  when,  in  1854,  an  office  was  created  at  Hamlet,  at  the 
house  of  Graham  Lee,  and  removed  in  185Y  to-  its  present  locality,  the 
business  place  of  Josiah  Candor. 

Until  1839  there  had  been  no  school.  In  that  year  Miss  Farwell 
(afterward  married  to  William  Doak)  taught  a  school  in  a  little  10x14 
house,  built  by  Jackson  Woods,  on  the  northwest  of  section  26.  The 
ffi-st  school-house  was  obtained  by  moving  an  old  frame  tenement  house 
of  J.  Gmgles,  from  neai-  the  center  of  section  27  to  the  center  of  section 
28,  in  the  year  1849,  and  it  was  not  until  some  years  later  a  school- 
house  was  built  on  the  north  side  of  the  town.  Abraham  Miller,  Jr., 
claims  to  have  taught  the  first  school  at  the  Grove,  but  is  not  positive. 
He  did,  however,  teach  the  first  school  ever  had  in  Mercer  county,  at 
or  near  New  Boston. 


PEERYTON   TOWNSHIP.  307 

RecuiTing  to  the  scarcity  of  money,  which  retarded  the  gro"wi:h  of 
society  and  deprived  the  early  settlers  of  many  things,  afterward  con- 
sidered necessities,  I  will  explain  that  it  took  all  that  was  held,  and 
all  that  could  be  borrowed,  to  enter  the  land  which  they  desired  for 
homes.  "While  the  absolute  necessaries  of  living,  not  obtainable  from 
the  farm,  could  be  got  from  the  few  traders  by  barter,  yet  the  prices 
j)aid  previous  to  1840  were  not  such  as  to  induce  the  farmer  to  indulge 
in  luxurious  habits.  Wheat  at  twenty-five  cents ;  corn,  ten  cents ;  pork, 
dressed,  one  and  a  half  to  two  cents ;  good  three  year  old  stears  and 
cows,  from  six  to  ten  dollars.  As  near  as  can  be  ascertained,  the  first 
produce  sent  to  market  from  our  town  was  shipped  by  Abel  Thompson, 
in  a  flat-boat  from  Xew  Boston,  in  the  fall  of  1840,  our  respected 
fellow-townsman,  William  Doak,  being  one  of  the  crew.  Without 
serious  difticulty  they  reached  jS^ew  Orleans  in  three  months,  and  dis- 
posed of  the  cargo,  consisting  of  wheat,  potatoes,  beans,  sauer-kraut, 
cabbage,  etc. ,  etc. ,  to  such  good  advantage  that  AYilliam  Doak  and  Paul 
Sherifi:',  in  the  fall  of  1841,  built  at  Keithsburg  a  flat-boat,  on  the  bank 
where  Keithsburg  now  stands,  and  loading  it  mostly  with  their  own 
produce,  made  a  successful  and  profitable  trijD  to  St.  Louis.  Their  suc- 
cess in  this  venture  so  encouraged  them  and  others,  that  the  next  fall 
they  repeated  the  experiment,  only  to  end  disastrously,  for  being 
caught  by  the  very  early  winter  of  1842-3,  they,  with  four  other  flat- 
boats,  and  three  steamboats,  were  frozen  up  at  a  point  called  Quiver 
Island,  fifteen  miles  above  the  mouth  of  the  Illinois  river.  In  order  to 
relieve  themselves  they  were  obliged  to  cut  a  channel  through  fifteen 
miles  of  ice,  in  very  cold  weather,  and  such  were  the  hardships  endured, 
that  of  the  forty  stalwart  men  who  began  this  task,  but  three  were  left 
to  cut  the  last  gorge  and  free  the  boats.  The  writer  and  the  reader  of 
this  chapter  can  but  regret  that  our  indomitable  neighbor  Doak,  one  of 
the  three  iron-hearted  men  mentioned,  should,  even  in  front  of  St. 
Louis,  his  destination,  have  been  wrecked  in  a  dense  fog  to  lose  nearly 
all  for  which  he  had  risked  and  endured  so  much.  Speaking  of  the 
departure  of  the  first  flat-boat  from  New  Boston,  Mr.  Doak  relates  that 
it  was  watched  with  intense  interest  by  the  large  crowd  that  lined  the 
shore,  and  when  the  boat  cut  loose  and  s'wung  out  into  the  stream,  three 
rousing  cheers  were  given  in  honor  of  the  event,  which  was  such  an 
important  era  in  the  history  of  New  Boston.  In  the  fall  of  1842, 
George  and  Isaac  Miller,  of  Sugar  Grove,  built  a  boat  at  Keithsburg, 
and  loaded  it  with  produce  with  destination  for  New  Orleans. 

Before  tlie  time  of  the  introduction  of  flat-boats  as  a  means  of  civil- 
ization, the  first  settlers  depended  upon  their  own  resources  for  many  of 
the  articles  of  food  which  we  at  this  day  regard  as  among  the  necesities. 


308  HISTORY    OF   MERCER    A2s'I)    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

The  crops  raised  by  the  pioneers  of  Perryton  were  mainly  corn,  oats, 
flax,  and  the  most  nseful  vegetables.  Melons  were  raised  in  abnndance. 
Flom-  could  be  bought  from  off"  the  boats,  at  Denison's  landing  in  ISSi 
at  fom*  dollars  per  barrel.  But  corn  was  principally  used  tor  bread, 
and  for  meat  they  raised  a  few  bogs,  killed  deer,  turkeys,  prairie 
chickens,  and  caught  fish.  One  of  the  early  settlers  says  that  what' gro- 
ceries they  used  were  mostly  obtained  in  exchange  for  deer  and  coon 
skins,  beesewax,  etc.  Coffee  was  made  fi*om  parched  corn,  peas  and 
wheat.  Red  root  leaves,  swetted  under  a  dutch  oven,  dried,  and  when 
drawn  and  sweetened  with  honey,  was  called  "Grub  Hyson, "  and  was 
considered  a  fine  substitute  for  tea.  Pork  and  corn  dodgers  was  the 
principal  food. 

From  the  flat-boat  to  the  steamboat  the  ti-ansition  was  rapid,  so  that 
but  few  were  built  after  the  period  mentioned  here,  and  the  increase  in 
steamboats,  keeping  pace  with  the  increase  of  commerce,  markets  were 
opened,  and  by  1845  business  had  its  regular  channels,  and  settlers 
were  able  to  sell  produce,  although  at  the  low  price  of:  wheat,  forty 
cents  ;  corn,  ]3ure  white  for  southern  bread,  ten  to  twelve  and  a  half 
cents ;  pork,  one  and  a  half  to  two  cents.  The  trade  of  Perryton  was 
almost  exclusively  with  New  Boston,  until  the  building  of  the  Chicago 
&  Rock  Island  railroad,  when  the  superior  mducements  offered  gradu- 
ally withdrew  the  trade  to  Rock  Island . 

Previous  to  1845,  I  can  learn  of  no  attempt  to  organize  a  church 
within  our  limits,  nor  of  public  worship  by  regular  appointment, 
excepting  that  previously  mentioned  in  this  record,  and  pertaining  to 
the  early  settlement  of  Sugar  Grove.  The  earliest  carpentering  was 
done  in  building  houses  and  barns  for  McHard,  Gingles  and  Bnrrall, 
by  Andrew  Gingles,  a  son  of  Robert  Gingles  and  nephew  of  James 
Gingles.  Philip  Miller  occasionally  cut  grindstones  and  gravestones, 
to  add  to  a  living  obtained  by  his  rifle  and  the  rental  of  a  small  piece 
of  land.  The  first  blacksmith  shop  in  town  was  kept  by  a  man  named 
Jones,  on  section  25,  in  1846-T,  and  perhaps  a  little  later,  but  between 
1850  and  1860  there  was  no  shop  in  town  of  any  kind.  About  the 
latter  date,  a  blacksmith  shop  was  started  on  the  northeast  corner  of 
section  11.  George  J.  Miller,  son  of  Abraham  Miller,  Jr.,  should  prop- 
erly be  entitled  to  the  credit  of  first  birth  in  this  town,  but  shortly 
before  his  birth,  Mr.  Miller  had  moved  his  family  temporarily  to  ]^ew 
Boston,  where  he  was  then  teaching  school.  This  was  August  31, 
1834.  But  the  first  birth  at  Sugar  Grove  was  that  of  Eliza  Miller, 
daughter  of  George  Miller,  Sr.,  in  1835.  Eliza  Miller  is  now  living  at 
Miller's  Station,  Linn  county,  Oregon,  with  her  second  husband,  Philip 
V.  Morris,  and   she   is   the   mother   of   a   large   family   of    children. 


PERRYTON   TOWKSIIIP.  309 

"William  Moore  was  the  first  man  married  ;  lie  married  Miss  Mary 
Miller,  daughter  of  Isaac  Miller,  at  Sugar  Grove  in  1835.  The  first 
death  was  a  child  about  one  year  old,  named  Philip  Farlow,  son  of 
John  and  Sarah  Farlow ;  died  of  croup. 

The  earliest  settlers  on  the  ridge  all  planted  such  trees  as  they 
could  get  or  raise,  mostly  seedlings.  The  first  grafted  fruit  brought  to 
the  town  was  peddled  out  by  a  Mr.  Kobinson,  a  nurseryman  of  Fulton 
county,  but  there  was  no  general  planting  of '  good  fruit  until  Mr. 
McWhorter  established  a  nursery  near  Millersburg  in  1846.  The 
sauce  depended  upon  by  early  settlers  was  mainly  obtained  from  the 
crab-apple  and  plum  thickets,  which  abounded  in  the  vicinity  of  timber. 
These  failing,  the  dish  of  '^ those"  or  "them  molasses,"  was  the  ever 
present  and  only  substitute  for  sauce.  As  common  as  the  molasses 
dish,  was  the  custom  of  making  it  a  plural.  In  one  instance  this 
custom  was  broken  by  an  uncourteous  guest  replying  to  his  landlady's 
question :  "■ '  Will  you  have  some  of  these  ? "  by  saying,  ' '  I  will  take  a 
few  of  her."  One  of  our  earlier  settlers  relates  an  account  of  the 
manner  then  in  vogue  of  acquiring  seedlings.  On  the  occasion  of  a 
public  parade,  or  muster  day  at  Millersburg,  at  a  time  in  the  history  of 
that  village  when  it  had  assumed  metropolitan  airs,  a  peddler  brought 
to  town  a  lot  of  small  and  half  green  peaches,  which  he  retailed  out  at 
a  bit  a  dozen.  The  boys  eagerly  demolished  the  fruit  and  threw  the 
seeds  on  the  ground,  while  a  certain  economical  settler  gathered  them 
up  for  seed.  Fearing  that  he  would  not  obtain  enough,  our  thrifty 
farmer  bon-owed  a  bit  for  the  purpose  of  investing  in  peaches,  with  the 
view  of  obtaining  the  seed.  Several  years  afterward  he  returned  the 
morney  thus  borrowed.  Wild  grapes,  blackberries  and  strawberries 
were  used  by  the  settlers  for  making  pies  and  preserves,  and  wild  hops 
answered  the  purpose  of  cultivated  ones. 

The  first  fence  in  the  town  was  built  in  1835,  on  the  piece  of  land 
broken  by  Abraham  Miller,  on  the  south  side  of  section  33.  This  was 
done  by  piling  sod,  previously  turned  by  a  plow,  and  making  a  small 
ditch  on  the  outside,  the  dirt  from  which  was  thrown  inside  the  pile  of 
sod.  In  183  T  Mr.  Burrall,  and  perhaps  Perry,  made  more  sod  fence, 
and  began  the  making  of  rails,  which  afterward  constituted  the  sole 
fencing  material,  until  the  unentered  land  was  stripped  of  everything 
which  would  make  a  rail  or  pole.  About  1850  the  building  of  board 
fences  commenced.  The  first  efibrt  at  hedging  was  made  by  planting 
seed  in  1848-9,  and  I  think  the  oldest  hedge  is  that  of  James  Gingles, 
which  was  "set  in"  about  1852,  when  the  date  of  hedge  fencing  first 
commenced.  The  Millers  invented  and  manufactured  a  machine  for 
fence  ditching.     This  was  the  first  machine  of  tlie  kind  ever  used  in 


310  HISTORY    OF    MERCEK   AA'D    HEXDERSON    COOfTIES. 

Mercer  county.  It  was  an  improvement  made  on  the  original  ditcliing 
plow,  and  was  done  by  adding  a  bar  with  a  flat  underground  lining  or 
share  that  cut  off  the  tier  of  sod  from  the  bottom.  They  used  three 
or  four  yoke  of  oxen,  and  thus  a  string  of  sod  fence  one  hundred  rods 
long  was  cut  in  a  very  short  time.  A  few  abortive  efforts  at  drainmg 
by  a  machine  cutting  an  open  ditch,  was  made  as  early  as  1848. 
Mole  ditching  began  in  1860,  and  was  prosecuted  for  many  years  with 
varying  success,  but  was  finally  abandoned.  The  aggregate  result  of 
mole  ditching  has  been  advantageous.  With  the  exception  of  a  few 
rods  to  obtain  water,  and  drain  cellars,  no  tile  has  yet  been  laid. 

With  regard  to  agricultural  implements  so  much  has  been  said  and 
written  that  will  go  into  history,  that  I  forbear  saying  much  more  than 
that  steel  plows  appeared  in  the  Diamond  plow  in  18-14:,  followed  ra|> 
idly  by  the  plow  of  the  present  model.  Plows  antedating  the 
Diamond  were  but  little  better  in  their  working  than  though  of  unhewn 
wood,  our  friable  soil  never  leaving  a  mold-board  until  removed  by 
hand.  In  1850  the  first  reaper  was  introduced  by  Levi  Cooper,  and 
shortly  before  the  separating  thresher  appeared.  The  first  plow  used 
for  breaking  prairie  in  Mercer  county,  was  the  old  bar-share  with  a 
wooden  mold.  The  Miller's  invented  a  lever  power  and  hung  the 
plow  on  wheels,  which  the}^  used  at  Sugar  Grove.  It  could  be  set  to 
any  depth,  and  be  thrown  out  at  will,  and  it  would  run  without  a 
holder.  This  simple  invention  was  almost  universally  adopted 
throughout  the  county  for  breaking  prairie.  In  this  arrangement  the 
driver  was  also  the  plowman,  thereby  saving  one  hand,  besides  doing 
much  better  work.  For  ground  once  broken,  the  early  settlers  had 
what  was  called  the  Bull  plow,  with  a  short  iron  mold  in  front,  a  few 
inches  high,  with  the  balance  of  the  mold  made  of  wood.  Xext  was 
the  Carey  plow,  an  improvement  on  the  Bull  plow.  For  tending  corn 
when  up,  shovel  plows,  hoe  harrows  and  one  horse  harrows  were  used. 
The  Bull  tongue  was  simply  a  narrow  shovel,  resembling  the  pattern 
after  which  it  was  named.  The  hoe-harrows  were  a  number  of  small 
shovels  set  in  a  forked  stick,  in  the  shape  of  the  letter  ''A."  The 
one-horse  harrows  were  made  in  the  same  way,  generally  with  wooden 
teeth,  and  made  narrow,  so  as  to  run  between  corn  rows.  Xext 
followed  the  Scott  Diamond  plow.  In  early  times  it  was  peddled 
through  Mercer  county.  The  Diamond  plow  was  simply  a  diamond 
square,  cut  out  of  a  steel  or  iron  mold  the  required  size ;  the  lower 
square  was  sharpened  out  and  served  as  the  edge  or  share,  and  was 
set  up  in  the  required  pitch,  and  served  as  share  and  mold-board,  all 
solid.  It  was  bent  hollowing  without  any  twist,  and  then  bolted  fast 
to  a  wooden  upright,  set  in  a  beam  like  a  shovel  plow,  but  the  mold 


PEERYTON   TOWNSHIP.  311 

did  not  set  square  like  tlie  shovel,  but  was  set  quartering  so  as  to  throw 
the  dirt  to  the  side  of  the  furrow.     This  plow  would  scour  completely. 

In  the  fall  of  1835  John  Black  and  family  settled  on  section  36,  and 
so  far  as  ascertained  was  actually  the  first  settler  within  the  limits  of 
the  to^vnship  propei".  In  March,  1836,  a  child  was  born  to  Black, 
which  died  at  the  age  of  five  years.  Perry  says  in  1836  Maj.  Edward 
Burrall  had  twenty  acres  broken  on  the  S.W.  J  of  Sec.  28,  now  the 
property  of  David  Blue,  and  that  William  Moore  broke  some  land  on 
southwest  of  30,  and  put  up  the  body  of  a  log  house.  Philip  Miller  also 
built  a  log  cabin  and  lived  on  the  same  section.  In  1837  Ed.  Bur- 
rall, Jr.,  and  Alfred  Perry,  living  on  the  west  side  of  Sugar  Grove, 
broke  prairie  for  Maj.  Burrall  on  S.W.  j,  38,  and  for  Dr.  Perry  on 
E.  -g-  of  28.  Linus  and  A.  Wood  came  upon  the  northeast  of  26  and 
built  a  log  house  during  the  year.  A.  Perry  and  E.  Burrall  did  the  first 
farming  on  the  ridge  in  Perryton,  and  during  this  year  Dr.  Perry  came 
west  and  in  the  winter  of  1837-8  built  a  log  house  near  the  timber  on 
the  northeast  of  28.  The  crops  raised  this  year  were  sold  to  the  Geneso 
colony,  at  the  price  of  one  dollar  for  wheat  and  seventy-five  cents  for 
corn  and  potatoes.  In  1838  Austin  Wood  moved  his  family  to  the 
house  built  by  his  son.  Burrall  built  the  first  frame  house  on  south- 
west of  28,  for  Sheldon  Wooden  as  tenent.  Dr.  Perry  died  this  year. 
There  were  no  markets  during  this  year,  and  the  settlers  went  all  the 
way  to  Kickapoo  for  milling. 

In  1839  James  Gingles  and  William  McHard,  with  their  families, 
moved  to  Perryton,  buying  for  $500  the  claim  of  Dr.  Perry  to  the 
west  half  of  section  28.  In  this  year  Louisa  Wood  was  married  to 
Lyman  Tenney.  During  this  year  the  land  sale  occurred,  and  those 
who  could  raise  the  money  entered  a  part  or  all  of  their  claims.  John 
Harris  and  J.  Gingles  moved  into  the  township,  as  did  also  William 
Doak  with  his  father  and  family.  In  1840  William  McIIard  and  James 
Gingles  divided  the  Perry  claim  and  each  built  a  one  and  a  half  story 
frame  house,  about  16x24  feet,  with  two  rooms  below.  These  were 
regarded  at  the  time  as  not  only  handsome  and  commodious  but  luxuri- 
ous. Previous  to  this  time  there  had  been  but  a  home  market  for 
jjroduce,  which  was  conducted  mainly  by  barter.  Drury  and  AVilletts, 
of  New^  Boston,  traded  for  some  wheat  allowing  twenty -five  cents  per 
bushel  in  store  goods.  In  1 844  Hamlet  Cooper  stopjjed  at  Burrall's 
with  his  wife  and  seven  children,  a  yoke  of  oxen  and  cart  and  cow  and 
a  calf.  Out  of  money,  he  was  induced  to  look  at  the  prairie  on  the 
north  side  of  Camp  creek.  It  being  a  very  bad  season,  witli  the 
streams  high,  he  camped  on  the  banks  of  Camp  creek,  and  swimming 
the   creek,  he   examined  the  land   and  determined  to  make   a  claim 


312  HISTORY    OF    MERCER    AXD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

on  section  9.  Waiting  two  weeks  for  the  water  to  fall  so  tliat  he 
could  cross  the  creek,  he  in  the  last  of  June  moved  up  and  made 
the  Urst  settlement  on  the  north  side  of  (Jamp  creek.  At  that 
time  there  were  living  on  the  south  side  of  Camp  creek  the  following 
families,  viz :  John  Black  and  Mr.  Burroughs  on  section  36 ;  Austin 
Wood  and  W.  A.  AVood  on  section  26 ;  Daniel  Ebner  and  William 
Doak  on  section  27;  William  McHard  and  James  Gingles  on  section 
28  ;  Edward  Burrall  and  Robert  Gingles  on  section  29  ;  Philip  Miller 
and  John  Crooks  on  section  30 ;  and  Isaiah  Lockliard  on  section  33. 

In  the  fall  of  1815  Graham  Lee  and  Henry  Lee  settled  on  the  east 
side  of  section  9.  Up  to  this  time  the  settlements  had  been  begun  bv 
claims,  and  but  few  had  been  able  to  enter  the  whole  amount  of  their 
claims,  Edward  Burrall  and  Philip  Miller  being  the  only  known  excep- 
tions. From  this  to  1850.  excepting  the  lands  held  by  military  title, 
the  best  lands  were  taken  up  and  entered,  or  bought  at  the  land  office, 
and  by  1855  no  lands  were  held  by  claims.  The  dates  of  settlements 
subsequent  to  18-15  wdll  be  showTi  by  the  records,  and  therefore  aj-e 
omitted  from  this  history  which  is  only  intended  to  cover  ground  that 
records  will  not  reach.  By  general  consent  the  year  1845  is  considered 
by  the  present  inhabitants  to  terminate  the  years  of  pioneer  settlement. 

The  climate  in  the  early  history  of  Perryton  was  subject  to  very 
severe  changes  from  one  extreme  to  another,  with  such  suddenness  as  to 
surprise  every  one,  and  thjis  often  causing  suffering,  and  even  death, 
when  the  settlers  were  caught  unprepared  away  from  home  on  the 
boundless  prairie.  An  early  settler  relates  of  a  phenomenon  in  1834, 
in  the  fall  from  the  clouds  of  ii-  hea^-y  body  of  frost,  in  veins  and  in  all 
manner  of  strange  shapes.  There  would  be  a  solid  body  of  several 
rods  in  extent  that  killed  all  kinds  of  vegetation,  and  leading  out  of 
this  body,  in  a  zig-zag  course,  a  narrow  strip  of  the  frost  that  left  its 
mark  like  the  course  of  a  prairie  fire.  The  wind,  in  the  fall  season  of 
the  year  especially,  w^ould  veer  about  from  the  south  to  the  northwest, 
piercing  wdth  the  most  intense  cold,  and  the  line,  dry  snow  almost 
blinding  and  cutting  like  needles  those  exposed  to  its  fury.  A  storm  of 
this  kind  is  remembered  bv  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  at  the  Grove,  in 
which  some  persons  were  caught  away  from  home  and  perished  by 
being  frozen.  Abraham  Miller,  Jr. ,  was  once  caught  away  from  home 
on  the  prairie  in  a  stinging  nor'wester,  and  so  badly  frozen  that  for  a 
time  his  life  was  despaired  of.  He  was  utterly  helpless  when  found  by 
his  neighbors,  who  had  become  alarmed  for  his  safety  and  organized  a 
party  of  rescue ;  the  skin  all  peeled  off  from  his  face  and  hands,  and 
the  evil  effects  of  this  freezing  followed  him  to  the  declining  vears  of  a 
remarkably  vigorous  manhood.     An  old  settler,  describing  from  mem- 


PERRYTON   TOWNSHIP.  313 

ory  some  of  the  disastrous  eti'ects  of  a  tierce  hurricane  which  he  wit- 
nessed in  the  north  end  of  Mercer  county  in  lS-J-1,  says  that  the  wliole 
neighborhood  had  scarcely  a  house  left  standino-  for  several  miles. 
The  main  body  of  the  hurricane  was  not  more  than  three  to  five  miles 
wide ;  it  took  Mercer  in  15  north,  and  in  ran^-e  1  or  2,  where  it  did  the 
greatest  damage.  It  came  up  hurriedly  with  a  dark  thunder  cloud, 
accom])anied  with  a  tierce  dash  of  rain,  with  a  dense  fog  or  smoke. 
Two  deaths  and  a  large  number  slightly  injured  were  the  results  so  far 
as  heard  in  Mercer  county.  One  Howard  Trego  was  killed  by  his 
house  falling  on  him,  but  his  wife  and  children  escaped  with  only 
slight  injuries. 

Among  our  first  settlers  there  was  scarcely  ever  any  thought  of 
going  to  law  wath  each  other.  A  certain  code  of  honor  reigned 
supreme.  If  a  neighbor  did  not  pay  his  just  debts  as  soon  as  able, 
his  neighbors  shamed  him  into  paying,  and  if  that  fViiled  the  case  was 
arbitrated,  settled,  and  all  hands  went  home  satisfied  and  jovial  over 
the  result.  If  a  man  inclined  to  act  dishonoi'able,  social  ostracism 
brought  him  around  to  a  sense  of  the  magnitude  of  his  offense,  and  he 
w^as  generally  made  to  feel  that  the  community  would  not  receive  on 
an  equality  any  one  tainted  with  the  suspicion  of  dishonorable  conduct. 
In  the  settlement  of  personal  difficulties,  growing  out  of  insults  and 
other  indignities  offered  by  one  to  another,  a  resort  was  generally  had 
to  a  test  of  prowess  in  a  fair  stand-up  and  knock-down  fight,  the 
respective  friends  of  the  combatants  seeing  that  fair  play  was  had 
until  one  of  the  warriors  cried,  "Hold!  enough!"  If  one  of  the 
parties  was  not  considered  able  to  combat  a  larger  and  more  muscular 
opponent,  sometimes  a  friend  and  sometimes  an  entire  stranger  would 
take  his  place  in  the  ring.  In  those  days  a  coward  was  reckoned 
among  the  contemptible  things  of  earth,  and  if  a  man  exhibited 
cowardice  by  drawing  a  weapon  and  threatening  another,  he  was 
lucky  to  escaj)e  the  indignation  of  the  bystanders  with  a  whole  body. 
Although  the  standard  of  honor  adopted  by  our  early  settlers  would 
liardly  be  regarded  as  just  the  thing  at  the  present  day,  there  was  that 
about  it  which  challenges  our  admiration  in  spite  of  the  condemnation 
put  upon  it  by  modern  civilization. 

The  first  justice  of  the  peace  in  the  Sugar  Grove  precincts  was 
Abraham  Miller,  Jr.  The  first  suit  at  law  ever  had  was  instituted  by  a 
man  named  B.  Lloyd.  An  excuse  for  a  lawsuit  was  a  sufficient  provo- 
cation generally  for  a  free  "pitch  in."  At  the  time  of  this  first  suit 
there  was  but  one  copy  of  the  Illinois  statutes  in  Mercer  county,  and 
that  was  in  the  hands  of  the'  countv  clerk  at  Kew  Boston,  "William 
Drury,    and   it    could    not  be  loaned.      The  justice   begged   time  for 


314  HISTORY    OF    ISrERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

preparation,  but  the  plaintiff  was  rampant  for  litigation  and  would  not 
listen  to  a  proposition  for  postponement.  So  the  justice  was  compelled 
to  ride  some  twelve  miles  to  Eock  Island  county,  where  he  borrowed 
a  statute  of  Daniel  Edgington,  Esq.,  which  copy  was  reluctantly  loaned 
with  the  solemn  stipulation  that  it  was  to  be  returned  in  three  days. 
During  the  time  allowed  him  our  justice  pored  over  this  book  to 
ascertain  the  statutory  duties  enjoined  upon  his  office,  and  in  taking 
notes  for  future  reference.  The  notes  thus  taken  from  the  statutes 
constituted  the  edition  from  which  our  justice  dispensed  the  law,  and 
were  used  for  a  number  of  years  by  him,  until  he  was  fortunate  enough 
to  secure  a  printed  edition.  AVhen  copying  from  the  borrowed  book, 
one  night  he  went  to  sleep  over  his  labor  and  upset  the  inkstand  over 
the  sacred  volume,  which  so  terrified  him  that  he  licked  awav  with 
his  tongue  until  he  had  saved  the  blotted  pages  from  entire  obliter- 
ation. 

Recurring  once  more  to  the  wild  animals  and  game  found  by  the 
earlier  settlers  of  tliis  region,  as  bearing  upon  the  question  of  food,  I 
will  enumerate  such  as  are  suggested  to  my  memory  and  spoken  of  by 
the  pioneers.  Deer  were  in  great  abundance,  wild  turkeys,  prairie 
chickens,  scpiirrels  (the  gray  and  the  large  fox),  pheasants,  partridges 
or  quails,  and  the  curlew  and  plover.  There  were  plenty  of  wild 
geese  and  ducks,  pellicans,  swans,  coons,  rabbits,  large  wolves,  and 
the  prairie  wolf  or  cayota.  The  large  wolf  and  the  small  frequently 
crossed  and  the  half  breed  made  a  very  troublesome  animal.  AVildcats 
or  catamounts,  a  chance  panther,  mostly  in  the  heavily  timbered 
bottoms,  bears,  though  not  plenty,  raccoons,  badgers,  and  opossums. 
There  were  ground  squirrels,  owls,  hawks,  eagles,  turkey  buzzards, 
parokeets,  and  large  snow-white  owls.  Of  fish  there  was  an  abundance 
of  all  fresh-water  varieties,  such  as  the  catfish,  pike,  pickerel,  bass, 
perch,  drum,  buffalo,  red-horse,  sucker,  dog-fish,  flying  fish,  sunfish,  and 
salmon.  Abraham  Miller,  Jr.,  says  that  he  has  killed  with  the  gig 
in  the  Edwards  river  pike  weighing  fifty  pounds,  and  that  he  built 
a  fish-trap  in  the  same  river  by  which  he  secured  barrels  and  barrels  of 
fish,  some  of  which  he  took  to  IvnoxWlle  for  sale.  One  method 
adopted  by  the  settlers  for  trapping  deer  was  by  what  was  called 
fire-hunting,  in  a  canoe. 

Of  the  domestic  animals  raised  by  the  first  settlers,  it  is  a  difficult 
matter  to  give  anything  like  a  pedigree.  They  were  of  various  kinds 
and  grades,  such  as  the  old  pioneers  happened  to  have  on  hand  when 
they  landed  and  settled  down  in  their  backwoods  homes.  At  that 
early  date  but  very  little  attention  had  been  paid  to  blooded  stock,  and 
hogs  and  cattle  were  selected  more  on  account  of  their  qualities  for 


PEERYTON    TOWNSHIP.  315 

picking  their  own  living  in  the  woods  and  on  the  prairies.  George 
Miller,  Sr.,  brought  some  fine  brood  mares  with  him  to  Sugar  Grove, 
from  Montgomery  county,  Indiana,  in  the  fall  of  1834.  They  were 
originally  the  foal  of  a  Goliah  dam,  by  a  McKinney  roan  sire,  crossed 
by  a  Smiling  Call  horse,  then  by  a  cross  fi'om  a  Roanoke  sire,  and 
then  next  crossed  with  the  Copper  Bottom  and  the  Flag.  This  stock 
was  large,  well  proportioned,  docile,  and  of  line  spirit,  and  well  suited 
for  the  early  settlers.  One  Joseph  Ticlmor,  a  young  man  from  Ohio, 
brought  the  first  Berkshire  hogs  to  Mercer  county,  and  made  quite  a 
speculation  out  of  them  in  the  Sugar  Grove  settlements.  George 
Miller,  Sr.,  brought  from  Indiana  with  him  a  lot  of  hogs  that  were  a 
cross  between  the  large  China  and  the  large  white  Shaker  hog;  they 
were  long,  large,  heavy-boned,  and  thought  to  be  as  easily  fattened  as 
the  China.  Abraham  Miller  killed  one  of  this  breed  in  the  early 
history  of  the  Sugar  Grove  settlement  that  weighed  over  five  hundred 
pounds,  and  thinks  he  could  have  been  made  to  weigh  seven  hundred. 
Later,  a  few  pigs  were  introduced  of  the  Byefield  and  Bedford  stock. 
The  Berkshire  was  regarded  as  a  failure.  The  stock  of  cattle  were  a 
mixed  breed,  between  the  old  scrub  and  the  Durham,  Patton,  etc. 
They  made  fine,  large  work  oxen,  good  milkers,  and  excellent  beef 
The  sheep  w^ere  of  the  commonest  stock,  and  no  more  were  kept  than 
answered  the  purpose  of  making  the  necessary  clothing.  The  little 
flocks  of  sheep  w^ere  highly  esteemed  by  the  pioneers,  because  of  their 
usefulness  in  furnishing  clothing,  and  they  were  carefully  protected 
from  the  depredations  of  the  wolves,  as  they  seemed  to  have  a  strong 
hankering  after  mutton.  This  appetite  resulted  in  the  destruction  of 
the  entire  race  of  the  large  wolves,  and  almost  all  of  the  prairie  wolves, 
by  the  w^riter,  whose  serious  loss  in  sheep  compelled  him  to  resort  to 
an  extensive  use  of  strychnine,  used  in  bait  to  accomplish  their  destruc- 
tion. After  1845  the  wolves  had  become  so  thoroughly  extinguished 
as  to  occasion  no  more  losses  or  annoyance  to  owners  of  sheep. 

Deer  were  quite  plentiful  in  the  early  history  of  Perryton,  so  much 
so  as  to  furnish  a  large  portion  of  the  meat  required  for  the  table.  Of 
the  deer  and  their  habits,  much  could  be  written  wdiich  would  no  doubt 
prove  an  interesting  part  of  this  record,  but  I  will  desist  with  the  sim- 
ple relation  a  fight  between  two  buck  deer,  witnessed  by  a  pioneer  near 
where  the  town  of  Millersburg  now  stands.  When  first  noticed,  they 
were  plunging  and  pushing  at  each  otlier,  with  horns  interlocked  and  in 
a  manner  peculiar  to  these  animals.  Their  horns  could  be  heard  rat- 
tling against  each  other  quite  distinctly  for  a  distance  of  three  hundred 
yards.  They  were  both  large  bucks,  one  of  them  a  monster  of  his 
species,  and  the  struggle  between  them  a  fierce  one.     After  watching 


316  HISTORY    OF    aiERCEE    AXD    HENDERSON   LOUXTIES. 

with  deep  interest  for  about  one  hour,  our  informant  closed  in  to  a  dis- 
tance of  about  forty  yards  and  awaited  an  opportunity  to  get  a  good 
square  shot.  From  the  extraordinary  size  of  the  larger  buck  he  was 
satisfied  that  it  was  the  same  one  that  had  acquired  the  designation  of 
"The  Town  Buck"  from  the  hunters  in  the  settlement,  because  of  his 
great  size,  and  because  of  frequent  yisits  to  the  township,  and  suc- 
cessful efforts  in  always  escaping.  To  capture  such  a  prize  would  have 
been  regarded  as  a  great  honor  among  the  hunters,  so  our  relator  was 
watchiiil  and  wary.  The  bucks  kept  continually  lunging  at  each  other 
so  that  it  was  impossible  to  get  a  safe  shot.  Finally  the  smaller  one 
broke  away  and  ran  oft'  pursued  by  the  larger.  Knowing  their  habits, 
pursuit  was  given  and  the  ' '  Town  Buck  "  soon  fell  a  victim  to  the 
rapacity  of  the  hunter.  The  fame  of  this  aft'air  spread  for  a  great 
distance,  as  the  buck  was  one  of  the-  largest  ever  seen  by  hunters  who 
had  grown  gray  in  pioneer  life. 

The  tribes  of  Indians  roaming  about  Mercer  county  in  its  first  set- 
tlement were  the  Sacs  and  Foxes.  The  Fox  tribe,  about  the  time  of 
the  Black  Hawk  war,  formed  a  union  with  the  Sacs,  and  became 
a  tribe  known  as  the  Fox  and  Sac.  They  were  large,  strong,  active, 
brave  and  warlike,  and  used  all  of  the  weapons  of  Indian  warfare  with 
great  skill.  This  tribe  was  formerly  headed  by  the  famous  warrior 
Black  Hawk.  After  the  war  known  as  the  Black  Hawk  war,  he  was 
degraded  from  his  chieftainship  because  of  his  counsel  in  favor  of 
peace.  Abraham  Miller  relates  that  he  saw  Black  Hawk,  with  his 
twelye  braves,  who  always  accompanied  him  after  his  downfall,  strike 
their  evening  camp  on  the  bank  of  the  Mississippi,  at  the  mouth  of 
Sturgeon  Bay,  near  Xew  Boston.  They  were  on  a  last  visit  to  the 
grave  of  Black  Hawk's  daughter,  who  was  buried  there  in  a  grove  of 
black  oaks.  For  their  evening  meal  they  boiled  a  pole-cat  which  they 
did  not  even  trouble  themselves  to  take  the  hair  oft',  but  the  hair  sim- 
mered to  the  surface  of  the  stew.  When  sufticiently  cooked,  Black 
Hawk  gave  to  each  a  share  of  the  savory  meal ;  the  first  received  the 
head,  and  so  on  until  all  were  served.  Black  Hawk  then  wore  about 
his  neck  a  long  string  of  silver  medals,  which  had  been  presented  to 
him  by  the  government,  and  by  English  fur  companies.  Occasionally 
some  few  Miamis  and  Potawottomies  wandered  through  the  county, 
but  not  to  remain.  The  headquarters  of  the  AVinnebagos  for  the 
winter  season  was  on  the  banks  of  tlie  Mississippi,  in  Mercer  county, 
a  short  distance  above  jS^ew  Boston.  They  could  there  winter  their 
loonies  better  than  elsewhere,  in  consequence  of  the  tall  grass  that  grew 
along  the  bays.  Sugar  Grove  was  a  great  camping-ground  for  the 
Indians  at  one  time,  especially  on  the  south  side  along  Edwards  riyer. 


PERRYTON    TOWNSHIP.  317 

The  Indian  name  of  tliis  was  "Big  Turtle  river."  When  the  Miller's 
first  settled  at  the  Grove,  the  Indians  had  a  large  encampment  there 
for  making  sugar,  with  quite  a  large  wigwam  made  of  2:»oles  and 
covered  with  bark. 

The  early  history  of  Perryton,  thus  hastily  and  briefly  written  at 
moments  of  leisure,  and  under  many  adverse  circumstances  pertaining 
to  lack  of  data  and  conflict  of  facts,  will,  I  hope,  possess  the  certain 
interest  always  attaching  to  the  record  of  that  which  has  passed  away, 
never  to  return.  It  is  the  reflection  rather  of  a  period  of  pioneer  life 
that  long  ago  ceased  to  exist,  the  mirror  of  an  irrevocable  past,  the  grim 
romance  of  the  adventurous  life  of  the  early  settler.  None  of  us  who 
were  living  and  moved  in  the  scenes  of  pioneer  settlement  ever,  in 
brightest  anticipation,  contemplated  the  possibility  of  such  changes  as 
have  been  brought  by  the  advancing  tide  of  civilization.  Never  in 
fondest  dreams  did  the  pioneer  picture  the  transition  that  has  actually 
taken  place.  The  flelds  have  been  made  to  bloom  and  yield  most 
bountifully  of  the  products  which  make  nations  prosperous,  thus  con- 
tributing to  their  happiness.  Many  of  those  who  are  now  enjoying  the 
fruits  of  the  labors  of  the  early  pioneers  have  but  little  conception  of 
what  it  cost  in  hardships  and  privations  to  open  up  the  wilderness,  and 
when  they  read  of  the  trials  encountered,  the  adventures  endured,  to 
accomplish  this  result,  they  can  only  realize  it  in  the  light  of  a  pleasant 
romance.  While  the  rising  generation  are  amassing  wealth  in  a  life  of 
comparative  luxury,  we,  the  earlier  settlers  yet  living,  experience  a 
lively  sense  of  gratitude  in  the  thought  that  our  hands  contributed  so 
materially  to  the  building  up  of  the  present  condition  of  prosperity  and 
liajjpiness  of  those  who  are  now  occupying  the  beautiful  homes  and 
magnificent  farms  to  be  found  in  Perryton. 

[To  the  foregoing,  contributed  by  Mr.  Lee,  we  append  a  few  notes 
relative  to  the  organizations  of  the  township. — Ed.] 

HAMLET. 

The  village  of  Hamlet,  located  one  mile  south  of  the  north  line  and 
three  miles  west  of  the  east  line  of  the  township,  was  laid  out  on  the 
land  of  Josiah  and  Capt.  D.  M.  Candor,  in  1868,  and  was  christened 
Hamlet,  in  honor  of  Hamlet  Cooper,  now  deceased,  one  of  the  very 
first  of  the  pioneers  to  locate  in  this  section  of  the  country.  The  prog- 
ress of  the  village  has  been  slow,  owing  to  its  proximity  to  Reynolds, 
the  nearest  railroad  town,  but  it  is  one  of  those  quiet  country  villages 
where  the  farmers  in  the  community  go  for  their  mail  and  spend  a 
short  time  in  social  converse.  The  first  store  erected  in  the  place  was 
that  of  Josiah  and  Capt.  D.  M.  Candor,  who  dealt  in  general  merchan- 


318  HISTORY    OF   REERCEE   AND   HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

dise.  The  latter  of  the  Candor  brothers  has  at  this  writmg  withdrawn 
from  the  firm  ;  the  former  jet  continues  in  the  business.  Lloyd  Girton 
opened  the  second  store.  The  first  blacksmith  shop  was  opened  here 
by  Thomas  Lewis.  The  business  houses  of  the  village  are  one  harness 
shop,  one  store  of  general  merchandise,  by  Josiah  Candor,  one  drug 
store,  by  Dr.  Criswell,  one  wagon  and  blacksmitli  shop,  by  A.  T. 
Hooples  and  D.  M.  Dumbell  and  son.  The  village  has  a  good  local 
trade,  and  has  a  population  of  about  125  persons.  The  postoffice  now 
kept  at  Hamlet  was  first  established  in  this  neighborhood  in  1851:.  The 
office  was  first  kept  by  Graham  Lee,  who  held  it  till  1869,  when  it  was 
moved  to  Hamlet,  and  Josiah  Condor  appointed  postmaster.  He  has 
since  continued  to  hold  the  office  without  cessation. 

The  Presbyterian  church  of  Hamlet  was  organized  in  1870.  Pre- 
vious to  the  organization  here  the  members  of  this  faith  held  their 
membership  in  the  societies  of  the  surrounding  country,  the  greater 
part  at  Millersburg.  The  first  members  that  constituted  the  church 
were  thirty-two  in  number.  The  society  was  organized  by  Thomas  M. 
Wilson,  W.  S.  Dool,  and  T.  R.  Johnson.  Previous  to  the  organization 
they  had  preaching  in  the  school-house  one  mile  west  of  the  village, 
but  not  regularly.  Those  present  at  the  organization  were  :  F.  A. 
Sherer,  moderator;  William  S.  Dool,  C.  B.  Bristol,  Daniel  Kelly, 
T.  R.  Johnson,  and  William  W.  Morehead.  The  elders  were  :  Thomas 
Candor  and  J.  M.  Gilmore.  Of  the  thirty-two  members  who  consti- 
tuted the  organization  in  the  beginning,  fifteen  were  dismissed  from 
the  society  at  Edgington  Mills,  Pock  Island  county ;  thirteen  from  the 
Millersburg  society;  the  remaining  four  were  not  members  of  any 
jjarticular  society  here  at  that  time.  The  first  elders  appointed  were : 
Cornelius  Swartwout,  J.  S.  Gilmore,  and  John  Montgomery.  The 
present  elders  are :  William  H.  Wlieaton,  D.  M.  Candor,  and  John 
Montgomery.  The  present  membership  is  eighty-five.  The  society 
has  a  very  neat  frame  church,  36x50,  erected  at  a  cost  of  $3,000. 
Since  its  organization  it  has  supported  and  kept  in  operation  a  live 
Sunday  school.  The  ministers  who  have  labored  here  are  T.  M.Wilson 
and  H.  W.  Fisk,  since  the  organization;  the  former  from  1870  to 
1872;  the  latter  from  1873,  and  is  at  this  time  pastor  of  this  charge. 
The  membership  of  this  society  represents  most  of  the  first  families  in 
this  community.     This  is  the  only  church  organization  in  the  village. 

There  is  another  Presbyterian  society  in  the  township,  south  of 
Camp  creek,  known  as  the  Perryton  Presbyterian  church  society.  This 
society  was  organized  in  1871.  The  first  meeting  preliminary  to  the 
organization  was  held  February  18  of  the  same  year.     It  is  connected 


PERRYTON   TOWNSHIP.  319 

with  the  society  at  Hamlet.  At  the  above  meeting  a  committee  was 
appointed,  consisting  of  J.  Harris,  William  Doak,  and  Cruser  Gray, 
for  the  purpose  of  erecting  a  church-house.  This  committee  located 
the  church  at  Gingles'  Corner,  in  conformity  with  the  will  of  the  mem- 
bers. The  church  is  a  neat,  frame  edifice,  erected  at  a  cost  of  $2, 100. 
It  was  dedicated  in  1872,  out  of  debt.  The  society  at  its  organization 
numbered  thirty  communicants ;  but  from  various  causes,  over  which 
the  church  has  no  control,  it  now  numbers  only  twelve  active  members. 
Its  pastors  are  the  same  as  those  of  the  Hamlet  society.  Previous  to 
effecting  the  organization,  the  people  of  this  faith  held  their  meetings 
at  the  school-house  near  by,  but  like  the  members  of  the  societ}-  at 
Hamlet,  were  members  of  the  societies  of  the  same  faith  at  other 
places.  The  first  members  who  constituted  the  society  were  Samuel 
and  Frank  McHard,  Mrs.  Jane  Martha  McHard,  Martha  Blue,  Sarah 
Doak,  Mary  J.  and  J.  Harris,  Mary  Guffy,  Mary  A.  Bristow,  and 
"William  McHard,  Sr.  Tlie  society  supports  a  very  good  Sunday 
school. 

The  only  Baptist  church  in  the  township  was  located  in  1871,  near 
where  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  now  stands.  It  was  organized 
in  1869.  Almost  fi"om  the  first  settlement  of  the  township  the  Baptist 
people  were  represented,  but  built  no  church-house ;  they  held  their 
meetings  in  private  houses  and  school-houses,  and  held  their  member- 
ship principally  at  Edgington,  in  Rock  Island  county.  Their  first  and 
only  church  building  in  the  township  was  a  frame,  erected  in  1869,  two 
and  a  half  miles  east  of  Hamlet,  where  it  held  its  meetings  till  1879, 
when  the  society  moved  its  building  to  Reynolds,  Rock  Island  county, 
where  the  members  of  the  society  now  hold  their  membership.  The 
first  minister  of  the  society  in  Perryton  township  was  John  Tittering- 
ton.  The  cost  of  the  church  as  erected  in  Perryton  township  was 
$3,000;  size,  30x38.  It  always  supijorted  a  live  Sunday  school  in 
connection  with  the  church. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  like  the  Presbyterian,  came  with 
the  first  settlers.  They  held  their  meetings  in  the  pioneer  days  at 
private  houses,  and  latfer  at  the  school-house  till  1869,  when  they  built 
their  present  church-house  two  miles  east  of  Hamlet.  It  cost  $2,100, 
and  in  size  is  30  X  44.  At  the  time  it  was  erected  the  society  numbered 
thiity-six  communicants,  now  numbers  twelve.  It  has  at  various 
times  lost  man}-  valuable  members  by  removals,  but  the  greatest  loss 
was  caused  by  the  organization  of  a  like  society  at  Reynolds.  The 
building  committee  were  H.  Ketzel,  S.  Honeycut  and  Holiday.  The 
present  pastor  is  Rev.  J.  Small;  class  leader,  Albion  Nichols ;  trustees. 


320  HISTORY    OF   ]MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

H.  Ketzel,  George  Hauck,  and  Thomas  Yannatta.  Among  its  mem- 
bers have  been  and  are  many  influential  and  prosperous  citizens  of 
Perryton, 

Among  the  organizations  of  Perryton  township,  none  are  more 
deservino-  of  mention  than  the  Library  Association  of  Hamlet.  It  was 
established  in  1879,  with  a  view  of  furnishing  reading  matter  at  a  small 
cost  to  those  who  wished  to  invest  in  the  enterprise.  The  iirst  officers 
were :  President,  Graham  Lee ;  Secretary,  Edward  Hollister.  Mr. 
Lee  still  holds  the  office  of  president,  W.  C.  Vandalsem  is  present 
active  secretary.  The  first  directors  were :  D.  M.  Candor,  H.  W.  Fisk, 
and  P.  W.  Dumbell.  The  present  directors  are;  P.  W.  Dumbell, 
H.  W.  Fisk,  EHsha  Lee,  D.  M.  Candor.  Librarian,  Dr.  M.  Criswell. 
The  association  requires  an  admission  fee  of  one  dollar  to  become  a 
member  of  the  society,  and  after  that  each  member  pays  an  annual 
fee  of  fifty  cents,  and  has  the  use  of  any  book  in  the  library  without 
further  charge.  The  income,  up  to. the  present  time,  has  been  about 
$205,  much  of  which  has  been  raised  by  entertainments.  The 
library  now  contains  213  volumes,  all  of  which  have  been  selected  with 
great  care.  It  requires  three  of  the  directors  to  place  a  volume  on  its 
shelves.     The  association  is  in  a  prosperous  condition. 

The  Mutual  Fire  and  Lightning  Insurance  Company  was  organized 
at  Hamlet  in  1878,  under  the  insurance  laws  of  Illinois.  Josiah  Can- 
dor and  Graham  Lee  were  the  principal  leaders  in  effecting  the  organ- 
ization. The  first  officers  of  the  company  were :  Graham  Lee, 
president,  and  Josiah  Candor,  treasurer.  The  subscribed  capital  was 
$02,01:6.65.  The  present  board  of  directors  is:  Graham  Lee  (presi- 
dent), H.  Ketzel  (secretary),  W.  Wilmerton,  J.  I.  Everett,  G.  D.  Miller, 
David  Mayhew,  E.  S.  Montgomery,  William  Wait,  J.  B.  McConnell, 
and  G.  Peate.  The  number  of  policies  now  out  is  146,  with  an  aggre- 
gate capital  of  $304,720.  The  company,  during  its  organization  has 
not  met  with  a  single  loss,  hence  their  insurance  during  the  time  has 
cost  them  nothing.  This  has  proved  the  best  system  of  insurance  to 
the  farmer  of  Hamlet  and  vicinity  ever  adopted  by  them. 

Township  organization  was  efiected  in  1855.  The  first  town-meet- 
ing was  held  in  1855,  at  Gingles'  corners.  Graham  Lee  was  appointed 
moderator,  and  S.  D.  Trego  made  clerk.  In  1856  Wm.  McIIard  was 
made  moderator,  and  S.  D.  Trego  clerk  of  the  meeting.  At  this 
meeting  township  organization  was  adopted  and  officers  elected.  The 
following  is  a  list  of  all  the  officers  elected  to  the  present. 

The  justices  of  the  peace  of  Perryton  township,  so  far  as  we  were 
able  to  make  u\)  the  list  from  the  county  records,  are  as  follows : 
Edward  Burrall,  elected  April  30,  1838,  and  resigned  April  6,  1839 ; 


p 


■t  J« 


5,   ;.  ,*■*** 


JACOB    BEAR. 


PEERYTON   TOWNSHIP. 


323 


William  Moore,  elected  June,  1842;  Joseph  G.  Gilmore,  IS-tT;  Edward 
Biirrall,  1847 ;  C.  G.  Taylor,  1S49  ;  J.  G.  Gilmore,  1858 ;  Lee  Ilolister, 
1858 ;  Lee  Holister,  1862  ;  J.  G.  Gilmore,  1862 ;  J.  G.  Gilmore, 
1870;  Lee  Holister,  1870;  J.  G.  Gilmore,  1S7J:;  Lee  Holister,  1874; 
John  Gingles,  1877 ;  J.  G.  Gilmore,  1881. 


So 

OS 

Supervisor. 

Clerk. 

Assessor. 

Collector. 

1856 

Graham  Lee 

Graham  Lee 

J.  C.  Gihiif)re 

J.  G.  Gihnore 

J.  C.  Gilmore 

J.  (i.  Gihnore 

J  (J  Gihnrtre 

S  D  Trego 

William  MeHard 

William  McHard 

William  MeHard 

William  McHard 

William  MeHard 

Aaron  Thompson 

Aaron  Thompson 

William  MeHard 

H.  J.Walter 

J.  C.  Gilmore. 

,]     Cx    ririllTini'P 

1857 

S.  D  Trego 

1858 

S.  D.  Trego 

1859 

S  D  Trego  

William  Clark 

ISfiO 

S.  D.  Trego 

William  Clark. 
M'illiam  Clark 

18(U 

S.  D.  Trego 

18G'' 

L  W   Hanes 

A\'illiMni  C'l^flr 

1803 

L.  W    Hanes 

G   D  Crabs 

1864 

Wilham  Doak 

L.  W.  Hanes 

G  D  Crabs 

1865 

A\'illiam  Doak 

H.  J  \\'alter 

Charles  York 

Josiah  Candor 

Meitrs  Wait . 

(;   I)  Grabs 

1866 

L  V  Willitts 

Theodore  Guffv 

J  M  Gaily 

William  MeHard 

18G7 

Thomas  Love 

Thomas  Love 

C,   T)  Cnil)'; 

1868  ■ 

Frank  Me  Hard 

.John  Gingles 

G.  D.  Crabs 

John  Ball .'. 

Lee  Holister 

Charles  York 

David  Bine 

David  Blue 

1869 

G.  D.  Grabs 

J   R  Ball 

1870 

William  Doak 

John  Gingles 

1871 

William  Doak 

('  C'  Walters 

C   Mf  1 11  tire 

1872 

William  Doak 

G.  D.  Walter 

C  B  Hal«tead 

1873 

William  Doak 

H.  J.  Walter 

David  Blue 

C  B  Halstead 

1874 

G  D  Miller 

.John  Gingles 

Theodore  Guffy 

D.  Blue 

TJavId  T^lnp 

1875 

G.  D.  Miller 

L.  Girton 

A  .T  Birrkett 

1876 

D.  :M.  Candor 

L.  Girton 

D.  Blue 

D.  Blue 

D.  Blue 

A.Kendall    

1877 

William  Doak 

L.  Girton 

J    ITMrtmmi 

1878 

William  Doak 

L.  Girton 

1879 

William  Doak 

L.  Girton 

J  McDonald 

1880 

G.  D  Miller 

M  Criswell 

J.  (i.  Gilmore 

A.  Kendall 

TTfOr'^o  Hmtiio^'; 

1881 

G.  D.  iiiller 

G.  D.  Miller 

J.  T.  Hartman 

G.  F.  Hartman 

L.  H.  Cooper. 

1882 

A.  Kendall 

The  census  report  of  1880  gives  the  population  of  Perryton  town- 
'ship  987.  The  taxable  property  of  1881  was  valued  at  |367,134;  the 
real  estate  at  $281,248;  and  personal  property  at  $85,886.  In  1881 
there  was  collected  taxes  for  general  state  purposes  and  schools, 
$2,091.60;  county  tax,  $987.61 ;  town,  $191.61 ;  road  and  bridge  tax, 
$396.66;  bond  tax,  $987.61;  district  school  tax,  $2,250.28;  dog  tax, 
$134. 

Perryton  township  is  located  along  the  north  line  of  the  county, 
and  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Kock  Island  county,  on  the  east  by 
Pre-emption,  south  by  Mercer,  and  west  by  Duncan.  It  is  divided 
into  two  sections  by  Camp  creek,  which  enters  the  township  on  the 
south  half  of  section  24,  and  flows  west  across  and  out  of  the  town- 
ship on  section  19.  The  country  for  some  distance  on  either  side  of 
this  creek  is  very  broken ;  but  both  north  and  south  Perryton  is  a  fine 
farming  country.  In  the  neighborhood  of  Hamlet,  the  country  can- 
not, for  farming  purposes,  be  excelled  by  any  locality  in  the  county. 
It  is  peopled  by  a  well-to-do  class  of  farmers,  who  jjride  themselves  in 
having  good  improvements,  and  many  of  them  have  their  farms  so 
19 


324  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND   HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

beautified  by  fine  buildings,  groves  and  lawns,  as  to  attract  the  atten- 
tion of  lovers  of  the  beautiful.  The  farm  of  Graham  Lee  is  the  most 
beautiful  farm  in  the  township,  and  justly  merits  the  title,  "The  Ever- 
green Home."  There  are  a  number  of  farms  both  north  and  south  of 
Camp  creek  that  need  to  be  mentioned,  but  the  owners  names  of  most 
of  them  will  be  found  in  the  biographical  department  of  the  township. 
The  stock  of  the  township  in  every  particular  will  compare  with  that 
of  every  other  section  of  the  county. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Meigs  Wait  is  a  native  of  Switzerland  county,  Indiana,  boi-n  in 
1826.  His  parents  were  Henry  and  Sophia  (Wells)  Wait,  the  former 
a  nati^'e  of  Grand  Isle  county,  Vermont,  and  served  as  a  soldier  in  the 
war  of  1812  at  the  battle  of  Plattsburg,  and  died  February  9,  18S2,  at 
the  age  of  eighty-nine  years.  His  father,  Gardiner  Wait,  grandfather 
of  Meigs,  was  ,a  native  of  Wales,  and  came  to  America  at  an  early 
date  and  settled  in  Grand  Isle  county,  Yermont,  and  served  in  the 
Conthiental  army  as  a  soldier,  and  died  about  the  year  1788.  Henry 
Wait,  by  this  marriage  with  Sophia  Wells,  raised  a  family  of  eight 
children :  William,  Sarah,  Ruth,  Rhoda,  Harriet,  Jacob,  Lucretia, 
Lavina  (deceased).  Meigs  Wait  was  married  in  Switzerland  county, 
Indiana,  in  1856,  to  Caroline  Robinson,  of  Indiana,  daughter  of 
Thomas  and  Mary  Robinson,  and  emigrated  to  Effingham  county, 
Illinois,  in  1864,  where  they  both  died.  Mr.  Wait  has  by  this  mar- 
riage two  children:  Frank  G.  and  Katie,  whose  mother  died  in  1862. 
In  1863  Mr.  Wait  was  married  a  second  time,  to  Miss  Edith  Clark,  of 
Pennsylvania,  born  in  1842,  and  daughter  of  William  and  Mary  Clark, 
both  of  Pennsylvania.  They  came  to  Mercer  county  in  1853,  and 
located  near  New  Boston,  where  they  remained  only  a  few  months, 
when  they  moved  to  Perryton  township.  There  they  both  died,  the 
former  In  1882,  aged  seventy-seven  years ;  the  later  in  1875,  aged 
sixty-six  years,  both  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He 
was  a  local  preacher.  By  this  marriage  Mr.  Wait  has  seven  children  : 
Harry,  Ernest,  Daisy,  Bertie,  Marion,  Guy,  and  Mark.  His  wife  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He  has  a  beautiful  and 
well  improved  farm  of  400  acres,  located  at  the  north  line  of  Mercer 
county,  one  mile  west  of  Reynolds.  He  raises  on  his  farm  thorough- 
bred cattle,  and  feeds  cattle  for  the  market.  His  hogs  are  of  the  best 
breeds.  He  does  the  largest  business  in  buying  and  shipping  stock, 
es])ecially  cattle,  of  any  man  in  Perryton  township.  The  Wait  family 
came  here  as  early  settlers.  They  arc  all  well-to-do  and  highly 
respected  citizens. 


PEREYTOX   TOWNSHIP.  325 

Lee  Holister  is  a  native  of  Connecticut,  born  in  Litchfield  county 
in  1S22,  son  of  Horace  and  Sarali  (Lee)  Holister,  both  natives  of  Con- 
necticut. His  mother  died  in  Connecticut  in  1830,  aged  thirty-nine 
years.  His  father  came  to  Macoupin  county,  Illinois,  in  1864,  where 
he  died  in  1866,  aged  seventy-five  years.  He  was  by  vocation  a  farmer. 
He  and  wife  were  members  of  the  Congregational  church.  Mr.  Lee 
Holister  was  reared  in  Connecticut  where  he  remained  till  he  was 
twenty-four  years  old.  He  then  came  to  Illinois  and  located  in  Peoria 
county  where  he  remained  till  1856,  when  he  came  to  Mercer  county 
and  located  where  he  now  resides.  He  was  married  in  1847  to  Esther 
Barker,  of  Greene  county,  l^ew  York,  daughter  of  Charles  and  Armina 
(Smith)  Barker,  both  of  New  York.  They  came  to  Peoria  county, 
Illinois,  in  1846,  where  they  are  yet  residing;  the  former  is  noAv 
seventy -eight  years  old,  the  latter  seventy-seven.  Mr.  LIulister  has  by 
this  marriage  four  children :  Minnie,  Edward,  Clara,  and  Alice.  He 
and  wife  and  three  children  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church  at 
Hamlet.  He  has  a  well  improved  farm  of  eighty  acres,  one-fourth  of 
a  mile  west  of  the  callage  of  Hamlet,  and  keeps  a  good  grade  of  tarm 
stock.     He  has  held  the  office  of  justice  for  the  past  eighteen  years. 

George  D.  Crabs  is  a  native  of  Jefferson  county,  Ohio,  born 
Decembei-  11,  1824,  and  is  a  son  of  Philip  and  Sarah  (Duffield)  Crabs, 
both  of  Pennsvlvania :  his  father  of  Westmoreland  countv,  and  mother 
of  Cumberland  county.  They  emigrated  to  Ohio  with  their  parents, 
where  they  were  married.  The  latter,  Philip  Crab's  wife,  died  in  Ohio 
in  1836,  at  the  age  of  fifty-five  years ;  the  former  came  to  Pock  Island 
county  in  1858,  and  died  there  in  1878,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years. 
He  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  was  wounded  by  the  enemy 
in  an  engagement  near  Lake  Erie ;  at  another  time  by  one  of  the  guards 
who  accidentally  hit  him  while  shooting  at  a  pig  a  negro  was  trying  to 
force  across  his  beat.  By  trade  he  w^as  a  carj^enter  and  joiner.  His 
father  was  Abraham,  born  in  1767,  and  died  February,  1836 ;  his 
mother,  Thankful  Crabs,  was  born  in  August,  1775,  and  died  in  Sep- 
tember, 1814.  G.  D.  Crabs  received  a  fair  educational  training  in  his 
boyhood.  He  was  reared  to  the  trade  of  carpenter  and  joiner,  which 
he  followed  for  a  livelihood  till  1859  when  he  located  in  Mercer  county 
where  he  now  resides,  and  engaged  in  farming.  He  emigi-ated  with 
his  family  in  1844,  from  Ohio  to  Rock  Island  county,  where  he  resided 
till  he  located  in  Perry  ton  township.  He  was  married  July,  1850,  to 
Sarah  B.  Ilazlitt,  of  New  York,  who  was  born  in  1827,  and  is  the 
daughter  of  Alexander  and  Sarah  (McKay)  Ilazlitt,  bi^th  of  New  Jersey. 
They  emigrated  to  Illinois  in  1838,  and  located  in  Rock  Island  county 
in  1839,  where  the  father  died  in  1849,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two ;  the 


326  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HEIiTDERSON    COUISTTIES. 

motlier  in  1842,  at  the  age  of  fiftv-seven.  Both  were  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  chnrch.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crabs  have  a  family  of  seven 
children :  Armenia,  Ida,  Elda,  Sarah  J. ,  Emerson,  Amy  T. ,  and  Fay. 
He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  He  has  a  well 
improved  farm  of  120  acres,  located  one  mile  west  of  the  village  of 
Hamlet.  His  stock,  consisting  of  ISTorman  and  Morgan  horses  and 
short  horn  cattle,  is  of  the  best  grades. 

AViLLiAJsi  Braix,  the  subject  of  this  life  sketch,  is  a  native  of  Eng- 
land, born  in  1807,  son  of  John  and  Sarah  Brain,  who  were  born  and 
reared  in  their  native  country  and  there  died.  Our  subject's  father  was 
a  boatman.  AVilliam  Brain  came  to  America  in  1832,  stopped  for  a 
time  in  Connecticut,  then  went  to  New  York  where  he  remained  till 
183-1,  when  he  returned  to  his  native  home.  In  18-13  he  returned  to 
New  York,  remained  five  years,  came  to  Illinois  and  located  where  he 
now  resides.  By  trade  he  is  both  wagonmaker  and  carpenter.  He 
has  been  married  twice,  first  to  Elizabeth  Sproson,  of  England,  in 
1832,  by  whom  he  has  three  children:  Sarah  A.,  Anna,  and  Elizabeth. 
The  mother  of  these  died  in  18(31.  He  was  married  again  in  l.'^62 
to  Mrs.  Mary  Hal  stead,  foniierly  Miss  Mary  Cooper,  and  dauo-hter  of 
Thomas  and  Ann  Cooper.  She  is  a  native  of  England.  Mr.  Brain 
has  a  tine  farm  of  240  acres,  well  improved  and  well  stocked. 

J.  G.  Gilmore's  parents,  Pobert  and  Elizabeth  Gilmore,  came  to 
Illinois  with  the  pioneers  and  located  in  AVarren  county,  eight  miles 
northeast  of  Monmouth.  The  former  was  born  in  Chester  county,  the 
latter  in  Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania.  They  emigrated  to 
Jefferson  county,  Ohio,  with  their  parents,  where  they  were  married. 
He  was  a  tanner  by  trade,  but  followed  farming  exclusively  in  Illinois. 
In  1820  he  was  a  member  of  the  Ohio  legislature,  and  at  one  time  was 
colonel  of  the  state  militia,  and  held  the  office  of  captain  in  the  war  of 
1812.  He  and  ^vife  were  members  of  the  Presb}i:erian  church.  J.  G. 
was  born  in  1819,  in  JeiFerson  county,  Ohio,  and  came  to  Illinois  with 
his  parents  when  two  years  old.  His  early  educational  training  was 
only  such  as  the  common  schools  of  the  pioneer  districts  of  Illinois 
could  furnish.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm.  In  1839  he  moved  from 
Warren  county  to  Mercer,  where  he  has  since  resided,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  two  years.  In  1840  he  moved  to  Iowa,  where  he  remained  one 
year,  when  he  moved  to  Missouri,  and  stayed  one  year  and  returned 
in  1842  to  Mercer  county.  He  was  married  in  December,  1843,  to 
Alletta  A.  Brady,  native  of  Ohio,  born  in  1822,  daughter  of  John  and 
Elizabeth  Brady.  By  this  marriage  he  has  nine  children :  Elenor 
(deceased),  Mar}^  Elizabeth,  Lydia,  Ann  E.,  Pobert  B.,  Arabella. 
Ephraim  C,  and  Albert  N.  (deceased).     He  held  the  office  of  justice 


PEREYTON   TOWNSHIP.  327 

for  nineteen  rears  without  cessation,  and  was  re-elected  in  1881 
for  another  term.  He  also  tilled  the  office  of  supervisor  for  two 
years,  the  office  of  collector  two  years,  and  assessor  in  1880.  He  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Hamlet.  He  has  a 
farm  of  eighty-one  acres,  well  improved  and  fairly  stocked. 

David  Bopes  is  a  native  of  Columbia  county,  Pennsylvania,  bom 
in  1825,  son  of  George  and  Sarah  (Bauchard)  Bopes.  Both  were 
natives  of  Pennsylvania.  They  were  married  in  Pennsylvania  and 
came  to  Illinois  in  1836  and  located  in  Rock  Island  county,  near 
Edgington,  when  there  were  but  few  white  'settlers  in  that  part  of  the 
country.  The  former  died  in  1838,  at  a  comparatively  early  age  ;  his 
wife  afterward  moved  to  Mercer  county,  where  she  died  in  1843. 
She  was  a  zealous  christian  and  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  He  was  a  man  respected  for  his  integrity  and  other  good 
qualities.  David  Bopes  came  with  his  parents  to  Bock  Island  county 
where  he  resided  till  1858,  when  he  located  where  he  now  resides. 
His  early  educational  training  was  that  of  the  pioneer  schools  of  his 
neighborhood.  He  has  always  been  engaged  in  farming,  the  voca- 
tion of  his  father.  In  1854  he  married  Miss  Sarah  E.  Titterington,  a 
native  of  Boss  county,  Ohio,  born  in  1836,  daughter  of  James  and 
E.  (Beal)  Titterington,  the  former  a  native  of  England,  and  came  to 
America  when  he  was  ten  years  old ;  the  latter  born  in  Ross  county, 
Ohio,  and  now  a  resident  of  Rock  Island  county,  near  Edgington. 
The  former  died  in  1876,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years.  They  located 
in  Rock  Island  county  iu  1839.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  David  Bopes  have  six 
children  living.  He  crossed  the  plains  to  California  in  1849,  and 
returned  in  1851.  Mr.  Bopes  has  a  farm  of  480  acres  of  as  line  land 
as  can  be  found  in  Mercer  county.  It  is  well  improved  with  substan- 
tial buildings,  and  beau  till  ed  by  groves  which  he  himself  planted, 
He  deals  in  cattle,  feeding  them  for  the  market,  and  has  his  farm  well 
stocked  with  good  grades.     He  is  a  successful  farmer. 

Among  the  soldier  citizens  of  Perryton  township  is  C.  B.  Halstead. 
He  was  born  in  Xew  York  in  1843,  and  son  of  Lewis  M.  and  Mary  J. 
(Cooper)  Halstead.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Xew  York,  and  his 
mother  of  England.  He  lu-st  emigrated  to  Michigan  in  1838,  where 
he  married  and  returned  to  Xew  York.  In  1851  he  came  to  Mercer 
county  and  located  where  his  son  C.  B.  now  resides.  Here  he  died  in 
1854,  at  the  age  of  forty-two.  He  served  three  years  in  the  U.  S. 
dragoons.  The  date  of  his  discharge  is  1836.  C.  B.  Halstead  came 
to  Mercer  county  with  his  lather  when  eight  years  old.  His  early 
education  was  limited  to  the  common  school.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in 
company  II,  61st  111.  Vol.  Inf ,  and  served  two  years  and  live  months. 


328  HISTORY    OF   IVIEKCER   AJSTD   HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

He  was  in  the  battles  of  Pea  Eidge,  Prairie  Grove,  and  Vicksbnrg, 
after  which  he  was  discharged  on  acconnt  of  a  wound  received  in  the 
battle  of  Pea  Ridge.  He  then  returned  home  to  the  farm.  Pie  was 
married  in  1870  to  Elnora  A.  JSTeelv,  of  Illinois,  born  in  1851,  in 
Stark  county,  daughter  of  Joseph  and  Plappy  Xeely,  both  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. They  came  to  Stark  county  with  its  early  settlers  and  moved 
to  Mercer  county.  The  father  is  now  living  in  Hamlet,  this  township  ; 
the  mother  died  in  1879,  at  the  age  of  66.  Mr.  Halstead  has  four 
children:  Dallas  B.,  Eiley  E.,  L.  Benjamin.  He  is  a  member  of 
the  masonic  lodge  at  Edgington,  Illinois.  He  has  a  farm  of  120 
acres,  and  keeps  a  good  grade  of  farm  stock. 

Among  the  farmers  and  stock  raisers  of  Perryton  township  is 
Michael  Yetter,  located  on  the  north  line  of  the  township.  He  is  of 
German  birth,  born  in  Hesse  Darmstadt  in  1830,  and  is  a  son  of  Peter 
and  Mary  Yetter.  Thev  lived  out  their  lives  in  their  native  countrv. 
Tlie  former  died  in  1862,  aged  sixty-four  years ;  the  later  in  1852,  aged 
fifty-three  years.  They  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church  ;  by 
vocation  they  were  farmers.  Michael  came  to  America  and  first  located 
in  New  Jersey ;  then  moved  to  New  York ;  then  to  Rock  Island 
county,  where  he  remained  till  1867,  when  he  came  to  Mercer  county, 
where  he  has  a  fine  farm  of  292  acres  fairly  improved  and  well  stocked 
with  good  grades  of  cattle,  sheep,  hogs,  and  horses.  He  was  married 
in  1856  to  Elizabeth  Yetter,  of  Germany,  daughter  of  Lewis  and  Mary 
Yetter,  both  of  Germany.  The  former  died  in  Germany  in  1840,  at 
the  age  of  forty-two  ;  the  latter  came  to  America  in  1855  and  located 
in  Rock  Island  county,  now  lives  in  Duncan  township,  and  is  in  her 
seventy-seventh  year.  By  this  marriage  Michael  has  eight  children : 
Catharine,  Barbara,  Mary,  Elizabeth,  Lewis,  Michael,  John,  and  Willie. 
He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  German  Presbyterian  church. 

Frederick  Hartman  is  a  native  of  Germany,  born  in  1838,  and  is 
a  son  of  Daniel  and  Barbary  Hartman,  both  of  Germany.  They  came 
to  America  in  1840 ;  lived  one  year  in  Muscatine ;  then  moved  to 
Buffalo  Prairie,  Rock  Island  county,  where  they  lived  for  thirty  years, 
when  they  moved  to  Perryton  township,  where  their  son  Frederick  now 
lives.  They  were  farmers,  and  members  of  the  German  Presbyterian 
church.  The  father  died  in  1866,  aged  seventy-eight  years;  the 
mother  in  1848.  Frederick  came  to  Mercer  county  in  1867,  where  he 
now  resides.  He  was  reared  to  the  business  of  farming.  His  literary 
education  was  wholly  German  and  taught  him  in  his  mother  tongue. 
He  was  married  in  1861  to  Barbary  Schweobel,  of  Hesse  Darmstadt, 
Germany,  daughter  of  George  and  Margaret  Schweobel,  both  of  Ger- 
man v.     They  emigrated  to  Rock  Island  count v  in  1849,  and  now  live 


PEERYTON    TOWNSHIP.  329 

with  their  claugliter,  Mrs.  Frederick  Hartman.  They  are  both  mem- 
bers of  the  German  Presbyterian  church.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hartman 
have  six  cliildren :  IVIargaret,  George,  Thomas,  John,  Frederick,  and 
Edward.  He  has  a  tine  stock  farm  of  240  acres,  well  improved  and 
well  stocked.  He  and  wife,  like  their  parents,  are  members  of  the 
German  Presbyterian  church. 

HA]vrLET  Cooper  (deceased)  was  one  r)f  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Perry- 
ton  township.  He  located  here  in  1844.  At  that  time  there  was  but 
little  else  here  than  wild  grass  and  wild  animals.  He  emigrated 
from  England,  his  native  country,  about  1832,  to  New  York,  and 
then  to  Michigan,  where  lie  resided  six  years,  and  then  came  to 
Perry  ton  township,  where  he  died  in  1847,  at  the  age  of  forty-one 
years.  In  1829  he  was  married  to  Mary  A.  Clark,  of  England.  They 
raised  a  family  of  eight  children:  Thomas,  AYilliam  H.,  Charlotte  A., 
John  H.,  Lester  H.,  Philip,  Enoch,  and  Robert  (deceased).  The  last 
named  enlisted  in  company  A,  9th  111.  cavalry ;  he  was  mustered  into 
the  service  in  1801  and  served  one  year,  when  he  died  at  Keokuk, 
Iowa.  "William  II.  and  Lester  H.  enlisted  in  1862,  in  company  C, 
102d  m.  Vol.  Inf ,  and  served  till  the  close  of  the  war.  They  were  at 
the  battle  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  with  Sherman  on  his  march  to  the  sea. 
Both  were  with  the  company  all  the  time  during  their  term  of  service. 
They  passed  through  Richmond,  to  Washington,  then  to  Chicago, 
where  they  were  mustered  out.  William  H.  now  resides  in  Kansas ; 
Lester  H.  on  the  farm,  three-fourths  of  a  mile  west  of  the  village  of 
Hamlet.  Lester  H.  received  only  a  moderate  educational  training ;  for 
several  years  he  followed  breaking  prairie,  when  he  took  to  the  farm, 
but  at  present  is  engaged  in  keeping  fine  horses.  He  was  married  in 
1876  to  Mary  J.  jS^ichols,  native  of  Illinois,  daughter  of  Ephraim  H. 
and  Diana  jSTichols,  both  of  Ohio.  They  came  to  Illinois  in  1854  and 
located  in  Hancock  county ;  they  afterward  came  to  Mercer  county, 
but  returned  to  Hancock  county,  where  both  are  living. 

David  H.  Cooper  was  born  in  1832,  in  the  State  of  New  York,  and 
is  a  son  of  Levi  and  Lucy  Cooper.  He  emigrated  with  his  parents 
from  New  York  when  five  years  old,  and  came  with  his  father  in  1846 
to  Mercer  county,  where  he  has  since  resided.  His  early  educational 
training  was  such  as  the  pioneer  schools  of  the  west  could  furnish.  He 
was  reared  to  the  business  of  farmino;,  which  he  has  since  followed. 
He  was  married  in  1855  to  Sarah  A.  Brain,  daughter  of  William  and 
Betsey  Brain.  He  has  by  this  marriage  seven  cliildren :  Clara,  Lucy, 
Lewis  (deceased),  Willie  J.,  Fanny  E.,  Ella,  and  Levi.  His  wife  is 
a  member  of  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  church.  He  resides  on  the  farm 
of  his  father.  He  keeps  a  good  grade  of  farm  stock.  In  politics  he 
is  a  republican. 


330  HISTORY   OF   ilERCER    AJ\'D    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

H.  X.  RosEBERRY  is  R  native  of  iS^ew  Jersey,  born  in  1827,  son  of 
Elijah  and  Nancy  (Young)  Roseberry,  natives  of  K^ew  Jersey.  The 
mother  died  in  1829 ;  the  father  came  to  Perryton  township,  Mercer 
county,  where  he  died  in  186-i,  at  the  age  of  sixty-three  years.  He 
was  a  farmer  and  trader.  H.  X.  came  with  his  father  to  Mercer 
count V  in  184U,  and  located  where  he  now  resides.  He  was  married 
in  1859,  to  Ann  Killon,  a  native  of  England,  born  in  18-12,  who  came 
to  America  with  her  god-father,  in  1849.  Her  parents  were  James  and 
and  Mary  Killon,  of  wliom  the  former  died  in  1869,  the  latter  about 
1812.  Mr,  and  Mrs.  Roseberry  have  seven  children :  Anna,  Mary, 
Rebecca,  Catharine,  Hilda  H.,  Stanton  (the  youngest  not  named). 
He  has  a  fine  farm  of  190  acres  located  along  the  north  line  of  the 
county  in  Perryton  township.  It  is  well  improved  and  well  stocked 
with  good  grades.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
cojial  church.  Since  he  settled  in  Mercer  county  he  has  seen  the  sea 
of  tall,  waving  wild  grass  transformed  into  beautiful  farms,  ornamented 
with  the  maple  and  elm  trees,  and  fine  spacious  barns  and  dwellings. 

F.  G.  Wait,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  a  native  of  Indiana,  born 
in  1857,  son  of  Meigs  and  Caroline  Wait.  He  was  reared  on  the 
farm,  and  received  a  common  school  education.  Excejjt  one  year, 
which  he  spent  in  a  store,  he  has  followed  the  business  of  farming. 
He  was  married  in  1881  to  Lizzie  Asquitt,  of  Illinois,  born  in  I860, 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Sarah  (Webster)  Asquitt,  both  of  English 
birth,  and  emigrated  to  America  about  1850.  They  are  now  residents 
of  Reynolds,  Rock  Island  county,  Illinois.  They  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Ej^iscopal  church.  He  is  a  retired  farmer.  F.  G.  Wait  has 
a  weU  improved  farm  of  eighty  acres,  located  two  and  a  half  miles 
east  of  Hamlet.     He  keeps  a  good  grade  of  stock. 

A.  Kendall  is  a  native  of  Chautauqua  county,  New  York,  born  in 
1836,  son  of  Ilazzard  and  Mary  (Smith)  Kendall,  both  of  Connecticut. 
They  emigrated  to  Pennsylvania,  then  to  Kew  York,  then  to  Kane 
county,  Illmois,  then  to  Kendall  county,  Illinois,  where  the  former 
now  lives,  his  wife  having  died  in  1838  in  New  York  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years.  Ebenezer  Kendall,  father  of  Hazzard  Kendall, 
was  a  native  of  Scotland.  The  family,  consisting  of  fijur  brothers, 
came  to  America  and  settled,  one  in  each  of  the  following  states  (then 
colonies) :  Massachusetts,  New  Jersey,  Vermont,  and  Connecticut. 
Levi  Smith,  maternal  grandfather  of  A.  Kendall,  was  a  native  of  Gen- 
esee county,  New  York,  and  moved  to  Mercer  county  in  1840,  locating 
at  ALllersburg.  A.  Kendall  was  married  in  1863  to  Lucretia  Wait,  of 
Switzerland  county,  Indiana,  born  in  1863,  and  daughter  of  Henry 
and  Sophia  (Wells)  Wait,  both  of  Vermont.     They  came  with  their 


PERRYTOX    TOWNSlill".  331 

parents  to  Xeiiia,  Ohio,  where  they  were  married,  tlien  to  Switzerland 
county,  wliere  their  daughter  was  horn;  thej  then  moved  to  Rock 
Island  county,  where  the  father  died  in  1SS2,  at  the  age  of  eighty-nine. 
He  had  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1S12.  A.  Kendall  has  four 
children :  Lettie,  Ida,  Yiola,  and  Meigs  AV.  He  has  a  farm  of  212|- 
acres  of  tine  farming  land,  fairly  improved  and  well  stocked  with  good 
grades  of  cattle,  sheep  and  hogs. 

Cornelius  Swartwout  is  a  nati\'e  of  Saratoga  county,  New  York, 
born  in  1809,  son  of  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  Swartwout,  both  of  ]S"ew 
York  state.  His  father  died  in  1839  at  the  age  of  tift^'-six,  and  his 
mother  in  1814.  They  w^ere  Baptist  people.  The  advent  of  the  family 
into  America,  consisting  of  three  brothers,  was  during  the  colonial 
times.  Ail  of  them  settled  in  Xew  York.  The  Swartwout  familv  is  of 
German  descent.  Cornelius  received  a  common  school  education,  such 
as  could  be  obtained  in  the  then  almost  pioneer  schools  of  his  boyhood 
days.  He  was  taught  the  vocation  of  farming  which  he  has  always  fol- 
lowed. He  came  to  Illinois  with  his  family  in  1855  and  located  in 
Kock  Island  county,  where  he  remained  until  186U,  when  he  came  to 
Mercer  county,  where  he  now  resides,  three-fourths  of  a  mile  east  of 
Hamlet,  on  his  farm  of  240  acres.  He  was  married  in  1839  to  Lucinda 
Piatt,  a  native  of  Xew  York  and  daugliter  of  Epenitis  and  Eve  Piatt, 
both  of  Xew  York  and  now  living  in  their  native  state.  They  have  six 
children:  James,  Elizabeth,  Sarah,  John,  William,  and  Henry.  The 
eldest  enlisted  in  the  army  in  1862,  in  company  B,  120th  111.  Yol.,  and 
died  in  1864.     He  and  wife  are  members  r»f  the  Presbyterian  church. 

Grahasi  Lee,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  January  22,  1821, 
and  is  the  son  of  Elisha  and  xllmyra  (Scoville)  Lee.  His  father  is 
number  18,194  of  the  sixth  generation  of  the  family,  Graham  is  num- 
ber 18,249.  Elisha  Lee  was  born  August  27,  1794.  This  history  is 
recorded  in  the  chronological  history  of  the  Strong  family,  volume  11. 
The  Lees  trace  their  ancestrv  to  John  Lee,  born  in  1621,  a  native  of 
Ipswich,  England,  who  came  to  America  in  1834,  in  the  ship  Francis, 
under  the  care  of  William  AVestwood.  He  located  in  Cambridge, 
Massachusetts,  where  he  remained  a  short  time  when  he  moved  to 
Hartford,  Connecticut,  where  he  married  and  became  one  of  the  per- 
manent men  of  the  settlement.  Graham  Lee  was  born  on  the  same 
farm  as  was  his  father,  and  in  the  same  house,  where  he  was  reared  to 
the  age  of  twelve,  when  his  father  moved  to  town  and  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business.  Here  Graham  received  a  fair  education  and  but 
for  indisposition  of  his  eyes  w^ould  have  begun  a  collegiate  course.  But 
not-withstanding  his  failure  to  enter  college,  a  long  life  of  continuous 
reading  and  careful  obser\-ution  has  made  him  a  well-posted  man  as  to 


332  HISTOKY    OF    FIERCER    AJSiD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

practical  knowledge  concerning  business  and  national  needs.  At  the 
age  of  nineteen  he  went  to  ISTew  York  to  superintend  the  dairy  farm  of 
his  father  where  he  remained  till  he  arrived  at  the  age  of  twenty-one. 
In  1842  he  went  on  a  whaling  voyage  on  the  Pacific  Coast  with  a  view 
to  improve  his  health,  and  spent  two  years  on  the  coast  of  Alaska.  In 
1845  he,  in  company  with  his  brother  Henrj^,  went  to  Ohio,  purchased 
a  flock  of  sheep,  which  they  drove  to  Mercer  connty,  Illinois,  the  same 
year,  to  what  is  now  Perryton  township.  They  laid  a  claim  on  section 
9,  wdiicli  is  now  owned  by  him.  lie  has  made  one  of  the  most 
beautiful  farms  in  Mercer  county.  In  1853  he  was  married  to  Mary  A. 
Candor,  born  1834,  and  a  native  of  Union  county, 'Pennsylvania.  She 
came  with  lier  parents,  Thomas  and  Margaret  (Montgomery)  Candor,  to 
Mercer  county,  Illinois,  in  1837.  They  had  nine  children,  two  of 
whom  are  living:  Elisha,  born  in  1856,  and  Panny,  born  September, 
1865.  Elisha  was  married  December  18,  1881,  to  Lena  Bopes,  daughter 
of  David  Bo])es.  He  carries  on  the  business  of  the  farm  for  his  father. 
Mr.  Lee  was  elected  vice-j^resident  of  the  state  board  of  agriculture  in 
1864,  which  position  he  held  till  1870.  At  the  organization  of  the 
institute  for  the  feeble-minded  of  Illinois,  he  was  appointed  a  member 
of  the  board,  and  with  the  exception  of  two  years  has  held  the  position 
of  president  of  the  board  since  its  organization.  His  wife,  Mary  A.,. 
died  January  30,  1874.  He  was  married  a  second  time,  to  Anna  S. 
Fisher,  a  native  of  Greene  county,  Pennsylvania,  born  March  1,  1847. 
They  have  one  child,  Graham,  born  February  24,  1880.  Mr.  Lee  was 
raised  a  Congregationalist,  but  is  now  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church  at  Hamlet. 

Among  the  many  successful  farmers  of  Mercer  county  whose  first 
capital  to  begin  business  with  was  muscle  and  will  power  is  the  subject 
of  our  sketch,  Johathan  Gaunt.  He  is  a  native  of  Lancashire  county, 
England,  and  a  son  of  James  and  Ann  Gaunt.  His  father  was  a  manu- 
facturer of  cotton,  and  died  in  1845,  at  the  age  of  fifty-six  years.  His 
mother  came  to  America  with  Jonathan  in  1851,  and  settled  in  Rock 
Island  county,  where  she  lived  for  ten  years,  when  she  moved  to 
Mercer  county,  where  she  died  in  1879,  at  the  age  of  eighty  years.  She 
was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  her  husband  of  the 
Episcopal  church.  .  Jonathan  partly  learned  the  trade  of  his  father. 
He  lived  with  his  mother  till  he  arrived  at  the  age  of  twenty,  when  he 
went  to  work  for  himself.  He  was  married  in  1862  to  Emily  Damp,  a 
native  of  New  York,  born  in  1841,  daughter  of  Michael  and  Eliza  Damp. 
They  have  five  children  :  Fernando,  Cicero,  Lorenzo,  Eliza,  and  Albert.  • 
He  has  a  fine  stock  farm  of  52<)  acres,  well  improved  and  well  stocked 


PERRYTON    TOWNSHIP.  333 

witli  the  best  grades.     He  makes  a  specialty  of  raising  horses  to  sell. 
In  1881  his  sales  of  horses  amounted  to  fSl,912. 

John  Montgomisry  is  a  descendant  of  one  of  the  earliest  pioneer 
families  to  locate  in  this  part  of  the  state.  Among  the  pioneer 
preachers  of  northwestern  Illinois  is  Rev.  John  Montgomery,  his  nncle. 
John  Montgomery,  onr  subject,  is  a  native  of  Rock  Island  county,  born 
in  1838.  Ilis  parents  were  Daniel  and  Margaret  S.  Montgomerv,  both 
of  Montour  county,  Pennsylvania.  They  emigrated  from  their  native 
state  to  Edgington,  Rock  Island  county,  in  183fi.  They  were  of  that 
class  of  Pennsylvania  people  who  carried  their  morals  with  them., 
Both  were  devoted  members  of  the  Presbvterian  church,  and  did  much 
to  establish  a  high  degree  of  morality  in  the  community  where  they 
resided.  The  father  died  in  1849,  when  he  was  fifty  years  old.  The 
mother  is  now  living  in  Milan,  Rock  Island  county,  and  is  in  her 
seventy-third  3"ear.  John  Montgomery  received  a  fair  common  school 
education,  in  addition  to  which  he  attended  school  at  Dixon,  Illinois,  for 
some  time.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm,  which  business  he  has  always 
followed.  He  was  married  September,  1868,  to  Sarah  J.  Morris,  native 
of  Ohio,  and  daughter  of  William  and  Sarah  Morris,  both  of  Ohio,  and 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  By  this  marriage  he  has 
two  children  living:  Maud  M.,  born  January  4,  1870,  and  Fanny  L., 
September  6,  1871.  His  wife,  Sarah  J.,  died  in  1874.  He  married 
again  in  1876,  Elizabeth  Swartwout,  born  in  1842,  a  native  of  New  York 
and  a  daughter  of  Cornelius  and  Lucinda  Swartwout.  By  this  second 
marriage  he  has  three  children  :  Lucinda,  born  March  6, 1877  ;  James  S., 
May  17,  1878  ;  and  William  II.,  May  30,  1880.  He  and  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Hamlet.  He  first  came  to  Perryton 
township  in  1868,  then  returned  to  his  native  county  and  remained  till 
1882,  when  he  again  came  to  Perryton  townsliip,  and  located  on  the 
old  David  Blue  farm,  where  he  owns  360  acres.  He  makes  a  specialty 
of  fat  cattle,  in  addition  to  which  he  does  a  good  business  in  buying 
and  shipping  stock.  He  enlisted  March,  1865,  in  company  K,  68th 
111.  Vol.,  and  served  one  year. 

The  present  practicing  physician  and  druggist  of  Hamlet  is  Dr.  M. 
CRiswTi:LL,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania ;  was  born  in  1847,  and  is  a  son  of 
Mathew  and  Sarah  M.  (Whitehill)  Criswell,  both  of  Pennsylvania. 
They  emigrated  to  Rock  Island  county,  Illinois,  in  1855,  where  they 
remained  till  1878,  when  they  came  to  Mercer  county,  where  she  died 
in  1864,  aged  fifty-one  years.  The  father  and  his  son  Mathew  now 
reside  in  the  village  of  Hamlet.  Dr.  Criswell  received  a  good  common 
school  education.  In  the  study  of  medicine  he  graduated  at  Jefierson 
medical  college,  Philadelphia,  with  the  class  of  1876.     The  same  year 


334  IIISTiJEY    OF    MERGER    A2vD    IIEXDERSOX    COUXTIES. 

lie  located  in  Pre-emption  townsliip,  where  lie  remained  till  1877,  when 
he  came  to  Hamlet.  He  was  married  in  IS 79  to  Anna  C.  Huyett,  o 
Illinois,  native  of  Eock  Island  county,  daughter  of  Dr.  Joseph  and 
Harriette  L.  Huyett,  of  Pennsylvania.  They  located  in  Milan,  Rock 
Island  county,  about  1850,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged  in  the 
practice  of  medicine.  Dr.  Criswell  has  by  this  marriage  one  child, 
Edith.     He  has  a  paying  practice. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  Josiah  Candor  is  a  native  of  Columbia 
countv,  Pemisvlvania,  born  in  1830,  and  is  the  son  of  Thomas  and 
Margaret  (Montgomery)  Candor.  He  came  to  Mercer  county  with  his 
parents.  He  was  reared  and  educated  on  his  father's  farm  in  Ohio 
Grove  township.  In  1852  he  went  to  Oregon  and  California,  returned 
in  1851  and  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in  Edgington,  Rock 
Island  county,  where  he  remained  till  1867,  when  he,  in  companj^  with 
his  brother,  Capt.  D.  M.  Candor,  opened  a  store  of  general  mer- 
chandise in  Hamlet,  in  wdiich  business  he  continues.  He  has  held  the 
office  of  postmaster  in  Hamlet  since  1868.  He  was  married  in  1857 
to  Mary  E.  Nichols,  a  native  of  Searsport,  Maine.  She  was  born  in 
1838  and  is  a  daughter  of  AVoodburn  and  Olive  (Sleeper)  Xichols,  both 
of  Maine,  who  came  to  Mercer  county  in  1859  and  located  in  Perryton 
township.  The  mother  now  lives  with  her  son  Albion,  one  mile  south 
of  Hamlet.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Candor  have  six  children :  Mary  C. ,  May, 
Robert  A.,  Edwin  II.,  Yessie  O.,  and  Herbert  J.  He  and  wife  are 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  He  has  a  farm  of  175  acres  well 
improved,  and  adjoining  Hamlet,  on  which  he  keeps  a  good  grade  of 
stock.  He  and  his  brother  formerly  dealt  in  stock  buying  and  ship- 
ping. Previous  to  the  building  of  the  town  of  Reynolds,  in  Rock 
Island  county,  they  carried  on  a  trade  in  coal  at  Hamlet.  He  has 
been  the  school  treasurer  of  the  township  for  the  past  six  years. 

Capt.  Daniel  M.  Candor  was  born  in  Columbia  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, in  1836,  and  came  with  his  parents,  Thomas  and  Margaret 
(Montgomery)  Candor,  to  Mercer  county  when  he  was  one  year  old. 
His  early  education  was  such  as  he  could  get  in  the  pioneer  schools  of 
his  neighborhood,  with  a  two  years'  course  in  the  academy  at  Macomb, 
Illinois.  He  remained  on  the  farm  with  his  parents  till  of  age.  He 
went  to  Pike's  Peak  in  1859,  stayed  two  years,  returned  in  1860,  and 
enlisted  in  1861,  in  company  A,  30th  111.  Vol.,  and  served  a  few  days 
over  four  years.  He  first  enlisted  for  three  years,  or  during  the  war, 
and  afterward  veteranized  at  Vicksburg.  He  was  in  the  following- 
engagements  :  Belmont,  Fort  Henry,  Fort  Donelson,  the  skirmishes 
around  Sliiloh,  Prittin's  Lane,  Port  Gibson,  Raymond,  Jackson,  Mis- 
sissippi, Champion  Hills,  siege  of  Yicksbui'g,  Kemiesaw  Mountain,  sieges 


PERRYTON   TOWNSHIP.    .  335 

of  Atlanta,  Savannah,  Cliavleston,  Ealeigh,  Bontonville,  and  Golds- 
borough,  and  then  went  to  Washington  by  way  of  Richmond.  He 
was  commissioned  captain  of  his  company  October  27,  1864,  which 
commission  he  held  till  the  company  was  mustered  out  of  the  service. 
Following  the  siege  of  Yicksburg  he  was  promoted  to  the  othce  of 
orderly  sergeant  from  the  office  of  commissary  sergeant.  At  the  battle 
of  Atlanta  he  received  a  wound  in  the  head.  His  parents  located  in 
Ohio  Grove  township  when  they  came  to  Mercer  county,  and. continued 
to  reside  there  till  1S5P).  His  mother  died  in  1871,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-five  years.  His  father,  Thomas  Candor,  was  married  a  second 
time,  to  Mary  L.  Boardman,  and  died  in  1874,  aged  seventy-five  years. 
Capt.  Candor's  parents,  Margaret  and  Thomas,  were  both  natives  of 
Pennsylvania.  Capt.  Candor  was  married  in  1868  to  Emma  J.  Girton, 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  in  18-42,  and  daughter  of  Baltis  and 
Anna  E.  Girton,  both  of  Bloomsbnrg,  Pennsylvania.  They  came  to 
Blinois  in  1872,  and  now  live  in  Hamlet.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Candor  have 
three  children:  Graham  L.,  born  in  1868, Thomas  G.,  1870,  and  Edna, 
in  1879.  He  has  a  well  improved  farm  of  175  acres,  adjoining  Hamlet. 
He  keeps  a  good  grade  of  all  kinds  of  stoc*k.  He  and  his  brother 
Josiah  were  partners  in  the  mercantile  business  in  Hamlet  from  1867 
to  1881.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church  at 
Hamlet. 

Of  those  who  look  to  Mercer  county  as  their  birth  place  and  home 
is  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  W.  C.  Yaxdalsem.  He  was  born  in  1850. 
His  parents  were  John  and  Hannah  M.  Vandalsem,  both  of  Ohio,  and 
came  to  Mercer  county  with  the  early  settlers  with  their  parents.  They 
were  married  here.  His  mother's  family  located  as  early  as  1832  in 
Warren  county,  and  afterward  came  to  Mercer  county  and  settled  near 
Pope  creek.  W.  C.'s  parents  emigrated  to  Kansas  in  1879,  where 
they  yet  remain.  His  father  is  now  fifty-nine  years  old,  his  mother 
fifty-seven  years.  They  are  both  members  of  the  Presbyterian  clinrch. 
His  father  served  in  the  army  in  company  B,  83d  111.  Vol.,  and  was 
out  three  years,  lacking  one  month.  He  was  in  the  second  battle 
fonght  at  Fort  Donelson.  after  which  his  company  was  detailed  to  fight 
bushwhackers  and  guerillas.  W.  C.  was  -educated  in  the  common 
school  and  reared  on  the  farm.  He  was  married  in  1876  to  Deborah 
Dunn,  native  of  Illinois,  born  in  1852,  and  daughter  of  John  G.  and 
Lydia  (Winans)  Dunn,  the  former  of  Ohio,  the  latter  of  Kentucky. 
Her  father  died  in  1857,  at  the  age  of  thirty-five,  her  mother  in  1864, 
aged  about  forty-four  years,  a  devoted  christian  and  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  W.  C.  has  by  this  marriage  three  chil- 
dren :  Glenn,  Charley,  and  Bessie.     His  wife's  people  came  to  Mercer 


336  HISTORY   OF   ilERCEK   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

county  ill  1851,  where  tliey  lived  till  tlieir  deaths.  Mr.  Yfiiidalsem 
csms  a  fine  farm  of  128  acres,  on  which  he  keeps  a  high  grade  of 
stock. 

George  Gray  is  a  native  of  Switzerland  county,  Indiana,  born  in 
1851,  and  is  a  son  of  Eobert  and  Marj  Gray,  both  of  Indiana.  His 
father  came  to  Illinois  in  1867,  then  went  to  Iowa,  and  now  resides  in 
Barton  county,  Missouri.  His  mother  died  in  Indiana.  George  came 
first  to  Eock  Island  county,  Illinois,  and  lived  with  his  uncle  for  some 
time.  His  educational  training  was  such  as  he  could  get  in  the 
common  school.  He  began  life  for  himself  with  nature's  capital, 
energy  and  muscle.  He  now  has  a  fahn  of  120  acres,  located  two 
miles  southeast  of  Hamlet,  in  Perrytoii  township.  He  keeps  a  good 
grade  of  stock.  In  1879  he  came  to  Mercer  county  and  located.  The 
same  year  he  was  married  to  Arabella  Yandalsem,  daughter  of  John 
and  Hannah  M.  Yandalsem.     They  have  one  child,  Grace. 

Of  those  whom  we  may  term  old  resident  settlers  of  Perryton  town- 
ship is  Mr.  J.  M.  Dunn.  He  located  here  as  early  as  1851.  He  was 
born  in  the  state  of  Kentucky  in  1S21:.-  His  parents  were  James  and 
Sarah  Dumi,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  the  '"corn  cracker  state." 
His  father  died  in  his  native  state  in  1823,  his  mother  emigrated  A\-ith 
her  family  in  1831,  to  Clermont  county,  Ohio,  where  she  died  in  1852, 
at  the  age  of  sixty-two  years.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Wesleyan 
Methodist  church.  J.  M.  received  only  a  meager  education,  such  as 
the  pioneer  schools  could  give.  He  was  reared  a  farmer,  which  busi- 
ness he  has  always  followed.  He  returned  to  Ohio  in  1855,  where  he 
was  married  to  Elizabeth  Huntington,  born  in  1826,  and  daughter  of 
Abner  and  Rebecca  Huntington,  natives  of  Pennsylvania  and  Ohio 
respectively.  The  former  died  in  1877  at  the  good  old  age  of  seventy- 
seven  years,  the  latter  in  1876,  aged  seventy-one ;  both  were  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Mr.  Dunn  has  by  this  marriage 
seven  children:  James  A.,  John  H.,  Benjamin  F.,  George W.,  Emma 
C,  Thomas  H.,  Sarah  (deceased),  and  Rebecca  (deceased).  He  and 
wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He  has  a  farm 
of  200  acres  located  one  mile  southeast  of  Hamlet,  fairly  improved. 

W.  W.  Bradford,  the  subject  of  this  life  sketch  is  a  native  of  Swit- 
zerland county,  Indiana,  born  in  1830.  His  parents  were  Eli  and 
Mary  A.  Bradford  ;  the  former  of  Canada,  died  March,  1876,  at  the  age 
of  seventy  years  ;  the  latter  of  Pennsylvania,  died  in  1872,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-two  years  and  ten  months.  They  were  pioneer  settlers  of  Indi- 
ana, ha%dng  located  in  Switzerland  county  while  the  Indians  were  yet 
plenty.  They  were  people  of  high  moral  integrity  and  members  of  the 
Baptist  church.     W.  W.  came  to  Mercer  county  in  1855,  and  located 


PERRYTON   TOWNSHIP.  337 

east  of  Hamlet,  where  A.  Kindall  now  resides.  He  returned  to  Indi- 
ana the  following  year  and  was  married,  and  again  came  to  Illinois 
where  he  lived  till  1869,  when  he  went  to  Henry  county,  and  there 
remained  till  1877,  when  he  came  to  Mercer  where  he  yet  resides.  His 
wife  was  Miss  Maria  P.  Stephens,  a  native  of  Indiana  and  daughter  of 
Eeuben  and  Mary  Stephens,  both  of  whom  are  natives  of  Kew  York. 
They  were  early  settlers  of  Switzerland  county,  Indiana.  Her  mother 
died  in  1881  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-two  years.  Her  father  still 
lives  in  Switzerland  county,  and  is  now  ninety-three  years  old.  They 
were  both  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and  well  res- 
pected by  all  with  whom  they  dealt.  By  occupation  they  were  farmers. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bradford  have  by  this  marriage  eight  children :  Bruce, 
Perry  (deceased),  Eddy  (deceased),  Elijah  (deceased),  Ida,  Guy  S., 
and  "William  F.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Free  Methodist 
church.     He  has  a  well  improved  stock  farm  of  320  acres. 

Alfred  H.  Smith  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  in  1828,  son  of 
Charles  and  Margarette  A.  (Sungrain)  Smith.  His  father  was  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  served  in  Capt,  Brady's  United  States  volunteers 
in  the  war  of  1812.  He  died  in  1828.  His  mother  was  a  native  of 
Philadelphia,  born  in  lSO-1,  and  died  in  Mercer  county  in  187'±.  Her 
jjarents  were,  one  from  Switzerland,  the  other  from  Holland.  She 
came  to  Mercer  county  in  1849.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyte- 
rian church.  Alfred  II.  came  to  Mercer  county  with  his  mother.  He 
was  reared  on  the  farm  in  which  business  he  has  continued.  He  was 
married  in  1855  to  Margaret  Catchcart,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Brown)  Catchcart,  who  came  to  Rock 
Island  in  1850.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  have  ten  children :  Emma,  Charles, 
Arthur,  Adella,  Dora,  Retta,  Harvey,  Frederick,  Charles,  and  Ulmer. 
He  has  a  well  improved  farm  of  2-10  acres  and  good  grades  of  stock. 
He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist  church.  His  wife's  father  is  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  her  mother  of  Donegal  county,  Ireland. 

Among  the  early  settlers  of  Perryton  township  who  have  passed 
from  this  seething  and  ever-changing  world  of  mingled  bliss  and  joy  to 
that  more  quiet  home  above  is  James  Gorman.  He  located  in  Perry- 
ton  township  in  1842,  where  he  resided  till  his  death,  which  occurred 
in  1877  in  the  sevent^^-seventh  year  of  his  age.  He  was  born  in  L"e- 
land  in  1800  and  came  to  America  in  1837,  locating  in  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  remained  till  1842,  when  he  emigrated  to  Illinois.  By  trade 
he  was  a  linen  weaver  but  farmed  in  America.  He  was  married  in 
Ireland  to  Sarah  McAdam,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Sarah  McAdam. 
James  Gorman  had  by  this  marriage  eight  children :  John  (deceased), 
William,  and  James  were  born  in  Ireland ;  Andrew,  Sarah,  and  Samuel 


338  HISTORY    OF   MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

(deceased),  were  born  in  tlie  "Quaker  state;"  Elizabeth  and  Xanev 
were  born  in  Perryton  township.  James  and  William  enlisted  in  the 
army,  the  former  in  company  C,  the  latter  in  company  G,  102d 
111.  Vol.  ;  both  went  ont  in  1862  and  returned  at  the  close  ofthe  war  in 
1868.  James  Gorman  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  from 
early  life  till  his  death.  His  widow  is  a  member  of  the  same  church. 
She  now  lives  on  the  old  homestead  in  the  south  half  of  Perr)i:on 
township  where  they  located  in  1842.  Sarah  and  Andi'ew  remain  at 
home  to  comfort  her  in  her  old  age.  She  is  now  seventy-seven  years 
old. 

Levi  Cooper  was  born  in  Statfbrdshire,  England,  in  1810.  His 
parents  were  Thomas  and  Ann  (Hashley)  Cooper,  both  of  England. 
His  father  was  born  in  Staffordshire,  September  3,  1774,  and  died  at 
Hamlet,  October  10,  1857.  His  mother  was  born  October  1,  1787, 
and  died  October  20,  1838.  They  were  married  in  their  native  country 
and  emigrated  to  America  in  1832,  and  located  in  Canada,  where  they 
remained  five  years,  when  they  moved  to  Lewis  county,  New  York. 
In  184(i  they  emigrated  to  Michigan,  and  came  to  Plinois  in  1846  and 
located  in  Perryton  township,  Mercer  county,  where  they  spent  their 
declining  years.  Thomas  Cooper  was  a  tailor  by  trade.  He  and  wife 
were  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  both  in  England  and 
America.  Levi  Cooper  came  to  America  with  his  father,  and  made  the 
same  removals.  He  was  by  trade  a  brick  and  tile  maker,  which  busi- 
ness he  followed  in  England,  and  in  America  one  year,  after  which  he 
engaged  in  the  business  of  well-digging,  till  he  located  on  the  farm. 
This  last  business  he  pursued  till-  he  retired  from  active  life.  He  now 
owns  a  farm  of  320  acres  second  to  none  in  location  and  quality  in 
Perryton  township.  He  was  married  in  1839  to  Lucy  Sproston,  of 
England,  who  was  born  in  1807,  and  was  the  daughter  of  John  and 
Sarah  Sproston.  They  came  to  America  in  1832,  located  in  Canada,  and 
emigrated  to  Perryton  township,  Mercer  county,  in  1866.  Her  father 
died  at  Hamlet,  April  21,  1864,  aged  eighty-five  years,  her  mother  in 
England,  about  1808.  By  this  marriage  Mr.  Cooper  has  four  children: 
David  H.,  Sarah,  Betsy  E.,  and  Hiram  L.  His  wife,  Lucy  Sproston, 
died  in  1876.  He  is  a  member  of  the  "VVesleyan  Methodist  church ;  his 
wife  was  a  member  of  the  same.  Since  the  death  of  his  wife  he  has 
left  his  farm  and  now  lives  with  his  son-in-law,  C.  Taylor.  His  two 
sons  live  on  his  farm.  Mr.  Cooper  is  a  man  wlio  is  well  respected  by 
all  who  know  him. 

H.  W.  FiSK,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  a  native  of  Orange  county, 
!N"ew  York,  was  born  in  1833,  and  is  the  son  of  Jonathan  and  Susan 
(Williams)  Fisk,  both  of  Massachusetts.     His  father  was  a  mechanic 


/: 


\ 


/^"XAJlJ     c% 


^^B^^^^^^^X 


pi-:rrvt()N  township.  341 

and  died  in  1853  at  tlie  age  of  sixty-three;  liis  mother  died  in  1841  at 
tlie  age  (^f  fit'tj-one ;  both  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 
His  father  was  one  of  the  ruling  eklers  in  the  society  of  which  he  was 
a  member.  The  Fisk  family  is  of  Saxon  descent.  They  came  to 
America  soon  after  the  May  flower  brought  the  pilgrims  to  the  rocky 
coast  of  Massachusetts.  li.  W.  Fisk  graduated  at  Waveland,  Indiana, 
in  the  class  of  1859.  He  then  took  up  the  profession  of  teaching, 
wdiich  he  followed  till  1864,  when  he  was  licensed  to  preach,  by  the 
Vincennes  presbyter3\  In  1806  he  was  ordained  a  minister  of  the 
gospel  by  the  same  presbytery.  He  was  appointed  home  missionary, 
in  which  position  he  labored  till  1870,  when  he  was  called  to  the  Bue- 
lah  charge  in  Rock  Island  county  where  he  remained  two  years.  In 
1872  he  was  called  to  the  Hamlet  charge,  where  he  has  since  labored, 
])reaching  both  at  Hamlet  and  at  the  Perryton  church  four  miles  south. 
He  was  married  in  1862  to  Miss  Mary  Stevenson,  a  native  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, who  was  born  in  1834,  and  is  a  daughter  of  John  and  Susan  C. 
(Myres)  Stevenson.  Her  father  was  a  native  of  Ireland  and  her 
mother  of  Pennsylvania.  Her  mother  died  in  1857  at  the  age  of  forty- 
seven.  Her  father  is  now  living  and  is  in  his  seventy-second  year. 
Both  were  devoted  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  Pev.  Fisk 
has  by  this  marriage  three  children :  Charles  E.,  Susan,  and  Emma. 

Michael  Da^sip,  deceased,  and  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in 
1814,  in  ISTew  York,  and  was  a  son  of  Philip  and  Susan  Damp,  both  of 
Germany.  He  came  to  Illinois  about  1852,  and  first  Itcated  at  Milan, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  milling  business.  In  1854  he  went  to  Moline, 
where  he  run  "a  mill,  and  paid  the  farmers  of  Pock  Island  county  the 
first  cash  for  wheat  received  in  that  section.  Previous  to  his  locating 
there  they  received  their  pay  in  goods.  In  1858  he  sold  his  mill  at 
Moline  and  moved  to  Pope  creek,  where  he  again  engaged  in  running 
a  mill  for  about  four  years,  when  he  quit  the  milling  business  and  came 
to-  Perryton  township  and  engaged  in  farming.  This  lie  followed  till 
his  death,  i^rhich  occurred  in  1865.  He  was  married  to  Eliza  Kemp,  of 
Xew  York,  who  was  born  in  1818,  and  was  a  daughter  of  Michael  and 
Sarah  Kemp.  Her  parents  were  reared,  educated,  married,  raised  a 
family  and  died  without  emigrating  from  their  native  state.  The  Kemp 
family  came  to  America  from  Germany,  and  located  in  New  York  in 
the  early  settlement  of  t1ie  state.  By  this  marriage  he  had  eight  chil- 
dren :  Edward  C,  Emily,  Amos  (deceased),  Julia  (deceased),  Melonia 
(deceased),  Charlotta  (deceased),  and  Cicero  P.  Of  the  three  living 
children  two  are  at  home.  Emily,  now  Mrs.  Gaunt,  lives  in  the  east 
]>art  of  Perryton  township.  Edward  C.  was  nun-ried  in  1875  to  Eliza 
-Johnson,  who  died  in  1879,  leaving  three  children:  Arthur, 'Elmer, 
20 


S42  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND    HEITOERSON    COUNTIES. 

« 

and  Isaac  F.  Cicero  E.  was  born  in  1860,  and  was  married  in  Decem- 
ber, 1881,  to  Jnlia  A.  Howard,  of  Illinois,  born  in  1858,  and  dangliter 
of  John  and  Marj  Howai-d.  Mr.  Damp  left  his  family  in  good  circum- 
stances. His  widow  now  resides  about  two  miles  south  of  Hamlet. 
Few,  if  any  farms  in  Perryton  are  better  improved. 

Jajvies  Gingles,  deceased,  is  justly  entitled  to  the  honor  of  being 
One  of  the  pioneers  of  Perryton  township.  He  came  at  the  same  time 
as  did  the  McHards,  in  1838,  and  settled  south  of  Camp  creek.  He 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  in  the  year  1801,  in  Columbia 
county,  where  he  was  reared  and  educated  to  the  business  of  farming. 
He  remained  in  his  native  state  till  1838,  the  time  of  his  emigration  to 
Perryton  township.  He  resided  here  till  his  death,  which  occurred 
when  he  was  in  his  seventy-second  year.  He  was  married  in  1822  to 
Elizabeth  Lackard,  of  Pennsylvania,  born  in  1805,  and  daughter  of 
Robert  and  Jane  Lackard,  both  of  Pennsylvania.  James  Gingles,  by 
this  marriage,  raised  a  family  of  eight  children :  Martha,  Jane,  Eliza- 
beth, A¥ashington,  Margaret,  Harriet  (deceased),  John,  and  Clinda, 
all  of  whom  are  married  except  Washington,  and  he  remains  at  home 
with  his  mother,  caring  for  her  in  her  old  age.  She  still  resides  on  the 
old  homestead,  where  they  located  when  they  first  came  to  Perryton 
township.  To  use  the  language  of  a  friend  of  the  family:  "Mr.  Gin- 
gles was  energetic  and  industrious.  His  character  for  sobriety,  honesty, 
and  integrity,  was  above  reproach.  Coming  to  this  country  when  it 
was  in  its  infancy,  he  endured  every  privation  and  hardship  incident  to 
a  new  country  in  its  early  settlement ;  these  he  bore  with  manly  forti- 
tude and  Christian  resignation.  His  well  matured  opinions  and  advice 
were  sought  for  and  readily  given  to  the  more  recent  settler.  In  times 
when  money  was  scarce  he  often  lent  a  helping  hand  to  those  who 
were  in  need  or  distress,  thus  fultilling  the  Christian  maxim  of  doing 
good  while  we  have  time.  .  His  door  was  ever  open  to  the  wayfarer  and 
traveler,  i^o  one  in  need  was  turned  away  without  being  recipients 
of  his  hospitality.  During  the  last  hours  of  his  earthly  gxistence  he 
had  the  sweetest  solace  and  consolation  of  human  existence  by  being 
surrounded  by  the  children  of  his  love,  whom  he  had  nurtured  in  the 
way  of  religion  and  truth,  thus  depriving  death  of  more  than  half  its 
terror,  and  illustrating  the  truth  of  that  beautiful  stanza  : 

"Jesus  can  make  a  dying  bed 
As  soft  as  downy  pillows  are." 

His  preference  in  religion  was  that  of  the  Presbyterian  teaching.  He 
and  his  wife  so  impressed  their  earnestness  and  faith  in  Christianity 
upon  t'lcir  children,  that  they  are  all  following  in  the  footsteps  of  their 
parents. 


PEKRYTON   TOWNSHIP.  343 

Of  tlie  citizen  soldiei*6  now  residents  of  Mercer  county,  whom  the 
county  claims  as  her  own  by  birth  and  education,  is  J.  B.  Felton.  He 
was  born  in  Millersburg  township,  in  1842,  and  is  a  son  of  David  and 
Lucinda  Fehon.  He  has  Hved  in  Mercer  county  all  his  life  except  ten 
years.  He  received  most  of  his  education  in  the  schools  of  Mercer 
county.  In  1866  he  was  married  to  Charlotte  A.  Howe,  daughter  of 
L.  B.  Howe.  She  was  born  in  1847  in  Mercer  county.  They  have 
two  children :  Jenney  F.  and  Clara  E.  He  enlisted  in  the  army  in 
1862,  in  Company  G,  102d  111.  Vol.,  and  served  till  June,  1865.  He 
was  in  the  battle  at  Resacca,  where  he  was  wounded.  He  was  in  the 
hospital  at  Nashville  from  May,  1863,  till  November,  1864.  During 
the  remainder  of  his  term  of  service  he  was  in  numerous  skirmishes. 
He  has  not  yet  recovered  from  his  woimd  and  draws  a  pension.  He 
has  a  nicely  improved  farm  of  eighty  acres. 

Robert  Dool,  a  native  of  Ohio,  was  born  in  1850,  and  is  the  son 
of  Henry  and  Mary  Dool,  Ireland,  who  came  to  Ohio,  where  they 
remained  for  some  time,  when  they  came  to  Mercer  county  and 
located  in  Perryton  township  in  1853,  where  they  resided  till  1881, 
when  they  moved  to  Aledo  to  live  a  retired  life  and  enjoj^  their  declin- 
ing years.  Both  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  Robert 
was  reared  on  the  farm  and  educated  in  the  district  school.  He  was 
married  in  1873  to  Therssa  Hayes,  daughter  of  Henderson  and  Olive 
Hayes,  both  of  Pennsylvania,  but  afterward  of  Ohio,  settling  in  that 
state  in  1848.  His  motlier  died  in  1852.  His  father  is  now  living 
and  a  resident  of  Belmont  county,  Ohio.  Mr.  Dool  has  two  children : 
Gertrude  B.  and  Henry  C.  H.  His  wife's  parents  were  members  ot 
the  Presbyterian  church,  as  are  he  and  wife,  and  hold  their  member- 
ship at  Millersburg.  He  has  a  fine  farm  of  234  acres,  well  improved, 
and  keeps  a  good  class  of  ftirm  stock,  and  feeds  cattle  for  the  market. 
George  Walter,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  a  native  of  Penn- 
svlvania  and  was  born  in  1812.  He  was  a  son  of  Henrv  and  Elizabeth 
Walter,  both  of  ISTorthampton  county,  Pennsylvania,  who  emigrated 
to  Columbia  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  they  died.  George  was 
married  in  his  native  state  in  1836,  where  he  remained  till  he  emi- 
grated to  Illinois  and  located  in  Perryton  township  in  1859,  where  he 
died  in  1872  on  his  farm,  at  the  age  of  sixty-one.  His  widow  now 
resides  on  the  old  place.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church.  They  had  ten  children:  Charles  C,  Henry  J.,  David  M., 
George  D.,  Sarah  E.  (deceased),  Mary  E,  (deceased),  Martha  R., 
William  A.,  Hannah  J.,  and  Samuel  W.  (deceased).  The  homestead 
farm  consists  of  a  quarter  section,  which  is  undivided  between  the 
heirs.     Henry  J.  was  born  in  Montour  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1841, 


344  HISTORY    OF    iMERCER    A2^B   HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

and  came  to  Illinois  with  liis  parents  and  now  lives  with  his  mother  on 
the  old  homestead.  He  enlisted  in  the  army  in  1861  and  served  till 
November,  1862,  when  he  was  wounded  at  Brittin's  Lane,  and  dis- 
charged from  the  service.  He  belonged  to  company  C,  30th  111.  Vol. 
Inf.  He  was  in  the  battles  of  Belmont  (Missouri),  Fort  Henry,  and 
Fort  Donelson,  the  siege  of  Corinth  and  Brittin's  Lane.  William  A. 
was  born  in  1852  and  resides  on  the  old  homestead  with  his  mother. 
David  M.  enlisted  in  1862  in  company  II,  81th  111.  Yol.  Inf ,  and 
was  transferred  to  the  marine  brigade,  served  three  3^ears,  and  now 
lives  in  Ringgold  county,  Iowa.  George  D.  enlisted  in  company  H, 
84th  111.  Vol.  Inf,  and  was  transferred  to  the  21st  111.  Vol.  Inf.  He 
now  lives  in  Burlington,  Iowa. 

Warner  Corns,  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  1821,  is  the  son  of  Henry 
and  Mary  Corns,  the  former  of  Pennsylvania,  the  latter  of  Virginia. 
They  emigrated  to  Ohio  where  they  were  married,  and  afterward  came 
to  Illinois  in  1842,  located  in  Rock  Island  county,  where  they  remained 
one  year.  They  came  to  Mercer  county  in  1843,  and  located  where 
their  son  Warner  now  resides.  The  father  died  in  1880,  aged  eighty- 
three.  The  mother  lives  on  the  old  homestead  with  her  son  Warner, 
and  is  now  in  her  eighty-seventh  year.  Warner  came  to  Illinois 'with 
his  parents  with  whom  he  has  always  lived.  He  and  his  father 
together  laid  a  claim  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides,  and  both 
improved  the  same.  He  enlisted  in  1862  in  company  D,  33d  111.  Vol. 
Inf.,  and  served  three  years.  He  was  iu  the  second  battle  of  Fort 
Donelson  and  at  Resacca.  The  remainder  of  liis  term  of  service  the 
company  was  detailed  to  fight  bush-whackers  and  guerillas.  He  was 
married  in  1854  to  Amelia  Gingles,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Catharine 
Gingles.  They  came  to  Mercer  'county  in  1839  and  located  in  Perry- 
ton  township.  The  former  died  in  1875,  at  the  age  of  seventy-six 
years;  the  latter  in  1880,  aged  seventy-nine  years.  Mr.  Corns  has 
four  children :  Mary  C.  (now  the  widow  of  James  Huffman),  Ellen  M. 
and  Thirza  C.  (twins).  Ellen  married  Charles  Fencedemancher  and 
Thirza  married  Charles  Snow,  and  Amanda  is  at  home  with  her 
parents.  Mr.  C.  has  a  farm  of  120  acres  and  keeps  a  good  grade  of 
stock. 

Among  the  prominent  farmers  and  stock-raisers  of  Perry  ton  town- 
ship is  G.  D.  Miller.  He  was  born  in  1824  and  is  a  native  of 
Kentucky,  and  son  of  William  and  Elizabeth  Miller,  of  Kentucky. 
His  father  died  in  his  native  state  in  1832,  at  the  age  of  thirty-two 
years.  In  1833  his  mother  emigrated  to  Crawford  county,  Ohio  (now 
Wyandot  county),  where  G.  D.  was  reared  on  the  form,  receiving 
such  educational  instruction  as  the  pioneer  schools  could  furnish.     His 


I'ERRYTON   TOWNSHIP.  345 

mother  died  in  1870,  at  the  age  of  sixty-five,  on  tlie  old  liomestead  in 
Ohio.  His  great-grandparents  on  his  father's  side  came  to  America 
from  across  the  sea :  one  from  Germany,  the  other  from  Ireland.  Mr. 
Miller  came  and  located  in  Perryton  township  in  1852  where  he  now 
resides.  Previous  to  his  locating  here  he  herded  and  fed  cattle  in  the 
neighborhood  of  DeWitt  county,  this  state,  for  several  years.  In  1852 
he  returned  to  Ohio  where  he  was  married  to  Sopliia  Brady,  born  in 
1827,  and  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Sarah  Brady,  the  former  of  whom 
died  in  Ohio  in  181:2,  at  the  age  of  fifty -six  years,  and  the  latter  in 
1870,  at  the  age  of  seventy  years,  Mr.  Miller  has  ten  children: 
Helen  S.,  Minor  D.,  Dow  (deceased),  Olive  L.,  Calista,  Sue,  Emma, 
Iva  M.  (deceased),  Clay,  and  Lonie.  He  has  a  fine  stock  farm  of  700 
acres  located  in  the  southeast  quarter  of  Perryton  township.  He  feeds 
and  ships  cattle  and  hogs.  He  raises  shorthorns,  draft  horses,  and 
the  best  grades  of  hogs  and  sheep.  He  is  a  member  of  the  masonic 
lodge  at  Aledo. 

Among  the  early  settlers  of  Perryton  township  was  Austin  AYood, 
the  father  of  our  subject  (W.  A.  Wood)  and  his  family.  He  located  in 
Perryton  township  as  early  as  1837,  having  come  to  Peoria  county  in 
1836:  ^Y.  A.  Wood  was  born  in*  1820,  in  the  state  of  New  York. 
His  parents,  Austin  and  Louisa  Wood,  were  natives  of  Connecticut. 
His  father  died  in  1864,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  years ;  his  mother 
in  1874,  aged  seventy -three  years.  They  were  both  members  of  the  . 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  highly  respected  by  those  who  knew 
them.  W.  A.  was  reared  on  the  farm.  His  early  education  was 
received  at  the  common  school.  He  has  pursued  the  business  of  his  * 
father  all  his  life.  He  owns  a  fine  stock  farm  of  290  acres,  fairly 
improved  and  well  stocked.  He  was  married  in  1843  to  Harriet  S. 
Smith,  of  Xew  York,  daughter  of  Jesse  Smith,  who  came  to  Mercer 
county  in  1840.  Mr.  Wood  has  eight  children:  Saphrona,  Walter, 
Louis,  Burdick,  Emerson,  Charles,  Bell,  and  Lena.  He  and  wife  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He  lives  in  the  south 
half  of  Perryton  township,  four  and  a  half  miles  southeast  of  Hamlet. 

The  veteran  pioneer,  William  Doak,  of  Mercer  county,  was  born  in 
Columbia  county,  Pennsylvania,  October  15, 1816,  and  was  brought  up 
on  a  farm.  His  education  was  received  in  the  pioneer  log  cabin  school- 
house,  with  its  slab  seats  and  desks.  In  the  fall  of  1837  he  emigrated 
to  Mercer  count}-,  Illinois,  first  settling  in  Greene  township,  where  he 
remained  till  the  fall  of  1839,  when  he  removed  to  Perryton,  where  he 
permanently  located  on  section  27,  and  actively  engaged  in  fiirming 
and  stock-raising,  following  the  business  successfully  till  the  spring  of 
1882,  when  he  gave  up  active  labor  and  removed  to  Aledo,  with  a  view 


346  HISTORY   OF   IVfERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

of  spending  his  declining  years  in  quiet  rest.  He  was  married  May 
19,  1846,  to  Sarah  P.,  daughter  of  Dr.  M.  Farwell.  She  is  a  native  of 
New  Hampshire,  and  came  with  her  parents  to  Mercer  county  in  1842 
and  settled  in  Pre-emption  township.  They  are  the  parents  of  three 
children:  Nancy  J.,  now  Mrs.  William  McHard,  William  E.,  now  a 
resident  of  Keithsburg  township,  and  Alvah  J.,  who  now  lives  on  the 
old  homestead  farm  in  Perryton  township.  For  many  of  the  incidents 
related  of  the  early  settlement  of  Perryton  township  reference  may  be 
had  to  the  Perryton  township  history.  He  and  wife  are  pioneer  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbyterian  church  as  well  as  pioneer  settlers.  His  son, 
Alvah  A.,  was  born  in  Perryton  township  in  1854.  He  was  reared  on 
the  farm.  His  educational  training  was  that  of  the  district  school  and 
a  few  terms  in  the  academy  at  Aledo.     He  was  married  in  1880  to 

.  Agnes  Wallace,  a  native  of  Ohio,  born  in  1857,  and  a  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Mary  AYallace,  both  of  Ohio,  and  came  to  Mercer  county 
about  1860.     A.  J.  Doak  carries  on  the  business  of  his  father's  farm. 
He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

T.  Glffy  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was  born  in  1829. 
He  is  the  son  of  Alexander  and  Catharine  Guffy,  both  of  Penn- 
svlvania.  His  father  went  to  California  in  1848,  where  he  died 
in  1857,  at  the  age  of  fifty-six  years.  His  mother  now  lives  in 
Pennsylvania  and  is  in  her  seventy-ninth  year.  Both  were  members 
of  the  Lutheran  church,  but  his  mother  is  at  the  present  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Mr.  Guffy  was  reared  a  mechanic, 
and  came  to  Mercer  county  in  1855,  where  he  engaged  in  farming, 

•in  which  pursuit  he  is  still  occupied.  He  was  married  in  1857  to 
Margaret  Gingles,  daughter  of  James  and  Elizabeth  Gingles.  Mr. 
Guffy  has  by  this  marriage  one  child,  Harriet  C,  who  was  married  in 
1881  to  John  C.  Lanon,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  son  of  Daniel 
and  Sarah  Lanon.  He  came  to  Mercer  county  from  Michigan.  Mr. 
Guffy  has  a  well-improved  farm  of  sixty  acres.  His  son-in-law  lives 
with  him  and  carries  on  the  farm.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  church. 

The  McHard  family  located  in  Perryton  township  in  1839.  At 
that  time  there  were  but  few  settlers  in  this  part  of  the  country. 
Where  William  McHard  located  at  the  above-named  date  is  now  the 
finest  part  of  Perryton  township.  In  1839  the  surrounding  country 
was  a  wild  wilderness,  over  which  the  deer  and  wolves  gamboled; 
the  coo  of  the  prairie  chicken  and  the  quack  of  the  wild  duck  made  the 
music  in  the  balmy  spring  morning  air.  Among  the  names  of  the 
pioneers  of  Perryton  township  Ijelongs  the  name  of  Wilm.vai  McHard. 
He  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  in  1810,  son  of  Joseph  and 


PERRYTON   TOWNSHIP.  347 

Sarah  (Adams)  McIIard,  the  former  of  Ireland,  the  latter  of  Scotland, 
both  of  whom  died  in  Pennsylvania.  William  was  brought  up  a 
wagonmaker.  He  was  married  in  his  native  state  in  1832,  and  came 
to  Illinois  seven  years"  later,  and  located  in  Perry  ton  township,  where 
he  engaged  in  farming,  which  pursuit  he  followed  till  his  death,  which 
■>ccurred  in  IS  TO,  at  the  age  of  sixty-three  years.  His  wife  died  in 
1867,  at  the  age  of  fifty-six  years.  They  were  both  persons  of  high 
moral  integrity  and  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  His  son, 
William  McIIard,  Jr.,  was  born  in  1842,  and  reared  on  the  farm, 
receiving  such  educational  instruction  as  the  schools  of  his  neighbor- 
hood could  give.  He  was  married  in  1873  to  Miss  Nancy  J.  Doak,  a 
native  of  Perryton  townshij),  born  in  1845,  and  a  daughter  of  William 
and  Sarah  P.  Doak.  By  this  marriage  he  has  two  children  :  Mary  E. , 
and  Sarah.  He  has  a  fine  stock  farm  of  330  acres,  located  in  the  south 
half  of  the  township,  a  part  of  which  belonged  to  the  old  homestead  of 
his  father.  He  keeps  a  good  grade  of  stock,  and  makes  a  specialty  of 
feeding  cattle.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 
Samuel  McHard,  son  of  William  McHard,  was  born  in  1833,  is  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  and  came  to  Perryton  township  with  his  father 
when  six  years  old.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  inured  to  all  the 
privations  of  pioneer  life.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in  the  army,  in  com- 
pany G,  102d  111.  Vol.,  served  two  years  and  nine  months,  one  year  of 
which  time  he  held  the  office  of  corporal.  He  was  in  the  following 
engagements:  Resacca,  Burnt  Hickory,  Marietta,  Peach  Tree  creek, 
Atlanta,  Savannah,  and  Raleigh,  and  nuinerous  skirmishes.  He  was 
married  in  1866  to  Mary  Richmond,  native  of  Ohio,  and  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Susan  Richmond.  They  came  to  Mercer  county  in  1853, 
and  were  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Samuel 
McHard  has  by  this  marriage  six  children:  Franklin  R.,  Susan  L., 
Gertrude  and  Grace  (twins)^  May,  and  William  S.  He  and  wife  are 
members  of  the  Perryton  Presbyterian  church.  He  has  a  farm  of  200 
acres,  well  improved  and  well  stocked.  He  resides  on  the  old  home- 
stead where  his  father  settled  in  1839. 

EDUCATIOX. 
Contributed  by  Miss  Amanda  Frazier. 

The  subject  of  education  is  so  interwoven  with  the  growth  and 
progress  of  all  enlightened  communities  that  a  full  history  of  any 
people  at  the  present  day  would  be  incomplete  which  omitted  some 
mention  of  their  public  schools  and  other  institutions  of  learning.  It 
is  a  matter  of  regret  that  many  of  the  records  of  tlie  earlier  schools  of 
Mercer  county  have  been  lost  by  the  carelessness  or  recklessness  of  a 


348  HISTOEY   OF   ilERCEE   AXD    HENDERSON    COUKTIES. 

former  count v  superintendent,  as  we  are  thus  compelled  to  depend 
upon  tradition,  or  the  memories  of  the  older  settlers,  for  material  from 
which  to  compile  a  sketch  of  our  first  school  teachers  and  school- 
houses. 

Tlie  original  settlers  of  Mercer  county  were  men  of  sterling  worth, 
intelligent  and  enterpiising,  and  when  plantmg  their  homes  on  these 
wild  pi-airies  more  than  fifty  years  ago  were  not  unmindful  of  the  needs 
of  then-  children ;  and  we  find  that  as  soon  as  three  or  four  cabins  were 
erected  in  any  giyen  locality,  some  provision  was  at  once  made  to  fur- 
nish the  young  people  with  some  sort  of  school  privileges.  Sometimes 
it  ^yas  a  small  log  cabin  which  furnished  teacher  and  scholar  shelter, 
and  sometimes  a  small  room  or  addition  to  one  of  the  j)rairie  cabins 
was  all  the  room  obtainable  for  school  purposes. 

It  is  no  disparagement  to  the  people  of  those  early  days  to  say  that 
in  some  instances  the  teachers  were  of  an  order  quite  in  keeping  with 
the  school-room,  cheap  and  unsatisfactory.  There  were  no  profes- 
sional teachers  among  the  early  pioneers ;  but  now  and  then  a  young 
settler,  or  the  older  son  in  some  family,  would  undertake  for  small  pay 
to  ''keep"  school  during  the  winter,  while  some  pioneer's  daughter 
would  fill  the  same  office  for  the  summer  to  half  a  dozen  or  half  a  score 
of  pupils.  We  have  in  mind  the  case  of  one  young  lady,  a  settler's 
daughter,  who  taught  one  summer  for  fifty  cents  per  week  and  boarded 
around  among  the  patrons.  There  were  but  four  families  in  the  dis- 
trict, and  but  eight  pupils  enrolled.  The  education  of  the  young  lady 
spoken  of  was  not  at  all  complete,  but  then  the  requirements  of  that 
school  were  limited  as  to  qualifications  and  advancement. 

The  first  school  taught  in  Mercer  county  was  held  in  a  small  log 
cabin  erected  on  the  claim  of  Erastus  Dennison,  about  two  miles  east 
of  the  town  of  Xew  Boston,  near  the  present  home  of  Mr.  C.  Rader. 
The  teacher  was  Abram  Miller,  and  the  time  the  summer  of  1833. 
Mrs.  Ephraim  Gilmore,  now  of  Aledo,  was  one  of  the  pupils  in  this 
pioneer  school  for  a  few  weeks.  Mr.  Miller  was  a  prominent  character 
in  the  early  settlement  of  the  county,  having  been  one  of  the  principal 
actors  in  the  organization  of  the  county  and  the  first  county  clerk. 
Abe,  as  he  was  familiarly  called,  had  a  strong  dislike  for  the  restraints 
of  close-fitting  garments,  and  it  was  no  uncommon  thing  to  see  him 
marching  to  and  from  school  in  warm  weather  barefoot,  with  loose 
shirt  and  flowing  pantaloons.  This  first  school  was  attended  by  an 
average  of  about  ten  scholars,  the  total  enrollment  for  the  season 
reaching  only  about  a  dozen.  The  next  year  (1834),  as  near  as  we  can 
learn,  the  first  regular  school-house  was  erected  in  Xew  Boston  town- 
ship, near  the  blufi",  about  three  miles  east  of  the  present  village  of 


4.  PERRYTON   TOWNSHIP.  349 

New"  Boston,  on  tlie  farm  of  William  Willits.  Abrani  Miller  or 
Joshua  Willits  tanglit  liere  in  the  witter  of  1834-5.  About  the  year 
1835-6  George  W.  Julian,  since  a  distinguished  politician  and  member 
of  congress  from  Indiana,  wielded  the  birch  in  this,  Mercer  county's 
first  regular  school-house. 

The  territory  now  constituting  the  county  of  Mercer  was  stricken 
off  from  Warren  and  organized  into  a  separate  county  in  1835,  and 
soon  after  the  organization  was  effected  we  find  that  John  Long  was 
appointed,  April  13,  1835,  by  the  county  commissioners'  court  to  the 
office  of  school  commissioner.  While  the  county  thus  early  in  its 
history  provided  herself  with  the  proper  official  machinery  for  the 
organization  of  a  more  perfect  school  system,  yet  we  find  but  very 
indifi'erent  progress  in  the  character  of  teachers  or  the  modes  of 
instruction  for  a  number  of  years. 

It  appears  that  the  school  commissioner  was  also  agent  of  the 
school  lands,  and  the  most  of  the  reports  fn^m  several  of  the  earlier 
school  commissioners  pertained  to  the  care  and  disposal  of  the  school 
lands,  and  little  or  nothing  relating  to  teachers  or  schools. 

For  nearly  fifteen  years  after  the  appointment  of  Mr.  Long,  the 
school  commissioner  did  not  assume  the  duties  of  examiner  of  teach- 
ers. During  these  years  the  school  board,  consisting  of  the  school 
trustees  of  the  various  precincts,  were  the  board  of  examiners.  These 
school  trustees  were  not  always  elected  on  account  of  their  educational 
qualifications,  but  rather  for  their  sturdy  business  qualities,  and  for  the 
further  purpose  of  having  them  properly  distributed  over  the  precinct. 

As  a  matter  of  course  the  examination  day,  under  such  circum- 
stances, was  an  event  in  the  career  of  the  board  which  exhibited  its 
dignified  and  ludicrous  character,  according  to  the  particular  qualifica- 
tions of  the  members  of  the  given  board. 

An  incident  connected  with  one  of  these  examinations  is  related  by 
a  gentleman  now  living  in  the  eastern  portion  of  the  county.  Some 
thirty-five  years  ago,  this  gentleman,  then  a  young  man,  just  home 
from  a  medical  college,  was  requested  to  be  present  on  a  certain  day  to 
hear  the  examination  of  a  small  class  of  teachers,  and  to  assist  in  the 
exercises.  He  attended  punctually  at  the  time  and  place  appointed, 
and  found  three  candidates  for  certificates,  one  young  lady  and  two 
young  gentlemen.  The  three  trustees,  the  regular  school  board,  were 
also  present,  but  not  in  a  well  organized  condition  for  the  duties  before 
them. 

After  some  preliminary  conversations  of  a  general  character  with 
the  candidates,  the  board  retired  to  organize  for  the  contest,  and  after 
a  short  caucus  among  themselves,  they  deputised  one  of  their  numbei" 


350  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AIJD    HENDERSON   COUNTIES.  * 

to  request  the  young  doctor  to  join  the  caucus,  which  he  readily  con- 
sented to  do.  The  young  gentleftian  found  the  board  to  be  composed 
of  three  sturdy  and  intelligent  farmers,  good,  honest,  capable  men  for 
all  ordinary  transactions,  but  honestly  confessing  their  inability  to  per- 
form the  duties  required  of  them  as  examiners.  They  could  "read, 
write,  and  cipher,"  but  then  the  law  required  the  teacher  to  j^ass  exam- 
ination in  geography  and  grammar,  and  these  last  branches  of  study  were 
as  Choctaw  to  them.  At  the  request  of  the  board  the  young  doctor  con- 
sented to  conduct  the  examination,  the  board  to  hear  the  class  and 
decide  upon  their  qualifications.  Hastily  arranging  a  set  of  questions 
he  began  the  examination,  which  was  oral,  except  a  few  examples  in 
written  arithmetic.  The  board  listened  carefully  to  all  the  exercises, 
and  when  it  was  finished  they  again  retired  for  consultation.  After  a 
short  secret  session  the  young  doctor  was  again  summoned  in  counsel, 
when  one  of  the  board  acting  as  spokesman,  said  :  "See  here,  we  want 
you  to  go  right  straight  through  with  this  here  thing.  They  all  show 
a  nice  hand  writin',  and  spell  well  enough  and  read  and  ciplier  fustrate, 
but  then  that  gography  and  grammar  is  all  Injun  to  us.  You  see  we 
dont't  pretend  to  know  anything  about  it,  so  you  jist  give  us  your  hon- 
est opinion  about  the  whole  thing,  and  if  you  say  they  pass  muster, 
why  we  will  give  them  all  their  papers  and  let  them  bang  away." 

To  return  to  the  main  narrative,  John  Long  served  as  school  com- 
missioner until  December  5,  1835,  when  "William  I.  Nevius  was 
appointed  as  his  successor.  Mr.  Nevius  was  reappointed  in  1837,  and 
again  in  1838  and  1839,  serving  until  June  6,  1840,  when  Ephraim 
Gilmore  received  the  appointment.  In  1841  the  oftice  became  elective, 
and  Ephraim  Gilmore,  was  again  selected  to  fill  the  position  at  an 
election  held  in  August,  1841,  and  was  re-elected  annually  for  five 
years,  his  last  election  occurring  on  August  3,  1845.  The  next  to  fill 
the  ofiice  was  Thomas  Candor,  who  was  chosen  at  the  annual  election 
on  August  3,  1846.  Mr.  Candor  served  but  one  year  when  Benjamin 
D.  Ellett  was  chosen  his  successor,  August  5,  1847.  From  1847  to 
1865  the  election  for  school  commissioner  was  held  bi-ennially,  thereby 
giving  the  office  a  more  permanent  character.  Mr.  Ellett  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Tyler  McWhorter,  who  was  elected  November  6,  1849,  and 
again  on  November  4,  1851.  Mr.  McWhorter  was  the  first  school 
commissioner  who  undertook  the  examination  of  teachers  in  this 
county,  and  to  his  administration,  extending  over  a  period  of  four 
years,  is  due  the  first  real  advancement  in  the  character  of  teachers,  as 
regards  qualifications  and  modes  of  instruction.  He  was  careful  and 
pains-taking  in  all  his  ofticial  acts  and  was  especially  watchful  and 
thorough  in  his  inquiries  as  to  the  fitness  of  candidates  for  certificates. 


PEREYTON   TOWNSHIP.  351 

The  scarcity  of  well-qualified  teachers  at  that  time  forced  him  to  grant 
certificates,  in  some  instances,  where  the  candidate  got  the  benefit  of  a 
"reasonable  doubt"  as  to  their  entire  fitness  for  the  high  office  of 
teacher,  but  many  able  educators  were  placed  in  charge  of  schools  dur- 
ing his  term  of  oftice.  Among  these  we  will  mention  the  names  of 
Simeon  Smith,  David  Felton,  Resin  Kile  and  Harvey  S.  Senter. 

After  Mr.  McWhorter  comes  John  Ramse}^,  who  was  elected 
November  8,  1853,  followed  by  Norman  P.  Brown,  who  was  elected 
on  November  6,  1855.  Mr.  Brown  was  a  practical  and  competent 
teacher,  but  so  far  as  -we  can  learn,  neither  he  nor  Mr.  Ramsey  suc- 
ceeded in  advancing  the  character  of  the  schools  of  the  county  beyond 
the  point  attained  by  Mr.  McWhorter  at  the  time  of  his  retirement  from 
the  ofiice  in  1853.  The  successor  of  N.  P.  Brown  was  J.  E.  Harroun, 
who  was  elected  November  6,  1857.  The  law  had  now  clothed  the 
commissioner  with  the  full  powers  of  superintendent  and  given  him 
authority  to  visit  schools.  The  personal  visitation  of  schools  gave  to 
the  new  superintendent  great  advantages  over  his  predecessors,  as  it 
enabled  him  to  witness  tlie  every  day  work  of  the  teacher  in  the  school- 
room. It  is  not  unfi-equently  the  case  that  a  candidate  for  teacher  will 
pass  with  a  high  grade  after  a  most  thorough  examination,  and  yet 
prove  unable  to  impart  instruction,  or  unfit  to  govern  in  the  school- 
room. These  faults  or  failures  the  visiting  superintendent  could  detect  ■ 
and  remedy,  provided  the  visitations  were  made  in  the  right  spirit  and 
conducted  with  proper  care  for  the  good  of  the  people.  The  truth  of 
history  constrains  us  to  say  that  the  greatest  good  possible  under  the 
new  order  of  things  was  not  attained  during  the  administration  of  sev- 
eral of  the  successors  of  Mr.  Harroun.  Too  little  practical  instruction 
was  imparted  by  the  superintendent  in  these  visitations,  too  much  time 
was  spent  in  the  exhibitions  of  the  proficiency  of  certain  advanced 
classes,  and  in  the  making  of  fine  speeches  by  the  visiting  official.  The 
visitations,  instead  of  securing  the  good  to  teachers  and  people  as 
designed  by  the  law  makers,  degenerated  in  some  instances  into  the 
veriest  routine,  measured,  we  fear,  more  by  the  per  diem  allowed  than 
by  the  benefits  which  should  have  accrued. 

Mr.  Harroun  filled  the  office  for  two  years,  and,  by  constant  visita- 
tions and  courteous  treatment  of  the  teachers  of  the  county,  inspired 
them,  not  only  with  the  desire  to  excel  in  their  calling,  but  with  that 
esprit  de  corps  which  should  ever  prevail  among  professional  educators 
in  our  common  schools. 

It  was  during  Mr.  Harroun's  administration  that  teachers  institutes 
were  organized,  and  the  central  .or  county  institute  was  first  attempted. 
He  was  also  the  first  to  attempt  the  introduction  of  any  form  of  school 


352  HISTORY    OF   arEECEE   AND    HENDEESON   COUNTIES. 

apparatus  in  the  common  schools  of*  our  county,  and  although  not 
always  successful  in  convincing  the  patrons  of  their  utility,  he  was 
enabled  to  scatter  here  and  there  a  goodly  number  of  these  helps  to 
study,  giving  an  impulse  to  their  use  by  explaining  to  teacher  and 
jDupil,  in  the  school-room,  the  manner  in  which  they  should  be 
employed. 

Mr.  Harroun  was  succeeded  by  Kev.  James  S.  Poage,  a  prominent 
and  deservedly  popular  Presbyterian  minister,  who  was  elected  Novem- 
ber 8,  1869,  and  who  served  for  two  years.  Mr.  Poage  was  a  highly 
educated  gentleman,  a  Huent  speaker  and  a  most  exemplary  gentleman, 
but  he  was  not  a  practical  teacher,  and  while  he  made  a  creditable 
superintendent  he  did  not  succeed  in  advancing  the  character  of  the 
schools  to  that  extent  for  which  his  learning  and  high  character  gave 
promise  at  the  time  he  was  elected. 

Amos  T.  Waterman  was  elected  November  5,  1861,  as  the  suc- 
cessor of  Mr.  Poage,  and  served  for  two  years.  Mr.  Waterman  had 
formerly  been  engaged  in  teaching,  but  was  at  the  time  of  his  service 
a  young  practicing  attorney  of  more  than  ordinary  brilliancy.  His 
administration  of  the  office  was  creditable  to  himself  and  serviceable 
to  the  educational  interests  of  the  people.  His  examinations  were 
conducted  with  more  than  ordinary  care,  thus,  securing  a  better  grade 
of  teachers,  and  giving  a  new  impetus  toward  a  higher  excellence  in 
teaching. 

Washington  L.  Campbell,  the  successor  of  Mr.  Waterman,  was 
elected  November  6,  1863,  and  served  for  one  term  of  two  years,  and 
was  followed  by  Sylvenus  B.  Atwater,  who  was  chosen  at  the  election 
held  November  T,  1865,  being  one  of  the  iirst  of  a  long  line  of  county 
officials  who  have  claimed  the  suftrages  of  the  people  of  Mercer  on 
account  of  their  services  in  the  late  war.  Mr.  Atwater  was  a  practical 
teacher  of  fair  reputation  before  he  entered  the  military  service,  and 
returning  a  few  months  before  the  election  from  his  three  years'  service 
in  the  27tli  reg.  111.  Vol.  Inf ,  after  participating  in  all  the  battles, 
marches  and  victories  in  which  that  gallant  regiment  was  engaged,  he 
was  promptly  elected  as  county  superintendent  of  schools  for  the  term 
of  four  years,  the  term  of  the  office  having  just  been  extended  from 
two  to  four  years.  To  Mr.  Atwater  the  people  of  Mercer  county  owe 
a  debt  of  gratitude  for  his  heroic,  but  then  most  unpopular  treatment 
of  all  school  matters.  He  introduced  a  strict  and  searching  system  of 
examination  of  teachers,  and  insisted  so  strongly  that  his  standard  of 
fitness  should  be  met  that  a  large  number  of  half-qualified  teachers 
were  either  driven  from  the  schools,  pr  induced  to  re-enter  school  as 
students  themselves  for  the  purpose  of  improving  their  education,  and 


PERRYTOX   TOWNSHIP.  353 

their  places  were  filled  by  a  liiglier  and  better  grade  of  teacliers.  He 
was  the  first  to  attempt  the  task  of  expurging  from  the  school-room 
the  antiquated  text-books  of  the  grandfathers,  and  introducing  in  their 
stead  a  uniform  system  of  books  so  graded  as  to  meet  the  wants  of  the 
several  pupils,  thus  enabling  the  teacher  to  separate  his  pupils  into 
classes  by  grades  of  proficiency ;  in  fact,  establishing  grades  in  many 
district  schools,  going  so  far  in  this  direction  that  in  several  instances 
wdiere  the  patrons  refused  to  buy  or  order  the  purchase  of  new  books, 
he  furnished  them  out  of  his  own  private  funds.  AUhough  partially 
successful  in  his  etforts  to  secure  a  uniformity  of  text-books,  there 
remained  much' to  be  done  in  this  direction  after  his  four  years'  struggle 
was  ended  by  the  expiration  of  his  offics.  He  labored  assiduously  to 
secure  a  black-board  in  every  school-house,  going  so  far  as  to  carry  his 
brush  and  slating  into  the  remoter  districts  and  painting  the  desired 
board  with  his  own  hands  where  the  directors  could  not,  or  would 
not.  get  it  done  themselves.  While  Mr.  Atwater  won  the  hearty 
ill  will  of  some  would-be  teachers  and  their  friends  by  refusing  certifi- 
cates to  persons  who  had  tauglit  under  other  superintendents,  and 
refusing  like  favors  to  new  candidates  who  failed  to  pass  his  examina- 
tion, and  while  much  discontent  was  engendered  among  the  people  in 
some  localities  on  account  of  the  increased  expenses  caused  by  his 
unceasing  effbrts  to  secure  new  books  and  apparatus,  and  advancement 
of  wages  consequent  upon  the  weeding  out  of  poor  and  cheap  teachers, 
yet  impartial  history  will  compel  the  admission  that  Mr.  Atwater  did 
more  to  advance  the  educational  interest,  and  to  place  the  common 
schools  upon  a  higher  plane  of  excellence  than  any  person  who  had 
preceded  him  in  that  office. 

The  successor  of  Mr.  Atwater  was  Frederick  Livingston,  a  graduate 
of  Lombard  college,  of  Galesburg,  Illinois,  and  a  teacher  of  some 
years'  experience,  who  was  elected  November  2,  1869,  and  served  for 
four  years.  His  acknowledged  learning,  with  a  fair  experience  as  a 
teacher,  and  courteous  address,  gave  promise  that  in  his  election  the 
schools  of  the  county  would  be  greatly  benefited ;  but  his  four  years' 
service  was  a  great  disappointment  to  his  friends  and  a  misfortune  to 
himself.  Lacking  in  administrative  ability,  he  soon  lost  his  hold  upon 
tlie  afiections  of  the  older  teachers  of  the  county,  and  the  freedom  with 
which  he  granted  certificates  to  any  and  all  applicants  soon  flooded  the 
county  with  a  new  crop  of  teachers,  many  of  whom  were  in  no  wise 
qualified  for  the  duties  of  the  school-room,  thereby  greatly  imparing 
the  standard  of  the  schools  generally  throughout  the  county.  During 
his  administration  many  of  the  books  and  voucliers  belonging  to  the 
office  were  lost  or  destroyed,  including  all  the  records  of  the  school 


354:  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   A^'D    HENDERSON   COUNTIES.  '  ' 

lands,  and  nearly  all  books  and  papers  pertaining  to  connty  scliool 
funds.  His  bondsmen  made  good  such  loss  of  the  public  funds  as  was 
proven  to  have  been  lost  or  misused  while  in  his  charge.  Mr.  Living- 
ston was  the  first  and  only  defaulter  in  this  office  in  the  history  of  the 
county.  Mr.  Livingston  was  the  possessor  of  many  qualities  and 
graces  calculated  to  win  the  confidence  of  the  people  and  endear  him 
to  liis  Mends,  and  we  do  not  pen  this  sketch  ^atliout  a  regret  that  one 
so  liberally  educated,  so  courteous  and  kind,  and  withal  so  well  quali- 
fied for  a  useful  life,  should  exhibit  that  lack  of  balance  which  caused 
the  unfortunate  miscarriage  in  his  official  acts. 

[The  following  sketch  of  Miss  Frazier's  career  as  a  teacher  and 
county  superintendent,  is  furnished  us  by  a  gentleman  who  is  interested 
in  education,  and  wlio  has  been  long  familar  with  her  work. — Ed.] 

During  the  administration  of  Mr.  Livingston,  our  legislature  en- 
acted a  law  making  women  eligible  for  all  school  offices,  and  at  the 
first  election  held  after  the  passage  of  this  law,  to-wit.  in  November, 
IS 73,  Miss  Amanda  E.  Frazier,  of  Mercer  county,  was  one  of  the 
eleven  ladies  who  were  elected  to  the  position  of  county  superintendent 
of  schools  in  Illinois.  Miss  Frazier  was  re-elected  in  November,  ISTT, 
and  at  the  expiration  of  her  second  term  of  office,  was  unanimously 
appointed  by  the  board  of  supervisors  in  December,  ISSl,  to  fill  the 
vacancy  then  existing  by  reascm  of  the  recent  amendment  to  the  stat- 
utes  chauging  the  time  of  election  for  this  and  certain  other  county 
offices,  from  1881  to  1882,  and  quadrenially  thereafter.  She  is  there- 
fore filling  the  ninth  year  of  her  incumbency  of  that  office,  a  tact 
which  speaks  in  no  uncertain  terms  of  the  confidence  and  trust  which 
the  people  of  the  county  continue  to  repose  in  her  capacity  and  official 
integrity. 

Miss  Frazier  has  long  been  identified  ^^^th  the  schools  and  school 
work  of  Mercer  county,  and  deserves  no  small  measure  of  praise  for 
the  earnest  and  well  directed  eftbrts  she  has  expended  to  elevate  the 
standard  of  public  instruction  in  the  county.  Entering  upon  her  career 
as  a  teacher,  in  1862,  after  completing  the  academic  course  in  Mon- 
mouth college,  and  while  yet  a  mere  girl,  she  developed  a  remarkable 
capacity  for  the  government  of  pupils  and  for  imparting  instruction, 
and  so  complete  was  her  success  as  teacher  thus  early  in  life,  that  dur- 
ing all  the  after  years  she  gave  to  teaching  she  never  was  under  the 
necessity  of  applying  for  a  position,  masmuch  as  applications  for 
her  services  came  to  her  unsouo:lit.  After  teaching  a  few  terms  Miss 
Frazier  concluded  to  more  fully  quality  herself  for  the  profession  which 
she  had  determined  to  follow,  and  with  this  view  spent  two  years  at 
the  State  Norma]   Fniversity  at  Bloomingion.    Illinois,  and  another 


PERRYTON   TOWNSHIP.  355 

year  at  Lombard  University,  Galesburg,  Illinois,  when  she  resumed 
her  professional  career  as  teacher  in  the  capacity  of  assistant  to  the 
principal  of  the  graded  schools  of  Aledo,  where  she  remained  four 
years,  and  was  tendered  the  position  for  another  year,  but  an  unsolic- 
ited call  from  a  larger  constituency  constrained  her  to  decline  the  posi- 
tion of  teacher  for  that  of  county  superintendent,  to  which  she  was 
chosen,  as  before  stated,  in  November,  1873. 

Miss  Frazier  entered  upon  her  new  wor^  with  a  determination  to 
labor  for  the  interest  and  advancement  of  the  schools  thus  placed  under 
her  charge,  and  her  first  steps  in  this  direction  consisted  in  the  adop- 
tion of  a  rigid  system  of  examination  of  her  teachers.  It  at  once  became 
apparent  that  to  obtain  a  certificate  to  teach  it  was  necessary  for  the 
candidate  tcf  be  well  qualified  in  all  the  branches  which  the  law  requires 
to  be  taught.  No  half-way  work  would  fill  the  standard  she  had  fixed 
upon,  and  as  a  consequence  many  incompetent  teachers  were  dropped 
off  the  roll.  To  show  something  of  her  work  in  this  department,  the 
records  show  that  in  a  single  year  out  of  388  applicants  examined  for 
certificates,  219  were  rejected,  and  but  151  accepted.  To  assist  such 
as  were  willing  to  work  for  the  position  of  teacher,  she  re-organized 
the  Teachers'  Institute  of  the  county,  whose  sessions  were  held  during 
the  school  year  at  various  points  in  the  county,  and  early  in  her  official 
career  organized  a  normal  drill,  holding  the  sessions  annually  during 
the  summer  vacation  and  continuing  four  weeks.  Securing  two  or  three 
prominent  educators  from  abroad  to  co-o])erate  with  her  in  these  nor- 
mal schools,  the  larffe  classes  annuallv  in  attendance  were  submitted 
to  a  thorough  drill  in  all  the  branches  required  to  be  taught,  and  the 
best  modes  of  teaching  and  government,  with  pronounced  advantages 
to  both  the  teachers  and  the  schools.  These  teachers'  meetings  and 
drills  have  been  marked  features  in  her  administration,  and  of  their 
utility  there  can  be  no  question. 

Miss  Frazier  is  a  woman  possessed  of  many  qualities  which  are 
peculiarly  fitting  for  one  in  the  position  she  occupied.  Thoroughly 
qualified  for  her  duties  by  a  liberal  education  and  experience  in  teach- 
ing, earnest,  conscientious,  and  careful  in  her  work,  courteous  and 
patient  in  her  intercourse  with  the  young  and  inexperienced  candidates 
for  teachers,  though  firm  and  unyielding  when  occasion  required,  and 
withal  possessed  with  a  strong  personal  magnetism  which  attracts 
while  it  does  not  repel,  she  has  succeeded  in  impressing  upon  the 
schools  of  the  county  during  these  eight  and  a  half  years  of  her  official 
life,  much  of  her  strong  individuality  of  character,  and  secured  many 
changes  in  the  manner  of  examining  and  employing  teachers,  in  the 
•  methods  of  teaching  and  governing  schools,  and,  in  general,  a  marked 


356  HISTORY   OF   ilERCER    AND    HENDERSON-  COUNTIES. 

advancement  toward  a  higher  standard  of  education  and  instruction 
throughout  the  connty. 

The  school  lands  of  Mercer  county  came  througli  two  general  acts 
of  congress;  the  first  setting  aside  section  16  for  school  purposes  in 
each  congressional  township  in  all  the  states  and  territories  containing 
public  lands,  and  the  second  turning  over  certain  low,  wet,  and  par- 
tially submerged  lands  for  a  like  purpose.  By  the  original  act  there 
were  fifteen  sections,  beiijg  one  section  in  each  of  the  fifteen  townships, 
in  all  about  10,600  acres  of  very  good  lands  available  for  school  pur- 
poses. Some  of  these  lands  were  among  the  best  in  the  county  for 
agricultural  purposes,  and  the  entire  body  of  them  were  equal  in  native 
richness  and  availability  for  all  agricultural  and  grazing  ])urposes  with 
the  average  lands  in  the  county ;  and  if  it  had  been  ke'^^t  out  of  the 
market  and  held  a  few  years  longer,  until  the  "congress  lands"  were 
disposed  of,  when  the  price  of  all  wild  lands  advanced  from  $5  to  $10 
an  acre,  the  several  townships  in  the  county  might  have  realized  sufii- 
cient  from  the  sales  of  their  several  school  sections  to  haA^e  assured  them 
each  a  large  and  remunerative  permanent  fund.  This,  howe^'ei-,  was 
not  done,  and  the  consequence  is  that  these  township  funds  are  a  mere 
skeleton  of  what  they  should  and  might  have  been,  had  a  more  far- 
seeing  policy  been  adopted  by  the  people  and  those  having  charge  of 
these  trusts.  In  those  days  the  people  were  poor ;  there  was  then  no 
adequate  state  fund  as  now ;  railroads,  w^ith  their  vitalizing  influence, 
had  not  yet  approached  our  borders ;  new  settlers  were  dropping  in 
but  slowly,  thus  leaving  the  country  but  thinly  populated,  and  making 
it  a  difficult  matter,  with  the  low  price  of  all  farm  products,  for  those 
scattered  neighbors  to  raise  the  means  (as  they  were  then  compelled  to 
do  mainly  from  their  own  pockets)  to  defray  the  expense  of  a  three- 
months'  school  in  winter  and  two  or  three  months  in  summer.  To 
lighten  their  school  expenses,  and  to  secure  for  themselves  some  of  the 
benefits  from  the  lands  donated  by  congress,  the  settlers  of  thirty  years 
ago  determined  to  dis])ose  of  these  lands,  and,  in  order  to  succeed,  they 
were  compelled  to  fix  the  schedule  of  prices  at,  or  below,  the  price  of 
congress  land,  and  in  some  instances  the  price  was  very  much  below 
that  of  the  government  land.  At  these  give-away  prices,  about  twelve 
sections  of  this  magnificent  donation  were  disposed  of  during  Mr. 
McWhorter's  administration  of  the  office  of  school  commissioner  from 
1849  to  1851.  To  us  of  tlie  present  day  the  policy  then  ]3ursued 
regarding  the  school  lands  appears  short-sighted  and  wasteful,  and 
while  no  school  officer  is  justly  chargeable  with  blame  for  tlie  part  he 
took  in  disposing  of  these  lands  at  such  low  prices,  it  is  a  matter  of 
sincere  regret  that  the  public  sentiment  of  that  day  compelled  the 


GEORGE     Mc    PHERREN. 


PERKYTON   TOWNSHIP.  359 

sacrifice  of  such  a  magnificent  public  trust,  in  order  to  secure  for  them- 
selves the  small  proceeds  obtained  for  that  immediate  present,  when 
we  realize  that  the  paltry  sums  were  obtained  at  the  expense  of  a 
magnificent  fund  for  their  descendants  in  all  time  to  come,  had  they 
but  waited  in  patience  a  few  years  longer. 

The  swamp  lands  belonging  to  Mercer  county  are  situated  in  the 
immediate  vicinity  of  the  Mississippi  river,  and  embrace  several  thou- 
sand acres.  This  land  is  loaded  with  great  abundance  in  all  the 
elements  of  plant  food,  but  being  subject  to  overfiow,  is  valuable 
mainly  for  grazing  and  meadows,  and  in  seasons  of  very  high  waters 
much  of  it  is  not  even  valuable  fin'  these  purposes.  We  have  been 
unable  to  ascertain,  even  approximately,  the  acreage  of  these  lands,  as 
the  reports  of  surveys  were  not  in  the  proper  oftice  when  we  were 
there,  but  we  find  the  people  were  in  some  hurry  to  get  rid  of  these 
lands  also,  and  that  as  early  as  1857  the  swamp  land  commissioner 
reported  sales  to  the  amount  of  $8,19-1-.T5,  and  that  up  to  1865  the 
sum  total  of  19,008.65  had  been  realized  from  the  sales  of  these  lands, 
and  properly  distributed  to  the  several  townships  of  the  county,  since 
which  time  there  have  been  no  further  sales.  There  i-emain  of  these 
swamp  lands  ISO  acres,  situated  in  Eliza  township,  which  have  not 
been  sold,  and  which  are  not  situated  far  enough  above  low-water 
mark  to  make  a  promising  investment. 

The  township  funds  vary  in  amount  in  the  difi'erent  townships,  the 
maximum  being  $2,910.90  in  Keithsburg,  and  the  minimum  $1,186.26 
in  Green.  The  total  permanent  township  funds  for  the  fifteen  town- 
ships is  $29,918.70.  The  interest  of  these  funds  only  is  to  be  used 
t'nr  the  annual  expenditure  for  schools  in  the  townships  where  the 
funds  belong.  The  permanent  county  fund  is  $2,168,  which  can  never 
be  diminished,  the  interest  being  annually  distributed  to  the  township 
treasurers  together  with  the  state  ftmd. 

From  the  one  small  pioneer  log  cabin  of  1833,  with  its  ten  or 
twelve  pupils  and  barefi)Oted  teacher,  the  school  system  of  Mercer 
county  has  grown  until  the  last  log  cabin  has  been  abandoned,  and  four 
brick  and  115  frame  buildings,  many  of  them  stately  and  imposing 
structures,  are  required  to  accommodate  the  wants  of  our  schools. 
During  the  last  year  2,795  males  and  2,587  females,  in  all  5,382 
pupils,  were  enrolled,  while  71  males  and  161  females,  a  totiU  of  232, 
were  employed  as  teach<3rs.  Of  the  119  school-houses  nine  are  graded 
schools,  with  a  total  of  thirty-five  teachers. 

When  all  the  schools  of  the  county  are  in  session  the  least  number 
of  teachers  required  to  carry  on  the  work  is  145  ;  but  the  system,  still 
too  much  in  vogue  in  the  country,  of  employing  one  teiWL'herfo)'  the 
'21 


■'360  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND   HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

winter  and  another  for  the  summer,  increases  the  number  of  teachers^ 
from  145  actually  required  to  232  actually  employed.  During  the  past 
fiscal  year  there  was  collected  from  all  sources  for  school  purposes  in 
the  county,  $53,698.43,  and  during  the  same  period  there  was  ex- 
pended in  payment  of  teachers  $34,219.11.  Three  new  school-houses 
were  erected  during  the  past  yeai*,  at  a  total  cost  for  buildings  and 
grounds  of  $5,179.04. 

In  point  of  excellence  the  schools  of  Mercer  county  will  compare 
favorably  with  those  of  the  most  favored  counties  in  the  state.  In  a 
large  number  of  the  ungraded  schools  all  the  branches  required  for  a 
first  grade  certificate  are  taught  with  such  a  degree  of  thoroughness  as 
to  enable  many  of  our  young  men  and  women  to  step  at  once  from  the 
condition  of  pupil  to  the  position  of  teacher.  Our  graded  scliools  are 
in  a  prosperous  condition,  and  are  gradually,  but  surely,  improving 
in  all  that  pertains  to  a  thorough  instruction  in  the  common  school 
branches,  while  a  few  of  these  schools  give  instruction  in  some  of  the 
higher  branches  belonging  to  an  academical  course.  At  the  graded 
schools  of  Aledo  and  Viola,  a  well-chosen  course  of  study  has  been 
adopted,  and  upon  the  completion  of  this  course  a  certificate  or  diploma 
is  conferred  upon  such  pupils  as  pass  examination  with  sufliciently  high 
grade  in  all  the  studies  prescribed.  At  the  recent  close  of  these 
scliools,  Aledo  and  Yiola  each  conferred  diplomas  upon  eight  gradu- 
ates. 

In  addition  to  our  j)ublic  schools  the  people  of  Mercer  county  have 
not  been  unmindful  of  a  higher  order  of  educational  advantages,  and 
hence  from  time  to  time  during  the  earlier  portion  of  our  history 
attempts  were  made,  most  unsuccessful,  to  establish  within  our  borders 
a  collegiate  institute.  We  find  that  as  early  as  the  year  1839  a  charter 
was  procured  from  the  legislature  for  the  "Millersburg  Seminary  of 
Learning."  Millersburg  was  at  that  time  the  county  seat,  and  we  pre- 
sume that  the  attempt  to  secure  a  college  at  that  point  was  intended  to 
be  a  means  of  retaining  the  seat  of  justice  at  that  place.  Adequate 
means  for  so  large  an  undertaking  were  not  within  the  reach  of  the 
projectors  of  this  enterprize  at  so  early  a  day,  and  the  undertaking  was 
a  failure.  Later,  in  1857,  coincident  with  the  establishment  of  Aledo 
as  the  county  seat,  two  colleges  were  projected,  and  a  charter  for  the 
"Aledo  Collegiate  Institute"  was  procured  February  16,  1857.  One 
of  these  colleges  never  rose  above  the  foundation  of  the  proposed  build- 
ing. The  other,  acting  under  its  charter,  erected  a  rather  imposing 
building  which,  though  enclosed,  was  never  finished  throughout.  Rev. 
Mr.  AYilliams  opened  the  first  high  school  in  the  old  court-house  build- 
ing in  1862,  and  after  rooms  were  finished  in  the  new  college  he  trans- 


PERRYTO]Sr   TOWNSHIP.  361 

ferred  his  classes  to  that  building  in  the  fall  of  1863.  After  a  struggle 
for  existence  against  many  difficulties  he  was  succeeded  by  Prof. 
McKee  in  1868.  Prof  McKee  after  continuing  the  school  for  a  couple 
of  years  abandoned  the  undertaking,  as  the  building  was  at  that  time 
considered  unsafe,  and  the  Aledo  collegiate  building  was  torn  down 
and  the  building  material  sold. 

After  Prof.  McKee  left,  Prof.  Henderson  took  up  the  work  for  some 
years,  occupying  the  second  story  of  the  building  known  as  Richey^s 
store,  and  in  this  building  Prof  Henderson  was  succeeded,  in  1873,  by 
Prof  J.  P.  Wylie,  assisted  by  his  brother,  J.  M.  Wylie.  After  teach- 
ing one  year  in  this  building  the  Wylie  brothers  determined  to  procure 
better  accommodations,  and  by  the  sale  of  scholarships  they  were  ena- 
bled to  purchase  block  132  on  Maj)le  street,  where  they  erected  a  two- 
story  academy  building,  22x44  feet,  exclusive  of  hall  and  stairway. 
This  beautiful  site  and  neat  little  building  with  the  two  young  ener- 
getic teachers,  attracted  102  students  the  first  year.  In  1879,  J.  P. 
Wylie  became  sole  proprietor,  J.  M.  Wylie  having  gone  into  the 
ministry  of  the  P.  G.  church.  At  the  present  time,  June,  1882,  the 
academy  under  J.  R.  Wylie  is  quite  prosperous.  It  contains  a  valu- 
able cabinet  of  geological  and  mineralogical  specimens,  many  of  which 
would  do  honor  to  any  college,  besides  a  good  library  and  an  abund- 
ance of  school  apparatus.  The  course  of  study  in  this  academy 
embraces  all  the  mathematics,  including  arithmetic,  through  plain  and 
spherical  trigonometry ;  an  English  course  of  one  and  a  half  years ; 
drawing,  book-keeping,  physical  geography.  United  States  and  ancient 
history,  physiology ;  two  terms  in  zoology,  natural  philosophy  and 
astronomy ;  two  years  in  latin  or  two  years  in  German,  elective. 
The  above  course  requires  three  years  for  its  completion.  Over  500 
students,  mostly  from  Mercer  county,  have  received  more  or  less 
instruction  in  this  institution.  Some  seventy  teachers  have  been  sent 
out,  and  twenty  diplomas  have  been  granted  since  1877. 

In  closing  this  sketch  it  seems  appropriate  to'  make  mention  of  a 
few  of  the  old  and  tried  teachers  of  the  county,  and  such  others  as 
have,  after  teaching  for  a  time,  been  elevated  to  positions  of  honor, 
profit  or  trust.  Geo.  W.  Julian,  who  taught  here  in  1835-6,  has  since 
served  long  and  faithfully  as  a  member  of  congress.  Harvey  S.  Sen- 
ter,  who  was  a  teacher  as  far  back  as  1813,  was  afterward  successively 
clerk  of  the  circuit  court,  member  of  the  state  board  of  equalization  and 
state  senator.  Warren  Shed  was  a  colonel  commanding  the  30th  reg. 
Geo.  P.  Graham  was  a  member  of  the  legislature  after  serving  suc- 
cessfully as  teacher.  Prof.  Joseph  McChesney,  a  teacher  thiity-five 
years  ago,  was  for  some  time  assistant  state  geologist,  and  was  twice 


362  HISTORY    OF   MEKCER   ANU    HKJVDERSON   COUNTIES, 

api:)ointecl,  under  Abraham  Lincoln,  as  consul  to  Glasgow,  Scotland, 
and  was  afterward  cliosen  professor  of  national  sciences  in  the  Chicago 
university.  B.  F.  Brock,  subsequently  district  attorney,  is  now  one  of 
the  leading  lawyers  of  the  county.  J.  K.  Herbert,  a  teacher  over 
twenty-five  years  ago,  is  a  prominent  lawyer  in  Washington,  District 
of  Columbia.  N.  P.  Brown,  J.  E.  Harroun,  S.  B.  Atwater,  and  F. 
W.  Livingston,  were  each  chosen  to  the  office  of  county  superintendent 
of  schools.  C.  S.  Ricliey  was  for  many  years,  and  is  at  present,  county 
surveyor.  Rev.  Mr.  Jamieson,  long  a  teacher,  was  afterward  mis- 
sionary to  Lidia.  T.  C.  Swaford,  a  teacher  of  great  success,  was  after- 
ward elected  city  superintendent  of  the  schools  of  Monmouth.  A.  U. 
Barler,  E.  H.  Jamieson,  J.  A.  Goding,  J.  T.  Johnston,  and  Alex. 
Stevens  were  old  and  successful  principals  of  graded  schools.  Besides 
these,  Simeon  Smith,  David  Felton,  Resin  Kile,  Cyrus  A.  Ballard, 
AVilliam  IST.  Graham,  G.  L.  F.  Robinson,  AVilliam  Miller,  and  Warren 
Biggart  may  be  mentioned  as  old  and  successful  teachers  of  a  long  and 
continued  service  in  the  county. 

From  the  long  list  of  lady  teachers  who  have  served  in  tlie  county, 
it  is  a  task  of  no  small  difficulty  to  select  names  for  honorable  mention 
without  making  the  list  too  long  for  the  purpose  of  this  history.  There 
are,  however,  a  few  who  are  pre-eminent,  by  reason  of  their  long  ser- 
vice, excellent  methods  of  instruction,  and  unquestioned  fitness  and 
success. 

Among  those  we  will  name  Miss  Ilattie  and  Miss  Emma  Hunting- 
ton, Miss  Libbie  Perkins,  Miss  Parney  Harroun,  Miss  Mollie  Walker, 
Miss  Emma  Stevens,  Mrs.  A.  M.  B.  Young,  Mrs.  Melissa  Flemming, 
Miss  M.  Jennie  Marquis,  Miss  M.  M.  Burbank,  Miss  Maggie  Clarke, 
Miss  Tillie  S.  Frazier,  Miss  Mantie  Henry,  Miss  Mary  E.  Wolfe,  Miss 
Jo.  H.  Willits,  Miss  Abbie  M.  Burr,  Miss  Mattie  M.  Sloan,  Miss  Jen- 
nie Henderson,  and  Mrs.  Irene  Willits.  Besides  these  there  are  a 
host  of  lady  teachers  of  shorter  experience,  but  abundantly  qualified 
for  their  work  and  deserving  the  warmest  commendation  were  this 
chapter  not  already  extended  beyond  the  limits  at  first  designed  by  the 
author. 

Simeon  P.  Smith. — Politically  Mr.  Smith  was  identified  with  the 
old  whig  party,  but  was  a  radical  abolitionist  in  sentiment.  When 
Fremont  and  Buchanan  were  the  opposing  candidates  he  was  asked  on 
election  day  "to  go  and  vote  for  Fremont  electors,"  but  declined, 
saying,  "No ;  I  think  I  shall  not  vote  to-day,  but  if  I  do  it  will  be  for 
Buchanan,"  giving  as  a  reason  that  he  was  "opposed  to  any  compro- 
mise with  slavery,"  a  thing  the  republican  party  seemed  at  that  time 


PEERYTON   TOWNSHIP.  363 

willing  to  do,  and  he  thought  "the  people  of  this  coimtiy  need  four 
years  more  of  democratic  rule  before  they  get  their  eyes  opened." 

Mr.  S.  was  exceedingly  diffident  in  public,  and  never  knowingl}^ 
placed  himself  where  there  was  the  remotest  chance  of  his  being  called 
upon  for  a  speech.  Happening  in  Chicago  one  time  when  there  was  a 
meeting  of  the  leading  teachers  of  the  state,  he  attended,  but  knowing 
no  one  there  he  took  a  seat  as  far  back  as  possible,  "to  see  and  not  be 
seen."  Some  one,  however,  seemed  not  only  to  know  him,  but  to 
know  he  was  there,  for  upon  the  election  of  officers  he  was  chosen  as 
one  of  the  vice-presidents,  all  of  whom  were  requested  to  "come 
forward  and  take  a  seat  on  the  rostrum."  Mr.  S.  did  not  respond,  and 
it  was  found  that  he  had  quietly  slipped  out  of  the  hall.  The  honors 
were  too  much  for  him.  While  none  present  were  more  interested  in 
the  cause  of  education  he  could  not  bear  the  unsought  honors  thrust 
upon  him,  and  in  self-defense  was  forced  to  retire. 

EIGHTY-FOURTH  REGIMENT  ILLINOIS  INFANTRY. 

This  splendid  regiment  was  raised  in  the  summer  of  1862.  Louis 
11.  Waters,  of  Macomb,  formerly  lieutenant  colonel  of  the  28th  Illinois, 
was  asked  by  Gov.  Yates  to  enlist  one  of  four  regiments  required  of 
Illinois  under  the  president's  call  for  50,000  for  a  reserve  force,  and  he 
promptly  responded,  addressing  public  meetings  in  Mercer,  Henderson, 
Hancock,  McDonough,  Fulton,  Schuyler,  Brown  and  Adams  counties, 
and  enrolling  volunteers.  Beginning  about  the  middle  of  June  recruits 
were  first  sent  to  Camp  Butler,  Springtield,  but  in  the  latter  part  of 
July  the  rendezvous  was  transferred  to  Quincy. 

In  Mercer  county  John  C.  Pej)per  and  Luther  T.  Ball,  of  Keiths- 
burg,  began  late  in  July  to  raise  a  company.  They  employed  a  band, 
and  in  a  short  wlijile  had  the  men  ready.  On  August  13th  a  mass 
meeting  was  held  at  Sugar  Grove  and  company  H  was  organized, 
Pepper  being  elected  captain  and  Ball  first  lieutenant.  The  following 
day  the  company,  having  105  men  enrolled,  assembled  at  Keithsburg, 
where  it  embarked  on  a  steamer  for  Quincy.  When  the  organization 
was  completed  Henry  E.  Abercrombie  was  chosen  second  lieutenant. 
The  company  was  mustered  into  the  service  with  ninety-three  enlisted 
men. 

Frederick  Garternicht,  of  Oquawka,  a  German  martinet,  formerly 
lieutenant  in  the  2Sth  Illinois,  raised  company  G  for  this  regiment. 
He  began  recruiting  about  the  middle  of  June  and  was  cordially 
assisted  by  his  townsmen  generally  and  by  the  following  persons  par- 
ticularly :  William  II.  Fuller  and  Russell  W.  Caswell,  of  Oquawka,  the 
Rev.  Dr.  David  McDill,  of  Biggsville,  and  Edward  Ray,  of  Young 


364  HISTORY    OF   l^IERCER   AND    HP:NDERS0N   COUNTIES. 

America  (Kirkwood).  As  soon  as  enough  were  eni'olled  squad  drilling 
was  commenced  at  Oquawka.  On  Monday  evening,  July  28,  the  com- 
pany was  mustered  in  the  court-house  yard  and  brieflj^  addressed  by 
the  Revs.  Hanson,  Rutledge,  and  McDill,  the  latter,  after  his  remarks, 
presenting  each  volunteer  a  copy  of  the  New  Testament.  Capt.  Garter- 
nicht  shortly  after,  having  about  fifty  men,  marched  them  to  Sagetown, 
and  there  taking  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  railroad  went  to 
Quincy,  where  he  went  into  camp,  and  continued  recruiting  until  he 
brought  the  number  of  his  company  up  to  ninety.  As  long  as  the 
command  was  at  that  city  Capt.  Garternielit  was  regimental  drill- 
master.  He  was  commissioned  captain  of  his  company,  and  his 
associate  officers  were  W.  H.  Fuller,  first  lieutenant,  and  R.  W.  Caswell, 
second  lieutenant.  Lieut^  Fuller  was  early  detailed  into  the  signal 
corps,  and  honorably  discharged  in  May,  1864.  Lieut.  Caswell  was 
promoted  to  adjutant.  "When  the  first  lieutenancy  became  vacant  by 
the  retirement  of  Fuller,  in  1864,  Charles  Kaiser,  who  had  been  pro- 
moted after  the  organization  of  the  company  to 'corporal  and  then  ser- 
geant, was  commissioned  to  take  that  place. 

Company  K  was  raised  at  Biggsville  with  unusual  despatch,  only  a 
few  days  in  the  first  part  of  August  being  required  to  secure  over  one 
hundred  men.  J.  B.  McGaw  left  his  harvest  in  the  field  un stacked, 
and  addressed  himself  with  vigor  to  the  work  of  raising  the  company, 
when  the  urgent  necessities  of  the  government  were  made  known  by 
the  second  call  within  little  more  than  a  month  for  300,000  volunteers. 
His  example  of  personal  sacrifice  and  instant  aid  was  followed  in 
numerous  cases.  He  was  assisted  at  Biggsville  by  Dr.  Alexander  P. 
^Nelson  and  Joseph  Brown,  and  at  Stringtown  by  Myron  ]\Iills,  who 
brought  from  that  place  a  squad  of  about  twenty.  On  Tuesday,  August 
12,  he  started  to  Quincy  with  104  men.  The  first  three  nights  after 
their  arrival  they  slept  under  a  tree  in  their  summer  clothing.  At  this 
place  the  men  balloted  for  officers,  and  elected  McGaw  captain,  Nelson, 
first  lieutenant,  and  Mills,  second  lieutenant.  The  company  was  mus- 
tered in  with  ninety  enlisted  soldiers. 

About  the  middle  of  August  the  organization  of  the  regiment  was 
completed.  Thomas  Hamer  was  appointed  lieutenant  colonel,  and 
Charles  H.  Morton,  major.  It  was  mustered  into  the  United  States 
service  on  the  first  of  September,  and  at  this  rendezvous  was  uni- 
formed and  armed  with  Enfield  rifled  muskets.  One  month's  pay  was 
advanced  and  one-fourth  of  the  $100  bounty  paid.  On  September  23d 
the  regiment  was  put  aboard  the  cars  for  Louisville,  Kentucky,  where 
it  arrived  the  26th,  and  was  assigned  to  the  tenth  brigade,  fourth 
di"\dsion,  the  former  commanded  by  Col.  AYilliam  Grose,  and  the  latter 


PERRYTON   TOWNSHIP.  365 

by  Gen.  Nelson.  The  other  regiments  composing  the  brigade  were 
"old  regiments,"  36tli  Indiana,  23d  Kentucky,  6th  and  24th  Ohio. 
Starting  with  the  rest  of  the  army  in  pursuit  of  Bragg,  on  October  1st, 
it  did  vigorous  service  and  suffered  bitter  hardships  on  that  disheart- 
ening campaign.  It  lay  in  hearing  of  the  battle  of  Perrysville  and 
chafed  under  a  criminal  restraint  while  struggling  comrades  were  being 
slain  in  that  unequal  contest. .  Company  G  was  detached  at  the  time 
and  took  part  in  the  engagement.  The  regiment  went  to  Danville  and 
Ci-ab  Orchard,  and  marched  and  counter-marched  in  that  section, 
enduring  what  were  great  trials  to  fresh  soldiers,  for  lack  of  food  and 
rest  and  protection  from  snow  and  frosty  and  stormy  weather.  All  the 
time  they  were  near  the  enemy  (Buell),.  doing  him  the  favor  to  follow 
close  enough  to  oblige  his  army  to  keep  up  in  compact  order  while 
retiring  leisurely  from  the  state  with  the  immense  stores  he  had 
gathered.  The  84th  went  to  Mount  Yernon  and  from  there  to  Somer- 
set. The  marching  was  again  hard  and  privation  and  suffering  were 
great ;  cold  rains  and  heavy  snows  occurred ;  men  almost  barefoot  left 
bloody  footprints;  and  scores  went  to  the  hospital.  From  Somerset 
the  march  was  continued  to  Columbia,  thence  to  Glasgow,  and  crossing 
into  Tennessee  moved  to  Gallatin  and  Silver  Spi'ings,  and  halted,  at 
last,  for  rest  and  recuperation,  at  the  close  of  the  month,  three  miles 
southeast  of  Nashville.  This  campaign  wrecked  many  a  strong  soldier. 
The  historian  of  the  regiment,  in  depicting  its  severities,  says:  "It 
deprived  us  of  more  men  than  any  battle  in  whicli  we  were  engaged,  it 
swept  many  into  an  early  grave,  it  ruined  the  health  of  hundreds,  but 
those  who  did  endure  its  hardships  were  inured  to  the  rough  life  of  a 
soldier,  and  were  seldom  afterward  sick  or  sore  from  hard  marching. " 
The  regiment  now  had  400  in  line  out  of  951  sworn  in  at  Quincy  three 
months  before. 

Gen.  Rosecrans  had  relieved  Buell  of  the  command  of  the  army, 
and  at  once  undertook  the  reorganization  of  the  shattered  forces.  The 
brigade  with  which  tlie  84th  was  connected  became  the  third  brigade, 
second  division,  twenty-iirst  corps.  The  division  was  commanded  by 
Sooy  Smith  (who  was  relieved  about  the  first  of  Decembar  by  Gen. 
John  M.  Palmer),  and  the  corps  by  Gen.  Thomas  L.  Crittenden.  On 
the  26tli  of  December  the  army  was  put  in  motion,  and  soon  struck  the 
enemy,  who  was  gradually  pushed  back  on  Murfreesboro.  Having 
reached  Stewart's  creek  on  the  29th  the  command  advanced  in  order  of 
battle  with  light  skirmishing,  and  at  night  had  borne  down  within  two 
rfiiles  of  the  town.  The  left  of  the  S4th  was  on  the  pike.  In  front  was 
a  cotton-field,  at  the  southeast  corner  of  wliich  was  the  Cowan  "Burnt 
house."     Next  day  there  was  nothing  but  skirmishing,  and  the  front 


366  .  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AXD    HENDERSON    COrXTIES. 

line  was  occupied  by  other  troops.  Being  relieved  on  AVednesdaj 
morning,  31st,  the  brigade  went  a  short  distance  to  the  rear.  During 
the  night  the  rebels  had  outflanked  the  right  of  the  army,  and  at  day- 
light they  commenced  a  furious  attack  and  drove  the  union  troops  in 
great  disorder  down  upon  the  center.  About  nine  o'clock  the  fugitives 
began  straggling  back  to  the  turnpike  with  alarming  stories  of  the 
disaster  to  the  right  wing.  The  third  brigade  was  promptly  formed, 
facing  west,  and  one  hundred  yards  in  front  of  the  pike.  The  6th  and 
24th  Ohio  were  disposed  on  the  iirst  line  in  the  thick  cedar  woods. 
The  roar  of  the  nearing  conflict  grew  louder.  Stragglers,  panic- 
stricken,  rushed  back  till  their  numbers  swelled  into  a  tide  of  retreat 
that  defied  all  efforts  to  stop  it.  Nearer  comes  the  sound,  and  all 
know  that  the  victorious  foe  is  pushing  his  advantage  with  all  his 
strength.  The  storm  is  imminent ;  then  it  bursts  upon  the  first  line, 
and  its  fury  is  withstood  briefly ;  the  men  break  in  confusion,  and  the 
entreaties  and  imprecations  of  officers  are  unavailing  to  check  the 
retreat.  Over  the  second  line  they  pour  and  are  formed  again  about  forty 
rods  in  the  rear.  Now  comes  the  test  of  the  84tli,  the  23d  Kentucky, 
and  the  36th  Indiana.  A  lede-e  of  rock  behind  which  thev  lie  gives 
them  partial  protection.  Parson's  and  CockerelFs  batteries  are  thun- 
dering behind  them,  throwing  shell  and  grape  shot  over  the  men 
directly  into  the  cedars  in  front,  which  are  swarming  with  the  exidtant 
enemy.  Soon  the  rebels  come  out  of  the  cedars  in  full  view  and  in 
point  blank  range,  and  instantly  the  line  springs  up  with  a  wild  shout 
and  pours  a  deadly  volley  into  them.  For  an  hour  each  side  faces  a 
shower  of  bullets,  and  the  air  throbs  with  the  detonations  of  the  union 
artillery.  The  rebels,  repulsed,  Anally  take  cover  in  the  woods.  Dur- 
ing the  time  a  regiment  came  up  the  pike  from  the  south  and  directed 
a  cross-fire  upon  the  federal  troops.  Being  temporarily  relieved  from 
pressure  the  brigade  changed  front  forward  by  a  left  half  wheel,  and 
opened  on  some  rebels  lying  in  the  cotton-fleld,  probably  those  who 
had  been  cross-flring,  and  on  a  heavy  force  approaching  at  this  time 
from  the  right.  The  regiments  on  the  right  of  the  84tli  receive  the 
enemy's  enfilading  Are  with  surprising  fortitude,  but  at  length,  unable 
longer  to  endure  it,  fall  back  and  leave  this  regiment  exposed  to  the 
raking  volleys  from  the  rebels  in  the  woods,  who  promptly  envelop  its 
flank.  A  desperate  resistance  was  kept  up  in  this  place  for  an  hour, 
and  the  foe  had  crept  up  within  sixty  yards.  The  right  was  now 
retired  so  as  to  face  him  squarely,  but  his  steady  advance  in  a  semi- 
circle beginning  soon  to  turn  the  left,  the  regiment  bad  to  be  with- 
drawn to  the  ledge.  Here  the  84th  maintained  its  ground  with  the 
utmost  gallantry  another  hour,  after  all  the  other  troops  had  retired 


PEERYTON   TOWNSHIP.  367 

beyond  tlie  ])ike.  At  last  the  order  was  given  and  the  left  fell  back ; 
the  right,  not  having  heard  the  command,  remained,  and  some  confu- 
sion was  the  result.  While  in  this  last  position,  and  during  the  time 
it  was  falling  back  across  the  railroad,  the  regiment  suffered  heavy 
loss,  twenty-iive  being  shot  dead,  besides  a  jjroportionately  large  num- 
ber wounded.  The  rebels  advanced,  but  were  met  by  the  troops 
holding  the  line  of  the  railroad,  and  their  movement  was  checked. 
The  Sith  then  formed  in  front  of  the  track,  but  were  exposed  in  this 
place  to  a  rebel  battery,  and  so  the  men  were  marched  from  the  field 
into  the  woods  a  mile  away,  and  there  stacked  arms  to  give  rest  to  this 
bleeding  battalion,  after  six  long' hours  of  heroic  fighting  and  sacrifice. 
New  Year  witnessed  a  comparative  cessation  of  hostilities.  On 
the  2d,  Van  Cleve\s  division  was  thrown  across  the  river,  and  the  third 
brigade  went  over  as  a  support.  A  slight  breastwork  of  logs  was 
made.  Van  Cleve  received  a  sudden  and  vehement  attack  from  Breck- 
enridge,  and  his  division  was  driven  back  pell-mell.  The  rebels  fol- 
lowed in  splendid  style,  confident  of  easy  victory ;  but  the  84th  and  the 
6th  Ohio,  together  with  other  troops,  held  their  fire  till  they  were 
within  three  hundred  yards,  then  rising  with  a  deafening  yell,  poured 
into  them  a  destructive  volley,  after  which  each  soldier  loaded  and  fired 
at  will,  keeping  up  a  murderous  fire  which  thinned  their  crowded  col- 
unms.  The  designs  ol'  the  enemy  had  been  antici})ated,  and  Gen. 
Rosecrans  had  massed  fifty-eight  guns  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  river, 
and  when  the  rebels  reached  the  right  place  these  opened  with  a  salvo 
as  if  the  universe  had  split,  shaking  the  troubled  hills  and  devouring 
the  enemy  with  sickening  destruction.  The  rebels  fiiltered,  and  before 
they  could  break  into  full  retreat  the  8-ith  and  the  6th  Ohio  were  o\er 
their  works,  charging  with  a  slogan  upon  the  reeling  assailants.  The 
rest  of  the  brigade,  Yan  Cleve's  division,  and  some  other  troops  which 
had  been  hurrying  over,  now  came  up  in  the  same  gallant  fasldon, 
retaking  all  the  artillerj^  that  had  been  lost  and  one  gun  of  the  famous 
Washington  battery,  belonging  to  the  enemy.  Rosecrans  reported: 
"The  firing  was  terrific  and  the  havoc  terrible."  Bickham  wrote: 
"  The  commander-in-chief  hurled  his  batteries  and  his  battalions 
together  at  the  monstrous  machines  of  Breckenridge,  and  destroyed 
them  in  forty  minutes.  Two  thousand  men  or  more,  who  had  marched 
upon  that  field  in  haughty  defiance,  at  three  o'clock  and  forty  minutes, 
were  dead  or  mangled  at  four  o'clock  and  thirty  minutes."  This 
engagement  was  decisive  of  the  protracted  contest  and  gave  the  union 
army  Murfreesboro.  Nothing  could  excel  the  patient  fortitude  and 
heroic  conduct  of  the  84th  throughout  this  memorable  struggle,  and  it 
won  merited  encomiums  from  officers  of  high  rank  who  were  witnesses 


368  HISTORY   OF   TVEERCER   AJSTD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

of  its  splendid  courage.     Its  whole  loss  was  as  follows :  Killed,  33 ; 
severely  wounded,  11-i ;  prisoners,  8.    Thirty-one  of  the  wounded  died. 
Many  not  counted  were  slightly  wounded.     The  regiment  suffered  thus 
terribly  on  that  dreadful  Wednesday.     The  loss  of  the  whole  army  of 
43,400  was  12,378. 

After  the  battle  the  84th  lay  in  the  vicinity  of  Murfreesboro, 
changing  place  occasionally,  and  doing  the  ordinary  duty  of  scouting, 
foraging,  guarding  provision  trains,  and  working  on  fortifications. 

Early  in  February  elections  were  held  in  the  regiment  to  fill  vacan- 
cies caused  bv  casualties  and  resignations;  Lieuts.  Ball  and  Aber- 
crombie,  of  company  H,  had  been  slain  in  the  forefront  of  the  battle, 
December  31,  and  now  Private  Peter  McLain  was  voted  first  lieuten- 
ant, and  Corporal  J.  IST.  White,  second  lieutenant. 

May  12  the  brigade  moved  to  Cripple  creek  and  lay  there  till  June 
24,  when  the  forward  movement  was  taken  up  for  the  possession  of 
Tullahoma.  "Upon  the  morning  of  the  advance  the  rain  commenced, 
and  continued  as  if  the  very  windows  of  heaven  had  been  opened. 
For  seventeen  consecutive  days  the  rain  fell  in  remarkable  quantity. 
No  such  stormy  period  had  visited  that  country  for  twenty-six  years 
past."  So  said  the  aimalist  of  the  army  of  the  Cumberland.  Critten- 
den "  had  seventeen  miles  to  march,  over  a  road  that  had  no  bottom, 
and  it  took  him  four  days  to  get  over  it.  The  infantry  waded  through 
mud  for  miles,  that  was  from  one  to  three  feet  in  depth.  They  had  to 
dismount  their  pieces  and  take  their  batteries  forward  from  highland 
to  highland."  So  said  Eosecrans  recently  (1882).  The  rebel  army 
having  retreated  to  Chattanooga,  dn  July  8  this  command  went  into 
regular  camp  near  Manchester.  Fatiguing  work,  toilsome  marching, 
a  scalding  sun,  and  short  rations  were  other  features  of  this  brief,  but 
brilliant  campaign,  which  might  have  been  more  complete  in  its  results 
but  for  unfavorable  weather  and  roads. 

The  advance  on  Chattanooga  began  on  the  IGtli,  and  Crittenden's 
corps  took  the  route  across  the  mountains  direct  for  that  place.  On 
the  25th  the  brigade  (Grose's)  reached  the  Sequatchie  valley  and  camped 
near  Dunlap,  beneath  the  tall  cliffs  which  look  down  from  the  west, 
and  remained  there  till  September  1.  The  march  was  then  resumed 
down  the  valley,  and  during  the  evening  and  night  of  the  3d  the  divi- 
sion effected  the  passage  of  the  Tennessee,  and  encamped  at  Shell- 
mound.  On  the  6th  it  had  entered  Lookout  valley.  On  the  9th, 
Gen.  Wood  having  made  a  reconnoisance  in  force  in  the  direction  of 
Chattanooga  and  reported  the  enemy  giving  up  the  gateway  between 
the  river  and  Point  Lookout,  Grose's  brigade  climbed  the  mountain, 
drove  off  the  rebel  outposts,  moved  forward  to  Summerville,  thence 


PERRYTON   TOWNSHIP.  369 

down  tlie  mountain  on  the  other  side,  rejoining  the  division  below, 
which  had  now  passed  around  the  point,  and  moved  out  across  Chatta- 
nooga valley  toward  Rossville,  under  orders  to  follow  the  enemy 
closely  and  watch  his  movements. 

Let  us  return  to  trace  those  maneuvers  which  secured  the  entrance 
through  this  gateway  and  led  to  the  battle  in  Chickamauga  valley. 
Having  reached  the  foot  of  the  Cumberland  mountains,  various  causes 
induced  Gen.  Rosecrans  to  delay  a  few  days ;  but  when  ready  to  con- 
tinue the  advance  by  a  ruse  de  guerre  he  caused  Bragg  to  suppose  tliat 
he  intended  to  make  the  passage  of  the  Tennessee  above  Chattanooga, 
and  suddenly  on  the  29th  began  crossing  the  bulk  of  his  army  at 
Bridgeport,  Caperton's  ferry  ten  miles  below,  and  Shellmound  eight 
miles  above.  Thomas,  with  his  corps,  marched  across  the  mountain- 
ous country,  entering  Lookout  (or  Wills')  valley,  and  proceeded  up  to 
Cooper's  and  Stevens'  gaps,  occupied  them  on  the  8th  and  9th,  and 
passed  over  Lookout  mountain.  McCook's  corps  moved  on  a  parallel 
route  to  the  right,  going  over  Sand  mountain,  through  Yalleys'  Head, 
and  ascending  Lookout  at  Winston's  gap.  All  the  cavalry,  except 
what  was  employed  in  the  feint  above  Chattanooga,  was  sent  to  the 
head  of  the  valley,  with  instructions  to  cross  over  to  Alpine  and  make 
a  show  of  strong  force  in  tliat  neighborhood.  McCook  was  to  follow 
it  to  the  summit,  display  his  troops  to  the  best  advantage,  send  a 
brigade  or  division  down  the  mountain  to  back  up  the  cavalry  while 
threatening  Rome,  so  as  to  give  the  appearance  of  a  large  force.  Crit- 
tenden had  been  reserved  to  cross  the  base  of  Lookout  immediately 
under  the  Point  and  next  the  river,  as  alrea.dy  described.  The  demon- 
stration on  Bragg's  rear  forced  him  into  the  open  field  to  fight  the 
decisive  battle  which  Rosecrans  and  his  lieutenants  knew  would  inevit- 
ably take  place  for  the  possession  of  Chattanooga.  Discovering  the 
flank  movement  the  rebel  general  hastily  evacuated  the  city  on  the  9th, 
and  retreated  to  Lafayette,  twenty-two  miles  south,  covering  his  base, 
and  holding  a  position  near  enough  to  his  antagonist  to  take  any  sud- 
den advantage.  On  the  lltli  Crittenden  was  ordered  to  Ringgold  to 
feel  forward  for  the  enemy  as  far  as  Gordon's  Mills.  His  report,  as 
well  as  other  information,  left  no  doubt  of  the  concentration  of  the 
rebel  army  at  Lafayette  to  await  re-inforcements,  and  Rosecrans  learned 
with  deep  concern  of  Bragg's  present  attitude ;  especially  now  that  he 
himself  must  despair  of  help  from  Burnside,  who  had  been  sent  on  a 
cooperative  expedition  from  Kentucky  into  East  Tennessee  with 
instructions  to  join  him,  but  who  at  this  crises  "was  hunting  with 
22,000  men  at  his  back  for  Gen.  Sam  Jones  who,  with  less  than  6,000, 
was  toling  him  oft'  up  into  western  Virginia."     Rosecrans'  main  army 


370  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

was  dispersed  from  Einggold  to  Alpine,  a  distance  of  fifty-eight  miles 
by  practicable  wagon  route,  and  sixty-five  by  that  subsequently  taken 
by  McCook  (certainly  a  precarious  situation),  and  the  supreme  en- 
deavor should  be  to  concentrate  and  cover  Chattanooga.  The  isolation 
of  each  coi'[3S  was  so  perfect  that  the  movement  must  necessarily  be 
from  the  south,  keeping  in  view  the  hold  on  the  city.  Crittenden 
could  not  move  up  the  valley  to  Thomas  without  exposing  Chattanooga 
and  jeo])ardizing  the  army ;  the  latter  could  not  march  to  the  assist- 
ance of  McCook  without  leaving  Crittenden  at  the  mercy  of  Bragg ; 
therefore  all  hope  lay  in  the  celerity  of  McCook,  and  the  tardiness  of 
Bragg.  Recently  (1882),  Gen.  Rosecrans  said  "this  was  the  most  anx- 
ious period  of  the  whole  campaign. "  He  had  indeed  risked  a  staggering 
responsibility.  Crittenden  was  immediately  ordered  to  march  without 
delay  to  Gordon's  Mills  and  to  communicate  with  Gen.  Thomas.  His 
troops  were  there  the  next  day.  Pressing  orders  were  dispatched  to 
McCook  to  come  by  the  road  along  the  top  of  the  mountain  with  all 
possible  haste  and  join  Thomas ;  but  acting  on  what  he  believed  was 
reliable  information  that  this  route  was  im})racticable,  he  disregarded 
that  part  of  his  orders,  and  starting  at  midnight  retraced  his  way 
through  Winston\s  gap.  On  the  l-lth  Gen.  Crittenden  was  withdrawn 
to  the  southern  extremity  of  Missionary  ridge  to  avoid  being  cut  off, 
and  to  communicate  with  Gen.  Thomas,  whose  troops  began  to  arrive 
the  following  day.  Negley's  division  conti-onted  two  rebel  divisions  at 
Dry  gap  in  Pigeon  mountain,  but  declined  battle  after  a  brisk  skirmish. 
Col.  Wilder  had  encountered  a  large  body  at  Einggold.  The  enemy's 
activity  and  boldness  portended  early  fighting.  Would  McCook  come 
before  the  blow  would  fall?  He  was  still  far  away,  toiling  over  rugged 
hills,  rough  roads,  and  through  narrow  passes,  but  making  all  the 
while  prodigious  exertions  and  good  progress.  From  Winston's  gap 
he  moved  down  to  Stevens'  gap,  and  then  followed  the  road  taken  by 
Thomas.  Pour  and  a  half  days  were  spent  in  this  circuitous  march  of 
forty -six  miles.  The  summit  route  of  seventeen  miles  would  have  con- 
sumed but  a  day  and  a  half.  This  unfortunate  but  natural  mistake  cost 
the  commanding  general  the  choice  of  the  battle  field ;  and  no  doubt 
the  loss  of  his  justly  high  military  reputation,  though  not  of  his  posi- 
tion, for  that  was  already  fated  by  his  unfortunate  misunderstandings 
with  the  war  department,  inflamed  by  his  own  rash  correspondence, 
invited  by  the  weakness  of  Halleck,  and  welcomed  by  the  vindictive- 
ness  of  Stanton. 

On  the  17th  the  rebels  attempted  to  cross  the  Chickamauga  at 
Gordon's  mills,  but  were  prevented  by  Crittenden,  who  had  returned 
the  same  day  from  the  foot  of  the  ridge,  McCook  having  just  arrived 


PERRYTON   TOWNSHIP.  371 

on  the  I'iglit.  At  evening  on  tlie  IStli  mutterings  of  conflict  on  the 
left  foretold  battle  on  the  morrow.  The  rebel  general  was  detected  in 
massing  overwhelming  numbers  on  that  flank  to  turn  or  crush  it,  and 
then  to  interpose  his  army  between  Kosecrans  and  Chattanooga.  To 
check  this  maneuver  the  union  general  advanced  his  line  to  the  left 
during  the  night  by  moving  Thomas'  corps  from  the  center,  leaving  its 
place  to  be  filled  by  McCook's.  The  alignment  fi'om  left  to  right  by 
divisions  was  covered  by  Brannan,  Baird,  and  Reynolds,  of  Thomas' 
corps ;  Palmer,  Van  Cleve,  and  Wood,  of  Crittenden's  corps ;  and 
Davis  and  Sheridan,  of  McCook's  corps,  not  yet  established  in  position 
when  the  battle  began  on  Saturday  morning,  the  10th.  Negley's 
division,  belonging  to  Thomas's  corps,  formed  a  defensive  crochet  at 
Owen's  ford,  farther  to  the  right,  and  the  cavalry  was  thrown  forward 
on  this  flank  to  defend  Missionary  ridge.  Johnson's  division  of 
McCook's  corps  was  in  reserve  in  rear  of  Thomas,  and  Crittenden's 
right  held  Gordon's  mills.  The  reserve  corps  under  Gordon  Granger 
was  lying  at  Rossville,  four  miles  to  the  left  and  rear.  Rosecrans' 
front  was  parallel  to  Chickamauga  creek,  extending  from  northeast  to 
southwest,  and  lying  diagonally  across  the  Lafayette  road  leading  to 
Chattanooga,  with  the  left  reaching  nearly  to  the  Ringgold  road. 

The  night  had  been  one  of  activity  in  the  federal  army  in  changing 
positions  and  "forming  lines.  About  ten  o'clock  the  dropping  fire  of 
the  skirmishers  and  the  dee])  bass  of  the  artillery  announced  the  open- 
ing of  the  battle.  Gen.  Thomas  had  ordered  a  reconnoissance  on  the 
extreme  left  by  Brannan's  division,  and  Croxton's  brigade  encountered 
a  strong  detachment  of  the  rebel  Gen.  Walker's  (5orps  in  front  and 
flank,  and  drove  it  in  confusion  over  half  a  mile  to  a  massed  body 
concealed  in  the  forest.  The  rebels  fought  savagely,  and  being 
reinforced  by  Cheatham's  division,  fell  on  the  union  troops  with  head- 
long weight.  The  whole  division  was  at  onc^  engaged ;  its  double 
lines  struggled  heroically  to  keep  their  places,  but  finally  crumbled 
into  disorder.  Tlie  enemy,  still  advancing  in  deep  columns,  rolled  up 
against  Baird  like  a  huge  wave ;  and  his  deadly  fire,  though  shattering 
their  front  lines,  had  no  visible  eft'ect  in  checking  the  foe.  Swept  by 
the  remorseless  tempest,  this  division  was  unable  to  stem  its  wrathful 
course,  and  gave  way.  Johnson,  advancing  now  from  his  reserve 
position,  struck  the  enemy  in  flank.  Palmer's  division  came  about 
this  time  to  succor  the  struggling  left,  and  Brannan's  and  Baird's 
divisions  having  been  reformed.  Gen.  Thomas  ordered  the  line  to 
advcince.  The  movement  was  as  unexpected  to  the  re\)els  as  it  was 
irresistible.  They  tried  in  vain  to  stand ;  they  })oured  desolating 
showers  of  gullets,  grape-shot,  and  canister  into  the  daring  columns, 


372  HISTORY    OF    MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

but  onward  tliose  invincible  divisions  went  like  a  billow  of  the  ocean. 
Witli  frantic  exertions  officers  tried  to  restore  order  and  establish  new 
lines,  but  as  often  as  that  was  done  the  torrent  of  nnion  victory  swept 
them  away  like  driftwood.  Thomas'  battalions  stopped  only  when 
satisfied  with  having  driven  the  exultant  and  confident  foe  nearly  a 
mile  over  the  ground  they  had  lost,  and  taken  cannons,  caissons,  and 
everything  else  that  the  enemy  in  his  flight  had  left.  The  account  of 
a  rebel  writer  says  this  "fight  was  one  of  great  desperation,"  that  the 
rebels  "exjDerienced  fearful  sacrifices,"  and  that  the  union  soldiers^ 
"pushed  close  upon  the  battery  of  the  gallant  Capt.  Carnes  and  slew 
most  of  its  horses  and  men,"  and  the  pieces  "were  therefore  aban- 
doned to  the  enemy."  Opportunely  for  the  rebels,  Cleburn  dashed 
up  to  the  rescue  of  their  endangered  right  and  engaged  Palmer's 
division  with  his  usual  impetuosity.  Now  the  tumult  drifts  along  the 
quaking  earth.  Heavy  flanking  column's  crowd  the  right ;  Palmer 
is  overlapped,  and  his  line  is  in  danger  of  being  doubled  up,  when 
Van  Cleve  marches  in  to  arrest  the  peril,  but  the  dense  battalions 
with  which  he  grapples  overcome  him.  Bragg  is  practicing  his 
favorite  plan  of  attack  in  commencing  on  one  flank  and  hurling  for- 
ward his  divisions  successively  in  search  for  a  weak  point,  until  the 
whole  line  is  engaged.  The  tide  of  battle  rolled  heavily  to  the  right, 
taking  in  Reynolds,  who  divided  the  pressure  with  Van  Cleve,  and 
covered  his  front  with  a  terrific  lead-storm ;  but  his  division  was 
shortly  sundered  in  twain  as  if  a  hurricane  had  torn  through  his  ranks. 
Davis  was  ordered  up  at  the  critical  moment;  and  though  his  men 
struggled  with  raging  energy,  he  could  not  long  withstand  the  rebel 
momentum  of  increasing  numbers.  He  gave  back  slowly  till  Wood 
arrived  to  swell  the  furious  combat,  when  the  enemy  recoiled  with 
heavy  loss.  At  three  o'clock  Sheridan  was  ordered  to  leave  Lytle's 
brigade  to  hold  Gordon's  mills,  and  with  the  rest  of  his  division  to 
move  to  the  assistance  of  Wood  and  Davis.  He  was  on  the  ground 
not  too  soon  to  save  the  former  from  disaster.  The  heavy  sound 
which  moves  toward  the  right,  shaking  the  deep  woods,  tells  that  the 
center  has  caught  the  storm.  Gen.  I^egley,  who  has  been  lying  at 
Owen's  ford  all  day,  is  ordered  to  march  down  to  the  Widow  Glenn's  to 
be  in  momentary  readiness  for  action.  He  reported  with  his  division 
at  half-past  four ;  and  as  soon  as  it  became  certain  that  the  battle  was 
going  against  the  union  arms  in  that  quarter,  his  fresh  veterans 
rushed  upon  the  foe  with  ardor  and  drove  him  back  steadily  till  dark- 
ness put  an  end  to  the  fighting.  Brannan  had  also  been  sent  from  the 
left,  and  at  night  took  a  position  to  tlie  right  of  Reynolds. 

The  results  of'  the  day  were  substantial  success.     The  federal  army 


PERRYTON   TOWNSHIP.  373 

had  held  its  ground,  and  the  rebel  general  was  foiled.  The  union 
troops,  outnumbered,  had  all  been  called  into  action  except  two  brig- 
ades. The  rebel  army  was  reinfoi'ced  by  Buckner,  recently  from 
Knoxville  ;  by  a  detachment  from  Johnson's  army  in  Mississippi ;  and 
by  another  from  Lee's  army  in  Virginia.  The  battle-ground  was 
heavy  timber,  so  undergrown  as  to  be  an  immense  coppice.  This 
was  of  great  advantage  to  the  rebels  in  massing  and  attacking,  and  of 
proportionate  disadvantage  to  the  federal  side,  allowing  but  small 
opportunity  for  the  use  of  artillery.  Every  inch  of  ground  was  con- 
tested with  obstinate  valor.  As  often  as  one  rebel  line  melted  out  of 
sight  a  fresh  one  took  its  place  ;  but  the  union  soldiers  fought  without 
respite,  without  hope  of  aid,  aware  of  the  momentous  character  of  the 
struggle,  and  that  if  they  won  the  stake  it  must  be  with  a  costly  libation 
of  blood.  So  they  received  the  surge  of  rebel  strength  and  fury  with 
surly  front,  and  when  overwhelmed  and  forced  to  give  ground  did  so 
with  dogged  reluctance. 

By  midnight  the  plans  of  the  union  commander  for  the  morrow  had 
been  communicated  to  his  corps  commanders  in  a  counsel  at  the  Widow 
Glenn's  house.  Thomas  was  to  maintain  his  present  line,  assisted  by  the 
divisions  of  Palmer  and  Johnson,  with  which  he  had  been  reinforced, 
and  to  hold  Brannan  in  reserve.  McCook,  with  the  two  divisions  left 
him,  was  to  close  up  to  Thomas,  with  his  right  turned  back  to  a  strong 
position  on  Missionary  ridge ;  while  Crittenden,  with  his  remaining 
divisions,  was  to  be  posted  in  reserve  at  the  junction  of  Thomas  and 
McCook.  On  the  rebel  side  the  army  was  divided  into  two  wings ; 
the  right  was  given  to  Gen.  Polk  and  the  left  to  Gen.  Longstreet,  who 
had  arrived  with  the  rest  of  his  corps  at  eleven  o'clock  that  night. 
Polk  was  ordered  to  renew  the  battle  at  daylight,  but  owing  to  a  dis- 
arrangement of  his  line  he  was  prevented  from  making  the  attack  until 
nearly  nine  o'clock.  The  morning  opened  sultry  and  oppressive.  The 
fiery  sky,  as  if  it  might  reflect  the  bloody  field  below,  was  seen  through 
a  hazy,  sulphurous  canopy  of  battle-smoke,  which  enveloped  hill,  forest 
and  glen,  and  the  giants  of  war  that  lay  among  them.  The  union 
troops  reposed  on  their  arms,  waiting  for  the  first  rude  sound  of  con- 
flict to  disturb  the  glory  of  the  Sabbath  day.  Between  sun  and  sun 
what  onsets  shall  rock  the  earth!  what  valor  amaze  the  world  and 
mark  the  bounds  of  human  courage  and  endurance !  Every  man  in 
those  worn  and  battle-begrimed  legions  says  mutely  with  his  chieftain, 
this  "day  must  be  for  the  safety  ofjiie  army  and  the  possession  of 
Chattanooga."  The  first  move  of  the  enemy  was  to  turn  the  left  flank 
to  secure  Rosecrans'  line  of  retreat.  Palmer  was  in  the  front,  near  the 
center,  and  Grose's  brigade  was  ordered  to  the  left  to  meet  the  enemy, 


374  HISTOKY    OF    MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

wlio  was  crawling  around  on  tlie  tlank.     The  S4tli  retired  from  their 
barricade  of  logs  and  rails  with  a  feeling  of  reluctance.     Col.  Waters 
had  been  the  first  to  recommend  the  building  of  such  a  protection,  and 
this  regiment  the  first  to  begin  the  parapet.     In  moving  to  its  new 
position  it  was  first  apprized  of  the  presence  of  the  enemy  by  a  shai-p 
volley  from  an  ambuscade,  which  killed  and  wounded  several.     This 
was  followed  by  rapid  discharges,  but  in  s]Ate  of  the  severe  fire  the 
brigade  formed  in  line.     But  being  at  once  charged  upon  by  a  greatly 
superior  force,  it  was  driven  in  such  confusion  that  detachments  were 
separated  and  did  not  find  their  proper  places  during  the  day.     Soon  a 
deafening  shout  rises  along  the  rebel  ftY)nt,  and  the  line  dashes  forward 
in  a  thundering  charge  that  envelopes  Thomas'  position.     The  con- 
tending sides  grapple  in  the  herculean  energies  of  despairing  battle. 
An  aid  leaves  Thomas'  side  and  hurries  oft'  to  Gen.  Rosecrans,  to  ask 
that  Neglay  may  be  sent  speedily.     Thomas  had  been  promised  the 
return  of  this  division  early  in  the  morning,  and  the  order  had  been 
given  for  its  transfer,  but  from  some  cause  had  but  just  started  to  move 
when  the  staft"  officer  galloped  up.      "There  it  goes,"  said  Eosecrans, 
as  at  that  instant  it  was  seen  in  motion.     In  a  few  minutes  another  aid 
came  flying  from  the  left,  saying  that  Gen.  Thomas  was  hotly  pressed 
and  needed  Brannan.      "Tell  Gen.  Thomas  our  line  is  closing  toward 
him,  and  to  hold  his  ground  at  all  hazards,  and  I  will  reinforce  him,  if 
necessarv,  with  the  entire  armv.     Tell  Gen.  Brannan  to  obev  Gen. 
Thomas'  orders. "     Gen.  Yan  Cleve,  who  has  been  lying  behind  AYood, 
is  despatched  in  the  same  direction.     Tlie  battle  is  increasing  in  fury. 
Xegley,  with  his  veterans  at  a  swinging  pace,  is  hurrj-ing  to  the  relief 
of  the  suffering  left.     Yan  Qeve  follows  rapidly.     A  cloud  of  smoke 
and  perpetual  fire  roll  from  Thomas'  solid  front.     Roaring  batteries, 
double-shotted,  pour  the  desolating  iron  into  the  frenzied  foe,  who  is 
constantly  replacing  his  dissolving  ranks  with  fresh  troops.     Closer 
and  more  stubbornly  they  press,  and  deadlier  grows  the  union  fi!re. 
The  line  of  conflict  extends  to  the  center.     It  is  now  eleven  o'clock, 
and  Longsti-eet  assails  the  right  fiercely.     The  rebels  on  Thomas'  front, 
exhausted  bv  their  own  tremendous  exertions  and  frightful  losses,  fall 
back,  at  length,  demoralized,  out  of  the  reach  of  the  field  guns.     Smart- 
ing under  this  bloody  and  signal  repulse,  they  close  up  their  bleeding, 
ghastly  ranks,  revise  theif  lines,  strengthen  them  with  reinforcements, 
and  then  the   massive   column   is   launched    once   more  agsiinst  the 
weakened  line.     In  the  meantime  Gen.  Thomas  has  ridden  along  tlie 
ranks,  so  that  if  it  were  necessary  his  presence  should  infuse  new  con- 
fidence, and  his  troops  catch  some  of  his  own  steadiness  of  character 
and  lofty  heroism.     Maddened  by  the  memory  of  their  defeat,  and 


THOMAS     CANDOR. 


DECEASED 


EIGHTY-FOURTH    REGIMP:XT.  377 

tliirsting  to  avenge  it,  tliey  advance  with  remorseless  vigor  under  cover 
of  a  terrific  cannonade  from  tlieir  batteries.    Thev  meet  again  the  same 
stern  resistance  and  devouring  fire  wliicli  before  strewed  the  ground 
with  tlieir  dead.     Right  up  they  come  till  foeman  looks  foeman  in  eye, 
and  the  stormy  lines  interlock  and  and  writhe  in  mortal  embrace.    The 
union  troops,   according   to   rebel   authority,    "withstood  as  long  as 
human  powers  of  endurance  could  bear  up  against  such  a  pressure, 
then  yielded  and  fell  back."    But  not  till  two  hours  of  raging  slaughter 
told  the  story  of  their  heroism.     Retiring  a  little  way  a  stand  would  be 
made  till  the  courageous  foe  came  and  received  full  in  his  face  that 
relentless   fire   which   shriveled    Ids   wasting   ranks.      The   batteries, 
changing  from  place  to  place,  were  served  with  great  animation  and 
accuracy.     The  enemy  paused  finally,   and  Gen.  Thomas  rested  his 
right  on  Missionary  ridge,  covering  the  gap,  his  left  on  the  Lafayette 
road,  his  center  advanced,  the  line  describing  an  arc  of  a  circle.    While 
this  had  been  occurring,  terrible  work  had  been  done  on  the  right. 
Tlie  commanding  general  had  guarded  carefully  against  a  gap  in  his 
front,  but  was  notified  that  Brannan  was  out  of  line,  leaving  Repiolds' 
right  exposed.     The  situation  was  not  comprehended  by  Gen.  Thomas' 
aid  who  brought  the  information.     Brannan  was  in  echelon,  that  is,  in 
rear,  with  his  right  extending  beyond  Reynolds'  right.     Gen.  Rose- 
crans  promptly  sent  an  order  to  Wood  to  close  up  on  Reynolds.     As 
AVood's  left  connected  with  Brannan  he  understood  the  order  was  for 
him  to  support  Reynolds  by  withdrawing  ft'om  the  line  and  marching 
by  the  flank  to  his  rear.     Acting  on  this  fatal  mistake,  without  report- 
ing to  the  commanding  general  for  further  instructions,  he  moved  to 
the  left,   and  so  opened  a  wide  breach,     lie  was  savagely  attacked 
while  executing  this   disastrous  change,   and   his   right  brigade  was. 
severely  handled.     It  is  like  a  break  in  a  levee.     There  is  a  wild  rush 
of  rebels  into  this  gap.     Then  twelve  cannon  enter.     Brannan's  right 
is  hurled  back.     Van  Cleve,  at  tliis  juncture,  marching  to  the  left,  is 
struck  full  and  fair  in  fiank ;  two  batteries  at  the  same  time  moving 
the  same  way  are  driven  through  two  of  his  brigades.     Half  of  the 
division  instantly  crumbles  to  atoms  and  goes  like  chaft'  to  Rossville. 
On  the  right  of  the  gap  are  Davis  and  Sheridan.     The  division  of  the 
former,  taken  in  front,  flank  and  rear,  completely  disintegrates.     The 
latter  is  overlapped  on  the  right  by  Longstreet's  mammoth  line,  now 
sweeping  forward  in  a  grand  onslaught.     Laibokl's  brigade  is  carried 
away  with  Davis.     Scorning  to  fly,  Sheridan,  with  his  two  remaining 
brigades  moving  toward  Reynolds,  hurls  a  forlorn  column  with  con- 
vulsive desperation  against  the   massive   front  of  the  shouting  foe. 
One  trial  is  enough ;  he  is  caught  in  flank ;  then  his  troops  hurry  past 

''2 


§78  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AIJD   HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

the  Dry  valley,  and  by  a  circuit  arrive  at  Rossville,  from  whence^  at 
niglit,  he  leads  them  to  the  support  of  Thomas.  Between  the  wreck- 
ing of  Davis'  and  Sheridan's  divisions,  Lytle's  brigade  was  shivered ; 
the  brave  leader  fell  dead  in  the  arms  of  an  aid,  and  his  horse  dashed 
away  with  the  straggling,  panic-stricken  throng.  Generals  McCook 
-and  Crittenden  search  in  vain  for  the  remnants  of  their  commands, 
Which  are  scattered  in  twos  and  threes,  scarcely  the  semblance  of  a 
formation  anywhere.  Guns,  caissons,  horses,  wagons,  and  a  bewil- 
dered, cursing  multitude  of  fugitives  obstruct  the  pass  through  Mission- 
ary ridge.  These  brave  officers  sicken  at  the  tumult,  but  cannot  stay 
the  refluent  tide,  and  are  borne  along  by  it  till  they  arrive  in  Chatta- 
nooga. The  commanding  general,  ignorant  of  the  extent  of  the  dis- 
aster, issued  a  few  necessary  orders,  and  despatched  his  chief-of-statf. 
Gen.  Garfield,  to  Gen.  Thomas,  to  ascertain  the  situation  of  his  com- 
mand, and  to  communicate  with  him  by  telegraph  at  Chattanooga. 
Garfield  performed  the  perilous  journey  over  hills,  through  valleys  and 
wild  forests,  heedless  of  lurking  dangers,  reached,  Thomas,  and  sent 
the  grateful  intelligence  to  his  chief  that  the  left  wing  was  holding  its 
ground,  and  would  do  so  to  the  last.  Rosecrans  in  the  meantime 
returned  to  Chattanooga,  "to  give  orders  for  the  security  of  the 
pontoon-brigade  at  Battle  creek  and  Bridgeport,  and  to  make  prelimin- 
ary dispositions  either  to  forward  ammunition  and  supplies,  should  we 
hold  our  ground,  or  to  withdraw  the  troops  into  good  position." 

Having  routed  the  right  of  the  union  army,  the  eager  foe,  elated , 
"with  that  success,  and  confident  of  dashing  the  remainder  in  pieces, 
about  one  o'clock  fell  upon  Thomas  with  remarkable  force.  The  divi- 
sions of  Baird,  Johnson,  Palmer,  Reynolds,  Brannan,  and  Wood,  two 
brigades  of  Negley's  division,  and  one  of  Yan  Cleve's  were  the  troops 
left  to  hold  the  rebel  army  in  check.  The  devoted  union  army  was 
now  assailed  by  more  than  three  times  its  numbers.  Kershaw  assaulted 
Missionary  Ridge  in  front  and  was  fearfully  repulsed.  Finding  this 
part  of  the  line  impregnable,  heavy  columns  were  projected  against  the 
flanks.  The  fierceness  of  the  onsets,  combined  with  the  overwhelming 
weight  of  numbers,  carried  them  back.  Thomas'  lines  after  that 
described  nearly  a  complete  circle,  and  Longstreet  was  in  control  of  the 
main  road  to  Chattanooga.  An  immense  toil  was  closing  around  the 
stalwart  hero.  A  sheet  of  deadly  flame  and  fiery  sleet  encircled  this 
last  stronghold,  while  his  own  lines  blazed  with  withering  volleys  that 
bespoke,  under  the  circumstances,  the  loftiest  moral  defiance  and 
grandeur.  Undaunted,  the  union  troops  received  the  repeated  and 
staggering  assaults  of  the  exasperated  foe.  It  was  not  dismay  that 
filled  their  hearts,  but  calm  desperation.     They  stood  witli  their  backs 


EIGHTY-FOURTH   REGIMENT,  379 

to  the  wall,  and  tliat  wall  was  "the  Rock  of  Chickamaiiga. "  The 
enemy,  determined  upon  destroying  the  army,  at  half-past  three  found 
a  low  gap  in  the  ridge,  flanking  Thomas'  right  and  directly  in  his  rear. 
Sanguine  of  a  swift  and  crushing  victory,  they  hurried  into  it  in  great 
numbers.  "The  moment  was  critical,"  says  Rosecrans.  Twenty 
minutes  more,  and  our  right  would  have  been  turned,  our  position 
taken  in  reverse,  and,  probably,  the  army  routed.  Struggling  with 
grim  valor  at  all  points  to  beat  back  the  rampant  foe,  Thomas  could 
spare  no  troops  for  this  new  and  appalling  danger.  For  the  first  time 
in  his  life  his  countenance  and  manner  betray  emotions  of  distressing 
anxiety.  He  knows  that  Granger  is  at  Rossville,  three  miles  away  ; 
no  time  to  send  word ;  at  best,  three  miles  against  twenty  minutes. 
Nothing  but  the  providence  of  God  can  save  the  army.  Nervously, 
painfully  his  eye  sweeps  the  horizon.  A  cloud  of  dust  is  rising. 
Doubtful  whether  it  can  be  friend  or  foe,  he  exclains  to  Capt.  Johnson, 
of  JSTegley's  staff:  "Find  out  what  troops  those  are,  moving  upon 
me."'  Bringing  his  glass  to  his  eye,  he  watches  intently  the  approach- 
ing column.  On  that  han^s  the  fate  of  the  army.  Who  can  tell  how 
ho}>e  and  fear  fluctuate  in  that  heart  that  is  almost  still  ?  The  seconds 
throb  with  conscious  importance.  A  small  object  comes  into  view. 
His  lips  almost  break  out  with  thanksgiving;  it  is  the  battle-flag  of 
Granger.  One  more  chance  for  hope.  All  day  long  Granger  had 
listened  to  the  thunder  on  the  left,  and  had  marked  its  ebb  and  flow  as 

it  grew 

"  Nearer,  clearer,  deadlier  than  before  " ; 

had  paced  up  and  down  uneasily,  wondering  why  orders  to  march  did 
not  come,  every  minute  straining  his  eye  for  the  sight  of  a  stafi"  oiflcer. 
It  was  an  heroic  occasion,  and  a  hero  was  there.  Something  said : 
push  for  the  front.  "The  God  of  batttles  held  that  forlorn  hope  of  the 
union  army  in  his  hand."  "With  the  instinct  of  a  true  soldier  and 
general,"  he  ordered  his  trained  but  mostly  new  soldiers  to  move 
instantly.  Two  miles  down  the  road  he  came  upon  a  small  body  of 
the  enemy,  but  he  "well  knew  that  at  that  stage  of  the  conflict  the 
battle  was  not  there. "  Leaving  Col.  Dan.  C.  McCook's  brigade  to  take 
care  of  any  force  in  that  vicinity,  he  urged  forward  with  pressing  earn- 
estness and  reported  to  Gen.  Thomas.  "The  Rock  of  Chickamauga" 
simply  pointed  out  the  right.  The  soldierly  eye  of  Granger  took  in 
the  perilous  and  astounding  situation  at  a  glance,  "and  quick  as 
thought  he  directed  his  advance  brigade  upon  the  enemy."  Gen. 
Steadman,  inspired  no  less  than  Gi'anger,  with  an  enthusiastic  couj)  d' 
tf  c7,  and  worth  at  that  moment  a  thousand  men,  seized  a  regimental 
color,   and  dasliing  to  the  head  of  the  column,   shouted  the  charge. 


380  HISTORY   OF   ^rERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Language  fails  to  describe  the  onslaught.  As  well  as  the  leaders, 
every  man  is  a  giant.  "Right  on  into  the  desolating  lire  thev pressed, 
reckless  of  numbers  and  of  death,  with  a  loud  and  thrilling  shout. 
Over  the  batteries,  over  the  astounded  battalions  of  Hmdman  thej 
went  in  a  wild  wave.  It  was  marvelous,  the  charge  of  those  two 
immortal  brigades,"  and  not  less  glorious  than  the  charge  of  the  light 
brigade  at  Balaklava.  The  trampled  earth  is  strewed  with  the  harvest 
of  war ;  the  enemv  is  routed  with  great  slaughter,  and  the  stars  and 
stn'pes  are  on  the  ridge.  Renowned  victory  was  wrung  from  the  hands 
of  the  rebels,  and,  stung  witli  disappointment,  Longstreet's  veterans 
retm'ned  in  successive  charges  right  up  to  the  six  guns  planted  in  the 
gorge,  fighting  with  the  ferocity  of  despair.  This  was  borne  with  firm 
courage  bv  Granger's  shouting  soldiers,  who  sent  them  reeling  back 
each  time,  torn  and  bleeding,  with  a  wild  slogan  that  vied  with  the 
sanguinary  uproar.  It  was  madness  to  lavish  their  superb  battalions 
in  hopeless  frenzy  and  onset,  and  in  vain  the  rebel  generals  broke  col- 
umn after  column  to  pieces  on  this  granite  front.  As  the  sun  went 
down  the  last  attempt  was  made  on  the  invincible  band.  They  had 
exhausted  all  their  ammunition,  even  all  that  could  be  gathered  from 
their  fallen  comrades,  and  it  was  with  much  solicitude  that  the  prepara- 
tions for  the  last  ^^igorous  assault  were  watched  by  these  fearless  men 
who  had  stood  in  the  deadly  breach  for  hours.  Should  the  triumphant 
reward  for  all  their  bloody  sacrifice  be  torn  away  at  the  last  moment  { 
They  are  cominor  now,  and  are  so  near  that  their  mufiled  tread 
is  plainly  heard.  Tlie  ringing  command  comes  :  ' '  Give  them  the 
cold  steel!"  Springing  forward  with  fixed  bayonets  and  a  piercing 
yell,  they  rush  upon  the  heels  of  the  foe,  who,  struck  with  conster- 
nation, has  broken  and  is  fleeing  in  the  wildest  disorder.  "Weak- 
ened by  their  desperate  endeavors,  the  rebels  give  up  this  hope- 
less pomt  after  frightful  carnage,  and  thankful  relief  comes  to 
Granger's  men,  of  whom  a  thousand,  nearly  a  third  of  the  number 
that  went  into  the  fight,  either  dead  or  wounded,  lie  stretched  upon  the 
field.  Believing  that  the  left  had  been  weakened  to  reinforce  the  right, 
Bragg  sent  a  column  to  attack  in  that  quarter.  Being  informed  of  its 
approach.  Gen.  Thomas  ordered  Reynolds  to  move  with  his  division  to 
meet  it,  and  pointing  out  the  rebels,  bade  him  "go  in  there."  Facing 
about  to  save  time,  and  mo\'ing  by  the  rear  rank,  the  battle-smoked 
and  blood-stained  warriors  were  given  the  order  to  charge.  With 
bayonets  lowered,  they  struck  the  double-quick,  while  a  wild  battle- 
shout  sprang  from  their  hoarse  throats,  and  they  pushed  on  over  the 
enemy,  taking  more  than  a  regiment  prisoners.  During  the  progress 
of  all  these  exciting  and  decisive  struggles  a  continuous  battle  had 


EIGHTY-FOURTH    REGIMENT.  381 

raged  from  flank  to  flank,  the  enemy  crowding  with  billowy  front 
against  the  union  line,  assailing  Wood  and  Brennan  with  scarcely  less 
vehemence  than  Granger,  but  remitting  his  fury  sornewhat  toward  the 
left.  The  position  was  girdled  by  two  lines  ;  as  often  as  one  delivered 
its  Are  it  would  step  back  a  few  paces,  lie  down  and  load,  then  rising, 
step  again  to  the  front  and  Are.     So  ended  the  battle  of  Chickamauga. 

The  20tli  of  September  had  given  us  a  Wellington  in  Gen.  Thomas. 
In  gratitude  the  people  with  one  voice  said  of  the  modest  warrior : 
"This  is  the  rock  of  Chickamauga.'"  Henceforth  he  ranked  among 
the  greatest  generals  of  the  war.  It  had  been  a  day,  too,  when 
heroes  sprang  from  the  ground.  Let  it  ever  be  heroes'  day.  Illus- 
trious Granger !  Gallant  Steadman  !  Names  forever  bright  on  the 
scroll  of  their  country's  history. 

The  union  loss  in  men  was  15,851,  one-third  of  the  army ;  thirty- 
six  guns,  twenty  caissons,  8,450  small  arms,  and  5,834  infantry  accou- 
terments.  The  loss  in  prisoners  was  about  5,500,  of  whom  nearly 
one-half  were  wounded  ;  against  2,003  captured.  There  were  expended 
in  the  battle  2,650,000  rounds  of  musket  cartridges  and  7,325  rounds 
of  cannon  ammunition,  being  12,675  rounds  less  of  artillery,  and 
650,000  rounds  more  of  musketry  than  at  Stone  River.  Two  divi- 
sions were  routed  and  left  the  battlelield  ;  seven  held  their  ground 
with  the  flnal  assistance  of  Granger. 

During  the  night  of  the  20tli  Gen.  Thomas  having  been  directed 
by  Gen.  Rosecrans  to  act  according  to  his  judgment,  withdrew  to 
Rossville,  where  he  oflered  the  enemy  battle  all  the  following  day, 
which  was  declined,  and  the  next  night  he  retired  to  Chattanooga. 

We  now  allude  briefly  to  the  individual  part  of  the  84th  in  this 
battle.  On  Saturday  morning  Grose's  brigade  was  ordered  to  make  a 
reconnoissance  forward,  but  being  outflanked,  escaped  capture  by  the 
slightest  chance.  Very  soon  it  went  to  the  left,  when  Palmer's  divi- 
sion was  transferred.  There  it  fought  that  day,  and  the  next  morning 
built  breastworks,  as  previously  mentioned.  When  the  brigade  was 
sent  out  to  reconnoiter  on  the  flank  and  ran  upon  the  enemy  in 
ambush,  the  84th,  being  driven  into  a  heavy  thicket,  was  separated 
into  three  pieces  which  were  lost  from  one  another  until  night. 
Capt.  Ervin  commanded  one  detachment  and  succeeded  in  joining 
the  brigade  ;  Capt.  Higgins  had  another,  and  Col.  Abaters  the  third. 
Each  bore  its  full  share  of  the  hard  flghting.  The  loss  was  11  killed, 
77  severely  wounded,  and  12  missing.  About  fifty  were  slightly 
wounded  jmd  remained  with  the  regiment.  Company  G  lost  fourteen 
out  of  thirty  that  went  to  battle. 

The  84th  continued  its  career  of  valiant  service  till  the  close  of  the 


382  HISTORY   OF   FIERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COITNTIES. 

war,  but  s^^ace  will  not  permit  more  tlian  a  cursory  relation  of  its 
subsequently  brilliant  record.  The  reigment  was  shut  up  with  the 
rest  of  the  army  in  Chattanooga  during  the  investment  by  Bragg. 
Wlien  the  army  was  re-organized  there,  the  third  brigade,  second 
division,  twenty-iirst  army  corps,  to  which  the  Sith  belonged, 
became  the  third  brigade,  first  division,  fourth  corps,  and  so  con- 
tinued durino-  the  remainder  of  its  active  service.  Gen.  Palmer  was 
soon  called  to  the  command  of  the  14tli  corps,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Gen.  Cruft  in  command  of  the  division. 

On  October  25tli,  just  prior  to  the  change  of  commanders,  the 
division  was  ordered  to  cross  the  Tennessee,  and  moving  over  the 
mountains  to  Shellmound,  re-crossed  the  river,  when  the  third  brigade 
was  sent  to  Wliiteside.  On  I>fovember  Sdtth  this  division,  with  Geary's, 
of  the  12th  coi'ps,  fresh  from  the  Army  of  the  Potomac,  and  Oster- 
hous',  from  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  assaulted  Lookout  Mountain 
and  drove  the  enemy  in  handsome  style  from  that  eternal  stronghold. 
The  84th  was  on  the  extreme  left  of  the  line,  and  it  was  due  to  this 
fact  that  its  loss  was  only  three  wounded,  all  of  whom  recovered. 
Wlien  the  enemy's  main  line  gave  way  the  regiment  swung  rapidly 
forward,  and  in  twenty  minutes  took  more  prisoners  than  tliere  were 
men  in  its  ranks,  and  for  this  success  received  the  thanks  of  Gen. 
Hooker  on  the  spot.  ISText  day  the  stars  and  stripes  floated  from  the 
summit  of  the  mountain  which  had  been  a  blazing  citadel  for  weeks. 
The  same  day  Plooker  pushed  across  Chattanooga  valley  and  ascended 
Missionary  ridge  at  Possville,  striking  the  rebel  left  and  rear,  while 
Sherman  was  battering  their  right,  and  at  the  same  hour  that  Thomas 
made  the  splendid  assault  on  the  center,  and  the  entire  rebel  army 
was  routed  with  innnense  loss  of  men  and  munitions  of  war.  Having 
pursued  to  Pinggold,  on  the  29th  the  regiment,  on  its  way  back  to 
camp  at  "VYliiteside,  stopped  on  the  battle-ground  of  Chickamauga 
and  assisted  in  the  sad  but  christian  work  of  burrving  the  remains  of 
the  union  dead,  which  the  rebels,  with  characteristic  inhumanity,  had 
left  in  large  numbers  to  decompose  above  the  soil. 

A  period  of  ordinary  service  followed  until  the  Atlanta  campaign. 
On  May  4,  1S64,  the  4th  corps  concentrated  at  Catoosa  Springs  and 
awaited  the  arrival  of  the  23d  corps,  which  formed  on  its  left.  On  the 
7th  the  two  marched  south,  when  the  right  of  the  4th  connected  with 
the  left  of  the  14th  at  Tunnell  hill,  from  which  the  rebels  had  been 
dislodged  that  morning.  From  this  time  till  the  13th  the  regiment 
was  before  Rocky  Face  ridge,  an  impregnable  natural  stronghold, 
skirmishing  most  of  the  while,  and  once  making  a  charge  and  driving 
the  rebels  out  of  tlieir  rifle  pits.     The  loss  on  the  9th  was  eleven  killed 


EIGHTY-FOTJETH   REGIMENT.  383 

and  wounded.  The  flank  morement  tlirongli  Snake  Creek  gap,  a 
pass  through  this  ridge  fifteen  miles  south,  compelled  the  rebel  araiy 
to  fall  back.  The  84th  advanced  through  Buzzard  Roost  gap,  and 
passing  Dalton,  skirmished  forward  to  Resacca,  where  it  took  part  in 
the  fighting  on  the  1-ttli  and  loth.  On  the  16th,  the  rebel  army  having 
retreated,  the  command  went  forward,  skirmishing  desultorily,  some- 
times severely,  down  as  far  as  Cassville,  which  was  reached  on  the 
19th.  The  army  rested  till  the  23d,  then  moved  on  Dallas.  On  the 
25th  Thomas'  army  found  the  enemy  in  strong  force  at  New  Hope 
Church  ;  the  following  clay  it  was  arrayed  for  steady  work,  and  fi'om 
this  time  the  regiment  was  in  constant  figliting  for  ten  days.  From 
the  7th  to  the  lOtli,  the  8'J:tli  was  encamped  three  miles  south  of  Ack- 
wortli ;  on  the  latter  date  the  army  moved  forward  to  confront 
Johnson's  intrenched  line  from  Pine  mountain  to  Kenesaw,  and  until 
the  18th  the  men  were  working  their  way  up  close  to  the  enemy's 
breastworks  by  building  successive  lines  of  their  own,  under  heavy 
fire,  which  did  not  relax  day  or  night.  After  the  15th  the  contending 
sides  were  so  close  that  all  the  firing  was  done  from  the  main  parapets. 
On  the  night  of  the  18th  Johnson  retired  the  fianks  of  his  army,  and 
next  day  the  brigade  was  in  advance  feeling  for  the  enemy.  A  part 
of  the  84th  was  on  the  skirmish  line  and  suff'ered  severely,  especially 
company  G,  which  had  two  men  killed  and  seven  wounded.  On  the 
21st  the  regiment  had  another  killed  and  several  more  wounded.  The 
rebel  army  retreated  to  the  Chattahoochee  on  the  night  of  July  2d, 
and  the  84th  followed  in  pursuit  on  the  3d,  overtaking  the  enemy  in 
the  neighborhood  of  Sm^a-na  camp-ground,  when  ' '  they  celebrated 
their  fourth  of  July  by  a  noisy  but  not  desperate  battle."  On  the 
10th  the  4tli  corps  crossed  the  Chattahoochee,  and  after  throwing  up 
breastworks  for  use  in  case  of  need,  rested  till  the  18th.  Crossing 
Peach  Tree  creek  on  the  20tli,  the  regiment  advanced  on  the  skirmish 
line,  charged  the  rebel  skirmishers  and  took  all  in  their  front  pris- 
oners. They  moved  their  line  forward  200  yards  on  the  21st,  and 
were  engaged  nearly  all  day  in  sharp  fighting.  On  the  22d,  while 
the  battle  of  Atlanta  was  in  progress  ©n  the  left,  the  4th,  20th  and 
14th  corps  swung  in  upon  Atlanta,  closely  investing  the  city  on  the 
north  and  northwest.  On  August  3d  Capt.  Dilworth,  of  comjDany  F, 
with  sixty-five  men  from  the  regiment,  one-third  belonging  to  com- 
pany K,  made  a  brilliant  sortie  and  captured  all  the  skirmish  posts  in 
front  of  the  brigade,  including  twenty-six  prisoners,  without  the  loss  of 
a  man.  On  tlie  5th  a  similar  affair  was  planned  by  the  brigade  com- 
mander, and  the  skirmish  line  made  an  attempt  to  advance,  but  with 
ill  success,  and  the  84th  lost  one  killed  and  two  severely  wounded. 


384  HISTORY   OF    >EERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

On  the  night  of  the  25th  Gen.  Sherman  began  his  movement  with 
the  bulk  of  the  army  to  strike  and  sever  the  West  Point  raih-oad  south 
of  Athmta.  This  was  reached  on  the  28th,  and  the  next  day  was 
spent  in  destroying  several  miles  of  it ;  then  on  the  31st  the  Macon 
railroad  was  seized  all  the  way  from  Eongh  and  Eeady  to  Jonesboro. 
At  the  last  place  Hardee's  corps  was  fortified  and  made  a  sally  against 
the  loth  corps  which  was  easily  repulsed.  The  following  day  the 
destruction  of  the  railroad  was  continued,  and  in  the  afternoon  the 
14tli  corps  stormed  Hardee's  defenses  and  carried  them  with  slight 
resistance,  capturing  a  brigade  and  ten  pieces.  The  setting  in  of 
night  prevented  the  4th  corps  from  reaching  the  enemy's  reai-,  which 
would  have  compelled  his  surrender.  As  it  was  he  escaped  that 
night,  simultaneously  with  the  evacuatic)n  of  Atlanta  by  Hood.  The 
84th  had  one  man  killed  and  hve  wounded  on  this  expedition ;  and 
from  the  beginning  of  the  campaign  twelve  were  killed  and  seventy 
wounded.  Six  of  the  latter  died  in  hcjspital.  It  was  estimated  that 
the  regiment  built,  from  the  time  it  encountered  the  enemy  at  Tunnel 
Hill,  ten  miles  of  breastworks. 

The  84th  encamped  at  the  close  of  the  campaign  with  the  rest  of 
the  corps  three  miles  southeast  of  Atlanta.  Wlien  Hood  started  north 
to  invade  Tennessee,  all  the  army  except  the  20th  corps  which  was  left 
to  garrison  the  city  and  guard  the  bridges  on  the  Chattahoochee,  started 
in  pursuit  in  the  first  week  of  October.  The  4th  corps  marched  to 
Chattanooga;  from  there  it  was  transported  by  railroad  to  Athens, 
Alabama,  where  it  awaited  orders  two  days,  and  then  marched  north 
to  Pulaski,  Tennnessee.  Gen.  Sherman,  about  this  time,  turned  from 
the  pursuit  of  Hood  back  to  Atlanta  to  set  out  on  the  march  to  the  sea 
coast,  and  Gen.  Thomas  was  left  to  watch  and  oppose  his  old  antagonist. 
In  the  latter  part  of  November  the  rebel  army  was  in  motion  directly 
for  aSTashville,  and  the  4th  and  23d  corps  began  immediately  to  fall 
back,  either  not  able  or  not  designing  to  keep  much  in  advance  of  the 
enemy.  On  the  29th  Columbia  was  abandoned,  and  while  three  divis- 
ions were  moving  toward  Spring  Hill,  the  rebels,  by  a  forced  march  to 
cut  them  off,  attacked  the  place  which  was  defended  by  one  division, 
but  were  repulsed.  The  heavy  supply  trains  narrowly  escaped  capture. 
On  the  30tli  the  retiring  army  was  concentrated  at  Franklin,  posted 
behind  hastily  constructed  breastworks  on  the  south  side  of  the  town, 
the  line  in  the  form  of  a  crescent,  the  flanks  resting  on  the  Harpeth 
river.  About  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  Hood  threw  his  army  upon 
this  position,  the  chief  weight  against  the  center,  with  terrific  energy. 
His  men  went  over  tlie  first  line  of  works  in  a  furious  charge,  and 


EIGHTY-FOUKTII    REGEVIENT.  385 

pausing  under  a  destructive  fire  long  enough  to  organize  for  an  assault 
on  the  second  line,  they  advanced  with  blind  impetuosity ;  but  the 
reserves  having  been  brought  up  they  failed  to  make  a  lodgment.  At 
five  o'clock  the  union  troops  advanced  to  retake  the  works,  and  now 
occurred  one  of  the  most  despei-ate  encounters  of  the  war.  The 
soldiers  stood  up  within  arm's  length  of  one  another  and  fought  like 
madmen  with  bayonets  and  clubbed  muskets.  This  was  continued  till 
darkness  ended  the  frightful  combat,  when  Hood,  having  failed  of  his 
purpose  to  break  the  center,  which  would  have  been  fatal  to  the  whole, 
withdrew.  Union  Joss,  1,500;  rebel  loss,  6,250.  The  first  division 
was  in  a  comparatively  unexposed  position,  and  not  till  the  end  of  the 
fighting  was  the  S4th  on  the  front  line,  then  it  was  deployed  as  skirmish- 
ers. Col.  Waters  and  Adjutant  Caswell  were  severely  wounded,  but 
afterward  recovered ;  these  were  the  only  persons  serving  with  the 
regiment  who  were  injured.  At  night  the  march  was  continued  toward 
Nashville,  and  early  next  morning  the  head  of  the  weary,  bloody 
column  reached  that  city. 

After  two  weeks  of  preparation  Gen.  Thomas  was  ready  for  the 
offensive,  and  on  December  15th,  moved  against  the  enemy,  turn- 
ing his  left  and  forcing  back  his  whole  line.  The  battle  was  continued 
next  day,  and  the  rebel  army  disastrously  routed.  Pursuit  was  made 
by  Wilson's  cavalry  and  the  4th  corps.  The  23d  corps  also  went  as 
far  as  Columbia.  When  the  shattered  and  demoralized  army  was 
across  the  Tennessee,  the  end  of  the  campaign  was  announced,  and  the 
troops  went  into  winter  quarters.  This  was  the  completest  union  vic- 
tory of  the  war,  not  involving  a  surrender,  for  it  practically  destroyed 
the  rebel  army.  In  all  these  operations  the  S4th  was  with  the  fore- 
most actors,  and  shared  the  honors  of  the  striking  achievements. 

The  4tli  corps  was  cantoned  near  Iluntsville,  and  this  regiment  was 
put  on  provost  duty  in  the  city.  In  March  the  corps  was  ordered  to 
Knoxville,  and  on  the  13th  the  first  division  was  transferred  by  rail, 
the  others  following  soon  after.  From  there  the  command  marched  to 
Bull's  gap,  and  was  stationed  six  miles  beyond,  lying  there  till  April 
18th.  On  that  day  the  troops  were  put  on  board  the  cars  and  sent  to 
Nashville,  where,  on  June  8,  1865,  this  war-worn  regiment  was  mus- 
tered out  of  the  service  with  346  men  out  of  932  who  had  gone  to  the 
"greedy  front  of  war"  only  thirty -two  months  before. 

Company  G  had  thirty  men ;  all  but  five  of  these  had  been 
wounded.  On  the  9th  the  regiment  started  for  Illinois,  and  arrived  at 
Camp  Butler,  on  the  12th.     On  the  16th  it  was  paid  oft'  and  disbanded. 


386  HISTORY   OF   FIERCER   AND   HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

THE  OXE  HUNDRED  AXD  SECOND  REGIMENT   ILLINOIS  INFANTRY. 

"  'Tis  midnight  in  the  camp,  9 

The  tired  soldiers  sleep,  and  dream,  perchance 
Of  home,  perchance  of  conflicts  past,  and  others 
Coming  on  the  morrow.    Braves,  sleep  on  ! 
Let  the  cool  night  winds  soothe  your  slumbers  deep. 
That  you  may  rise  refreshed.     Your  country  looks 
To  you,  and  such  as  you,  to  guard  her  honor 
From  traitors'  foul  contaminating  touch. 

Yet,  one  i$  vigilant ; 
With  measured  tread  he  paces  on  his  beat  — • 
The  midnight  sentinel.    The  moonbeams  play 
Upon  his  burnished  bayonet,  and  its  rays 
Fall  gently  on  a  calm,  sweet,  upturned  face, 
That  smiles  upon  the  soldier  from  its  frame." 

E.  H.  N.  Patterson,  1862. 

The  war  of  the  rebellion  had  been  in  progress  something  over  a 
year  when  recruiting  for  the  102d  regiment  began ;  but  as  more  men 
enlisted  from  Mercer  county  in  that  organization  than  in  any  other,  we 
assign  it  the  largest  space. 

Company  C. — Frank  Shedd  commenced  enlisting  men  on  August 
5,  1862,  and  on  the  21st  had  eighty-nine  enrolled.  The  company 
assembled  at  Berlin  (Swedona)  on  the  26th,  and  taking  wagons, 
went  by  the  way  of  Oxford  and  Galesburg  to  Knoxville,  and  were 
assigned  quarters  in  Camp  McMurtry  on  the  fair  grounds.  Ninety-six 
men  went  into  camp,  but  ninety-two,  including  officers,  were  all  that 
were  mustered  in.  Shedd  was  elected  captain,  Almond  Shaw,  first  lieu- 
tenant, and  Watson  C.  Trego,  second  lieutenant.  Alfred  H.  Trego  was 
appointed  first  or  orderly  sergeant,  Byron  Jordan,  second  sergeant, 
George  W.  Gregg,  third  sergeant,  George  W.  Allen,  fourth  sergeant, 
and  Sampson  M.  Tenny,  fifth  sergeant.  The  corporals  were  Isaac  N. 
Roberts,  S.  F.  Fleharty,  Rodney  C.  Manning,  Henry  Bridgford,  Jacob 
Clause,  Brainard  Yance,  Phoenix  R.  Briggs,  and  John  Lippincott. 

Company  E. — On  August  7  a  meeting  was  held  at  Brown's  school- 
house  in  Xortli  Henderson  township,  at  which  Dan.  W.  Sedwick  en- 
listed eighteen  men.  Thomas  Likely,  of  tlie  same  township  (now  of 
Norwood),  was  present  and  stated  that  he  had  enrolled  eight  men, 
and  proposed  to  unite  with  Sedwick,  which  was  done.  By  the  Idth 
they  had  eighty-four.  On  that  day  the  men  met  at  the  same  place  and 
organized  by  electing  Likely  captain,  Sedwick,  first  lieutenant,  and 
T.  G.  Brown,  second  lieutenant.  The  following  were  the  non-com- 
missioned officers  appointed :  Sample  B.  Moore,  first  or  orderly  ser- 
geant; John  Allison,  AVilliam  J.   Abdill,  Jonathan  E.  Lafierty,   and 


ONE    HUNDRED   AND    SECOND    REGIMENT.  387 

Albert  Bridger,  sergeants ;  Thomas  Simpson,  Henrv  M.  Carmicliael, 
John  Tidball,  Lyman  Bryant,  Allen  Dunn,  Henry  AV.  Mauck,  Robert 
(jrodfrey,  and  John  T.  Morfbrd,  corporals.  Some  time  in  the  last 
week  of  August  Lieut.  Sedwick  started  from  Bridger's  corners  (now 
Suez)  with  thirty-two  men,  and  going  through  Scott's  grove,  met  Capt. 
Likely  one  mile  south  of  that  place  with  about  the  same  number,  from 
whence  they  proceeded  in  wagons  through  Galesburg  to  Knoxville, 
arriving  there  in  the  evening,  where  the  rest  of  the  company  joined 
them. 

Company  G. — This  company  was  raised  by  Joseph  P.  Wycoff, 
assisted  by  Isaac  McManus.  David  Lloyd  had  begun  a  company, 
but  as  he  did  not  make  it  up  his  recruits,  eight  or  ten  in  number,  came 
into  AVycoff's.  Enlistments  for  this  company  were  commenced  in 
Keithsburg  on  the  6tli  of  August;  on  the  15th  over  one  hundred  were 
enrolled,  and  runners  were  sent  out  to  notifv  the  men  to  meet  on  the 
ITth  to  organize.  One  hundred  and  twenty  assembled  at  the  opera 
house  and  Wycoff  was  elected  captain.  ()n  the  19th  the  company 
embarked  on  a  steamer  for  Burlington,  where  it  arrived  at  midnight. 
The  hotels  were  full  and  the  men  slept  that  night  in  a  livery  stable. 
Next  day  they  took  the  cars  and  reached  Knoxville,  going  into  bar- 
racks on  the  north  side  of  the  fair  ground.  The  organization  of  the 
company  was  next  completed,  the  choice  for  first  lieutenant  falling  on 
Isaac  McManus,  and  that  of  second  lieutenant  on  William  H.  Bridg- 
ford.  The  non-commissioned  officers  were  also  elected  by  the  com- 
pany, Capt.  Wycofi"  promising  to  appoint  whomsoever  the  men  should 
declare  were  their  preference.  They  were  Luke  P.  Blackburn,  Aaron 
G.  Llenry,  John  C.  Reynolds,  John  McHard,  and  Robert  B.  Seaton, 
sergeants ;  and  Wesley  Hunt,  Lemuel  S.  Gruffy,  Elisha  J.  Grandstaif, 
Andrew  J.  Douglas,  Richard  H.  Cabeen,  John  G.  Poague;  George  W. 
Thomas,  and  Andrew  J.  Campbell,  corporals.  Company  G  went  into 
camp  with  120,  rank  and  file;  but  101  was  the  maximum  number 
allowed,  and  the  excess  were  distributed  among  other  companies. 

Company  K. — James  M.  Mannon,  Sanderson  II.  Rodgers,  and 
William  A.  Wilson  raised  this  company  in  the  month  of  August,  and 
it  was  composed  of  men  from  the  north  part  of  the  county,  and  chiefly 
from  those  residing  in  Eliza  and  Millersburg  townships.  It  was 
organized  in  Aledo  by  the  election  of  Mannon,  captain,  Rodgers,  first 
lieutenant,  and  Wilson,  second  lieutenant.  Late  in  the  month  the 
company  went  across  the  country  by  private  conveyances  to  Knoxville, 
where  the  regiment  was  assembled  and  about  ready  to  be  organized. 
The  original  non-commissioned  oflicers  were :  James  Y.  Merritt, 
orderly  sergeant ;  L.  Yolney  Willits,  second  sergeant  (names  of  the 


388  HISTOEY    OF   MERGER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

other  sergeants  unknown) ;  and  tlie  following  coi-porals  :  Peter  Griffith, 
B.  F.  H.  Reynolds,  William  AVinders,  J.  E.  Pluston,  Leander  Officer, 
Eli  Cook,  Walter  Smethers,  and  Allen  Wilson. 

Other  Comjxinies. — The  foregoing  companies  belonged  exclusively 
to  Mercer  county,  if  we  except  a  very  few  in  company  C  from  Rock 
Island  county.  Company  A  was  enlisted  in  the  corners  of  Knox,  Mer- 
cer, and  Warren,  and  was  credited  to  Knox,  although  of  the  eighty- 
eight  enlisted  soldiers  forty-three  were  fi'om  North  BLenderson  and  six 
from  Rivoli  townships  in  this  county.  Capt.  Roderick  R.  Harding,  of 
Galesburg,  who  had  served  in  the  ITth  111.  reg.  from  May,  1861,  to 
May,  1862,  associated  Levi  F.  Gentry,  of  IS'orth  Henderson,  with 
himself,  and  the  two  together  raised  the  company.  Harding  became 
captain  on  the  organization  of  the  company,  Gentry,  lirst  lieutenant, 
and  Charles  M.  Barnett.  of  Xortli  Henderson,  second  lieutenant.  The 
non-commissioned  officers  were :  Robert  W.  Callaghan,  Theodore  H. 
Andrews,  John  Morrison,  William  BrowTi,  and  Adam  N^.  Tate,  ser- 
geants; and  AYilliam  H.  Black,  Hugh  French,  Daniel  B.  Randall, 
Fielding  E.  Scott,  John  R.  Holmes,  Albert  Talbot,  Xealy  Daggett, 
and  George  W.  Miller,  corporals. 

Company  B  was  raised  in  Knox  and  Warren ;  two  enlistments 
were  from  Mercer. 

Companj-  D  was  raised  and  organized  in  Knox  county,  to  which 
one-half  of  the  men  belonged.  SLxteen  were  from  Fulton  county, 
fourteen  from  Warren,  seven  from  Henry,  six  from  Mercer,  and  a  few 
from  other  places. 

Company  F  was  made  up  of  Knox  county  men,  with  two  from 
Mercer.  Companies  H  and  I  belonged  to  the  same  county,  but  the 
latter  had  eight  men  from  Henry. 

The  Regiment. — The  102d  regiment  was  raised  by  Col.  William 
McMurtry,  of  Knox  county,  and  the  companies,  as  fast  as  they  arrived 
at  Knoxville,  were  rendezvoused  on  the  fair  grounds,  where  there 
were  ample  and  convenient  barracks.  This  camp  of  organization  was 
named  McMurtry  in  honor  of  the  venerable  and  enthusiastic  colonel. 
The  several  companies  assembled  between  the  20th  of  August  and  the 
close  of  the  month,  and  when  the  organization  took  place  Franklin  C. 
Smith,  captain  of  company  I,  was  elected  lieutenant-colonel,  and 
James  M.  Mannon,  captain  of  company  K,  major.  On  the  2d  of 
September  the  regiment  was  mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United 
States  931  strong.  The  men  were  uniformed,  furnished  with  blankets, 
and  regularly  drilled;  and  the  transition  to  camp  life  had  all  the 
features  of  noveltv  until  the  rudiments  of  soldierlv  trainino;  were  in 
course  of  easy  mastery. 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    SECOND    REGUVfENT.  389 

On  the  22d  tlie  ritrlit  wing  was  transferred  by  rail  to  Peoria,  and 
next  daj  the  left  followed.  The  regiment  remained  one  week  en- 
camped on  the  beautiful  j)lateau  overlooking  Peoria  lake  from  the 
north,  when  orders  came  to  move  to  the  seat  of  war  in  Kentucky. 
Buell's  arm}'  was  intrenched  around  Louisville  and  Bragg  was  knock- 
ing at  the  gates  of  the  city.  Public  apprehension  was  high,  and  the 
raw  levies  from  Dlinois,  Indiana,  and  Ohio,  were  poured  upon  the 
"Kentucky  shore"  in  immense  numbers.  The  30th  of  September 
dawned  gloomily,  but  it  found  the  regiment  lively  with  hope  and  ardor, 
and  before  the  morning  was  hardly  passed  it  was  in  motion  through 
the  streets  in  a  drizzling  rain  toward  the  depot  of  the  Logansport, 
Peoria  ife  Burlington  railroad.  Windows  and  balconies  were  crowded 
with  old  and  young  to  get  a  view  of  the  troops.  Matronly  women, 
total  strangers,  wiped  their  dimmed  eyes  as  they  watched  the  flower  of 
the  country's  youth  going  to  fields  of  blood  and  death.  Next  morning 
the  regiment  was  in  Logansport ;  in  the  course  of  the  day  it  passed 
through  Lafayette,  and  toward  evening  reached  Indianapolis,  where 
were  seen  the  first  warlike  signs :  artillery  in  park  and  paroled  pris- 
oners in  squads.  A  night  ride  brought  the  command  to  Jeffersonville, 
where  it  disembarked  before  the  beams  of  morning  streaked  the  east- 
ern sky.  Arms  for  the  men,  French  rifled  muskets,  which  had  been 
brought  unboxed  from  Peoria,  were  distributed  during  the  day,  and 
inferior  as  they  were  it  cannot  be  said  the  soldiers  were  not  as  proud 
of  their  guns  as  the  traditioiuil  small  boy  of  his  new  jacknife.  Rumors 
of  fighting  across  the  river  were  soon  afloat,  and  this  was  the  first 
acquaintance  with  the  "grapevine  telegraph" — camp  reports. 

At  one  o'' clock  on  the  morning  of  the  3d,  the  long  roll  aroused  the 
camp,  and  the  men  were  ordered  to  prepare  to  march  with  three  days' 
cooked  rations.  Very  early  the  Ohio  was  crossed  on  an  immense 
bridge  constructed  of  flatboats,  and  the  regiment  marched  into  Louis- 
ville. Amidst  the  interested  spectators  on  the  street  leading  u])  from 
the  river  stood  a  tottering  old  man,  whose  thin  white  locks  were  the 
toys  of  the  morning  air.  With  uncovered  head,  and  bony  arms  up- 
lifted to  heaven,  he  appeared  like  a  silent  supernatural  proj^het  of  the 
union.  Without  a  spoken  word,  but  in  the  most  solemn  and  patri- 
archal manner  did  this  patriotic  Elijah  call  down  upon  the  men  press- 
ing forward  to  the  defense  of  the  government  God's  blessing  and  pro- 
tection. 

The  regiment  was  brigaded  with  the  105th  Illinois  and  the  79th 
Ohio,  and  placed  under  the  command  of  Brig.  Gen.  William  T.  Ward, 
of  Kentucky,  and  attached  to  Gen.  Dumont's  division.  Not  long 
afterward  the  70th  Indiana  and  the  129th  Illinois  were  added. 


390  HISTORY   OF   IVIERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

At  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  this  new  conimand  began  the  march 
to  Frankfort,  a  march  whose  toils  and  pains  will  never  fade  from  the 
memories  of  the  jaded  and  exhausted  men  who  pei'formed  it.  Only 
for  the  conditions  was  the  distance  great  or  the  marching  excessive. 
The  weather  was  hot,  the  soldiers  were  overloaded,  the  country  was 
suffering  from  extreme  drouth,  water  was  scarce,  and  parts  of  the  pike 
were  covered  with  a  fine  limestone  dust  that  enveloped  the  column  in 
a  thick  cloud.  Haversacks  were  crowded  with  rations,  cartridge  boxes 
carried  forty  rounds,  knaj)sacks  contained  extra  clothing  and  blankets 
and  other  dispensable  effects.  Add  to  these  a  heavy  musket,  and  the 
weight  borne  was  too  much  for  the  endurance  of  nine-tenths  of  the 
soldiers  in  the  field,  old  or  new.  To  keep  in  ranks  and  march  at  a 
brisk  pace  encumbered  with  an  unusual,  ill-fitting,  fretful  load,  was  no 
ordinary  hardship  to  raw  recruits ;  and  long  afterward  when  the  men 
had  become  enured  to  war-like  service,  they  reviewed  the  trials  of  this 
first  march  with  a  shudder.  Inhalations  of  the  finely-powdered  dust 
excited  and  greatly  aggravated  thirst,  and  under  the  circumstances 
these  sufferings  of  the  men  were  the  most  painful  of  the  whole  service, 
and  were  the  entering  wedge  to  subsequent  disabilities  which  sent 
many  a  poor  fellow  home  a  miserable  wreck  and  many  another  to  his 
long  account. 

About  midnight  a  small  remnant  of  the  command  filed  off  into 
a  swarded  field  fifteen  miles  from  Louis^dlle,  and  were  told  to  encamp. 
The  brigade  was  disorganized,  and  the  soldiers,  prostrated  with  fatigue, 
were  scattered  along  the  line  of  march  for  a  distance  of  ten  miles. 
The  road  was  strewn  with  blankets  and  clotliing  thrown  away  with 
indifierence  and  relief.  AVe  believe  it  was  never  explained  why  our 
commanders  forged  ahead  with  such  folly ;  but  the  boys  often  jokingly 
charged  it  to  that  ever  present  factor,  the  double-barreled  canteen. 
Probably  orders  had  been  given  in  Louisville  for  the  brigade  to  march 
to  a  certain  place  that  niglit.  The  102d  had  not  forgotten  yet  that  Col. 
McMurtry  declared  at  Knoxville  his  intention  to  "  march  us  to  glory  or 
to  death,"  and  they  could  testify  now  that  the  promise  was  being  relig- 
iously fulfilled,  with  the  chances  very  much  in  tavor  of  the  alternative. 

About  all  the  men  had  straggled  into  cam])  by  eleven  o'clock  next 
dav,  and  then  the  march  was  renewed.  Fifteen  more  tedious  miles 
were  drawn  out  and  we  encamped  late  at  night  in  the  neighborhood  of 
Shelbyville,  where  we  lay  in  a  plowed  field  under  the  burning  sun 
until  the  afternoon  of  the  6th.  In  rapid  time  we  marched  to  a  new 
camp,  two  miles  east  of  Shelbyville.  On  the  8th  we  were  again  in 
•motion,  and  the  day  was  marked  with  the  petty  annoyances  of  starting 
and  halting,  and  waiting  in  suspense,  not  knowing  whether  to  sit  or  lie 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    SECOND    REGIMENT.  391 

down  by  the  roadside  or  to  stand  and  hold  om*  heavy  loads.  Through 
it  all  the  sun  poured  down  his  blistering  rays.  Tliis  was  the  worst  day 
of  any  for  dust ;  fine  as  flour,  in  places  it  was  two  inches  deep,  and 
verily  we  had  "  a  cloud  by  day,"  which  veiled  every  object  from  view  a 
few  yards  in  front.  To  get  drinking  water  the  soldiers  were  glad  to 
brush  away  the  heavy,  green  scum  with  which  stagnant  pools  were 
mantled,  and  thousands  of  canteens  were  supplied  with  filthier  water, 
but  a  little  pennyroyal  introduced  through  the  nozzle  overcame  the 
unfragrant  odor ;  and  doubtless  others  were  moved  to  the  same  thank- 
fulness as  the  soldier  who  expressed  his  satisfaction  with  the  water 
hecause  it  was  wet !  At  nine  at  night,  being  suflered  to  bivouac,  we 
gave  ourselves  up  to  the  welcome  embrace  of  mother  earth,  and 
stretched  our  aching  limbs  upon  the  s.oft  soil.  The  hour  of  midnight 
made  its  hasty  round,  and  brought  with  it  oi-ders  to  resume  the 
advance.  A  march  of  six  miles,  and  then  we  were  in  Frankfort,  at 
the  bridge  across  the  Kentucky  river,  where  our  cavalry  had  a 
skirmish  and  a  few  of  the  men  were  on  guard.  Toiling  three-fourths 
of  a  mile,  perhaps  a  mile,  up  the  long,  weary  ascent  east  of  the  town, 
we  at  last  reached  the  top  and  threw  ourselves  upon  the  naked  sward 
for  rest,  just  as  the  gleams  of  dayspring  began  to  gild  the  eastern 
horizon.  At  nine  o'' clock  orders  came  to  prepare  for  a  forced  march  of 
forty-eight  hours  without  knapsacks,  and  two  days'  rations  were  issued. 
What  more  '''-forced''''  than  the  experience  of  the  last  few  days  was 
needed?  Happily,  the  order  that  would  have  put  us  in  motion  never 
came. 

With  the  end  of  this,  our  first  march,  we  drop  the  mass  of  details 
lest  our  space  should  be  taken  up  before  we  discover  the  spires  of 
Atlanta,  or  the  music  of  tlie  ocean  falls  upon  our  ears  at  Savannah. 

At  Frankfort  the  regiment  was  furnished  with  bell  tents,  drilling 
was  continued,  and  standing  at  arms  an  hour  or  two  in  the  morning 
before  daybreak  was  practiced.  On  the  evening  of  the  18th  prepara- 
tions were  made  for  a  foi'ced  march,  and  at  midnight  the  brigade  was 
called  out  and  started  for  Lawrenceburg,  sixteen  miles  distant.  The 
object  was  to  intercept  the  partisan  John  Morgan,  who  was  retreating 
from  Lexington  before  a  federal  force.  The  command  halted  by  the 
way  an  hour  and  did  not  reach  the  destination  till  daylight,  when  it 
was  found  that  the  rebel  chieftain  had  passed  an  hour  and  a  half 
before.  Marching  back  leisurely  the  troops  reached  their  old  quarters 
at  seven  in  the  evening,  tired  and  foot-sore. 

A  painful  incident  of  history  followed.  Dissatisfaction  with  Col. 
McMurtry  was  gaining  rapidly,  and  the  demand  for  his  retirement  was 
strong.     We  remember  the  hollow  square,  the  stirring  speech  from 


392  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Gen.  Ward  counseling  harmony  and  subordination,  t!ie  demand  of  the 
colonel  for  a  vote  to  ascertain  tlie  feeling  of  the  regiment  towards  him, 
and  we  see  the  large  majority  step  out  of  ranks,  whereupon  he 
announces  his  intention  to  resign.  Whatever  defects  he  may  have 
had  they  were  those  of  old  age.  He  had  served  in  tlie  Black  Hawk  war 
and  was  familiar  with  the  obsolete  tactics.  He  did  not  address  himself 
with  the  alacrity  of  a  young  man  to  mastering  the  new,  and  this  may 
have  detracted  from  his  popularity'.  Perhaps  he  was  regarded  as 
responsible  for  the  hard  marching  tliat  had  been  done ;  if  so,  it  was 
unjust.  He  was  honest  and  terribly  in  earnest.  In  his  care  for  the 
men  and  his  intercourse  with  them  he  was  less  remote  and  more  alive 
to  their  welfare  than  any  other  who  ever  commanded  them.  His  influ- 
ence went  far  in  raising  the  regiment,  and  to  this  length,  if  no  further, 
he  served  his  country  well.  Sickness  obliged  him  to  go  to  the  hospital, 
and  from  there  he  repaired  to  his  home.  The  regiment  saw  no  more 
of  him  except  when  he  paid  it  a  brief  visit  at  Gallatin  in  February. 

On  the  26th  of  October  the  brigade  broke  camp  and  began  the 
march  to  Bowling  Green.  The  distance  of  150  miles  was  accomplished 
in  ten  days.  Toward  the  last  the  dust  was  very  troublesome  again, 
scarcely  less  so  than  on  the  first  march,  and  when  the  soldiers  camped 
at  night  they  were  unrecognizable.  At  Bacon  Creek  numbers  were 
sent  back  to  Louisville  sick,  while  others  were  left  to  come  on  by  I'ail. 

While  at  Bowling  Green  Lieut. -Col.  Smith  was  elected  by  the 
officers  to  the  colonelcy,  and  Major  Mannon  rose  to  the  next  grade. 

Gen.  jRosecrans  reviewed  our  division  there,  and  on  the  11th  of 
November  the  brigade  left  its  camp  at  Lost  river,  and  on  the  second 
day  arrived  at  Scottsville,  county  seat  of  Allen  county.  Continuing 
southward  on  the  25th  the  division  marched  in  the  direction  of  Gallatin, 
Tennessee,  and  camped  that  night  at  the  Rock  House.  Arriving  there 
the  next  evening  a  camp  was  laid  out  for  the  102d  west  of  the  town. 
On  the  12th  of  December  the  regiment  moved  into  winter  quarters  at 
Fort  Thomas,  which  was  situated  close  to  the  depot,  and  which  the 
brigade,  working  in  reliefs  by  regiments,  had  been  throwing  up  since 
its  arrival.  On  the  13th  companies  I,  K  and  G  were  detailed  for 
patrol  and  provost  duty  in  the  town,  and  the  next  day  were  cantoned 
in  brick  buildings  on  the  public  square.  Company  C  was  put  on  duty 
at  Station  creek,  three  miles  below  Gallatin,  where  they  spent  the 
winter  guarding  the  railroad  bridge.  On  the  11th  of  February  com. 
panics  D  and  F  and  a  part  of  A  were  ordered  into  the  town  to  increase 
the  provost  force.  About  New  Year  a  mounted  squad,  composed  of 
a  detail  of  two  men  from  each  company,  was  organized,  and  placed 
under  the  command  of  Sergeant  Edward  Courtney,   of  company  I, 


^w 


r 


CAPT.  DAN.  W.  SEDWICK 


ONE    HUNDRED   AND    SECOND    REGIMENT.  395 

making  twenty-one  altogetlier.  This  was  kept  scouting  until  spring, 
and  did  much  hard,  efficient  service.  On  the  14th  of  March  the 
several  companies  were  relieved  by  a  detail  from  the  105th  Illinois, 
and  were  reunited  in  the  old  camp  to  finish  and  garrison  Fort  Thomas. 
The  rainy,  gloomy  winter  was  over,  the  darkest  period  of  the  war 
passed.  With  the  fresh  breath  of  spring  came  new  life  and  gladness. 
Drilling  was  resumed  with  great  energy,  and  most  encouraging  im^ 
provements  were  made  in  the  health,  and  spirits,  and  skill,  and  tactical 
knowledge  of  the  men. 

April  27  a  detachment  of  150  froAi  the  regiment  was  embarked  on 
board  the  regular  morning  express  train  for  Louisville,  under  the  chief 
command  of  Col.  B.  J.  Sweet,  seconded  by  Col.  Smith.  Rebels  were 
hovering  near  Franklin,  twenty-seven  miles  above,  and  when  that  place 
was  reached  fifty  soldiers  were  put  off  there  in  the  belief  that  a  skir- 
mish w^ould  ensue.  The  train  proceeded  three  or  four  miles  farther, 
when  it  was  stopped  by  a  breach  in  the  track,  and  a  volley  was  received 
from  a  lot  of  rebel  horsemen.  The  fire  was  instantly  returned  with 
deadly  effect,  and  then  the  men  sprang  from  the  cars  in  pursuit,  but  the 
assailants  disappeared  in  hot  haste.  Their  loss  was  five  killed  and  six 
wounded.  Five  of  the  102d  were  wounded,  two  mortally.  A  little 
drummer  boy  on  the  train  was  wounded  in  the  leg,  which  had  to  be 
amputated.     This  was  the  first  baptism  of  fire. 

June  1  the  brigade  left  its  encampment  at  Gallatin  and  was  trans- 
ported on  the  cars  to  Lavergne,  fifteen  miles  south  of  Xashville ;  and 
next  day  the  102d  marched  to  Stewart's  creek,  six  miles  farther 
south,  and  nine  miles  north  of  Murfreesboro.  Companies  E,  K,  and 
G  were  posted  on  the  creek  at  the  railroad  crossing ;  company  H  was 
stationed  at  Overall's  creek,  adjacent  to  the  Stone  river  battlefield ;  and 
company  B  at  Smyrna.  The  right  wing  was  encamped  at  a  small 
earthwork  surmounting  an  eminence  on  Stewart's  creek  and  overlook- 
ing the  crossing  of  the  Nashville  and  Murfreesboro  turnpike.  Wlien 
Gen.  Bosecrans  organized  the  Tullahoma  campaign  the  dispersed 
forces  at  Nashville  and  elsewhere  in  the  rear  were  formed  into  the 
reserve  corps,  under  the  command  of  Gen.  Gordon  Granger,  who.  at 
an  early  day,  entrusted  the  protection  of  the  railroad  between  Kasli- 
ville  and  Murfresboro  exclusively  to  the  102d.  Col.  Smith  was  ordered 
to  Lavergne  with  four  companies,  and,  on  August  19,  companies  C,  E, 
G,  and  I  marched  to  that  i)lace,  while  the  other  six  were  stationed  at 
stockades  along  the  railroad.  Thus  disposed  the  regiment  was  required 
to  do  much  hard  duty,  and  it  could  not  have  been  more  satisfactorily 
performed.  In  addition  to  furnishing  patrols,  and  men  for  a  great 
variety  of  service  besides,  the  companies  at  Lavergne  began  in  October 
28 


B96  HISTORY   OF   MEECEE   AND   HENDEESON   COUNTIES. 

to  press  horses  from  the  disloyal  for  the  pui-pose  of  mounting  them- 
selves. Companies  G  and  E  were  first  mounted  and  equipped,  next  I, 
and  then  C ;  all  of  which  was  accomplished  by  the  first  week  in 
Xovember.  A  great  deal  of  scouting  was  done  in  adjoining  counties, 
and  the  service  was  fraught  with  just  enough  risk  to  make  it  fasci- 
nating. Exploits  of  these  commands  when  hunting  and  chasing  gue- 
rillas increased  the  zest  and  excitement,  and  furnished  not  a  little 
inaterial  for  anecdote,  and  not  a  few  thrilling  personal  adventures.  By 
Christmas  company  B  was  mounted ;  and  another  was  partly  so,  when 
removal  of  the  regiment  stopped,  the  impressment  of  horses.  Skillful 
management  on  the  part  of  Col.  Smith  procured  225  of  the  breech- 
loading  Spencer  repeating  rifles  for  these  companies,  and  each  man. 
was  provided  besides  with  a  Colt's  navy  revolver. 

The  mclement  winter  of  1863-4  was  hardly  passed  when  final 
orders  came  to  march  to  the  front.  February  26  the  102d  left  its  can- 
tonements  and  fell  in  with  the  rest  of  the  brigade  which  had  moved 
out  from  Nashville  on  the  24th.  The  weather  was  warm  and  balmy 
until  the  evening  of  the  third  day,  when  it  began  to  rain ;  through  the 
fourth  day  it  rained  moderately,  and  was  cold,  and  that  night  our  camp 
was  established  on  the  naked  creek  bottom  at  Tullahoma.  The  tem- 
perature lowered,  the  stream  rose  and  overspread  a  part  of  the  ground ; 
blankets  and  equipments  were  submerged ;  and  the  men  were  driven 
out  of  their  tents.  About  one  o'clock  in  the  morning  the  writer  started 
a  fh-e,  using  a  cracker  box,  and  by  the  light  was  enabled  to  pick  uj)  the 
tiniest  parts  of  tree  tops.  Piling  on  these  twigs  the  fiames  leaped  up 
and  danced  a  cheering  and  grateful  invitation  to  the  men  who  flocked 
from  all  parts  of  the  brigade.  It  poured  down  the  next  forenoon,  and 
3,000  soldiers,  wet,  cold  and  hungry,  stood  shivering  in  the  rainy 
camp.  In  the  afternoon  removal  to  high  gi-ound  and  timber  was  taken, 
and  by  night,  with  the  aid  of  huge  fires,  reasonable  comfort  and  good 
feeling  were  restored.  Trees  groaned  beneath  the  weight  of  ice  and 
the  ground  froze  hard.  Long  will  the  first  brigade  remember  its 
sojourn  at  Tullahoma.  On  the  eighth  day  the  column  crossed  the 
Haccoon  mountains,  a  spur  of  the  Cumberland  range,  from  Cowan, 
over  the  rockiest  and  roughest  road  in  America,  and  camped  on  the 
other  side  at  a  place  on  the  Nashville  &  Chattanooga  railroad  called 
Tantelon.  The  wagon  train  lay  on  the  mountain  all  night  and  did  not 
finish  the  passage  till  noon  the  next  day.  Stevenson  was  passed  and 
Bridgeport  reached  March  7;  the  8th  we  rested;  the  9th  we  moved 
again;  and  the  10th,  being  the  fourteenth  day  from  Lavergne,  the 
command  reached  the  Wauhatchie  valley,  at  the  foot  of  the  frowning 
western  encampment  of  Lookout  mountain. 


ONE   HUNDRED   AND    SECOND-  REGIMENT.  397 

Here  was  made  the  most  pleasant  and  beautiful  camp  the  regiment 
ever  had.  Snugly  concealed  by  an  environment  of  towering  eminences, 
and  washed  in  rear  by  Lookout  creek,  it  lacked  nothing  in  natural 
scenery  and  -surroundings  to  give  it  an  air  of  the  most  quiet  pictur- 
esqueness.  Its  elaborate  and  tasteful  decoration  was  due  mainly  to  the 
eiforts  of  Lieut-  A.  H.  Trego  and  Adjutant  J.  H.  Snyder,  gentlemen 
of  the  highest  aesthetic  endowment  and  culture.  Space  does  not  admit 
a  description  of  the  tall  arches,  elegant  devices,  military  legends,  the 
ornamented  speaker's  stand,  and  the  chapel  for  religious  worship. 
Camp  life  was  not  more  agreeable  anywhere  than  at  this  place ;  but  the 
stay  of  the  regiment  was  one  of  hardening  activity  and  preparation  for 
the  rigors  of  the  approaching  campaign  :  reviews,  inspections,  company 
and  battalion  drills,  and  evolutions  by  brigade  and  division. 

April  10  the  last  horses  held  by  the  mounted  companies  were 
turned  over  at  .Chattanooga.  The  navy  revolvers  were  surrendered, 
and  an  order  came  on  the  29th  to  exchange  the  Spencer  rifles  for 
Springfield  rifled  muskets.  This  last  order  produced  a  gloomy  shadow 
on  the  men's  faces ;  but  as  the  time  was  short  the  change  was  never 
made.  We  anticipate  a  little  to  say  that  this  arm  gave  the  102d  great 
reputation  in  the  amay.  "Give  way  for  the  Spencer  regiment,"  " Let 
these  Spencers  up, "  and  the  like,  were  expressions  often  heard  when  the 
regiment  was  going  up  to  relieve  some  other  in  a  hot  place  on  the  front 
line.  The  rebels  recognized  the  regiment  by  its  fire,  and  often  asked 
what  kind  of  arms  it  had ;  several  times  it  was  jocosely  inquired  if  the 
boys  "wound  up  their  guns  on  Monday  morning  and  fired  all  the 
week."  The  slow  fact  never  dawned  upon  the  sleepy  authorities  that 
this  rifle  was  fit  for  an^'thing  but  the  mounted  service,  and  the  idea  pre- 
vailed that  soldiers  armed  "with  it  would  become  addicted  to  laxity  of 
aim  and  waste  ammunition.  The  102d  demonstrated  the  senility  of 
these  fears. 

After  the  11th  and  12th  army  corps  had  been  transferred  from  the 
east,  Ward's  brigade  was  attached  to  the  former  and  numbered  the 
first  brigade  of  the  first  division.  On  the  consolidation  of  those  two 
corps  in  March,  to  form  the  20th,  it  became  the  first  brigade  of  the 
third  division,  and  ever  after  retained  that  designation. 

On  the  2d  of  May  simultaneous  movements  of  all  parts  of  the  army 
began.  Ward's  brigade  camped  that  night  at  Gordon's  mills.  On  the 
4th  it  moved  from  there  to  the  vicinity  of  Ringgold,  and  on  the  6th  to 
Leed's  farm,  near  Nickajack  Trace.  Next  day  Taylor's  ridge  was 
crossed  at  Gordon's  pass ;  Gordon's  Springs  was  left  behind,  and  the 
command  encamped  near  Villanow.  On  the  lltli,  follo\\dng  up  the 
movement  through  Snake  Creek  gap,  begun  by  McPherson  on  the  9th, 


398  HISTORY   OF   MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

we  halted  for  the  night  in  the  narrow  defile  between  two  of  the 
immense  ridges  of  the  mountains.  After  cutting  a  new  road 
through  the  woods  the  brigade  moved  out  the  next  day  two  miles 
to  Sugai:  Valley.  The  advance  was  resumed  early  on  the  morning  of 
the  13th,  and  tlie  command  had  gone  but  a  short  distance  when  it 
found  itself  in  proximity  to  the  enemy.  During  a  brief  halt  here  Gen. 
Kilpatrick,  commanding  the  cavalry,  was  brought  to  the  rear  wounded. 
At  intervals  during  the  forenoon  advances  were  made,  and  in  the  . 
afternoon  the  brigade  was  formed  in  line  with  a  company  from  each 
regiment  deployed  as  skirmishers.  Then  moving  forward  a  short  dis- 
tance the  line  halted,  the  skirmishers  occupying  the  crest  of  a  ridge  in 
open  timber  in  full  view  of  the  operations  beyond,  including  the 
charge  by  the  15tli  corps  and  capture  of  the  enemy's  rifle  pits,  a 
redoubt,  and  two  cannon.  Meantime,  having  moved  some  distance, 
about  eight  in  the  evening  our  division  took  a  position  on  the  right  of 
the  14th  corps  and  on  the  summit  of  the  wooded  ridge  overlooking 
Camp  creek,  on  the  other  side  of  which  about  eighty  rods  was  the 
enemy,  working  with  vigor  to  strengthen  his  position. 

Company  G  was  ordered  out  as  skirmishers  and  posted  at  the  base 
of  the  hill.  Early  next  morning  company  E  was  added,  and  then  a 
bold  advance  was  made  to  the  stream.  An  attempt  to  outflank  the 
line  being  discovered  by  Capt.  Sedwick,  he  returned  through  great 
exposure  to  the  reserve,  and,  advancing  to  the  left,  drove  the  rebels 
back.  In  the  afternoon,  while  neighboring  troops  were  engaged,  our 
line  was  ordered  forward  to  the  brow  of  the  hill  as  a  feint.  The  move- 
ment unmasked  the  left  of  company  I  and  a  tremendous  volley  con- 
centrated upon  it  killed  one,  wounded  two  severely,  and  two  slightly. 
The  day  was  very  hot.  The  skirmishers  in  theii*  advanced  position 
could  not  move  without  fatal  danger,  and  their  sufterings  from  heat  and 
thirst  were  intense.  The  condition  of  the  wounded,  beyond  the  reach 
of  help  until  darkness,  was  more  aggravated.  The  casualties  in  com- 
pany G  were :  killed,  John  Gibson  and  Watson  W.  Hibbs ;  wounded, 
Frederick  Friebele,  John  Burnett  (mortally),  Lemuel  S.  Gruffy, 
William  P.  Irwin  (died  in  hospital),  William  S.  Pearson,  William  M. 
Bunting,  John  B.  Felton,  John  Dunn,  and  William  T.  Todd  (died  in 
hospital).  In  company  E  the  wounded  were :  Michael  Oswalt  (died 
in  hospital),  Jonathan  P.  Morrison,  and  Gilbert  Zend. 

On  the  morning  of  Sunday,  the  15th,  the  division  was  relieved  and 
marched  four  miles  to  the  left  to  join  the  rest  of  the  corps,  which  had 
been  ordered  round  the  day  before.  A  fortified  hill  on  the  Dalton 
road,  north  of  Resacca,  was  selected  for  attack  in  the  hope  of  piercing 
the  line  at  that  point.     The  enemy's  breastworks,  nearly  500  yards 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    SECOND    EEGIMENT.  399 

distant  from  where  our  troops  could  be  massed  for  assault  without  dis- 
covery, stretched  awav  in  the  form  of  an  arc  upon  the  crest  of  a  long, 
high  hill  covered  with  forest  trees,  hiding  the  position  from  view.  A 
spur,  lower  than  the  main  ridge,  jutted  out  in  front,  and  on  this  a 
lunette  had  been  constnicted  in  which  were  planted  four  twelve-pound 
brass  cannon.  The  brigade  was  marched  up  under  cover  of  the  heavy 
and  tangled  woods  to  the  crown  of  the  lofty  ridge  confronting  this 
formidable  position,  and  there  organized  for  the  assault,  with  the  70th 
Iftdiana  in  frout,  the  102d  next  in  order,  followed  by  the  79th  Ohio, 
and  the  105th  and  129th  Illinois,  closed  en  masse.  At  noon  a  low 
command  was  given  and  the  column  moved  down  the  hill  without  a 
word,  concealed  by  the  timber  and  the  heavy  undergrowth,  down 
trees  helping  to  obstruct  the  ground,  and  pushed  its  way  through  with 
fixed  bayonets.  Debouching  suddenly  upon  the  open,  plain.  Gen, 
Ward  gave  the  short,  shrill  command,  "double  quick,"  and  with 
a  bound  and  a  prolonged  yell  the  brigade  sprang  to  the  assault. 
At  the  same  instant  heavy  skirmishing  along  the  whole  front  and  a 
brisk  cannonade  were  begun  to  confuse  the  enemy  and  cover  the 
charge.  The  rebels  were  taken  by  complete  surprise,  but  responded 
at  once  with  a  terrible  fire  from  the  battery  and  the  infantry  posted 
behind.  The  smoke  from  the  rebel  position  wrapped  the  hill  in  a 
lurid  mantle,  and  the  refrain  from  the  artillery  on  both  sides  thun- 
dered above  us.  Men  were  dropping  on  every  hand,  but  on  and  on 
with  a  continuous  shout,  like  a  thunderbolt  of  war,  went  the  brigade. 
It  seems  but  a  minute  and  the  broad  valley  is  passed ;  breath  is  short- 
ened and  speed  slackened,  but  the  column  presses  up  the  hillside. 
Some  stoop  beneath  while  others  push  aside  the  boughs.  The  cheer 
has  died  out  and  the  men,  unable  to  see  the  foe,  clench  their  teeth  for 
deadly  work.  A  moment  more  and  the  rebel  guns,  shotted  with  grape 
and  canister,  vomit  their  red  flame  into  the  faces  of  the  advancing 
colunm.  At  the  last  discharge  the  men  are  so  close  that  the  hot 
breath  of  the  angry  cannon  sways  the  line  for  an  instant.  Then,  on 
our  side  is  the  first  musket  fired.  A  tremendous  roar  convulses  the 
earth.  A  few  of  the  rebel  gunners  flee,  but  the  rest  remain,  like  the 
heroes  that  they  are,  at  their  pieces,  and  with  the  obstinacy  of  despair 
vainly  endeavor  to  beat  back  our  men  with  their  sponge-stafts !  But 
all  save  five  are  slaughtered ;  these  are  taken  prisoners  by  members 
of  companies  E  and  I.  Many  impelled  by  the  boldness  of  ardor  dash 
still  deeper  into  the  woods  that  cover  the  rebel  intrenchments,  and  a 
few  go  quite  up  to  them. 

At  this  juncture  an  unfortunate  circumstance  deprived  us  of  a  com- 
plete triumph  to  this  magnificent  charge.     Gen.  Ward  being  wounded 


400  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND   HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

almost  at  the  beginning*  of  the  action  the  command  devolved  upon 
Col.  Harrison  of  the  70th  Indiana.  •  He  lost  his  coolness  and  ordered 
a  retreat.  Through  misunderstanding  the  second  brigade,  brought  up 
for  support,  fired  into  us  from  the  rear.  These  evil  occurrences  caused 
confusion,  and  some  fell  back  while  others  remained.  The  rebels  had 
retired  ft'om  their  works,  but  rallied  and  returned.  Had  the  situation 
of  the  breastworks  been  known  to  the  men,  or  could  they  have  been 
seen  by  most  of  them,  the  line  would  have  been  taken.  But  when  the 
lunette  was  captured,  no  other  works  being  in  sight,  it  was  supposed 
by  the  men  generally  that  they  were  in  possession  of  all  the  enemy 
had,  and  that  the  rebel  infantry  had  ingloriously  fled.  This  was  their 
first  battle,  too,  and  they  had  no  fixed  and  common  idea  as  to  what 
might  be  fouiid  on  the  field,  or  what  should  be  expected.  With  their 
experience  a  month  later  they  would  have  carried  the  entire  parapet 
in  handsome  style  and  completely  broken  through  the  enemy's  line. 

The  rebels  having  come  back,  they  opened  with  sharp  volleys,  and 
our  men,  lying  down  behind  logs  and  trees  and  under  the  redoubt, 
grimly  resolved  to  hold  all  they  had  gained.  The  lines  were  but  a 
few  rods  apart,  and  a  galling  fire  was  kept  up  by  both  sides  during  the- 
day  and  a  part  of  the  night ;  but  the  foe  was  well  protected,  while  our 
men  were  greatly  exposed  to  raking  shots  from  tlie  right  and  the  left, 
as  well  as  from  the  front. 

When  at  the  early  stage  the  disorder  was  created,  a  part  of  tlie 
regiment  was  collected  at  the  foot  of  the  hill  and  marched  to  the  left, 
where  they  took  a  share  in  a  fierce  engagement  with  Hood's  corps, 
which  charged  our  line  and  was  disastrously  repulsed. 

At  ten  o'clock  that  night  we  were  relieved  and  fell  back  a  short 
distance  to  the  rear  for  rest.  The  casualties  in  the  102d  were  18 
killed,  76  wounded,  and  1  missing.  Six  of  the  wounded  soon  after 
died.  In  this  action  the  gallantry  of  both  ofiicers  and  men  received 
flattering  notice  next  day  in  orders  from  Gen.  Butterfield,  and  later, 
complimentary  credit  from  the  general  of  tlie  army.  Acts  of  indi- 
vidual heroism  were  numerous.  Orderly  sergeant  John  Morrison,  of 
company  A,  who  had  been  commissioned  lieutenant  but  not  mustered, 
and  was  wounded  and  afterward  died,  was  much  applauded  for  con- 
spicuous bravery.  Color-sergeant  R.  L.  Carver  displayed  most  cour- 
ageous bearing  and  was  seriously  wounded.  Tlie  banner-bearer. 
Corporal  P.  F.  Dillon,  fell  an  instant  later,  pierced  through  the  breast. 
Adjutant  J.  H.  Snyder  caught  up  the  banner  and  bore  it  with  impetu- 
ous gallantry  into  the  earthwork  and  subsequently  planted  it  on  the 
parapet.  Fifty  bull  lets  riddled  its  folds  and  two  struck  the  staff:  Tlie 
colors  of  the  102d  were  the  first  raised  over  the  works.     Persistent 


OXE    HUNDRED   AJSTD    SECOND   REGIMENT.  401 

valor  slied  luster  on  our  flag.  The  desperate  courage  wliicli  lield  the 
position  from  noon  until  ten  o'clock  at  night  was  not  surpassed  by  the 
heroism  which  covered  our  arms  with  glory  at  Buena  Yista  or  Cerro 
Gordo. 

That  night  Johnson  withdrew  his  army  across  the  Oostanaula,  and 
Sherman  followed  close  behind  the  next  day.  Our  brigade  was  left  to 
bury  its  dead.  A  long  trench,  embowered  by  soughing  pines,  was 
dug,  and  the  fifty-one  slain  of  the  brigade  were  given  tender  sepulture 
in  this  common  grave.  A  prayer  was  said,  a  few  remarks  were  made 
by  a  white-haired  chaplain,  the  grave  was  filled,  and  the  brigade,  as 
night  was  nearing,  hastened  to  overtake  the  main  army. 

"  We  marched  on  our  wearisome  way, 
And  we  strewed  the  wild  hills  of  Resacca  — 
God  bless  those  who  fell  on  that  day." 

On  the  morning  of  the  27th  we  crossed  the  Coosawattee  river  and 
marched  ten  miles  that  day.  The  18tli  was  hot  and  many  straggled 
along  the  route  of  fifteen  miles.  Toward  the  close  of  the  afternoon 
the  enemy  grew  stubborn  as  he  was  closely  pressed.  Moving  out  very 
early  next  morning,  the  19th,  the  brigade  was  shortly  thrown  into  line 
of  battle,  with  companies  B  and  G  fi"om  the  102d  in  front  as  skir- 
mishers. The  enemy  was  in  plain  sight,  and  after  taking  a  shelling 
from  a  single  field  piece  an  hour  and  a  half,  and  losing  Samuel  Har- 
vey, of  company  G,  the  brigade  moved  two  miles  to  tlie  right.  As 
soon  as  this  new  ground  was  reached  the  rebels  emerged  from  a  dense 
woods  on  the  opposite  side  of  an  extensive  field,  and  advanced  toward 
our  line.  With  extreme  energy  a  barricade  of  rails  was  made,  while 
a  battery  on  our  right  played  upon  them  so  effectively  as  to  send  them 
hurtling  back  whence  they  came.  At  2  o'clock  the  order  to  advance 
was  given,  and  we  debouched  into  the  cleared  space  and  marched  in 
columns  by  company  up  the  rising  ground.  Banners  were  unfurled 
and  fluttered  proudly  over  the  heads  of  the  men,  as  with  handsome 
precision  they  executed  the  movement.  As  far  as  could  be  seen 
in  either  direction  nothing  met  the  eye  but  this  imposing  pageant. 
Gen.  Hooker  and  his  staff  remained  near  our  brigade  during  the 
afternoon,  and  when  the  highest  ground  was  reached  we  were  halted 
in  that  position  for  some  time,  our  commaiider  watching  from  this 
favorable  point  the  movements  of  the  enemy.  We  were  close  on  the 
foe  and  there  was  exj^ectation  of  a  battle.  Johnson  had  resolved  to 
risk  a  general  engagement  at  Cassville,  and  had  his  army  strongly 
posted  and  intrenphed  for  that  purpose,  but  later  developments  led 
him  to  adopt  a  different  plan.  Our  skirmishers  were  thrown  forward 
to  a  narrow  strip  of  woods  below  us  ;  beyond  this  was  another  field 


402  HISTORY    OF    FIERCER    AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

into  which  tlie  rebels  came.  A  battery  in  our  immediate  rear  pitched 
a  few  shells  over  the  tree  tops  where  our  skirmishers  were  sheltered, 
and  as  we  had  a  view  of  the  open  ground  on  the  other  side,  we  pres- 
ently saw  the  rebels  raisinsr  the  dust  in  retreat.  They  were  followed 
by  the  skirmishers  who  disappeared  in  the  timber  which  hid  the  enemy 
at  the  same  time.  At  five  oY-lock  we  advanced  over  the  same  ground 
to  the  edge  of  Cassville.  After  a  brief  halt  the  command  fell  back 
and  went  into  camp  near  the  place  from  which  it  last  moved  up.  We 
slept  that  night  under  oi'ders  from  the  commanding  general  for  the 
whole  army  to  close  in  upon  Cassville  at  daylight,  and  "to  attack  the 
enemy  wherever  found."     But  he  was  in  full  retreat  before  that  hour. 

Pausing  a  few  days  till  the  railroad  was  repaired  w^e  moved  again 
at  four  o'clock  on  the  morning  of  tlie  23d  and  crossed  the  Etowah.  On 
the  24:th,  continuing  in  the  direction  of  Dallas,  the  command  camped 
at  Burnt  Hickory,  and  at  four  o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of  the  25th  was 
brouglit  up  to  support  Geary's  di\asion,  which  had  struck  the  enemy  in 
force  at  New  Hope  Church,  and  was  under  fire  some  hours.  At  dark 
the  brigade  was  ordered  to  march  over  the  fom-  lines  of  our  troops 
lying  in  front,  and  to  attack  the  enemy  vigorously.  The  102d 
instantly  began  the  forward  movement,  which  was  soon  arrested  by  a 
member  of  Gen.  Butterfield's  staft'  till  the  TOth  Indiana  could  make 
connection  with  it.  AVhen  this  was  done  Col.  Smith  renewed  the 
advance  until  we  came  upon  the  skirmishers  belonging  to  the  second 
brigade  (Col.  Coburn),  where  he  halted  the  regiment  and  ordered  the 
men  to  lie  down  while  preparations  were  making  for  the  attack.  It 
was  discovered  that  we  were  separated  from  the  TOth,  and  Col.  Coburn 
at  the  same  moment  gave  information  that  the  enemy  was  not  more 
than  200  yards  in  front,  strongly  posted  and  six  lines  deep.  One  of 
Gen.  Buttei-field's  stafi'  appeared,  and  being  notified  of  the  situation 
directed  Col.  Smith  to  remain  in  that  position,  and,  if  possible,  to  find 
Col.  Harrison.  The  latter  was  discovered  some  distance  in  the  rear, 
and  being  temporarily  in  command  of  the  brigade  ordered  the  102d  to 
return,  which  it  did,  getting  into  position  with  the  rest  of  the  brigade 
about  ten  o'clock.  It  had  begun  to  rain,  the  night  was  yery  dark,  and 
the  command  was  hopelessly  mixed  up  in  the  forest.  The  bursting 
rebel  shells  lighted  up  the  woods  with  a  gi-and  and  weird  appearance. 
Fatigued  and  rationless  the  men  sank  down  upon  the  wet  ground. 

In  his  memoirs,  speaking  of  this  place,  and  events  here.  Gen.  Sher- 
man says:  "  The  woods  were  so  dense  and  the  resistance  so  spirited 
that  Hooker  could  not  carry  the  position,  though  the  battle  was  noisy 
and  prolonged  far  into  the  night.  This  point,  '  New  Hope, '  .  .  . 
was  four  miles  northeast  of  Dallas,  and  Irom  the  bloody  fighting  there 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    SECOND    REGIMENT.  403 

for  the  next  week  was  called  by  the  soldiers  '  Hell-Hole. '  The  night 
was  pitch-dark,  it  rained  hard,  and  the  convergence  of  our  columns 
towai'd  Dallas  produced  much  confusion.  I  am  sure  similar  confusion 
existed  in  the  army  opposed  to  us,  for  we  were  all  mixed  up.  I  slept 
on  the  ground,  without  cover,  along  side  of  a  log,  got  little  sleep, 
resolved  at  daylight  to  renew  the  battle,  and  to  make  a  lodgment  on 
the  Dallas  and  Allatoona  road,  if  possible,  but  the  morning  revealed  a 
strong  line  of  intrenchmcnts  facing  us,  with  a  heavy  force  of  infantry 
and  guns.  The  battle  was  renewed,  and  without  success."  Descrip- 
tive of  ^le  style  of  iigliting,  he  continues :  "  All  this  time  a  continual 
battle  was  in  progress  by  strong  skirmish-lines,  taking  advantage  of 
every  species  of  cover,  and  both  parties  fortifying  each  night  by  riile- 
trenches,  w'ith  head-logs,  many  of  which  grew  to  be  as  formidable  as 
iirst-class  works  of  defense.  Occasionally  one  party  or  tlie  other  would 
make  a  dash  in  the  nature  of  a  sally,  but  usually  it  sustained  a  repulse 
with  great  loss  of  life.  I  visited  personally  all  parts  of  our  lines  nearly 
every  day,  was  constantly  within  musket-range,  and  though  the  tire  of 
musketry  and  cannon  resounded  day  and  night  along  the  whole  line, 
varying  from  six  to  ten  miles,  I  rarely  saw  a  dozen  of  the  enemy  at 
any  one  time,  and  these  were  always  skirmishers,  dodging  from  tree  to 
tree,  or  behind  logs  on  the  ground,  or  who  occasionally  showed  their 
heads  above  the  hastily-constructed,  but  remarkably  strong,  rifle- 
trenches." 

Companies  A  and  F  were  detailed  to  build  breastworks,  and  before 
daylight  the  regiment  was  brought  to  the  line  and  engaged  with  a  will 
in  the  same  task.  A  thick  fog  obscured  everything ;  still  the  enemy's 
sharp-shooters  were  able  to  annoy  severely  the  working  parties,  and 
Capt.  D.  W.  Sedwick  was  ordered  forward  with  company  E  to  drive 
them  away.  He  advanced  to  within  a  few  yards  of  the  rebel  breast- 
works before  discovering  his  proximity  to  them,  and  before  he  could 
withdraw  had  several  men  wounded.  Posting  his  company  behind 
trees  and  logs  the  rebel  marksmen  could  not  long  endure  the  intense 
and  accurate  fire  of  the  Spencer  rifles.  Company  E  was  relieved  early 
by  company  C,  and  this  at  one  in  the  afternoon  by  company  K.  Capt. 
Sedwick  had  seven  men  wounded  that  morning.  Battery  M,  1st  New 
York  artillery,  had  been  brought  up  to  our  line  and  kept  in  constant 
activity  two  or  three  hours,  and  the  rebels,  to  silence  or  check  its  firing, 
planted  guns  nearly  opposite  in  their  intrenchments.  Information  of 
this,  coming  to  Col.  Smith,  he  strengthened  the  skirmish-line  with  eight 
picked  men,  who  were  instructed  to  cover  the  guns,  which  could  be 
seen  through  the  foliage,  with  a  torrent  of  lead,  to  prevent  their  use  or 
removal.     Gen.  Hooker  approved  this  and  ordered  that  it  be  continued 


404  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND   HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

with  ^dgor,  and  at  five  o'clock  the  skirmishers  were  reinforced  by 
twenty  more  marksmen.  At  eleven  o'clock  at  night  the  rebels 
attempted  to  remove  them,  but  were  fi'ustrated  by  the  terrible  fire  con- 
centrated on  them  from  the  Spencer  rifles.  The  guns  were  held  by 
occasional  reliefs  until  the  afternoon  of  the  27th,  when  the  regiment 
was  relieved  by  the  111th  Pennsylvania.  When  the  Spencers  were 
gone  the  enemy  got  his  battery  off. 

Moving  to  the  right  half  a  mile  and  joining  the  brigade  on  the 
right  of  the  coi-ps,  we  waited  till  after  dark  for  orders,  and  then  were 
placed  behind  breastworks,  where  we  lay  till  the  next  morning,  and 
were  relieved  by  the  T3d  Ohio.  Company  F  had  one  man  wounded 
here  just  as  the  relief  was  taking  place.  The  rebels  opened  on  us 
warmlv  as  we  retired,  and  we  had  not  more  than  reached  a  location 
300  vards  in  rear,  for  rest,  when  they  showed  awakened  activity,"  and 
"several  rounds  of  grape  shot  were  fired  by  them,  and  the  little  iron 
crab  apples  barked  the  trees  and  rattled  around  so  thickly  it  was  mar- 
velous no  one  was  hurt. "  Finally,  dropping  a  little  farther  to  the  rear, 
we  camped  for  the  night.  Loss  during  the  four  days,  4  killed  and  14 
wounded. 

At  ten  at  night  on  the  29th  the  102d  was  ordered  half  a  mile  to  the 
right  to  close  a  gap  between  the  loth  and  20th  corps,  and  on  the  morn- 
ing of  the  31st  was  relieved  by  the  129th  Illinois,  Col.  Case.  At  noon 
of  the  1st  of  June,  being  relieved  by  troops  from  the  15th  corps,  we 
moved  with  the  brigade  three  miles  to  the  left.  Thus  had  passed  a 
week  in  the  " Hell-Hole, "  and  thus  ended  our  share  in  "the  drawn 
battle  of  New  Hope  churcli,"  so-called  by  Gen.  Sherman. 

At  noon  on  the  2d  a  rainy  period,  which  extended  to  the  last  days 
of  the  month,  began  with  a  descending  torrent.  An  hour  later  the 
brigade  again  took  up  the  movement  to  the  left,  and  proceeding  two 
and  a  half  miles  was  formed  in  order  of  battle  in  support  of  the  2d 
brigade,  before  which  the  enemy  fell  back  stubbornly.  The  other 
regiments  were  more  exposed  and  their  loss  was  considerable.  Brigade 
Surgeon  Potter,  of  the  105th  Illinois,  was  killed  by  a  shell.  The  3d 
was  rainy ;  the  troops  were  out  of  rations ;  another  move  was  taken 
three  miles  to  the  left.  Next  day  another  short  move  was  made.  Then  ■ 
on  the  6th  a  march  of  five  miles  brought  us  to  the  Wet  Tortugas^  where 
we  raised  a  breastwork  and  lay  in  the  rain  till  the  15th.  Rations  were 
short,  and  ox-tail  soup  and  damaged  ' '  hard  tack  "  in  request.  At  one 
in  the  afternoon  the  brigade  was  thrown  forward,  with  the  102d  on  the 
skirmish-line,  companies  E,  F,  G  and  I  deployed,  the  rest  in  reserve. 
Crossing  an  amj^le  field  the  rebel  skirmishers  were  driven  from  their 
outposts  in  the  edge  of  the  woods.     Retreating  to  strong  posts  on 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    SECOND    REGIMENT,  405 

higher  ground  they  held  out  a  stubborn  resistance,  but  our  men  pressed 
up  under  a  brisk  fire  to  within  fifty  yards,  and  at  the  next  advance 
they  drew  off.  The  most  important  casualty  was  the  wound  received 
by  Capt.  Isaac  McManus. 

This  place  was  known  as  Golgotha  church,  and  it  was  here  that 
Col.  Smith  received  a  flesh  wound  on  the  l'6th,  which  sent  him  to  the 
rear  till  the  10th  of  August,  when  he  rejoined  the  regiment  before 
Atlanta.  The  loss  in  the  102d  during  the  two  days'  operations  was 
thirteen  wounded,  including  the  officers  named.  Alluding  to  these 
operations  Gen.  Sherman  says:  "On  the  15th  we  advanced  our  gen- 
eral lines,  intending  to  attack  at  any  weak  point  discovered  between 
Kenesaw  and  Pine  Mountain;  but  Pine  Mountain  was  found  to  be 
abandoned,  and  Johnston  had  contracted  his  front  somewhat,  on  a 
direct  line,  connecting  Kenesaw  with  Lost  Mountain.  .  .  .  On 
the  16th  the  general  movement  was  continued,  when  Lost  Mountain 
was  abandoned  bv  the  enemy." 

f  t. 

We  pause  to  give  the  general's  description  of  how  breastworks  were 
built:  "The  enemy  and  ourselves  used  the  same  form  of  rifle-trench, 
varied  according  to  the  nature  of  the  ground,  viz  :  the  trees  and  bushes  ' 
were  cut  away  for  a  hundi-ed  yards  or  more  in  front,  serving  as  an 
abatis  or  entanglement ;  the  parapets  varied  from  four  to  six  feet  high, 
the  dirt  taken  fi'om  a  ditch  outside  and  fi*om  a  covered  way  inside,  and 
this  parapet  was  surmounted  by  a  '  head-log, '  composed  of  the  trunk  of 
a  tree  from  twelve  to  twenty  inches  at  the  butt,  lying  along  the  interior 
crest  of  the  parapet  and  resting  in  notches  cut  in  other  trunks,  which 
extended  back,  forming  an  inclined  plane,  in  case  the  head-log  should 
be  knocked  inward  by  a  cannon-shot.  The  men  of  both  armies  became, 
extremely  skillful  in  the  construction  of  these  works,  because  each  man 
realized  their  value  and  importance  to  himself,  so  that  it  required  no 
orders  for  their  construction.  As  soon  as  a  regiment  or  brigade  gained 
a  position  within  easy  distance  of  a  sally,  it  would  set  to  work  with  a 
will,  and  would  construct  such  a  parapet  in  a  single  night." 

On  the  17th  the  right  of  the  army,  composed  of  the  20th  and  23d 
corps,  the  latter  slightly  refused  on  the  flank,  swung  forward  in  a  kind 
of  grand  left  wheel  in  the  direction  of  Marietta.  It  will  not  be  for- 
gotten how  Butterfield's  division  hunted  its  way  through  the  low 
bushes  and  tangled  timber  to  conceal  its  own  movement;  for,  as  Gen. 
Sherman  explains,  the  enemy's  "position  gave  him  a  perfect  view  over 
our  field,  and  we  had  to  proceed  with  due  caution."  On  reaching  open 
gi'ound  we  formed  our  camp,  and  lay  here  till  the  morning  of  the  19th, 
when  the  l^^igle  sounded  the  "general,"  to  "pack  up  our  knapsacks 
and  get  ready  to  go. "  It  was  here  that  we  witnessed  the  shelling  of  a  deep 


406  HISTORY   OF   ISrERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

forest  by  a  number  of  our  batteries  occupying  two  tiers  H])on  a  lofty 
and  extensive  range,  one  liolding  the  crest,  the  other  half  way  down  the 
side  on  a  ledge  or  shelf  For  adaptability  to  the  purpose  and  the  occa- 
sion the  position  was  all  that  nature  could  have  made  it,  and  with  so 
many  guns  in  operation,  all  in  full  view,  the  effect  heightened  by  the 
exhibition  beyond,  the  sh"ai*p  explosions  of  shells,  and  the  white  puffs 
of  lurid  smoke  rising  above  the  trees,  whose  tops  were  lower  than  our 
feet,  as  we  stood  on  the  summit,  was  such  an  incident  in  war's  realities 
as  is  not  often  seen.  The  enemy  was  sullen,  responding  only  occa- 
sionally with  his  field-pieces,  but  his  sharp-shooters  were  active  and  did 
some  execution. 

On  the  19th  the  enemy,  holding  on  to  Kenesaw  mountain,  con- 
tracted his  flanks  to  cover  more  completely  Marietta  and  the  railroad ; 
and  the  right  wing  moved  forward  in  another  grand  swing  eastwardly, 
our  own  division,  and  perhaps  others,  executing  a  variety  of  perplex- 
ing maneuvers  through  the  dense  pines,  and  under  conflicting  orders. 
The  102d  was  refused  on  the  extreme  right  of  the  corps,  and  company 
C  held  the  skirmish  line  this  and  the  following  day.  The  men  worked 
till  midnight  building  breastworks.  To  w^ork  the  whole  night  was  a 
common  occurrence.     Rains  continued  frequent  and  excessive. 

On  the  night  of  the  20th  the  men  had  scarcely  fallen  to  sleep 
when  they  were  roused  up  and  ordered  to  move.  This  time  it  was  but 
a  short  distance  and  only  to  straighten  the  line.  Again  were  the 
soldiers  building  breastworks  until  midnight ;  before  they  were  finished 
orders  came  to  cease  using  the  axes  and  to  be  ready  to  march  at  six 
in  the  morning.  Tlie  forenoon  of  the  21st  was  spent  waiting  in  the 
rain  for  the  order  to  move  ;  finally  Gen.  Hooker  directed  that  the 
men  be  set  to  strengthening  the  works. 

From  eleven  o'clock  of  the  22d  the  day  was  full  of  surprises  and 
lively  operations,  and  tremulous  throughout  with  impending  battle, 
which  fell  just  at  evening  upon  the  first  division  ("Williams').  At  the 
former  hour  the  brigade  was  formed  for  the  support  of  the  third 
brigade,  Col.  Wood,  and  we  were  under  a  chafing  fire  for  several 
hours  ;  and  in  the  meantime  double-quicking  across  a  plowed  field  to 
the  timber,  where  we  threw  up  a  parapet  of  rails  just  behind  Wood's 
men.  The  afternoon  was  passed  in  moving  short  intervals  to  the 
right  and  making  barricades  and  traverses  each  time.  The  last  one 
was  finished  at  one  o'clock  next  morning ;  at  four  the  command  was 
relieved  and  soon  moved  a  mile  to  the  right ;  at  noon  it  moved  still 
farther  to  the  immediate  vicinity  of  the  Kulp  house,  some  three  miles 
due  west  from  Marietta.  Casualties  in  the  102  on  the  ^Oth  and  the 
22d  were  one  killed  and  fonr  wounded. 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    SECOND   REGIMENT.  407 

We  lay  here  a  little  retired  from  the  main  line  until  nightfall  of 
the  26th.  At  that  time  the  brigade  relieved  the  front  line  and  held  it 
till  the  evening  of  the  29th,  when  it  withdrew  to  the  third  line  for 
rest,  and  its  place  was  taken  bv  Wood's  brigade.  Gen.  Butterfield 
was  relieved  this  day  and  Gen.  Ward  succeeded  to  the  command  of 
the  division.     Col.  Harrison  assumed  command  of  the  brigade. 

We  have  reached  the  end  of  the  month  during  which  copious 
rains  have  scarcely  intermitted  for  twenty-four  hours  at  a  time. 

At  dark  on  the  first  of  July  we  exchanged  places  with  the  second 
brigade,  which  was  on  the  second  line. 

The  rebel  chieftain  having  detected  Gen.  Sherman  in  the  first 
stage  of  a  movement  for  the  possession  of  Kenesaw  mountain  and 
Marietta,  similar  to  the  one  which  gav^e  him  Atlanta,  fell  back  sud- 
denly during  the  night  of  the  2d  of  July  within  his  defenses  on  the 
north  bank  of  the  Chattahoochee.  The  commanding  general  had  so 
well  calculated  the  effect  of  his  strategy  that  he  was  expecting  the 
retreat  and  had  issued  orders,  which  were  received  that  night,  for  the 
troops  to  be  ready  to  march  at  daylight.  Starting  out  in  the  morning, 
Capt.  Sedwick  in  advance  with  companies  E,  F,  G  and  B,  as  skirm- 
ishers, we  took  the  road  leading ,  to  Marietta,  and  struck  the  enemy's 
rear-guard  of  cavalry  a  mile  from  the  town.  Capt.  S.  directed  the 
movements  of  his  command  with  his  accustomed  prudence,  and  kept 
up  a  running  attack  until  he  had  driven  them  through  the  town,  which 
he  occupied  an  hour  in  advance  of  any  other  troops.  From  this  time 
till  the  6th  we  moved  leisurly  toward  the  Chattahoochee.  We  stopped 
that  day  within  two  miles  of  the  river,  and  on  the  8th  began  policing 
our  camp  under  orders  from  brigade  headquarters.  At  this  place  we 
got  first  sight  of  the  church  spires  in  Atlanta.  By  climbing  trees  we 
could  see  them  plainly  in  the  distance,  and  we  strained  our  eyes  for 
the  largest  view. 

The  last  of  the  enemy's  forces  crossed  in  the  night  of  the  9th, 
and  thenceforward  the  contending  pickets  were  on  opposite  banks  of 
the  river.  In  front  of  our  division  the  murderous  fire  between  them 
ceased  by  mutual  agreement.  The  foes  basked  within  a  stone's  throw 
of  one  another ;  occasionally  they  talked  across,  and  always  mani- 
fested the  best  of  feeling.  Swimming  across  from  one  to  the  other  got 
to  be  a  practice  ;  papers  were  exchanged,  and  trafiic  in  coffee  and 
tobacco  was  carried  on.  The  "Yanks"  had  the  coffee  and  the 
"rebs"  the  "weed."  Gen.  Ward,  distrustful  of.  this  familiarity, 
forbade  it  in  a  special  order.  But  the  boys,  tired  of  the  constant 
strain,  did  not  renew  the  firing. 

On  the  evening  of  the  17th  we  crossed  the  river  at  Paice's  ferry 


408  HISTORY   OF    IVIEECER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

and  camped  three  miles  on  the  other  side.  Next  daj  we  went  two 
and  a  half  miles  farther  soutli,  and  at  three  on  the  morning  of  the 
19th  threw  np  breastworks.  Having  orders  to  occupy  the  range  of 
hills  south  of  Peach  Tree  creek,  the  brigade  moved  on  the  20tli,  and 
a  little  after  noon  it  tiled  along  the  northern  base,  the  line  of  march 
for  some  distance  being  swept  by  the  severe  fire  of  the  rebel  skir- 
mishers. At  length  a  halt  was  made,  and  the  men  threw  themselves 
on  the  side  of  the  hill  under  the  scorching  sun  for  a  rest,  and  the 
cooks  engaged  in  making  cofiee  on  the  creek  bottom. 

This  was  our  situation  when,  at  half-past  three,  the  order  was 
given  to  fall  in.  In  a  few  minutes  word  came  from  those  at  the  top 
of  the  bill  that  the  rebels  were  coming.  At  that  instant  a  rider  was 
seen  coming  down  from  the  right,  in  rear  of  the  line,  at  full  speed, 
brandishing  his  sword.  It  was  discovered  to  be  Col.  Harrison,  and 
in  a  moment  more  was  caught  the  command,  "Foi-ward !"  It  was  a 
magnificent  sight  to  those  who  saw  the  "Old  Iron  Brigade"  go  up 
the  hill  that  day  in  a  counter  onset. 

The  engagement  was  fought  mainly  by  the  20th  corps.  The  forma- 
tion of  the  line  on  which  the  shock  fell  was  in  the  following  order 
beginning  on  the  left :  Kewton's  division,  4tli  corps  ;  Ward's,  Geary's, 
and  Williams'  divisions,  20tli  coi-ps ;  and  one  brigade  of  Johnson's 
division,  14th  corps.  The  20th  coips  met  the  enemy  without  protec- 
tion of  any  kind ;  the  other  commands  fought  behind  light  parapets. 
Tlie  former  also  had  not  established  its  line,  and  was  caught  without  a 
premonition  while  in  the  act  of  change ;  the  second  (Geary's)  division 
was  but  partly  deployed,  some  of  the  regiments  were  closed  eii  masse^ 
drawing  rations  and  cooking.  The  first  (Harrison's)  brigade  was  en- 
tirely on  open  ground,  the  right  jind  left  flanks  resting  against  wooded 
eminences.  It  was  on  the  right  of  the  divison  and  was  arranged  with 
the  102d  on  the  right,  and  the  T9th  Ohio  and  the  129th  Illinois  in  suc- 
cession toward  the  left.  The  105th  Illinois  and  the  70th  Indiana  were 
in  the  rear,  but  when  the  left  of  the  brigade  was  hotly  engaged  they 
advanced  and  took  part  in  the  hand-to-hand  combat.  On  the  right 
of  the  102d  was  a  battery  which  opened  the  battle  in  our  front  as 
soon  as  the  enemy  debouched  from  the  woods,  and  before  the  main 
line  reached  the  summit.  When  the  column  halted  on  the  ridge  there 
was  a  sudden  and  tumultuous  roar  as  if  it  had  been  the  crack  of  doom. 
The  open  vista  was  swarming  with  the  enemy  advancing  steadily  with- 
out skirmishers,  in  the  Russian  style,  in  deep  masses,  and  in  easy 
musket  range.  In  front  of  the  102d  was  a  clump  of  trees  and  a  stream  ; 
the  latter  bent  north  across  our  line,  forming  a  ravine  having  long  slop- 
ing sides.     The  brigade  lay  across  this  ravine  with  its  flanks  resting 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    SECOND    REGEVIENT.  409 

above  and  overlooking  the  center.  The  stream  turned  the  rebels  off 
from  the  immediate  front  of  the  102d,  and  this  regiment  was  free  to 
take  an  oblique  and  entilading  fire  which  was  directed  to  the  left  upon 
the  crowded  columns  pressing  the  brigade  in  that  quarter.  ,The  79tli 
Ohio,  on  the  left  and  the  battery  on  the  right,  were  obliged  to  concen- 
trate theirs  on  the  same  ground.  The  effect  of  this  converging  fire 
was  appalling.  The  rebels  went  down  by  scores.  Ragged  gaps  were 
torn  through  their  ranks  faster  than  the  men  could  close  up.  They 
fire  as  they  come  bending  down  to  catch  the  least  of  the  storm  and 
looking  toward  the  torrent  that  comes  from  the  Spencer  rifles.  Their 
flag  bearers  crowd  to  the  front  and  press  forward,  waving  their  colors 
defiantly  to  encourage  and  animate  men  who  move  amidst  rampant 
slaughter  as  if  they  had  come  to  die.  As  flags  go  down  they  are 
picked  up  by  new  carriers  who  flaunt  them  and  urge  on  with  marvel- 
ous fortitude.  The  batter^-,  the  102d  and  the  79th  have  wrapped  the 
hill  whereon  they  stand  in  lambent  flame.  With  desperate  energy  the 
whole  brigade  is  gathering  the  largest  advantage  on  the  first  equal 
field.  But  what  can  check  that  surging,  resistless  assault?  The  col- 
umn has  23assed  the  line  and  the  ordeal  of  our  enfilading  and  plunging 
fire  rolls  on  wildly  to  dash  itself  against  the  unsupported  ranks  of  the 
70th,  the  105th,  and  the  129th.  The  shock  would  have  overborne 
these  regiments  but  for  the  terrible  reduction  of  the  enemy's  numbers 
before  the  commingled  encounter.  At  length,  forced  to  yield  the  field, 
the  bleeding,  decimated  remnant  returns  in  precipitate  disorder  only 
to  run  again  the  gauntlet  of  that  withering  fire  which  broke  the  rebels' 
strength  but  could  not  daunt  their  courage. 

While  the  events  we  have  described  were  taking  place  on  the  left, 
a  threatening  situation  was  developed  on  our  right.  Geary's  division 
being  unexpectedly  assailed  before  it  was  well  in  position,  the  brigade 
connecting  with  Ward's  division  was  forced  back,  and  the  rebels  came 
upon  our  right  flank,  enfilading  the  line,  momentarily  captuiing  the 
battery  at  the  head  of  the  102d,  and  firing  one  or  two  ineffectual  shots 
down  our  ranks.  They  were  evidently  about  to  fall  upon  our  rear 
when  an  aid  dashed  up  to  Capt.  Wilson  who  was  commanding  the  regi- 
ment (Lieut.  Col.  Mannon  being  sick  but  on  the  field),  and  told  him 
that  if  he  remained  in  that  position  his  command  would  be  captured 
in  less  than  five  minutes.  But  no  heed  was  given  to  this,  and  in  a  few 
minutes  more  the  brigade  that  had  given  way  was  rallied  and  recovered 
its  ground.  The  battery  at  one  time  in  the  hands  of  the  foe,  was  taken 
down  the  hill  under  whip  and  spur,  but  was  brought  back  to  remain. 

The  heavv  work  of  this  battle  was  done  in  an  hour.  Hood's  and 
Hardee's  corps  were  the  assailing  force.     The  carnage  was  fi-ightful. 


410  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

Taking  into  account  the  time  and  number  engaged,  and  the  number 
put  hors  de  comhat^  it  was  the  most  sanguinary  battle  of  the  campaign. 
The  field  on  our  left  front  was  covered  with  the  slain,  and  it  would 
have  been  no  trouble  to  walk  over  it  without  stepping  upon  the  ground. 
Gen.  Sherman  reported  500  rebels  dead.  In  the  hospital  of  the  third 
division  were  over  600  wounded  rebels,  and  most  of  them  bore  more 
than  a  single  wound.  The  enemy's  loss  was  estimated  by  Gen. 
Hooker  at  6,000;  our  own  loss  was  1,907.  The  favorable  position  of 
the  102d  shielded  it  from  heavy  loss.  Two  were  killed  and  nine 
wounded.  But  it  had  done  unexampled  execution;  5,000  rounds  of 
Spencer  ammunition  alone  were  estimated  to  have  been  used.  The 
brigade  captured  three  stands  of  colors.  As  soon  as  the  fighting  was 
over.  Gen.  Hooker  sent  word  that  the  third  division  had  saved  the  day, 
and  thanked  the  first  brigade  for  its  gallant  behavior. 

After  the  battle,  when  prisoners  were  taken  and  asked  how  many 
were  left  in  their  army,  their  sad  answer  was  :  ' '  Enough  for  another 
killing.'"' 

Hood  having  fallen  back  to  Atlanta,  on  the  22d  our  lines  were 
advanced  and  contracted  around  the  devoted  city,  the  first  brigade 
occupying  a  place  three-fourths  of  a  mile  east  of  the  railroad.  The 
102d  was  warmly  shelled  until  the  evening  of  the  25th,  and  had  two 
wounded.  Advancing  a  hundred  yards  it  was  under  fire  twenty-four 
h'ours  and  one  severely  wounded.  It  then  moved  to  the  rear  and 
right,  taking  a  place  in  the  second  line,  where  it  was  shelled  more 
vigorously  than  ever.  During  the  progress  of  the  battle  on  the  28th 
the  division  was  ordered  to  the  support  of  those  engaged  ;  but  this 
was  countermanded  and  the  troops  marched  back,  the  first  brigade 
going  into  camp  east  of  the  railroad.  On  the  following  morning  tlie 
division  marched  to  the  extreme  right  of  the  army  and  formed  a  line 
perpendicular  to  the  rear  to  protect  the  flank.  On  the  2d  of  August, 
being  relieved,  it  marched  back,  and  next  day  was  assigned  a  position 
on  the  left  of  the  14:th  corps  and  just  west  of  the  railroad.  The  line 
was  advanced  a  short  distance  on  the  5th  and  the  13tli.  Col.  Smith 
rejoined  the  regiment  on  the  10th. 

On  the  25th  orders  looking  to  the  placing  of  the  main  body  of  the 
army  south  of  Atlanta  and  directly  upon  Hood's  communications  were 
received,  the  defense  of  the  Chattahoochee  being  assigned  to  the  20th 
corps.  The  signal  for  withdrawal,  previously  arranged,  was  for  the 
field-bands  to  begin  playing,  as  usual,  about  twilight,  and  close  the 
evening  performance  with  Yankee  Doodle  precisely  at  eight,  when 
the  columns  were  to  move  noiselessly  out  of  the  intrechments.  The 
bugles  sounded   "retreat"  at  the  customary  hour  of  eight,  and  half 


WILLIAM  HANNA. 


ONE    HUNDRED   AND    SECOND   KEGIMENT.  413 

an  hour  later  "tattoo."  How  impressive  and  tremulous  those  long 
strains  !  Our  brigade  moved  a  mile  to  the  rear  and  lay  there  till  half 
past  two  in  the  morning.  The  pickets  remained  at  their  posts  till 
near  daylight.     We  reached  the  river  just  as  day  broke  forth. 

In  the  afternoon  of  the  27th  our  brigade  crossed  to  the  north  side  of 
the  river,  and  was  separately  disposed,  the  102d  being  stationed  behind 
a  light  parapet  which  the  rebels  once  threw  up  on  the  heights.  On 
the  night  of  the  1st  of  September  we  lie  in  our  bunks  listening  to 
the  explosions  in  Atlanta.  They  tell  their  story.  Next  day  the  city 
is  formally  surrendered  to  Gen.  "Ward  ;  and  "Atlanta  is  ours  and 
fairly  won." 

The  following  from  Gen.  Joseph  E.  Johnston,  the  ablest  com- 
mander in  the  confederacy,  will  be  interesting  to  those  who  toiled  and 
fought  so  valiantly  against  his  consummate  generalship ;  and  none 
who  were  arrayed  against  his  own  men  will  doubt  the  justness  of  his 
tribute  to  their  military  virtues.  Alluding  to  the  Atlanta  campaign, 
he  is  reported  to  have  said  :  ' '  There  is  nothing  in  the  history  of  war 
that  can  equal  many  of  the  maneuvers  of  that  important  campaign. 
History  does  not  record  such  marvelous  ability  to  overcome  obstacles 
and  prepare  the  pathway  for  any  army  as  were  exhibited  on  many 
occasions  by  Gen.  Sherman's  engineers.  It  was  just  four  days  li-om 
the  time  they  reached  the  Chattahoochee  river  and  pointed  out  the 
standing  timber  to  the  vigorous  axmen,  before  they  had  trains  moving 
across  the  river  over  a  substantial  bridge  several  hundred  feet  long 
[and  nearly  a  hundred  feet  high],  but  of  unhewn  timber.  Again,  in 
North  Carolina,  they  marched  nine  miles  a  day  and  corduroyed  every 
foot  of  the  road,  a  feat  never  before  approached  in  the  history  of  army 
movements.  Gen.  Hampton  came  to  me  one  day  and  said  he  had 
obstructed  a  cut  in  the  North  Carolina  railroad  in  such  a  manner  as  to 
prevent  Sherman's  advance  some  week's  ;  but  we  were  never  able  to 
discern  that  it  any  way  interfered  with  his  progress.  I  look  upon  the 
ability  of  the  army  under  my  command  with  its  meager  resources  of 
everything  to  make  successful  warfare,  to  resist  Sherman's  march  as 
well  as  it  did,  as  an  achievement  worthy  of  their  matchless  valor  and 
endurance.  No  soldiers  ever  suffered  and  endured  more  for  their 
homes  and  country  ;  none  ever  fought  harder  or  with  greater 
bravery." 

We  have  already  exceeded  the  space  allotted  to  this  sketch,  and 
while  aware  that  it  is  only  an  outline  of  the  .history  of  the  regiment, 
can  barely  skeletonize  the  remainder. 

On  the  16th  of  September  the  brigade  marched   to  Atlanta  and 
camped  one  mile  south  of  the  city.     From  here  Col.  Harrison  obtained 
24 


414  HISTOKY    OF   MEKCER   AJSTD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

leave  of  absence  and  Col.  Smith  succeeded  to  the  command  of  the 
brigade.  Lieut.  Col.  Mannon  having  a  short  time  before  resigned  on 
account  of  disability,  Capt.  W.  A.  Wilson,  being  the  ranking  line 
officer,  assumed  command  of  the  regiment  until  he  resigned  in  Octo- 
ber. Capt.  II.  H.  Clay,  of  company  D,  succeeded,  and  was  finally 
commissioned  and  mustered  as  major. 

On  the  1st  of  October  the  brigade  marched  back  to  the  Chatta- 
hoochee, where  it  lay  cantoned  until  the  14th  of  November.  The 
railroad  north  of  the  river  was  destroyed  on  the  12th,  and  the  next 
day  it  was  torn  up  on  the  south  side.  On  the  evening  of  the  13th  and 
the  moi"ning  of  the  lltli  the  brigade  was  pulled  into  the  river.  At 
ten  o'clock  on  the  last  day  the  command  took  up  the  march  for 
Atlanta  to  plunge,  on  the  morrow,  into  the  unknown  destinies. 
The  soldiers  felt  that  the  destination  was  to  be  Savannah  or 
Mobile ;  but  when  our  column  pointed  in  the  direction  of  Stone 
mountain  about  noon  of  the  15th,  "Savannah"  was  the  watchword  ; 
though  at  this  time  the  objective,  owing  to  the  contingencies  of  war, 
was  not  certainly  fixed  in  the  mind  of  the  commanding  general. 
There  was  a  magical  fascination  in  it,  for  all  were  sure  that  this  expe- 
dition would  be  one  of  the  renowned  achievements  of  the  war. 

We  marched  almost  continuously  until  after  dark  on  the  16th,  the 
brigade  being  on  detail  the  first  day  and  night  as  train-guard.  The 
102d  was  in  advance  of  the  division  on  the  17th,  and  moved  at  day- 
light. Impressment  of  stock  and  provisions  began  by  regular  foraging 
parties.  We  marched  on  the  18th  through  the  quiet,  pleasant  country 
village  of  Social  Circle,  and  the  railroad  hamlet  called  Rutledge,  and 
went  into  camp  after  dark.  On  the  19th  Madison,  county  seat  of 
Morgan  county,  was  passed;  and  on  the  20th  the  command  started 
before  daylight,  the  102d  in  the  advance.  We  camped  at  half-past  three 
o'clock  two  miles  north  of  Eatonton.  We  marched  through  this  place 
next  morning.  It  had  rained  the  two  previous  nights,  and  rained  all 
this  day ;'  the  roads  were  very  heavy ;  still,  no  hardship  in  that ;  the 
soldiers  were  living  off  the  country !  Every  man  is  now  a  traveling 
commissariat,  carrying  flour,  meal,  yams,  preserves,  molasses,  fowls, 
mutton,  choice  cuts  of  undressed  pork,  etc.  The  men  dash  into  houses 
hunting  for  soda,  flour,  meal,  and  choicer  edibles.  It  would  be  an 
error  to  suppose  that  all  the  troops  ran  helter-skelter ;  but  then  there 
were  enough  who  went  in  this  manner  to  get  all  the  provisions  that 
were  needed. 

The  22d  was  a  bleak,  chilly  day.  Starting  at  ten  o'clock,  our 
column,  at  four  in  the  afternoon,  marched  into  the  sleepy  town  of 
Milledgeville.     The  whites  had  mostly  left,  and  the  capital  was  in  the 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    SECOND    REGIMENT.  415. 

hands  of  the  colored  people.  Sullen  composure  reigned.  The  army 
rested  here  the  23d.  Officers,  for  a  prank,  collected  in  the  hall  of 
representatives,  repealed  the  ordinance  of  secession,  and  solemnly 
declared  the  "sovereign"  State  of  Georgia  back  in  the  union.  Cross- 
ing the  Oconee  river  on  the  morning  of  the  24th,  we  at  once  left  the 
high,  rolling  country  for  the  level,  sandy,  swampy  region  wliich  stretches- 
hence  to  the  coast.  Camp  was  pitched  at  midnight.  The  division, 
guarded  the  wagon-train  on  the  25th.  Roads  were  execrable ;  teams; 
stalled  in  tlie  mire ;  progress  was  very  slow.  A  burned  bridge  caused  the 
train  to  park  and  the  division  to  encamp  only  five  miles  forward  from 
the  bivouac  of  the  night  before.  Skirmishing  in  front  with  Wheeler's 
cavalry.  Some  skirmishing  on  the  26th.  The  command  halted  early 
at  night  at  Sandersville.  The  following  of  contrabands  was  becoming 
numerous.  At  sundown  on  the  27th  the  column  was  at  Davisboro. 
Some  light  skirmishing  was  done,  and  a  j)art  of  the  corps  was  engaged 
in  destroying  the  Georgia  Central  railroad.  Soldiers  in  jubilant  spirits. 
The  march  was  resumed  at  eleven  on  the  28th,  and  the  troops  went 
into  camp  at  night  near  the  Ogeechee  river.  The  14th  corps  crossed 
tliat  night  on  our  road.  Lying  in  camp  on  the  29th  till  two  in  the 
afternoon,  the  command  crossed  the  river  on  a  pontoon  bridge ;  march- 
ing five  miles  it  bivouacked  at  the  county-town  of  Louisville.  The 
first  and  second  divisions  were  tearing  up  the  railroad,  and  our  division 
was  with  the  wagon-train.  The  30th  was  passed  in  camp.  December  1 
the  column  moved  five  or  six  miles.  A  party  of  foragers  had  a 
running  fight  with  the  rebel  cavalry,  and  three  of  the  102d  were  taken 
prisoners.  On  the  2d  the  first  brigade  was  in  the  rear,  and  the  troops 
had  a  night  march  of  several  hours.  Millen,  one  of  the  rebel  starWng- 
pens  for  union  prisoners,  was  left  to  the  right  on  the  3d.  Tearing  up 
of  the  Savannah  &  Augusta  railroad  gave  employment  to  a  number  of 
brigades  this  day.  The  famous  cypress  swamps  are  reached.  The 
4th  passed  without  incident,  the  column  marching  ten  miles  and  halting 
after  dark.  The  third  division  had  the  advance  on  the  5th,  moved 
eight  miles,  and  camped  early  in  the  afternoon.  The  rebels  amused 
themselves  felling  trees  across  the  road  on  the  6th.  Full  of  the  inspi- 
ration of  our  great  leader,  we  marched  'round  them.  Found  camp  just 
as  the  bugle  was  blowing  "retreat."  On  the  7tli  the  column,  with  the 
102d  in  advance,  moved  on  Springfield,  county  seat  of  Effingham 
county,  wliich  was  reached  without  other  opposition  than  the  barricad- 
ing of  roads.  The  brigade  halted  in  the  town,  where  it  lay  over  all 
the  next  day.  The  forward  movement  was  resumed  after  dark  the  8th, 
the  brigade  taking  the  rear.  The  command  was  under  motion  during' 
the  night  and  the  next  day  until  eight  in  the  evening,  and  proceeded 


416  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND   HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

eighteen  miles.  On  the  10th  the  102d  was  again  the  adv^ance.  A 
little  after  noon  we  came  up  against  the  defenses  of  Savannah,  and 
bivouacked  on  the  line  of  investment  four  and  a  half  miles  from  the 
•city.     The  line  was  corrected  and  permanently  located  on  the  11th. 

The  two  things  to  absorb  thought  and  energy  now  were  subsistence 
-and  a  passage  for  attack  over  the  swamp  in  front.  Vast  quantities  of 
rice  were  stored  on  the  river.  Mills  were  put  in  operation,  the  negroes 
set  to  work,  soldiers  takmg  a  hand  with  them.  Company  I  was  sent 
seven  miles  up  the  Savannah  river  to  an  island  called  Red  Knoll,  where 
Several  days  were  spent  grinding  corn  and  threshing  rice.  "Hard- 
tack "  was  issued  on  the  20th ;  rice  was  almost  the  sole  article  of  diet 
for  ten  days. 

The  experiment  of  bridging  the  swamp  was  engaged  in  day  and 
night,  with  the  water  from  two  to  four  feet  deep,  ftill  of  every  obstruc- 
tion that  could  accumulate  in  a  forest,  and  all  underlain  with  a  black, 
sticky  mud.  Working  in  the  water  at  this  season,  and  under  the  rebel 
guns,  which  "went  hunting  "  for  the  boys  with  exasperating  diligence, 
was  hardly  comfortable  employment.  It  is  scarcely  worth  the  while 
to  say  that  this  was  a  practical  failure.  Some  members  of  the  regiment 
waded  the  swamp  in  the  daytime  and  made  an  inspection  of  the  rebel 
breastworks. 

On  the  morning  of  the  21st  the  20th  corps  hoisted  the  stars  and 
stripes  over  the  city  hall  in  Savannah ;  and  the  holidays  were  bright 
and  happy  at  loyal  firesides  when  tidings  of  this  ' '  Christmas  gift " 
thrilled  the  great  heart  of  the  north. 

A  short  rest  at  Savannah,  and  our  eagles  point  northward. 

The  first  foothold  gained  in  South  Carolina  was  obtained  by  cross- 
ing directly  from  the  city.  The  102d  accomplished  the  initial  move- 
ment on  January  1,  1865.  A  halt  was  made  at  Cheves'  plantation 
five  miles  north  of  the  river,  until  the  4th,  when  the  brigade  moved 
forward  a  mile,  establishing  itself  at  the  Hardee  farm,  known  to  some 
as  Black  Mingo.  The  road  having  been  corduroyed  out  from  the 
river,  on  the  17th  the  command  moved  from  Hardeeville,  twelve 
miles,  and  occupied  a  position  on  the  Charleston  &  Savannah  railroad. 
On  the  29th  this  place  in  turn  was  left  behind,  and  on  the  following 
day  we  an-ived  at  Robertsville,  twenty-five  miles  farther  inland.  At 
this  place  on  the  2d  of  February,  as  a  part  of  the  gi-eat  army,  we 
severed  our  communication  with  the  outside  world. 

From  this  date  to  our  arrival  at  Goldsboro',  March  24th,  there  is 
a  hiatus  in  our  own  notes,  and  we  depend  exclusively  on  the  reliable 
history  of  the  102d  by  our  old  comrade,  sergeant  major  S.  F.  Fleharty, 
with  what  little  aid  our  recollection  can  furnish. 


ONE    HUNDRED   AND    SECOND   KEGEVtENT.  417 

On  the  departure  from  Robertsville  the  first  brigade  had  the 
advance,  the  105th  IlL  leading.  On  approaching  Lawtonville  in  the 
afternoon,  and  when  within  a  mile  of  the  town,  the  enemy,  holding  a 
strip  of  timber,  disputed  our  progress.  The  70th,  the  102d,  and  the 
105th  were  formed  in  line  of  battle,  while  the  79th  and  the  129th  were 
sent  on  a  detour  to  the  left,  when  the  rebels  were  shortly  routed.  The 
102d  lost  one  man  killed  and  two  wounded.  Moving  from  this  place 
next  day,  we  marched  urgently  until  the  morning  of  the  6th,  when  we 
crossed  the  Salkehatchie  at  Beaufort  bridge,  which  was  defended  by  a 
strong  earthwork,  from  which  the  enemy  had  retired  when  routed  by 
the  15th  corps  at  Elvers'  bridge  below.  The  Charleston  &  Augusta 
railroad  was  the  point  of  junction  for  the  whole  army,  the  two  wings 
having  set  out  from  different  bases,  and  our  column  was  urged  forward 
with  spirit  to  make  timely  connection  with  the  araiy  of  the  Tennessee. 
The  7tli  was  cold,  rainy,  cheerless ;  the  troops  corduroyed,  crossed 
swamps,  built  bridges,  and  late  in  the  evening  struck  the  railroad  at 
Graham.  During  the  8tli,  9th,  and  10th  we  were  destroying  the  road, 
and  our  brigade  worked  at  different  points  from  Graham  to  Williston, 
fifteen  miles  apart,  Blackville  being  intermediate,  and  the  command 
entering  all  three  of  the  places. 

Tlie  march  was  continued  on  the  11th ;  the  South  Edisto  was 
crossed  the  same  day ;  and  the  pine  barrens  and  level  country  were 
succeeded  by  a  bolder  and  more  rugged  surface.  Camp  that  night 
was  made  on  a  tributary  of  the  North  Edisto.  The  weather  was 
cold,  and  next  morning  the  air  was  frosty  and  biting.  Just  as  the 
sun  was  up  the  men  plunged  into  the  freezing  current;  it  was  not 
wide,  but  for  a  hundred  rods  they  had  to  splash  through  shallow 
water  before  reacliing  the  other  side  of  the  swamp.  On  the  morn- 
ing of  the  13th  the  North  Edisto  was  passed,  the  first  brigade 
having  the  advance.  The  70th  Ind.,  the  head  of  the  column,  had 
sliai-p  skirmishing.  Bivouac  was  made  on  the  14th  at  the  junction 
of  the  Lexington  and  the  Columbia  and  Augusta  wagon  roads.  The 
leading  division  encountered  heavy  skirmishing  on  the  15th.  Camp 
was  made  two  miles  south  of  Lexington  and  nine  west  of  Columbia. 
Leaving  the  former  to  the  right,  the  16tli  brought  us  within  two  or 
three  miles  of  the  city,  and  from  our  position  on  a  range  of  high 
blufts  which  confine  the  Congaree,  we  had  a  bird's-eye  view  of  the 
famed  capital. 

At  noon  of  the  17th  we  moved  up  to  the  Saluda  river,  and  the 
brigade  was  sent  out  to  watch  for  Cheatham's  force.  No  enemy 
was  seen,  and  moving  again  in  the  direction  of  the  river,  we  camped 
in  proximity  to  a  wagon  train,  which  was  crossing  all  night.     By  noon 


418  HISTORY    OF   FIERCER   AXD    HEXDERSON   COUNTIES. 

of  tlie  IStli  the  last  "white  cover'"'  was  over  and  we  had  the  right  of 
wav,  when  we  marched  to  within  five  miles  of  Broad  river.  On  the 
evening  of  the  19th  camp  was  pitched  on  the  hills  overlooking  that 
stream.  Orders  were  received  here  to  cut  down  baggage,  burn  the 
wall  tents,  reserving  only  the  "•flies,"  and  to  prepare  to  continue  the 
campaign  forty  days.  The  brigade  was  again  in  the  rear  on  the  20tli, 
waiting  restlessly  all  day  long  for  the  immense  wagon  train  to  cross, 
and  all  the  troops  to  pass  whose  turn  it  was  to  go  ahead.  Xiglit  fell 
before  we  went  over ;  a  mile  back  from  the  river  we  dozed  in  the  cold 
air  by  blazing  fires;  "an  hour  and  a  half  later  the  brigade  refi'ain, 
'Hail  Columbia,  Happy  Land,""  aroused  us,  and  we  continued  on  after 
the  slow-mo^dng  column.'"  A  night  march.  No  intermission  till  the 
night  of  the  21st.  Winnsboro,  in  an  elevated  region,  was  reached  at 
noon ;  the  column  marched  in  review  before  Gens.  Sherman  and 
Slocum,  and  bivouacked  two  miles  beyond  the  town.  Arriving  at 
Rocky  Mount  on  the  22d,  camp  was  made  on  the  south  bank  of  the 
Catawba ;  but  after  many  had  rolled  up  cosily  in  their  blankets 
beneath  the  "dog  tents,"  an  order  was  received  to  cross  the  river. 
Having  got  read5'  and  waited  some  hours  for  other  troops  to  make  the 
passage,  our  turn  came  at  midnight,  and  we  found  a  camping  place  a 
mile  the  other  side.  Breakfast  was  omitted  on  the  morning  of  the  23d 
till  the  command  had  moved  three  miles  to  a  place  in  the  dense  woods. 
Heavy  rains  commenced  falling  and  continued  until  the  night  of  the 
25th ;  the  pontoon  bridge  was  swept  away,  leaving  the  14tli  corps  on 
the  south  side  of  the  Catawba,  which  rises  rapidly,  and  is  a  raging 
stream  when  up.  Xearly  a  week's  detention  of  the  army  of  Georgia 
was  the  result.  Gen.  Sherman  savs:  "The  roads  were  infamous,  so 
I  halted  the  20th  corps  at  Hanging  Rock  some  days  to  allow  time  for 
the  l-lth  corps  to  get  over."  Advancing  again  on  the  26th,  and 
corduro}'ing,  tlie  brigade  encamped  before  noon  near  Hanging  Rock,  a 
place  of  natural  curiosity  as  well  as  of  Vevolutionary  interest.  Lying 
there  during  the  27th,  on  the  28tli  the  march  was  continued  in  the 
direction  of  Clieraw,  the  soldiers  corcluroying  two-thirds  of  the  way. 

This  day  the  regimental  foragers,  under  Capt.  Wooley,  captured 
the  bank  of  Camden,  which  was  secreted  in  the  woods.  It  was  dis- 
covered by  Jesse  McQuade,  of  company  I,  and  Charles  Hartsell,  of 
company  E.  They  were  fired  upon  by  men  guarding  it,  and  McQuade 
was  severely  wounded.  Ilartsell  notified  the  detachment  and  the  cap- 
ture was  made.  There  were  four  safes,  and  the  treasure  consisted  of 
$700  in  specie,  $2,500  in  bullion,  and  $35,000  in  confederate  bonds, 
besides  the  silver  plate,  jewelry,  horses,  mules,  and  wagons.  The 
property  was    delivered    by    Capt.    Wooley   at    corps   headquarters. 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    SECOND    REGIMENT.  419 

McQiiade  died  in  1879,  and  is  buried  at  Hoopeston,  Yermillion  county, 
Illinois.     lie  was  one  of  the  most  daring  spirits  in  the  armv. 

Until  March  3  the  column  was  advancing  on  Chesterfield,  It  cor- 
duroyed several  miles  of  wretched  road  that  day,  and  passed  through 
and  camped  a  mile  beyond  the  town.  On  the  4th  a  diversion  was 
made  on  the  Wadesboro  road,  and  the  third  division  crossed  into 
Korth  Carolina.  Xo  further  move  took  jjlace  till  the  6th  ;  then  at  noon 
the  division  headed  for  Cheraw.  Arrived  there,  it  passed  one  of  those 
fatiguing,  comfortless  nights  waiting  to  cross  the  river,  and  when  its 
turn  had  come  it  was  nearly  morning. 

This  day  Lieut.  T.  G.  Brown,  of  company  E,  went  out  from  the 
regiment  before  it  broke  camp  in  command  of  twenty  men,  and 
secured  a  lot  of  forage  near  Wadesboro,  but  was  furiously  set  upon  by 
150  rebels,  whereupon  his  party  "issued  their  hams  and  meal  quicker 
than  any  commissary  could  have  done  it."  First  a  running,  com- 
mingled fight ;  then  a  stand  was  made,  and  the  Spencers  won.  The 
' '  bummers  "  not  only  held  the  rebels  at  bay,  but  followed  and  drove 
them.  "  We  saw  four  of  the  poor  devils  that  we  had  shot,  one  of 
them  was  not  quite  dead,"  WTote  the  lieutenant.  Brown's  loss  was 
four  captured  and  one  veiy  slightly  wounded.  They  had  an  exciting 
and  romantic  time  getting  back  to  our  army,  as  a  rebel  di\dsion  had 
cut  oft'  their  direct  return  ;  but  they  found  the  14th  coi'ps  at  one  o'clock 
in  the  morning,  and  overtook  the  102d  at  eleven  the  next  night. 

Tlie  command  marched  eighteen  miles  from  Cheraw  and  camped 
at  Laurel  Hill.  The  8th  was  a  rainy  day,  and  the  route  lay  through 
the  solitary  pine  barrens.  Camp  was  made  five  miles  south  of  Lumber 
river.  The  bridge  was  burned,  and  the  brigade,  wet,  cold,  hungry, 
spent  all  the  next  day  in  fruitless  waiting  near  that  stream.  The  10th 
was  passed  on  the  road  from  six  in  the  morning  till  ten  at  night ;  the 
journey  of  seven  miles  was  varied  between  wading  swamps  and  toil- 
ing through  the  mud  in  a  crowded  road.  On  the  morning  of  the  11th 
the  men  made  three  miles  of  corduroy ;  in  the  afternoon  they  sti'uck  a 
plank  road  and  marched  twenty  miles  by  ten  o'clock,  and  arrived  at 
Fayetteville. 

Moving  again  on  the  13th  the  column  was  reviewed  by  Gen.  Sher- 
man and  crossed  the  Ca]3e  Fear  river.  The  102d  was  sent  forward  on 
a  reconnoissance.  The  foragers  drove  the  rebels  before  the  regiment, 
and  the  latter  pitched  camp  five  miles  in  advance.  Reconnoitering 
was  continued  the  next  day,  two  other  regiments  being  added  to  the 
force.  Tlie  foragers,  with  their  usual  enterprise  and  boldness,  cleared 
several  barricades  of  the  rebels ;  but  at  Silver  Run,  on  the  Raleigh 
road,  the  enemy  defied  their  irregular,  predatory  attacks.     Companies 


420  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AJS'D    HENDERSON    COrNTIES. 

A,  I,  C,  and  E,  of  tlie  102d,  were  deployed  and  had  a  lively  skirmish. 
A  respectable  force  being  developed,  the  party  drew  off  at  dark  and 
returned  to  camp,  a  distance  of  nine  miles. 

On  the  15th  the  left  wing  (army  of  Georgia)  advanced  by  this  road, 
encountering  feeble  resistance  at  Silver  creek,  just  north  of  whicli  the 
brigade  encamped,  while  the  rain  descended  in  torrents.  There  was 
heavy  skkmishing  in  the  evening  by  our  cavalry.  Indications  prom- 
ised fighting,  which  came  on  the  16tli.  "The  troops  moved  early  and 
soon  found  the  enemy.  "When  about  four  miles  south  of  Averysboro 
hea^^'-  firing  commenced  in  front.  The  first  brigade,  except  the  TOtli 
Indiana,  which  was  the  train-guard,  was  formed  on  the  right  of  the 
road  in  line  of  battle,  and  preparations  were  made  for  an  advance. 
Finally  we  moved  by  the  left  flank,  crossed  the  road,  and  made  a 
detour  of  about  three-fourths  of  a  mile  to  the  left.  Then  moved  to  the 
front,  the  skirmishers  becoming  quickly  engaged.  As  we  advanced 
cautiously  through  the  young  pines  to  the  edge  of  an  open  field,  it  was 
perceived  that  the  brigade  had  completely  fianked  the  rebel  position. 
Not  more  than  a  hundred  and  twenty-five  yards  in  advance  they  were 
visible  in  great  numbers,  running  forward  to  their  front  line  of  works 
to  re-inforce  the  rebels  their  engaged.  At  that  instant  a  number  of 
our  men  yelled  out,  '  Don't  fire,  they  are  our  own  men. '  For  a  mo- 
ment our  line  was  undecided.  It  was  thought  barely  possible  that  we 
had  become  bewildered  and  were  about  to  charge  our  own  troops. 
Many  months  of  active  campaigning  had  rendered  the  uniform  of  the 
opposing  armies  almost  indistinguishable.  Many  of  the  rebels  wore 
blue,  and  many  of  the  federals,  having  worn  out  their  blue,  were 
dressed  in  citizen's  gray.  The  enemy  in  the  meantime  had  kept  up  a 
galling  skirmisli  fire,  and  heavy  artillery  and  infantry  firing  was  going 
on  in  the  front,  where  the  third  brigade  confronted  their  breastworks. 
Soon  all  doubts  as  to  the  identity  of  the  rebels  in  our  front  were  dis- 
pelled. The  brigade  raised  a  yell,  and,  as  if  by  an  intuitive  percep- 
tion of  the  duty  required,  rushed  forward,  the  102d  on  the  right,  the 
79th  on  our  left,  the  129th  and  the  105th  in  the  second  line.  The 
rebels,  completely  surprised  and  outflanked,  instantly  broke.  Yelling 
like  wild  men,  the  brigade  swept  magnificently  forward,  directly  in 
rear  of  and  parallel  with  the  rebel  line  of  works.  Three  pieces  of 
a»tillery  fell  into  our  hands  and  many  prisoners,  recumbent  in  a  trench 
behind  their  works,  held  up  their  hands  and  handkerchiefs  begging  for 
mercy.  But  the  main  body  of  the  charging  column  rushed  by  them 
and  continued  on  after  the  flying  enemy,  who  abandoned  blankets, 
haversacks,  canteens,  guns,  cartridge  boxes,  everything  that  could 
impede  their  progress.     Reaching  heavy  timber  the  pursuing  column 


ONE    HUNDRED   AND   SECOND   KEGIMENT.  421 

halted,  reformed  the  line  of  battle,  and  rested  for  a  time,  keeping  up 
a  sharp  skirmish  fire  with  the  enemy.  ...  At  length,  other 
troops  having  moved  forward  to  our  support,  a  general  advance  was 
made.  The  second  line  of  rebel  works  was  found  abandoned,  but  as 
we  approached  the  third,  which  was  very  strong,  we  were  met  by  a 
rapid  fire  of  musketry  and  artillery,  the  enemy  throwing  grape  shot 
and  shells.  .  .  .  Finally  the  brigade  threw  up  breastworks  a 
hundred  and  twenty-five  yards  from  the  enemy's  line.  Night  came 
on  with  rain.  It  had  been  a  day  of  excitement  and  fatigue.  Cold  and 
wet,  we  passed  a  miserable  night. " 

The  rebels  retreated  on  Smithfield,  in  the  darkness,  over  bottomless 
roads,  leaving  their  dead  and  wounded  in  the  houses  around  Averys- 
boro.  One  house  contained  sixteen  of  their  dead ;  in  the  town  itself 
were  found  thirty  wounded  men.  Gen.  Sherman's  report  showed  that 
the  division  captured  "three -guns  and  217  prisoners,  of  which  68  were 
wounded,"  and  that  "100  rebel  dead  were  buried  bv  us."  The  casual- 
ties  in  the  102d  were  two  killed  and  nineteen  wounded. 

The  division  set  out  on  the  morning  of  the  18th  to  follow  the  main 
army,  and  were  on  the  road  all  night,  traveling  only  three  miles 
between  sunset  and  sunrise.  The  whole  country  was  a  quagmire.  In 
the  afternoon  of  the  19th,  when  the  division  was  in  rear  with  the 
wagon-train,  Johnston's  army  assailed  the  14th  corps  at  Bentonville. 
The  command  was  dispatched  to  its  assistance,  and  formed  on  the 
extreme  left  and  erected  breastworks,  but  did  not  become  engaged. 
Jolmston  fell  back  on  Smithfield  on  the  night  of  the  21st.  During 
that  day  Gen.  Schofield's  army  was  arriving  at  Goldsboro  from  New- 
bern ;  and  Gen.  Terry,  coming  up  from  Wilmington,  secured  the 
crossing  of  the  Neuse  river  and  laid  a  pontoon  bridge,  thus  completing 
the  junction  of  the  three  armies.  Our  army  concentrated  at  Golds- 
boro on  the  23d  and  the  24th.  The  102d  marched  into  the  town  with 
the  wagon-train  at  sunrise  on  the  morning  of  the  24tli,  and  camped 
two  miles  noj'th  of  the  village  and  constructed  breastworks. 

The  regiment  lost  during  the  campaign  forty-four  killed,  wounded 
and  captured.  The  march  through  Georgia  extended  over  300  miles 
and  consumed  twenty-six  days ;  the  campaign  of  the  Carolinas,  more 
tedious,  prolonged  and  difticult,  covered  fifty  days  and  425  miles  actu- 
ally marched ! 

On  the  5th  of  April  special  intelligence  of  the  capture  of  Kichmond 
was  received  with  exultant  joy.  On  the  10th  the  army  was  put  in 
motion  for  Raleigh,  and  at  the  end  of  the  second  day  we  were  in 
bivouac  around  Smithfield.  Next  morning  the  surrender  of  Lee's 
army  was  announced  and  produced  the  most  extravagant  demonstra- 


422  HISTOKY    OF    MERGER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

tions  of  rejoicing.  Kaleigli  was  readied  on  the  fourth,  day,  and  orders 
were  given  to  move  the  following  morning,  the  14th,  at  six  o'clock,  in 
pursuit  of  Johnston,  who  had  departed  with  his  forces  the  night  before. 
Meantime  the  rebel  general  proposed  an  interview  with  Gen.  Sherman, 
and  the  order  was  countermanded.  While  waiting  for  the  ratification 
or  rejection  by  the  government  at  Washington  of  the  arrangement 
formulated  by  the  two  chiefs,  the  startling  news  of  the  assassination  of 
President  Lincoln  came,  and  after  the  violent  shock  a  sadness  as  tender 
and  noble  as  the  gentle  nature  of  the  stricken  gi-eat  man  overspread 
the  stout-hearted  army  and  deepened  into  painful  gloom. 

The  terms  of  the  negotiation  having  been  disapproved,  on  the  25th 
we  moved  out  fifteen  miles  on  the  Holly  Springs  road.  Johnston  sur- 
rendered his  forces,  and  we  lay  there  till  the  28th  and  then  returned. 
On  the  30th  the  line  of  march  was  taken  up  for  Washington.  Arriving 
at  Richmond  the  9th  of  May,  we  rested  one  day  and  on  the  11th 
marched  through  the  city,  receiving  from  the  people  many  kind 
attentions. 

On  August  16  Adjutant  J.  H.  Snyder,  and  Private  W.  O.  Jones,  of 
company  I,  mounted  orderly,  left  the  column  to  visit  the  Wilderness 
battle-ground,  and  fell,  it  is  supposed,  into  the  hands  of  bushwhackers, 
as  no  trace  of  them  was  ever  obtained.  ,  The  adjutant  was  a  man  of 
genial  nature,  finely  organized,  of  great  personal  worth  and  courage, 
and  closely  endeared  to  the  regiment.  His  sad,  mysterious  end  was  a 
cruel  shock  to  his  admiring  comrades.  His  companion  was  a  superior 
soldier  and  young  man. 

The  army  arrived  at  Alexandria  on  the  19th,  and  on  the  24th 
entered  Washington,  60,000  under  arms,  in  all  the  panoply  of  war. 
"The  pride  and  strength  of  the  great  west  swept  down  Pennsylvania 
avenue."  All  daylong  did  "Sherman's  army,"  marching  in  column 
by  companies  at  half  distance,  surge  past  the  reviewing  stand  with 
perfect  alignments  and  soldierly  bearing.  The  first  brigade  camped 
that  night  around  the  northeast  corner  stone  of  the  District  of  Colum- 
bia. The  grand  review  was  over ;  the  war  was  over ;  we  were  on  the 
borderland  of  peace,  sweet  peace ;  and  we  rested  in  triumph  from  our 
labors. 

Tlie  regiment  was  discharged  at  Washington  on  the  6th  of  June, 
and  on  that  day  took  the  cars  for  Chicago.  It  was  past  midnight  of 
the  Tth  when  we  rolled  into  Pittsburgh,  but  the  wide-awake,  generous, 
patriotic  citizens  of  that  city  had  been  busy  preparing  refreshments  for 
us.  Marching  to  the  city  hall  these  were  partaken  of  with  keen  relish 
and  thankfulness.  Noble  and  generous  Pittsburgh.  How  vivid  is  that 
memory  after  eighteen  years  !     An-iving  at  Chicago  on  the  9tli,  the 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    SECOND    REGIMENT.  423 

regiment  was  quartered  at  Camp  Fry,  and  there,  on  the  14th,  the  mem- 
bers were  paid  off  and  disbanded,  and  they  returned  at  once  to  the 
embrace  of  friends  and  tlie  quiet  walks  of  civil  life. 

Some  notice  of  Col.  Isaac  McManus,  a  brave  and  useful  officer  of 
the  102d,  who  has  died  since  the  disbandment  of  the  regiment,  is 
demanded  in  this  connection. 

Col.  McManus  was  a  native  of  Indiana,  but  resided  in  Mercer 
county  a  number  of  years.  He  was  a  school-teacher  by  profession, 
and  as  such  will  be  remembered  by  numerous  citizens  of  the  county 
who  are  advanced  to  middle  life.  He  had  traveled  over  a  large  extent 
of  his  native  land  and  had  filled  his  mind  with  practical  knowledge. 
He  had  an  aptitude  for  business,  a  liberal  understanding,  and  much 
executive  capacity.  It  was  in  politics  and  war  that  he  made  his  mark 
as  a  public  man,  though  he  was  cut  off  just  at  the  rising  of  his  power, 
when  his  splendid  strength  of  character  had  laid  the  foundation  for  a 
strong  public  influence.  By  education  a  democrat,  he  followed  the 
fortunes  of  his  party  and  contended  for  its  principles  with  his  char- 
acteristic zeal  and  energy,  up  to  a  time  when  his  partisanship  was  lost 
sight  of  in  the  army  in  the  one  absorbing  consideration  and  employ- 
ment of  patriotism.  In  the  year  1862  his  party,  a  majority  of  which, 
emboldened  by  much  power  in  the  state,  was  outspoken  and  active  in 
opposition  to  the  war,  held  a  state  convention  in  Peoria,  to  which  he 
was  an  accredited  delegate.  The  committee  on  resolutions  submitted 
a  majority  and  a  minority  report,  the  former  demanding  a  withdrawal 
of  the  army  to  make  room  for  compromise  negotiations,  while  the 
latter  insisted  upon  no  compromise  with  traitors,  but  instead  a  vigor- 
ous prosecution  of  the  war.  McManus,  with  true  chivalrous  spirit, 
supported  the  latter,  not  having  yet  forgotten  the  recent  sage  and 
dying  advice  of  his  lamented  party  leader,  Douglas,  that  "the  short- 
est way  now  to  peace  is  the  most  stupendous  and  unanimous  prepara- 
tions for  war. "  Returning  home  he  went  to  work,  and  by  personal 
application  and  speeches  assisted  in  raising  company  G,  102d  reg., 
and  was  elected  first  lieutenant.  He  soon  became  captain  and  served 
with  his  company  until  he  was  wounded,  as  previously  noticed,  at 
Golgotha  church,  in  Georgia,  a  rebel  ball  shattering  the  bone  in  his 
left  arm  and  rendering  that  limb  forever  useless.  He  returned  from 
the  hospital  to  his  home,  and  in  the  autumn  of  1864  did  much  service 
for  the  union  party  in  making  political  speeches.  He  was  kept  on 
detailed  service  awhile  ;  then  he  rejoined  his  regiment  after  the  cam- 
paign of  the  Carolinas,  with  a  commission  as  lieutenant  colonel.  He 
was  never  mustered,  owing  to  the  reduction  of  the  regiment  below  the 


424  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   A2TO   HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

minimum  number,  the  offices  of  colonel  and  major  being  already 
filled.  After  the  war  lie  entered  with  much  enthusiasm  into  politics  ; 
and  being  both  a  ready  and  forcible  writer  and  speaker,  he  contributed 
largely  to  the  success  of  his  party  in  the  exciting  political  campaigns 
of  1866  and  1868.  After  an  able  and  thorough  canvass  in  1868  he 
was  elected  by  a  large  majority  of  his  republican  supporters  to  repre- 
sent the  14tli  district  in  the  state  senate.  He  was  recognized  in  that 
body  as  a  man  of  independent  convictions  and  untiring  industry,  and 
was  placed  on  some  of  the  most  important  committees.  He  died  of 
small-pox  January  14,  18Y0,  aged  forty-three  years.  Col.  McManus 
belonged  to  that  class  of  men  who  make  strong  friends  and  strong 
enemies.  His  superlative  energy  made  it  impossible  for  his  nature  to 
consort  with  rest.  He  was  ambitious  and  desired  to  be  in  action. 
Endowed  witli  a  highly  combative  organization,  his  tastes  found  their 
legitimate  activity  in  conflict.  On  the  sanguinary  field  his  daring 
amounted  almost  to  recklessness.  It  seemed  as  though  the  breath  of 
battle  was  a  soft  relief  to  his  chafing,  fiery  soul.  He  was  at  home  in 
the  tempest ;  his  companions  were  the  thunder  and  the  lightning.  In 
civil  life  his  rugged,  restless  mind  found  a  congenial  theater  in  the 
political  arena. 

[The  history  of  the  102d  regiment,  as  above,  was  written  by  Mr. 
E.  S.  Ricker,  a  member  of  that  regiment  who  followed  its  fortunes 
throughout  its  brilHant  career.  He  took  ample  notes  during  the  whole 
time  of  his  service,  and  we  doubt  if  there  is  a  man  living  more  com- 
petent to  write  the  record  of  this  brave  regiment. — Ed.] 


OHIO  GEOVE  TOWNSHIP. 

Long  years  ago  the  Indian  chief,  with  his  face  -toward  the  setting 
sun,  chanted  the  death-song  of  his  people  : 

"  We,  the  rightful  lords  of  yore, 
Are  the  rightful  lords  no  more. 
Like  the  silver  mists  we  fail ; 
Like  the  red  leaves  in  the  gale  — 
Fail  like  shadows  when  the  dawning 
Waves  the  black  flag  of  the  morning." 

Their  history  is  not  written  in  classic  language  ;  it  illumes  no 
scroll  ;  it  lives  on  few  pages  ;  but  in  silent  eloquence  it  speaks  in  a 
myriad  of  forms  in  their  beautiful  and  significant  names  that  still,  and 


OHIO    GKOVE   TOWNSHIP,  425 

will  forever,  linger  upon  mountain  and  in  valley,  lakes,  rivers,  states, 
counties,  cities  and  villages. 

'' Mid  the  forests  where  they  warred, 
There  rings  no  hunter's  shout ; 
But  their  name  is  on  your  waters  — 
Ye  may  not  wash  it  out." 

It  is  astonishing  to  the  children  of  to-day  to  be  reminded  that  on 
the  lawn  on  which  they  play  ;  that  in  yonder  grove  of  hardy  oaks 
that  now  shelter  those  sleek  kine  ;  that  on  yonder  expanse  now  bloom- 
ing for  the  coming  harvest ;  that  on  yonder  plat  where  all  is  hurry  and 
bustle,  and  trade  and  music  and  fashion,  a  hundred  years  ago  was 
the  hunting-ground  of  the  Fox,  or  the  Sac,  or  the  Potawatomie,  or 
the  bloody  iield  of  contest  between  tribe  and  tribe  of  savage  men  ; 
that  here,  too,  the  green  sod  drank  the  life-blood  of  the  white  man 
spilled  by  the  tomahawk  of  the  bloodthirsty  Indian  ;  that  here  the  red 
man,  proud  and  haughty  from  success  in  the  hunt  or  battle,  compelled 
his  women  to  abject  slavery,  treating  them  as  beasts  of  burden,  and 
mere  objects  of  convenience,  never  allowing  them  to  join  in  the 
amusements,  but  permitted  to  sit  with  tlieir  children  as  "spectators 
around  the  fires  of  war-dances  or  the  horrid  orgies  after  a  victory," 
holding  even  tlieir  lives  at  their  weapons'  points.  Fifty  years  ago  the 
Indian,  somewhat  tamed  by  contact  with  pioneer  civilization,  and  by 
an  aggressive  and  overpowering  government,  still  lingered  in  his  hunt- 
ing-grounds, mourned  the  hamlets  of  the  dead  warriors  he  must  leave 
behind,  or  stayed  to  drink  the  "hemlock"  furnished  by  his  treacher- 
ous foemen,  the  wily  and  unprincipled  among  the  pale-faces.  Verily 
the  white  man  kindled  the  fire  that  burned  his  own  home  and  the 
passion  that  slaughtered  his  own  household. 

An  Indian  trail  extended  across  the  northwest  corner  of  Ohio 
Grove  township,  including  sections  5,  6  and  7,  crossing  Pope  creek  in 
section  6.  On  section  5  in  Indian  Grove,  some  forty  or  fifty  of  the 
natives  camped  as  late  as  about  1836  or  1837.  They  disappeared  and 
nothing  more  was  known  of  them  for  several  years  when  a  few 
returned,  but  to  cast  one  long,  lingering,  last  look  upon  the  once  unmo- 
lested spot  they  had  been  wont  to  call  what  we  would  term  "  home." 
Some  are  yet  living  who  witnessed  the  dusky  faces  as  they  indulged  in 
their  ludicrous  amusements  and  performed  feats  peculiar  only  to 
the  race.  The  McBrides,  Cabeens,  Candors,  Browns,  Stephenses, 
Hardys,  Dillys  and  McPherrens,  have  watched  their  antics  and  marked 
their  cunning,  Alexander  Brown,  according  to  his  own  story,  gained 
his  amusement  for  the  first  three  winters  of  his  residence  here,  in  the 
camps  of  these  red  men.     Trading  was  carried  on  between  Indian  and 


426  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

white  man  in  a  way  iisually  amicable.  The  women  of  those  days, 
too,  had  their  experiences,  which  were  not  altogether  agreeable.  The 
boldness,  yet  with  cunning,  made  the  Indians  fit  subjects  to  be 
watched,  and  more  than  once  was  a  woman  made  to  tremble  by  their 
audacity.  But  they  have  gone,  most  of  them,  over  the  hills  to  their 
new  hunting-grounds  from  whence  they  return,  according  to  their  own 
ideas,  in  spirit  only.  Another  race,  and  far  different,  must  fill  with 
events  the  historic  page.  The  march  of  empire  is  westward  in 
America,  as  truly  as  it  was  in  the  orient. 

The  spot  to  which  these  lines  are  limited  was  one  of  inviting  char- 
acter. Its  contents  are  circumscribed  by  an  invisible  boundry.  It 
embraces  what  became  when  surveyed,  all  of  T.  13  N. ,  R.  3  W.  of  the 
4th  P.  M.  It  has  Mercer  township  on  its  north,  Abington  township  on 
its  west,  Warren  county  on  its  south,  and  Suez  township  on  the  east. 
Here  were  thirty-six  square  miles  of  earth,  the  tilling  of  wliich  was 
destined  to  yield  a  harvest  to  the  toiler.  It  would  seem  that  earth 
had  been  gamboling  and  leaping  at  play  when  all  became  at  once 
stationary,  leaving  the  surface  rolling  and  delectable.  Here  and  there 
the  waters  of  the  ages  have  washed  a  gutter,  a  ditch,  a  creeklet,  a 
creek  which  to-day  forms  nature's  system  of  drainage,  which  rapidly 
carries  the  burden  of  the  element  hurrying  on  to  the  "father  of 
waters."  In  the  north  of  this  plat  is  Pope  creek,  supposed  to  have 
derived  its  name  from  a  man  so  so  called.  It  runs  through  sections  4, 
5  and  6.  It  is  chiefly  along  this  creek  that  the  early  emigrants  hither 
chose  frontier  homes,  for  here  was  a  fair  growth  of  timber  suitable  for 
fuel  and  building  purposes.  In  early  times  about  one-ninth  or  four 
sections  of  the  township  were  timber,  consisting  of  red  oak,  white 
oak,  black  oak,  burr  oak,  black  walnut,  white  walnut,  cherry,  red  elm, 
white  elm,  hickory,  soft  maple,  sugar  maple,  hackberry,  ash,  cotton, 
sycamore,  box-elder,  etc. 

Through  the  centei*  of  the  township  is  the  tortuous  stream,  North 
Henderson  creek.  It  has  a  number  of  small  tributaries  uniting  and 
draining  the  central  part  of  the  township.  It  runs  through  sections 
20  and  30,  where  it  has  on  its  either  side.  Hickory  grove.  In  the 
southern  part  of  the  township  is  Duck  creek.  Kot  so  called  because 
any  feathered  flocks,  fond  of  water,  frequent  it,  but  from  the  fact  that 
in  1833,  an  early  day,  William  I,  Nevius,  James  H.  Bain  and  others 
made  an  exploring  expedition  from  Warren  county,  Illinois,  through 
this  section  of  country.  Arriving  at  this  sti*eam  tliey  found  it  coated 
with  ice.  Nothing  of  that  kind  could  turn  a  pioneer's  march  through 
a  new  country,  so  over  the  ice  they  started.  Nature  had  not  intended 
her  crystal  bridge  to  be  completed  and  ready  for  use  quite  so  soon. 


OHIO    GROVE    TOWNSHIP.  427 

The  structure  being  yet  somewhat  weak,  attraction  of  one  particle  for 
another  was  destroyed,  and  the  party  dragged  down  by  gravitation  to 
their  waists  in  tlie  cold  element  below.  In  the  popular  language  of 
the  day,  they  were  "ducked,"  and  some  one  of  the  party  believing  in 
names,  christened  the  stream  Duck  creek.  The  party  continued  their 
exploration,  and  when  the  country  was  spied  out  returned  to  their 
families  and  cabin  homes. 

The  soil  of  this  part  of  Mercer  county  is  a  rich,  black  loam  of  an 
average  depth  of  about  one  foot.  Coal  and  stone  are  present  in  small 
quantities,  the  former  of  which  is  inferior  in  quality  and  quantity. 
The  soil  in  early  days  was  very  abundant  in  its  production  of  wheat. 
William  I.  Nevius  bought  a  piece  of  land,  and  in  one  crop  paid  for  the 
land,  all  expenses  connected  with  its  cropping,  and  had  a  surplus  fund 
besides.  But  when  we  mention  this  fact  it  should  be  remembered  that 
land  in  those  days  did  not  command  fifty  dollars  per  acre,  as  it  does 
to-day,  hence  that  fact  does  not  indicate  failure  in  the  ability  of  the  soil 
still  to  produce  abundant  harvests.  Says  William  I.  Nevius:  "corn  is 
the  chief  product,  which,  in  a  good  season,  yields  seventy  bushels  to  the 
acre."  He  further  says,  "wheat  is  raised,  but,  from  some  indefinite 
cause,  the  quantity  and  quality  is  inferior  to  that  of  early  years. "  Grains, 
cereals,  vegetables  and  fruits  of  great  variety  have  long  been  produced 
from  this  fertile  soil,  and  for  pasturage  it  is  second  to  none.  Water  of  a 
superior,  cold,  pure  quality  is  secured  by  digging  from  twelve  to  forty 
feet.  With  all  these  attractions  and  promises  wisely  did  the  early 
seeker  /or  such  advantages  and  fortunes  accept  the  proffered  gifts  of 
nature  and  settle  upon  this  spot.  No  iron  ribs  had  yet  been  supplied 
for  this  part  of  the  old  lady  "Earth."  No  great  massive  iron  monster 
came  puffing  and  rumbling  and  rushing,  hurrying  land  seekers  over 
plain,  among  the  hills,  over  stream,  or  through  tunnel  at  the  rate  of 
thirty  or  fifty  miles  an  hour.  Not  so  came  the  sturdy,  slow  plodding, 
sure  pioneer ;  but  with  ox  team  or  horse  team,  big  wagon  filled  with 
his  family  and  a  very  few  pieces  of  furniture,  home-made  products  of 
genius  and  a  jack  knife  or  an  ax,  he  started  to  wend  his  way  across 
endless  prairie,  through  trackless  forest,  over  unbridged  stream,  through 
almost  bottomless  swamp  towards  the  setting  sun,  leaving  here  and 
there  a  camp  fire  burning  or  its  ashes,  and  after  a  journey  of  four  to 
seven  weeks  halting  on  this  spot  for  a  permanent  home  in  the  "great 
West."  Instead  of  this  journey  many  "drifted"  down  the  Muskingum 
and  Ohio  rivers  on  flat  boats,  and  slowly  urged  their  way  up  the  Miss- 
issippi river  to  Oquawka,  and  later  to  Keithsburg  where  they  landed 
their  families  and  goods,  then  walked  or  were  hauled  to  their  wild 
homes. 


428  HISTOKY    OF   JVIERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

The  first  comers  were  from  Ohio.  They  settled  near  Pope  creek, 
in  the  northern  part  of  the  township,  giving  to  tlie  grove  of  that  sec- 
tion the  name  of  their  native  state,  Ohio.  In  after  years  the  township 
was  voted  the  combined  appellation,  "Ohio  Grove."  There  were  ex- 
plorations made  by  different  ones  prior  to  any  settlement.  Prior  to 
1835,  a  cabin  had  been  thrown  together  on  the  northwest  corner  of 
Sec.  3,  T.  13  K,  K.  3  W.  of  the  4th  P.  M.,  but  its  builder  is  unknown. 
This  rude  hut  gave  shelter  to  those  who  had  come  to  stay.  It  also  be- 
came the  seat  of  merchandise  where  William  Mackey  sold  a  few  sim- 
ple goods  such  as  a  pioneer  could  buy.     This  was  the  first  "store." 

September  21,  1835,  there  started  from  Muskingum  count}^,  Ohio, 
George  McPherren,  who  had  buried  his  wife  in  Ohio.  In  his  family 
were:  Mary,  James,  Susanna,  Easter,  Daniel,  Nancy,  Fannie,  Sarah 
and  George  ;  Benjamin  Decker,  the  prospective  husband  of  Miss  Fannie 
McPherren;  John  Walker,  husband  of  Easter  McPherren.  Some  of  the 
family  taking  sick,  a  short  stay  was  made  at  Washington,  Illinois. 
George  McPheiTcn,  Sr.,  accompanied  by  George  Long  and  Matthew 
Finley  pushed  on  to  find  a  satisfactory  location.  Mr.  Long  aftei-ward 
located  in  Knox  county,  and  Finley  in  Henderson.  The  family  made 
another  stay  at  Little  York,  where  just  previous  Ilughy  Martin  had 
been  killed  by  the  Indians.  Leaving  some  of  the  party  at  the  fort, 
Mr.  McPherren,  John  Walker,  Benjamin  Decker,  and  Daniel  McPher- 
ren came  to  Mercer  county  and  built  a  log  house  on  the  northeast 
quarter  of  section  4,  in  what  is  now  Ohio  Grove  township.  This  "lone 
mansion"  of  the  country  was  about  16x18,  one  story,  one  room.  Some 
rough  boards  were  hauled  from  Ebenezer  CrisweH's  saw  mill,  on  Eliza 
creek,  at  least  fifteen  miles  distant.  This  was  used  for  floor.  The 
roof  was  of  clapboards,  the  window  of  greased  paper.  Nails  had  been 
brought  with  them,  but  were  used  as  sparsely  as  possible.  When 
ready  for  "dobbing"  the  weather  was  so  cold  that  water  had  to  be 
boiled  for  mixing  the  "mud."  The  following  summer  the  mortar 
peeled  oft"  on  account  of  its  having  frozen  Avhen  put  on.  The  new  log 
"castle"  was  occupied  by  the  family  of  eight  on  Christmas  day,  1835. 
This  house  was  furnished  with  the  old  "continental  bedstead"  of  two 
poles,  one  leg  and  two  sides  of  the  house  and  clapboards,  etc.  Stools 
served  as  chairs  for  a  number  of  years.  The  other  furniture,  if  it  ex- 
isted, was  fashioned  to  correspond.  The  house  stood  close  to  the  sec- 
tion line,  one  fourth  of  a  mile  from  the  township  line.  The  small  log 
cabin  before  mentioned,  about  a  mile  to  the  east,  was  occupied  by  part 
of  the  family  in  order  to  hold  the  claim  to  the  quarter  on  which  it 
stO(xl.  Thus  were  the  first  2>ermanent  settlers  located  after  a  journey 
of  six  weeks  overland,  with  all  the  obstacles  and  hindrances  incident 


^^■SS- 


'fmm 


i 


^-^^e-t^ 


OHIO    GROVE    TOWNSHIP.  431 

to  the  times,  and  their  waitings  at  different  places  ere  a  home  was. 
found.  Where  are  the  McPherrens  now  ?  The  father  sleeps  beneath 
the  sod  where  all  must  lie.  Benjamin  Decker  is  dead,  but  his  wife, 
Fannie,  owns  a  farm  in  Ohio  Grove.  James  is  near  Keynolds,  Sarah 
is  in  Iowa,  Susanna  died  in  Iowa,  John  Walker  is  dead,  and  his  wife 
is  Mrs.  Boyer,  near  Viola.  George,  son  of  George,  owns  over  400 
acres  of  land  in  Ohio  Grove. 

In  the  same  year,  1835,  it  is  thought  George  Smith,  Richard  Rice, 
James  Moore,  and  William  Moore  made  their  advent.  John  Moore- 
head,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  but  at  that  time  resident  of  Muskingum 
county,  Ohio,  also  settled  in  the  McPherren  neighborhood  in  1835. 
He  died  in  August,  1836,  the  first  instance  of  mortality  in  this  new 
settlement.  He  had  lived  on  section  2.  His  wife  survived  him  till 
1862  or  1863.  In  their  family  were  seven  children,  one  of  whom  was 
buried  in  Warren  county.  The  six  were  pioneers  here.  But  two  are 
living  at  this  writing  (May  12,  1882):  Mrs.  Ashford  Hardy  and  Mrs. 
George  Smith.  Both  are  venerable  ladies,  examples  of  women  of  busy 
lives  from  the  beginning  to  the  present  of  this  township's  history. 

There  may  have  been  one  or  two  others  who  came  in  this  year, 
but  if  so  they  are  unfortunately  unknown  to  the  writer. 

The  year  1836  witnessed  several  additions  to  the  little  group  of 
Ohio  Grove.  Ashford  Hardy,  born  in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  in 
1802,  moved  to  Warren  county,  Illinois,  in  1835,  and  in  the  following 
year  bought  the  N.  W.  J  of  Sec.  1,  T.  13,  Mercer  county.  He 
married  Sophia  Moorehead  in  an  early  day.  He  also  early  purchased 
a  quarter  section  in  what  is  now  Mercer  township.  He  lived  on  his 
first  purchase  till  his  death,  July  18,  1871.  His  children  were: 
George,  Sarah,  Elizabeth,  Koah,  and  Delilah. 

James  McBride,  having  heard  of  the  exceeding  rich  land  and 
the  immense  quantities  of  it  in  Illinois,  left  Muskingum  county, 
Ohio,  early  in  April,  1836,  embarking  at  AVlieeling.  He  was  attracted 
to  Rock  Island  by  reports  of  the  soil,  etc.,  but  upon  arriving  found 
prices  so  high,  and  having  a  friend,  George  Jay,  at  Keithsburg,  he 
determined  to  land  there,  which  he  did.  Mr.  McBride  camped  on  the 
N.  W.  I  Sec.  4,  T.  13,  on  May  10.  He  bought  two  quarters,  the  K 
W.  1  Sec.  4,  and  the  N.  E.  i  Sec.  5,  T.  13  K,  R.  3  W.  of  the  4th  P.  M. 
A  small  log  square  had  been  thrown  together  by  some  squatter.  Here 
Mr.  McBride  brought  his  family  by  ox  teams  furnished  by  George 
McPherren  and  otliers  of  the  few  already  here.  In  his  family  were 
wife  and  five  children:  John  II.,  Almeda,  James  C.,  Elvira  J.,  and 
Sarah  E.  Mr.  McBride  improved  his  fann,  besides  his  milling  enter- 
prise to  be  hereafter  mentioned.  He  died  November  14,  1847. 
25 


432  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Samuel  Cabeen,  with  wife  and  six  cliildreH,  Tliomas  B.,  J.  W.,  S.  P., 
R.  J.,  R.  B.,  and  Sarah  C,  emigrated  in  1836  overland,  transporting 
themselves  and  goods  in.  a  wagon  drawn  by  a  four-horse  team.  The 
S.  W.  I  Sec.  6,  was  laid  claim  to  and  afterward  bought.  On  this  a 
cabin  18x22  was  erected.  A  very  low  loft  was  provided  for  a  bed- 
room for  the  "boys."  The  roof  of  clapboards,  iloor  of  puncheon, 
chimney  with  back  wall  and  jambs  of  dirt ;  two  doors.  Also  a  six- 
light  window,  a  rare  expenditure,  glass  lights  being  •unfashionable  in 
those  days.  Mr.  Cabeen  and  George  McPherren  each  had  purchased 
a  sash  of  six  lights  at  Jack's  mill,  in  Henderson  county.  This  house  of 
Mr.  Cabeen's  frequently  gave  shelter  to  fifteen  or  twenty  persons,  who 
also  partook  of  the  cookery  of  the  hostess.  The  furniture  of  this  house, 
too,  was  meager.  Two  continental  bed-spreads  down  stairs,  a  bureau 
brought  from  the  "East,"  stools  in  place  of  chairs,  until  the  following 
year,  when  they  were  displaced  by  half  a  dozen  split-bottom  chairs, 
the  luxury  of  that  day,  furnished  for  company  when  present,  thus 
necessitating  the  use  of  the  stools  again.  The  log  cabin  served  for 
four  or  five  years,  when  it  gave  place  to  a  hewn  log  house  18x18, 
almost  two  stories  high.  This  subsequently  received  a  frame  addition, 
which  stands  to-day,  a  relic  of  the  past.  Sanniel  Cabeen  died  May  1, 
1856,  his  wife  surviving  him  till  December  6,  1871:.  The  children 
are  spoken  of  elsewhere.  Richard  B.  owns  part  of  the  homestead, 
his  residence  being  somewhat  of  a  contrast  to  the  first  cabin. . 

Joshua  W.  and  Samuel  P.  improved  large  farms,  becoming  promi- 
nent in  the  county's  welfare. 

William  Dilley,  now  hale  and  hearty  at  the  date  of  this  writing,  a 
wool  carder  by  trade,  shipped  his  carding  machine  from  Ohio  in  1836 
to  Oquawka,  Illinois,  by  river,  and  in  May  of  that  year  came,  a  young 
man,  to  blend  his  future  with  that  of  Mercer  county.  He  remained 
for  some  time  in  the  McPherren  neighborhood,  "boarding  and  work- 
ing around. "  In  that  summer  he  raised  a  cabin  on  a  piece  of  land  in 
what  became  Green  township,  and  there  brought  his  machine.  He 
married  in  1837.  He  followed  wool  carding  in  Green  township  till 
1848,  when  he  sold  and  settled  in  what  became  Ohio  Grove  township. 
Here  he  has  improved  his  farm  in  sections  1  and  2. 

John  Wall  and  wife,  a  sister  of  the  elder  McPherren,  were  also 
very  early  settlers,  living  in  a  cabin  on  Pope  creek.  Both  died  in*  the 
neighborhood. 

Another  sturdy  pioneer  of  1836  was  John  H.  Brown,  who  emi- 
grated with  the  Cabeens,  bringing  wife,  Mary  (McPherren)  and  six 
children:  Alexander,  George,  John,  Sarah  J.,  James  M.,  William. 
He  bought  no  land  for  about  eighteen  months,  living  the  first  year 


OHIO   GROVE   TOWNSHIP.  433 

near  New  Boston,  then  near  McClure's  bridge,  then  entered  eighty- 
acres  in  Ohio  Grove  in  1838.  He  was  a  poor  man,  but  by  his  won- 
derful energy  finally  became  the  possessor  of  about  a  thousand  acres.  A 
small  piece  of  the  land  now  owned  by  William  Brown  was  broken  in 
1836,  on  which  stood  a  small  log  cabin.  Says  William  Brown  in  that 
year,  1836,  the  nearest  hog  to  our  house  was  twenty-three  miles  dis- 
tant, so  tliat  pork  was  not  a  common  dish  for  the  first  year's  table. 
Alexander  Brown  kept  a  bachelor's  hall  for  several  years.  He  was 
the  great  ox  driver  of  his  day.  Like  his  father,  he  has  amassed  a  large 
farm. 

"A  rolling  stone  gathers  no  moss."  So  thought  the  nucleus  of 
pioneers  who  settled  Ohio  Grove.  They  had  come  to  stay,  and  stay- 
ing attracted  others.  "In  union  there  is  strength."  All  put  their 
hands  to  the  wheel  of  industry,  all  aided  one  another.  In  trouble 
sympathy  was  universal ;  in  pleasure  all  participated. 

The  year  1837  brought  new  neighbors  and  good  citizens.  In  the 
fall  of  1836  Thomas  Candor  and  his  brother,  Robert  Candor,  made  the 
trip  from  Pennsylvania  to  Rock  Island,  then  into  Mercer  county  on 
horse  back.  Thomas  laid  claim  to  the  N.  W.  ^  of  Sec.  6,  T.  13  N., 
R.  3  W.,  also  the  S.  W.  J  of  Sec.  7,  and  cut  his  name  in  a  large  oak 
standing  near  what  are  known  as  Candor  Springs.  He  then  left  orders 
with  William  Sherifi:',  of  Keithsburg,  for  the  building  of  a  cabin  on  his 
farm.  The  Candors  then  sold  their  horses  and  returned  by  water  to 
Pennsylvania.  Robert  died  in  his  native  state.  In  the  following  year 
Thomas  sold  his  tannery  in  Pennsylvania  and  moved  his  family  of 
wife  and  rive  children,  John  M.,  Robert,  Josiah,  Mary  H.,  and  Daniel 
M.,  with  goods,  by  one  big  wagon  and  a  spring  wagon  with  two  teams. 
A  part  of  his  goods  he  ghipped  by  river.  East  of  the  Illinois  river  he 
bought  some  stock  which  was  driven  through.  Arrived  in  Mercer 
county,  after  a  short  stay  in  Keithsburg,  the  family  rendezvoused  in 
the  log  cabin  ordered  built  by  Thomas  Candor  the  preceding  year. 
The  cabin  was  18x18,  two-story,  the  first  built  in  the  N.  W.  of  T.  13, 
and  it  still  stands  a  relic  of  bygone  times.  Could  it  speak  it  could 
tell  of  many  pleasant  family  circles,  friendly  hospitalities,  merry 
parties,  sacred  meetings,  as  well  as  burdens  and  disappointments,  and 
pain  and  death,  followed  by  tears  of  bereavement  and  loss.  Mrs. 
Candor  succumbed  to  the  toils  of  frontier  life,  dying  September  30, 
1841,  aged  forty-two  years.  Thomas  Candor,  after  a  busy  life  devoted 
to  the  good  of  others  as  well  as  himself,  died  March  13,  1871.  The 
old  homestead,  owned  by  Robert  Candor,  wears  a  far  different  aspect 
from  that  of  forty  years  ago. 

In  1832  William  I.  Nevius  emigrated  to  Warren  county,  Illinois, 


434  HISTORY   OF   MERCEK   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

via  the  rivers  from  Ohio.  He  brought  a  wife  and  young  children, 
also  some  goods  with  about  ten  barrels  of  flour.  Flour  was  a  scarce 
article  on  the  way,  and  many  applications  to  buy  were  made  but 
refused.  For  some  reason  the  party  was  landed  on  the  Iowa  side  of 
the  river,  near  where  Keokuk  is,  by  reason  of  the  rapids  being  so  shal- 
low, being  told  they  would  be  transferred  by  a  special  craft.  No  craft 
appeared.  Finally  leaving  the  family  in  the  wilderness  alone,  Mr. 
Nevius  secured  passage  in  a  skiff  and  started  in  search  of  some  one  to 
haul  the  family  and  goods  to  Monmouth,  where  his  brothers-in-law 
resided,  expecting  that  by  his  return  all  would  be  conveyed  over  the 
river.  Finding  no  settlers  he  gave  word  to  a  man,  owner  of  an  infe- 
rior river  craft,  that  he  would  push  on  to  Monmouth  if  necessary  to 
get  conveyances.  This  man  delivered  the  word  to  Mrs.  Nevius,  who 
had  taken  shelter  in  a  shanty  with  her  four  sick  children.  Imagine 
yourself,  good  woman  of  this  decade,  in  such  circumstances !  The 
only  cabin  within  miles.  All  weird  and  wild  without,  and  lonely  and 
desolate  within,  the  shadow  of  night  falling  as  a  cloak  over  all.  The 
real  or  fancied  noise  of  the  approach  of  wild  and  savage  beasts,  or 
more  savage  men  !  The  voice  at  the  door  calling  for  admittance  and 
lodging,  but  sternly  and  resolutely  refused  by  the  heroine  within. 
Anxious  to  cross  the  river  Mrs.  Nevius  secured  transportation  of  her 
goo(;Is.  She  first  sent  the  flour  over  by  the  craftsman,  who,  going  home 
for  the  night,  refused  to  convey  more  that  day.  Next  day  another 
load  of  goods  was  taken  across  with  the  oldest  child,  small  indeed 
then,  to  stay  with  the  goods,  and  a  similar  postponement  of  the  bal- 
ance of  the  work.  The  mother  could  see  her  goods  and  her  child 
across  the  water,  and  must  the  child  remain  alone  through  night 
in  such  a  place  ?  So  said  the  craftsman.  Fini^ly  the  woman  prevailed 
and  the  family  united  on  this  side  the  river. 

In  time  Mr.  Nevius  returned  with  ox  teams  and  all  were  taken  to 
Monmouth.  Settlement  was  first  made  near  Atchison's  church,  on 
Cedar  creek,  in  Warren  county.  In  1835  removal  near  New  Boston 
was  had  in  time  to  vote  for  the  organization  of  Mercer  county.  In 
1837  Mr.  Nevius  secured  the  W.  ^  of  N.  E.  i,  and  the  E.  i  of  k.  W. 
i  of  Sec.  16,  T.  3,  and  permanently  located  it.  This  he  improved. 
He  also  bought  land  north  of  where  Sunbeam  is  now.  Here  Mr. 
Nevius  became  identified  with  all  the  interests  of  Ohio  Grove  township. 
He  was  very  handy  with  tools.  Did  general  repairing  for  self  and 
neighbors,  whether  carpentry,  blacksmithing,  or  other  repairing.  He 
was  a  harness  and  shoemaker  also.  Mr.  Nevius  hauled  the  first  apple 
trees  of  Mercer  county  from  Hennepin,  Bureau  county,  Illinois,  with 
an  ox  team.     He  divided  with  the  Cabeens  and  McPherrens.     This 


OHIO    GROVE    TOWNSHIP.  '  435 

was  in  1837.  Mr.  Xevius'  house  was  the  first  on  the  prairie.  Mrs. 
Nevius  still  lives,  the  heroine  of  many  a  pioneer's  struggle  and  a  faith- 
ful helper  in  woman's  work  in  Mercer  county. 

Immigration  continued  steadily  year  by  year.  In  1838  William  C. 
Brownlee  came  from  New  York,  settling  near  Yiola,  Mercer  county, 
and  in  the  following  year  located  in  Ohio  Grove  township,  buying  240 
acres  on  North  Henderson  creek.  Here  he  still  lives,  one  of  the  few 
survivors  of  those  early  pioneers.  The  Burnets  must  have  arrived 
about  this  time  or  little  later ;  they  owned  land  in  the  southern  part  of 
the  township.  In  this  year  also  came  John  Stephens,  wife  and  six 
children :  Edward,  now  of  Keithsburg ;  Peter,  in  Ohio  Grove ;  Han- 
nah, then  Mrs.  James  Trusler,  now  of  Iowa ;  James  W.  (died  about 
1840);  William  J.,  of  Iowa;  Catharine  (Mrs.  James  Walters).  Mr. 
Stephens  purchased  the  Yernon  interest  in  the  mill ;  also  160  acres  of 
land.  He  sold  and  in  1846  settled  on  the  prairie,  where  his  death 
occurred.  His  wife  survived  him,  but  is  now  dead.  1839  seems  to 
have  been  a  blank  year.  1840,  more  fortunate,  brought  William  T. 
Patterson.  He  had  purchased  a  few  simple  goods,  as  linen  shirt- 
bosoms,  jewelry,  etc.,  which  he  sold  as  he  traveled  to  such  as  would 
buy,  or  would  pay  his  lodging  and  board  with  his  wares.  He  worked 
awhile  for  Capt.  Bain  in  the  distillery.  The  captain  failing,  he 
received  nothing  for  his  work.  Before  doing  this  he  dug  a  cellar  for 
Hemy  Kimel.  Thus  "he  worked  around."  He  soon  purchased 
eighty  acres  of  land,  for  which  he  largely  paid  by  building  a  sod  fence. 
He  farmed  four  or  five  years  where  Norwood  is.  It  was  not  till  1847 
that  he  bought  and  located  permanently  in  Ohio  Grove  township, 
where  he  became  owner  of  the  E.  -^  of  Sec.  24.  In  1842  Joseph 
Bobinson  came  from  Quincy,  Illinois,  and  is  yet  a  resident.  In  1843 
Hammond  Webster  settled  the  S.  E.  ^  of  Sec.  28.  He  died  in  1845. 
In  this  year  (1843)  James  Calhoun  emigi*ated  from  Ohio.  He  brought 
his  wife  and  nine  children:  David,  William,  John  K.,  James  H., 
Joseph  C,  Samuel  C,  Elizabeth,  Franklin,  and  Alexander  T.  The 
family  came  via  the  river  to  Oquawka.  Mr.  Calhoun  died  July  15, 
1847.  James  Emery  and  sons,  James  and  Robert,  must  have  come 
about  this  time.  In  1845  came  Nathaniel  Partridge,  a  carpenter,  and 
probably  Levi  Butterfield.  James  Graham  had  settled  in  Warren 
county  in  1842,  but  in  1845  he  located  on  N.  W.  ^  of  Sec.  35,  T.  13, 
Mercer  county.  This  place  he  improved,  and  here  he  was  identified 
with  township  affairs  till  his  death,  November  25,  1879. 

In  1848  John  Seaton  laid  claim  to  the  N.  W.  I  of  Sec.  19,  first 
"  squatting  on  it,"  and  then  pre-empting  and  finally  buying  it.  He  had 
lived  the  two  years  pre>dous  in  Warren  county.     Mr.  Seaton  improved 


436  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AJTO   HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

his  farm  building,  the  present  residence,  in  1861.  He  died  July  21, 
1881.  The  farm  is  now  the  property  of  George  Seaton.  1849  brought 
William  Pepper  and  Samuel  Lafferty.  The  latter  came  to  Mercer 
county  in  1842,  but  returned  to  Ohio  till  1846,  when  he  settled  in 
North  Henderson,  then  in  Suez,  and  finally  Ohio  Grove  township, 
Mercer  county,  Illinois.  He  is  now  old  and  feeble;  he,  too,  looks 
back  to  the  time  when  he  shot  deer,  and  wolves  howled  about  the  place. 

In  1850,  Thomas,  Francis,  and  John  McClellan  made  their  advent. 
Thomas  and  John  bought  the  Butterfield  place,  which  afterward 
became  the  property  of  John  alone.  Jesse  Mounts  and  family,  John 
Smith  and  family,  and  others  were  early  settlers  ;  all  cannot  be  found. 
Settlement  became  more  rapid.  The  advent  of  another  ceased  to  be  a 
novelty.  Some  begdn  to  feel  crowded  and  moved  away.  Several 
went  to  Oregon ;  some  to  California.  In  1851  James  Eobb,  Jacob  and 
Barnet  Unangst  became  residents.  Barnet  Unangst  moved  his  family 
of  wife  and  eight  children  from  New  Jersey,  a  distance  of  i,100  or 
1,200  miles,  over  the  country,  one  team  doing  the  work.  They  arrived 
after  a  journey  of  fifty-two  days.  They  settled  the  N.  E.  ^  of  Sec.  13, 
entered  for  them  a  little  before  by  Jacob  Unangst,  who  had  preceded 
them.  A  shanty,  12x16,  rough  fencing  lumber,  one  story,  which  was 
occupied  January  2,  1852.  The  frame-work  of  this  residence  con- 
sisted of  poles  sunk  in  the  ground  in  shed  style.  The  furniture  was : 
bedsteads  of  home  make,  blocks  of  saw-logs  for  stools,  dry-goods  box 
for  table,  and  soon  a  table  made  of  rough  boards.  Thus,  even  in 
1851,  did  emigrants  live  and  endure.  The  countiy  at  that  time  was 
thinly  settled,  there  being  but  one  house  between  Ohio  Grove  township 
and  Keithsburg.  It  must  have  been  about  this  time  that  John  Cameron 
settled  in  the  southwest  of  section  19,  where  he  improved  a  farm.  He 
died  about  1858.  His  daughter,  Mrs.  Mary  Seaton,  now  occupies  the 
place.  James  Cameron  is  in  DeKalb  county ;  John  died  about  1865  ; 
Sarah  became  Mrs.  Samuel  Criswell ;  Peter  is  in  Mercer  county.  In 
this  year  also  came  William  R.  McCreight.  He  purchased  a  farm  of 
six  acres  of  William  M.  Hayes.  William  M.  Hayes  became  a  resident 
here  prior  to  this  time,  but  the  exact  date  cannot  now  be  given.  A 
biography  of  him  may  be  found  in  the  appropriate  place.  In  1852 
came  Thomas  S.  Robb  and  others.  In  1853  Samuel  M.  Creighton, 
Joseph  Laffierty,  Col.  Jonathan  Duncan,  the  Kelloggs  and  Torbets 
arrived.  Others,  as  the  Findleys,  Gilmores,  Mclntires,  McCutchans, 
Sprowls,  Garrets,  Shrulls,  Chandlers,  Shoemakers,  Dittos,  Nolands, 
Gustin,  M.  M.  Cross,  the  Browns,  Milligans,  and  a  few  others,  may  be 
considered  as  having  become  tolerably  old  settlers. 

It  is  impossible  to  find  every  one.    Space  will  not  admit  of  extended 


OHIO   GROVE   TOWNSHIP.  437 

notices  of  later  settlers.  Could  those  of  to-day  see  those  of  fifty  years 
ago  at  their  work  the  fact  of  progress  would  be  more  evident  to  them 
by  far  than  these  lines  can  show.  The  ox-teams,  slow  but  sure,  were 
the  stand-bys.  Tlie  people  of  this  section  did  their  milling  at  Jack's 
mills,  or  Criswell's  mills,  or  sometimes  hauled  their  grain  above 
Moline  or  to  RockwelFs  mills.  George  McPherren  and  James  McBride 
made  the  trip,  twenty-one  miles  above  Moline,  to  Cox's  mills.  Their 
load  was  thirty  bushels  of  grain.  Each  furnished  a  horse.  Ai'rived  at 
Rock  river,  McPherren  proposed  to  take  the  ferry.  McBride,  a  jolly 
young  fellow  of  high  life,  jocosely  replied,  "  No  ;  lefs  ford  the  stream 
and  save  our  money  for  whisky."  McPherren  then  proposed  that 
James  should  ride  the  oif  horse,  to  which  the  latter  assented,  and  with 
which  he  immediately  complied.  In  the  bed  of  the  stream  lay  the 
rocks,  covered  with  their  slippery  film,  which  McPherren  feared,  but 
which  McBride  dared.  Arrived  in  deep  water  the  "  ofi" "  horse  slipped, 
lost  his  balance,  his  foot  over  the  tongue  of  the  wagon,  horse  and  rider 
down  in  the  water.  It  required  lively  work  for  a  few  moments  to 
right  rider  and  horse,  both  of  whom  were  in  a  dangerous  position. 
The  day  was  cold  and  freezing,  and  gladly  would  James  McBride  have 
warmed  by  a  big  fire  place,  with  a  bowl  of  bread  and  milk,  instead  of 
traveling  in  a  robe  of  ice.  After  that  he  preferred  the  ferry.  The 
distance  was  not  often  considered  in  a  journey.  George  McPherren 
and  Ephraim  Johnson  had  made  the  trip  to  Oquawka.  They  were  on 
their  return  with  their  ox-team.  The  winter  storm  began.  The  earth 
was  soon  mantled  in  her  nightly  gown.  The  air  was  full  of  the  downy 
snow.  Intense  cold  obtained.  The  party  reached  Bald  bluff".  Still 
the  team  pushed  on  as  oxen  did  push,  and  hour  after  hour  was 
traveled.  Home  surely  could  not  be  far,  when,  to  their  surprise  and 
disappointment  and  danger,  they  found  themselves  again  at  Bald  bluff". 
By  this  time  McPherren's  feet  had  somewhat  frozen.  Johnsoa  opened 
the  bosom  of  his  shirt,  and  McPherren,  placing  one  foot  on  each  breast, 
gradually  abstracted  heat  sufficient  to  warm  the  frozen  members. 
Again  the  route  homeward  was  resumed.  They  arrived  after  much 
suffering.  These  incidents  but  illustrate  the  journeys  and  experiences 
of  many  others. 

The  elder  George  McPherren  and  William  Dilley  visited  their 
old  home  in  Ohio.  They  returned  by  way  of  the  lakes  to  Chicago, 
from  which  place  they  walked  a  distance  of  180  miles  home.  In  six 
days  the  feat  was  accomplished.  Similar  trips  have  been  made  to 
Galena  to  the  land  sales. 

"Occasionally  a  farmer  hauled  his  wheat  to  Chicago,"  says  William 
I.  Nevius,  "bringing  back  a  load  of  salt  and  other  articles  needed  by 


438  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

the  families.  Tliej  plodded  on  and  on  day  after  day  tlirongli  the 
prairie  grass,  fording  creeks,  some  having  their  clothes  so  badly  cut  to 
pieces  by  the  grass  that  they  were  compelled  to  change  their  iinmen- 
tionahJes  'hind-side  before  to  appear  decent  in  their  own  crowd,  not 
caring  for  the  outside  world,  as  the  face  of  a  human  save  one  of  their 
own  crowd  was  seldom  seen  on  the  way."  Some  of  the  present  might 
say  the  expenses  of  those  trips  must  have  equaled  the  profits,  but  not 
so.  Food  was  carried  from  home  for  the  journey.  It  was  that  or 
starve,  for  there  was  only  here  and  there  a  house  (or  one  here  and 
none  there).  But  little  chance  offered  for  expenditure  of  money. 
Their  wheat  was  sold  for  forty -five  or  fifty  cents  per  bushel,  then  all 
returned  as  happy  as  lords. 

Long  trips  to  mill  soon  became  unnecessary.  In  the  fall  and 
winter  of  1836  James  McBride  and  Joseph  Yernon  built  a  saw-mill  on 
Pope  creek.  This  did  the  sawing  for  many  years,  but  not  the  grinding. 
Yernon  sold  his  share  to  John  Stephens,  who  in  turn  sold  it  to  Yan- 
scook.  The  site  finally  became  the  property  of  Henry  Kimel,  who 
erected  a  good  fiouring-mill.  This  has  given  place  to  a  far  more  exten- 
sive building  and  apparatus,  now  owned  by  James  Kimel,  although 
not  on  the  same  site  as  the  old  mill. 

The  trades  were  represented  by  the  elder  George  McPherren 
as  cooper.  His  work  was  scattered  far  and  near,  and  many  pieces 
still  remain  in  use  to  testify  to  the  workmanship.  William  Nevius 
was  cai^penter,  shoemaker,  and  blacksmith.  His  work,  too,  was  made 
to  last  and  not  for  repairs.  The  works  of  these  two  men  live  after 
them.  Since  the  war  George  Werts  has  been  the  village  blacksmith. 
William  Mackey  kept  the  first  store  in  1836.  John  Stephens  became 
the  merchant  in  1839.  Since  that  day  C.  S.  Richey  and  James  Feather 
have  sold  goods,  while  the  present  firm  is  McCreight  &  Co.  The  first 
postma^er  at  Sunbeam  was  Samuel  M.  Dihel.  Mary  J.  Williams, 
afterward  Mrs.  George  McPherren,  kept  the  postoifice  for  many  years. 
Moses  Mclntyre  has  been  postmaster  of  Duck  Creek  since  its  estab- 
lishment. 

The  first  secular  school  kept  in  the  township  was  taught  in  a  barn 
belonging  to  Capt.  Richard  Rice.  The  teacher  to  whom  this  honor 
is  due  was  Miss  Ruth  Conner.  The  time  was  1839,  hence  it  is  evi- 
dent the  early  pioneers  understood  the  necessity  of  education  even  for 
frontier  life.  It  is  said  Miss  Conner  used  to  punish  the  children  by 
putting  them  in  the  mangers  of  the  stable  when  they  desired  other 
treatment  than  whipping.  The  first  school-house  was  built  on  the 
S.  W.  \  of  Sec.  4,  in  1841.  This  was  built  by  subscription  and  so  sup- 
ported.    It  was  not  long  before  Thomas  Candor  and  Samuel  Cabeen 


OHIO    GROVE    TOWNSHIP. 


439 


erected  a  log  school  edifice  on  the  S.  W.  ^  of  Sec.  7.  As  the  popula- 
tion increased  other  schools  were  established.  As  circumstances  im- 
proved the  log  building  with  its  slab  benches,  etc.,  gave  place  to  frame 
buildings.  To-day  nine  good  edifices  give  shelter  to  the  bodies  of 
manj  children,  while  their  minds  are  instructed  by  as  many  able 
teachers.  The  enumeration  of  1881  showed  41:7  persons  under  twenty- 
one  years  of  age.  Besides  the  nine  districts  there  are  some  partial  dis- 
tricts. Emily  Paine,  now  the  widow  of  Nathaniel  Brownlee,  was  the 
fij'st  teacher  at  the  Candor  school.  S.  Hogan  was  a  very  early  teacher. 
Perhaps  no  man  has  taught  so  long  as  E.  Forsyth,  who  has  been 
a  teacher  for  over  twenty  years.  He  also  taught  for  twenty  years 
before  coming  to  Illinois. 

ELECTIONS. 

The  first  election  was  held  at  the  house  of  George  McPherren,  in 
the  fall  of  1836.  For  several  years  afterward  voting  was  done  at 
William  I.  Nevius'  residence.  The  following  is  a  list  of  the  princi- 
pal ofticers  of  the  township  since  its  organization : 


1855 
18.56 
18.57 
1858 
1859 
1860 
1861 
1862 
1863 
1864 
1865 
1866 
1867 
1868 
1869 
1870 
1871 
1872 
1873 
1874 
1875 
1876 
1877 
1878 
1879 
1880 
1881 
1882 


Supervisor. 


James  Burnet 

Samuel  Cabeen 

Ashford  Hard v 

William  M.  Hayes 

William  M.  Hayes 

William  M.Hayes 

William  M.  Hayes 

William  M.  Hayes 

William  M.  Hayes 

William  M.  Hayes 

William  M.  Hayes 

William  M.  Hayes 

William  M.  Hayes 

William  M.  Hayes 

Horace  N.  Chandler 

Horace  N.  Chandler 

Robert  Candor 

Horace  N.  Chandler 

T.  S.  Robb 

Horace  N.  Chandler 

T.  S.  Robb 

Horace  N.  Chandler 

Horace  N.  Chandler 

Horace  N.  Chandler 

Horace  N.  Chandler 

Horace  X.  Chandler 

Horace  N.  Chandler 

T.  S.Robb 


Clerk. 


T.  S.  Robb 

Samuel  Miller 

Samuel  Miller 

E.  Forsyth 

E.  Forsvth 

E.  Forsyth 

E.  Forsvth 

E.  Fonsyth 

E.  Forsvth 

E.  Forsyth 

E.  Forsvth 

E.  Forsvth 

E.  Forsvth 

E.  Forsvth 

E.  Forsyth 

E.  Forsvth 

E.  Forsyth 

E.  Forsvth 

E.  Forsvth 

J.  W.  Sid  well 

J.  W.  Sidwell 

E.  Forsyth 

E.  Forsvth 

E.  Forsyth 

E.  Forsyth 

E.  Forsyth , 

E.  Forsvth , 

E.  Forsyth  


ASSE.SSOR. 


John  W.Dihel 

J.  W.  Cabeen 

Horace  Williams 

J.  P.  Gilmore 

J.  P.  Gilmore 

J.  P.  Gilmore 

J.  B.  Gilmore 

William  I.  Nevius  . .. 

J.  N.  Markee 

J.  P.  Gilmore 

William  I.  Nevius. . . 

E.  Forsvth 

E.  Forsvth 

E.  Forsyth 

Alexander  Pollock  . . 

E.  Forsvth 

E.  Forsyth 

E.  Forsvth 

T.  R.  Gourlev 

E.  Forsyth 

M.  M.  Cross 

J.  W.  Dillev 

J.  W.  Dillev 

J.  W.  Dilley 

J.  S.  Hamilton 

J.  S.  Hamilton 

D.J.  B.  RO.SS 

N.  H.  Guthrie 


Collector. 


Horace  Williams. 
John  H.  McBride. 
Horace  Williams. 
A.  P.  Brown. 
A.  P.  Brown. 
John  H.  McBride. 
John  H.  McBride. 
J.  B.  Gilmore. 
J.  P.  Gilmore. 
J.  M.  Hamilton. 
J.  S.  McCreight. 
J.  S.  McCreight. 
S.  D.  Paxton. 
S.  D.  Paxton. 
S.  D.  Paxton. 
S.  D.  Paxton. 
Joseph  Cams. 
Josejih  Cams. 
Joseph  Cams. 
Jeseph  Cams. 
Joseph  Cams. 
Josrph  Cams. 
J.  S.  Hamilton. 
J.  S.  McCreight. 
J.  S.  McCriight. 
J.  S.  McCrdght. 
J.  S.  McCreight. 
J.  S.  McCreight. 


The  justices  of  the  peace  have  been  T.  S.  Eobb,  Levi  Butterfield, 
John  W.  Dihel,  Andrew  Cams,  C.  S.  Richey,  E.  Forsyth,  James  Gra- 
ham, H.  M.  Chandler,  William  S.  McCormick.  The  present  are  E. 
Forsvth,  ar  d  William  S.  McCormick. 


440  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

The  population  of  Ohio  Grove  township,  according  to  the  census 
of  1880,  is  :  Male,  562  ;  female,  494  ;  total,  1,056.  Assessed  valua- 
tion of  property,  1881,  $442,275  ;  real  estate,  $337,085  ;  personal, 
$95,190.  Equalized  by  state  board  :  Real  estate,  $335,691  ;  personal, 
$94,883  ;  total,  $430,574.  The  taxes  for  1881  were  :  State,  $2,284.23  ; 
county,  $1,078.26;  town,  $260.13;  road  and  bridge,  $798.37;  road, 
$647.93;  bond,  $2,004.01;  coupon,  $231.55;  district  school,  $1,956.89; 
district  road,  $245.42  ;  dog,  $157.00.  It  must  be  rememb3red  that 
tax  valuation  is  far  below  real  valuation  of  property. 

Although  Ohio  Grove  has  no  railroad,  she  has  aided  the  county  in 

securing  such  a  valuable  convenience.     In  1870  the  township  voted 

$7,000  toward  building  the  American  Central,  since  a  branch  of  the 

Chicago,  Burlington  ife  Quincy.     Bonds  were  issued   at  ten  per  cent, 

payable  in  three  payments.     About  1880  the  bonds  were  refunded  at 

eight  per  cent.     In  1881   one-third  the  debt  was  paid.     At  present 

writing  there  is  in  the  hands  of  supervisor  Robb  sufficient  to  meet  the 

second  payment.     This  indicates  the  early  liquidation  of  the  whole 

debt. 

"Away  back  in  bygone  times, 
Buried  mid  the  rubbish  of  forgotten  things," 

are  niany  incidents  which  cannot  be  recorded.  Some  are  not  forgot- 
ten. In  those  days,  as  to-day,  there  was  marriage  and  giving  in  mar- 
riage. No  bell  sounded  the  hour,  no  wedding  march  pealed  from  a 
hundred  pipes  ;  but  nature  was  full  of  music  everywhere  with  cupid  as 
chorister. 

Benjamin  Decker  was  born  in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio.  There 
he  was  raised  to  the  toil  of  a  farm  and  scenes  rustic  as  himself. 
Fannie  McPherren  also  grew  to  blooming  and  blushing  womanhood 
under  similar  circumstances.  That  sprite,  ever  casting  glances  from 
one  to  another,  sought  to  do  his  wiley  work  as  usual.  When  the 
removal  was  talked  of  the  maid  wondered  how  it  would  be  with  Ben- 
jamin. Benjamin  decided  to  accompany,  instead  of  follow,  his  be- 
trothed ;  hence  we  find  him  assisting  in  building  the  first  permanent 
house  in  Ohio  Grove.  He  made  his  home  with  the  McPherrens. 
Spring  of  1837  came,  with  its  verdure  and  flowers  and  music  from 
a  thousand  throats.  As  cooed  the  doves,  so  wooed  Benjamin  and 
Fannie,  j^o  nuptial  knot  had  yet  been  tied  in  Ohio  Grove.  Such  was 
actually  to  take  place  June  15,  1837,  about  11  a.m.,  at  the  residence 
of  the  bride's  father,  George  McPherren.  Invitations  were  extended 
and  answered  by  Ashford  Hardy  and  wife,  James  Moorehead  and 
wife  Matilda,  James  McBride  and  wife  Polly,  Richard  Rice  and  wife 
Jane,   Eliza  Moorehead,  afterward  wife  of  William  Dilley,  John  H. 


OHIO    CTRO^'E   TOWNSHIP,  441 

McBride  and  his  sister  Almeda  (John  isn't  married  yet),  Thomas  B. 
Cabeen,  George  and  Sarah  McPherren,  and  perhaps  a  few  otliers. 
Rev.  John  Porter,  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church,  was  present. 
The  bride  was  dressed  in  white.  No  orange  blossoms  decked  her 
hair  ;  she  needed  none.  The  groom  was  clad  in  brown.  Rev.  Porter 
pronounced  the  service  that  made  these  two  hearts  beat  in  unison,  and 
the  chords  of  whose  lives  Wbrated  harmony  for  so  many  years.  The 
service  over,  some  of  the  guests  retired  to  their  homes,  while  others 
remained  to  partake  of  the  wedding  dinner  prepared  by  the  bride's 
own  labor.  The  patron  had  prepared  a  long,  narrow  table  made  of 
slabs.  The  table  was  spread  with  the  best  the  country  would  aiford. 
"White  bread  and  butter,  pork,  pickles  from  New  York,  furnished  by  a 
neighbor,  fish  caught  in  Pope  creek,  dried  apples  and  peaches  brought 
from  Ohio,  dried  apple  pie  and  dried  peach  pie,  home-made  maple 
syrup  and  coffee ;  no  cakes  and  custards  were  indulged  in.  The  style 
was  simple,  the  couple  were  happy,  and  the  guests  retired  to  their 
homes  to  reflect  and  talk  of  the  wedding,  the  ' '  match  "  and  the  pros- 
pects. The  paternal  roof  gave  shelter  till  the  following  fall,  when 
housekeeping  was  begun  at  Bridger's  corner.  The  log  cabin  stood  in 
the  brush,  was  very  small,  meagerly  furnished  with  home-made  furni- 
ture. The  nearest  neighbors  were  Indians,  who  numbered  from  three 
to  five  hundred.  For  two  years  this  brave  couple  lived  in  such  a 
wilderness,  when  they  erected  a  log  cabin  of  their  own.  In  four  years 
more  they  removed  to  their  parent's  home  to  keep  house  for  him. 
Mr.  Decker  became  an  independent  farmer.  Death  ended  his  career 
March  20,  1875.  His  faithful  bride  and  wife  survives  him.  She  is 
the  mother  of  ten  children.  James  lived  to  manhood,  then  died ; 
Mary,  Ester,  Lucinda,  Silas,  Sarah  A.,  Eva  M.,  William  L.,  George 
(dead). 

Spring  seems  to  have  been  a  favorable  time  for  beginning  a  new 
life  ;  appropriately  so,  too.  It  was  an  April  evening  of  1840,  when 
"William  C.  Brownlee  dropped  into  esquire  Nevius'  house  and  inquired 
for  the  squire.  The  squire  was  away,  but  would  be  back  at  dusk  ;  so, 
also,  would  this  young  man.  A-short  journey  was  made  by  the  young 
man.  AVhen  he  returned  the  squire  was  at  supper.  The  young  man 
was  accompanied  by  a  young  lady.  Miss  Mary  A.  Brownlee,  a  very 
distant  relative.  Conversation  of  a  lively  style  was  indulged  in.  As 
the  squire  finished  his  meal,  young  Brownlee  produced  a  suspicious 
looking  document,  which  soon  explained  itself  Ceremony  was  actu- 
ally called  for.  The  company  was  then  gathered  in  the  squire's 
smoke-house.  The  squire,  with  all  the  dignity  of  his  office,  adminis- 
tered the  service.     It  was  dark.     The  squire  suggested   the  couple 


442  HISTORY    OF    IVrERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

remain  till  the  morning.  The  good  wife  of  the  squire  then  performed 
her  part  of  the  ceremony,  and  the  twain  were  safely  couched  for  the 
night.  Thus  occurred  the  smoke-house  services,  which  have  ever  been 
a  reminiscence  of  merriment  to  old  and  young. 

RELIGIOUS. 

Says  William  I.  Ne\'ius  in  his  notes:  "The  first  public  worship 
in  Ohio  Grove  was  enjoyed  in  the  cabin  of  the  elder  George  McPherren, 
and  conducted  by  Rev.  John  Wallace,  an  Associate  Reformed  Presby- 
terian. The  McPherrens  were  Methodists,  but  his  door  was  open  to 
all  religious  teachers.  In  1837  Rev.  John  Montgomery,  a  mission- 
ary of  the  Old  School  Presbyterian  denomination,  visited  the  settle- 
ment, and  held  public  worship  at  Mr.  McPherren's  for  some  time,  then 
at  the  house  of  William  I.  Ne^^us,  and  little  later  at  Thomas  Candor's. 
The  congregation  in  1837  numbered  about  twenty  persons.  There 
were  the  McPherrens,  George  Smith  and  family,  Ashford  Hardy  and 
family,  Richard  Rice  and  family,  in  1836 ;  William  Moore  and  family, 
the  Candors,  Cabeens,  McBrides,  and  Neviuses,  in  1837.  Rev.  Wal- 
lace preached  till  as  late  as  1841.'" 

According  to  the  researches  of  Elijah  Forsyth,  an  Associate  Re- 
formed (now  U.  P.)  congregation  was  organized  in  1842,  consisting 
of  Jane  Rice,  Elenor  Moorehead,  Phebe  Smith,  Sophia  Hardy,  William 
Moore,  William  McMichael,  Ella  McMichael,  Josiah  Moor,  Samuel 
Moor,  of  Ohio  Grove ;  George  Jay  and  Agnes  Jay,  of  Keithsburg ; 
John,  Elizabeth,  Ann,  Jane  and  Elenor  Collins,  of  Twin  grove.  Ser- 
vices were  held  in  the  groves,  at  school-houses  or  in  the  barn  of  Wm. 
I.  Nevius.  For  some  time  immediately  previous  to  1852,  J.  C.  Porter 
ministered  to  this  congregation  one-fourth  of  the  time.  D.  C.  Cochran 
and  Revs.  Fulton,  Morrow  and  Finley  also  labored  here.  May  5, 
1852,  the  congregation  was  reorganized.  Robert  Miller  and  William 
M.  Hayes  were  elected  ruling  elders ;  Rev.  J.  C.  Porter  officiating. 
William  M.  Hayes,  Robert  M.  Miller  and  George  Smith,  tiiistees. 
At  a  meeting  of  the  session,  William  M.  Hayes  was  elected  clerk, 
which  office  he  held  till  1869.  At  that  time  the  membership  was  forty- 
five.  In  1853  sixteen  joined  by  certificate  and  two  on  examination. 
From  1853  to  1859,  Rev.  M.  Bigger  labored  as  stated  supply.  In 
1854  twenty-two  joined  on  certificate  and  fourteen  on  examination ; 
in  1855,  thirty-seven  by  certificate  and  eight  on  examination.  In  1853 
to  1855  a  house  of  worship  was  erected  at  Sunbeam,  40x60  and  twenty 
feet  from  floor  to  ceiling.  This  was  largely  the  result  of  the  liberality, 
untiring  energy  and  perseverance  of  William  M.  Hayes,  an  honored 
member.     In  1860  Rev.  J.  H.  Nash  became  pastor.     In  1877  Rev. 


OHIO    GROVE    TOWNSHIP.  443 

D.  F.  Mustard  began  his  labors.  The  church  numbered  at  one  time 
163  persons.  Its  present  membership  is  about  100.  The  ruling  elders 
have  been,  besides  those  named,  J.  H.  McCreight,  Elijah  Forsyth, 
Samuel  Wright,  John  Torbit,  M.  M.  Cross,  Alex  Pollock,  David 
Milligan,  N.  Reasoner,  J.  P.  Finlev,  and  P.  H.  Guilinger.  David 
Milligan,  Elijah  Forsyth  and  J.  P.  Finley  are  now  in  the  congregation 
of  Sunbeam.  In  1848-9,  Thomas  Candor  built  the  Candor  Presbyter- 
ian church.  Pev.  Montgomery  remained  its  minister  till  his  death. 
This  church  is  further  noticed  in  the  history  of  Abington  township. 

The  first  Methodist  services  were  held  at  McBride's  by  Rev.  Burr. 
The  school-house  was  next  used  as  a  church.  In  1844  a  great  revival 
was  conducted  in  George  McPherren's  barn.  People  came  thirty 
miles,  camping  out.  The  McPherrens,  McBrides,  Browns,  Moore- 
heads  and  others  were  members  of  the  churcli.  Horace  Williams  was 
class-leader,  and  able  in  his  duty.  George  Williams  also  occupied  the 
position  early.  An  effort  was  made  to  build  a  churcli,  Tjut  failed. 
Finally  George  McPherren  proposed  to  advance  the  money  and  build 
the  church.  His  offer  was  accepted  and  the  church,  35x45,  built 
about  1860,  at  a  cost  of  $1,400,  without  much  of  the  labor  reckoned. 
The  house  was  dedicated  by  Elder  Frank  Smith,  for  years  a  laborer  in 
the  neighborhood.  Other  early  preachers  were  William  Hanly,  Elder 
CuUis  and  others.  Other  early  class-leaders  were  Peter  Stephens  and 
Abraham  Crabtree.  Just  after  the  dedication  the  church  enjoyed  a 
great  revival,  receiving  about  sixty  additions.  The  present  board  of 
stewards  consists  of  George  McPherren,  Peter  Stephens,  George  Wil- 
liams, Solomon  Guthrie,  William  Frankleberry.  Pev.  Ayers  is  in 
charge. 

CEMETERIES. 

Three  spots  are  especially  dear  to  the  early  settlers  of  Ohio  Grove. 
When  the  toils  and  hardships  were  over  the  pioneer  was  at  rest.  There 
was  no  "Cavendish  Duke  of  Devonshire"  with  his  five  thousand  ten- 
ants to  follow  a  son  to  the  grave.  But  family  and  neighbors  equally 
royal  followed  their  loved  and  respected  to  -burial.  The  plat  known 
as  McClure's  Cemeterv,  formerlv  McPherren's,  was  donated  for  the 
purpose  by  the  elder  George  McPherren.  How  sad  and  tearful  were 
they  who  followed  the  remains  of  John  Moorehead,  deceased  August 
8,  1836,  to  the  dedication  of  that  sacred  spot.  This  was  the  first 
funeral  service  in  Ohio  Grove.  The  first  death  of  a  pioneer;  the 
beginning  of  that  funeral  march  that  has  so  oft  been  resumed  in  subse- 
quent years.  The  yard  is  dotted  with  graves.  Here  lie  Ashford 
Hardy,  George   McPherren,  Georg'e  W.  Stephens,  John  M.  Walker, 


444  HISTORY    OF   IVIERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Tliomas  Moorehead,  Dorcas  Mooreliead,  Barnet  Unangst  and  wife, 
Wm.  Smith,  Mrs.  Wm.  Dillev ;  the  'Browns,  Calhouns,  Benjamin 
Decker,  Bentlejs,  Mclvees,  Guthries  and  others.  The  Candor  grave- 
yard was  dedicated  by  the  burial  of  Mrs.  Thomas  Candor.  The 
ground  was  set  apart  for  a  cemetery  by  Thomas  Candor.  He  now  rests 
near  his  loved  companion.  Here  too  lie  Samuel,  and  Joshua  "VY.,  and 
Samuel  P.  Cabeen,  and  others  of  the  families  of  that  name.  Judge 
Wm.  G.  Hayes,  so  long  an  honor  to  himself  and  his  people,  found  a 
resting  place  here.  Wm.  I.  Nevius,  Henry  Kimel,  Capt.  James  Bur- 
net, John  Seaton  and  wife,  Wm.  E,.  McCreight,  James  H.  McCi-eight, 
James  McBride,  Dennis  Conner  and  wife  Mary,  Dr.  A.  B.  Campbell, 
John  Cameron ;  the  Websters,  Williamses,  Dittos,  Joneses  and  others. 
The  Ignited  Presbyterian  cemetery  was  so  called  from  the  donor 
of  the  ground,  William  Miller,  a  prominent  member  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  church.  Its  sod  covers  the  bodies  of  Robert  and  Samuel 
Miller,  Nancy  Miller,  T.  E.  Home  and  Wm.  G.  Paxton.  Thomas  B. 
More  of  comj)any  A,  30th  111.  Vols.,  to  whose  memory  is  inscribed: 

"  Death  has  been  here,  and  borne  away, 
A  brother  from  our  side, 
Just  in  the  memory  of  liis  day 
A  brave  young  soldier  died." 

Here  too  rest  J.  P.  Paxton,  James  L.  Paxton,  Catharine  Paxton,  Wm. 
H.  Ryan,  Dorcas,  wife  of  M.  M.  Cross,  James  G.  Walker  and  others. 
Many  a  grave  is  unmarked  by  marble,  therefore  ye  visitors 

Tread  lightly,  this  is  hallowed  ground  ; 

Tread  reverently  here ; 
Beneath  this  sod  in  silence  sleeps  the  brave  old  pioneer:     . 

Who  never  quailed  in  darkest  hour, 
Whose  heart  ne'er  felt  a  fear. 

Tread  lightly  then,  and  now  bestow  a  tribute  of  a  tear. 
Forever  in  the  fiercest  and  the  thickest  of  the  fight 

The  dusk  and  swarthy  foeman  felt  the  terror  of  his  might. 

Bidding  good-bye  to  the  honored  dead,  we  introduce  the  reader  to  the 
living,  whose  brief  sketches  following  will  grow  of  more  importance  as 
the  years  shall  finish  their  probation. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Sa^itel  p.  Cabeen  (deceased),  was  among  the  old  settlers  of  Mer- 
cer county,  and  among  those  men  who  have  developed  its  resources 
and  propagated  within  its  boundaries  progressive  institutions.  He 
came  when  the  country  was  new ;  when  patience,  industry  and  energy 
were  required  as  qualities  of  the  man  whose  life  should  eventually  be 


OHIO    GROVE   TOWNSHIP.  445 

marked  a  "success."  That  Mr.  Cabeen  was  successful  many  yet  live 
to  testify.  Mr.  Cabeen  was  born  in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  Jan- 
uary 18,  1820.  He  came  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  with  his  parents, 
Samuel  and  Elizabeth  (Wright)  Cabeen.  He  was  a  young  man  fitted 
for  his  future  by  former  training.  He  purchased  land  from  time  to 
time  till  he  owned  about  600  acres,  the  most  of  which  he  improved. 
In  politics  Mr.  Cabeen  was  always  strongly  democratic,  yet  he  never 
craved  office.  His  religion  was  of  the  Universalist  doctrine.  •  He  was 
a  good  citizen,  a  kind  father  and  a  faithful  husband.  Mr.  Cabeen  died 
February  16,  1880,  and  is  buried  at  the  Candor  graveyard.  Mr.  Cabeen 
was  first  married  to  Catherine  Spencer,  who  died,  leaving  one  child,  Sarah 
E.  He  was  next  married  August  17,  1854,  to  Catharine  J.  Thomas, 
daughter  of  Solomon  and  Matilda  (Gabrel)  Thomas.  Mrs.  Cabeen  was 
born  in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  .February  13,  1827.  Three  children 
have  been  born  to  them  :  Emma  J.,  now  Mrs.  Jerred  Irwin  ;  Arthur, 
and  Samuel  G. 

Joshua  AV.  Cabeen  (deceased),  son  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  Cabeen, 
was  born  in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  January  4,  1818,  and  emigrated 
west  with  his  people.  He  was  married  February  8, 1872,  to  Rebecca  N. 
Frick,  daughter  of  Frederick  and  Nancy  (Wilson)  Frick,  who  have 
figured  prominently  in  Abington  township  and  in  county  affairs.  Both 
were  natives  of  Danville,  Columbia  (now  Montour)  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania. They  are  fully  noticed  elsewhere.  Mrs.  Cabeen  was  born  in 
Pennsylvania  January  2,  1833,  and  came  west  with  her  parents.  Mr. 
Cabeen  settled  where  Mrs.  Cabeen  now  lives.  He  secured  a  fine  fann, 
and  in  1873  erected  a  good,  substantial  dwelling.  He  died  June  1, 
1878,  leaving  wife  and  two  chik'ren  (Fred  E.  and  Joshua  D.)  to  mourn 
his  loss.     Hq  is  buried  pt  Candor  graveyard. 

Samuel  Cabeen  (deceased),  another  of  Mercer  county's  very  early 
settlers.  He  was  born  in  county  Antrim,  Ireland,  1788.  He  emi- 
grated to  Philadelphia  in  1808.  His  people  were  farmers  and  weavers. 
He  was  a  general  workman.  He  clerked  in  Bristol,  Pennsylvania,  for 
his  brother.  He  was  married  to  Elizabeth  P.  Wright,  a  native  of 
Bucks  county,  Pennsylvania.  In  that  year  (1815)  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Cabeen  moved  to  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  In  1836  he  emigrated  to 
Mercer  county,  Illinois.  His  subsequent  history  is  in  the  general 
history  of  Ohio  Grove  township.  He  died  May  1,  1856,  leaving  his 
wife  to  survive  him  till  December  6,  1874.  He  was  a  democrat,  and 
loved  to  "argue  politics.  He  was  county  school  commissioner  several 
years  ;  was  justice  of  the  peace  in  Ohio.  He  served  in  the  war  of  1812, 
in  Gen.  Izzard's  division.  Six  children  were  born  in  Ohio :  Thomas  B., 
J.  W.,  S.  P.,  R.  J.,  R.  B.,  and  Sarah  C.     Sarah  C.  died,  aged  fourteen 


446  HISTORY    OF   ilERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

years.  Richard  B.  Cabeen  was  born  May  31,  1826,  in  Muskingum 
county,  Ohio.  His  educational  advantages  were  limited.  His  life  has 
been  one  of  farm  toil.  When  twenty-four  years  of  age  he  visited  Cali- 
fornia two  years  and  four  months.  He  returned  to  the  farm.  He  was 
married  December  29,  1853,  to  Miss  Jane  G.  Pinkerton,  daughter  of 
Joseph  and  Yiolet  Pinkerton,  of  Green  township.  Mrs.  Cabeen  was 
born  in  Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  October  22,  1835.  Tliey  settled  on 
their  present  farm.  In  1878  he  built  the  present  handsome  dwelling. 
Children  number  nine  :  Joshua,  Ella  V.,  Alice  J.,  Margaret  P.,  Scott, 
Sarah  E.,  and  Richard  F.  Mr.  Cabeen  is  democratic  in  politics.  He 
is  a  successful  farmer. 

Thomas  Candor  (deceased)  was  a  type  of  the  men  who  bra\^ed  so 
much  that  this  western  wild  might  grow  to  usefulness.  He  was  plain, 
honest,  and  progressive,  looking  not  only  to  the  rescue  of  the  soil  from 
its  wild  state,  but  also  the  upbuilding  of  the  minds  and  souls  of  the 
rising  generation,  who  now  follow  his  teacliings,  both  precept  and 
example.  He  was  born  in  Union  county,  Pennsylvania,  February  29, 
1796.  His  father  was  a  Scotchman,  and  his  mother  Irish.  Farming 
was  their  occupation.  Thomas  was  meagerly  educated.  In  his  youth 
he  learned  the  tanning  trade,  which  he  afterward  followed  for  some 
time.  He  was  married  to  Margaret  Montgomery,  daughter  of  John 
Montgomery,  whose  brother  was  proprietor  af  Danville,  Pennsylvania. 
Her  brother.  Rev.  John  Montgomery,  was  the  first  preacher  in  Mercer 
county,  and  Hopkins  Boone,  an  old  settler  here,  was  a  brother-in-law. 
The  fall  of  1836  Thomas  and  Robert  Candor  (brothers)  made  the  trip 
from  Pennsylvania  to  Mercer  county  on  horseback.  Having  secured  a 
land  claim  for  the  X.  W.  J  See.  6,  also  S.  W.  ^  Sec.  7,  he,  in  company 
with  his  brother  Robert,  sold  their  horses  and  returned  to  Pennsvl- 
vania  by  river.  He  sold  his  tannery,  and  in  the  fall  of  1837  moved 
westward  overland,  bringing  family  of  wife  and  five  children  :  John  M. , 
Robert,  Josiah,  Mary  H.,  and  Daniel  M.,  and  leaving  one  (Elizabeth) 
buried  in  Pennsylvania.  Having  arrived  in  Mercer  county,  after  a  short 
stay  in  Keithsburg  the  family  moved  into  the  little  log  house  on  their 
farm  formerly  entered.  The  house  was  partly  built  by  William  Sheritl', 
by  order  of  Mr.  Candor.  Ere  few  years  had  passed  Mrs.  Candor  died 
(September  30,  1841),  leaving  a  family  and  friends  to  mourn  their  loss. 
Her  burial  was  a  dedication  of  the  Candor  ffravevard.  Mr.  Candor 
was  next  married  to  Mary  L.  Boardman,  who  died  May  27,  1874. 
Mr.  Candor  died  Mar^h  13,  1871,  and  was  buried  near  his  partner. 
From  the  laying  out  of  Aledo  he  lived  in  town.  He  was  a  man  fore- 
most in  good  works,  yet  a  quiet,  careful,  non-speculative  man.  He 
never  had  a  lawsuit  with  any  man.     He  was  an  elder  in  the  Presby- 


r'^^  m 


-*- 


•^ 


SAMUEL   P.  CABEEN 

(^    deceased] 


OHIO    GROVE    TOWNSHIP.  449 

teriau  chiircli,  and  foremost  in  building  the  Candor  cliurcli.  His 
politics  were  wliig  and  republican.  Of  his  family,  John  N.  graduated 
at  Princeton  College,  and,  in  the  third  year  of  his  theological  course  at 
Princeton  Theological  Seminary,  died  in  the  twenty-fourth  year  of  his 
age.  He  is  buried  at  Danville,  Pennsylvania.  Josiali,  Mary  (the 
first  wife  of  Graham  Lee),  Daniel  M.,  and  Robert.  Robert  Candor 
was  born  May  4,  1828,  in  Columbia  county,  Pennsylvania.  He  married 
Rebecca  J.,  daughter  of  John  and  Anna  (McGaughey)  Linn.  Her 
father  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  her  mother  of  Pennsylvania.  Both 
came  to  Mercer  county  in  1839  and  settled  near  A^iola.  He  died 
August  27,  1851.  He  was  in  the  war  of  1812.  Mrs.  Candor  was  born 
in  Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  April  2,  1829.  After  marriage  Mr.  Candor 
farmed  in  Rock  Island  county  fourteen  years,  and  was  there  justice  of 
the  peace.  He  sold  and  moved  to  Mercer  county,  Li  1872  he  built  a 
fine  residence,  32x56,  two-story.  Both  belong  to  the  Presbyterian 
church,  in  which  he  is  an  elder.  They  have  six  children :  John  M. , 
Thoriias  H.,  Ward  L.,  Sarah  (now  Mrs.  A.  W.  Hill),  Maggie  (now 
Mrs.  W.  S.  Ross),  and  Mary  L. 

George  McPherren  (deceased)  was  born  in  County  Down,  Ireland, 
February  1,  1781.  He  emigrated  when  eighteen  years  of  age  on 
account  of  the  military  commotion  of  those  times.  He  settled  in  New 
Jersey,  near  the  western  line.  There  he  learned  the  cooper  trade, 
which  he  followed  most  of  his  life.  He  was  married  to  Susannah 
"Walker,  by  whom  he  became  the  father  of  ten  children :  Mary,  James^ 
Susannah,  Easter,  Daniel,  Nancy,  Fannie,  Sarah,  George,  Jr.,  and 
Andrew.  He  enlisted  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  while  in  the  campaign 
viewed  different  parts  of  the  country.  He  determined  to  locate  in 
Ohio,  and  moved  to  Muskingum  county  about  1814.  There  he 
followed  his  trade  for  about  twenty-one  years,  also  overseeing  his 
farming  interest,  but  is  believed  never  to  have  plowed  a  furrow  him- 
self. In  Ohio,  June  8,  1824,  he  buried  his  wife :  a  severe  stroke  to 
him.  She  lies  in  the  cemetery  at  Rich  Hill  church.  Mr.  McPherren 
moved  his  family  westward  in  1835,  starting  September  21st,  and 
settled  in  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  in  that  part  that  afterward  became 
Ohio  Grove  township.  He  died  June  23,  1848,  and  was  buried  in  the 
McClure  graveyard.  He  forms  a  prominent  figure  in  the  history  of 
the  township ;  hence  we  dismiss  him  here  by  saying  that  in  politics  he 
was  a  strong  whig,  in  religion  a  Methodist,  at  his  trade  a  good  work- 
man, and  at  lieart  a  true  man.  His  namesake  and  ninth  child,  George 
McPherren,  was  born  in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  August  22,  1820, 
hence  was  a  pioneer  youth  of  Mercer  county,  and  still  lives  to  aid  in 
chronicling  the  events  that  go  to  make  the  history  of  Mercer  county. 
26 


450  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AJSTD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

His  life  since  his  fifteenth  year  has  been  synchronous  with  the  pulse 
of  the  country.  His  hand  has  done  its  share  toward  making  the 
county  what  it  is,  but  will  soon  leave  his  children  to  carry  on  the  work 
he  has  so  well  impelled  thus  far.  Mr.  McPherren  has  460  acres  of 
land,  well  improved,  and  has  given  farms  to  his  sons.  He  was  first 
married  October  1,  1844,  to  Harriet  O.  Williams,  who  died  February  11, 
1870,  leaving  seven  children:  Oliver,  Nancy  J.,  Henry,  Sophia,  Emma, 
Hannah,  and  Anna.  He  was  next  married  April  5,  1871,  to  Mary  J. 
"Williams,  a  sister  to  his  former  wife.  She  was  the  first  postmistress  of 
Sunbeam,  and  held  the  position  many  years,  thus  supporting  her 
invalid  parents.  She  died  March  31,  1882.  Both  she  and  her  sister, 
together  with  Mr.  McPherren,  have  been  for  many  years  members  of 
the  Methodist  church,  uniting  with  that  church  about  1844.  George  H., 
son  of  George  and  Harriet  McPherren,  was  born  in  Mercer  county, 
Illinois,  June  19,  1853.  His  life  has  been  spent  in  Mercer  county, 
mostly  on  the  farm.  He  received  a  common  school  education.  In 
1877  he  became  a  resident  of  Aledo.  In  1882  he  engaged  in  the  meat 
business.  May  1st  of  same  year  he  associated  himself  with  Samuel 
Brown,  but  has  since  sold  to  his  partner.  Mr.  McPherren  also  has  a 
farm  of  160  acres  of  land,  which  he  oversees.  He  was  married 
December  24,  1871,  to  Miss  Eliza  A.,  daughter  of  Samuel  Price.  She 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  September  9,  1851.  Her  mother  is  now 
Mrs.  E.  J.  Moore,  but  whose  maiden  name  was  Emily  Klinefelter. 
Mr,  McPherren  has  four  children  living:  Emily  O.,  William  H., 
Maggie  M.,  Frank  and  Freddie  E.  (twins),  Freddie  E.  ha^^ng  died  at 
the  age  of  seventeen  months. 

James  McBride  (deceased)  was  one  of  the  earliest  and  most  honored 
of  Mercer  county's  pioneers.  His  ancestry  was  Scotch,  Irish,  Welch 
and  German.  He  was  born  in  Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania, 
and  was  there  raised.  The  war  of  1812  found  him  a  member  of  the 
light  horse  company.  He  was  ^ngaged  at  Fort  Meigs.  There  was  a 
ditch  before  the  fort,  and  into  this  bombs  were  rolled  for  the  purpose 
of  blowing  up  the  fort.  Mr.  McBride  accidently  fell  into  the  ditch, 
and  a  bomb  was  precipitated  on  him.  Fortunately  the  captain  rescued 
him  just  previous  to  the  explosion,  but  he  suffered  afterward  from  the 
accident.  He  returned  to  Pennsylvania  and  maiTied  Mary  Houseman, 
then  sixteen  years  of  age,  also  a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  of  Dutch 
descent.  In  1816  they  settled  in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  ten  miles 
east  of  Zanesville.  His  chief  business  was  flat-boating,  and  he  made 
six  trips  to  New  Orleans.  He  was  captain  for  some  time.  In  1836  he 
emigrated  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  coming  from  Wheeling,  Yu-ginia, 
to  Rock  Island,  via  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers,  on  flat-boats.     He 


OHIO    GROVE    TOWNSHIP.  451 

arrived  in  Mercer  county  May  lOtli,  and  camped  on  tlie  N.  W.  ^  of 
Sec.  4,  T.  13  N.,  K.  3.  He  bought  two  claims,  $175  being  the  price 
paid  for  half  a  section  with  a  little  log  house  on  it.  His  family  con- 
sisted of  wife  and  five  children :  John  H. ,  Almeda,  James  C. ,  Elvira  J. , 
and  Sarah  E.  He  died  November  14,  1847,  leaving  his  wife  to  survive 
him  till  March  17,  1879.  Both  were  members  of  the  Methodist  church. 
In  Illinois  he  confined  himself  to  milling  and  farming.  His  life  was 
quiet  and  unostentatious,  loved  by  those  who  knew  him,  little  educa- 
tion, but  with  a  wonderful  memory,  careful  and  successful  in  business, 
democratic  in  politics.  Of  his  children,  James  C.  is  in  Colorado,  but 
has  his  home  in  Aledo.  John  H.,  born  April  8,  1821,  has  spent  his 
life  on  the  farm,  mostly  in  Mercer  county.  He  owns  the  old  home- 
stead of  486  acres,  on  which  he  erected  a  handsome  residence,  and  is  a 
thrifty  farmer.  He  is  democratic  and  a  single  man.  Elvira  J.  was 
born  September  20,  1828.  She  was  married  June  27, 1850,  to  Dr.  A.  B. 
Campbell,  a  native  of  Ohio  and  a  graduate  of  Columbia  Medical  College, 
where  his  brother  was  professor  of  surgery.  He  settled  in  Iveithsburg, 
being  the  second  doctor  of  that  place.  He  practiced  fifteen  years,  and 
died  June  4,  1860,  leaving  wife  and  two  children :  Maud,  and  Jake  IL, 
who  live  with  her  brother,  John  H. 

JoHx  PI.  Browx  (deceased)  was  one  of  the  most  sturdy  pioneers  of 
Mercer  county.  He  was  born  in  Seneca  county,  New  York,  Januaiy 
3,  1797.  He  is  said  to  have  aided  in  the  battle  of  Niagara  in  the  war 
of  1812,  assisting  in  guarding  the  bridge  over  Niagara  river.  He 
received  a  recompense  for  these  services.  His  father  was  a  revolu- 
tionaty  soldier,  receiving  a  land  warrant  for  his  services.  The  Browns 
were  early  settlers  of  Ohio.  John  H.  was  raised  on  the  farm,  but  for 
some  time  was  a  brick  moulder  with  his  brothers.  In  1815  he  was 
married  to  Mary  McPherren.  In  1836  he  moved  to  Mercer  county, 
Illinois,  where  he  became  well  known  before  his  death,  which  occurred 
August  11,  1871.  He  was  warm  in  the  advocacy  of  his  political  doc- 
trine, always  ready  to  talk  whig  and,  later,  republican  principles.  He 
came  to  Mercer  county  a  poor  man,  but  before  his  death  he  owned  at 
one  time  a  thousand  acres  of  land.  His  wife  Mary  (McPherren) 
was  born  in  Mercer  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  lives  with  her  daughter, 
Mrs.  McCaw.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown  were  long  members  of  the  Metho- 
dist Episcopal  church.  Mrs.  Brown  is  now  connected  with  the  Chris- 
tain  church.  In  their  family  are  thirteen  children  :  Alexander, 
George,  John,  Sarah  J.,  James  M.,  AVilliam,  Daniel,  all  born  in 
Muskingum  county,  Ohio ;  and,  born  in  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  viz : 
Hugh,  Benjamin  L. ,  Josoas  F. ,  Francis  M. ,  Mary,  Johannah.  William 
Brown  was  born  in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  May  6,  1832.     He  has 


452  HISTORY    OF    MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

spent  his  life  on  the  farm,  having  risen  from  poverty  in  a  log  cabin  to 
a  farmer  and  owner  of  265  acres  of  land.  He  was  married  June  29, 
1854,  to  Drusilla  Libby,  daughter  of  Rev.  Thomas  Libby,  of  Maine. 
She  was  born  in  Maine,  June  3,  1832,  and  came  to  Mercer  county, 
Illinois,  about  1843.  Her  parents  died  here,  and  are  buried  in  Suez 
township.  Her  father  was  a  Baptist  minister.  After  marriage  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Brown  settled  on  forty  acres  in  section  1,  Ohio  Grove  town- 
ship. This  Mr.  Brown  sold,  then  bought  200  acres  in  Suez  township, 
which  he  also  sold,  and  bought  his  present  farm.  They  have  had  ten 
children,  nine  of  whom  are  living  :  Warren,  George,  Hiram  L.  (dead), 
Alva  C,  William  F.,  Joseph  F.  S.,  Marion  W.,  Josiah  F.,  Freddie  M., 
and  Thomas  J.  Alexander  Brown,  one  of  the  wealthiest  farmers  of 
Ohio  Grove  township  and  the  oldest  son  of  John  H.  and  Mary  Brown, 
was  born  in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  June  23,  1821.  When  a  youth 
of  lifteen  he  came  to  Mercer  county.  His  labor  was  such  as  general 
farm  work,  but  especially  in  driving  ox-team,  hauling  saw  logs  in  an 
early  day,  etc.  That  hard  toil  has  proven  a  success  is  evident  trom  the 
fact  that  he  now  owns  591  acres  of  Mercer  county  land,  well  improved. 
In  1847  he  visited  his  native  place,  and  later  Indiana,  returning  in 
1849.  For  many  years  he  kept  bachelor's  hall,  not  marrying  till  1855, 
when  Lucinda  Saunders  became  his  wife.  She  is  a  daughter  of  George 
Saunders, '  of  Knox  county,  Illinois,  and  a  native  of  Ohio.  After 
marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brown  lived  in  a  hewn  log  cabin  on  the  eighty 
acres  on  which  his  j)resent  house  stands.  They  have  ten  children,' 
living. 

William  I.  I^evius  (deceased)  was  so  identified  with  the  history  of 
Mercer  county  and  is  so  often  mentioned  in  connection  with  its  history 
that  it  is  necessary  to  give  but  few  facts  in  a  special  sketch.  His 
father,  John  W.,  and  his  mother,  Mary  (Roland)  K^evius,  were  natives 
of  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey,  and  were  there  married.  They  made 
their  homes  in  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  in  1837,  living  with  their  son 
William  I.  till  the  following  year.  In  1838  Mr.  Nevius  bought  prop- 
erty in  Millersburg,  where  he  buried  his  wife,  her  deatli  occurring 
April  14,  1847.  He  then  made  his  home  with  his  son  till  his  death, 
October  12,  1854.  Both  rest  in  Millersburg  cemetery.  Mr.  Nevius 
was  for  several  years  probate  judge.  His  daughter,  Mrs.  Eliza  Brady, 
resides  in  Millersburg.  His  son  William  I.  was  born  August  9,  1801, 
in  New  Brunswick,  New  Jersey.  AVhen  young  his  parents  moved  to 
Greene  county,  Ohio,  1818.  December  12,  1822,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Mary  A.  Currie,  who  died,  leaving  four  daughters  and  one  son. 
He  was  next  married  March  1, 1830,  to  Mary  A.  Pierce.  She  was  born 
in  Greene  county,  Ohio,  April  25,  1807.     William  I.  Nevius  was  but 


OHIO    GEOVE    TOWNSHIP.  453 

meagerlv  educated  in  books,  but  his  bands  were  taught  to  do  what 
mind  might  dictate.  With  tools  he  was  handy.  He  learned  the  car- 
penter's trade,  and  this  furnished  him  employment  when  not  otherwise 
engaged.  In  1832  he  moved  to  Warren  county,  Illinois.  In  1835  he 
settled  in  New  Boston  township,  Mercer  county,  Illinois.  In  1837  he 
changed  his  location  to  Ohio  Grove  township,  where  he  improved  land 
and  lived  till  his  death,  June  10,  1877.  "Peace  hath  her  victories  no 
less  than  war."  In  the  conflict  of  life,  as  a  man,  as  a  pioneer,  Mr. 
Nevius  closed  his  life  in  victory.  He  was  active  in  the  welfare  of  his 
county.  During  the  war  he  was  deputy  provost  marshal.  In  politics 
he  was  whig  and  republican.  He  was  a  member  of  the  United  Presby- 
terian church  at  his  death,  but  in  earlier  years  was  connected  with  the 
old  school  Presbyterian  church.  His  sons  Henry,  John,  and  David  M. 
served  their  country  in  the  civil  war,  and  William  D.  gave  his  life  at 
Shiloli  that  his  country  might  live,  while  David  was  drowned  while 
crossing  the  C\imberland  river  at  Clarksville,  Tennessee.  Mr.  Nevius 
was  the  father  of  five  children  in  his  first  family  and  nine  children  in 
his  second  famil3^  Mrs.  Nevius  lives,  an  active,  strong-minded 
woman,  and  interesting  to  all  around  her. 

William  T.  Patterson,  farmer,  was  born  April  13,  1808,  in  parish 
of  Ray,  county  Donegal,  Ireland,  nine  miles  from  Londonderry. 
His  father,  Joseph  Patterson,  was  owner  of  some  of  the  Glabe  land. 
He  died  there,  aged  eighty-seven  years.  Mr.  Patterson's  mother, 
Eleanor  (Teas),  was  a  native  of  parish  of  Teboyne,  county  Donegal, 
and  her  father,  William  Teas,  was  a  tenant  of  Marquis  of  Ebercorn. 
William  Teas  Patterson  left  Ireland  March  8,  1840,  via  London  and 
Liverpool  to  New  York,  in  the  Robert  Fulton  steamboat  and  vessel 
Sheridan.  He  was  four  weeks  on  the  journey.  He  came  to  Chicago, 
there  hired  a  teamster  for  Henry  county,  Illinois,  and  then  went  to 
Nauvoo,  where  he  staid  over  Sunday.  He  visited  Joseph  Smith,  the 
Mormon,  at  his  home,  and  heard  Sydney  Rigdon  preach,  and  saw  the 
sacrament  administered.  He  peddled  some  time  through  this  section. 
After  remaining  about  two  years  in  this  section,  he  bought  eighty 
acres  of  land,  which  he  paid  for  largely  in  building  sod  fences.  He 
subsequently  sold  and  bought  and  improved  a  number  of  farms.  July 
19,  1846,  he  was  married  to  Mrs.  Sarah  M.  Brownlee,  widow  of 
Samuel  L.  Brownlee.  Mrs.  Brownlee  had  a  family  of  four  children 
by  her  first  husband:  Lemon,  dead;  Oliver  F.,  in  Iowa;  Samantha, 
now  Mrs.  J.  L.  Henderson,  of  Kansas  ;  and  Agnes  M,,  now  Mrs. 
John  Lawton,  of  Pennsylvania.  Since  her  last  marriage  three  child- 
ren have  been  born  :  Joseph  II.,  dead  ;  David  B.,  in  Iowa  ;  Mary  M., 
now  Mrs.  William  Maxwell,  of  Kansas;  Letitia  E.,  now  Mi-s.  James 


454  HISTORY  OF  :mercer  axd  hexdersox  counties. 

C.  Spicer,  of  Mercer  county.  Mr.  Patterson  lias  given  each  child  of 
age,  eighty  acres  of  land,  or  its  equivalent,  and  owns  1.50  acres  well 
improved  himself  He  is  a  republican,  and  was  iirst  a  freesoiler.  He 
and  wife  are  connected  with  the  United  Presbyterian  church. 

JoxATHAx  Duxc^vx  (dcceased)  was  born  near  Baltimore,  Maryland, 
Kovember  19,  1791,  and  was  a  son  of  Andi-ew  and  Ann  (Smith)  Dun- 
can. He  received  a  liberal  education  for  his  time,  supplemented  bv 
healthy  toil  of  the  farm.  He  thus  became  vigorous  in  both  mind  and 
body.  He  became  a  carpenter  by  trade,  and  was  the  builder  of  the 
large  hotel  of  fifty  rooms  at  Mineral  Springs,  Pennsylvania.  He  also 
became  extensively  engaged  in  the  wool  business.  He  was  at  one 
time  a  large  stockholder  in  a  number  of  stage  lines  in  Pennsylvania, 
owning  a  large  farm  where  he  fed  his  horses  for  the  line.  It  was  in 
1815  when  he  moved  to  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania.  He  is 
familiarly  known  as  Col.  Duncan,  having  enlisted  in  the  war  of  1812, 
as  lieutenant,  and  later,  being  promoted  colonel.  Very  many  of  the 
colonel's  best  years  were  actively  spent  in  Pennsylvania.  There  he 
lived  till  the  year  1854.  He  liad  made  a  trip  to  Illinois  in  1853, 
purchasing  260  acres  in  sections  26  and  27,  Ohio  Grove  township, 
Mercer  county,  Illinois.  In  1854  he  moved  his  family  via  the  river  to 
Keithsburg  and  thence  to  his  farm.  Here  he  lived  till  1874.  He 
improved  his  farm  and  became  a  factor  in  the  county's  progress.  He 
was  on  intimate  terms  with  the  lamented  Judge  William  M.  Hayes, 
and  made  many  friends  by  his  good  nature  and  industry.  In  politics 
he  was  always  democratic,  but  sought  no  political  emolument.  In 
religion  he  was  of  the  United  Presbyterian  faith.  He  aided  in  build- 
ing Sunbeam  church.  Mr.  Duncan  moved  to  Monmouth  in  1874,  to 
live  in  retirement.  On  September  10,  1876,  while  visiting  his  son. 
Dr.  J.  K.  Duncan,  at  Des  Moines,  Iowa,  death  claimed  him.  He  was 
buried  at  Monmouth,  Illinois.  Mr.  Duncan  was  first  married  to  Miss 
Letha  Swearengen.  She  died,  leaving  four  children.  He  was  next 
married  June  29,  1835,  to  Miss  Agnes  Leeper,  daughter  of  Robert 
and  Xancy  Leeper,  both  of  whom  were  born  in  York  county,  and  died 
in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania.  Mrs.  Duncan  was  born  in 
Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  June  10,  1815.  She  now  resides 
with  her  son  in  Mercer  county.  Mr.  Duncan's  first  family  are  :  Wil- 
liam Duncan,  of  Mercer  county  ;  Thomas,  of  Des  Moines,  Iowa  ; 
Sarah,  now  Mrs.  William  McCanless,  of  Crescent,  Iowa.  Mr.  McCan- 
less  was  a  prominent  man  of  Mercer  county,  having  owned  the 
land  on  which  Aledo  is  built ;  also,  laid  out  the  town.  He  was 
lieutenant  in  company  A,  84th  111.  Vol.,  and  was  killed  at  the  battle 
of  Chattanooga.     Dr.  Bazil  Duncan  was  army  surg-eon  one  year.     He 


OHIO    GROVE   TOWNSHIP.  .  455 

is  now  dead.  In  tlie  second  family  are  :  Robert,  who  served  in  tlie 
civil  war  in  company  F,  ITtli  111.  Vol.,  and  was  pi'omoted  second  lieu- 
tenant ;  Dr.  J.  K.  Duncan,  who  was  in  the  naval  service  ;  he  was  cap- 
tain of  a  gun  on  tlie  gunboat  "Fort  Hyman  ;"  seizing  an  enemy's  hot 
shell,  thrown  on  board  and  endangering  the  lives  of  his  men,  he  threw 
it  into  the  river,  suffering  his  hands  and  arms  to  be  severely  burned  by 
the  operation.  For  this  feat  he  was  promoted  captain  of  the  gun-boat. 
He  took  sick  and  was  sent  to  Pensacola  hospital,  Florida.  Being  there 
at  the  time  of  the  yellow  fever  scourge,  and  having  studied  medicine, 
he  was  retained  as  surgeon  and  physician  three  years,  on  a  salary  of 
$2,000.  He  is  now  of  Nebraska.  The  otlier  children  are  :  Isophena, 
James,  Andrew  (dead),  Nettie,  Arnett,  Charles,  Frank  and  Ida. 
Arnett  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  January  28, 
1850.  He  was  married  to  Carrie,  daughter  of  J.  B.  Gilmore.  She 
was  born  near  Oxford,  Ohio.  Arnett  now  owns  100  acres  of  the  old 
homestead  ;  also,  160  acres  besides,  well  improved. 

Thomas  S.  Robb,  farmer,  is  a  son  of  William  and  Mary  (Livingston) 
Robb,  the  former  of  whom  was  born  in  county  Tyrone,  Ireland,  1775, 
and  emigrated  to  America  when  a  young  man ;  and  the  latter  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  whose  parents  were  Scotch.  Both  died  in  Penn- 
sylvania in  1845.  In  their  family  were  nine  children,  who  are  now 
widely  scattered.  James  and  Thomas  became  identified  with  Mercer 
county,  Illinois,  interests  in  1851  and  1852  respectively,  and  are 
to-day  among  the  well  to  do.  Thomas  S.  was  born  in  Pennsylvania, 
August  16,  1825,  and  there  married  Martha  A.  Campbell,  daughter  of 
James  Campbell.  She  is  also  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  the  date  of 
her  birth  being  May  10,  1830.  In  1851  Mr.  Robb  was  appointed  by 
Gov.  Johnson,  of  Pennsylvania,  as  commissioner  to  the  World's  Fair, 
held  in  London,  England,  in  the  year  1851.  Besides  performing  his 
duties  in  London,  Mr.  Robb  visited  the  principal  cities  of  England, 
Scotland  and  France,  before  returning  to  his  own  country.  Mr.  Robb 
has  served  Ohio  Grove  township,  as  supervisor,  for  four  different 
terms. 

John  McClellan  was  born  December  20,  1826,  in  Washington 
county,  Pennsylvania.  His  father  was  Francis  McClellan,  also  a  native 
of  Washington  county,  but  whose  father  came  from  Donegal  county, 
Ireland,  about  1813,  and  died  in  Pennsylvania  at  the  age  of  ninety- 
eight  years.  Margaret  Brownlee,  the  mother  of  John,  was  also  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  but  her  parents  were  from  Scotland.  In  the 
family  of  Francis  and  Margaret  McClellan  were  eight  children,  all 
Pennsylvanians,  of  whom  but  three  are  living  in  Mercer  county,  viz,  : 
Thomas,    Francis   and   John.      John  emigrated  to   Illinois  in  1850, 


456  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   A^STD    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

buying  100  acres  of  the  land  on  whicli  he  now  lives,  being  in  sections 
33  and  34,  Ohio  Grove  township,  Mercer  county,  Illinois.  Mr.  McClel- 
lan  has  improved  the  farm  mostly  himself,  and  owns  150  acres  of  land. 
He  was  married  January  12,  1854,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Brownlee, 
daughter  of  William  and  Catharine  (Hutchison)  Brownlee,  botli  Peiin- 
sylvanians,  but  of  Scotch  descent.  The  Brownlees  came  to  Mercer 
county  in  1852.  Mrs.  McClellan  was  born  in  Washington  county, 
Pennsylvania,  December  15,  1831.  They  have  had  five  children  : 
Francis,  died  August  22,  1866 ;  Margaret,  Renorick,  Clara  and 
Lawrence. 

WiLLiAJvr  McCreight  (deceased)  was  born  N^ovember  27,  1818,  in 
Adams  county,  Ohio,  and  was  a  son  of  Ephraim  and  Sarah  (Cummins) 
McCreight,  both  from  South  Carolina.  Mr.  McCreight  was  raised  on 
the  farm.  He  acquired  a  very  good  education  for  his  time  and  taught 
to  some  extent.  He  was  somewhat  a  genius,  able  to  use  many  tools 
and  execute.  In  Ohio  he  was  captain  of  a  company  of  state  militia. 
He  drilled  for  the  JMexican  war,  but  was  not  called  out.  In  the  spring 
of  1851  he  emigrated  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  landing  at  Keiths- 
burg,  April  1.  He  first  rented  from  his  brother-in-law,  Judge  William 
M.  Hayes.  About  1856  he  purchased  sixty  acres  of  land  which  he 
improved.  He  afterward  added  another  eighty  acres.  Mr.  McCreight 
died  July  11,  1869,  and  is  buried  in  Candor  graveyard.  He  had 
taught  school  here.  He  was  a  leading  member  of  the  United  Presby- 
terian church  from  youth.  In  politics  he  was  whig,  abolitionist,  and 
republican.  He  cast  the  only  abolition  vote  cast  in  Ohio  Grove  town- 
ship at  one  election.  He  was  honest,  straightforward  and  of  strong 
convictions.  This  made  him  perhaps  second  to  none  in  influence 
among  men.  Mr.  McCreight  was  mariied  in  1843  to  Polly  Hayes, 
daughter  of  John  and  Martha  Hayes,  both  natives  of  South  Caro- 
lina. Mrs.  McCreight  was  born  in  Adams  county,  Ohio,  March  2, 
1822.  Three  children  were  born  in  Ohio  :  Ira  S.,  Leslie  D.,  and  Sel- 
don  J.  The  family  own  the  old  homestead.  Mr.  McCreight's  broth- 
ers, E.  P.  and  Samuel,  served  in  the  civil  war  in  company  A,  30th  111. 
Yol.  John  S.  in  company  G,  30th  111.  YoL,  and  A.  O.  in  company  D, 
83d  111.  Yol. 

WiLLiA^i  Pepper  is  a  son  of  Charles  and  Susan  Pepper ;  was  born 
in  Cambridgeshire,  England,  May  2,  1822.  His  grandfather  was 
butler  to  Pembrook  College,  Cambridge,  and  his  father  was  also  en- 
gaged in  the  same  institution,  and  William  Pepper  spent  many  days 
with  his  father  at  the  college.  In  1832  the  family  set  sail  from  St. 
Catharine  docks,  London,  in  the  ship  Thames,  and  after  five  weeks 
and  three  days,  arrived  in  New  York.     They  spent  six  weeks  in  New 


OHIO    GROVE   TOWNSHIP.  457 

York  city  and  six  weeks  in  Utica,  New  York,  tlien  settled  in  Oswego 
county,  New  York,  where  tliey  resided  eighteen  or  nineteen  years  and 
cleared  a  farm  of  forty  acres  from  the  big  timber.  In  1849  William 
Pepper  came  West  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  but  spent  the  following 
year  in  Wisconsin.  He  then  returned  to  Mercer  county  and  worked 
for  Samuel  Cabeen.  March  3,  1852,  he  was  married  to  Jane  Martin, 
daughter  of  William  ^and  Susan  (McClellan)  Martin.  The  Martins 
w^ere  very  early  settlers  and  are  noticed  elsewhere.  Mrs.  Pepper  was 
born  in  Ohio,  near  Goshen,  Indiana.  After  marriage  Mr.  Pepper 
lived  one  year  in  Keithsburg,  then  settled  his  present  home  farm  of 
eighty-nine  acres,  March  1,  1853.  He  has  improved  his  place,  build- 
ing and  re-building  till  he  owns  a  pleasant  place.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pep- 
per are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  He  is  a  free  voter, 
voting  for  Lincoln's  second  term. 

AViLLiAM  Henderson  (deceased)  was  born  in  Greene  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, April  18,  1811.  His  parents,  John  and  Margaret  (Moore) 
Henderson,  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  They  moved  to  Guernsey 
county,  Ohio,  in  the  fall  of  1811.  John  Henderson  died  about  1845, 
and  his  wife  in  1859.  They  are  buried  in  Pleasant  Hill  cemetery. 
Mr.  H.  was  justice  of  the  peace  for  twenty-(me  years,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  two  odd  years.  He  was  in  the  war  of  1812.  William  Hen- 
derson, the  subject  of  these  memoirs,  was  the  third  child  in  a  family 
of  seven.  He  was  but  a  few  months  old  when  his  parents  settled  in 
Ohio.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  his  time,  but  the 
farm  occupied  largely  his  life.  As  an  additional  means  for  gaining  an 
honest  and  competent  livelihood,  he  learned  the  shoemakers  trade, 
which  busied  him  when  other  labor  was  wanting.  In  1834  he  was 
married  to  Amelia  M.  Henderson.  His  wife  died  in  1840,  leaving 
two  children :  Susannah  C.  and  Margaret  A.  He  was  next  married 
December  29,  1842,  to  Kose  A.  Dool,  daughter  of  Robert  and  Mar- 
garet Dool.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  county  Antrim,  Ireland. 
Mrs.  Henderson's  birth  occurred  on  board  vessel  in  Belfast  Bay  May 
3,  1819,  before  the  vessel  set  sail  that  was  to  bring  the  family  to 
America.  Robert  Dool  died  in  Hari-ison  county,  Ohio.  His  Avife 
lives  at  the  age  of  ninety  years.  Mr.  Henderson  emigrated  to  Mercer 
county,  Illinois,  in  1860^  renting  a  farm  between  New  Boston  and 
Aledo.  In  March,  1862,  he  purchased  the  farm  in  Ohio  Grove  tow^n- 
ship  of  160  acres,  being  the  S.  W.  J  of  Sec.  10.  This  he  improved 
somewhat.  He  died  March  20,  1877.  He  was  buried  in  the  United 
Presbyterian  graveyard.  Mr.  Henderson  was  a  man  of  life  and  good 
will  to  men.  In  politics  he  was  whig,  in  whig  times,  then  became 
a  northern  democrat.     In  Ohio  he  was  several  years  deacon  in  the 


458  HISTORY    OF   MERCEE   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

United  Presbyterian  cliurcli.  In  bis  second  family  are  nine  cbildren  : 
Robert  enHsted  in  company  A.,  30tb  reg.  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  was  trans- 
ferred to  tbe  engineer  corps.  He  served  tbe  last  sixteen  months  of 
the  war.  He  was  not  nineteen  years  old  when  he  enlisted.  John  and 
Jane  received  their  educations  at  Monmonth  Academy,  and  hold  first 
grade  certificates  and  command  highest  wages  in  teaching.  William  Tl. 
owns  forty  acres  of  the  home  farm.  The  other  children  are :  Mattie, 
Bell  (dead),  Elizabeth,  Henry  and  Mary. 

William  Dilley,  farmer,  is  one  of  the  very  few  pioneers  left  to 
tell  the  story  of  the  county's  young  days.  Mr.  Dilley  was  born 
October  I,  1801,  in  Sussex  county,  New  Jersey.  He  is  the  third  in  a 
family  of  nine  children.  His  father  and  mother,  Aaron  and  Jane 
(Storey)  Dilley,  were  natives  of  New  Jersey,  and  resided  there  till 
about  1818,  when  they  removed  to  Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  where  they 
died.  William  Dilley  worked  on  the  farm  till  grown.  He  then 
worked  in  a  woolen  factory,  carding,  spinning,  fulling,  etc.  May,  of 
1836,  a  desire  for  the  west  attracted  him  hither,  and  in  that  year  he 
arrived  in  Mercer  county,  Illinois.  He  had  shipped  a  carding  machine 
to  Oquawka  via  the  river  for  his  future  use.  He  lived  in  Green  town- 
ship till  1848,  when  he  removed  to  his  present  home  in  Ohio  Grove. 
Mr.  Dilley  was  married  in  1837  to  Eliza  Moorehead,  daughter  of  John 
and  Elenor  Moorehead,  early  settlers  of  Mercer  county.  She  was  born 
November  24,  1816.  Mr.  Dilley  owned  120  acres  in  Green  township, 
which  he  sold.  He  bought  320  acres  in  Ohio  Grove.  He  now  owns 
165  acres.  Mrs.  Dilley  died  April  18,  1877.  She  was  the  mother  of 
nine  children :  Aaron  S. ,  John  W.  (dead),  Celesia,  Mary,  Samtha, 
Cyrus,  Seth,  Nellie,  (infant  dead).  Cyrus  left  home  several  years  ago 
and  has  not  been  heard  of  since.  Aaron  S.  enlisted  in  the  9th  111. 
Yol.,  and  John  W.  enlisted  in  the  84th  111.  Yol.  Each  served  about 
three  years  in  the  civil  war.  Mr.  Dilley  has  been  whig,  abolitionist, 
and  republican  in  politics. 

Hammond  Webster  (deceased)  was  born,  raised  and  married  in 
Massachusetts.  Both  he  and  his  wife,  Louisa  Richardson,  also  a 
native  of  Massachusetts,  were  engaged  in  the  famous  Girard  factories 
of  Massachusetts.  They  moved  to  New  York  state.  In  1843  they, 
emigrated  to  Ohio  Grove  township,  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  and  pur- 
chased the  S.  E.  i  Sec.  28,  and  afterward  added  N.  E.  J  Sec.  28.  Mr. 
Webster  died  in  1845  and  is  buried  in  the  Candor  graveyard.  His 
wife,  at  present  writing  (1882),  survives  him.  He  was  justice  of  the 
peace  several  years.  He  was  an  old  line  whig.  The  children  were : 
Albert,  Theodore  L.,  William,  and  Mariah  (now  Mrs.  Robert  Parkison). 
William  Webster  was  born  in  New  York,  Alleghany  county,  June  1, 


OHIO    GROVE   TOWNSHIP.  459 

1831,  and  came  west  with  his  people.  His  father  dying,  left  William 
to  work  and  do  for  himself  at  fourteen  years  of  age.  He  spent  till 
twenty-five  years  of  ao;e  working  round  and  renting  a  farm.  He  was 
married  in  1858  to  Julia  A.  Wing,  daughter  of  Oliver  and  Julina 
(Harrington)  Wing,  both  natives  of  Massacliusetts  but  who  died  in 
Ohio.  Mrs.  Webster  was  born  in  Springfield,  Pennsylvania,  Xovem- 
ber  29,  1821.  When  twelve  years  old  moved  to  Ohio,  then  came  west 
to  Mercer  county.  After  marriage  Mr.  AYebster  purchased  his  present 
farm,  S.  E.  ^  See.  30,  which  he  has  earned  with  toil  and  so  well  im- 
proved. He  has  two  children  :  Edith  and  Harriet  L.  In  politics  he  is 
democratic.     He  has  been  ten  years  a  school  director. 

Jajvces  Graham  (deceased),  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, June  26,  1809,  and  was  a  son  of  John  and  Martha  (Hutchi- 
son) Graham,  both  natives  of  Chester  county,  Pennsylvania.  The 
Grahams  were  Pennsylvania  frontier  pioneers.  James  Graham  was 
married  Merch  4,  1835,  to  Mary  Stewart,  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Mary  (Welsh)  Stewait.  She  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, May  10,  1814.  Her  father  was  born  in  county  Armagh, 
Ireland,  and  emigrated  when  nine  years  old.  He  died  in  Virginia  and 
is  buried  in  Elizabeth  town.  He  was  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian 
church.  His  wife  died  in  Mercer  county,  and  lies  in  Norwood  ceme- 
tery. James  Graham  moved  to  Illinois  in  1843,  spending  two  years 
in  AVarren  county.  In  1845  he  settled  in  Ohio  Grove  township,  Mer- 
cer county,  where  he  bought  the  X.  W.  J  of  Sec.  35.  This  he  improved. 
He  died  November  25,  1879.  He  was  an  elder  in  the  United  Presby- 
terian church.  In  politics  he  had  been  free-soiler,  whig  and  republi- 
can. He  at  one  time  cast  the  only  free-soil  vote  cast  in  Ohio  Grove 
township.  He  was  foremost  in  temperance  work.  His  education  was 
good,  having  taught  in  Pennsylvania  and  in  Mercer  county.  He  left 
a  wife  and  six  children  to  mourn  his  loss.  Mrs.  Graham  resides  at 
Alexis.  Her  children  are:  Calvin  AV.,  of  Kansas;  Lenora  J.,  now 
Mrs.  A.  L.  Brownlee,  of  Iowa;  Mary  M.  E.,  now  Mrs.  J.  C.  Graham, 
of  Monmouth  ;  R.  M.,  of  Nebraska ;  Emmet  S.,  at  home  ;  and  Eva  A., 
with  her  mother.  Emmet  S.  was  married  October  19,  1876,  to  Miss 
Ella  C.  Boggs ;  she  was  born  in  Warren  county,  Illinois,  April  25, 
1856. 

John  Seaton  (deceased)  was  born  in  Perthshire,  Scotland,  March  15, 
1795,  and  was  a  son  of  Duncan  and  Margaret  (Cameron)  Seaton.  His 
birthplace  is  the  country  village  of  Kiiliekrankie,  famous  as  a  field  of 
battle  in  times  gone  by,  and  made  immortal  by  the  lines  of  AA^alter 
Scott.  Mr.  Seaton's  grandfather  and  his  wife's  grandfather  fought  in 
the  battle  of  Culloden.     Mr.   Seaton  spent  about  forty-five  years  in 


460  HISTORY    OF   AIERCEK   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Scotland.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  his  conntiy. 
He  learned  the  trade  of  carpentry  and  masonry,  which  he  followed 
somewhat,  as  well  as  farming.  He  became  anxious  to  try  a  new 
country ;  hence  in  1843  he  left  the  land  of  Scott  and  Burns  for  Amer- 
ica. He  sailed  from  Liverpool  May  21  and  landed  in  New  York  July 
14.  He  settled  first  in  Mifflin  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  he  farmed 
two  years.  In  1845  he  determined  to  emigrate  still  westward;  accord- 
ingly he  started  for  Galena,  Illinois,  via  the  river,  but  being  taken 
sick  he  concluded  to  land  at  Oquawka,  which  he  did  in  November  of 
1845.  He  spent  the  first  winter  in  Mercer  county  ;  then  two  years  he 
farmed  in  Warren  county.  In  1848  he  "squatted"  on  the  N.  W.  J  of 
Sec.  19,  T.  13  N.,  K.  3  W.,  Mercer  county,  which  he  bought  when  it 
came  into  market.  This  he  improved,  and  here  he  lived  till  his  death, 
July  21,  1881.  Mr.  Seaton  was  a  quiet,  honest,  plodding  farmer, 
friendly  to  all  and  esteemed  by  all.  He  was  a  Presbyterian  in  reli- 
gious faith.  In  politics  he  cast  his  first  vote  for  Henry  Clay,  and  later 
was  a  strong  republican.  The  country  needs  more  such  men.  Mr. 
Seaton  was  first  married  in  1821  to  Isabell  McDonald,  who  died  in 
1824,  leaving  two  children :  Margaret,  born  June  22,  1822 ;  and 
Duncan,  born  October  27,  1823.  Mr.  Seaton  next  married  (1826)  Miss 
Christian  Seaton,  probably  a  very  distant  relative.  She  was  born 
January  10,  1800.  She  shared  the  toils  of  emigration  and  life  in  the 
new  country,  dying  in  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  December  20,  1878. 
She  was  a  consistent  Christian,  and  a  queen  in  her  own  house.  She 
was  the  mother  of  six  children :  Eliza,  born  October  4,  1828,  died 
July,  1847;  John,  born  February  6,  1831;  Robert,  born  March  25, 
1834,  enlisted  in  company  G,  102d  reg.  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  was  second 
lieutenant,  and  died  at  Nashville,  October  10,  1864,  from  a  wound 
received  July  22,  1864,  at  Atlanta ;  he  was  a  brave  boy ;  Daniel,  born 
February  3,  1836,  died  May  14,  1866  ;  George  ;  Susan,  died  in  infancy. 
George  Seaton,  son  of  John  Seaton,  was  born  February  14,  1839,  on 
the  same  farm  as  his  father.  He  grew  to  be  his  father's  constant  help, 
as  he  took  charge  of  his  fYither's  business  for  about  twenty  years. 
He  was  married  February  26,  1874,  to  Miss  Mary  J.  Brown,  daughter 
of  James  Brown,  of  Warren  county.  She  was  born  in  Ireland,  county 
Antrim,  July  26,  1851,  and  is  lineally  descended  from  the  Campbells, 
of  Argyleshire,  Scotland.  They  have  four  children.  Mr.  Seaton  owns 
the  old  homestead  and  other  land  to  the  amount  of  about  500  acres. 
The  new  town  of  Seaton  is  laid  out  on  his  land,  and  he  has  built  tlie 
first  store. 

Samuel  M.  Creighton,  farmer,  was  born  January  18,  1831,  in  Ohio 
county,   West  Virginia.     His   father,   John  Creighton,   was  bc^rn  in 


OHIO    GROVE    TOWNSHIP.  461 

1767,  in  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania.  While  yet  a  boy  lie  was  a  teamster 
in  tlie  revolution,  and  was  drilled  for  a  soldier.  He  was  present  at 
the  battle  of  the  Brandywine.  He  died  in  1849,  having  buried  his 
wife  (Samuel's  mother)  in  1836.  Both  are  buried  at  the  church  at  the 
Forks  of  Wheeling.  She  was  born  about  1780.  In  the  family  were 
eleven  children,  of  whom  Samuel  is  the  youngest.  He,  in  company 
with  his  sister  Elizabeth,  emigrated  to  Brown  county,  Ohio ;  then  to 
Warren  county,  Illinois ;  and  in  the  fall  of  1853  settled  on  section  35, 
Ohio  Grove  township,  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  on  the  James  Graham 
place,  one  year ;  then  in  1854  he  bought  the  IST.  W.  J  of  Sec.  33.  This 
he  has  improved.  In  1875  he  built  his  present  house  at  an  expense  of 
$2,100.  Mr.  Creighton  is  a  radical  republican;  he  cast  his  first  vote 
for  John  P.  Hale.  He  is  a  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian 
church. 

William  C.  Brownlee,  farmer,  is  the  namesake  of  his  father,  the 
Rev.  W.  C.  Brownlee,  D.D.,  of  New  York  city.  Dr.  W.  C.  Brownlee 
was  born  in  Lanarkshire,  Scotland.  He  was  educated  at  the  university 
of  Glasgow,  and  was  licensed  to  preach  in  Scotland  in  the  faith  of  the 
covenanters.  He  was  married  in  Scotland  to  Mariah  McDougall,  a 
native  of  Glasgow.  He  emigrated  to  America  about  1804,  and  became 
a  minister  to  a  Seceder  congregation  in  Washington  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania. He  soon  received  a  call  to  a  Philadelphia  Scotch-Presbyterian 
congregation,  which  he  accepted  about  1812.  He  afterward  became 
Professor  of  Languages  and  Mathematics  in  Rutgers  College,  New 
Brunswick,  New  Jersey.  Later  he  became  collegiate  pastor  of  the 
Dutch  Reformed  church,  at  the  corner  of  Nassau  and  Liberty  streets. 
New  York  city.  He  died  in  1860,  in  his  eighty-second  year,  having 
suffered  many  years  from  a  stroke  of  the  palsy.  His  wife  died  about 
1850.  In  the  f\miily  were  nine  children:  Dr.  J.  J.  Brownlee  (dead) 
was  surgeon  in  the  late  war;  John  A.  (dead)  was  of  the  firm  of 
Brownlee,  Homer  &  Co.,  St.  Louis;  David,  a  merchant  of  St.  Louis; 
the  girls,  Mariah,  Margaret,  Jane,  and  Catharine,  married  prominent 
merchants  in  the  east.  William  C.  was  born  in  Lancaster,  Pennsyl- 
vania, September  3,  1815,  and  is  the  third  child  in  the  family.  He 
w^as  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  Pennsylvania  and  high  school 
of  New  York  city.  In  the  spring  of  1838  he  left  home  and  stayed 
with  his  relatives  in  Ohio  a  time,  emigrating  with  them  still  westward. 
He  came  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  and  settled  near  Yiola,  taking  a 
claim  of  160  acres.  In  1840  he  bought  240  acres  in  Ohio  Grove  town- 
ship, which  he  has  improved.  In  that  year  he  was  married  to  Mary  A. 
Brovmlee.  She  was  born  in  Richland  county,  Ohio.  She  died  April 
3,  1876,  and  is  buried  at  Norwood.     She  was  the  mother  of  six  chil- 


462  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AJSD    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

dren :  William  C,  Jr.,  Francis,  Mariali,  Samuel,  Alexander,  and 
Harriet  N.  Mr.  Brownlee  was  a  whig,  voted  awhile  for  the  democ- 
racy, but  the  war  made  him  a  republican. 

James  Calhoun  (deceased)  was  a  native  of  Allegheny  county, 
Pennsylvania.  He  made  a  trip  to  Muskingum  county  about  1814,  ])ur- 
chasing,  and  in  part  clearing,  a  farm.  About  1816  he  settled  with  his 
wife,  Elizabeth  (Carnahan)  on  his  Ohio  farm.  His  father  hax-ing  been 
in  the  revolutionary  war,  he  was  not  afraid  of  the  frontier.  There 
nine  chidren  were  born  to  them  :  David,  William,  John  K.,  James 
H. ,  Joseph  C. ,  Samuel  C. ,  Elizabeth,  Franklin,  and  Alexander  T.  Mr. 
Calhoun,  besides  farming  in  Ohio,  was  proprietor  of  a  store  and  a 
steam  mill.  In  1843  the  family  emigrated  via  the  Muskingum,  Ohio 
and  Mississippi  rivers  to  Oquawka  and  thence  to  Mercer  county, 
where  he  farmed  a  short  time  in  Suez  township,  then  removed  to  New 
Boston,  where  he  kept  hotel  for  a  number  of  years.  He  died  July 
15,  1847.  His  wife  lived  till  November  22,  1878.  Both  were  mem- 
bers of  the  United  Presbyterian  church.  Mr.  Calhoun  is  a  distant 
relative  of  the  great  John  C.  Calhoun.  The  children  are  scattered. 
David  and  William  moved  to  Kansas  ;  the  latter  is  dead.  Joseph  and 
Alexander  live  in  Taylor  county,  Iowa  \  James  K.,  is  of  Aledo  ;  Sam- 
uel and  James  H.,  in  Ohio  Grove  township.  Samuel  and  Alexander 
served  three  years  in  company  H.,  84th  111.  Yol.,  in  the  civil  war. 
James  H.  was  born  August  5,  1826  ;  has  spent  a  life  on  the  farm, 
owning  80  acres  in  Ohio  Grove  township.  The  family  are,  and  have 
been,  warm  republicans.  John  K.  was  born  February  24,  1824  ;  was 
raised  on  the  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  his  day. 
He  came  to  Mercer  county  in  1843,  with  the  family.  In  1846  he 
returned  to  Ohio,  where  he  lived  till  the  fall  of  1854,  when  he  was 
married  to  Miss McClelland,  native  of  Ohio  ;  and  on  the  fol- 
lowing day  started  for  his  home  in  Mercer  county,  Illinois.  He  set- 
tled in  section  5,  Suez  township,  where  he  lived,  raised  his  famih^  and 
buried  his  wife,  her  death  oc<.--urring  in  1872.  In  spring  of  1882  he 
retired  from  active  labor  and  moved  to  Aledo,  Illinois.  He  is  owner 
of  500  acres  of  good  land.  His  children  are:  Elizabeth  J.,  Martha 
A.  (now  Mrs.  Kobert  Hudleston),  Mary  B.,  William,  (deceased). 

Barnet  Unangst  (deceased)  was  born  in  Warren  county,  New 
Jersey,  March  28,  1810.  His  father,  Jacob  Unangst,  was  a  native  of 
Northampton  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  his  mother,  Elizabeth  (Wil- 
son), was  born  in  New  Jersey.  The  family  is  of  German  descent. 
June  15,  1833,  Barnet  Unganst  was  married  to  Charity  Smith,  daugh- 
ter of  Isaac  and  Jemima  (Wheaton)  Smith.  She  was  born  in  Hunt- 
ington county,  New  Jersey,  August  30,   1815.      An  extract  from  a 


OHIO   GROVE    TOWNSHIP.  463 

New  Jersey  paper  is  as  follows:  "The  annual  re-union  of  the  great 
Smith  family  of  New  Jersey,  held  on  Wednesday,  in  a  beautiful  grove 
of  api:)letrees  on  the  site  of  the  old  homestead  of  Zachariah  Smith,  of 
Peapack,  was,  perhaps,  the  biggest  family  gathering  that  has  ever 
yet  taken  place.  There  were  fully  3,000  persons  present,  all  supposed 
to  be  lineally  descended  from,  or  connected  with,  the  original  John 
Schmidt,  of  Holland,  who  settled  in  Stanton,  Huntington  county, 
New  Jersey,  over  125  years  ago,  and  changed  his  name  to  Smith, 
after  he  understood  the  ways  of  the  country.  He  was  a  genial  Dutch- 
man ;  slow  plodding,  industrious,  honest ;  and  the  impress  of  his 
character  is  left  on  a  good  portion  of  his  vast  progeny  to  this  day." 
After  marriage  Barnet  and  Charity  Unangst  lived  in  New  Jersey  till 
1851,  having  eight  children  born  to  them  :  Pheby,  born  May  12,  1834, 
died  April  19,  1836  ;  John  S.,  born  September  12,  1836,  died  August 
20,  1838  ;  Godfrey  H.,  born  January  12,  1839  ;  Ann  E.,  born  Novem- 
ber 21,  1840  ;  Mary  J.,  born  November  30,  1842  ;  Margaret,  born 
July  13,  1845;  Christiana,  born  September  3,  1847;  Sarah  C,  born 
March  26,  1850.  Two  were  born  in  Illinois  :  Jacob,  born  February 
16,  1852,  died  December  14,  1854;  and  William  H.,  born  July  27, 
1854.  In  1851  the  family  sought  a  home  in  Illinois,  and  bought  land 
in  Ohio  Grove  township,  Mercer  county,  coming  o\'erland  1,200  or 
1,300  miles,  occupying  about  seven  weeks  in  the  journey.  Here  the 
Unangsts  made  their  farm.  Mr.  Unangst  was  a  quiet,  congenial  citi- 
zen. He  died  November  23,  1876,  leaving  his  wife  to  survive  him 
till  August  12,  1881.  Both  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church, 
and  are  buried  at  Norwood.  Godfrey  II.,  the  third  child,  enlisted  in 
company  E,  102d  111.,  Vol.,  August  18,  1862,  He  was  detached  at 
Gallatin,  Tennessee,  for  pioneer  service,  December  1,  1862,  and  trans- 
ferred to  company  K,  1st  Peg.  U.  S.  Yet.  Eng.  Vol.,  about  Septem- 
ber 1,  1864.  He  was  through  the  campaign  from  Nashville  to  Mur- 
freesboro,  Chickamauga,  Missionary  Ridge,  and  in  front  of  Nashville. 
He  was  discharged  June  30,  1865,  and  returned  to  his  home,  where 
he  resumed  farm  labor.  He  became  manager  of  the  farm  on  his 
father's  disability,  and  now  owns  the  old  homestead  in  section  13. 

Ebenezer  Graham,  farmer,  was  born  May  12,  1816,  in  Washing- 
ton county,  Pennsylvania.  His  parents,  John  and  Martha  (Hutchi- 
son) Graham,  were  natives  of  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania,  but  died  in 
Washington  count3^  John  Graham  emigrated  from  Ireland  when  a 
young  man.  He  lived  pn  the  frontier  of  Pennsylvania,  at  night 
resting  in  a  fort.  He  was  in  the  Indian  wars.  Ebenezer,  the  tenth 
and  youngest  child,  lived  in  Pennsylvania  till  1857.  He  was  raised 
on  a  farm.     His  schooling  is  limited,  yet  such  as  was  common  to  his 


464  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AJSfD    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

day.  He  was  married  to  Sarali  A.  McDowell,  who  was  born  in 
Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  December  21,  1837.  In  1857  Mr. 
Graham  sold  his  farm  and  moved  west,  settling  in  Ohio  Grove  town- 
ship, Mercer  county,  where  he  has  improved  a  good  farm.  He  and 
wife  have  been  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church  over 
forty-five  years.  He  is  a  strong  republican.  In  the  family  are  two 
children:  J.  L.,  born  in  Pennsylvania;  and  Martha  J.  S.,  now 
Mrs.  Dr.  J.  T.  McCutc-han,  of  ISTorwood. 

M.  M.  Cross,  farmer,  was  born  in  Adams  county,  Ohio,  November 
16,  1820,  and  is  a  son  of  William  and  Ann  (Morrow)  Cross.  William 
Morrow  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  He  became  a  soldier  in  the 
war  of  1812.  In  1811  he  moved  to  Adams  county,  Ohio.  He  was  a 
farmer  and  miller  and  had  learned  the  tanning  business  in  his  voung 
days.  He  died  in  ( )hio  in  1848.  His  wife  was  a  native  of  county 
Down,  Ireland,  and  came  when  young  to  America;  she  died  in  Ohio  . 
in  1856.  In  the  family  were  three  girls  and  three  boys.  M.  M.  Cross 
was  reared  on  the  farm.  He  was  married  to  Dorcas  Finley,  daughter 
of  William  Finley,  in  1856.  In  that  same  year  Mr.  Cross  came  to 
Mercer  county,  Illinois,  and  settled  in  Ohio  Grove  township.  He 
bought  eighty  acres  of  land ;  to  this  he  added  more,  then  sold,  but 
now  owns  160  acres  of  fine  land,  with  good  improvements.  Mr.  Cross 
was  raised  a  democrat  but  has  long  been  a  good  republican.  He  was 
assessor  some  time  and  was  road  commissioner  about  fifteen  years. 
His  wife  died  March  2,  1856,  leaving  a  family  of  five  children :  Lewis 
A.,  McDill  I.,  Emma  A.,  G-aton  P.,  and  Stewart  E.  Mr.  Cross  was 
next  married  to  Paulina  J.  Walker,  a  native  of  Adams  county,  Ohio, 
and  who  came  with  her  parents  to  Peoria  county,  Illinois,  in  an  early 
day.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cross  are  connected  with  the  United  Presbyterian 
church.  McDill  P.,  son  of  M.  M.  Cross,  was  born  in  Adams  county, 
Ohio,  February  25,  1856.  He  lived  with  his  parents  till  marriage; 
he  was  married  March  8,  1882,  to  Miss  Abbie  M.  Kimel,  daughter  of 
J.  W.  and  Mary  (Burnet)  Kimel.  She  was  born  in  Mercer  county, 
Ohio  Grove  township,  March  12,  1863. 

Horace  Nye  Chandler  is  a  son  of  Zachariah  and  Fannie  (Bingham) 
Chandler.  The  Chandlers  have  been  prominent  figures  in  America  for 
several  generations.  Benjamin  Chandler  was  killed  in  the  battle  of 
Bennington  in  the  revolution,  as  a  "Green  Mountain  boy,"  and  his 
sons,  John,  Joseph,  Jesse,  Benjamin,  and  Seth  were  in  the  same  battte. 
Joseph  was  in  the  regular  army  under  Gates,  and  afterward  settled  in 
Morgan  county,  Ohio.  Dr.  Jesse  Chandler  settled  in  Putnam  county, 
Ohio,  and  his  son,  Dr.  Ero  Chandler,  is  now  of  Hancock  county,  Illinois. 
Benjamin  died  in  Philadelphia.     John  raised  six  sons ;  he  died  and  is 


^,:<%>-'1's*,^. 


;i  •>-"  * 


OHIO    GROVE    TOWNSHIP.  467 

buried  at  Cliandlersville,  Ohio.  His  sons  were :  Zacliariali,  Martin, 
John,  Samuel,  Guy,  and  Stephen.  Zachariah  was  born  in  Rutland 
county,  Yermont ;  he  died  in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  and  is  buried 
by  his  father.  His  wife,  Fannie  Bingham,  was  a  native  of  New  Hamp- 
shire ;  she  rests  near  her  husband  in  Ohio.  She  was  related  to  con- 
gressman Bingham,  so  long  an  Ohio  statesman.  She  was  a  descendant 
of  Miles  Standish  of  the  May  Flower  fame.  She  was  a  very  intel- 
ligent woman,  not  only  understanding,  but  able  to  teach.  Her  children 
received  the  larger  part  of  their  education  from  her  wonderful  fund  of 
knowledge.  Her  children  are  :  Seth,  who  died  in  California ;  Horace 
[N".,  of  Mercer  county;  Mary  (dead),  Harriott  (dead),  Abigail  (dead), 
Abigail  (living),  Fannie  (dead),  Eliza,  and  Nira.  Horace  N. 
Chandler  was  born  in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  November  8,  1817. 
He  was  was  raised  to  the  toil  of  the  farm.  He  attended  the  common 
schools,  but  received  the  larger  part  of  his  knowledge  of  government 
and  public  men  from  his  mother.  Being  the  only  son  at  home,  the 
duties  of  the  house  fell  somewhat  upon  him,  so  that  he  lived  with  his 
parents  and  they  with  him  till  they  died.  He  became  the  proprietor 
of  the  Ohio  homestead.  Mr.  Chandler  was  married  June  1,  1843,  to 
Miss  Anne  E.  Bevan,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  (Blackburn)  Bevan. 
Her  father  was  a  native  of  Monroe  county,  Ohio,  and  her  mother  ot 
Maryland.  Mrs.  Chandler  was  born  in  Monroe  county,  Ohio,  October 
S,  1822.  After  marriage  Mr.  Chandler  resided  in  Ohio  till  1865,  when 
he  came  west,  arriving  at  Monmouth  on  the  day  on  which  the  news  ot 
Lincoln's  assassination  stung  the  heart  of  every  true  American.  He 
bought,  June  12,  1865,  the  James  Kellogg  farm,  the  S.  W.  J  of  Sec.  27 
and  W.  ^  of  S.  E.  ^  Sec.  27,  Ohio  Grove  township,  Mercer  county,  Hlinois, 
wdiere  he  lias  since  lived.  He  has  improved  the  farm  very  materially. 
He  has  been  supervisor  for  many  terms.  In  politics  he  has  been 
whig  and  republican,  being  a  charter  member  of  the  latter  party.  The 
children  of  this  union  are:  Darwin,  Mary,  Seth,  John  B.,  Harriott, 
and  Homer.  Darwin  enlisted  in  the  naval  service  under  Com. 
Leroy  Fisk,  serving  one  year,  till  the  war  closed.  Mary  is  now  Mrs. 
J.  K.  Porter. 

Dr.  C.  C.  Smith,  son  of  Andrew  and  Jane  (Craig)  Smith,  was  born  in 
Guernsey  county,  Ohio,  April  1,  1825.  Jane  Craig  was  born  in  county 
Monohon,  Ireland,  in  1790,  and  emigrated  with  her  parents  in  1794  to 
Pennsylvania.  She  died  in  Ohio,  July  12,  1864.  Andrew  Smith  was 
born  in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  died  in  Ohio,  August 
31,  1875.  His  grandfather  Smith  was  from  Germany.  Andrew  Smith 
and  wife  were  many  years  in  the  Associate  Presbyterian  church.  In 
their  family  were  six  children:  Anne,  Lydia,  C.  C,  Sarah  J.  (dead), 
27 


468  HISTORY    OF   IMERCER   AND   HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Jolm,  and  Walter.  The  life  of  Dr.  C.  C.  Smith  has  been  one  of 
unusual  activity,  from  the  fact  that  he  has  been  obliged  to  fight  his 
own  battles  in  life.  His  education,  liberal  as  it  is,  he  acquired  by  his 
own  efforts.  His  early  years  were  spent  in  country  air  and  his  hands 
were  inured  to  farm  labor.  He  desired  a  professional  life,  and  to  fit 
him  for  this  he  was  resolved  first  to  be  well  read  in  general  knowledge. 
He  accordingly  attended  the  common  schools.  He  began  teaching, 
which  he  followed  at  different  times  for  a  number  of  years.  He 
attended  Madison  College  at  Antrim,  Ohio,  where  he  completed  the 
course  in  mathematics,  except  surveying.  He  also  pursued  the  Latin 
language  to  some  extent.  In  1848  he  began  to  read  medicine  with  a 
Dr.  Davis.  His  preceptor  dying  he  then  read  with  Dr.  R.  G.  Stephen- 
son, After  reading  more  or  less  for  four  years  he  attended  medical 
lectures  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  in  1852.  He  began  the  practice  of  medi- 
cine in  Antrim,  his  home,  first  in  partnership)  with  his  preceptor,  but 
Dr.  Stephenson  dying  Dr.  Smith  continued  his  profession  alone.  In 
1856  he  located  at  Viola,  Mea'cer  county,  Illinois,  remaining  two  years 
or  little  more.  He  then  practiced  as  long  in  Preemption.  In  the  fall 
of  1861  he  bought  out  Dr.  Gilmore,  of  Sunbeam,  and  has  since  prac- 
ticed here.  That  he  has  been  a  successful  practitioner  is  evident  from 
the  fact  that  he  now  owns  seventy-two  acres,  with  good  house,  etc.,  as 
his  home  place,  eighty  acres  in  section  10,  and  160  acres  in  Iowa,  all 
the  reward  of  his  practice.  During  the  war  the  doctor  was  busy,  doing 
much  for  the  families  of  soldiers.  The  wounds  he  dressed  without 
charge,  and  thus  he  did  his  duty  at  home.  Late  years  he  has  circum- 
scribed his  practice,  on  account  of  overwork.  He  has  been  an  active 
worker  in  temperance  work,  also  a  member  and  an  oflicer  in  the  United 
Presbyterian  church.  He  is  a  very  strong  republican.  His  first  vote 
was  for  John  P.  Hale.  Dr.  Smith  was  married  February  22,  1855,  to 
Cordelia,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Elizabeth  (Work)  Downerd.  She 
was  born  in  Guernsey  county,  Ohio.  Her  father  was  a  German,  her 
mother  from  county  Donegal,  Ireland.  Dr.  Smith  has  a  family  of  six 
children  living  and  two  dead. 

Christian  Sharer  (deceased)  was  born  on  I^^ew  Year  day  about 
1800,  in  Herkimer  county,  New  York.  His  people  were  of  Dutch 
descent.  His  father  was  killed  in  the  revolutionary  war.  Mr.  Sharer 
was  raised  on  a  farm,  but  became  interested  in  dairying,  merchandis- 
ing, distilling  and  banking  business,  becoming  quite  wealthy.  The 
panic  of  1837  crippled  him  financially.  He  was  married  in  ISTew  York 
to  Catharine  Rasbach,  by  whom  he  had  three  children :  John,  George, 
and  Edward  M.  In  1844  they  moved  to  Licking  county,  Ohio.  In 
1854  they  located  in  Moultrie  county,  Illinois,  and  a  year  afterward  in 


OHIO    GROVE    TOWNSHIP.  469 

Stark  county.  In  1858  they  moved  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  where 
Mr.  Sharer  bought  land  in  Suez  township,  and  lived  till  his  death,  in 
June,  1861.  His  wife  lives  on  the  homestead.  Edward  M.,  the  third 
child,  was  born  May  3,  181:1,  remained  with  his  parents,  and  moved 
with  them.  He  enlisted  August  26,  1862,  in  company  E,  102d  El.YoL, 
and  served  in  service  of  his  country  nearly  three  years,  enduring  all 
the  hardships  and  enjoying  the  few  pleasures  incident  to  the  career  of 
his  regiment.  In  the  fall  of  1868  he  purchased  100  acres  of  land  in 
the  northeast  part  of  section  2-1,  Ohio  Grove  township.  In  1876  or 
18Y7  he  built  his  present  commodious  house.  He  now  has  180  acres 
in  his  farm,  well  improved.  He  was  married  February  23,  1869,  to 
Martha  Simpson,  daughter  of  James  and  Anna  (Goodman)  Simpson, 
the  former  a  native  of  Ireland  and  the  latter  of  Pennsylvania.  Mrs. 
Sharer  was  born  in  Pennsylvania..  Three  of  her  brothers  were  in  the  • 
civil  war,  David  P.  being  in  company  E,  102d  Illinois,  the  others  in 
Pennsylvania  regiments.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sharer  have  five  children : 
Alva,  Willie,  Edward,  Charlie,  and  the  babe. 

George  W.  Werts,  blacksmith,  was  born  in  Muskingum  county, 
Ohio,  April  ■!,  18-11,  and  is  a  son  of  George  and  Margaret  (Maple) 
Werts.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Loudoun  county,  Virginia,  and  his 
mother  of  Ohio.  Mr.  Werts  was  raised  on  a  farm,  and  when  sixteen 
years  old  learned  the  blacksmith's  trade,  so  that  when  Sumpter's  cry  of 
distress  belched  from  mouths  of  cannon  and  called  for  America's 
yeomanry  to  relieve  her  he  was  used  to  toil  and  prepared  to  do  his 
country's  service.  He  enlisted  August  22,  1862,  in  company  I,  122d 
Ohio  Vol. ,  under  Capt.  Gary.  He  was  mustered  in  at  Zanes ville,  Ohio, 
as  a  private.  For  two  years,  more  or  less  constantly,  he  bugled  for  his 
company.  He  became  engaged  in  battle  at  Winchester ;  Millroy, 
where  his  company  became  surrounded  by  the  enemy ;  Harper's 
Ferry;  went  into  line  at  Williamsport,  near  Gettysburg,  where  he 
assisted  in  taking  1,500  prisoners.  He  was  then  in  the  effort  to  cut 
through  Manassas  gap  to  intercept  Lee ;  was  then  sent  to  New  York 
to  aid  in  quelling  the  riot.  He  fought  at  Locust  Grove,  then  started 
with  Grant  for  Richmond.  May  4,  1864,  he  went  into  the  battle  of  the 
Wilderness,  where  his  company  lost  heavily ;  took  part  at  Spottsyl- 
vania  Court-house,  Cold  Harbor,  where  his  division  received  a  compli- 
mentary order  for  taking  the  works  of  the  enemy.  He  was  then  sent 
to  the  south  side  of  Richmond  to  Butler's  department,  and  was  drawn 
in  line  to  make  a  charge,  but  word  came  countermanding  the  order. 
He  then  united  with  the  main  army  at  Petersburg,  and  fought  on  the 
south  side  of  the  river.  He  accompanied  Sheridan  in  the  Shenandoah 
valley  to  protect  Washington  ;  went  through  that  campaign,  and  was 


470  HISTORY   OF   FIERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

with  Sheridan  in  his  famous  ride,  and  aided  in  "licking  them  out  of 
their  boots "  at  Cedar  creek,  where  victory  depended  largely  on  the 
corps  of  which  he  was  a  member,  the  army  having  been  generally 
routed  by  Early's  forces  when  Sheridan  arrived  from  Winchester. 
This  corps  was  called  by  the  rebels  the  Catholic  cross  corps.  Mr. 
Werts  assisted  in  the  charge  and  taking  of  the  works  at  Richmond ; 
followed  the  enemy  to  Sailors'  run,  taking  1,100  wagons  and  many 
prisoners  ;  then  on  to  Lee's  surrender  at  Appomattox  Court-house.  Mr. 
Werts'  army  career  was  one  of  unusual  activity.  He  was  mustered 
out  at  Washington.  But  twelve  of  his  company  remained  able  for 
duty.  In  1865  he  located  at  Sunbeam,  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  where 
he  has  since  been  the  "village  blacksmith."  He  was  married  October 
3,  186.5,  to  Miss  Mary  Decker,  daughter  of  Benjamin  Decker,  and  a 
native  of  Mercer  county.  He  has  six  children:  Alpha  M.,  Susie  E., 
Clarence  B.,  George  W.,  Jr.;  Ahmzo  E.,  and  Everet  L. 

Peter  Peterson,  farmer,  was  born  in  Sweden  June  27,  1826.  In 
June,  1865,  Mr.  Peterson  sailed  for  America,  landing  at  New  York 
city.  He  soon  arrived  at  Rock  Island.  He  spent  eighteen  months 
with  the  Bishop  Hill  colony  in  Henry  county,  Illinois,  working  at  his 
trade  of  carpentering.  He  continued  his  trade  in  Fulton  county,  then 
one  year  at  Galva.  Being  out  of  work,  he  overheard  some  persons 
talking  of  moving  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  and  he  proposed  to 
accompany  them,  which  he  did  in  1859.  Here  he  liVed  with  the 
Sharers  for  four  years,  working  at  his  trade.  August  18,  1862,  he 
enlisted  in  company  E.,  102d  reg.  111.  Vol.,  under  Capt.  Likely  and 
Col.  McMurtrie.  He  served  sixteen  months.  He  was  on  detached 
duty  mostly.  At  Chattanooga  he  stood  in  the  river  up  to  his  ears  in 
cold  water  for  thirty-six  hours  continuously,  which  disabled  him  for 
duty  and  has  crippled  him  for  life.  He  returned  to  Mercer  county, 
not  being  able  to  walk  for  some  time.  He  managed  to  buy  a  small 
farm,  and  now  has  140  acres  and  a  good  house.  He  was  married  first 
to  Betsy  Johnson,  who  died  in  Henry  county,  Illinois,  leaving  one 
child,  Cathrina,  now  Mrs.  Henry  Crosby,  of  Yiola.  He  was  next 
married  to  Catharine  Johnson,  January  26,  1869,  and  by  her  he  has 
five  children  :  Eddie,  Maggie,  John,  Julia  A.,  and  Charlie.  Mr.  Peter- 
son is  a  thrifty  farmer. 

Robert  Hamilton,  farmer,  was  born  in  Kentucky,  October  8,  1811. 
His  parents,  Samuel   and   Jane  (Smith)   Hamilton,  were  natives  of 
South  Carolina.    They  moved  to  Kentucky  early,  and  thence  to  Preble 
county,  Ohio,  where  Samuel  Hamilton  died.     His  wife  died  in  Indiana. 
Robert  was  raised  in  the  stern  schools  of  toil.     When  twenty  years  of 
age  he  learned  the  carpenter  trade,  which  he  has  followed  more  or  less 


OHIO    GROVE    TOWNSHIP.  471 

since.  He  also  worked  as  a  millwriglit  for  some  j^ears.  In  the  fall  of 
1880  lie  located  in  Clinton  county,  Indiana,  near  Madison.  He  was 
there  married  to  Miss  Deborah  Talbert.  In  1855  he  moved  to  Mercer 
count}',  Illinois.  Here  he  bought  150  acres  of  land,  his  present  farm. 
This  he  has  improved.  In  politics  Mr.  Hamilton  was  whig,  in  the 
days  of  that  party.  He  is  a  strong  republican.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  United  Presbyterian  church.      He  has  a  family  of  four  children 

L  *J 

living  and  one  dead :  William  H.,  when  under  age,  went  to  the  war, 
and  was  out  about  two  months;  Perry  S.,  Mary  E.,  and  Rose  E. 

Moses  Patterson,  farmer,  was  born  in  Knox  county,  Illinois,  June 
13,  1811.  His  father,  John  M.  Patterson,  was  born  in  Washington 
county,  Pennsylvania,  November  22,  1799,  and  was  of  Scotch-Irish 
descent.  His  mother,  Sarah  A.  (Bell),  was  born  in  Delaware,  Kent 
county,  January  15,  1818.  The  grandfather  of  Moses  was  Col.  Patterson 
of  Pennsylvania  militia,  and  the  father  was  in  both  the  Pennsylvania 
and  Ohio  militia.  John  M.  Patterson  became  a  resident  of  Ohio  about 
1815,  and  there  married  Margaret  Stephens,  who  died  leaving  three 
children.  He  next  married  Sarah  A.  Bell.  In  1836  he  settled  in  Knox 
county,  Illinois.  He  lived  two  years  near  Viola,  Mercer  county,  then 
went  to  Rock  Island  county,  thence  to  Henry  county,  where  he  buried 
his  wife.  She  died  March  25,  1865.  He  died  in  Warren  county,  June 
18,  1873.  He  was  a  strictly  moral  man  ;  swearing  was  extremely 
odious  to  him.  His  religion  was  as  he  called  it,  "homespun."  His 
wife  was  a  Methodist.  Moses  Patterson  left  home  at  the  age  of  seven- 
teen years,  going  to  Pike's  Peak,  Colorado,  in  1857.  He  returned  to 
Illinois  and  joined  some  pf  his  schoolmates  for  the  civil  war.  He 
enlisted  at  Rock  Island  March  12,  1862,  in  company  B.  65th  111.  Vol; 
Capt.  R.  S.  Montgomery  and  Col.  Daniel  C^ameron,  known  as  the 
"Montgomery  guards.''  In  March,  1861,  he  was  transferred  to  engi- 
neer bat.  23d  army  corps,  army  of  Ohio,  in  which  he  served  till  April 
5,  1865.  He  took  part  in  the  battles  on  the  Potomac  the  iirst  summer 
and  was  taken  prisoner  at  Harper's  Ferry  together  with  the  whole 
command  of  1,100  men;  was  paroled  and  sent  to  Chicago.  In  March, 
1863,  he  was  sent  to  Lexington,  Kentucky,  and  over  to  West  Virginia. 
There  he  took  part  in  the  battles  of  that  campaign,  and  assisted  in  tak- 
ing Ben.  Coddle,  the  famous  guerilla,  and  in  breaking  u])  his  band, 
capturing  100  of  his  men.  He  then  crossed  the  Cumberland  moun- 
tains with  Burnside,  and  experienced  the  twenty-two  days'  siege  of 
Knoxville  ;  was  twice  at  ZoUicoffer,  then  with  Sherman  at  Chattanoogo 
and  through  to  Atlanta.  He  returned  with  Thomas  in  pursuit  of 
Hood ;  was  at  Nashville  and  from  there  followed  Hood  to  Corinth. 
He  was  engaged  at  Fort  Fisher,  Fort  Anderson,  and  Wilmington,  North 


472  ■  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Carolina,  and  was  there  relieved  and  sent  home.  He  returned  to  Knox 
county,  Illinois.  September  7,  1869,  he  located  where  he  lives,  in 
Mercer  county.  lie  owns  2-1:0  acres  of  land  well  improved.  Mr.  Pat- 
terson was  married  December  26,  1869,  to  Alice  Hawkins,  daughter  of 
Augustus  Hawkins,  of  Cameron,  AVarren  county,  Illinois.  She  was 
born  April  19,  1851.  They  have  three  children:  Edwin  A.,  Mary, 
and  a  babe. 

Nicholas  Shearer,  farmer,  was  born  in  Guernsey  county,  Ohio, 
March  29,  1831.  His  parents,  John  and  Mary  Ann  (Walters)  Shearer 
were  natives  of  Ohio.  Thev  moved  to  Indiana,  and  about. 1855  came 
to  Mercer  county,  Illinois.  They  subsequently  moved  to  Madison 
county,  Iowa,  where  they  died.  Their  family  numbered  thirteen  chil- 
dren :  James  (dead),  Nicholas,  Jeremiah,  Francis  M.,  William  D., 
Hugh  P.,  Lucinda,  Mary  E.,  Martha,  Melissa,  John,  Noah.  Francis 
M.  served  in  the  late  war  in  the  102d  111.  Vol.,  and  died  of  measles  at 
Fort  Donel son.  Hugh  P.  and  William  D.  enlisted  in  the  36th  111.  A^oL, 
and  died  of  measles  at  Paleigh,  Missouri.  Nicholas  was  raised  on  the 
farm ;  in  1851  he  came  to  Illinois  ;  here  he  worked  for  Wm.  Stephens 
and  esquire  Nevius.  In  1852  he  returned  to  Indiana,  and  September 
7,  1852,  was  married  to  Elizabeth  McPherren,  daughter  of  James  and 
Jane  (Shaw)  McPherren.  She  was  born  in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio. 
Her  father  and  five  brothers  served  in  the  civil  war.  One,  George, 
was  killed  at  Stone  river.  After  marriage  Mr.  Shearer  returned  to 
Mercer  county.  For  three  or  four  years  he  rented  a  farm ;  he  then 
bought  forty  acres  and  began  farming  his  own  land.  He  now  has 
160  acres  free  from  debt,  and  has  made  it  all  himself.  He  paid  for  the 
first  forty  acres  by  working  by  the  month.  He  has  four  children  liWng : 
Sarah  J.,  Margaret  A.,  Mary  C,  and  Fannie.     John  is  dead. 

Beard  Church,  farmer  and  stock  raiser,  was  born  in  Mercer  county, 
Illinois,  December  20,  1842.  His  father,  Thomas  Church,  was  a  native 
of  Yirginia.  He  moved  to  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  in  an  early  day. 
He  married  Rachel  A.  Beard,  a  relative  of  the  Hon.  John  Beard,  of 
Indiana.  About  1835,  or  a  little  later,  Mr.  Church  moved  to  Mercer 
county,  Illinois,  and  lived  a  short  time  in  Duncan  township.  He  then 
moved  to  Eliza  township,  and  finally  to  New  Boston,  where  he  died 
about  1857.  He  was  well  known  and  highly  regarded.  He  owned, 
at  his  death,  about  400  acres  of  land,  indicative  of  his  success  as  a 
farmer.  His  wife  survived  till  1881,  when  she  joined  the  departed. 
Six  children  were  born  to  them  :  John  L.,  born  in  Indiana,  and  died 
in  Mercer  county.  Those  born  here  are :  Elizabeth,  Hannah,  Beard, 
Thomas,  William  W.,  and  Pachel  A.  Beard  is  one  of  Mercer  county's 
own  children  raised  together  with  his  home.     A  farmer,  yet  he  spent 


OHIO    GROVE    TOWNSHIP,  473 

one  year  in  Aledo  as  a  grocery  merchant.  After  this  he  bought  a  farm 
west  of  Aledo,  but  soon  sold  this  and  in  1877  bought  in  Ohio  Grove 
township,  where  he  owns  200  acres  well  improved ;  his  farm  being  the 
S.  E.  i  and  N.  E.  J  of  S.  W.  i  Sec.  11.  He  was  married  October  20, 
1864,  to  Miss  Mary  E.  McGinnis,  daughter  of  the  Hon.  John  T, 
McGinnis,  of  Mei-cer  county.  She  was  born  October  25,  1846.  They 
have  two  children:  Everett  W.,  born  September  24,  1865;  and  Frank 
M.,  born  May  10,  1868.     Mr.  Church  is  republican  in  politics. 

Moses  McLsttire  was  born  in  county  Donegal,  parish  of  Ray,  seven 
miles  southwest  of  Londonderry,  Ireland,  in  1830.  His  father,  Jere- 
miah Mclntire,  was  born  in  Ireland,  and  died  about  1839 ;  and  his 
mother,  Sarah  (Ross),  also  a  native  of  Ireland,  died  (1841)  in  Ireland. 
They  were  of  the  Protestant  faith,  belonging  to  the  Seceder  church. 
Jeremiah  was  a  millwright  by  trade,  but  followed  farming  mostly. 
They  were  parents  of  nine  children :  James  sailed  for  Quebec  and 
probably  died  there  from  ship  fever  ;  Mathew  died  in  Ireland  ;  John  B. 
died  in  Warren  county,  Illinois ;  William  is  in  Iowa ;  Jeremiah  died 
in  Abington  township,  Mercer  county ;  Sarah  (now  Mrs.  James  Friell), 
and  Moses.  William  was  here  about  1835,  while  the  Indians  were 
bad.  Moses  Mclntire  emigrated  from  Ireland  in  1848.  He  came  to 
New  York,  where  he  became  porter  in  Brooks'  dry  goods  establishment ; 
then  was  engaged  in  a  white-lead  factory.  In  1852  he  came  to  Warren 
county,  Illinois.  Here  he  followed  carpentering  several  years  in  part, 
and  ran  a  threshing  machine  in  threshing  season.  He  bought  160 
acres  of  land  in  Warren  county.  This  he  sold,  and  purchased  in  1862 
eighty  acres,  the  S.  |-  of  N.  E.  J  of  Sec.  32,  Ohio  Grove  townsnip.  This 
farm  he  has  well  improved.  He  also  has  some  timber.  Mr.  Mclntire 
was  married,  September  3,  1863,  to  Miss  Matilda  Watt,  daughter  of 
John  and  Jane  Watt,  of  Pennsvlvania.  She  was  born  in  MifHin 
county,  Pennsylvania,  January  11,  1842.  They  have  eight  children 
living  and  two  dead.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mclntire  are  connected  with  the 
United  Presbyterian  church.  Mr.  Mclntire  is  a  republican.  He  has 
been  postmaster  of  Duck  Creek  office  since  1862.  He  takes  an  inter- 
est in  school  affairs  and  all  progressive  movements  for  the  county's 
good. 

John  B.  McIntire  was  born  in  county  Donegal,  Ireland,  Mannor- 
Cunningham  parish,  twelve  miles  from  Londonderry,  in  1816.  He  is 
one  of  the  progressive  Protestants  of  Irish  blood.  He  was  married  to 
Eleanor  McElheney,  also  a  native  of  the  same  place.  Tliey  sailed  for 
America  in  1847,  settling  on  a  farm  near  Brighton,  Canada.  In  1851 
they  moved  to  Warren  county,  Illinois,  Sumner  township,  where  they 
became  land  owners  and  are  thrifty 'farmers.    Both  are  members  of  the 


474  HISTORY   OF   :NEER0EK    and    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

United  Presbyterian  cliurdi.  In  the  family  are  six  cliildren  living  and 
live  dead :  Sarali  and  Bessie,  born  in  Ireland ;  Bessie  died  on  the 
ocean,  and  Sarah  died  in  Canada ;  Moses  died  in  Warren  county, 
Illinois ;  Margaret,  also  ;  Ellen,  Minnie,  and  William  J.  William  J. 
McTntire  was  born  July  30,  1848,  near  Brighton,  Canada.  He  lived  at 
home  till  about  twenty-five  years  of  age.  When  twenty-five  years  old, 
his  father  gave  him  eighty  acres  of  land  in  Ohio  Grove  township.  He 
sold  his  eighty  and  bought  110  acres  of  the  S.  W.  ^  of  Sec.  28,  j)aying 
$4, 500.  He  has  improved  his  place  very  much.  He  is  naturally 
handy  with  tools,  doing  his  own  carpenter  work,  blacksmithing,  etc. 
Mr.  Mclntire  was  married,  February  26,  1874,  to  Miss  Bellzora 
Bullock,  daughter  of  William  Bullock.  She  was  born  in  Mercer 
county,  October  28,  1853.  The  children  are :  Ouy,  and  Glenn.  A^ida 
is  dead. 

Jacob  Guthrie  (deceased)  was  a  native  of  Greene  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania. He  came  to  Warren  county,  Illinois,  in  1863,  and  the  following 
year  bought  a  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  section  10,  Ohio  Grove  township, 
Mercer  county.  He  died  October  7,  1871.  He  was  justice  of  the 
peace  and  held  other  offices  in  Pennsylvania.  His  politics  were  demo- 
cratic. His  wife  died  April  17,  1875.  In  the  family  wei'e  eleven 
children.  ISToah  II.  Guthrie,  the  fifth  child  of  the  above,  was  bom  in 
Pennsylvania,  March  6,  1842.  His  life  was  spent  on  the  farm  till  the 
war.  September,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  his  country's  service,  in  company 
F,  7th  reg.  West  Virginia  Vol.  Inf ,  under  Lieut. -Col.  Kelley  and  Capt. 
Ben.  Morris.  Mr.  Guthrie  fought  in  eleven  battles,  the  chief  of  which 
were  Antietam,  Fredericksburg,  Chancellorsville,  Gettysburg,  Bull 
Run,  The  Wilderness,  and  Spotsylvania  Court-House.  At  the  last- 
named  battle  he  was  shot  in  the  right  leg,  necessitating  the  removal  of 
eight  inches  of  the  tibia.  He  was  six  months  at  Chester  (Pa.)  hospital. 
He  was  discharged  December  17,  1864.  Leaving  the  hospital,  he  came 
direct  to  Sunbeam,  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  to  his  parents.  He  subse- 
quently spent  three  years  at  the  Soldiers'  College,  at  Fulton,  Blinois. 
In  1870  he  took  the  census  of  eight  townships  of  Mercer  county.  In 
the  fall  of  1870  he  was  elected  sheriff  of  Mercer  county,  which  office 
he  filled  two  terms.  In  1880  he  took  the  census  of  Ohio  Grove  town- 
ship. He  is  a  republican.  Mr.  Guthrie  was  married  July  4,  1870,  to 
Miss  Delila  Hardy,  daughter  of  Ashford  and  Sophia  Hardy.  She 
was  born  in  Mercer  county,  February  11,  1848.  They  have  three 
children :  Freddie,  Edmund,  and  Grace.  Mr.  Guthrie  owns  a  beauti- 
ful farm  of  240  acres,  well  improved. 

William  P.  Vance,  farmer,  is  a  son  of  James  and  Sarah  (Pearson) 
Vance,   of  Abington  township,   elsewhere  noticed.     AVilliam  R.  was 


OHIO   GROVE    TOWNSHIP,  475 

born  in  New  Boston  township,  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  September  20, 
1847.  He  lias  spent  all  liis  time  in  Mercer  county,  except  a  short 
time  in  Iowa.  He  remained  at  home  until  twenty-two  years  of  age, 
when  he  bought  a  farm  in  Abington  township.  In  1876  he  moved  to 
Ohio  Grove  township,  where  he  bought  160  acres  of  the  N.  W.  ^  of 
section  27.  He  was  married  January  7,  1875,  to  Jennie  Brown, 
daughter  of  John  Brown,  of  Mercer  county,  Illinois.  She  is  a  native 
of  this  county.     They  have  one  child,  Olive  B. 

Samuel  Speowl,  farmer,  was  born  in  Rockbridge  county,  Virginia, 
June  29,  1822,  and  is  a  son  of  William  and  Rebecca  (Baker)  Sprowl, 
both  natives  of  Virginia,  and  of  Scotch  descent.  Rebecca  Baker's 
grandfather  was  a  wealthy  Londoner.  William  and  Rebecca  Sprowl 
moved  to  Fayette  county,  Ohio,  about  1842,  where  she  died  about 
1845.  She  was  born  March  17,  1782.  William  was  born  January  8, 
1775,  and  died  November  17,  1872.  He  spent  his  aged  years  with 
his  son  Samuel.  He  was  for  many  years  a  member  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  church.  In  the  family  were:  William,  born  June  11, 
1801  ;  Elizabeth,  born  March  14,  1803  ;  Polly,  born  March  7,  1805, 
died  January  27,  1869  ;  Rebecca,  born  October  21,  1807  ;  John,  born 
May  15,  1810  ;  Martha,  born  May  27,  1812,  died  November  17,  1873  ; 
Anna  P.,  born  January  11,  1817  ;  Sarah,  born  December  2,  1819,  died 
January  4,  1874  ;  Samuel ;  Christiana,  born  February  8,  1825.  Sam- 
uel Sprowl  was  raised  on  the  farm  in  Ohio,  in  the  log  cabin,  the  forest 
and  the  field.  Many  a  day  has  he  worked  with  ax  to  clear  the  land 
for  crops. .  The  school  was  three  miles  away,  so  that  his  advantages 
were  very  limited.  In  1855  he  emigrated  to  Illinois.  He  farmed  a 
rented  place  one  year.  In  1856  he  bought  the  S.  E.  J  of  section  22, 
at  $12.50  per  acre.  This  he  has  improved  into  a  good  farm.  He  now 
has  172  acres  and  house,  and  three  lots  in  Aledo,  where  he  lived  for 
three  years.  He  was  married  September  14,  1869,  to  Maggie  Dixon, 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Hannah  (Shaw)  Dixon,  both  natives  of  Vir- 
ginia. Her  father  died  May  29,  1879.  Mrs.  Sprowl  was  born  in 
Rockbridge  county,  Virginia,  September  9,  1848.  She  was  in  Vir- 
ginia during  the  late  war,  and  witnessed  both  northern  and  southern 
armies  frequently,  and  heard  the  roar  of  battle.  Two  brothers  were 
in  the  battle  of  Gettysburg,  and  her  youngest  brother  was  a  guard  at 
Libby  prison.  Mr.  Sprowl  has  three  children  :  John  W.,  Samuel  B. 
and  Olive  L. 

John  Parks  (deceased)  was  born  in  county  Armagh,  Ireland.  He 
owned  a  small  piece  of  land  there,  which  he  farmed.  He  was  an 
Orangeman,  and  was  engaged  in  the  war  of  the  Protestants  against 
the  Catholics.     He  was  then  married  to  Jane  Brown,  also  a  native  of 


476  HISTORY   OF   IMERCER    AND    HP:NDERS0N    COUNTIES. 

that  green  isle.  About  1848  thej  sailed  for  America,  and  made  their 
home  in  Adams  coimtj,  Ohio.  In  1855  thej  moved  to  Warren 
county,  Illinois,  and  five  years  later  to  Mercer  county,  and  settled  the 
place  now  owned  by  Alexander  Parks.  He  was  a  republican,  casting 
his  tirst  vote  for  John  C.  Fremont.  He  died  December  11,  1873, 
leaving  a  wife  who  survives  him.  His  children  are  six  :  John,  James, 
Samuel  (dead),  Alexander,  Lizzie  and  Sarah.  Samuel  was  a  member  of 
company  G.,  102d  111.  Yol.,  under  Capt.  Wycoff;  contracted  con- 
sumption in  the  arm}',  and  died  after  his  discharge.  Alexander  was 
born  in  Ireland,  Marcli  17,  1842.  He  has  spent  his  life  on  the  farm, 
and  owns  the  old  homestead,  which  he  has  improved.  He  was 
married  to  Miss  Jane  Murphy,  also  a  native  of  Ireland.  Their  farm 
is  the  S.  i  of  S.  ^Y.  i  of  Sec.  32,  T.  13  :N".,  K.  3.  He  and  all  his 
brothers  are  republicans. 

David  Milligan  was  born  in  Wasliington  county,  Pennsylvania, 
December  7,  1806.  His  father,  John  Milligan,  was  born  in  county. 
Donegal,  Ireland,  in  1754,  and  his  mother,  Jane  (Kincaid),  in  Ches- 
ter county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1764.  John  Milligan  left  Ireland  August 
6,  1790,  and  after  thirteen  weeks'  voyage  landed  at  Newcastle.  So 
nearly  did  the  provisions  give  out  that  each  man's  allowance  was  but 
one  pint  of  water  and  two  tablespoonfuls  of  oat  meal  every  twenty-four 
hours.  AVhen  they  landed  all  were  like  skeletons  and  some  ate  till 
they  died.  John  died  August  2,  1839.  His  wife  died  in  1850.  One 
son  (Kobert)  served  in  the  war  of  1812.  David  Milligan  was  raised  on 
the  farm  in  Pennsylvania.  He  was  married  Decem'ber  1,  1836,  to  Miss 
Rebecca  Rollstin.  She  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania, 
]^ovember  18,  1818.  Her  father,  James  Rollstin,  was  from  Ireland. 
Mr.  Milligan  remained  in  Pennsylvania  till  1866,  when  he  emigrated 
to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  arriving  October  19th.  He  had  learned  to 
farm  among  the  rocks,  so  found  land  here  easy  to  cultivate.  He 
became  the  owner  of  479  acres  of  land  in  sections  28,  13,  and  3,  Ohio 
Grove  township.  He  built  three  different  houses.  Thus  he  has  aided 
in  adding  wealth  to  Mercer  county.  His  wife  died  October  19,  1880, 
leaving  him  to  mourn  the  loss  of  a  dear  companion.  She  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  United  Presbyterian  church  for  forty-four  years.  She  was 
the  mother  of  eight  children  :  Nancy,  Jane  (dead),  John  F.,  James  P., 
Warren  (dead),  Rebecca  M.,  Rachel  M.  (dead),  and  Elizabeth  E.  Mr. 
Milligan  is  a  republican.  He  used  to  be  democrat,  whig  and  anti- 
mason.  He  has  been  connected  with  the  United  Presbyterian  church 
since  1836.  He  sent  one  son  to  the  civil  war  when  the  boy  was  nine- 
teen years  old,  viz.,' John  F.,  who  enlisted  August  18,  1862,  in  com- 
pany C,  22d  Penn.  Cav.,  under  Capt.  G.  T.  Work  and  Col.  Higgins. 


OHIO    GKOVE    TOWNSHU'.  477 

He  fought  at  Moorefield,  Virginia,  Fredericksburg,  second  battle  of 
Winchester,  Fisher's  Ilill,  Laurel  Hill,  Cedar  Creek,  and  many  skir- 
mishes.    He  was  discliarged  June  1,  1865. 

Alexander  JVIcBride,  farmer,  was  born  near  Belfast,  Ireland,  May 
28,  1831.     His  parents,  William  and  Margery  (MclSTeil),  were  natives 
of  county  Down,  Ireland.     They  owned  a  piece  of  the  land  known  as 
the  "land  forever."    Failure  on  account  of  being  surety  for  his  brother 
caused  William  McBride  to  emigrate  to  America,  which  he  did  about 
1850,  sailing  from  Belfast  May  1st,  and  landing  in  New  York  June  1st ; 
soon  settled  in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio.     He  died  there  June  11, 
1861.     In  Ireland  he  was  grand  master  of  the  Orange  society  many 
years.     He  was  a  quiet,  inoifensive  man,  minding  his  own  business, 
and  respected  by  the  community.     He  is  buried  at  Bloomfield,  Ohio. 
There  were  eight  children :  Jane,  born  in  Ireland,  Sarah  (dead),  Mary, 
Eliza  A.,  Margery,  Rachel,  Nancy,  and  Alexander.     They  were  of  the 
United  Presbyterian  faith.     Alexander  (the  fourth  child)  was  general 
manager  of  home  affairs.     He  was  married  December  25,    1857,  to 
Sarah  J.  Wilson,  daughter  of  Hugh  Wilson.     She  was  born  in  Alle- 
gheny county,  Pennsylvania,  September  10,  1830.    Alexander  McBride 
was  a  hundred-day  man  in  the  late  war;  was  in  several  skirmishes 
and  at  the  battle  of  Harper's  Ferry,  in  company  B,  166th  Oliio  home 
guards.     February  4,  1867,  he  left  Ohio  for  Mercer  county,  Illinois. 
He  lived  a  while  in  Suez  township.     In  1871  he  bought  160  acres,  the 
N.  W.  I  of  Sec.  36,  in  Ohio  Grove  township,  on  which  he  lives.     He 
was  pathmaster  five  years.  He  has  a  family  of  five  children  :  Hugh  W., 
Mary  L.,  William  T.,  Samuel  H.,  and  David  L.     He  always  votes  for 
republican  principles.     He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  United  Pres- 
byterian church. 

James  A.  Kellogg  was  born  in  Crawfoi-d  county,  Pennsylvania, 
November  23,  1848.  He  emigrated  with  his  people  to  Bureau  county, 
Illinois,  in  1852,  and  in  the  following  year  his  father  purchased  160 
acres  of  hmd  now  owned  by  II.  N.  Chandler.  Here  James  was  raised. 
His  people  moved  to  Abington  township,  wliere  they  now  reside. 
James  is  fairly  educated,  having  lived  handy  to  the  school  and  enjoyed 
its  advantages.  He  was  married  in  1873  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Vance, 
daughter  of  James  and  Sarah  Vance,  now  of  Abington  township.  Mrs. 
Kellogg  is  a  native  of  Mercer  county.  Mr.  Kellogg  farmed  some  time 
in  Abington  township.  In  1874  he  occupied  his  present  farm  of  eighty 
acres,  being  the  E.  ^  of  N.  W.  ^,  Sec.  28,  Ohio  Grove  township.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Kellogg  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  They  have 
three  children:  Arthur  L.,  Frank  R.,  and  Inis  L. 

Wm.  II.  H.  Smith,  farmer,  a  son  of  William  Smith,  noticed  in  the 


478  HISTORY    OF    iEEECER    A2sD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

history  of  Ohio  Grove  township,  was  bom  July  2,  1840,  in  JMuskingiim 
coiintv,  Ohio.  He  came  with  his  people  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  in 
1847.  His  father  dying  "William  went  to  live  with  his  cousin,  George 
A.  Smith,  till  ten  vears  of  as-e.  He  was  then  bound  out  to  W.  M. 
Miller,  with  whom  he  staid  till  the  war  broke  out.  He  enlisted 
August  9,  1861,  in  company  E,  9th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  took  part  in  the 
battles  of  Fort  Donelson,  Shiloh,  Corinth,  Atlanta ;  was  taken  sick 
and  sent  to  Marietta,  Georgia,  and  thence  to  Xashville,  where  he 
remained  till  the  spring  of  1865.  He  then  rejoined  his  command  at 
Pocataligo,  Xorth  Carolina.  He  then  followed  Johnston  till  the  latter 
surrendered.  Mr.  Smith  then  went  to  Washington,  and  thence  to 
Louisville,  Kentucky,  and  was  mustered  out  at  Springheld,  Illinois, 
July  25, 1865.  He  has  since  spent  five  years  in  the  west.  In  1870  he 
made  his  home  in  Mercer  county.  In  1881  he  bought  forty-eight  acres 
of  land,  and  is  now  settled  on  it.  Mr.  Smith  was  considerably  injured 
in  health  in  the  war  service.  He  was  married  November  30.  1878,  to 
Xancy  E.,  daughter  of  Stephen  Xoland.  They  have  two  children: 
Stephen  A.,  and  Lura  M.     Mr.  Smith  is  entirely  republican. 

John  McGee  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania. 
When  five  years  old  he  accompanied  his  parents  to  ]Muskingum  county, 
Ohio.  He  was  there  raised  and  educated.  He  married  Miss  Margaret 
Irwin.  In  1852  he  emigrated  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  settling  for  a 
time  in  Suez  township.  In  1869  he  went  to  Iowa,  then  to  Oregon,  in 
the  years  1874  and  1875.  He  returned  to  Iowa,  and  in  the  spring  of 
1881  he  made  his  home  in  Kansas,  with  his  son,  David  C.  His  wife 
died  August  20,  1858,  and  is  buried  in  the  Candor  gi-aveyard.  She 
was  a  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  clnirch.  In  the  family  are 
seven  children:  Eichard  H.,  D.  C,  B.  W.,  Martha  J.  (died  in  Ohio), 
Harriet,  Mary  x\nn,  and  Sarah  E.  Richard  H.  was  born  in  Muskingum 
county,  Ohio,  July  12,  1834.  He  enlisted  August  13,  1862,  in  company 
E,  102d  111.  Vol.  He  was  sergeant  for  ten  months.  He  was  mostly 
detailed  at  headquarters.  He  was  at  the  battle  of  Xash^-ille.  His 
time  was  largely  occupied  in  looking  after  the  trains  in  the  rear.  He 
was  discharged  June  15,  1865,  when  he  returned  to  Mercer  county. 
His  brother,  D.  C.  McGee,  was  a  member  of  company  C,  50th  111.  YoL, 
and  was  wounded  severely  at  Altoona  Pass.  Also  B.  W.  McGee  spent  a 
year  in  the  service.  Richard  H.  was  married  February  14, 1860,  to  Jessie 
C.  Spence,  of  Howard  county,  Missouri.  They  have  four  children : 
Frank,  Lizzie,  John,  and  Clara. 

Robert  C.  Parkinson,  farmer,  was  bom  in  Guernsey  county,  Ohio, 
IS^ovember  16, 1837,  and  is  the  son  of  Edward  and  Margaret  (Clements) 
Parkinson,  the  former  a  native  of  Marvland  and  the  latter  of  Ohio. 


OHIO    GROVE    TOWNSHIP.  479 

Mr.  Parkinson's  parents  moved  to  Warren  county,  Illinois,  in  1S56, 
and  in  1859  settled  in  Mercer  couiaty.  Edward  Parkinson  died  Febru- 
ary 13,  1860.  He  was  born  April  1,  1791.  His  wife  was  born  March 
5,  1796,  and  died  September  9,  1866.  He  was  in  the  war  of  1812.  His 
father  was  an  Englishman  and  his  mother  of  Germany.  Her  father 
was  a  native  of  Ireland  and  her  mother  of  America.  Both  are  buried 
at  the  Porter  graveyard  in  Warren  county,  Illinois.  Robert  C. 
remained  with  his  parents  till  they  died.  He  received  but  little  educa- 
tion except  that  afforded  by  the  farm.  He  was  married  June  25,  1868, 
to  Mariali  Webster,  daughter  of  Hammond  and  Louisa  Webster.  She 
was  born  in  New  York  state  February  28,  1840.  After  marriage  Mr. 
Parkinson  secured  100  acres  of  section  28,  which  he  now  owns,  together 
with  the  N.  E.  J  of  Sec.  28.  He  was  for  three  years  road  commis- 
sioner. They  have  had  seven  children,  six  of  whom  are  living.  Mrs. 
Webster's  parents  are  noticed  in  connection  with  the  sketch  of  Ham- 
mond Webster.  Her  mother,  Mrs.  Louisa  Webster,  after  the  death  of 
her  husband,  was  married  October  12,  1845,  to  Joseph  Robinson.  Mr. 
Robinson  was  born  in  Alleghany  county.  New  York,  April  7,  1812. 
He  left  home  when  twenty-two  years  old,  going  to  Weaver  county, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1834,  and  the  same  year  to  Quincy,  Illinois.  In  1842 
he  came  to  Mercer  county.  He  has  improved  a  good  farm,  and  is  now 
one  of  the  county's  oldest  citizens.  He  has  been  school  trustee  and 
road  commissioner. 

Lemuel  Gitstin,  farmer,  son  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  (Diltz)  Gus- 
tin,  was  born  July  29,  1823.  His  parents  settled  in  Madison  county, 
Indiana,  about  1845,  and  there  died.  Lemuel  was  raised  on  the  farm 
and  inured  to  all  the  toils  and  pleasures  incident  thereto.  He  is  the 
oldest  of  eight  children.  In  1847  he  was  married  to  Catharine  Noland, 
daughter  of  Stephen  Noland.  Her  father,  Stephen  Noland, -was  born 
in  1801,  and  raised  in  Kentucky  near  Cumberland  mountain.  He 
moved  in  a  very  early  day  to  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  where  he  lived 
on  the  twelve  mile  purchase  when  the  Indians  were  bad.  He  was  on 
the  frontier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  lived  partly  in  a  fort  or  block- 
house, traded  with  the  Indians,  etc.  There  is  a  stream  in  Indiana 
called  Noland's  fork,  the  name  deriving  from  the  Nolands.  Mr. 
Noland  and  wife,  Nancy  E.  (Adams),  a  native  of  Oliio,  lived  in  Madi- 
son county,  Indiana,  from  1823  to  1856,  when  they  settled  in  Mercer 
county,  Illinois.  Mrs.  Noland  died  July  20,  1877.  In  1856  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Gustin  came  with  the  Nolands  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  settling 
for  a  time  in  Eliza  township.  In  1868  they  purchased  sixty  acres  in 
section  2,  Ohio  Grove  township,  and  have  lived  on  it  since.    Mr.  Gustin 


480  HISTORY    OF   MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

has  been  justice  of  the  peace ;  he  has  been  school  director  six  years. 
He  has  six  children  living  and  two  dead. 

Jaisies  Feather,  farmer  and  stock  raiser,  is  a  son  of  Jacob  and 
Mary  (Siggens)  Feather.  Jacob  Feather  spoke  the  German  tongue, 
his  fatlier  being  a  native  of  Germany,  who  emigrated  early  and  fought 
in  the  revolution ;  his  wife  receiving  a  pension  for  his  services.  Jacob 
died  about  1851  in  West  Virginia.  His  wife  is  living  at  an  advanced 
age.  The  family  are:  Susan,  Mary  (ciead),  Ezekiel  (dead),  Jane, 
James,  Sarah  E.,  Sophia  (dead),  James,  the  subject  of  these  notes, 
was  born  in  West  Virginia,  October  17,  1839.  There  he  was  reared 
in  the  country  and  educated  in  the  schools  of  his  day.  In  1856, 
he  made  his  home  in  Iowa;  remaining  there  three  years.  He  worked 
around  by  the  month  in  Warren  county,  Illinois ;  was  in  the  mercan- 
tile business  in  Monmouth  four  years.  In  1868  he  went  to  Missouri. 
In  the  meantime  he  owned  the  store  at  Sunbeam  for  two  years.  In 
1869  he  located  permanently  in  Mercer  county.  Mr.  Feather  was  first 
married,  December  T,  1865,  to  Miss  Martha  C.  Hayes,  daughter  of  the 
late  Judge  Wm.  M.  Hayes.  She  died  in  1874.  Mr.  Feather  was  next 
married  December  26,  1878,  to  Katy  M.  Gourley,  daughter  of  Robert 
Gourley.  She  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Feather  has  one 
child  by  his  first  wife,  Aurie  L. 

Elijah  Forsyth,  son  of  William  and  Eleanor  Forsyth,  was  born 
August  6,  1810,  in  Indiana  county,  Pennsylvania.  When  he  was  four 
years  of  age  his  parents  settled  in  Ohio.  There  Elijah  was  educated  in 
the  common  schools  and  became  a  schoolmaster  at  the  age  of  nineteen 
years,  teaching  twenty-two  years  in  Ohio.  He  was  married  in  Mus- 
kingum county,  to  Ann  Daw^son,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Catharine 
Dawson,  and  a  native  of  Ohio.  In  1855,  Mr.  Forsyth  emigrated  over- 
land to  Mercer  county,  bringing  his  family  of  seven  children :  John, 
William,  Elijah  Jr. ,  David,  Mary,  Eleanor,  and  Nancy  J.  He  settled 
on  the  S.  ^  of  S.  E.  ^  Sec.  7,  Ohio  Grove  township,  which  he  purchased. 
He  has  since  added  some  timber.  For  eighteen  years  he  has  taught, 
part  of  each  year,  in  Mercer  county.  Peference  to  the  official  table 
will  show  his  interest  in  public  affairs  and  the  trust  placed  in  him  by 
the  people.  He  has  been  an  elder  in  the  United  Presbyterian  church 
for  over  twenty  years.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Pockbridge  county, 
Virginia ;  was  in  the  war  of  1812  ;  died  in  Ohio  in  1827.  His  mother 
died  in  1835.  Mr.  Forsyth's  son,  John,  was  a  member  of  the  102d 
reg.  111.  Vol.  in  the  civil  war,  and  was  promoted  captain  of  a  colored 
company.  He  served  two  years  when  he  was  discharged  on  account 
of  sickness. 


MEKCER   COUNTY    POOR    FARM    AND    INFIRMARY.  481 

MERCER  COUNTY  POOR  FARM  AND  INFIRMARY. 

CONTRIBUTED    BY    L.    B.    DOUGHTY. 

Among  tlie  public  institutions  of  the  county,  tlie  Poor  Farm  and 
Infirmary  are  specially  worthy  of  mention,  for  they  are  a  standing 
monument,  evincing  the  practical  generosity  of  our  citizens.  But  in 
our  search  for  material  for  this  chapter,  we  have  found  the  records  so 
vague,  incomplete  and  unsatisfactory,  that  we  almost  despaired  of 
finding  sufficient  data  to  make  our  history  of  this  institution  complete 
or  interesting. 

From  William  Wilmerton,  Esq.,  of  Preemption  township,  and 
Tyler  McWhoiler,  of  Mercer,  we  have  obtained  some  interesting 
facts,  which  will  help  us  to,  in  some  measure,  fill  the  gaps  we  find  in 
the  public  records. 

For  years  after  the  organization  of  our  county,  those  unable  to 
support  themselves,  and  whose  families  or  friends  were  unable  to  sup- 
port them,  were  cared  for  by  the  overseers  of  the  poor  of  the  several 
townships,  who  were  appointed  by  the  county  commissioners.  Some- 
times they  were  kept  by  contract ;  sometimes  they  did  what  they  could 
for  themselves,  and  were  partially  provided  for  by  the  overseers.  In 
many  cases  merchants  provided  them  with  the  necessaries  of  life, 
taking  their  chances  of  having  the  bills  allowed  by  the  board.  In  all 
cases  the  county  was  expected  to  pay  the  bills  for  their  maintenance, 
whether  kept  on  contract,  furnished  by  order  of  the  overseer,  or 
through  pity  (or  cupidity)  of  the  merchant. 

At  each  recurring  session  of  the  commissioners'  court,  pauper  bills 
increased  in  number  and  grew  in  magnitude,  and  more  and  more  care 
was  necessary,  and  was  exercised,  to  sift  out  and  pay  only  those  which 
were  for  the  necessaries  of  life,  cutting  ofi"  and  rejecting  any  and  all 
which  bear  the  least  taint  of  suspicion.  For  instance,  some  bills  pre- 
sented would,  perhaps,  show  that  sugar  enough  had  been  furnished  to 
a  pauper  in  three  months'  time,  to  have  lasted  him  or  his  family,  for  a 
year,  and  this  would  raise  a  suspicion  in  the  minds  of  the  commis- 
sioners, that  perhaps  something  else  than  sugar  had  been  furnished  — 
an  article  for  which  it  tvas  known  payment  would  be  refused.  Investi- 
gation would  follow,  which  would  generally  result  in  the  rejection  of 
a  part  of  the  bill. 

We  do  not  wish  to  make  any  invidious  references,  but  esquire 
Wilmerton  related  a  story  to  us,  the  other  day,  which  comes  to  our 
mind  in  recording  the  above.  Some  years  ago  he  received  a  large 
number  of  bills  from  a  house  in  Rock  Island,   for  collection,   upon 


482  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

parties  living  in  Pre-emption  and  adjoining  townships.  One  of  these 
particularly  attracted  his  attention,  owing  to  the  frequent  charges  for 
''headache  medicine"  by  the  quart,  half  gallon  and  gallon  ;  this  item 
occurring  with  alarming  regularity,  showing  each  and  every  visit  to 
the  city  of  the  good  old  farmer  against  whom  it  was  made.  The 
'squire  was  well  acquainted  with  him,  and  had  never  known  of  his 
being  subject  to  severe  attacks  of  this  disease,  and  his  curiosity  was 
aroused  to  know  what  this  remedy  was,  and  on  his  first  visit  to  Rock 
Island  he  asked  the  maker  of  the  bill  to  enlighten  him.  The  dealer 
laughed,  and  for  answer  beckoned  him  into  a  back  room  and  silently 
pointed  to  a  barrel  labeled  "whisky.'"  "  Headache  medicine  "  looked 
better  on  the  bills  ;  but  like  the  "sugar""  on  the  pauper  bills,  it  looked 
suspicious. 

Again,  most  of  the  adjoining  counties  had  provided  poor-houses, 
and  refused  longer  to  support  indigent  persons  unless  they  would 
become  inmates  thereof;  and  while  there  were  many  who  were  not  too 
proud  to  receive  their  entire  subsistence  from  the  county,  there  were 
few  who  would  willingly  "go  to  the  poor-house,"  as  they  had  a  false 
idea  that  this  course  was  degrading.  Rather  than  go  where  they  could 
not  only  be  better  cared  for,  but  would  have  an  opportunity  to  do  what 
they  could  for  their  own  maintenance,  they  prepared  to  emigrate  to 
some  county  not  possessed  of  this  bugbear,  and  not  a  few  crossed  the 
borders  into  our  county  and  soon  became  a  county  charge. 

Under  these  circumstances,  the  commissioners  in  1853  (E.  Gilmore, 
Jr.,  county  judge,  and  William  Wilmerton  and  John  Glancey,  asso- 
ciate county  justices  of  the  peace),  after  much  deliberation,  decided  to 
purchase  a  farm  for  the  county,  upon  which  might  be  erected  suitable 
buildings  for  an  infirmary.  Mr.  Wilmerton  soon  found  what  he 
thought  would  be  a  suitable  farm,  and  a  special  meeting  of  the  com- 
missioners was  held  at  the  court-house  in  Keithsburg,  September  20, 
1853,  which  is  the  first  record  we  can  find  relating  to  the  subject  of  a 
poor-house.  At  this  meeting  they  ratified  a  provisional  contract  made 
by  Mr.  Wilmerton  with  John  I.  Clark  and  Gersham  Yannatta,  whereby 
the  latter  sold  to  the  county  110  acres  of  land  lying  in  the  S.  ^  of  Sec. 
33,  T.  15,  and  in  the  N.  i  of  Sec.  4,  T.  14,  both  in  Range  3,  W.  of  the 
4th  P.M.,  the  latter  being  timber  land.  The  consideration  was  $1,400, 
and  two  orders  were  drawn  at  this  meeting,  for  $700  each,  in  favor  of 
Clark  and  Yannatta.  The  deed  was  made  September  23,  1853,  and 
acknowledged  before  W.  A.  Bridgford,  J. P.,  of  Millersburg,  and  was 
recorded  January  12,  1854,  by  T.  B,  Cabeen,  Recorder,  in  Book  M  of 
Deeds,  pages  307  and  308. 

March  8,  1854,  the  county  farm  was  leased  to  Joseph  G.  Gilmore 


t}ty9'':i--Z^^^  ^^<^^^^^<^^^^-^A^ 


MERCER  COUNTY  POOR  FARM  AND  INFIRMARY.  485 

for  one  year,  but  the  terms  of  the  lease  are  not  given  in  the  record.  A 
part  of  the  contract,  however,  was  that  lie  should  keep  a  pauper  and 
his  wife,  named  Golden ;  and  we  lind  that  at  the  March  session  (1855) 
of  the  board  of  supervisors  he  was  allowed  $8.50  as  balance  due  him 
on  the  contract. 

From  the  minutes  of  the  June  session  of  the  board,  of  supervisors 
(1854),  the  first  session  after  the  adoption  of  township  organization,  we 
cop}'  the  following  order : 

"It  is  ordered  by  the  board,  that  Graham  Lee,  Elisha  Miles,  and 
Tyler  McWlioi-ter  be  and  are  appointed  a  committee  to  examine  the 
condition  of  the  county  farm  and  its  requirements,  with  respect  to 
accommodating  all  the  paupers  of  the  county." 

In  September  of  the  same  year,  Graham  Lee  was  appointed  agent 
for  the  county  to  lease  the  farm,  etc. 

In  March,  1856,  Mr.  Gilmore  was  paid  $58.50  as  balance  due  him 
on  contract  or  lease.  At  the  same  term  the  board  unanimously  pass 
a  resolution  recommending  to  their  successors  the  urgent  necessity  of 
improving  the  farm,  so  that  it  would  "  accommodate  all  the  paupers  in 
the  county,"  this  action  being  suggested  by  the  large  number  of  pauper 
claims  presented  at  that  session. 

At  a  special  term  in  June,  1856,  Graham  Lee,  Thomas  Likely,  and 
Tyler  McWhorter  were  appointed  a  committee  to  prepare  and  report  a 
plan  for  a  poor-house,  and  as  nearly  as  possible  the  cost  of  the  same. 
They  made  their  report  at  the  same  session,  which  was  accepted,  and 
McWhorter,  Lee,  and  N.  P.  Partridge  were  appointed  to  make  a  design, 
advertise  for  and  receive  bids,  and  contract  for  the  erection  of  the 
house. 

Said  commissioners  reported  at  the  September  meeting  that  they 
had  received,  on  the  28th  of  August,  five  bids :  two  for  brick  and  three 
for  stone  buildings ;  that  four  of  the  bids  had  ranged  from  $4, 200,  to 
$4,600;  that  the  fifth  was  for  $3,400  for  a  stone  building;  that  this 
latter  figure  was  deemed  reasonable,  but  the  bidder,  Mr.  Kalpli  Growe, 
required  partial  payment  in  advance,  and  it  was  necessary  to  provide 
funds  before  closing  the  contract.  Accordingly  an  arrangement  was 
made  with  the  drainage  commissioner  to  borrow  money  from  the 
swamp  land  fund.  That  the  first  payment  had  been  made,  and  the 
work  of  excavating  the  cellar  commenced ;  that  owing  to  the  failure  of 
the  drainage  commissioner  to  make  collections,  they  were  unable  to  get 
money  for  the  second  payment,  whereby  the  work  had  been  greatly 
hindered  and  delayed.  They  request  the  board  to  sanction  their  action, 
and  to  decide  upon  some  definite  system  of  managing  the  farm  in 
future ;  both  of  which  requests  we  presume  were  granted,  but  we  can 
28 


486  HISTORY    OF   aiERCEE   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

find  no  record"  of  any  action  beyond  receiving  and  recording  their 
report.  Tliis,  however,  was  the  last  year  the  farm  was  leased,  as  a 
whole,  a  steward  or  superintendent  having  since  been  employed. 

In  March,  1857,  Mr.  J.  G.  Gilmore's  lease  terminated,  and  this 
time  he  owed  the  county  $124.50.  The  county  bought  of  him  fourteen 
acres  of  land  adjoining  the  poor-farm  for  $324.50,  getting  one  year's 
time  on  the  $200  balance,  at  ten  per  cent.  They  also  appropriated 
$1,300  for  prosecuting  the  work  on  the  infirmary ;  authorized  the  com- 
missioners to  borrow  $800  of  the  swamp  land  fund,  and  made  provis- 
ions for  the  repayment  of  all  sums  heretofore  borrowed  from  the  fund. 

In  September,  1858,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  visit  the  poor- 
farm  and  report.  They  suggested  that  the  "steward"  system  be  abol- 
ished, and  that  a  competent  man  be  employed  to  superintend  the  farm, 
under  the  direction  of  a  standing  committee  in  regard  to  improvements, 
purchase  of  stock,  etc.  This  report  was  adopted,  and  a  committee 
appointed  who  made  a  contract  with  Humphrey  Riddell,  at  $350  per 
year,  his  term  commencing  March  8,  1859.  Mr.  Riddell  was  re-em- 
ployed from  year  to  year  for  nine  successive  years,  which  fact  attests 
his  eminent  fitness  for  the  position,  which  was  recognized  by  the  board 
in  an  increase  of  his  salary  from  time  to  time  until  instead  of  $350  they 
paid  him  $500  per  year.  This  was,  of  course,  in  addition  to  the  board 
and  keeping  of  himself  and  family. 

"While  upon  the  subject  we  will  give  the  list  of  stewards  and  super- 
intendents in  their  order,  so  far  as  can  be  ascertained :  Joseph  G. 
Gilmore  leased  and  managed  the  farm  the  first  three  years.  It  was 
then  placed  under  the  charge  of  committees,  as  before  mentioned,  who 
employed  stewards  to  care  for  the  inmates,  etc.  IVhile  the  building 
was  in  progress,  Tyler  McWliorter,  as  chairman  of  the  building  com- 
mittee, had  the  oversight  of  the  farm,  and  Justus  Southwell  and  "Wm. 
Clark  held  the  stewardship  under  his  administration.  Then  came  Mr. 
Riddell  for  nine  years;  Samuel  H.  Darbyshire  from  1868  to  1875; 
John  W.  Dihel  from  1875  to  1880 ;  and  from  February,  1880,  to  the 
present  time,  Mr.  J.  McWillis,  who  is  now  holding  the  position  for 
the  third  term.  His  salary  is  $600,  which  is  at  least  $400  less  than 
should  be  paid. 

The  building  is  well  arranged  and  will  accommodate  comfortably 
about  thirty  inmates.  A  commodious  wing  accommodates  the  superin- 
tendent's family,  and  a  frame  kitchen  was  added  to  the  building  some 
years  ago.  What  is  known  as  the  "old  house  "was  put  in  tolerably 
decent  repair,  and  is  used  for  sleeping  apartments  when  the  main 
building  is  overcrowded,  but  it  cannot  be  so  used  in  extreme  cold 
weather. 


MERCER    COUNTY   POOR    FARM   AND    INFIRMARY.  487 

The  farm  is  provided  with  ample  barns,  granaries  and  tool  houses ; 
is  well  stocked  with  horses,  cattle  and  hogs ;  has  a  large  orchard  and 
an  abundance  of  small  fniits. 

The  inmates  are  all  required  to  perform  such  labor  as  they  are  able 
or  fitted  for ;  the  women  doing  their  own  cooking,  washing,  ironing 
and  chamber  work,  and  a  part  of  their  own  sewing;  while  the  men 
work  in  the  fields  or  about  the  barns.  Discipline  is  necessarily  very 
strict,  but  is  seldom  severe.  Among  them  are  the  weak-minded, 
idiotic  and  insane ;  and  for  the  latter  special  provisions  in  the  way  of 
cages  or  barred  windows  and  doors  are  a  necessity. 

The  position  of  suj^erintendent  is  one  of  great  responsibility  and  of 
constant  trials,  vexations  and  watchfulness,  and  it  is  to  the  honor  of 
each  and  all  who  have  held  the  position  that  they  have  served  year 
after  year  in  that  capacity.  That  any  one  of  them  has  served  one  or 
more  years  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  evervbodv  could  not  be 
expected ;  that  each  has  left  tlie  farm  in  better  condition  than  he  found 
it  is  most  highly  commendable. 

Since  the  completion  of  the  building  the  number  of  inmates  has 
averaged  about  thirty  per  year.  The  largest  number  ever  upon  the 
books  at  one  time  was  fifty-four,  during  the  administration  of  S.  H. 
Darbyshire ;  and  evei-y  available  resource  of  the  farm  and  infirmary 
were  then  taxed  to  the  utmost. 

Among  the  present  inmates  are  the  following,  who  have  been  there 
for  eight  years  or  more,  with  date  of  entry :  Dedimus  Black,  Aj^ril  5, 
1859 ;  Mrs.  King,  December  19,  1861 ;  Logan  Smithers,  June  7,  1864 
John   Hall,   December  30,    1865;    Norman  Powers,  May  12,    1866 
Sarah  Albee,  August  17,  1869;  Elizabeth  Krouse,  October  2,  1871 
Richard  Bell,  May  24,  1874. 

Whenever  children  are  admitted  it  is  the  rule  to  advertise  at  once 
for  homes  for  them,  and  where  possible  secure  their  adoption  by  good 
families.  "Where  this  is  not  possible  they  are  allowed  to  go  and  work 
for  their  board,  or  board  and  clothing,  owing  to  their  capabilities. 

February  1,  1865,  forty  acres  adjoining  the  farm  were  purchased  .of 
John  Dellett,  and  on  March  1,  1882,  200  acres  were  ])urcliased  of 
Peter  Blue,  being  the  N.  E.  i,  and  the  S.  E.  f  of  tlie  N.  W.  J  of  Sec. 
33,  T.  15  K,  E.  3  W.  of  the  4th  P.  M.,  for  which  they  paid  the  sum 
of  $10,000  cash.  Small  timber  lots  in  Sec.  4,  T.  14,  R.  3,  have  been 
purchased  at  difiPerent  times,  and  the  farm  now  comprises  395  acres. 
One  man  is  hired  by  the  county,  in  addition  to  the  superintendent, 
and  what  he  cannot  work  advantageously  with  the  resources  at  his 
command,  is  leased  on  good  terms  to  responsible  tenants. 


488  HISTORY    OF   MEECEE   AND    HENDEESON   COUNTIES. 

The  farm  is  becoming  nearer  sulf-supporting  year  bj  year,  and  has 
proven  from  the  first  a  paying  investment,  to  leave  out  all  other  con- 
siderations. It  is  true  that  it  has  not  put  an  end  to  a  deluge  of  pauper 
bills  from  the  several  townships  at  each  recurring  session  of  the  board, 
but  it  has  largely  reduced  them  in  number  and  amounts  asked  for,  and 
the  bills  receive  a  close  scrutiny  and  thorough  investigation  before 
being  allowed.  But  so  long  as  supervisors  are  allowed  to  assist  pau- 
pers in  their  respective  townships,  at  public  expense,  these  bills  must 
be  paid  ;  and  some  of  our  supervisors  seem  to  think  their  townships 
will  be  disgraced  if  they  are  represented  by  an  inmate  in  the  infirmary, 
and  to  prevent  this  will  issue  orders  and  indorse  bills  that  aggregate 
much  more  than  it  would  cost  to  keep  the  pauper  where  he  or  she 
most  properly  belong,  at  the  county  farm. 

The  visitor  to  our  county  farm  and  infirmary  will  see  no  grand  pile 
of  masonry,  erected  with  a  view  mainly  for  architectural  efi:ect,  but  a 
large  and  substantial  building,  well  adapted  for  the  purpose  erected. 
That  improvements  might  now  be  added,  or  that  a  difterent  plan  might 
embody  them  if  a  building  was  now  to  be  built,  which  would  better 
the  accommodations  and  lessen  the  labor,  is  readily  conceded  ;  but  it 
has  and  will  for  some  years  to  c'ome  furnish'  ample  accommodation  for 
all  who  have  been  or  may  be  consigned  to  its  friendly  shelter. 

It  is  situated  three  and  one-half  miles  due  north  of  Aledo.  A 
beautiful  drive  leads  to  the  house,  the  site  for  which  was  selected  by 
an  artistic  eye.  Inviting  shade  trees,  the  lawn,  the  orchard,  the  fruit, 
the  waving  grain  on  either  side  in  summer,  the  well-filled  granaries  in 
winter,  all  present  an  inviting  appearance  ;  nothing  repulsive  meets 
the  eye.  It  is  a  home  for  the  unfortunate  and  the  imbecile  :  an  insti- 
tution that  is  a  credit  to  the  generosity  and  liberality  of  the  citizens  of 
Mercer  county. 

In  addition  to  the  gentlemen  mentioned  as  furnishing  data  for  the 
foregoing,  we  are  indebted  to  county  clerk  C.  C.  Wordin  for  kind 
assistance  in  examining  the  records  in  his  oflice,  and  a  long,  though 
fruitless,  search  for  some  reports  which  would  have  proven  valuable 
could  they  have  been  found ;  to  superintendent  J.  Mc Willis  for  like 
assistance,  and  to  numerous  others  for  the  pains  taken  in  answering 
our  numerous  inquiries.  In  the  name  of  the  readers  of  this  history 
we  earnestly  tliank  each  and  all. 


MERCER   COUNTY    AGRICULTURAL    BOARD.  489 

MERCER  COUNTY  AGRICULTURAL  BOARD. 

CONTRIBUTED    BY    L.    B.    DOUGHTY. 

In  starting  out  for  data  for  this  sketch  we  were  confronted  with  the 
to  us  startling  fact  that  the  first  record  book  of  the  society,  embracing 
the  records  from  its  first  organization  up  to  1873,  was  missing.  Secre- 
tary and  ex-secretaries  were  appealed  to,  but  no  trace  of  the  missing 
record  has  as  vet  been  discovered.  Here  was  a  dilemma  for  which  we 
were  not  prepared,  and  one  that  necessitates  a  mere  sketch,  which, 
while  generally  correct,  is  so  incomplete  and  barren  in  detail  as  to  be, 
•to  us,  at  least,  very  unsatisfactory.  An  appeal  to  those  who  were 
prominent  in  the  organization  and  during  the  first  years  of  the  society 
was  made,  and  while  all  were  willing  to  render  assistance,  not  one  was 
willing  to  trust  his  memory  as  to  details  of  the  beginning.  Three  men 
were  mentioned  as  the  first  secretary  ;  two  of  them  we  have  seen,  and 
each  thinks  the  other  was  the  man,  but  neither  is  sure.  Under  these 
circumstances  the  reader  will  pardon  us  for  any  inaccuracies  or  omis- 
sions he  mav  discover. 

The  society  was  organized  in  1853,  by  prominent  farmers  in  the 
county,  for  the  encouragement  and  promotion  of  agricultural  and 
mechanical  pursuits.  Among  the  organizers  were  Tyler  McWhorter, 
Graham  Lee,  Joseph  Trego,  Dudley  Willits,  J.  E.  Bay,  Walter  Pryne, 
ElbVidge  G.  Howe,  William  Green,  Cruser  Gray,  James  and  William  P. 
Stroug,  Washington  Wolf,  the  Drurys,  Nobles,  and  many  others.  We 
shall  not  attempt  to  give  the  officers ;  we  cannot  learn  with  certainty 
who  they  were. 

Millersburg  was  chosen  as  the  place  for  holding  the  exhibitions,  and 
the  citizens  of  that  village  purchased  three  acres  of  land  of  Elbridge  G. 
Howe ;  cleared  it  of  the  timber  and  undergrowth,  and  built  a  fence 
around  it  (three  sides  being  fenced  with  the  brush  taken  from  the  land, 
the  front  only  being  a  substantial  board  fence),  and  the  whole  was 
donated  to  the  society.  The  consideration  was  $50,  and  the  deed  was 
made,  September  30,  1854,  to  "the  treasurer  of  the  Mercer  County 
Agricultural  Society  and  his  successor  in  office." 

The  exhibitions  were  held  during  the  last  of  September  or  the  first 
of  October  of  each  year,  and  have  been  a  success  from  the  start,  the 
society  always  paying  its  premiums  in  full,  and  with  but  few  excep- 
tions has  had  something  left  after  so  doing  and  meeting  current 
expenses. 

The  three  acres  soon  became  too  small,  and  two  more  acres  were 
purchased  of  Mr.  Howe ;  and  when  it  was  decided  to  add  trotting  to  the 


490  HISTORY    OF    FIERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

exhibition,  eight  acres  were  leased  from  II.  W.  Thornton,  upon  which 
a  one-fourth  mile  track  was  prepared. 

Two  features  of  our  early  fairs  will  bear  mention,  although  both 
have  long  since  lost  a  place  on  the  programme.  An  agricultural 
address,  often  delivered  by  a  professional  politician,  who  perhaps  knew 
no  more  about  raising  corn  and  potatoes  than  he  did  of  Greek,  was  for 
awhile  considered  the  main  attraction ;  and  the  equestrienne  exhibi- 
tion was  also  relied  upon  as  a  drawing  feature.  It  is  needless  to  say 
that  the  latter  was  of  the  two  the  most  popular,  and  drew  by  far  the 
largest  and  most  enthusiastic  crowd. 

Owing  to  the  excitement  consequent  to  the  breaking  out  of  the  war 
of  the  rebellion  in  1861,  no  fair  was  held  that  year,  but  they  were 
resumed  in  1802,  and  have  been  held  regularly  ever  since. 

When  the  railroad  was  completed  to  Aledo,  in.  1869,  the  society 
decided  to  remove  to  that  point,  owing  to  the  increased  facilities  for 
getting  to  aiid  from  the  fair,  and  twenty-seven  acres  of  ground  were 
purchased  of  D.  V.  Reed,  situated  about  one  mile  southwest  of  the 
business  center  of  town,  and  the  fair  of  1869  was  held  on  the  new 
gi'ounds. 

During  the  first  years  of  the  society,  membership  tickets  were 
sold  at  $1  each,  and  the  ^Durchaser  was  presented  with  a  badge  which 
not  only  entitled  him  to  admission  during  the  fair,  but  also  admitted 
all  members  of  his  family,  except  children,  who  were  "of  age." 
Under  this  plan  gate  receipts  were  always  small  in  proportion  to  'the 
number  in  attendance,  and  it  was  finally  displaced  by  the  regular 
ticket  system,  the  purchaser  of  four  twenty-five  cent  tickets  being  enti- 
tled to  a  certificate  of  membershi]),  which  latter  gives  him  a  vote  in 
society,  but  will  not  admit  him  to  the  grounds. 

When  the  law  was  passed  creating  the  state  board  of  agriculture, 
our  society  reorganized  under  its  provisions,  under  the  name  of  the 
"Mercer  County  Agricultural  Board,"  a*name  it  still  bears.  Substan- 
tial buildings,  stalls,  pens,  etc.,  have  been  erected  as  the  finances 
would  warrant.  The  board  during  the  past  year  paid  the  last  of  its 
indebtedness  for  land,  and  has  kept  other  bills  paid  up.  A  fine  exhi- 
bition hall  is  now  in  course  of  erection,  in  the  shape  of  a  Greek  cross, 
which  will  cost  about  $2,000.  On  the  grounds  is  a  splendid  one-third 
mile  track,  and  fronting  it  a  commodious  amphitheater,  built,  how- 
ever, more  for  use  than  ornament.  A  sufiicient  niimber  of  wells 
supply  all  the  water  required,  and  more  hay  is  raised  on  the  ground 
enclosing  the  track  than  is  required  to  feed  the  stock  bi'ought  for 
exhibition. 

Gambling   and   the   sale   of  intoxicants   have   ever   been   rigidly 


MERCER   COUNTY   AGRICULTURAL   BOARD.  491 

excluded,  and  many  have  favored  the  abolition  of  trotting  or  racing 
of  any  kind  from  the  grounds. 

There  was  a  time  when  this  feature  threatened  to  overshadow  all 
else,  and  our  fair  became  what  so  many  others  in  the  state  had 
merged  into  —  a  three-days'  horse-race,  with  a  few  implements  and 
farm  products  as  a  kind  of  side-show.  Taking  warning,  however,  by 
the  bankruptcy  of  neighboring  societies,  resulting  largely  from  this 
course,  our  board  adopted  a  happy  medium,  which  has  so  far  resulted 
to  the  best  interests  of  the  board, . financially,  while  satisfying  all  but 
the  ultra  advocates  of  either  side.  Trials  of  speed  are  reduced  in 
number  and  almost  entirely  confined  to  hoises  owned  within  the 
county,  and  the  premiums  are  liberal  without  being  excessive.  Pre- 
miums on  stock  and  farm  products,  together  with  manufactured 
articles  of  all  kinds  of  home  production  have  been  advanced  ;  while 
machinery,  farm  implements,  etc. ,  from  foreign  manufactories,  are 
simply  awarded  a  diploma. 

The  ladies'  department,  including  needle  work,  embroideries, 
samples  of  culinary  skill  and  dairy  work,  have  ever  been  an  inter- 
esting, attractive  and  important  feature  of  the  exhibitions,  and  too 
much  praise  cannot  be  accorded  to  the  ladies  for  their  interest  and 
unremitting  eftbrts  to  make  these  departments  attractive,  and  we  can 
say  of  them  what  can  be  said  of  no  other  department  :  the  display 
has  always  been  full  and  large. 

In  the  exhibition  of  fine  horses,  cattle,  hogs,  and  sheep,  our  fairs 
have  never  been  surpassed  in  quality  by  the  state  fair,  and  some  years 
scarcely  equaled  in  quantity ;  while  in  fruits,  farm  products,  and  vege- 
tables, our  average  display  would  be  creditable  at  any  state  exhibition, 
and  in  exceptional  years  is  never  surpassed  anywhere.  - 

The  board  oft'er  from  $2,000  to  $2,500  annually  as  premiums.  All 
articles  and  animals  are  admitted  free,  except  horses,  entries  for  speed, 
and  sweepstakes  on  all  other  stock.  These  pay  an  entrance  fee  of  ten 
per  cent  on  first  premium,  except  entries  for  speed,  which  pay  ten  per 
cent  on  purses  offered.  Sheep,  however,  pay  no  entrance  fee  on  sweep- 
stakes, as  only  a  diploma  is  awarded  in  that  class. 

We  cannot  give  a  list  of  the  officers  of  the  society  from  its  organiza- 
tion, and  must  content  ourselves  with  a  mention  of  a  few  whom  we 
know  to  have  been  prominently  connected  with  it,  while  others  who 
have  perhaps  been  more  prominent  are  necessarily  omitted.  In 
addition  to  those  first  mentioned  are  J.  E.  Harroun,  A.  J.  Streeter, 
Henry  Lee,  David  Calhoun,  D.  W.  Sedwick,  E.  B.  David,  Joseph  B. 
Lair,  Samuel  Wharton,  C.  F.  Darston,  J.  U.  David,  A.  P.  Petrie, 
A.  B.  Swisher,  James  Feather,  William  I.   Nevius,  Robert  Candor, 


492  HISTORY   OF   MERCEK   AND   HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

John  Brad  J,  O.  A.  Bridgford,  Walter  Lloyd,  L.  B.  Lloyd,  J.  M.  Mannon, 
William  Doak,  G.  D.  Miller,  John  Whitsett,  John  A.  Gilmore,  D.  T. 
Hindman,  W.  K.  Fulton,  D.  H.  Hayes,  J.  M.  Warwick,  M.  L.  Marsh, 
J.  Taylor  Gilmore,  L.  V.  Willits,  J.  H.  Piirdum,  R.  J.  Cabeen,  L.  B. 
Howe,  J.  J.  Huston ;  and  right  here  we  will  stop,  for  their  name  is 
legion. 

Robert  Holloway  has  added  much  interest  to  the  horse  show  for  the 
past  few  years,  by  an  exhibition  of  his  fine  imported  horses,  while 
William  Drury  is  entitled  to  the  same  credit  for  a  much  longer  period. 

As  a  fact  worthy  of  record  the  fairs  of  the  Mercer  county  agricul- 
tural boards  hav^e  been  more  uniformly  successful  in  every  way  than 
any  other  fair  in  the  state,  and  our  exhibitions  deservedly  stand  at  the 
head,  taking  them  as  a  whole,  and  have  so  stood  for  a  number  of 
years.  For  this  proud  position  credit  is  due  to  the  citizens  of  the 
county  generally,  who  have  ever  shown  their  interest  in  its  success  by 
attending  its  exhibitions  and  contributing  in  every  possible  way  toward 
its  advancement.  Wise  selection  of  officers  and  careful  management 
on  their  part  has  insured  a  sound  financial  basis  upon  which  future  im- 
provements may  be  safely  inaugurated. 

The  twenty-ninth  annual  fair  of  the  board  will  be  held  on  Septem- 
ber 19,  20,  21  and  22,  1882,  at  their  grounds  near  Aledo.  The  fol- 
lowing are  the  officers  for  the  current  year :  president,  A.  B.  Swisher, 
Eliza ;  vice-president,  R.  J.  Cabeen,  Keithsburg ;  treasurer,  E.  B. 
David,  Aledo ;  secretary,  J.  F.  Henderson,  Aledo  ;  executive  com- 
mittee, David  Calhoun,  Keithsburg;  J.  B.  Lair,  Aledo;  G.  D.  Mil- 
ler, Aledo ;  D.  W.  Sedwick,  Suez ;  J.  U.  David,  New  Windsor ;  J. 
B.  Chandler,  Sunbeam ;  Mrs.  W.  D.  Fleharty,  New  Windsor ;  Mrs. 
H.  B.  Frazier,  Viola;  Mrs.  W.  A.  Lorimer,  Aledo;  Mrs.  J.  M.  Man- 
non, New  Boston  ;  general  superintendent,  Robert  Candor,  Aledo ; 
marshal,  Samuel  Wharton,  Aledo ;  marshal  of  the  ring,  John  F. 
Harvey,  Aledo.  Capt.  E.  B.  David,  present  treasurer,  was  for  five 
years  secretary  of  the  board,  and  is  now  vice-president  of  the  state 
board  of  agriculture  for  this  district. 


DUNCAN  TOWNSHIP. 

This  township  was  named  by  the  first  settlers  in  honor  of  Buford 
Duncan,  who  was  himself  the  first  of  all.  The  soil  in  this  township  is 
susceptible  of  a  high  grade  of  cultivation,  being  composed  of  rich,  black 
loam.  Camp  creek,  the  principle  stream,  runs  through  the  southeast 
portion,  and  Eliza  creek  forms  in  the  northwest  part  of  the  township, 


DUNCAN   TOWNSHIP.  493 

and  runs  in  a  southwest  course  through  Duncan  and  Eliza  townships, 
emptying  into  Bald  Eagle  lake,  live  miles  from  New  Boston.  In 
places  Camp  creek  is  skirted  with  heavy  timber  along  its  banks,  to 
which  the  various  wild  climbers  cling  for  support.  All  along  the  banks 
of  Camp,  from  Bald  Eagle  lake  to  its  source,  wherever  shaded  by  tim- 
ber, was  once  the  favorite  camping  ground  of  the  red  man,  and  hence 
the  creek  derives  its  name ;  but  they  have  long  since  disappeared 
with  the  advent  of  the  few  first  white  settlers.  They  have  gone,  but 
have  not  forgotten  the  place  they  once  controlled,  and  those  of  them 
who  still  survive  in  lamentable  tones  portray  their  recollections  of  the 
home  of  their  childhood ;  that  once  delightful  hunting  ground.  But 
time  has  wrought  many  changes  since  then ;  where  once  was  the  site 
of  the  wigwam  are  now  fields  of  waving  corn.  The  old  mill  once 
in  active  operation  upon  its  banks  just  west  of  Millersburg,  has 
also  disappeared,  giving  way  to  more  powerful  modern  improvements, 
and  not  a  vestige  of  it  remains  except  the  recollections  of  its  former 
usefulness  in  grinding  out  its  allowance  to  hungry  settlers.  Around  it 
was  a  pleasant  spot  in  summer  time,  when  the  woods  were  green 
around  and  the  pond  like  a  shield  of  polished  silver,  with  the  water 
flying  in  showers  of  spray  over  the  huge,  slowly  turning  wheel.  But 
in  winter,  when  the  trees  were  bare  and  the  snow  lay  piled  in  drifts 
upon  the  ground,  a  weary,  desolate  place  was  the  mill  of  Camp  creek. 

Where  once  could  be  seen  one  vast  sea  of  unbroken  prairie,  well 
cultivated  farms  and  handsome  farm  houses  now  meet  the  eye ;  and 
dotted  here  and  there  with  churches  and  school-houses  on  every  hand, 
which  note  the  progress  that  intellect  and  industry  have  made. 

This  township  is  comprised  of  No.  15,  R.  4  west  of  the  4th  P.  M., 
and  is  well  supplied  with  coal  ranging  from  two  and  a  half  to  five 
feet  in  thickness. 

FIRST  SETTLERS. 

The  first  settler  in  what  is  now  Duncan  township  was  Buford 
Duncan,  as  early  as  1834  or  1836.  The  township  took  its  name  from 
this  man.  The  next  family  to  come  was  Duncan's  son-in-law,  James 
Yernon.  William  Epperly  came  also  about  the  same  time.  These 
settled  in  the  same  neighborhood,  on  section  16,  school  land.  The 
first  school-house  was  built  on  some  of  this  land,  of  which  Duncan 
donated  one  acre.  It  was  called  the  Duncan  school-house  then. 
Joseph  King  was  another  of  the  early  comers.  Pie  settled  farther 
south  toward  the  line  between  Duncan  and  Millersburg,  on  section  23, 
now  owned  by  J.  C.  Staley.  From  about  1837  arrivals  were  numer- 
ous.    Among  these  later  settlers  were  Ebenezer  Bunting,  Joseph  K., 


494  HISTORY   OF    MERCEK   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Elbridge  G.,  and  Liician  B.  Howe  (brotliers),  Tyler  McWhorter,  and 
his  brother-in-law,  William  S.  Koe.  The_y  settled  together.  McWhorter 
started  a  nursery,  made  a  handsome  place,  and  hnally  removed  his 
nursery  to  his  present  location  south  of  Aledo. 

[The  following  from  an  early  resident  of  Duncan  township  (Tyler 
McWhorter,  Esq.)  will  be  read  with  interest. — Ed.] 

The  first  settler  of  this  township  was  Buford  Duncan,  who  located 
on  section  16  in  the  year  1838.  Buford  Duncan  came  from  Indiana. 
He  was  a  man  characterized  for  plainness  of  manners  and  the  strictest 
honesty.  He  was  already  somewhat  advanced  in  life  and  was  the 
father  of  a  considerable  family  of  children,  most  of  whom  settled  in 
the  same  neighborhood.  Soon  after  Buford  Duncan  had  located  in  the 
township,  his  brother,  Braxton  Duncan,  located  on  section  17.  Brax- 
ton Duncan  was  of  a  slender  constitution  and  ,only  survived  a  few 
years.  Subsequently  several  persons  connnected  with  the  Duncan 
family  located  in  the  same  neighborhood  and  formed  a  nucleus  of  what 
became  known  as  "Duncan  settlement."  Among  the  early  settlers  of 
that  neighborhood  should  be  mentioned  William  Epperly  and  James 
Vernon.  Buford  Duncan  has  been  dead  many  years.  Among  the 
early  settlers  ol'  the  township  of  Duncan  was  also  Luman  Castle,  who 
located  on  the  south  boundary  of  the  township  (section  36)  near  the 
town  of  Millersburg. 

It  was  also  at  an  early  date  that  Joseph  King  located  on  the  south 
side  of  section  33.  It  was  near  the  same  time  that  Robert  Morris 
located  on  section  25.  Robert  Morris  was  from  Scotland.  He  was  a 
man  of  some  mathematical  education.  In  1844  he  was  elected  county 
surveyor.  He  also  served  as  the  first  township  treasurer  of  Duncan 
township,  and  held  that  position  till  the  spring  of  1846,  when,  being 
attracted  to  an  overland  adventure  to  California,  he  resigned  his  charge 
as  township  treasurer,  and  the  writer  of  this  sketch  became  his  suc- 
cessor. Mr.  Morris  died  in  California.  About  the  spring  of  1844 
Elbridge  G.  Howe  and  Lucian  B.  Howe  made  a  location  on  the  north 
part  of  section  33.  It  was  in  the  summer  of  1845  that  the  writer  of  this 
sketch,  accompanied  by  a  brother-inJaw  (William  S.  Rowe),  located  on 
section  31.  It  was  then  the  sole  purpose  of  the  writer,  with  the  limited 
means  at  his  command,  to  start  a  large  experimental  orchard  in  con- 
nection with  the  nursery  business.  The  name  chosen  for  the  nursery 
was  " Pome-Roy  (Roy al  Fruit)  Nursery";  and  by  that  name  the  neigh- 
borhood is  still  known.  It  is  scarcely  necessary  to  add  that  "Pome-Roy 
Nursery"  subsequently  produced  the  trees  for  most  of  the  oldest  bearing 
orchards  of  this  county,  and  for  some  of  the  adjoining  counties.  At 
this  early  date  very  few  public  roads  were  yet  laid  out  in  the  township. 


DUNCAN   TOWNSHIP.  495 

The  few  traveled  roads  wound  tlieir  way  over  the  prairies,  following 
the  most  favorable  make  of  ground. 

The  small  number  of  domestic  animals  had  very  little  effect  in  sup- 
pressing the  free  growth  of  the  wild  prairie  grass  which  on  all  sides 
grew  up  and  waved  to  the  summer  winds.  For  many  years  the  early 
settlers  could  mow  a  full  supply  of  hay  on  the  open  prairies,  and  when 
the  frosts  of  autumn  had  killed  the  prairie  grass  it  was  with  watchful 
care  that  the  early  settlers  felt  the  necessity  of  protecting  their  prop- 
erty from  the  sweeping  destruction  of  prairie  fires.  These  fires  were 
often  started  ten  or  fifteen  miles  distant;  how  or  by  whom  started 
could  seldom  be  ascertained.  On  many  occasions  both  men  and 
women  were  rallied  out  through  the  hours  of  night  to  defend  fields 
and  fencQS  against  the  approaching  prairie  fires.  Some  very  serious 
losses  occurred  in  the  early  settlement  of  the  country.  It  was  the  prac- 
tice to  plow  "fire  guards"  around  exposed  sides  of  farms. 

At  the  time  the  writer  of  this  sketch  first  settled  no  school-house 
was  built  in  the  township,  and  the  only  religious  services  that  had  yet 
been  held  were  conducted  by  a  branch  of  the  Mormons.  It  was  under 
a  preacher  by  the  name  of  Ilinckle  that  these  exercises  were  mainly 
conducted,  but  a  more  noted  revivalist,  by -the  name  of  Ringer,  came 
to  his  assistance.  Considerable  Zealand  earnestness  were  awakened. 
But  subsequently  this  movement  met  with  some  unfortunate  disasters. 

The  first  school-house  was  built  in  the  Duncan  settlement,  the 
whole  township  being  taxed  as  one  district.  Subsequently  another  dis- 
trict was  set  ofi'  on  the  south  side  of  the  township,  called  the  Pome-Roy 
district.  Several  other  divisions  of  school  districts  have  since  taken 
place.  It  now  has  nine  school-houses  and  three  churches.  It  has 
become  a  prosperous  agricultural  township,  and  sustains  an  able  ajid 
industrious  population.  But  this  township  is  so  peculiarly  situated 
that  it  is  not  crossed  by  any  of  the  leading  lines  of  travel. 

Tyler  McWiioetek. 

CHURCHES. 

There  are  four  churches  in  the  town.  The  Wesleyan  Methodist  was 
the  first  to  organize,  December  7,  1855.  In  the  spring  of  1833,  E.  R. 
Powers  and  George  Keneday  moved  with  their  families  from  Ohio  to 
Illinois.  Being  members  of  that  church  in  the  former  state,  they 
brought  their  letters  of  recommendation  with  them.  They  purchased 
land  in  Penyton  township.  There  was  no  religious  organization  near 
where  they  settled,  and  they  were  anxious  to  promote  the  cause  of 
Christianity,  and  had  a  preference  for  a  church  that  did  not  recognize 
slave-holders  and  which  did  exert  its  influence  against  intemperance, 


496  HISTORY    OF   AtERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

war,  and  secret  oath-bound  societies.  Thej  had  been  in  Illinois  nearly 
a  year  before  they  found  a  member  of  that  order.  Finally  learning 
that  there  were  Wesleyans  at  Millersburg,  they  went  there  to  obtain  a 
preacher,  and  after  a  short  time  the  Rev,  Mr.  Mekpam  came  to  their 
place  and  preached  the  first  sermon  listened  to  in  Perry  ton,  and 
preached  by  a  Wesleyan.  About  two  weeks  after  this,  a  young  man 
named  B.  F.  Haskins  preached  at  the  same  place.  These  ser- 
mons were  delivered  some  time  in  April,  1854.  In  the  month  of 
July  following,  the  Rev.  J,  M.  Snyder  visited  the  neighborhood,  and 
preached  by  appointment.  His  field  of  labor  included  Perryton,  and 
here  he  made  appointments  to  preach  once  in  four  weeks  on  Sabbath. 
These  exercises  were  held,  alternately,  at  the  houses  of  Mr.  Powers  and 
Keneday.  At  the  beginning  of  the  next  conference  year  the  citizens 
of  Perryton  erected  a  school  house  near  the  Hamlet  postofiice,  where 
the  services  were  then  held.  Tlie  Rev.  Mr.  Snyder  having  dispensed 
with  his  former  field  of  labor,  he  was  now  able  to  preach  to  them  once 
in  two  weeks,  on  Sundav.  During  this  time  a  revival  was  held  and 
twenty-seven  members  were  added  to  the  church.  Mr.  Powers  and 
Keneday,  with  their  families  had,  a  year  previously,  joined  the  church 
at  Millersbusg,  but  by  request  changed  and  joined  the  church  in  their 
own  neighborhood.  The  first  ofiiicers  of  the  church  were :  J.  M.  Sny- 
der, officiating  elder ;  Levi  Cooper,  clerk.  The  first  members  were : 
Ebenezer  R.  Powers,  Cornelia  Powers,  George  Keneday  and  his  wife, 
Celestia  Keneday,  Levi  Cooper  and  his  wife,  Lucy  Cooper,  Jonas 
Fender,  John  Cooper,  M.  Welch.  On  the  16th  of  December  of  that 
year,  were  added  to  the  church:  Daniel  Bopes,  Henry  Freeman, 
Joseph  F.  Cooper,  D.  H.  Cooper,  Sarah  Cooper,  Sarah  Mclntyre,  Ann 
Asquith.  Up  to  1856  they  had  thirty-oneiregular  members  and  twenty- 
one  probationers.  This  church  was  prosperous  from  the  first;  but 
having  no  place  in  the  township  large  enough  to  accommodate  all  who 
thronged  to  the  place  of  worship,  they  accordingly  built  a  church  of 
their  own  on  the  center  of  section  24. 

Antioch  Baptist  church  was  organized  July  22,  1866.  This  church 
owes  its  existence  to  George  Miller,  who,  living  at  Sugar  Grove,  was 
a  prominent  member  of  that  denomination,  and  church  services  were 
held  at  his  house  at  an  early  period.  When  Mr.  Miller  left  this 
county  for  Oregon,  the  place  of  holding  meetings  was  changed  to 
Lunn's  school-house.  This  was  called  the  Sugar  Grove  church.  It 
increased  in  membership  until  finally  they  were  joined  by  a  few  from 
Edgington,  and  a  new  church  formed  at  the  above  place.  The  mem- 
bers most  prominent  in  the  movement  were  :  John  Young,  James 
Young,  L.  H.  Castor,  B.  F.  Miller,  and  Frederick  Volkel.  At  the  school- 


DUNCAN   TOWNSHIP.  497 

house  preaching  was  held  until  1870,  at  which  time  a  new  church  was 
erected  on  section  1.  This  edifice  was  built  by  subscription  at  a  cost 
of  $2, 300.  Among  the  first  early  preachers  were  :  Henry  D.  Kline, 
John  Young  and  Alexander  Sutton.  A  revival  took  place  in  1867, 
under  the  preaching  of  one  Pickert,  an  evangelist,  which  was  the  first 
revival  after  occupying  the  new  church.  The  next  was  under  the  super- 
vision of  James  Young,  in  1863.  The  next,  conducted  by  J.  R.  R. 
Young,  added  fifty-three  new  members  to  the  strength  of  the  church. 
Among  the  early  membership  of  the  church  were  :  -Lewis  Landreth 
and  wife,  John  Downing  and  wife,  Milton  Elliott  and  wife,  James 
Elliott  and  wife,  L.  C.  Elliott  and  family,  E.  W.  Miller  and  wife, 
B.  F.  Miller  and  wife,  John  McLaughlin  and  wife,  T.  C.  Lewis  and 
wife. 

Among  the  first  organizers  of  the  Buffalo  Prairie  church,  of  Dun- 
can, Jesse  L.  Adams  took  an  active  interest.  He  was  born  in  Bucks 
county,  Ohio,  March  23,  1808.  He  subsequently  moved  from  that 
state  to  Madison  county,  Indiana,  and  settled  in  the  wilderness.  In 
1822  he  went  to  visit  his  older  brother,  who  was  then  living  on  the 
Wabash  river.  While  sojourning  he  united  with  the  Church  of  Jesus 
Christ,  and  was  called  to  the  office  of  elder  in  1835.  In  1835  he 
moved  to  Mercer  county,  settling  near  Glancey's  lake,  in  Eliza  town- 
ship. He  being  enthusiastic  in  the  faith,  immediately  began  the  agi- 
tation of  establishing  a  church,  and  accordingly  in  1862,  the  church 
was  organized  with  eleven  members.  Winthrop  Holmes  was  called 
to  the  eldership.  The  first  meetings  were  held  at  the  houses  of  the 
different  members.  The  services  were  conducted  by  Elder  J.  W. 
Gillon,  J.  H.  Gurley,  and  W.  Holmes.  The  latter  named  dying  in 
1865,  his  place  was  filled  by  J.  F.  Adams.  Up  to  1865  the  church 
had  a  membership  of  twenty-seven.  In  1868  a  revival  took  place,  at 
which  time  103  were  added  to  the  church,  making  in  all  130  members, 
and  they  immediately  set  about  building  a  church  by  subscription. 
This  was  dedicated  September  5,  1868.  In  the  fall  of  1873  J.  F. 
Adams  resigned  the  eldership  of  the  church,  and  David  S.  Holmes 
was  called  ;  he  resigned  in  1875,  and  E,  F.  Bryant  was  called.  Under 
his  administration  the  church  reached  256  members. 

ORGANIZATION. 

Pursuant  to  notice  given  for  township  organization,  an  election 
was  held  on  April  4,  1854,  at  the  school-house  in  district  No.  1.  The 
meeting  was  called  to  order  by  choosing  George  W.  Bennett  clerk, 
William  Epperly,  moderator,  and  Tyler  McWhorter,  clerk,  pro  tern. 
At  this  meeting  it  was  decided  to  elect  four  poundmasters,  and  the 


498  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

ones  chosen  were  :  W.  S.  Roe,  Michael  Miller,  Bnford  Duncan  and 
Samuel  Herson.  Tvler  McWhorter  was  chosen  supervisor,  receiving 
thirtj-two  votes  ;  Alvah  Sutton,  town  clerk  ;  Caleb  Yernon,  collector  ; 
William  S.  Roe,  assessor ;  Samuel  Herson,  G.  W.  Bennett,  John 
Page,  Buford  Duncan,  and  James  Yernon,  overseers  of  poor  ;  AVil- 
liam  Summers  and  James  Lloyd,  commissioners  of  highways  ;  Wil- 
liam Ducan,  constable  ;  James  Yernon,  justice  of  tlie  peace.  At  this 
election  thirty  votes  were  cast.  A  resolution  restraining  swine,  sheep, 
and  cattle  from  running  at  large  was  adopted. 

One  mile  north  of  Millersburg,  on  a  high  ridge  of  ground  covered 
with  oaks,  is  located  the  Millersburg  cemetery.  This  ridge  of  ground 
extends  toward  the  nortli  and  slopes  gently  to  the  east  and  west.  The 
lettering  on  numy  of  the  old  head-stones  still  standing  has  been  obliter- 
ated by  the  elements,  showing  that  the  place  has  been  in  use  for  that 
pui'pose  for  many  years.  It  is  perhaps  the  first  burial  place  in  the 
county.  Over  two  hundred  are  reposing  beneatli  the  shades  of  the 
surrounding  oaks. 

Until  1881  Duncan  township  was  without  a  postoffice.  At  that 
time  Mr,  Leonard  Gorber  built  a  store-house  on  section  2,  and  John 
Ball  was  appointed  postmaster.  He  was  also  the  first  merchant  in  the 
township.  In  the  spring  of  1882  he  sold  his  stock  to  John  Bolting- 
house,  who  was  appointed  in  his  stead.  April  IT,  1882,  a  second  post- 
office  was  established  in  Duncan  township,  and  Edward  Cornell  was 
appointed  postmaster.  This  is  situated  in  the  extreme  southwestern 
corner  of  the  township. 

A  mill  was  built  on  Camp  creek  in  1835,  on  the  line  between  Dun- 
can and  Millersburg  townships.  This  was  a  grist  and  saw-mill.  It 
has  long  since  been  numbered  with  the  things  of  the  past,  and  only  a 
few  of  the  old  timbers  remain  to  mark  the  spot  where  the  early 
pioneer  patiently  awaited  his  turn  to  be  accommodated. 

Luman  Castle  was  the  first  discoverer  of  coal  in  Duncan  township. 
This  was  about  1845  or  1846.  One  McDonald  was  the  first  to  mine 
coal.  Until  he  commenced,  people  who  wished  dug  what  they  wanted 
out  of  the  side  of  the  ravine.  There  being  plenty  of  timber  then  there 
was  not  much  demand  for  coal,  but  as  the  population  of  the  township 
increased  they  began  using  coal  in  order  to  save  tlie  timber  for  making 
rails  and  other  purposes. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Henry  Dunn,  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  was  bom  in  Brown  county, 
Ohio,  in  1831,  where  he  received  the  advantages  of  a  common  school 
education,  and  began  to  assist  about  the  farm  at  the  age  of  sixteen. 


DUNCAN   TOWNSHIP.  499 

On  coming  to  this  county  he  first  stopped  at  New  Boston,  and  after  a 
six  months'  stay  he  removed  to  Eliza  townsliip,  where  he  remained  ten 
years.  He  afterward  resided  a  year  each  in  Mercer  and  Millersburg, 
and  in  1863  bought  land  of  James  Yernon  in  section  21,  near  Dunn's 
school-house,  which  took  its  name  from  him.  He  was  married  to  Miss 
A.  Waters,  formerly  of  Ohio.  Her  parents  came  out  soon  after,  and 
being  dissatisfied  with  the  country  he  took  them  back  and  returned  with 
his  own  parents.  Mr.  Dunn  possesses  a  rare  combination  of  good 
qualities,  which  fit  him  for  the  business  in  which  he  is  engaged.  He 
is  a  man  of  independent  ideas,  indomitable  energy  and  fine  business 
tact,  all  of  which  has  been  the  secret  of  his  success  in  life. 

David  H.  Livingston  was  born  in  1827  in  Columbiana  county, 
Ohio,  where  he  received  a  common  school  education,  and  after  learned 
the  carpenter's  trade,  at  which  he  worked  until  1851.  At  that  time  he 
came  to  Rock  Island,  where  for  the  first  year  he  followed  the  business. 
He  then  moved  to  Mercer  county,  settling  first  at  Millersburg,  still  con- 
tinuing the  business  there.  Here  he  lived  for  ten  years.  In  1861  he 
bought  his  first  land,  on  the  S.  E.  ^  of  Sec.  6,  in  Duncan  township,  and 
in  1863  bought  on  the  S.  "W.  J  of  Sec.  7,  and  other  lands  adjoining, 
until  at  the  present  time  he  owns  225  acres  of  choice  land,  which  is 
the  result  of  hard  labor  and  careful  management.  He  returned  to  Ohio 
in  the  spring  of  1852,  and  was  married  to  Miss  Nancy  McDevitt,  of  his 
native  county.  Four  children  were  the  result  of  this  union,  as  follows : 
Jo.  W.,  Minnie  A.,  J.  G.,  and  Lizzie.' 

William  Epperly,  Sr.,  (deceased)  was  born  in  Montgomery  county, 
Virginia,  August  12,  1796,  and  was  married  in  1819  to  Miss  Alley  AVade, 
of  the  same  county.  Somewhere  between  the  years  1831  and  1833 
they  removed  from  Virginia  to  the  State  of  Indiana,  at  which  time  the 
family  consisted  of  seven  children.  After  a  residence  of  thirteen 
years  in  Indiana,  they  removed  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  where  he 
spent  the  remainder  of  his  life.  Soon  after  his  arrival  here  he  pur- 
chased 320  acres  of  choice  farming  land,  and  by  industry,  economy, 
and  the  assistance  of  his  faithful  wife,  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  title 
to  the  same,  besides  saving  considerable  money.  While  residing  in 
Indiana  three  children  were  added  to  the  family,  and  six  in  Illinois. 
Mr.  Epperly  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Duncan  township,  and 
was  widely  and  favorably  known.  After  having  spent  a  long  and 
useful  life,  he  passed  away,  August  10,  1879,  at  the  good  old  age  of 
eighty -three.  He  was  a  member  of  the  reoi-ganized  church  of  Jesus 
Christ,  of  Latter  Day  Saints,  having  been  identified  therewith  for  ten 
years  prior.  He  died  in  full  faith  of  the  doctrine  of  the  church.  After 
his  decease  his  property  was  divided  among  his  children,  he  having 


500  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AJSTD    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

made  the  arrangements  before  liis  death  concerning  the  same.  Ample 
provisions  were  made  for  his  wife,  who  still  survives  him,  and  for  his 
daughter,  who  will  receive  a  dividend  of  the  remaining  portion  of  the 
estate. 

Saiviuel  Sheese,  though  not  an  early  settler  of  Duncan  township,  is 
nevertheless  a  good  illustration  of  a  limited  class  of  citizens  who  came 
early  to  this  township  and  learned  to  adapt  themselves  to  the  anoma- 
lous and  changing  circumstances  of  early  settler  life,  and  who  wrung 
success  from  hardship  and  privations  of  an  age  when  financial  derange- 
ments were  common.  He  was  born  in  the  State  of  Ohio  in  1834.  At 
the  age  of  twelve  he  went  with  his  parents  from  his  native  state  to 
Indiana,  where  he  spent  his  youth  in  working  on  a  farm.  His 
financial  condition  of  life  at  that  time  was  a  barrier  against  an  educa- 
tion, there  being  no  fi*ee  schools.  From  Indiana,  at  the  age  of  twenty, 
he  came  to  Clay  county,  Illinois,  whither  he  was  followed  a  short  time 
after  by  his  mother  and  two  sisters.  In  1857  he  came  to  Mercer 
county,  planted  a  crop  and  built  a  house.  He  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  Fender  about  twenty-eight  years  ago.  By  this  marriage  they 
have  twelve  children  born  to  them.  Barehanded  and  without  even  the 
advantages  of  an  education,  Mr.  Sheese  began  life  for  himself ;  but  his 
550  acres  of  well-improved  land  and  fine  buildings  are  a  proof  of  his 
ability  to  gain  wealth. 

Charles  Elswoeth  Lunn,  son  of  John  and  Mildred  Lunn,  was  born 
in  Mercer  county  in  1861.  HiS  father  was  among  the  oldest  settlers  of 
the  count}'.  He  died  while  our  subject  was  quite  young,  and  his 
mother  married  a  second  time  and  moved  to  Port  Royal,  where  he 
received  a  part  of  his  education.  On  their  return  he  was  married,  in 
September,  1881,  to  Miss  Eva,  daughter  of  Charles  York,  after  which 
he  moved  upon  his  father's  farm  which  he  had  made  in  1853. 

Jonas  Fender,  son  of  Lewis  and  Jane  Fender,  was  born  in  North 
Carolina,  May  16,  1834.  His  parents  and  grandparents  were  also  born 
in  that  state.  His  grandfather,  Andrew  Fender,  is  now  living  with  him 
at  the  golden  age  of  100,  and  up  to  the  winter  of  1882  was  active  and 
worked  about  the  farm.  He  has  been  four  times  married.  His  last 
wife  is  still  living  at  an  advanced  age.  Mr.  Fender  is  the,  parent  of 
three  generations  of  children,  sixteen  in  number.  He  was  twice  en- 
rolled for  the  draft  of  1812  but  was  not  chosen.  He  first  moved  from 
North  Carolina  to  Indiana,  and  to  Illinois  in  1856.  Jonas  Fender, 
the  subject  of  tliis  sketch,  moved  with  his  parents  from  their  native 
state  to  Indiana,  and  thence  to  Illinois  in  1853,  in  which  year  his 
father's  death  occurred.  Soon  after  his  arrival  in  the  county  he  pur- 
chased a  farm   containing  302   acres   in   section   24,  which   he   has 


(deceased) 


DUNCAN   TOWNSHIP.  503 

impi-oved,  and  erected  upon  the  same  a  handsome  dwelling-house  with 
all  the  modern  improvements.  Ever  since  he  began  the  improvement 
of  his  farm  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  coal  business,  of  which  his  farm 
contains  a  fine  supply.  Mr.  Fender  is  a  member  of  the  Weslejan 
church,  and  was  one  of  the  founders.  It  stands  just  a  few  rods  from 
his  house.  He  is  also  an  enthusiastic  temperance  worker.  The  esteem 
here  placed  upon  his  character  is  the  willing  testimony  of  many  who 
have  known  him  for  years. 

Among  the  men  of  progress  in  Duncan  township  there  will  be  found 
no  name  more  distinctly  representative  than  that  of  George  Yater 
(deceased).  From  early  childhood  his  life  had  been  an  active  one.  To 
him  many  owe  the  advantages  of  improvement  in  their  stock.  This 
was  his  study  and  delight  and  the  principal  part  of  his  business.  He 
came  to  America  in  company  with  his  brother  in  an  early  day,  and  for 
the  first  few  years  rented  land,  until  1865,  when  he  bought  John 
Mitchel's  interest  in  260  acres  of  land,  and  subsequently  added  to  it 
150  acres  in  section  13.  To  this  he  added  substantial  improvements, 
notwithstanding  the  fact  that  when  he  arrived  here  he  had  nothing 
but  his  hands  to  assure  this  success  in  life.  At  the  time  of  his  death, 
in  1879,  he  left  his  widowed  wife  with  this  estate  unincumbered.  Mr. 
Vater  was  born  in  Germany  in  1836.  His  father  having  died  while  he 
was  young  left  our  subject  to  his  own  resources.  He  M^as  married  in 
1863  to  Miss  Winegard,  of  Rock  Island  county.  The  result  of  the 
marriage  was  seven  children,  five  girls  and  two  boys. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  John  Braucht,  who  is  now  passing  his 
declining  years  on  his  farm  in  Duncan  township,  with  all  the  comforts 
of  life  around  him,  was  one  among  the  enterprising  first  settlers  of  that 
township,  at  a  time  when  industry  and  energy  were  requisites  to 
success  in  life.  Mr.  Braught  was  born  in  Dauphin  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, in  1821,  his  parents  having  also  been  born  in  Lancaster  county 
in  that  state.  From  there  they  moved  to  Dauphin  county,  and  thence 
to  Ohio.  In  the  fall  of  1852  Mr.  Braucht  came  with  his  parents  to 
Mercer  county,  first  settling  a  few  miles  south  of  Aledo,  where  our  sub- 
ject resided  one  year,  or  until  1853,  when  they  bought  in  Duncan  town- 
ship of  James  Hartman.  On  this  place  he  still  resides.  He  has 
devoted  all  his  energies  to  improvement,  until  he  has  now  one  of  the 
best  improved  farms  in  the  township.  He  was  married  in  Ohio.  His 
wife  died  in  1881. 

The  family  of  James  Lloyd  originated  *in  AVales,  but  his  more 

recent  ancestors  were  raised  in  this  country.    His  parents  were  Benijah 

and  Elizabeth  Lloyd,  who  moved  to  Erie  county  in  an  early  day,  where 

James  was  born  September  3,  1827,  and  moved  with  his  parents  to 

29 


504  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

Mercer  county  in  1834.  His  father  hired  a  man  and  team  to  bring 
them  to  Mercer  county,  but  on  arriving  at  the  river  Nile  he  became  dis- 
couraged and  would  go  no  farther.  Here  they  took  passage  on  board 
of  a  schooner  for  Chicago,  where  they  hapjDened  to  meet  with  some 
formers  who  had  brought  wheat  from  Putnam  county.  "With  some  of 
these  teams  they  were  brought  as  far  as  Monmouth,  where,  after  a  few 
days'  stay,  they  engaged  a  man  and  team  to  bring  them  to  Millersburg. 
This  was  an  eventful  trip  for  the  whole  family.  Sliortly  after  leaving 
Monmouth  their  younger  brother  fell  from  the  wagon  in  which  they 
were  riding  and  was  instantly  killed.  On  arriving  at  Millersburg  they 
found  an  Indian  camp  all  along  Camp  creek,  which  sight  did  not  add 
much  pleasure  to  then*  mother's  anticipations  of  the  new  country.  The 
Indians  would  come  to  their  house  in  squads  of  twenty  or  more  in 
quest  of  potatoes  and  such  other  pro^'isions  as  they  had  to  spare,  never 
taking  anything,  however,  without  paying  for  it.  They  were  treated 
kindly  by  the  Lloyds,  whom  they  duly  appreciated.  Mr.  Lloyd's 
mother  had  been  in  Mercer  county  for  nearly  a  year  before  she  saw  the 
face  of  a  white  woman.  In  1860  Mr.  Lloyd  made  a  trip  to  Pike's 
Peak,  and  on  this  trip  he  met  an  old  Indian  who  had  many  times  been 
at  his  father's  house  while  they  were  encamped  at  Millersburg.  They 
both  recognized  each  other  at  once.  He  "was  quite  aged,  but  still 
remembered  all  that  had  transpired  dm-ing  their  encampment  at  Camp 
creek,  at  which  time  Mr.  Lloyd  was  but  a  small  boy.  Mr.  Lloyd 
bought  his  first  land  on  S.  W.  Sec.  32,  in  1849,  of  Dr.  Samuel  West, 
who  had  bought  the  tax  title.  He  did  not  settle  until  1857.  He 
remembers  Capt.  Kinkade  and  a  party  of  twelve  stojDping  at  his  father's 
house  while  on  their  way  to  Rock  Island  to  make  a  treaty  with  Black 
Hawk.  James  Lloyd's  ancestors  on  his  mother's  side  were  German, 
His  mother  died  in  1879,  at  the  age  of  eighty-one  years.  She  will 
always  be  remembered  by  those  who  knew  her  on  account  of  her 
generous  hospitality. 

Edward  M.  Castle  was  born  in  Tazewell  county,  Illinois,  July  7, 
1838.  His  grandparents  were  born  in  America.  Luman  Castle,  his 
father,  was  born  in  Ontario  county,  New  York,  and  his  mother  in 
Northumberland  county,  Pennsylvania.  His  father  came  to  Illinois 
in  1832,  where  he  was  married  to  Miss  Catharine  Murry,  in  Tazewell 
county,  about  1837,  and  moved  to  Mercer  county  in  1842.  He  first 
settled  one  mile  east  of  Millersburg,  which  place  he  sold  to  James 
Wliarton,  and  moved  to  Nebraska,  where  his  wife  died  in  1861.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  entered  the  service  of  the  war  of  the  rebellion 
as  a  private  in  company  G.,  27th  111.  Inf.,  and  during  the  time  which 
he  served  participated  in  all  the  battles  in  which  his  regiment  was 


DUNCAN   TOWNSHIP.  505 

engaged,  Belmont  being  the  tirst.  He  returned  home  after  the  war  and 
bought  hmd  in  section  5,  which  had  been  owned  by  one  Hatch,  of 
Ohio,  and  who  had  traded  a  hotel  property  for  it.  He  also  bought  in 
section  8,  which  was  formerly  owned  by  Kendall,  Specker,  and  Almen- 
dinger,  who  had  bought  it  of  I.  N.  Bassett.  Mr.  Castle  is  well  and 
favorably  known  throughout  the  section  of  country  in  which  he  lives, 
having  taken  an  active  part  in  the  aifairs  of  the  township.  He  was 
several  times  chosen  supervisor,  assessor  and  collector.  He  is  a 
prominent  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  and  a  deacon  of  the 
same. 

Caleb  Yernon  was  born  thirty  miles  from  Cincinnati,  Warren 
county,  Ohio,  in  1817,  and  when  fourteen  years  of  age  moved  with 
the  family  to  Indiana,  where  he  received  a  common  school  education 
and  learned  t(^  farm.  His  father  was  born  in  England,  and,  while 
young,  was  left  at  home  with  his  mother,  while  his  father  came  to 
America,  but  after  a  few  years  took  ship  to  return  home.  The  vessel 
was  wrecked  and  he  was  never  after  heard  from.  For  the  first  few 
years  after  Mr.  Vernon's  arrival  in  Illinois  he  followed  mining  in  the 
lead  mines  of  Galena.  He  was  married  in  St.  Louis,  July  6,  1817,  to 
Miss  Nancy  Walston,  whose  mother  was  a  native  of  Kentucky. 
Vernon's  parents  came  to  Illinois  when  he  was  but  a  small  child,  but 
he  distinctly  remembers  the  wilderness-like  appearance  of  the  country 
at  that  time.  There  were  but  a  few  houses  then  in  the  county.  He 
once  left  Kock  Island  for  Millersburg,  at  which  time  Daniel  Mont- 
gomery's house  was  the  only  one  between  the  two  places.  There  he 
took  dinner  and  started  on  his  journey.  Darkness  overtook  him,  and 
when  near  Millersburg  he  lost  himself  on  the  hills  of  Camp  creek. 
He  became  bewildered,  and  made  several  trips  back  and  forth  from 
Camp  creek  to  Eliza.  Wolves  were  plentiful  at  that  time,  and  he 
remembers  of  them  following  him  while  plowing  in  the  fields.  He  is 
engaged  in  farming  a  small  fruit  culture.  His  handsome  residence 
is  shaded  by  large  trees  of  his  own  planting,  consisting  of  chestnut, 
maple,  elm,  ash  and  beech. 

Joseph  Anderson  was  born  September  13,  1815,  his  parents  being 
William  and  Achsah  Anderson.  His  grandparents,  on  his  father's 
side,  were  Americans,  and  on  his  mother's  side,  German.  The  sub- 
ject of  the  sketch  is  the  youngest  child  of  a  family  of  four  children,  and 
the  only  son  of  the  family.  His  oldest  sister,  Louvenia,  married  Wal- 
ter Balfour,  and  resides  in  Pocahontas  county,  Iowa.  Annie  married 
Samuel  Powell,  a  resident  of  Pock  Island  county.  Emmaranda  resides 
in  that  county,  also.  Joseph  Anderson  came  with  his  parents  to  this 
county  in  1857.     Here  he  received  the  benefits  of  a  common  school 


506  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND   HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

• 

education,  and  was  raised  to  farming,  at  which  he  was  engaged  until 
the  breaking  out  of  the  war,  when  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  tlie  9tli 
Iowa  cavalry.  lie  served  only  a  few  months  with  his  regiment  and 
was  detached  for  special  duty  as  a  scout  and  dispatch  carrier,  at  which 
duty  he  served  three  years,  and  was  mustered  out  at  Little  Rock, 
Arkansas,  after  which  lie  immediately  returned  home  to  resume  farm- 
ing and  stock  raising.  He  has  never  sought  office,  but  has  been  several 
times  elected  to  till  the  various  offices  in  his  town,  and  in  1882  was 
chosen  supervisor.  AVhen  he  first  settled  in  the  township  he  bought 
his  first  land  of  Jacob  Almendinger,  on  the  IS".  ^  of  Sec.  9.  He  resides, 
however,  on  section  4,  land  owned  by  his  father-in-law,  Mr.  Isaac  Rob- 
bins,  whose  daughter,  Carrie,  he  married.  Mr.  Anderson  is  a  repub- 
can,  and  a  member  of  the  Aledo  masonic  lodge. 

MiLT(  »N  BoRUFF,  SOU  of  Valentine  and  Louvina  Boruff,  was  born  in 
Eliza  township  in  18-13.  Ilis  father  was  born  in  Clay  county,  Tennes- 
see, and  moved  from  there  to  Monroe  county,  Indiana,  and  to  Mercer 
county,  Illinois,  in  ISIG,  settling  first  on  Pope  creek,  and  later  moved 
to  Eliza  township,  where  he  was  married  to  Miss  Louvina  Epperly. 
Milton  Boruff  was  educated  at  a  common  school  in  the  township  in 
which  he  was  born,  where  he  was  also  married  in  1865  to  Miss  Emaline, 
daughter  of  Martin  Bear.  By  this  marriage,  Mr.  Boruff  and  wife  have 
had  six  children  born  to  them,  all  of  whom  are  now  living  at  home. 
Mr.  Boruff  bought  his  first  land  in  section  31,  in  1865,  which  he  has 
largely  improved  by  commodious  residences  and  other  fine  buildings. 

Michael  M^u^dock  was  born  in  Tennessee  in  1813,  and  at  the  age 
of  eight  years  moved  with  his  parents  to  the  state  of  Ohio,  and  from 
that  state  to  Indiana.  Here  he  received  a  liberal  education  and  learned 
the  carpenter  trade,  which  he  followed  until  his  removal  to  this  state. 
His  first  settlement  was  in  Eliza  township  where  he  improved  a  farm 
and  resided  until  his  removal  to  section  6,  Duncan  township.  He  was 
joined  in  marriage  in  1839  to  Miss  ISTancy  Miller,  which  happy  union 
was  blessed  by  the  birth  of  five  children.  From  humble  beginnings, 
by  industry  and  good  management,  Mr.  Mardock  has  acquired  a  hand- 
some estate  which  he  lives  to  enjoy,  as  well  as  the  respect  of  his  friends 
about  him.  He  is  a  democrat  in  politics,  and  an  honored  member  of 
the  masonic  order. 

Michael  Mader,  son  of  Adam  and  Barbara  Mader,  was  born  in 
Germany  in  1832.  In  his  father's  family  were  four  boys,  among  whom 
Michael  was  the  youngest.  He  came  to  America  in  1859,  in  company 
with  Michael  Yater's  family  and  sister.  At  this  time  our  subject  had 
barely  enough  money  to  pay  his  passage  to  New  York  and  Chicago, 
where  he  boiTowed  six  dollars  of  his  friend  Yater,  to  bring  him  to 


DUNCAN    TOWNSHIP.  507 

Rock  Island.  Immediately  after  his  arrival  lie  sought  and  obtained 
employment  as  a  farm  hand,  at  which  he  worked  faithfully  for  eight 
years,  at  which  time  he  invested  the  money  that  he  had  saved  in  160 
acres  of  land  in  the  northeast  of  section  11.  He  subsequently  bought 
eighty  acres  more  just  across  the  road  in  section  2.  He  has  made 
some  handsome  buildings  upon  his  place,  all  of  which  he  has  done  by 
hard  labor  and  good  cultivation.  Mr.  Mader  is  a  social  gentleman, 
free  in  his  habits  and  opinions,  and  liberally  supports  the  cause  of 
education,  good  morals  and  public  progress. 

Leonard  Garber  was  born  in  Baden,  Germany,  in  1832,  a  country 
which  has  furnished  many  of  our  most  prosperous  emigrants,  as  may 
be  seen  by  viewing  their  handsome  improved  farms  throughout  the 
township  and  elsewhere  within  the  borders  of  Mercer  county.  Mr. 
Garber  came  with  his  parents  to  this  country  at  the  age  of  fourteen. 
The  family  landed  in  New  York,  from  which  place  they  immediately 
proceeded  to  St.  Louis,  where  for  two  years  our  subject  worked  by 
days'  wages  in  a  brick-yard.  He  managed  to  lay  up  some  money  in 
the  hands  of  the  company,  but  the  lirm  failing  he  lost  all.  They  then 
moved  westward,  locating  in  Rock  Island  county,  near  Illinois  city, 
where  his  father  bought  a  farm  and  where  Mr.  Garber  spent  his  youth 
at  work.  He  here  received  a  liberal  education.  In  1856  lie  was 
married  in  Rock  Island  county  to  Miss  Margaret  Bower,  of  the  same 
county..  Soon  after  his  marriage  he  began  business  for  himself  He 
first  bought  land  in  Rock  Island  county,  which  in  1862  he  sold  to 
George  Wise  and  moved  to  Mercer  county,  where  he  bought  120  acres 
of  partly  improved  land  in  section  1.  He  next  bought  eighty  acres 
adjoining,  of  Nicholas  Leuze.  He  next  bought  eighty  acres  adjoining, 
of  Owens  Tolbert.  This  he  afterward  sold.  He  then  bought  eighty  acres 
of  Mr.  Cline,  and  next  160  acres  of  William  Netf,  in  section  14,  and 
besides  another  thirty  acres,  making  in  all  470  acres.  His  farm  is  well 
improved  and  contains  more  barns  and  outbuildings  than  any  other  farm 
in  the  township.  His  farm  is  also  well  adapted  to  stock-raising,  which 
business  occupies  his  attention.  His  pleasant  home  is  shaded  by  large 
trees  of  his  own  planting,  and  he  lives  in  ease  and  pleasure  among  his 
family  of  five  children :  Barbara,  Maggie,  Emma,  Sadie,  and  John. 

George  Leuze  was  born  in  Baden,  Germany,  December  26,  1813. 
His  parents  were  Peter  and  Margaret  Leuze.  His  father  was  born  on 
the  river  Rhine  in  the  year  the  Russians  crossed  the  river  during  the 
Napoleon  war.  In  his  father's  family  there  were  nine  children,  five 
boys  and  four  girls.  His  father  lived  to  the  age  of  eighty-two  and  his 
mother  eighty-five.  Our  subject  was  married  in  Germany,  in  1841,  to 
Miss  Mary  Gliist,  by  which  marriage  they  had  four  children  born  to 


508  HISTORY    OF   MERCER    AXL»    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

them,  two  of  whom  are  dead.  John  is  superintending  his  father's 
farm  and  Xicholas  resides  in  Rock  Ishmd  county.  In  Germany  our 
subject  followed  weaving  in  thg  winter  and  farming  in  the  summer. 
He  came  to  this  country  May  10,  1S57,  on  board  the  Palestina.  which 
took  fire  twice  while  on  the  way.  During  the  voyage  the  provisions 
ran  short,  and  they  were  three  days  without  a  morsel  to  eat.  They 
landed  in  Xew  York,  and  went  direct  fi-om  there  to  Rock  Island,  where 
he  obtained  work  at  fifty  cents  per  day.  He  soon  after  bought  150 
acres  of  land,  where  he  now  resides  at  an  advanced  age.  Mr.  Leuze 
stands  high  among  the  people  of  the  neighborhood  in  which  he  lives  as 
an  honest,  upright  and  fi-ee-spirited  gentleman. 

D.  S.  Mayhew  was  bom  in  Wasliington  county.  Pennsylvania,  in 
1S34.  He  devoted  the  first  yeiu's  of  liis  life  after  obtaining  liis  majority 
to  working  on  a  farm.  After  lea^'ing  his  father's  house  he  moved 
to  "Washington  county,  where  his  parents  had  formerly  resided.  There 
he  worked  ten  months  on  a  farm.  In  1856  he  came  to  Mercer  county, 
where  he  worked  by  the  month,  and  aftei'ward  rented  land  for  two 
years,  after  which  he  was  married  to  Miss  Betsie  E.  Cooper,  daughter 
of  Levi  Cooper.  They  have  had  ten  cliildren  born  to  them :  Emma 
(who  is  now  married  to  George  Close,  a  farmer,  residing  near  his 
father-in-law's  place).  Levi.  Lester,  George,  Efiie.  Tunis,  John,  Alex- 
ander. Bertie.  Ira.  and  Eddie.  Mr.  Mavhew  beo:an  life  emptv  handed, 
but  by  industry  and  good  management  had  accumulated  a  capital  of 
$300,  with  which  he  made  the  first  payment  on  160  acres  of  choice 
land  in  section  15.  which  he  bought  in  1S66.  This  he  has  improved 
with  good  fences  and  a  commodious  house  and  barn.  His  door-yard 
is  shaded  bv  larc^e  ti-ees  planted  bv  his  own  hands.  Mr.  Mavhew's 
beginning  in  life,  conti-asted  with  the  condition  of  his  afiaii-s  twenty 
years  later,  when  li%-ing  in  afiiuence  and  comfort,  with  a  well  stocked 
farm,  is  a  striking  iUusti'ation  of  the  results  of  well  directed  energy. 

Fred  Volkel  emigrated  fi-om  Gemiany  with  his  parents  to  America 
at  the  age  of  seven.  The  family  fii'st  landed  in  Xew  York,  and 
after  a  short  stay,  they  went  to  Ohio,  and  thence  to  Springfield,  Illi- 
nois, in  1S42,  where  he  remained  with  his  parents  imtil  1845,  when  he 
moved  to  Mercer  county.  His  father  died  at  Johnstown,  Ohio,  in  1879, 
and  his  mother  in  1842.  Life  had  been  a  stiTiggle  with  him  from  the 
first,  and  his  only  hopes  of  a  more  successful  ending  lay  in  his  energy, 
and  with  this  sole  assurance  he  staited  out  in  life,  at\:er  receiA-ing  his 
education  in  Ohio.  Soon  after  his  anival  in  the  county  he  pm'chased 
land  in  section  10  of  James  Hains,  and  in  1855  was  manied  to  Miss 
Xancy  Jane  Davis,  of  Rock  Island  county,  by  which  union  they  had 
five  children  born  to  them.    His  wife  died  in  1864.  and  Mr.  Volkel  was 


DUNCAN   TOWNSHIP.  509 

again  married  in  1S67  to  Mrs.  Betty  McDowell,  and  by  this  marriage 
tliey  had  five  children.  Mr.  Yolkel  now  owns  an  improved  farm  in 
Duncan  township,  and  is  in  such  circumstances  as  to  enjoy  life.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  Baptist  church,  and  was  among  the  first  to  organize 
that  church  at  Antioch. 

Among  the  many  old  settlers  and  prominent  gentlemen  of  Mercer 
county,  who  have  taken  an  active  part  in  its  development,  we  mention 
the  name  of  William  Retherford  (deceased),  who  was  ^orn  in  the  Mo- 
nongahcla  river  valley,  in  Pennsylvania.  His  estimable  wife,  a  native 
of  Botetourt  county,  Virginia,  was  born  in  1813.  Her  parents  moved 
to  Indiana  when  she  was  fifteen  years  old.  Here  they  were  married 
in  1836  and  came  to  Mercer  county  in  1838.  They  first  rented  land  of 
William  Drury  for  five  years,  when,  by  industry  and  economy,  they 
managed  to  lay  up  some  money  with  which  they  purchased  land  in 
section  li,  which  they  improved  and  added  to  until  the  time  of  Mr. 
Retherford''s  death  in  1881.  He  owned  960  acres,  all  well  improved 
and  under  the  highest  state  of  cultivation.  When  he  first  arrived  in 
the  county  his  whole  stock  in  trade  consisted  of  a  wagon,  a  team  of 
horses  and  harness.  Some  of  the  land  which  he  first  bought  at  fifty 
cents  per  acre  is  now  worth  $50.  Mr.  Retherford's  fjimily  consisted  of 
six  children:  Madison,  Patrick,  Sarah  E.,  Delilah,  Jane,  and  James 
Franklin,  with  John  C,  whom  Mr.  Retherford  adopted.  At  the  time 
of  his  death  it  was  his  request  that  John  C.  be  an  equal  heir  with  his 
own  children.  Mr.  Retherford  was  never  a  politician,  but  always  held 
decided  views  upon  the  leading  questions  of  the  day.  He  was  not  a 
republican  ;  but  when  the  question  of  supporting  the  government  came 
up  as  against  the  other  issues  of  the  rebellion,  Mr.  Retherford  was  on 
the  side  of  the  union  with  his  money  and  influence  to  assist  in  filling 
up  the  quota  of  his  town.  His  personal  integrity  and  worth  were 
always  recognized  b}^  those  who  lived  near  and  dealt  with  him.  James 
Retherford,  son  of  the  subject,  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Collins,  soon 
after  which  he  bought  land  of  his  father's  estate,  upon  which  he  now 
resides. 

Lewis  Landreth  was  born  in  the  State  of  Indiana  in  1814.  His 
father,  Zachariah  Landreth,  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  his  mother 
was  born  in  Xoilli  Carolina.  They  moved  from  that  state  to  Indiana 
in  an  early  day,  where  they  were  married  and  where  our  subject  was 
born.  Lewis  came  with  his  parents  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  about 
1832  and  with  his  father  first  settled  in  Perry  ton  township.  His  father 
and  mother  died  there  and  were  buried  side  by  side  at  Millersburg.  Fpr 
many  years  previous  to  their  death  they  had  been  devoted  members 
of  the  Baptist  church,  and  succeeded  in  raising  their  children  to  lives 


510  HISTORY   OF    FIERCER   ASH)    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

of  honesty,  industry,  and  service  for  the  Creator.  Soon  after  our  sub- 
ject was  first  married  he  began  farming  on  section  9,  which  was  partly 
given  to  him  by  his  fatlier.  This  he  sokl,  and  bought  the  Martin  Boyd 
place  on  section  16,  which  is  finely  improved,  and  where  he  now 
resides  in  peace  and  comfort. 

Nicholas  Audio,  was  born  in  Germany,  in  1848,  and  is  the  young- 
est child  of  a  family  of  five  children.  In  1854  he  came  to  x\merica 
with  his  parents,  he  being  then  five  years  old.  The  family  landed  in 
New  York,  and  ^^I'oceeded  thence  to  Rock  Island  county,  settling  in 
the  southwestern  part  of  tlie  county,  in  what  is  known  as  the  German 
settlement.  There  his  father  bought  and  improved  a  farm,  and  our 
subject  worked  for  his  father  until  1869,  when  he  was  joined  in  mar- 
riage to  Miss  Mai'garet  Leonard.  Soon  after  the  union  he  moved  on 
section  1  in  Duncan  township,  where  he  remained  for  two  years. 
Being  ambitious  to  obtain  more  land  he  moved  to  Iowa,  but  not 
liking  the  country  where  he  had  settled,  he  returned  after  an  absence 
of  two  years  to  Mercer  county.  Immediately  after  his  arrival  he 
purchased  160  acres  of  land  of  Mr.  Conrad  Leonard,  in  section  1, 
where  has  since  resided.  In  1874  he  bought  eiglity  acres  of  James 
A.  Harris,  and  in  1881  bought  an  addtional  eighty  acres  of  John 
Boltinghouse.  All  this  he  has  highly  improved,  and  at  present  writing 
is  engaged  in  building  one  of  the  largest  barns  in  the  county.  This 
barn  is  designed  to  contain  all  the  modern  improvements,  and  will  be 
supplied  with  water  by  a  hydraulic  ram.  From  early  childhood  his 
life  has  been  an  active  one,  given  almost  wholly  to  the  advancement 
of  his  business.  One  would  scarcely  believe,  after  admiring  his  fine 
farm,  that  he  began  empty-handed,  yet  such  is  his  history.  His  happy 
home  has  been  blessed  with  five  girls,  all  of  whom  are  living.  His 
father  was  born  in  Germany  in  1811,  and  his  mother  in  1812.  Her 
maiden  name  was  Mary  Elizabeth  Spangler.  They  are  both  Kving  and 
quite  active  at  the  time  we  write. 

J.  H.  Collins,  farmer  and  fine  stock  raiser,  was  born  in  1819,  in 
Washington  county,  Ohio.  There  he  received  his  education  at  Mon- 
roe academy  after  which  he  read  law  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar, 
and  for  a  short  time  practiced  in  that  county.  In  1849  he  went  to 
Texas,  with  a  power  of  attorney  by  a  decree  of  court,  to  sell  some 
property  which  a  party  there  was  occupying  and  falsely  owning.  He 
had  some  dilficulty  in  applying  the  law,  and  fell  back  upon  his  physi- 
cal ability,  and  thus  succeeded  in  accomplishing  his  object.  After  this 
he  returned  home,  and  in  1856  came  to  Illinois,  where  he  staid  one 
year.  Coming  again  next  year  he  began  to  improve  his  farm  of  one- 
half  section  of  land.     In  1858  he  was  married  to  Miss  Emilv  Robin- 


DUNCAN   TOWNSHIP.  511 

son,  of  Edgington,  Rock  Island  county.  When  he  first  came  to  this 
county  there  were  but  few  houses  in  the  neighborhood,  and  until  the 
fall  of  1858,  at  the  time  the  Antioch  church  was  built,  there  had  not 
been  a  school  within  five  miles,  and  the  country  was  all  unimproved. 
In  1875  he  built  one  of  the  finest  houses  in  Duncan  township.  His 
father,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  was  of  English  descent,  and  his 
mother  was  born  in  Ireland.  Mr.  Collins  possesses  great  determina- 
tion of  character,  and  indomitable  energy  and  acute  ideas.  He  is  of 
ready  and  pleasing  address,  making  the  humblest  feel  at  home  in  his 
house.  He  is  a  man  who  has  never  sought  ofiice,  but  served  his  town 
for  twelve  consecutive  years  as  justice  of  the  peace,  the  only  ofiice 
which  he  would  accept. 

Joseph  C.  Gilmore  came  to  Mercer  county  in  1847,  and  with  the 
exception  of  a  few  years  spent  in  the  lumber  districts  of  the  north,  has 
resided  in  the  county  ever  since.  On  his  first  arrival  he  made  his 
residence  in  Perryton  township,  where  he  became  acquainted  with 
Miss  Rebecca  Blue,  formerl}'  of  Columbia  county,  Pennsylvania,  and 
they  were  married  in  1855.  His  ancestors  originated  in  Wales.  Mr. 
Gilmore  is  the  son  of  Ephraim  and  Catharine  Gilmore.  His  great- 
grandparents,  on  coming  to  this  country  in  a  very  early  day,  settled  on 
a  farm  in  Chester  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  our  subject  was  born 
and  educated.  In  1851  he  bought  his  first  land  in  section  35,  Duncan 
township,  principally  for  pasture,  and  did  not  improve  it  until  1857, 
since  which  he  has  built  a  large,  commodious  house  and  barn,  and 
has  turned  his  attention  to  the  fine  stock  and  cattle  business.  His 
home  has  been  blessed  by  four  children,  of  whom  one  is  deceased. 
He  has  lived  to  see  the  country  improved  from  its  wild  condition  to  its 
present  high  state  of  civilization.  He  has  led  a  quiet  and  peaceful  life 
of  irreproachable  honesty,  and  has  never  sought  ofiice,  though  often 
importuned.  Politically  he  is  a  democrat,  with  which  party  he  has 
always  acted.  Of  Mr.  Gilmore's  father's  family  eleven  children  con- 
stituted the  family  circle,  of  whom  nine  are  living.  From  the  time  of 
his  removal  to  Duncan  township,  he  has  bought  several  tracts  of  land 
bordering  on  his  original  farm,  until  he  now  has  155  acres.  Himself 
and  family  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Millersburg. 


512  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 


AEINGTON  TOWNSHIP. 

It  would  be  difficult,  indeed,  to  find  a  spot  of  earth  where  human 
feet  have  trod  for  nearly  a  half  century,  that  has  not  been  the  scene  of 
events  worthy  a  place  in  history  ;  but  it  is  often  a  difficult  matter  to 
glean  such  facts  as  are  necessary  to  a  correct  record,  from  the  filth  and 
rubbish  of  tradition.  The  lack  of  correct  data,  owing  to  the  treachery 
of  human  memory  and  a  failure  to  make  a  correct  record  of  the 
events  as  they  transpired,  make  the  accurate  compilation  of  them  a  per- 
plexing task.  A  few  well  substantiated  facts  are  of  more  value  in  his- 
tory than  many  pages  of  matter  where  a  large  draw  on  the  imagination 
is  indulged  in  and  a  mountain  of  fiction  built  on  a  mole-hill  of  fact. 
Desiring  to  be  accurate  we  shall  refrain  from  all  superfluities  and  be 
brief,  for  this  "  soul  of  wit"  is  a  jewel  even  in  a  historian. 

Abington  township  is  devoted  almost  wholly  to  grain  production, 
though  a  number  of  persons  residing  in  the  township  are  extensive 
stock  raisers.  The  soil  is  usually  very  fertile,  and  the  industrious  tillers 
of  the  soil  reap  where  they  sow ;  and  the  vast  fields  are  filled  with  an 
abundance  that  makes  glad  the  heart  of  the  husbandman. 

The  first  settlement  in  the  township  was  made  in  about  1832  or 
1833,  and  among  the  first  settlers  were  Joseph  Glancey,  William  T. 
Jackson,  John  W.  Ditto,  Frederick  Frick,  and  Thomas  Greer.  All 
these  lived  to  a  ripe  age,  and  Mr.  Ditto  still  survives.  Joseph  Glancey 
settled  in  Abington  township  in  July,  1831.  He  broke  the  first  land 
in  the  township  on  the  place  now  known  as  the  Gates  farm. 

The  first  school-house  was  built  in  the  township  about  1839,  nqar 
the  farm  of  William  T.  Jackson,  and  the  first  teacher  was  Miss  Harriet 
Wilson,  who  afterward  married  Mr.  Brooks  Beeson.  The  school- 
house  was  a  small  structure,  built  of  round  logs  and  covered  with  clap- 
boards, and  contained  a  puncheon  floor.  Among  the  fii'st  school 
teachers  who*  taught  in  the  township  were,  Warren  Shedd  (afterward 
county  treasurer  of  Mercer  county,  and  but  recently  deceased) ;  John 
ISTevius,  and  Miss  Lucy  Wilson,  now  Mrs.  T.  B.  Cabeen ;  but  the  exact 
date  when  these  different  pedagogues  wielded  the  birch  and  taught  the 
young  frontiersmen  the  art  of  orthography  and  penmanship,  and  the 
science  of  mathematics,  is  a  matter  involved  in  a  little  doubt ;  but  the 
period  when  each  of  these  educators  plied  their  vocation  in  Abington 
township,  was  remote  enough  for  them  to  enjoy  the  musical  voice  of 
the  prowling  wolf  as  he  figured  and  schemed  for  a  raid  on  the  pigs  and 
sheep  of  the  farmers,  on  which  to  satiate  his  keen  appetite.  As  "re- 
lentless time"  has  moved  on,  the  fierce  beasts  of  prey  have  fled  before 


ABINGTON    TOWNSHIP.  513 

the  vast  tide  of  emigration,  and  tlie  painted  savage  has  gi^^en  up  his 
cherished  liunting  grounds  to  the  pale  faces  who  have  caused  the  wild 
prairies  to  bloom  as  an  Eden ;  and  we  stop  long  enough  in  the  rapid 
whirl  of  events  to  ask  where  those  early  school  teachers  and  the  chil- 
dren they  taught  are,  as, we  make  a  record  of  thosQ  early  events  ;  and 
the  answer  is  the  only  one  we  could  expect.  Some  "are  resting  in  the 
quiet  embrace  of  the  tomb,  while  others  are  yet  alive  with  the  marks 
of  time  visibly  and  indelibly  carved  in  every  feature  and  movement. 

Mr.  John  W.  Ditto  informs  us  that  the  first  marriage  of  white  people 
in  Abington  township  was  that  of  a  couple  on  their  way  from  Indiana  to 
Iowa.  The  bride  was  a  widowed  daughter  of  a  man  who  was  moving 
with  his  family  to  the  yoiing  hawkeye  state ;  and  the  groom  was  a 
teamster  of  the  father  of  the  bride.  The  party  halted  for  a  few  days  in 
the  timber  that  fringes  Pope  creek,  and  the  lovers  stood  on  the  ice, 
while  a  justice  of  the  peace,  whose  name  is  forgotten,  legalized  the 
contract,  and  for  once,  at  least,  there  was  love  "on  ice."  The  second 
marriage  was  probably  that  of  Robert  Pence  and  Eliza  Glancey.  In 
every  state  of  society  there  seems  to  be  a  commingling  of  joy  and  sor- 
row ;  of  pleasure  and  pain ;  of  hopes  realized  and  anticipations  blasted. 
Wliile  singing  and  dancing  speak  the  haj^piness  of  one,  mourning  tells 
of  the  sorrow  of  another. 

Mrs.  Mahala  Willits  and  Mrs.  Evaline  C.  Swafford,  relate  the  fol- 
lowing sad  story :  In  1835  Mr.  William  Jack  and  his  wife  and  a  son 
and  daughter  were  moving  from  Fayette  county,  Indiana,  to  Mercer 
county,  Illinois,  by  boat.  When  between  Oquawka  and  New  Boston, 
Mrs.  Jack  died  of  cholera.  The  stricken  husband  and  children  landed 
at  New  Boston,  and  the  remains  of  Mrs.  Jack  were  taken  to  the  resi- 
dence of  John  Denison  (the  only  family  living  there  at  that  time,  we 
believe),  and  were  buried  where  the  New  Boston  cemetery  now  is ; 
Mrs.  Erastus  Denison  being  the  only  person  buried  at  the  place  pre- 
vious to  the  interment  of  Mrs.  Jack.  The  bereaved  husband  and  two 
children  went  to  the  residence  of  Joseph  Glancey,  who  then  resided  on 
what  is  known  as  the  Davis  farm,  in  New  Boston  township.  At  ten 
o'clock  on  the  day  following  the  burial  of  Mrs.  Jack,  the  son  (Samuel), 
took  the  cholera  and  died  at  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon  of  the  same 
day,  and  was  buried  on  the  bluff  where  the  Davis  gi-aveyard  now  is; 
he  was  the  first  person  buried  there.  There  were  none  to  assist  in  the 
interment  but  Joseph  Glancey,  Achillis  and  Miles  Drury.  There  was 
no  coffin  to  be  had  nearer  than  from  Monmouth,  and  Mr.  Glancey  and 
the  Messrs.  Drury  made  a  rough  box  out  of  the  wagon  box  in  which 
Mr.  Glancey  and  his  family  came  to  Illinois,  and  in  that  they  put  the 
remains  and  buried  them.     At  this  time,  Mr.  Glanfiey  and  the  few 


514:  HISTORY   OF   MEKCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Other  persons  in  the  neighborhood  had  to  get  their  mail  at  Monmouth, 
and  there  were  but  one  or  two  houses  between  Mr.  Glancey's  residence 
and  Monmouth.  It  was  one  unbroken  stretch  of  prairie  for  twentj- 
one  miles  on  a  "bee  line." 

The  first  bridge  built  across  Pope  creek  was  in  1837,  a  few  rods 
below  where  Pope  mill  now  stands.  Mr.  John  Kumley  had  the  con- 
tract, and  Hon.  Thomas  B.  Cabeen  was  the  boss  carpenter  and  builder. 
The  hands  at  work  on  the  bridge  boarded  at  Mr.  Kumlej''s,  and  Mrs. 
E.  C.  Swaftord,  then  a  girl  of  fifteen  years,  was  one  of  the  cooks. 

The  first  saw  mill  in  Abington  township  was  built  in  1838  or  1839, 
by  Mr.  Isaiah  Brown,  one  mile  and  a  half  east  of  the  Pope  mill.  AVill- 
iam  Willit,  now  of  Keithsburg,  ran  the  mill  for  a  time  and  then  pur- 
chased it. 

Mrs.  Evaline  C.  Swaftord  owned  the  first  sewing  machine  that  was 
in  Mercer  county.  It  was  a  Wheeler  et;  Wilson,  and  was  bought  in 
Chicago  in  1858,  by  Theodore  Glaneey,  when  he  was  on  his  way  east 
to  attend  school  in  Jamestown,  l^ew  York.  The  machine  was  a  great 
curiosity  in  the  community,  and  persons  came  for  miles  to  see  the 
wonder.  Mrs.  Swaftord  says  the  many  questions  asked  about  the 
macliine  were  really  amusing.  The  first  postolfice  was  at  the  residence 
of  Frederick  Frick. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  the  citizens  of  Abington  township  elected 
to  the  ofiice  of  justice  of  the  peace,  according  to  the  record  in  the  oftice 
of  the  county  clerk  at  Aledo  and  the  advice  of  old  and  well-informed 
residents:  Frederick  Frick,  elected  August  5,  1839,  August  7,  1813, 
August  2,  1847  ;  Orla  C.  Richardson,  November  6,  1849  ;  George  Jay, 
Is"ovember  6,  1849 ;  S.  G.  Wright,  April  6,  1858 ;  Frederick  Frick, 
April  6,  1858,  April  1,  18H2,  April  3,  186H ;  William  P.  Strong, 
April  2,  1867;  M.  R.  Gushee,  April  5,  1870;  William  Willitt,  April 
7,  1874;  Ernest  J.  Glaneey,  April  4,  1876;  Lewis  Sponsler,  April  3, 
1877;  E.  J.  Glaneey,  April  3,  1877,  April  5,  1881 ;  John  W.  Landers, 
April  5,  1881. 

Palestine  church  in  Abington  township  was  built  in  1866  by  the 
United  Brethren  denomination.  Its  original  cost  was  about  $2,000. 
It  was  dedicated  August  12,  1866,  Rev.  L.  S.  Chittenden  preaching  the 
dedicatory  sermon.  The  building  will  seat  about  300  persons.  It  is 
a  substantial  fi-ame.  The  society  has  no  great  strength  in  the  way  of 
membership,  but  they  maintain  a  Sunday-school,  are  out  of  debt,  and 
have  preaching  every  alternate  Sunday.  The  clergymen  who  have  served 
the  society  as  pastors  are  :  Revs.  Elisha  Godfrey,  Benjamin  AYagoner, 
O.  F.  Smith,  John  Wagoner,  A.  G.  Smith,  O.  O.  Smith,  A.  Worman, 
Adam  Wolft',  and  the  Revs.  Davis,   Pease,  and  Chelser,  the  given 


ABINGTOX    TOWNSHIP.  515 

names  of  the  latter  tliree  gentlemen  being  forgotten.  Some  of  tlie 
gentlemen  named  served  the  society  only  one  year,  while  others 
remained  on  the  charge  two  years  in  succession. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Joseph  Glancey  was  born  near  Harrisburg,  Pennsylvania,  May 
27,  1794.  He  learned  the  trade  of  carding  machine  building,  and 
followed  the  trade  for  many  years.  He  removed  to  Wayne  county, 
Indiana,  in  1820,  and  purchased  a  quarter  section  of  heavy  timber 
land  and  improved  a  large  farm.  He  was  married  in  Harrisburg, 
Pennsylvania,  March  18,  1818,  to  Rachel  Snevly,  by  whom  he  had 
five  children,  two  of  whom  are  now  living.  The  eldest  is  Mrs.  Mahala 
Willits,  widow  of  Brady  Willits,  Esq.,  who  died  in  1873.  Mrs.  Willits 
never  married  again.  She  was  born  December  29,  1818.  The  second 
child,  Eliza,  was  born  September  28,  1820,  and  married  Robert  Pence 
in  1840.  The  third  child  is  Mrs.  Evaline  C.  Swafford,  who  was  born 
April  20,  1822,  and  was  married  to  Mr.  Joseph  Swaiford,  March  19, 
1844.  Mrs.  Swafford  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  her  husband  by  death 
in  seven  months  after  their  marriage,  and  being  so  soon  called  from 
the  marriage  feast  to  the  house  of  mourning  she  has  ever  since  her 
great  misfortune  remained  a  widow.  Mr.  Joseph  Glancey,  the  prin- 
cipal subject  of  our  sketch,  was  married  four  times.  By  the  third  wife 
he  had  seven  children,  three  now  living:  Mrs.  I.  J.  Mitchell,  Mrs. 
Thomas  J.  Moffitt,  and  Ernest  J.  An  account  of  the  cruel  murder  of 
Theodore  Glancey,  together  with  his  biographical  sketch,  will  be  found 
in  the  history  of  Keithsburg  township  in  this  volume.  Mr.  Joseph 
Glancey's  fourth  wife  was  Mrs.  Martha  Whitaker,  widow  of  Mr.  Mar- 
shall Whitaker,  to  whom  he  was  married  Jul}^  18,  1861.  She  is  still 
living ;  and  she,  Mrs.  Mahala  Willits,  Mrs.  Evaline  C.  Swofford,  and 
Ernest  J.  Glancey  and  his  wife,  all  live  on  the  old  homestead  in  a  fine, 
large  residence,  which  shows  how  strong  and  bright  is  the  golden 
chord  of  affection  which  binds  some  families  together.  Ernest  J.,  the 
youngest  child  of  Mr.  Joseph  Glancey,  was  born  May  17,  1848,  in 
Abington  township,  and  has  always  resided  within  its  borders.  He 
received  a  common  school  education,  and  follows  farming.  He  also 
owns  a  half  interest  in  Pope  mill,  built  by  his  father,  on  Pope  creek. 
He  is  now  holding  his  third  term  as  justice  of  the  peace.  He  was 
married  October  31,  1878,  to  Miss  Lillian  C,  daughter  of  Anderson 
and  Mary  J.  (Willits)  Kirlin.  The  Glanceys  are  all  freethinkers, 
most  of  them  of  the  spiritualistic  type.  They  were  among  the  first 
abolitionists  of  the  country.  The  younger  Glancey,  Ernest  J.,  states 
his  creed  to  be  as  follows  :  The  immediate  payment  of  the  national 


516  HISTORY    OF   :MERCER   and   HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

debt ;    taxation  of  all  church  property,   and  the  abolishment  of  all 
chaplaincies  in  the  legislatures,  army  and  navy  and  state  prisons. 

Samuel,  son  of  Samuel  and  Mary  Knisley,  was  born  in  Highland 
county,  Ohio,  February  9,  1S2T.  His  father's  family  removed  from 
Ohio  to  Fountain  county,  Indiana,  when  Samuel  was  nine  years  old. 
He  was  married  in  1852  to  Minerva,  daughter  of  Charles  and  Elizabeth 
Seeders.  They  came  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  soon  after  their  mar- 
riage and  settled  in  Abington  township.  They  have  had  born  to  them 
nine  children,  live  of  whom  are  living:  Henry,  Emma  M.,  Lee  Koy, 
Elmer  E.,  and  Charles  W,  Mr.  Knisley  was  one  of  the  most  success- 
ful farmers  in  his  neighborhood,  and  was  a  good  and  well-esteemed 
citizen ;  but  for  several  years  he  has  been  afflicted  with  hallucinations, 
which  unfit  him  for  business.  AVhile  this  misfortune  is  a  sore  affliction 
to  the  family,  Mrs.  Knisley  and  her  two  sons,  Lee  Roy  and  Elmer  E., 
are  keeping  their  beautiful  home  of  19-1  aci-es  in  excellent  shape. 
Lee  Eov  received  a  common  school  education  and  attended  the  Brvant 
&  Stratton  Business  College  at  Davenport,  Iowa,  one  term.  He  had 
thought  of  engaging  in  mercantile  business,  but  circumstances  have 
led  him  to  adopt  agriculture  as  his  chief  work. 

Among  the  early  settlers  of  Abington  township  was  the  family  of 
Frederick  Frick.  They  came  from  Columbia  county,  Pennsylvania, 
in  1838.  Mr.  Frick  was  elected  a  justice  of  the  peace  the  year  follow- 
ing his  settlement  in  Abington  township,  and  he  was  elected  five  times 
to  the  same  position,  being  on  his  fifth  term  when  he  died.  Mr.  Frick 
was  the  first  postmaster  in  Abington  township,  the  office  being  located 
at  the  farm-house  of  Mr.  Frick  at  the  Blufi*,  five  miles  east  of  where 
Keithsburg  is  now  situated.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frick  had  eight  children : 
Sarah  E.  (Mrs.  W.  A.  AYillits),  George  A.,  Mary  C.  (Mrs.  John  E. 
Willits),  Harriet  W.  (Mrs.  James  Noble),  Rebecca  N.  (Mrs.  Joshua 
Cabeen),  Lucy  J.  (Mrs.  Harvey  N.  Smith),  William  W.,  and  Charles  P. 
Mr.  Frick  died  in  1866.  George  A.,  the  second  child,  was  born  in 
Columbia  county,  Pennsylvania,  May  12,  1826.  He  came  with  his 
father's  family  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  and  assisted  his  father  in  the 
work  of  farming,  and  has  made  agriculture  his  chief  business.  He 
was  married,  March  29,  18-18,  to  Frances,  daughter  of  William  and 
Anna  Jackson.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frick  have  five  children  living,  and  one 
(Harry  jSTorvell)  deceased.  The  living  are:  Frederick  W.,  Albert  A., 
Warren  T.,  Alice,  and  Homer  W.  Mr.  Frick  is  a  member  of  the 
I.O.O.F.  He  is  a  democrat  politically,  and  an  independent  on  ques- 
tions of  religion.  Mr.  Frick  has  served  his  township  as  supervisor 
three  terms,  held  the  office  of  township  collector  ten  years,  and  that  of 
town  clerk  two  years.     The  handsome  home  of  Mr.   Frick  is  near 


ABINGTON   TOWNSHIP.  517 

where  his  father's  family  first  settled,  and  consists  of  I-IO  acres  of  land 
with  the  necessary  appurtenances. 

Andrew  J.  Douglass  was  boi-n  in  Bath  county,  Yii-ginia,  May  18, 
1825.  He  is  the  son  of  Andrew  J.  and  Nancy  A.  (Fox)  Douglass. 
When  our  subject  was  about  ten  year^  old  his  parents  removed  to 
Highland  county,  Ohio,  where  young  Douglass  grew  to  young  man- 
hood. He  then  turned  his  face  westward  and  made  his  first  halt  in 
Edgar  county,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  one  year,  and  then  moved 
onward  toward  the  setting  sun.  This  move  brought  him  to  Mercer 
county  where  he  has  since  resided,  a  period  of  nearly  forty  years.  It 
may  not  be  amiss  here  to  mention  that  the  lady  who  has  been  Mrs. 
Douglass  for  thirty-four  years,  came  with  her  parents  to  Mercer  county 
a  year  previous  to  Mr.  Douglass'  turning  his  steps  westward ;  and 
when  we  call  to  mind  the  fact  that  an  acquaintance  had  existed  between 
the  two  parties  in  the  state  of  Ohio,  it  is  not  diflicult  to  divine  the 
guiding  star  that  directed  the  feet  of  Mr.  Douglass  to  the  vast,  unbro- 
ken prairies  of  the  "Far  West."  Mr.  Douglass  came  west  without 
any  capital,  save  his  willing  hands  and  unimpeachable  character,  and 
for  a  number  of  years  he  occupied  only  rented  land.  He  then  pur- 
chased the  place  on  which  he  now  lives  and  improved  it ;  and  he  now 
has  a  grand  farm  of  500  acres  under  a  good  state  of  cultivation,  well 
supplied  with  good  buildings  of  every  sort  demanded  on  a  farm,  and 
well  stocked  with  cattle,  horses,  etc.  Mr.  Douglass  has  a  passion  for 
fine  horses,  and  he  can  boast  of  some  fine  specimens  in  this  line.,  Mr. 
Douglas  was  married  April  6,  1848,  to  Mary  J.  Mclntire,  daughter  of 
John  and  Elizabeth  Mclntire.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Douglass  have  been 
blessed  with  eight  children  :  Frances  E.,  Mary  E., William  R.,  George 
E.,  Isaiah  H.,  Charles  L,  Mina  I.,  and  Andrew  J.  Frances  E.,  the 
eldest,  was  married  to  George  W.  Braucht,  March  21,  1867,  and  died 
July  21,  1869,  leaving  an  infant  son,  Frederick  E. ;  Mary  E.  is  married 
to  James  M.  Greer.  ;  William  R.,  to  Mary  E.  Walker,  and  Isaiah  H., 
to  Ida  M.  Jones.  Mr.  Douglass  is  a  greenback er,  politically.  He 
and  Mrs.  Douglass  are  Sabbatarians,  or  Seventh  Day  Adventists. 

William  Riley  Main  was  born  in  Crawford  county,  Indiana,  Sep- 
tember 3,  1835.  He  is  the  son  of  Riley  and  Martha  Main.  He 
received  a  fair  common  school  education  in  the  schools  of  Indiana  and 
Illinois.  He  came  with  his  father's  family  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois, 
in  1852.  He  was  married  October  15,  1857,  to  Sarah  M.  Fleming. 
Eleven  children  have  been  born  to  them  :  Floyd,  Olive  E.,  Cora  M., 
John  T.,  Walker  B.,  Alta  I.,  George  S.,  Maud  E.,  Lulu  J.,  Oscar  R., 
and  Orin  W.  Mr.  Main  is  a  farmer  and  stock-raiser,  and  owns  one  of 
the  many  beautiful  farms  that  "  blossom  as  the  rose  "  in  western  Illi- 


518  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

nois.  His  farm  consists  of  500  acres  under  a  good  state  of  cultiva- 
tion. He  has  good  buildings  on  his  place.  He  pays  a  good  deal  of 
attention  to  heavy  stock  business.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Main  are  members 
of  the  United  Brethren  church.  Politically  Mr.  Main  is  a  republican. 
Mr.  Main  and  his  family  are  blessed  with  an  abundance  of  the  world's 
comforts  ;  or,  in  other  words,  are  in  excellent  circumstances. 

Minerva  A.  Greer  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  December 
29,  1829.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Reuben  and  Mary  (Harris)  Willits. 
Her  parents  both  died  in  the  spring  of  1834,  of  milk  sickness ;  the 
mother  dying  in  the  evening  and  the  father  the  following  morning. 
Mrs.  Grreer  came  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  in  1836,  with  her  uncle, 
Thomas  Moore,  who  settled  in  New  Boston  township.  The  subject  of 
our  sketch  was  married  April  15,  1847,  to  Thomas  Greer,  a  farmer. 
There  were  fourteen  children  born  to  them:  Reuben  H.,  James  M., 
Mary  J.,  Thomas  F.,  Alice  A.,  John  E.,  Samuel  I.,  Arthur,  Lewis  W., 
Albert  C,  Ella  F.,  Dora  E.,  Robert  F.,  and  a  daughter  who  died  when 
an  infant  and  before  she  was  named.  Three  of  the  other  children  are 
dead:  Arthur,  Dora  E.,  and  Lewis.  Thomas  Greer,  the  husband  of 
our  immediate  subject,  was  born  June  10,  1818,  in  the  state  of  Ohio. 
He  removed  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  as  early  as  1836,  and  settled 
in  Abington  township,  wliere  he  resided  until  his  death.  He  devoted 
his  time  to  farming  and  stock  raising,  and  by  industry  and  economy 
accumulated  a  large  amount  of  property.  Since  the  death  of  the  hus- 
band and  father,  the  property  has  been  divided  among  the  heirs,  Mrs. 
Greer  retaining  the  homestead,  which  consists  of  200  acres  of  land  under 
a  good  state  of  cultivation  with  good  buildings  and  all  the  necessary 
improvements  to  a  complete  country  home.  Seven  of  the  children  are 
married  and  all  living  within  a  radius  of  two  and  a  half  miles  of  the 
old  homestead.     Mrs.  Greer  is  a  Seventh  Day  Adventist. 

Samuel  Pollock  was  born  in  Dearborn  county,  Indiana,  April  26, 
1823.  He  is  the  son  of  Samuel  and  Margaret  (Caldwell)  Pollock.  Our 
subject  removed  to  Peoria  county,  Illinois,  in  1852,  and  removed  to 
Abington  township,  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  October,  1854,  and  set- 
tled on  the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides.  He  has  a  farm  of  600  acres 
all  improved,  with  good  buildings  and  other  modern  improvements. 
Mr.  Pollock  is  an  extensive  dealer  in  stock,  especially  in  cattle.  Mr. 
Pollock's  success  in  life  is  an  index  to  what  industry,  economy  and 
genuine  pluck  will  do.  He  started  out  in  life  a  poor  boy,  and  now 
stands  in  the  front  rank  as  a  business  man  and  an  honorable  gentleman. 
Mr.  Pollock  was  married  February  23,  1863,  to  Mary  A.  Kinney. 
They  have  three  children:  John  K.,  Maggie  A.,  and  Mary  I.  Mr. 
Pollock  is  a  member  of  the  old  school  Presbyterian  church.  Politi- 
cally he  is  a  re])ublican.  • 


JOSEPH      GL/\MCY, 
(deceased) 


ABINGTON   TOWNSHIP.  521 

John  W.  Landers  was  born  in  Fountain  county,  Indiana,  January 
3,  1830.  He  is  tlie  son  of  Robert  H.  and  Hannah  (Stewart)  Landers. 
Mr.  Landers  learned  the  trade  of  a  carpenter  and  joiner  and  worked 
at  the  business  for  seven  years.  At  the  end  of  that  period  he  engaged 
in  farming  and  has  made  it  the  main  business  of'  his  life.  He  was 
married  March  24,  1853,  to  Miss  Mary,  daughter  of  Emanuel  and 
Frances  Humbert.  They  removed  from  Indiana  to  Mercer  county, 
Illinois,  in  October,  1857,  and  settled  in  Abington  township.  In  1874 
they  removed  to  Pottawattamie  county,  Iowa,  where  they  remained  for 
three  years,  they  then  returned  to  Mercer  county,  and  again  became 
citizens  of  Abington  township.  They  have  had  seven  children,  four  of 
whom  are  living.  They  are:  James  R.,  William  H.,  Charlie  B.,  and 
Mary  E.  Mr.  Landers  was  formerly  a  democrat,  but  of  late  years  he 
has  been  an  active,  aggressive  greenbacker.  He  has  held  some  minor 
offices,  and  at  present  is  a  justice  of  the  peace.  Religiously  he  is  a 
liberal.  The  family  have  recently  sustained  a  severe  loss  by  the  burn- 
ing of  their  residence,  which  was  a  substantial  brick. 

James  Kellogg,  son  of  David  and  Ruth  (Miller)  Kellogg,  was  bom 
in  Granville,  Hampden  county,  Massachusetts,  August  12,  1819.  His 
father's  family  removed  from  Massachusetts  to  Portage  county,  Ohio, 
when  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  ten  years  old.  After  a  residence 
of  nine  years  in  Ohio  the  family  removed  to  Crawford  county,  Penn- 
sylvania. Mr.  Kellogg  was  married  in  1846  to  Martlia  A.,  daughter 
of  James  and  Orpha  (Alexander)  Lafferty.  Mr.  Kellogg  removed  with 
his  family  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  in  the  fall  of  1852,  and  settled  on 
section  27,  in  Ohio  Grove  township,  where  they  remained  until  1867, 
when  they  removed  to  Abington  township  and  settled  on  the  farm  on 
which  they  now  reside.  Mr.  Kellogg  owns  an  excellent  farm  of  160 
acres,  well  supplied  with  living  water,  and  it  is  in  every  way  a  well 
arranged  home,  being  supplied  with  good  out-buildings,  groves  and 
shrubbery  ;  and  their  residence  is  one  of  the  very  best.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Kellogg  have  had  tive  children,  three  of  them  now  living:  James  A., 
Mary  M.,  and  William  E.  Mr.  Kellogg  was  formerly  a  whig,  and 
when  that  party  died  he  became  a  democrat ;  but  of  late  years  he  has 
been  an  enthusiastic  greenbacker.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kellogg  are  both 
Presbyterians.  William  E.,  the  youngest  son,  has  a  good  farm  of 
eighty  acres,  but  being  yet  in  the  enjoyment  of  single  blessedness, 
makes  his  home  under  the  paternal  roof.  He  received  a  common 
school  education  only,  but  enjoys  some  reputation  as  a  newspaper 
writer,  confining  himself  in  this  direction  mostly  to  the  local  press. 
He  is  an  Odd-Fellow,  and  a  greenbacker. 

Wesley  Henry,   the   son   of  Henry   A.    and   Catharine  (Shurtz) 
30 


522  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND   HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Henry,  was  born  August  23,  1845,  in  Hunterdon  county,  New  Jersey. 
He  came  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  with  his  father's  family  when  he 
was  six  years  of  age,  and  has  been  a  resident  of  Abington  most  of  the 
time  since  he  came  to  Dlinois.  He  makes  farming  his  business,  and 
has  no  other  thought  than  to  earn  his  bread  by  honest  toih  He  was 
married,  September  11,  1873,  to  Lucetta,  daughter  of  William  and 
Margaret  Stephenson.  They  have  four  children:  William  A.,  Mar- 
garet C,  George  S.,  and  Orville  S.  Mr.  Henry  is  a  democrat,  and 
says  it  was  born  and  bred  in  him. 

John  W.  Ditio,  farmer  and  stock  raiser,  is  the  son  of  Andrew 
and  Margaret  (Wyland)  Ditto,  and  was  born  in  Pickaway  county,  Ohio, 
June  25,  1815.  His  father  removed  with  his  family  to  Shelby  county, 
Ohio,  when  John  was  a  babe,  where  he  was  reared  to  the  age  of  near 
twenty  years,  when  he  came  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  making  the 
entire  trip  alone  on  horseback.  He  rode  a  thoroughbred  horse  and 
led  a  fine  mare.  He  rode  many  miles  without  seeing  a  living  soul, 
and  the  great  prairies  stretched  out  all  around  him  like  a  great  plain 
unknown  except  to  the  savage  and  beasts  of  prey.  When  Mr.  Ditto 
reached  Mercer  county  he  settled  in  New  Boston  township,  on  govern- 
ment land.  He  settled  in  Abington  township,  in  the  spring  of  1838, 
on  the  farm  where  he  now  lives  in  section  13.  Mr.  Ditto  carried  the 
mail  two  winters  from  Monmouth  to  New  Boston  and  Rock  Island. 
He  can  relate  some  incidents  of  the  early  settlement  of  the  country 
that  are  both  painful  and  amusing.  Mr.  Ditto  has  the  oldest  deed  in 
Mercer  county.  He  was  married,  November  17,  1842,  in  Knox 
county,  Illinois,  to  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Henry  and  Margaret  Red- 
man. They  had  ten  children:  Mary  D.,  James  W.,  Henry  R., 
JohnW.,  Ellen  A.,  Andrew  M.,  Benjamin  F.,  Samuel  D.,  Margaret  E., 
and  Mack.  Mary  D.,  the  first  born,  was  burned  to  death  when  she 
was  three  months  old.  The  mother  tied  the  child  in  a  high  chair,  and 
while  she  was  busy  outside  the  room,  the  child  slipped  out  of  the  chair 
into  the  fii"e  and  was  burned  to  death.  James  D.,  the  second  child, 
was  killed  in  the  battle  of  Yicksburg,  Mississippi,  May  23,  1863. 
Ellen  A.,  the  fifth  child,  was  married  to  John  H.  Farber,  and  died 
July  11,  1878,  in  Cheyenne,  Wyoming  Territory,  leaving  two  children : 
John  W.  and  Arthur.  Mrs.  Ditto  died  March  9,  1873,  and  Mr.  Ditto 
was  again  married,  November  11,  1873,  to  Mrs.  Olive  Crook,  widow 
of  Galen  Crook.  Mr.  Ditto  has  a  farm  of  479  acres  in  Abington 
township,  and  he  also  owns  847  acres  of  cheaper  pasture  lands  in 
Henderson  county.  He  pays  a  great  deal  of  attention  to  sheep  hus- 
bandry, and  has  at  present  almost  a  thousand  head  of  sheep.  Mr. 
Ditto  belongs   to  the  Advent  or  Sabbatarian  church.     He  formerly 


ABINGTON   TOWNSHIP.  523 

mustered  with  the  democrats,  but  for  several  years  past  lie  has  been  an 
unflinching  greenbacker. 

AViLLixVM  M.  WiLLrrs,  farmer,  son  of  John  and  Sarah  (Campbell) 
Willits,  was  born  December  4,  1835,  in  New  Boston  township,  Mercer 
county,  Illinois.  "When  he  was  two  years  old  his  father's  family 
settled  in  Abington  township,  where  the  subject  of  our  sketch  has 
since  resided.  Mr.  Willits  has  a  good  farm  of  eighty  acres  in  a  good 
state  of  cultivation.  He  served  as  a  union  soldier  in  the  80th  Keg. 
111.  Inf.,  as  a  corporal.  Indorsed  on  l^is  discharge  is  the  following 
splendid  record  as  a  soldier  :  "  Said  soldier  was  engaged  in  the  follow- 
ing battles  :  Fort  Donelson,  Tennessee,  Februar^^  15,  1862  ;  Britton's 
Lane,  Tennessee,  September  1,  186^  ;  Raymond,  Mississippi,  May  12, 
1863 ;  Champion  Hill,  Mississippi,  May  16,  1863  ;  took  an  active 
part  in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg ;  was  in  the  battle  of  Kenesaw  moun- 
tain, June  27,  1861: ;  battle  near  Atlanta,  Georgia,  July  22,  1864,  and 
took  an  active  part  in  the  Georgia  campaigns,  resulting  in  the  capture 
of  Savannah,  and  lias  done  duty  up  to  the  present  time  ;  and  he  is 
highly  esteemed  in  his  company  and  regiment  as  a  gentleman  and 
soldier.  John  P.  Davis,  capt.  commanding  30th  111.  Inf.""  Mr.  Wil- 
lits was  married  February  12,  1872,  to  Frances  J.  daughter  of  James 
and  Martha  (McEachron)  Gilchrist.  They  have  three  children  :  Mary 
E.,  John  E.,  and  Lena  M.  Mr.  Willits  was  formerly  a  democrat,  but 
of  late  years  has  acted  with  the  greenback  party. 

Milton  M.  Jones  is  the  son  of  Franklin  and  Elizabeth  (Farwell) 
Jones.  He  was  born  in  Preemption  township,  Mercer  county,  Illi- 
nois, September  27,  1844.  When  he  was  ten  years  of  age  his  father's 
family  removed  to  Abington  township.  Milton  spent  his  boyhood 
days  on  the  farm  and  in  the  country  school-house.  In  the  winter  of 
1868-9  he  graduated  at  the  Western  Business  College,  of  Galesburg, 
Illinois.  Soon  after  liis  college  course  he  was  engaged  as  a  salesman 
in  a  large  retail  grocery  store,  but  at  the  end  of  a  year  he  went  to 
farming  and  stock-raising.  He  has  a  good  farm  of  120  acres,  and  has 
paid  special  attention  to  the  breeding  of  high-class  hogs,  in  which 
business  he  has  been  very  successful.  He  was  married  September  22, 
1870,  to  Miss  Sarah  E.  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  (Campbell)  AVil- 
lits.  They  have  one  child,  Milton  Willits.  Mr.  Jones  has  held  the 
office  of  town  clerk  two  terms.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Christian 
(Campbellite)  church.  Politically  he  is  a  republican.  He  served  six 
months  as  a  soldier,  in  the  140tli  reg.  111.  Vol.  He  received  three 
wounds  in  engagements  ;  one  severe  one  in  tlie  slioulder,  for  which  he 
gets  a  small  pension. 

Duncan  Seaton  was  born  in  Perthshire,  Scotland,  October,  1823. 


524  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

He  is  the  son  of  John  and  Isabel  (McDonakl)  Seaton.  He  received  a 
common  school  education,  and  came  to  the  United  States  of  America 
in  1843.  He  sailed  on  the  ship  Lnconia,  and  on  reaching  America 
settled  in  Juniata  county,  Pennsylvania,  wliere  he  remained  about 
two  years.  Fi'om  there  he  came  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  and 
remained  three  years,  when  he  took  a  trip  to  California  by  over- 
land with  an  ox-team.  After  an  absence  of  about  two  years  he 
returned  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in  Abington  township,  Mercer  county, 
where  he  now  resides  on  a  Ijeautiful  farm  of  230  acres.  Mr.  Seaton 
was  married  in  1860  to  Miss  Martha  E.,  daughter  of  Samuel  and 
Kebecca .  (Bogle)  Criswell.  They  have  had  twelve  children,  hve  of 
whom  are  deceased.  The  living  are  :  Mary,  David,  Margaret  E. ,  Ann, 
Martha  L.,  Harry,  and  Angus.  Mr.  Seaton  is  a  member  of  the  old 
school  Presbj^terian  church.     He  is  a  greenbacker  politically. 

James  Yance,  farmer,  son  of  AVilliam  and  Rachel  Yance,  was  born 
in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  February  15,  1825.  He  removed 
with  his  father's  family  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  in  1833,  and  settled 
in  Keithsburg  township,  where  the  village  of  Keithsburg  now  stands. 
After  remaining  here  one  year  the  family  removed  to  Kock  Island 
county,  Illinois,  and  at  the  end  of  a  twelve-month  returned  to  Keiths- 
burg township,  where  they  made  farming  their  business.  In  1847  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  married  to  Sarah,  daughter  of  Mark  L.  and 
Mary  (Steward)  Pearson.  Mr.  Yance  removed  with  his  wife  soon  after 
their  marriage  to  Davis  county,  Iowa,  where  they  remained  six  years. 
They  then  removed  to  New  Boston  township,  Mercer  county,  Illinois, 
where  they  resided  three  years.  From  there  they  went  to  Abington 
township,  where  Mr.  Yance  bought  the  farm  on  which  they  now  live. 
The  farm  contains  170  acres  of  excellent  land,  and  Mr.  Yance  and  his 
family  of  boys  have  devoted  most  of  their  time  to  tilling  the  soil. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yance  have  had  born  to  them  twelve  children :  William 
R.,  Robert  L.,  Josiah  W.,  Elijah  A.,  IS'erva  A.,  John  W.,  Marion  E., 
Gershan  H.,  James  B.,  Forbes  N.,  Mary  Y.,  and  Martha  E.  ;  the  lat- 
ter deceased.  Politically  Mr.  Yance  is  a  greenbacker,  and  religiously 
he  is  a  moralist.  Of  late  years  he  has  had  rather  poor  health,  and 
took  a  trip  last  summer  to  California,  Oregon  and  some  of  the  western 
territories,  from  which  he  received  much  benefit.  Mr.  Yance  can  relate 
many  incidents  in  the  early  settlement  of  the  country  of  much  interest. 
He  saw  the  distinguished  Indian  chief,  Black  Hawk,  and  six  hundred 
of  his  dusky  warriors. 

John  J.  Seaton  was  bom  in  Perthshire,  Scotland,  February  6, 
1831.  He  is  the  son  of  John  and  Christian  Seaton.  He  came  to  the 
United  States  of  America  in  1843,  going  by  steamship  from  Glasgow 


ABINGTON   TOWNSHIP.  525 

to  Liverpool,  and  sailed  from  the  latter  place  to  Xew  York  in  the  ship 
Luconia.  He  settled  in  Juniata  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  remained 
thefe  until  1845,  when  he  removed  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  and  has 
lived  here  most  of  the  time  since.  He  received  a  common  school  edu- 
cation in  Scotland  and  America.  In  1854  he  located  in  Abington 
township,  where  he  now  owns  350  acres  of  excellent  agricultural  land 
under  a  good  state  of  cultivation,  with  good  buildings  and  all  necessary 
appurtenances  to  a  complete  rural  home.  He  was  married  November, 
1855,  to  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Robert  and  May  (Douglass)  Seaton. 
They  have  had  nine  children,  five  of  whom  are  dead.  The  living  are  : 
Margery,  John  H.,  George  D.,  and  Lizzie.  Their  daughter,  Christie 
Ann,  who  is  among  the  deceased,  was  married  to  Mr.  George  Sponsler, 
and  died  at  the  age  of  about  twenty-three  years,  leaving  one  child. 
Mr.  Seaton  is  a  republican,  and  a  member  of  the  old  school  Presbyte- 
rian church. 

John  Henry,  farmer,  was  born  in  Hunterdon  county,  New  Jersey, 
May  3,  1840.  He  is  the  son  of  Henry  A.  and  Catherine  A.  (Shurtz) 
Henry.  His  father's  family  removed  from  Hunterdon  county  to  War- 
ren county.  New  Jersey,  when  John  was  a  small  boy,  and  in  1851  the 
family  came  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  and  settled  in  Ohio  Grove 
township  where  they  remained  four  years,  and  then  removed  t(^  Abing- 
ton township.  In  October,  1870,  John  was  married  to  Martha  E., 
daugliter  of  John  B.  and  Mary  (May)  Jameson.  They  have  six  chil- 
dren :  Mina,  Charles,  Frank  B. ,  Bessie,  Lois,  and  By rtel  Eugene.  Mr. 
Henry  has  a  well  cultivated  farm  of  ninety  acres,  and  confines  himself 
almost  exclusively  to  grain  raising.  He  has  just  entered  on  his  fourth 
term  as  road  commissioner,  and  has  held  other  township  offices.  Mr. 
Henry  enlisted  in  the  union  army  as  a  private  soldier,  August,  1862, 
and  served  in  company  G,  102d  111.  Vol.,  until  the  following  January, 
when  he  was  discharged  because  of  disability.  Mr.  Henry  is  a 
democrat. 

Hon.  EoBERT  J.  Cabeen,  son  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  (Wright) 
Cabeen,  was  born  in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  April  25,  1822.  He 
removed  with  his  father's  family  from  Ohio  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  in 
1836.  The  family  settled  in  Ohio  Grove  township,  and  in  1850  Robert 
went  to  California,  where  he  remained  two  years  and  then  returned  to 
Mercer  county.  He  was  married  April  22,  185!:>,  to  Miss  Mary  E., 
daugliter  of  Joseph  and  Violet  (Scott)  Pinkerton.  After  his  marriage, 
Mr.  Cabeen  settled  in  Abington  township,  where  he  now  resides.  He 
has  a  farm  of  575  acres  of  magnificent  land  in  one  body  and  ninety- 
five  acres  in  another  piece.  His  home  place  is  under  a  high  state  of  cul- 
tivation and  his  residence  is  one  of  the  largest  and  most  costly  in  the 


526  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   A:ND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

county,  which  is  furnished  in  a  complete  stjle,  making  a  country  home  of 
a  most  charmino;  character.  Mr.  Cabeen  is  an  extensive  stock  raiser, 
and  ships  a  great  many  cattle  to  Chicago.  He  held  the  office  of  town- 
ship supervisor  for  ten  years  and  served  as  a  member  of  the  State 
Board  of  eqalization  one  term.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cabeen  have  had  eight 
children.  Samuel  (deceased),  Joseph,  McClellan,  Mary,  Yiolet,  Hattie 
E.,  Eobert  J.  (centennial  son),  and  Edith  May.  Politically  Mr. 
Cabeen  was  formerly  a  democrat,  but  for  a  good  many  years  he  has 
been  an  active  member  of  the  greenback  party.  Religiously  he  is  a 
liberal  or  freethinker. 

W.  A.  Winchester,  farmer,  was  born  in  Genesee  county,  New 
York,  January  2,  1824:.  His  father's  family  removed  to  Geauga  county, 
Ohio,  when  the  subject  of  our  sketch  was  seven  years  old.  In  1849, 
Mr.  Winchester  settled  in  Adams  county,  Illinois,  where  he  followed 
teaching  school  and  farming  for  fourteen  years,  when  he  removed  to 
Mercer  county,  Illinois,  and  settled  in  Abington  township,  on  tlie  farm 
where  he  now  resides,  which  embraces  300  acres  of  excellent  land. 
Mr.  Winchester  has  fine  buildings  on  his  farm,  and  raises  a  great  deal 
of  stock.  .  He  is  a  model  farmer,  and  while  he  is  very  retiring  in  his 
nature,  his  popularity  among  his  neighbors  has  forced  him  to  serve 
them  in  the  capacity  of  supervisor  for  four  terms  in  succession. 
May  29,  1866,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  William 
and  Eliza  Musser,  of  Huntingdon  county,  Peimsylvania.  They  have 
no  children.  Religiously  Mr.  Winchester  is  a  freethinker.  Politically 
he  is  a  greenbacker. 

Thomas  Whitehall  was  born  in  North  Carolina,  July  31,  1828. 
He  is  the  son  of  A.  L.  and  Elizabeth  Whitehall.  His  father  removed 
with  his  family  to  Fountain  county,  Indiana,  in  1832.  In  1850  Mr. 
Whitehall  was  married  to  JSTancy,  daughter  of  William  and  Sarah 
Stephens.  He  removed  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  in  1856,  and  set- 
tled in  Abington  township.  In  1865  he  removed  with  his  family  to 
Fountain  county,  Indiana,  and  rema-ined  there  until  1871,  when  they 
returned  to  Illinois  and  located  in  Mercer  county  again.  Their  home 
is  now  in  Abington  township  and  consists  of  a  pretty  farm  of  160 
acres,  with  most  all  the  appurtances  necessary  to  a  desirable  country 
home.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Whitehall  have  had  nine  children,  all  living 
but  Alice  ().,  their  youngest,  who  departed  this  life  when  quite  young. 
Their  living  are  :  Alva  A.,  Phebe  E.,  William  L.,  Mary  E.  and  Sarah 
E.  (twins),  James  M.,  JSTewton,  Fruzy  IT.,  and  Martha  A.  Mr.  White- 
hall is  a  greenbacher  politically,  and  is  what  might  be  termed  an  inde- 
pendent thinker  on  almost  every  subject.  He  has  his  own  peculiar 
notions  on  the  subjects  of  medicine,  religion,  science,  etc. 


ABINGTON  TOWNSHIP.  527 

Lewis  F.  Ogle  is  the  son  of  James  C.  and  Elizabeth  (Smith)  Ogie. 
He  was  born  in  Fountain  county,  Indiana,  in  1849.  His  father's 
family  removed  from  Indiana  to  Illinois  about  1853.  They  settled  in 
Mercer  county,  and  gave  their  attention  to  farming.  When  Lewis  F., 
or  "Frank,"  as  he  is  familiarly  called,  grew  to  manhood,  he  continued 
to  make  agricultural  pursuits  his  chief  business,  and  he  now  owns  a 
good  farm  of  182  acres  within  four  miles  of  Keith sburg.  He  was 
married  November  2,  1879,  to  Miss  Izziedora,  daughter  of  Levi  and 
Mary  J.  (James)  Hall.  They  have  had  but  one  child,  Eddie,  whom 
they  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  by  death  while  he  was  yet  a  babe.  Mr. 
Ogle  is  republican,  politically,  and  is  independent  in  his  religious 
views. 

Lewis  Waldo  Brewer,  is  the  son  of  Gilbert  and  Elizabeth  (Mills) 
Brewer.  He  was  born  August' 28,  1834,  in  Wayne  county,  Indiana. 
When  our  subject  was  two  years  old  his  father  moved  with  his  tamily 
to  Mercer  county,  Illinois.  He  received  a  common  school  education, 
and  then  learned  the  milling  business,  and  has  been  engaged  in  the 
work  for  twenty-eight  years.  He  owns  a  half  interest  in  Pope  mill, 
situated  on  Pope  creek,  live  miles  northeast  of  Keithsburg,  where  he 
resides  and  conducts  the  business  of  custom  milling  almost  exclusively. 
Mr.  Brewer  was  married  in  1857  to  Miss  Mary  Hutf.  One  child  was 
born  to  them.  Mrs.  Brewer  died  in  1860.  The  child  is  also  deceased. 
Mr.  Brewer  was  again  married  May  23,  1866,  to  Rosetta,  daughter  of 
Homer  and  Lucia  Beemer.  They  have  had  seven  children,  three  of 
whom  are  deceased.  The  living  are  :  Amanda,  Fred  and  Ida  (twins), 
and  Walter.  Mr.  Brewer  belongs  to  the  masonic  order,  and  he  and 
his  wife  both  belong  to  the  Eastern  Star  chapter.  Politically  Mr. 
Brewer  is  a  republican.  His  views  on  religious  matters  are  of  the 
liberal  type.  It  w^ould  make  no  difference  what  views  he  might  enter- 
tain; all  who  know  him  would  be  quick  to  admit  the  fact  that  "Wall " 
Brewer  is  strictly  conscientious,  both  in  his  religion  and  his  politics. 

Mrs.  Sarah  G.  Willits,  generally  known  as  "Aunt  Sally  Willits," 
was  bom  in  Pennsylvania,  in  September,  1810.  She  is  the  daughter 
of  John  and  Polly  (Blue)  Campbell.  Her  parents  died  when  she  was 
quite  young,  and  she  went  with  a  sister  to  Wayne  county,  Indiana, 
fi'om  Lebanon,  Ohio,  about  1825,  having  gone  to  the  latter  place  when 
six  years  of  age.  She  was  married  in  1830  to  John  Willits,  and  they 
removed  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  about  1834,  and  settled  in  Abing- 
ton  towhship.  Mrs.  Willits  received  but  a  limited  education,  and 
when  she  went  to  school  the  principal  text-books  were  the  spelling-book 
and  the  New  Testament.  Her  husband  was  quite  an  extensive  land- 
owner and  stock-breeder  and  dealer.     He  died  in  1864.     Tliey  had 


528  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

nine  cliildren  :  Josiah  G.,  Eliza  E.,  James  W.,  and  Martha  G.,  are 
deceased.  The  living  are:  Mary  J.,  AVilliam  N.,  Linnaeus  H., 
Thomas  W.  and  Sarah  E.  Thomas  W.,  who  occupies  the  mother's 
part  of  the  estate,  and  with  whom  she  makes  her  home  a  majority  of 
the- time,  was  born  in  Abington  township,  April  7,  1847,  where  he  still 
resides.  His  youth  was  spent  on  the  farm  with  his  parents,  and  he 
could  only  avail  himself  of  a  common  school  education.  Like  the 
sons  and  daughters  of  most  pioneers,  he  learned  more  of  hard,  physical 
toil  than  of  science  and  art ;  he  was  more  familiar  with  the  iield  and 
the  wild  prairies  than  with  school-houses  and  art  galleries.  Mr.  Wil- 
lits  was  united  in  marriage  February  13,  1873,  to  Miss  Alice  Main. 
They  had  one  child,  Carrie  E.     Mr.  W.  is  a  greenbacker,  politically. 

Jasper  Ogle  was  born  in  Adams  county,  Ohio,  January  12,  183-1. 
He  is  a  son  of  James  C.  and  Elizabeth  Ogle.  The  family  removed 
from  Ohio  to  Fountain  county,  Indiana,  when  Jasper  was  six  months 
old.  In  1853  the  family  removed  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois.  Our 
subject  was  married  February  22,  1855,  to  Miss  Angeline,  daughter  of 
Samuel  and  Elizabetli  Allison.  They  had  seven  children,  all  of  whom 
are  living.  They  are:  Lena  L.,  James  E.,  Yan,  Mary  E.,  Allie, 
Emma  E.  and  Clarence  E.  Mr.  Ogle  removed  to  California  in  1860, 
and  remained  there  until  1870.  While  in  the  "golden  state''  he 
followed  farming.  He  returned  to  Illinois  only  to  continue  his  chosen 
occupation.  He  owns  nearly  500  acres  of  land  and  has  a  very  fine 
rural  home.  Mr.  Ogle  had  the  misfortune  to  lose  his  wife  January  31,' 
1879.  Politically  Mr.  Ogle  is  a  republican,  and  religiously  he  is  an 
Adventist  or  Sabbatarian.  .  He  is  a  member  of  the  Independent  Order 
of  Odd-Fellows.  He  has  traveled  over  the  entire  length  of  the  great 
Union  Pacific  railroad  five  times. 

Joseph  D.  Ogle,  farmer,  is  the  son  of  James  C.  and  Elizabeth 
Ogle,  and  was  born  in  Fountain  county,  Indiana,  November  28,  1850. 
When  Joseph  was  but  three  years  old  the  family  came  to  Mercer 
county,  Illinois.  He  was  married  December  23,  1875,  to  Miss  Kate 
C,  daughter  of  Jacob  and  Catharine  Elrick.  They  have  two  children: 
Yan  L.  and  Lela  Fay.  Mr.  Ogle  devotes  his  time  wholly  to  agricul- 
ture. He  owns  a  beautiful  farm  of  216  acres,  on  which  are  good 
buildings.  Politically  he  is  a  pronounced  republican,  and  thinks  some 
remarkable  change  will  have  to  come  over  the  spirit  of  his  dream  if  he 
is  ever  anything  else  in  the  way  of  politics. 

Warren  B.  McClure  was  born  in  Meigs  county,  Ohio,  November 
5,  1848.  He  is  the  son  of  James  and  Jane  (Ogle)  McClure.  He 
received  a  common  school  education,  and  on  March  27,  1864,  enlisted 
as  a  private  soldier  in  the  13th  Ohio  cavalry,  and  served  until  the  close 


ABINGTON   TO\VNSHIP.  529 

of  the  war.  He  was  in  several  engagements  and  came  out  of  them 
all  unscathed.  At  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned  to  his  home  in 
Ohio  where  he  remained  until  1868,  when  he  went  to  Clarke  county, 
Missouri.  He  came  from  Missouri  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  in  1871, 
and  settled  in  Abington  township,  where  he  now  lives,  in  1876.  He 
was  married  September  29,  1875,  to  Miss  Leanna,  daughter  of  Solomon 
and  Evaline  (Marlatt)  Wolfe.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  McClure  have  three  chil- 
dren :  Clyde,  Lula  B.,  and  Rose.  Mr.  McClure  was  formerly  a  repub- 
lican, but  has  been  for  a  number  of  years  an  aggressive  greenbacker. 
He  is  at  present  township  assessor,  being  on  his  second  term,  and  has 
served  one  term  as  township  collector.  He  has  an  excellent  farm  and 
gives  most  of  his  attention  to  agriculture,  just  mixing  enough  in  politics 
to  give  farm  life  a  respectable  seasoning. 

The  life  of  John  V.  Bullock  reminds  us  that  people  are  prone  to 
look  upon  stately  mansions  as  the  abodes  of  happiness  because  such 
homes  indicate  wealth  and  luxury.  But  alas  !  how  often  is  contention, 
discontent  and  unhappiness  found  within  those  stately  walls.  On  the 
other  hand  happiness  supreme  often  reigns  in  the  cabin  and  in  the 
cottage.  A  snug  cottage,  nestled  among  evergreens,  maples  and  beau- 
tiful flowers  is  an  inviting  rural  retreat,  where  the  happy  birds  make 
melody  sweet,  and  the  new-made  hay  perfumes  the  air  like  an  incense ; 
where  the  green  corn  rustles  in  the  breeze  like  the  whisper  of  fairies, 
and  the  crystal  dewdrops  glisten  in  the  sun  like  costly  pearls,  is  a  home 
•to  be  envied  by  the  tired,  over-tasked  millionaire.  Such  an  inviting 
place  as  this  is  the  liome  of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  V.  Bullock.  Mr.  Bul- 
lock was  born  in  Crawford  county,  Indiana,  November  17,  1840,  and 
came  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  as  early  as  1852,  with  his  father's 
family.  He  was  married  December  29,  1868.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Bullock 
have  three  children.  Their  names  are  :  William  C,  Guy  B.,  and  Earl 
R.  This  makes  a  complete  picture  in  the  mind  of  every  one  who,  in 
the  great  race  of  life  believes  in  the  pursuit  of  legitimate  happiness. 
A  lovely  country  home,  a  devoted  wife,  and  three  promising  children ! 
What  more  could  be  desired. 

De.  Jacob  Russell  Bajver,  of  Keithsburg,  to  whom  we  are  indebted 
for  notes  on  Abington  township,  and  other  valuable  information,  was 
born  in  Hancock  county,  Ohio,  March  19,  1840,  and  is  the  son  of 
Henry  D.  and  Eve  (Switzer)  Baker.  He  removed  to  Kosciusko  county, 
Indiana,  in  1857,  and  studied  medicine  with  Dr.  T.  Davenport,  of 
AVarsaw,  Indiana.  He  practiced  ten  3'ears,  but,  disliking  the  profess- 
ion, and  the  exposure  necessary  in  its  practice  disagreeing  with  his 
health,  he  abandoned  it.  He  was  born  and  reared  a  Methodist  and  for 
several  years  was  a  member  of  that  denomination  and  was  a  class- 


530  HISTORY   OF   MERCER    AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

leader  of  the  society.  He  contemplated  entering  the  ministry  of  that 
denomination ;  but  some  of  the  tenets  of  orthodoxy  seeming  unreason- 
able, after  careful  thought  and  study  on  the  question,  be  became  a 
Universalist  and  entered  the  ministry  of  that  denomination.  He 
preached  one  year  at  Kirks\  ille,  Missouri,  and  two  years  in  Clarinda, 
Iowa.  The  more  he  investigated  the  subject  the  more  skeptical  he 
became,  and,  at  the  end  of  his  three  years  as  a  Universalist  preacher, 
became  a  pronounced  freethinker  and  left  the  pulpit  forever.  He 
believes  all  religions  man-made,  and  that  of  humanity  the  only  ti*ue 
religion.  Since  leaving  tlie  pulpit  he  has  often  lectured  on  the  free- 
tholight  platform.  He  was  married  March  26,  1865,  to  Barbara  Nolin, 
of  Leesburg,  Indiana.  His  wife  died  September  24,  1872.  He  had 
no  children  by  his  first  wife.  He  was  married  again  January,  1874, 
to  Ella  L.  Lawton,  of  South  Whitley,  Indiana.  They  have  three  chil- 
dren :  Bessie  S.,  Estelle  R.,  and  Ralph  Ingersoll.  He  is  an  enthusiastic 
apiarist,  and  devotes  much  of  his  time  to  agriculture.  He  writes  regu- 
larly for  several  papers  and  magazines  on  difi:'erent  rural  topics,  es- 
pecially on  bees  and  fine  poultry,  and  pet  stock  fancy  ;  also  on  religious 
topics.  He  is  a  political  stump  speaker;  in  politics  a  greenbacker, 
and  takes  active  part  on  the  "stump"  in  every  political  campaign. 
Dr.  Baker  has  gained  considerable  reputation  as  an  orator  in  this 
county  where  he  has  resided  for  the  past  six  years.  From  an  oration 
delivered  at  Keithsburg  on  the  death  of  General  Garfield,  we  have 
room  for  but  a  few  extracts.  He  said:  " The  humblest  individual  in ' 
our  country  has  the  same  indisputable  right  to  call  to  account  a  public 
servant,  or  a  candidate  for  the  post  of  duty  and  honor,  or  to  apply  a 
critical  test  to  questions^  of  right  and  wrong,  as  has  the  most  favored 
and  exalted  citizen  of  our  republic.  The  American  ])eople  well  under- 
stand that  a  liberty  less  great  than  this  would  be  an  infringement  upon  a 
fundamental  principle  of  popular  government.  Our  motto  is  :  Let  truth 
and  falsehood  grapple ;  let  error  and  right  contend,  for  we  do  injustice 
to  right  and  truth  if  we  doubt  their  ability  to  cope  with  their  enemies." 
In  closing  he  said:  "To  say  that  Gen.  Garfield  jDOSsessed 
no  faults,  that  he  committed  no  errors,  would  be  to  say  that  he  was  more 
than  human.  But  whatever  his  faults  may  have  been  in  life,  we  will 
bury  them  with  his  body  in  death.  Whatever  errors  lie  may  have 
committed  in  his  busy  life,  as  a  citizen,  a  soldier  and  a  statesman,  we 
freely  forgive  and  forget;  and  with  bowed  head  and  aching  hearts, 
consign  his  mortal  remains  to  their  narrow  house  in  the  city  of  the 
dead.  And  while  all  that  is  mortal  of  the  distinguished  soldier  and 
statesman  will  crumble  back  to  dust,  his  noble  deeds  as  a  son,  a  hus- 
band, a  father,  a  teacher,  a  warrior  and  a  statesman  will  live  forever. 


MERCER   TOWNSHIP.  531 

And  now,  tliat  life's  flitting  dream  is  gone  forever  from  our  honored 
president,  we"  will  write  his  name  in  golden  characters,  as  indelible  as 
the  fixed  stars  in  the  blue  canopy  above  us,  by  the  side  of  that  of  the 
immortal  Washington,  the  great  Jefferson,  the  hero  Jackson,  the  martyr 
Lincoln,  the  patriot  Douglass,  the  philanthropist  Greeley,  and  the 
noble,  scholarly  Sumner.  And  when  the  people  of  the  American 
republic  shall  so  far  forget  the  principles  of  justice  and  republican  gov- 
ernment as  to  cease  to  love  and  reverence  these  illustrious  dead,  let 
the  sun  hide  his  burning  face ;  the  pale  moon  cease  to  kiss  the  earth 
with  her  soft,  golden  beams ;  the  stars  fall  from  their  places,  and  all 
the  elements  clash  to  one  common  center." 


MERCER  TOWIS^SIIIP. 

Mercer  township  includes  all  the  congressional  township  known  as 
14  N".,  R.  3  west  of  the  1th  P.  M.  The  soil  is  generally  black 
and  rich,  with  some  clay  along  the  brakes  and  water  courses.  It  is 
well  watered,  Edwards  river  traversing  the  north  tier  of  sections,  from 
east  to  west,  and  Pope  creek  crossing  the  southeast  corner  and  follow- 
ing west  near  the  south  line,  in  Ohio  Grove  township.  These,  with 
their  numerous  runs,  as  feeders,  furnish  an  ample  supply  of  water  for 
stock  and  irrigation.  Along  the  creeks  the  land  is  broken,  but  there 
is  very  little  so  steep  that  it  cannot  be  cultivated.  On  the  "divide," 
as  it  is  called,  between  Pope  and  Edwards,  the  land  is  level,  and  until 
brought  under  cultivation,  much  of  it  was  of  a  swampy  nature.  Over 
this  prairie  in  early  times  there  was  scarcely  a  track  that  rose  to  the 
dignity  of  a  road,  as  travel  was  not  frequent  enough  to  keep  down  the 
luxuriant  growth  of  grass,  which  often  grew  so  high  that  a  man  on 
horseback  could  see  but  a  short  distance.  Woe  then  to  the  luckless 
ti'aveler  who  undertook  to  cross  the  prairie  in  a  wet  time  with  wagon 
and  team.  Suddenly  his  oxen  would  sink  in  the  mud,  knee  deep,  the 
wagon  go  down  to  the  hub,  and  there  was  nothing  to  do  but  to  unload, 
and  then  perhaps  "double  teams,""  if  perchance  there  was  some  one  to 
double  with,  or  if  not,  go  two  or  three  miles  to  secure  assistance.  But 
cultivation  and  judicious  draining  have  so  changed  the  nature  of  the  soil 
in  this  respect  that  it  is  difficult  to  convince  our  farmer  boys  of  to-day 
that  the  most  productive  parts  of  their  farms  were  at  one  time  little 
better  than  impassable  swamps. 

Much  of  the  township  is  underlaid  with  coal  of  a  good  quality,  but 
there  have,  as  yet,  been  but  few  banks  opened,  as  it  generally  lies  too 
deep  to  work  with  profit.     Banks  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  township 


532  HISTORY    OF   AIEECER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

have  been  run  for  many  years,  but  seldom  at  a  great  profit.  "Within  a 
few  years  mines  have  been  opened  near  Aledo  and  are  still  run  on  a 
small  scale. 

The  water  courses  are  lined  with  timber,  oak,  hickory,  elm,  maple, 
and  linn  predominating,  while  hazel  covers  the  hill  sides,  and  willows 
are  plenty  near  the  water.  There  are  a  few  walnut  trees,  of  good  size 
and  quality,  and  also  some  ash  and  hackberry,  with  perhaps  a  few 
other  kinds.  Wild  plums,  wild  cherries,  crab-apples  and  blackberries 
formerly  grew  in  abundance,  but  with  the  exception  of  the  two  latter, 
they  are  now  rare.     Strawberries  were  also  plenty  on  the  uplands. 

In  the  days  of  the  first  settlers  deer  were  plenty  on  these  prairies, 
as  were  also  the  prairie  wolf,  whose  wild  bowlings  are  still  among 
the  most  vivid,  if  not  the  most  pleasing,  recollections  of  the  pioneers. 
Game  of  other  kinds  also  abounded,  and  the  early  settlers  dined  sump- 
tuously on  wild  turkey,  prairie  chicken,  venison,  rabbit,  duck  or  goose, 
according  to  the  season. 

Prairie  fires  were  of  yearly  occurrence.  The  luxuriant  growth  of 
grass,  scorched  by  the  summer"'s  heat,  by  early  fall  was  as  dry  as  tin- 
der, and  a  spark  from  a  careless  hunter's  pipe,  or  sometimes  the  wad 
from  his  gun  would  start  a  confiagratioii  which  soon  became  at  once 
grand  and  terrible.  None  who  have  once  seen  it  can  ever  forget  the 
majestic  sweep  of  the  wall  of  fire  as  it  sped  before  the  ever  increasing 
wind,  stretching  out  its  arms  farther  and  farther  on  either  side,  rivaling 
in  speed  the  horse  or  deer,  and  gathering  up  and  devouring  all  within 
its  reach.  Such  was  the  prairie  fire  of  early  days,  and  fortunate  was  it 
for  him  who,  caught  in  the  track  of  the  fast-coming  flames,  understood 
the  pioneer's  way  of  fighting  fire  with  fire.  Without  this  knowledge 
a  severe  scorching,  if  nothing  worse,  most  surely  awaited  him. 

The  first  entry  of  land  made  in  the  township  was  on  August  21, 
1837,  when  John  and  Abraham  Miller  entered  the  northeast  quarter  of 
section  4.  In  this  and  the  two  following  years,  the  Miller  family 
entered  over  800  acres  of  land  in  sections  3,  -l,  and  16.  They  were 
the  first  settlers  in  the  township  ;  but  as  a  full  history  of  the  family, 
and  their  coming  to,  and  making  a  home  in.  Sugar  Grove  is  given  in 
connection  with  the  history  of  Perryton  township,  we  will  not  repeat 
it  here,  merely  noting  that  they  built  the  first  mill  and  the  fii'st  school- 
house  in  this  township.  Most  of  the  land  in  this  township  lies  in  what 
is  known  as  the  ''military  tract,"  and  was  patented  in  1818.  A  por- 
tion of  the  lands  entered  by  the  Millers  were  school  lands,  and  were 
patented  to  them  by  the  governor  of  Illinois,  who  also  issued  a  patent 
to  Benjamin  Clark,  to  the  W.  ^  of  the  S.  E,  J  of  Sec.  16,  on  Sep- 
tember 4,  1837. 


MERCER   TOWNSHIP.  533 

Sugar  Grove  is  situated  on  the  north  of  Edwards  river,  inchiding 
in?  its  limits  parts  of  sections  3,  4,  9,  and  10.  It  received  its  name 
from  the  large  number  of  sugar  maple  trees  there  growing,  from 
which,  until  verj  recently,  large  quantities  of  maple  sugar  were  manu- 
factured yearly  ;  but  at  present  the  quantity  is  very  small.  It  obtained 
a  wide  celebrity  in  early  times  as  the  place  for  holding  the  yearly 
camp-meetings  of  the  Methodist  church  for  the  district  then  known  as 
the  Rock  River  district,  embracing,  we  believe,  full  half  the  state. 
Here  gathered,  each  succeeding  fall,  the  hardy  pioneers,  coming  fifty, 
and  even  one  hundred,  miles  to  spend  a  week  or  more  in  their  chosen 
mode  of  worship.  Here  they  would  listen  to  the  soul-stirring  appeals 
of  Giddings,  Cartwright,  Ilaney,  Morey,  Doughty,  and  the  many  others 
whose  memory  is  revered  by  hundreds  still  living.  When  the  first 
camp-meeting  was  held  here  we  cannot  definitely  state  ;  certainly  as 
early  as  184-5,  and  we  think  before  that,  and  they  were  only  discon- 
tinued in  1873,  when  the  district,  now  less  than  one-fourth  as  large  as 
then,  purchased  grounds  of  its  own  in  Rock  Island  county.  The 
grounds,  however,  are  still  occasionally  used,  the  primitive  Method- 
ists and  the  Seventh  Day  Baptists  liaving  each  held  one  or  more 
meetings  there  within  the  past  few  years  ;  but  as  a  "  permanent  camp- 
ground," their  glory  has  departed. 

Early  in  1837  Messrs.  Benj.  Clark,  John  J.  Charles,  Timothy  Con- 
dit,  and  William  Mackey  conceived  the  idea  that  a  town  should  be 
built  near  the  centre  of  the  county,  and  the}"  accordingly  employed 
Judge  E.  Gilmore,  then  county  surveyor,  to  make  the  plat.  The 
judge  left  New  Boston,  with  his  instruments  and  assistants,  and  on 
foot  they  wended  their  way  for  fifteen  long  miles  eastward,  the  day 
being  bright  and  warm.  Unfortunately  a  storm  came  up  in  the  night, 
the  thermometer  rapidly  fell,  and  the  next  morning  broke  clear  and 
cold,  with  the  ground  covered  with  snow.  The  chain-bearers  refused 
to  work,  and  the  judge,  facing  a  cold  west  wind,  made  his  way  back 
to  l^ew  Boston,  arriving  worn  out  and  chilled  to  the  bone,  the  trip 
resulting  in  a  serious  illness.  A  second  attempt  was  more  success- 
ful, and  on  March  30,  1837,  the  lines  were  run  and  the  stakes  driven 
that  marked  the  town  of  Mercer,  situated  on  the  N.  E.  J  of  Sec.  21, 
T.  11:  N.,  R.  3  W.  of  the  4th  P.  M. 

But  the  expectations  of  the  proprietors  were  never  realized.  But 
one  house  was  erected,  and  the  only  inhabitant  of  this,  so  far  as 
known,  was  a  large  white  owl,  who  held  for  years  undisputed  posses- 
sion of  the  lonely  tenement.  The  house  rotted  down,  and  in  1851  we 
crossed  the  town  site,  the  only  remaining  mark  of  the  existence  of  the 
town  being  a  portion  of  the  roof  of  this  lonely  cabin,  which  had  not 


534  HISTORY    OF   MEKCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

as  yet  quite  rotted  and  blown  away.  The  town  site  lias  long  been 
under  cultivation,  and  few  of  the  residents  of  the  township  remember 
that  it  was  ev^er  laid  out ;  indeed,  many  of  them  will  perhaps  first 
learn  this  fact  from  a  perusal  of  these  pages. 

Incidents  of  importance  are  of  rare  occurrence  foi*  a  series  of  years, 
or  if  they  occm-red,  are  now  unattainable. 

In  1842  or  1843  Samuel  McKee,  John  H.  McBride,  and  William 
Carnahan,  all  young  men  of  this  vicinity,  each  took  a  load  of  wheat 
to  Chicago,  with  ox  teams,  with  three  or  four  yoke  of  oxen  to  the 
wagon.  They  sold  their  wheat  for  forty-two  cents  per  bushel,  and 
brought  back  salt,  and  other  necessaries.  Samuel  McKee  gave 
one  barrel  of  salt  from  his  load  for  the  use  of  a  wagon  for  the  trip. 
The  party  were  gone  three  weeks,  and  they  wasted  no  time,  either  in 
Chicago  or  on  the  road. 

Among  the  early  settlers  of  the  township  but  few  are  now  liAdng, 
and  still  fewer  are  those  who  yet  reside  within  its  limits.  Among 
them  we  may  mention  Mr.  K.  Edwards,  who  opened  a  farm  on  section 
18,  in  1849  ;  Mr.  L.  F.  Jobusch,  who  settled  here  in  1851,  and  Mr.  E. 
C.  Bartlitt,  who  opened  a  farm  the  same  year ;  Henry  Lee,  William 
McKee,  Isaac  Artz,  and  R.  H.  Wirger,  still  residing  here,  came  about, 
or  prior  to,  the  latter  date.  Joseph,  William  and  Mary  Ann  McKee, 
all  children  of  John  McKee,  are  the  only  persons  now  living  in  the 
township  who  were  here  in  1841. 

Township  organization  was  adopted  in  this  county  in  1853,  and  the 
first  election  of  township  oflicers,  of  which  a  record  is  found  in  the 
town  records,  was  held  at  the  house  of  John  McKee,  April  4,  1854. 
John  McKee  served  as  chairman,  Isaac  Jones  as  moderator,  and  E.  C. 
Bartlitt  as  clerk.  At  this  election  twenty-seven  votes  were  cast,  and 
the  following  is  a  list  of  officers  elected :  supervisor,  David  Braucht ; 
town  clerk,  E.  C.  Bartlitt;  assessor,  John  S.  Moore;  collector,  John 
Ashbaugh  ;  overseer  of  poor,  John  Ai-tz  ;  commissioners  of  highways, 
L.  F.  Jobusch,  Jacob  Sprecher,  R.  H.  Winger;  justices  of  the  peace, 
John  McKee,  John  L.  Candor;  constables,  William  McKee,  Israel 
Artz  ;  overseers  of  highways,  Edward  Clifford,  George  Smith. 

At  the  general  election  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year  but  sixteen  votes 
were  cast.  At  this  time  a  vote  was  taken  ''for  or  against  the  county 
of  Mercer  taking  one  hundred  thousand  dollars  stock  in  the  Warsaw  & 
Rockford  Railroad,"  resulting  nine  for  and  five  against.  James  E. 
Willett,  John  McKee,  and  Henry  Lee  were  judges  at  this  election,  and 
E.  C.  Bartlitt  and  R.  H.  Winger  clerks. 

In  November,  1855,  a  vote  was  taken  for  or  against  levying  a  tax 


MERCER   TOWNSHIP.  535 

to  build  a  poor-liouse  for  the  county,  when  sixteen  of  the  seventeen 
votes  polled  were  against  the  levy. 

In  1855  the  Great  Western  Air  Line  railway  was  laid  out,  and  the 
line  divided  Mercer  county  almost  in  the  center  from  east  to  west,  and 
a  town  laid  out  in  the  following  spring  on  the  S.  E.  ^  of  Sec.  17,  and 
named  Aledo,  a  history  of  which  will  be  found  elsewhere. 

August  3,  1857,  an  election  was  held  ""for  or  against  the  removal 
of  the  county  seat  from  Keithsburg  to  Aledo,"  at  which  231  votes  were 
polled,  each  and  all  of  which  were  very  naturally  "for"  removal. 

May  5,  1859,  a  special  town  meeting  was  held  to  vote  for  or  against 
the  township  subscribing  for  stock  of  the  American  Central  Railway 
Company  (the  Air  Line  under  a  new  name),  resuhing  for  subscription, 
132  ;  against,  50  votes.  Although  this  vote  appears  decidedly  in  favor 
of  the  subscription,  we  can  find  no  record  of  the  issue  of  any  bonds  to 
the  company  at  this  time ;  but  on  May  29,  1868,  Elislia  Miles,  Matthew 
Maffitt,  C.  S.  Richey,  Hiram  Parkman,  James  M.  Macy,  and  J.  F. 
Woods  filed  a  petition  with  the  town  clerk,  asking  that  ' '  an  election  be 
called  for  the  purpose  of  voting  for  or  against  the  subscription  by  said 
township  to  the  capital  stock  of  the  American  Central  railway  to  the 
amount  of  $13,400,"  etc.,  and  on  the  9th  of  June  said  election  was 
held,  resulting  142  votes  for  subscription,  four  votes  against  it,  and 
eleven  votes  •■ '  no  tax. " 

Li  pursuance  of  the  authority  granted  by  this  vote,  bonds  were 
issued  for  the  above  amount,  March  23,  1869,  in  sums  of  $100  each, 
payable  ten  years  after  date,  and  bearing  ten  per  cent  interest,  payable 
annually ;  the  bonds  "to  be  delivered  to  the  company  when  the  iron  was 
laid  from  Galva  to  Aledo,  provided  said  iron  was  laid  on  or  before 
July  1,  1869." 

Some  of  these  bonds  were  paid  off  by  the  township  before  they 
became  due,  and  at  the  April  meeting  in  1879  the  supervisor  and  town 
clerk  were  instructed  to  issue  new  bonds  to  the  amount  of  those  yet 
outstanding,  at  as  low  a  rate  of  interest  as  possible,  not  to  exceed  the 
legal  rate  of  eight  per  cent,  and  with  the  proceeds  pay  oft"  the  old 
bonds.  The  expense,  however,  of  issuing  the  new  bonds  was  avoided 
by  an  agreement  with  the  holders  to  extend  the  time  of  payment  at 
eight  per  cent.  There  are  yet  outstanding  $4,800,  due  as  follows: 
$2,000,  May  12,  1883;  $1,000,  March  23,  1884;  and  $1,800,  May  23, 
1884.  Ample  provision  has  been  made  for  paying  them  when  due, 
and  they  would  be  paid  oft'  at  once  if  the  holders  would  give  them  up, 
which  they  decline  to  do. 

There  are  now  in  the  township  nine  school  districts,  with  fair  build- 
ings, in  which  school  is  held  from  six  to  nine  months  each  year,  and 


536  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

the  education  is  progi-essive  and  keeping  full  pace  with  the  demands  of 
the  times.  Care  is  exercised  in  the  selection  of  school  othcers,  and 
they  in  turn  look  well  into  the  merits  and  qualifications  of  the  teachers 
they  employ.  As  a  rule  the  wages  paid  are  above  the  average  in  the 
state,  although  seldom  equal  to  what  the  same  talent  would  command 
in  other  professions. 

There  is  little  or  no  vacant  land  in  the  township.  What  can  not  be 
tilled  with  ]^rofit  is  utilized  as  stock  pasture,  or  for  the  growth  of  young 
timber,  the  latter  an  industry  that  does  not  receive  the  attention  its  im- 
portance demands.  Our  farmers  are  for  the  most  part  in  comfortable 
circumstances,  and  what  little  land  is  leased  out  commands  from  two- 
iifths  to  one-half  the  crop,  or  a  rental  of  $4  to  $5  per  acre  per  annum, 
in  advance.  Corn  and  stock-raising  are  the  leading  agricultural  inter- 
ests, although  grain  of  all  kinds  is  raised  and  commands  good  prices  in 
our  market.  While  comparatively  little  fruit  is  raised  for  market,  each 
farm  has  an  orchard  of  well  selected  trees,  from  which  the  family  is 
expected  to  be  supplied,  with  perhaps  a  small  surplus  to  sell.  Apples 
and  cherries  generally  do  well,  but  peaches  and  pears  seldom  bear  a 
fair  crop,  or  come  to  maturity.  Most  of  the  orchards  are  supplied  with 
home-grown  trees  from  the  extensive  nursery  of  Mr.  Tyler  McWhorter, 
one-half  mile  south  of  Aledo.  Grapes  and  berries  are  grown  largely, 
and  in  a  fair  season  our  markets  a^e  overstocked. 

■  Our  population  is  at  present  about  2,550;  our  people  are  industi'i- 
ous,  energetic,  wealthy  and  well  educated.  Our  farmers  have  good, 
and  many  of  them  very  tine  residences,  with  large  and  well  tilled  barns 
and  granaries  ;  implements  and  machinery  of  the  best  and  most  labor- 
saving  kinds  ;  horses,  cattle  and  hogs  of  the  iinest  breeds.  Roads  and 
bridges  are  generally  kept  in  good  repair,  but  such  a  thing  as  a  good 
road  at  all  seasons  is  impracticable  with  our  soil  and  will  never  be 
attained  here  without  large  expense  for  gravel,  or  some  substitute  of 
the  same  nature. 

The  present  town  officers,  elected  April  4,  1882,  are  as  follows: 
supervisor,  II.  E,.  Morrison  (who  was  elected  in  1878  and  has  held 
the  position  ever  since,  and  who  is  now  chairman  of  the  county  board) ; 
town  clerk,  L.  B.  Doughty,  elected  first  in  1879;  assessor,  J.  A.  Mar- 
quis, second  year ;  collector,  F.  T.  Owen,  second  year ;  commissioners 
of  highways,  R.  C.  Morrison,  W.  K.  Fulton,  John  C.  Dool;  justices  of 
the  peace,  M.  L.  Marsh,  elected  first  in  1862,  and  has  held  continually 
ever  since,  and  M.  S.  Boice,  elected  in  1882,  to  fill  vacancy ;  consta- 
bles, Jose|)h  McDougal,  elected  in  1870,  and  held  ever  since,  and  Geo. 
A.  Smith,  elected  in  1881;  school  trustees,  W.  C.  Galloway,  Henry 
Lee  and  W.  J.  Brown ;  school  treasurer,  Joseph  McCoy. 


--^C^cr^^^^T-^-^^^v<^^<^(^    X^-^^€^^^^^_ 


MERCER   TOWNSHIP.  539 

The  equalized  yahiation  of  real  estate,  personal,  and  railroad  prop- 
erty in  Mercer  township  in  1881,  as  shown  on  assessor's  book,  was 
$979,837.  These  figures,  however,  represent  less  than  one-third  of  the 
actual  wealth  of  the  township,  which,  at  a  fair  cash  rating,  must  consid- 
erably exceed  $3,000,000. 

The  census  report  of  1880  showed  a  population  of  2,45-1;  a  gain  of 
507  over  the  report  of  1870.  The  same  average  increase,  which  we 
think  has  been  fully  maintained  during  the  past  two  years,  would  make 
our  population  now  about  2,550,  as  given  above. 

In  noting  the  products  of  the  township,  we  made  no  mention  of  the 
hay  crop,  which  is  one  of  present  and  constantly  growing  importance ; 
nor  of  sorghum,  which  is  grown  and  manufactured  in  quantities  to 
meet  the  home  demand.  Vegetables  of  all  kinds  are  raised  in  abund- 
ance and  sold  in  large  quantities  to  dealers  and  shippers.  Potatoes 
are  generally  a  good  crop,  1881  being  an  exceptionally  poor  year  for 
them,  and  one  of  the  very  few  in  which  our  growers  have  failed  to 
raise  enough  to  supply  the  home  demand. 

ALEDO. 

The  survey  and  location  of  the  Great  "Western  Air  Line  railroad 
through  the  county,  opened  a  wide  field  for  speculation  in  the  estab- 
lishment of  new  towns  ;  and  the  result  of  one  of  these  was  the  location 
and  platting  of  a  town  on  section  17,  in  Mercer  township,  in  the  fall  of 
1855,  which  was  christened  De  Soto  by  its  founders,  Messrs.  Willits 
and  Thompson.  Finding  that  there  was  already  a  village  bearing  that 
name  in  this  state,  a  new  one  was  deemed  necessary,  and  from  a  num- 
ber suggested,  the  choice  fell  upon  Aledo.  On  March  20,  1856,  a 
public  sale  of  lots  was  held  on  the  site  of  the  proposed  town.  This 
sale  was  attended  by  what  was  then  considered  a  large  crowd,  and  the 
bidding  was  spirited  and  at  times  exciting,  when  what  was  considered 
a  choice  location  was  offered.  112  lots  were  sold  at  a  fraction  over 
$103  each,  aggregating  $11,580.  The  first  two  lots  offered  brought 
$2-10  each  ;  the  highest  price  paid  for  any  lot  was  $255,  while  two  went 
as  low  as  $35  each.  Among  the  purchasers  were  Judge  E.  Gilmore 
and  M.  L.  Marsh,  Esq. ,  who  still  reside  in  Aledo.  The  proprietors  had 
decided  to  donate  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  the  first  fifty  lots  to  the 
establishment  of  a  college  or  seminary,  and  the  amount  realized  for 
that  purpose  was.  $5,780.  The  first  building  erected  was  put  up  by 
the  proprietors  of  the  town,  on  the  north  side  of  Seventh  street,  near 
Maple,  during  the  early  summer  of  1856 ;  and  as  soon  as  it  could  be 
occupied,  a  hotel  was  opened,  with  J.  E.  Ilarroun  as  landlord.  The 
carpenters,  while  building  it,  boarded  with  a  farmer  living  near  the 


540  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

town  site.  The  building  is  still  standing,  and  is  used  as  a  business 
house  below  and  residence  above.  The  business  rooms  are  occupied 
by  M .  S.  Boice,  with  a  china  store,  and  "VV.  J.  Stuart  with  a  barber 
shop,  while  a  recent  addition  is  used  as  a  cigar  manufactory  by  C.  L, 
Brankamp.     The  building  is  now  owned  by  Capt.  L.  B.  Morey. 

The  first  business  house  erected  was  on  College  avenue,  south  of 
the  railroad,  and  was  occupied  by  John  S.  Moore  and  O.  C.  Allen, 
under  name  of  Moore  &  Allen,  with  a  general  stock  of  dry  goods,  gro- 
ceries, hardware,  etc.  Dr.  S.  Macy  started  the  first  drug  store,  and 
was  the  first  dentist  in  the  new  village.  Thomas  Maddox  opened  the 
first  hardware  store  and  tin  shop.  He  is  still  a  resident,  although  long 
since  retired  from  business.  J.  E.  Harroun  was  the  first  postmaster, 
and  it  is  said  he  carried  the  mail  in  his  liat,  and  delivered  it  whenever 
or  wherever  he  should  happen  to  meet  the  fortunate  recipient  of  a  letter 
or  newspaper.  Judge  John  S.  Thompson  built  what  was  then  consid- 
ered a  very  fine  residence,  and  moved  into  it  in  the  fall  of  1857  ;  and 
right  here  we^  will  say  something  of  the  proprietors  of  the  town. 
Judge  T.  was  one  of  the  early  lawyers  of  the  county,  and  had  attained 
a  lair  prominence  in  his  profession  in  the  district.  He  was  subse- 
quently elected  circuit  judge  and  filled  the  position  acceptably.  During 
what  was  termed  the  "Johnson  campaign,"  he  was  a  candidate  for 
congress  on  the  Johnson,  or  fusion,  ticket,  but  was  defeated.  He  was, 
moreover,  a  man  of  energy  and  push,  and  whatever  he  understood  he 
generally  pushed  to  completion.  Failing  in  his  political  aspirations, 
he  turned  his  attention  to  securing  the  completion  of  the  railroad  so 
long  promised,  but  as  yet  without  prospect  of  completion.  Largely 
through  his  eiforts  the  company  was  reorganized  under  the  name  of 
the  American  Central ;  new  subscriptions  w^ere  secured  from  townships, 
villages,  and  private  individuals.  He  was  indefatigable  in  his  eftbrts, 
and  would  doubtless  have  pushed  the  road  through  to  completion  under 
the  organization  of  which  he  was  president,  had  he  not  secured  an 
advantageous  arrangement  with  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy 
Railroad  Company,  whereby  the  lattei-  was  to  complete  the  road  from 
Galva  to  Keithsburg  for  the  consideration  of  a  lease  thereof  for  ninety- 
nine  years.  Under  this  arrangement  the  road  was  completed  in  1869, 
and  has  since  been  operated  under  the  charter  of  the  American  Cen- 
tral, but  is  known  as  the  Galva  and  Keithsburg  branch  of  the  Chicago, 
Burlington  ifc  Quincy  railroad.  This  lease,  however,  was  distasteful 
to  the  people,  who,  while  paying  their  subscriptions  to  the  railroad,  did 
not  relish  the  idea  that  the  funds  went  into  the  pockets  of  the  judge 
and  his  associates,  and  many  were  the  anathemas  showered  upon  his 
head.      This,  we  believe,  was  all  wrong ;  the  judge  had  secured  the 


MERCER   TOWNSHIP.  541 

com|)letion  of  the  road,  wliicli  lias  proven  worth  more  to  one  and  all 
than  was  ever  hoped  for,  and  it  matters  little  whether  it  was  built  and 
operated  by  the  Amercan  Central  or  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy. 
It  may  have  been  to  a  certain  extent  a  "sell  out"  on  the  subscrib- 
ers, but  it  was  much  better  to  be  "sold  out"  witli  the  road  than 
without  it.  The  advantages  conferred  and  secured  bv  the  road  cer- 
tainly  far  outweigh  the  disadvantages  under  which  we  miglit  still  be 
laboring  but  for  the  energy  and  tact  of  Judge  John  8.  Thompson. 

Shortly  after  the  completion  of  the  road,  Judge  T.  removed  to 
San  Jose,  California,  where  he  followed  his  profession  of  the  law,  and 
entered  into  politics  to  some  extent ;  but  having  had  some  experience 
in  railroad  building,  he  has  again  entered  [into  that  pursuit,  and  is  at 
present  president  of  a  new  company  known  as  the  Rock  Island  & 
Southwestern,  which  proposes  to  build  a  road  from  Eock  Island  tO' 
New  Boston,  where  it  will  cross  the  river  and  connect  with  ex-senator 
Harlan's  road  to  Kansas  City.  Surveys  have  been  made,  and  efforts 
are  now  in  progress  for  securing  the  right  of.  way  and  the  estaljlish- 
ment  of  the  line.  The  surveys  run  through  Duncan,  Eliza,  and  New 
Boston  townships,  and  if  built  will  open  up  a  rich  section  now  having 
poor  facilities  for  reaching  market.  The  headquarters  of  the  company 
are  in  Chicago,  where  the  judge  at  present  resides. 

Levi  IVillits,  his  partner,  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  New 
Boston,  and  he  and  William  Drury  were  among  the  first  business  men 
of  that  .place,  where  for  many  years  they  conducted  a  general  store, 
and  by  judicious  investments  in  real  estate,  both  laid  the  foundaton 
for  wealth.  Mr.  Willits  was  a  thorough  and  far-seeing  business  man, 
and  so  open-handed  and  liberal  in  his  dealing  that  he  won  the  regard 
of  all  with  whom  he  came  in  contact,  and  at  his  death  in  185S,  he  was 
truly  mourned  by  all  who  knew  him. 

In  1857  the  Baiion  house,  on  the  corner  of  College  avenue  and 
Seventh  street,  was  erected  and  opened  by  D.  N.  Barton.  It  was  a  large 
four-story  brick  building,  one  of  the  largest  at  that  time  in  the  military 
tract,  and  has  ever  since  ranked  as  a  leading  hotel  of  the  place. 
It  changed  hands  a  number  of  times,  until  the  ownership  fell  to 
Mr.  Schuyler  Button ;  but  a  short  time  after  he  took  possession  it 
caught  fire  and  was  destroyed,  the  walls  being  so  badly  damaged  that 
they  were  taken  down.  The  fire  occurred  on  November  16,  1867,  and 
the  loss  was  $10,000,  the  heaviest  ever  experienced  before  or  since 
within  the  village.  The  building  was  at  once  rebuilt,  and  is  at  present 
occupied  by  John  S.  Button,  a  son  of  the  gentleman  last  mentioned. 

We  cannot  name  all  of  the  first  business  men,  but  will  try  and 
note  those  who  are  still  residing  here,  who  came  in  1856  or  1857. 


542  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND    HEN'DEKSON    C0U^^^E8. 

James  M.  Wilson,  lawyer,  established  a  furniture  store  in  1857  ; 
was  subsequently  elected  circuit  clerk  ;  read  law,  and  has  for  years 
been  a  member  of  the  firm  of  Pepper  &  AVilson,  I.  K.  Bassett,  of 
the  law  firm  of  Bassett  &  Wluirton,  has  practiced  here  continuously 
since  1857.  0.  F.  Cunningham  has  been  in  business  here  since  the 
spring  of  the  same  year,  first  as  a  painter,  and .  afterward  starting  and 
still  running  a  carriage  shop.  His  brother,  Frank  C,  learned  the 
painting  trade  with  him,  and  is  still  following  it.  M.  L.  Marsh  opened 
an  office  as  notary  public  in  1857  ;  was  afterward  elected  justice  of  the 
peace,  in  which  office  he  is  now  serving  his  fifth  consecutive  term. 
Horace  Bigelow,  one  of  the  founders  of  the  "  Eecord,"  in  June  of  1857, 
is  still  one  of  its  publishers,  having  now  been  connected  with  it  for  a 
quarter  of  a  century.  N.  Edwards  came  here  in  1857  or  1858,  and 
has  been  in  business  of  some  kind  ever  since.  George  McEowen 
started  a  wagon-shop  in  1857,  and  still  does  a  little  repairing  at  the 
old  stand.  John  Rainey  has  resided  in  the  same  house  twenty-five 
3^ears.  Joseph  McCoy,  T.  H.  Day,  J.  H.  Abercrombie,  H.  R'  Morri- 
son, C.  S.  Kichey,  and  J.  M.Warwick  were  among  the  first  residents, 
and  are  still  here.  D.  Y.  Reed,  now  deceased,  was  another,  and  his 
wife  lives  adjoining  town.  Capt.  J.  Y.  Merritt,  now  of  Eliza  town- 
ship, came  to  the  town  site  with  the  first  load  of  lumber. 

The  great  event,  however,  of  1857,  was  the  removal  of  the  county 
seat  from  Keithsburg  to  Aledo,  which  was  decided  by  a  vote  of  the 
people  on  August  3d  of  that  year.  The  result  was  a  majority  in  favor 
of  removal,  of  930  out  of  a  total  vote  of  2,028.  Below  we  give  the 
figures  from  official  returns  : 

Township.                                                                       For  removal.  Against.    Total  vote. 

Nortli  Henderson 89  2o  114 

North  Pope  (now  Rivoli ) 74  1                75 

Eii'hland  Grove 104  . .  104 

Suez 60  18                78 

Greene 62  40  102 

Madura  (now  Preemption) 133  1  134 

Ohio  Grove 121  9  130 

Mercer 231  . .  231 

Perryton 126  3  129 

Abincton 34  67  101 

Millersburg 84  82  166 

D'uican 36  23                59 

Keiflisburg 26  228  254 

Kew  Boston 233  45  278 

li^liza ' 66  7                73 

Totals 1,479  549  2,028 


MERCER   TOWNSHIP.  543 

The  majority  was  of  a  decisive  character  as  an  expression  of  tlie 
will  of  the  people,  and  we  remember  of  a  sort  of  a  jolliiication  in 
Aledo  after  t^e  returns  were  received,  but  we  can  find  no  account  of  it 
in  the  "  Recoi-d  "  of  that  week  ;  whether  the  editor  thought  the  affair 
of  too  small  importance  to  mention,  or  was  too  magnanimous  to  har- 
rass  his  Keithsburg  readers  with  the  account,  we  cannot  now  conjec- 
ture. But  the  citizens  had  a  good  time,  at  any  rate,  and  fired  anvils, 
burned  turpentine  balls,  and  shouted  to  their  hearts'  content. 

Aledo  citizens  had  donated  a  block  of  ground  for  a  court-house,  and 
had  subscribed  between  $6,000  and  $7,000  toward  its  construction. 
A  brick  building  had  been  erected,  suitable  for  use  as  county  offices, 
and  as  soon  as  possible  after  the  decision  the  officers  and  records  were 
brought  to  Aledo.  The  building  now  used  for  a  court-house  was 
erected  for  a  school-house,  but  the  lower  story  was  fitted  up  so  that  it 
could  be  used  for  a  court-room,  and  it  was  in  this  that  the  first  term  of 
court  was  held. 

One  of  tlie  attorneys  at  this  term  was  Charles  M.  Harris  of 
Oquawka,  but  who  has  since  removed  to  Chicago,  and  for  one  term 
represented  that  district  in  congi-ess.  Mr.  Harris  was  a  very  large, 
heavy  man,  and  somewhat  pompous  withal.  Aledo  had  no  sidewalks 
ill  those  days,  and  in  wet  weather  mud  abounded  everywhere.  One 
day  Mr.  Harris,  while  returning  from  the  court-room  to  the  hotel,  got 
stuck  fast  in  the  mud  in  the  middle  of  the  street.  ,  He  wore  very  low 
shoes  or  sli])pers,  and  they  would  pull  off  at  every  effort  he  made  to 
extricate  himself  The  few  who  witnessed  his  efforts  were  much 
amused.  Finally  Mr.  Jacob  Cool  procured  a  team  and  some  assist- 
ance, backed  the  wagon  up  to  Mr.  Harris,  and  by  hard  work  those  in 
the  wagon  pulled  him  out  of  his  shoes  and  drove  him  to  his  hotel, 
where  a  boy  was  found  ready  to  earn  a  dime  by  fisliing  up  and  clean- 
ing the  lost  brogans.  Mr.  Cool  still  lives  in  Aledo,  and  we  who  wit- 
nessed the  fun  often  have  a  laugh  as  we  speak  of  "Charley  Harris 
stuck  in  the  mud." 

The  first  school  taught  in  Aledo  was  the  preparatory  department  of 
the  Mercer  Collegiate  Institute,  by  the  Rev.  AYilliam  Townley,  in  a 
building  erected  in  the  southwest  part  of  the  town,  long  since 
remodeled  and  turned  into  a  residence.  The  Mercer  Collegiate  Insti-  - 
tute  was  designed  to  be  a  college  .of  the  first  class,  under  the  auspices 
of  the  Presbyterian  church.  They  built  a  large  brick  building  on 
what  is  now  known  as  south  addition,  and  started  a  school  therein,  but 
it  was  not  supported  in  a  manner  to  secure  success.  The  idea  of  the 
college  w^as  at  last  abandoned,  and  as  the  building  was  deemed  unsafe, 


544  HISTORY    OF    MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

owing  to  the  use  of  poor  stone  in  its  foundation,  it  was  sold  and  pulled 
down,  the  material  being  disposed  of  at  retail  for  what  it  would  bring. 

The  Methodists  also  proposed  to  found  a  college  l^ere,  and  the 
Rev.  H.  J.  Humphrey  was  sent  here  to  superintend  its  construction. 
Ground  was  secured,  a  most  beautiful  site,  on  the  apex  of  a  mound 
about  half  a  mile  west  of  town,  now  in  the  center  of  the  farm  of  John 
C.  Dool.  Foundations  were  laid  for  a  large  and  expensive  structure,  a 
commodious  residence  built  for  President  Humphrey  (now  owned  by 
I.  N.  Bassett,  Esq.),  and  suddenly  the  enterprise  collapsed,  for  want 
of  funds  to  carry  it  further.  The  Methodist  Episcopal  college  was  a 
failure. 

Later  Mr.  J.  R.  Wylie  established  the  Aledo  academy,  which  is 
still  running,  it  having  received  a  living,  if  not  a  liberal  support. 
The  course  of  study  is  that  usually  taught  in  academies,  and  Mr.  Wylie 
is  a  thorough  and  competent  teacher.  While  the  school  is  not  strictly 
sectarian.  Prof  Wjdie  is  a  strong  United  Presb^-terian,  and  his  school 
is  largely  supported  by  the  membership  of  that  church.  The  academy 
building  is  beautifully  located  on  a  block  in  the  south  part  of  the 
town,  is  not  large,  but  is  well  arranged,  and  sufficient  in  size  to  accom- 
modate more  students  than  have  yet  been  brought  together  within  its 
walls.  It  is  a  good  school  and  worthy  of  support,  but  with  the  present 
advanced  course  of  study  in  our  public  schools  it  can  never  ho})e  for  a 
very  liberal  support,-  the  public  schools  fitting  students  for  admission  to 
our  best  colleges,  or  for  a  place  among  the  ranks  of  teachers,  which  is 
all  that  can  be  ex|3ected  of  an  academy. 

The  history  of  the  Aledo  public  schools  is  of  such  importance  that 
we  will  devote  a  chapter  specially  to  them. 

Aledo  has  been  singularly  fortunate  in  regard  to  fires.  The  iirst  of 
importance  was  the  burning  of  the  residence  and  drug-store  of  Dr.  S. 
Macy  in  October,  lSr)6,  entailing  a  loss  of  about  eSl,000  over  and 
above  insurance.  The  Button  house  was  burned  in  1867,  and  in  June, 
1871,  the  large  livery  barn  of  Smith  &  McBride  was  burned,  the  loss 
being  from  $2,000  to  $3,000.  The  next  lire  occurred  on  July  2,  1876, 
when  the  line  residence  of  Joseph  Harvey  on  Seventh  street  was  totally 
destroyed,  just  as  it  was  completed  and  before  it  was  ready  for  occu- 
^pancy.  The  loss  was  about  $2,000  above  insurance.  The  last  was  the 
burning  of  the  residence  of  Edward  James  in  the  southwest  part  of  the 
town,  his  loss  being  about  $700.  There  have  been  numerous  alarms 
and  frequent  incipient  blazes,  but  fortunately  those  enumerated  are  all 
that  have  caused  much  damage.  The  village  has  a  small  but  efficient 
volunteer  lire  company,  well  equipped  with  one  large  and  a  number  of 
small  chemical  engines,   hose  and  ladder  wagon,  buckets,   etc.,  and 


MERCER   TOWNSHIP.  545 

their  prompt  and  efficient  work  has  more  than  once  saved  vahiable 
property  from  the  flames. 

Two  severe  wind  storms  have  visited  Aledo,  each  doing  considera- 
ble damage.  The  first  was  in  the  early  years  of  its  history,  and  the 
most  serious  damage  was  removing  the  frame  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal chm*ch  (then  in  course  of  erection)  partially  off  of  its  foundation. 
The  second  came  in  June,  1877,  and  unroofed  barns,  leveled  fences 
and  trees,  damaged  a  number  of  buildings,  and  blew  down  the  spire 
and  a  part  of  the  south  end  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church,  which 
had  but  recently  been  built  and  was  yet  partially  unfinished.  The 
congregation  had  it  at  once  rebuilt  and  the  lower  story  fitted  for  occu- 
pancy, and  have  worshiped  in  it  ever  since,  having  only  just  com- 
menced the  work  of  finishing  the  upper  story. 

Aledo  has  seven  churches,  but  as  these  have  been  written  up 
elsewhere  we  will  only  name  them.  They  are  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal, Presbyterian,  United  Presbyterian,  Congregationalist,  Episcopal, 
Swedish  Lutheran,  and  Baptist.  The  pulpits  of  the  Congregationalists 
and  Baj)tists  are  now  vacant,  and  that  of  the  Lutherans  is  occupied  but 
half  the  time. 

The  growth  of  the  village  has  been  at  times  spasmodic ;  at  times 
steady  and  substantial.  It  has  now  passed  the  spasmodic  period  ;  brick 
is  more  and  more  used,  and  some  of  her  business  liouses  would  do 
honor  to  much  larger  places. 

The  first  business  houses  were  opened  south  of  the  railroad,  and  for 
a  number  of  years  that  part  of  town  was  the  business  center ;  but  this 
gradually  worked  northward,  and  at  present  College  avenue,  north  from 
the  railroad,  and  Seventh  street,  east  of  the  avenue,  are  the  main  busi- 
ness localities. 

The  population  of  Aledo  in  1880,  within  the  corporate  limits,'  was 
1,500  ;  but  this  included  none  of  the  additions  to  the  village  outside  the 
corporation  lines.  Counting  these,  the  number  reached  about  2,000, 
which  has  been  since  slightly  increased  ;  2,100  would  be  a  fair  estimate 
at  present. 

The  equalized  -s-aluation  of  property,  as  returned  by  the  assessor  for 
1881,  was  as  follows:  lots,  $160,847;  personal,  $323,365;  railroad, 
$13,527;  total,  $497,739;  say  in  round  numbers,  $500,000.  Taking 
into  account  the  manner  of  assessing,  at  one-half,  one-third,  and  often 
one-fifth  of  the  actual  value  of  property,  and  $2,000,000  is  a  low  figure 
for  the  wealth  here  represented. 

The  town  was  incorporated  in  1863,  under  the  general  laws,  an 
election  being  held  August  15  of  that  year,  resulting  forty -eight  votes 
for  incorporation  and  five  against.     The  first  election  for  trustees  was 


54:6  HISTORY    OF   FIERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

held  September  5,  1853,  at  whicli  the  following  were  chosen:  Simeon 
Macv,  president ;  E.  Gilmore,  George  Turner,  William  McK.  Young, 
and  John  K.  Bassett.  The  latter  served  as  vilhige  clerk,  and  N.  P. 
Brown  was  appointed  treasurer. 

In  September,  1872,  village  organization  was  adopted,  under  the 
provisions  of  the  laws  of  that  year ;  the  election,  November  11,  result- 
ing fortv-four  votes  for,  and  five  against  village  organization. 

In  1879  the  ordinances  of  the  village  were  revised  by  James  M, 
AVilson  and  Charles  F.  Durston,  and  were  published  in  neat  pamphlet 
form. 

The  following  is  a  list  of  officers  from  the  first  incorporation  of  the 
town  to  the  present  date : 

1863-5. — Simeon  Macy,  president;  E.  Gilmore,  George  Turner, 
William  McK.  Young,  trustees ;  John  K.  Bassett,  clerk ;  N.  P.  Brown, 
treasurer. 

1865-6. — Simeon  Macy,  president;  J.  S.  Paxton,  John  K.  Bassett, 
iST.  P.  Brown,  S.  ^Y.  McCoy,  trustees;  S.  C.  Amberson,  clerk; 
James  M.  Wilson,  treasurer. 

1866-7. — Simeon  Macy,  president;  J.  G.  McGuffin,  John  Porter, 
]Sr.  p.  Brown,  William  N.  Graham,  trustees ;  James  M.  Macy,  clerk ; 
James  M.  Wilson,  treasurer. 

1867-8. — M.  L.  Marsh,  president;  John  Porter,  Kobert  Irvin, 
Lewis  L.  Troy,  William  N.  Graham,  trustees ;  James  H.  Connell, 
clerk ;  Lewis  W.  Hause,  treasurer. 

1868-9.— S.  W.  McCoy,  president;  H.  E.  Wright,  Wm.  Robinson, 
T.  H.  Day,  C.  M.  Kay,  trustees ;  C.  J.  Bartleson,  clerk ;  L.  W.  Ilause, 
treasurer. 

1869-70. — C.  S.  Richey,  president;  P.  Roberts,  J.  H.  Snyder, 
Wm.  N.  Graham,  J.  M.  Smith,  trustees ;  John  G.  McGuffin,  treasurer ; 
James  H.  Connell,  clerk. 

1870-71. — R.  Mentzer,  president;  I.  N.  Dunlap,  H.  R.  Morrison, 
J.  S.  Pinkerton,  Robert  Irvin,  trustees;  J.  IL'  Connell,  clerk;  A.  M. 
Byers,  treasurer. 

1871-2. — ]Sr.  Edwards,  president;  R.  Mentzer,  H.  L.  Thomson, 
T.  Maddux,  W.  H.  Holmes,  trustees;  N.  Edwards,  treasurer;  H.  L. 
Thomson,  clerk. 

1872-3.— S.  W.  Galley,  president;  Wm.  N.  Graham,  J.  M. 
Smith,  E.  L.  Wolfe,  S.  C.  Amberson,  trustees;  Wm.  N.  Graham, 
treasurer;  E.  L.  Wolft',  clerk. 

1873—1. — E.  Gilmore,  president;  eloseph  Harvey,  J.  H.  Aber- 
crombie,  John  Geiger,  II.  P.  Graham,  John  McKinney,  Jr.,  trustees  ; 
C.  S.  Ricliey,  treasurer ;  L.  D.  Holmes,  clerk. 


MERCER   TOWNSHIP.  547 

187-J— 5. — E.  Gilmore,  president ;  Geo.  L.  Bitts,  C.  S.  Ridiey,  H. 
S.  Senter,  J.  C.  Thomson,  Geo.  Irwin,  trustees  ;  L.  D.  Holmes,  clerk ; 
PI.  L.  Thomson,  treasurer. 

1875-6. — S.  M.  Evans,  president ;  H.  S.  Dunlap,  J.  M.  Smith, 
Wm.  AVinders,  John  Geiger,  J.  O.  Lundlad,  trustees ;  Joseph  Harvey, 
treasurer;  A.  D.  McCandless,  clerk. 

1876-7. — James  M.  AVilson,  president ;  C.  F.  Durston,  James 
Eakin,  E.  B.  David,  J.  B.  Moore,  W.  C.  Galloway,  trustees ;  J.  F. 
Henderson,  clerk ;  C.  S.  Harvey,  treasurer ;  Wm.  McK.  Young,  police 
magistrate. 

1877-8. — James  M.  Wilson,  president ;  0.  F.  Durston,  E.  B. 
David,  J.  B.  Moore,  James  M.  Smith,  James  Eakin,  trustees  ;  J.  F. 
Henderson,  clerk  ;  AVm.  'N.  Graham,  treasurer. 

1878-9.— E.  B.  David,  president ;  James  M.  Wilson,  C.  F.  Dur- 
ston, J.  B.  Moore,  W.  A.  Lorimer,  A.  H.  Law,  trustees ;  J.  F. 
Henderson,  clerk  ;  Wm.  N.  Graham,  treasurer. 

1879-80.— E.  B.  David,  president;  James  M.  Wilson,  C.  F.  Durs- 
ton, J.  B.  Moore,  W.  A.  Lorimer,  M.  F.  Felix,  trustees ;  J.  F.  Hen- 
derson, clerk ;  Wm.  N.  Graham,  treasurer. 

1880-81.— J.  B.  Moore,  president;  C.  F.  Durston,  M.  F.  Felix, 
W.  A.  Lorimer,  Martin  Boyd,  J.  R.  McCrea,  trustees ;  J.  F.  Hender- 
son, clerk;  W.  N.  Graham,  treasurer;  W.  McK.  Young,  police 
magistrate. 

.Under  the  law  now  in  force  one  half  of  the  above  were  to  hold  two 
years  and  one  half  but  one.  It  was  decided  by  lot,  and  the  three 
trustees  last  mentioned  drew  the  long  term. 

1881-2.— M.  F.  Felix,  jjresident;  W.  A.  Lorimer,  Martin  Boyd, 
J.  R.  McCrea,  H.  Parkman,  L.  D.  Holmes,  trustees ;  J.  W.  Dilley, 
clerk ;  Wm.  IST.  Graliam,  treasurer. 

Present  Officers. — M.  F.  Felix,  president;  H.  Parkman,  L.  D. 
Holmes,  J.  B.  Moore,  Martin  Boyd,  H.  Prentice,  trustees ;  J.  F.  Hen- 
derson, clerk;  Wm.  N.  Graliam,  treasurer ;  AY.  McK.  Young,  police 
magistrate. 

Aledo  has  ever  been  noted  for  the  strong  temperance  views  of  its 
citizens,  and  since  the  spring  of  1876  no  saloon  has  been  allowed 
within  its  limits.  There  is  now  in  force  an  ordinance  which  prohibits 
the  sale  of  spirituous  liquors,  even  by  druggists,  for  any  purpose  what- 
soever, except  under  restrictions  so  severe  that  none  of  the  druggists 
have  asked  for  a  permit.  It  makes  it  a  misdemeanor  for  a  physician  to 
prescribe  liquor  "except  where  good  practice  demands  it,""  but  fails  to 
define  what  ''good  practice"  is.  As  a  consequence,  physicians  prescrip- 
tions must  be  taken  to  other  towns  if  liquor  is  one  of  the  ingredients. 


548  HISTORY   OF   aiEECER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

The  Aledo  cemetery  is  beautifully  located,  adjoining  the  town  on 
the  southeast.  A  part  of  it  was  donated,  and  the  village  has  within 
a  few  years  purchased  a  large  addition.  It  is  kept  in  fair  condition 
and  is  partially  set  to  evergreens.  Some  very  fine  monuments  mark 
the  resting  place  of  departed  friends. 

BUSINESS. 

L.  F.  Jobusch  has  occupied  the  same  stand  in  the  grocery  business 
for  over  twenty  years.  J.  H.  Abercrombie  has  carried  on  the  harness 
business  most  of  the  time  since  the  town  was  started.  II.  K.  Morrison  has 
been  continually  in  the  furniture  trade  for  twenty  years  or  more.  Sam- 
uel Marquis  started  the  livery  business  at  his  present  stand  during  the 
war.  James  Galloway  &  Son,  started  a  grocery  in  1869,  and  are  the 
oldest  iirm  in  that  business  in  town,  in  which  there  has  been  no 
change.  C.  S.  Kichey  and  John  Shafer  have  been  longer  in  the  dry 
goods  trade  than  other  firms  in  town,  but  each  have  belonged  to  two  or 
three  different  firms.  Fred.  Davis  still  occupies  the  blacksmith  shop 
he  built  over  twenty-five  years  ago. 

Tlje  banks,  as  the  moneyed  institutions  of  the  town,  deserve  more 
than  a  passing  notice.  The  first  bank  started  was  by  Bailey  &  Byers, 
in  February,  1879,  in  a  frame  building  that  then  stood  on  Seventh 
street,  opposite  and  west  of  Button  house,  and  was  the  only  one  then 
in  the  county.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  Judge  E.  Gilmore  purchased 
the  interest  of  Bailey,  and  the  firm  was  known  as  A.  M.  Byers  &  Co. 
In  1870,  the  large  brick  building  on  southeast  corner  of  College  avenue 
and  Seventh  street  was  erected,  the  corner  room  being  fitted  for  a  bank, 
and  the  remainder  as  business  rooms.  It  is  now  occupied  by  the 
Aledo  bank  ;  J.  F.  McBride  and  Mrs.  A.  M.  Young  on  first  floor, 
while  the  second  is  used  as  attorneys'  offices  and  masonic  lodge  room. 
In  April,  1874,  A.  M.  Byers  sold  his  interest  to  John  McKinney,  Sr., 
and  agreed  to  do  nothing  in  the  banking  business  for  one  year.  At 
the  end  of  the  year  he  organized  a  joint  stock  company  and  started  a 
bank  known  as  A.  M.  Byers  &  Co.'s  Farmers  Bank,  opening  it  in  the 
brick  building  on  northeast  corner  of  Seventh  street  and  College 
avenue,  which  was  purchased  and  fitted  up  for  that  purpose.  The 
ca])ital  is  over  sixty  thousand  dollars  and  cannot  be  increased  or  dimin- 
ished until  1885.  The  stockholders  are  business  men  of  Aledo  and 
wealthy  farmers  scattered  throughout  the  county,  and  the  business  is 
managed  by  A.  M.  Byers  and  a  finance  committee. 

A.  M.  Byers  was  born  and  brought  up  on  a  farm  near  Ilarrisburg, 
Pennsylvania,  and  commenced  his  business  career  as  clerk  in  a  general 
store.     In  1855,  when  about  twenty  years  of  age,  he  decided  to  attend 


MERCER   TOWNSHIP.  549 

a  commercial  college,  but  finally  changed  his  mind,  and  after  visiting 
Chicago  and  the  west,  he  engaged  in  traveling  for  a  wholesale  grocery 
house  in  Goshen,  Indiana.  The  next  year  he  clerked  for  Col.  John 
Williams,  the  pioneer  merchant  of  Springfield,  Illinois,  and  the  next 
in  a  store  at  Rushville,  Illinois.  For  the  next  few  years  he  made  his 
home  at  Beardstown,  Illinois,  but  spent  much  of  his  time  in  Richard- 
son county,  Nebraska,  where  he  engaged  largely  in  land  speculations, 
and  still  owns  some  2,000  acres  of  land  on  the  Kansas  and  Nebraska 
line,  some  of  it  purchased  in  1858.  During  these  years  he  made  an 
extended  tri})  south,  visiting  all  of  the  southern  States  except  Florida. 

March  13,  1861,  he  was  married  to  Miss  May  F.  Tull,  at  Beards- 
town,  Illinois,  and  after  a  season  of  travel  and  sight-seeing,  they  settled 
in  Adams  county,  Illinois,  where  Mr.  B.  engaged  extensively  in  farm- 
ing and  dealing  in  live  stock,  until  about  the  close  of  the  war,  when,  in 
connection  with  Thomas  Bailey,  of  Camp  Point,  Illinois,  he  engaged  in 
banking  in  that  town,  which  is  situated  on  the  Chicago,  Burlington  and 
Quincy  railroad,  twent}'-five  miles  east  of  Quincy.  This  they  con- 
ducted profitably  until  1869,  when  they  opened  the  Aledo  bank,  but 
soon  dissolved  partnership,  Mr.  Bailey  taking  the  Camp  Point  bank, 
and  Mr.  Byers  remaining  here  and  entering  into  partnership  with  E. 
Gilmore. 

Mr.  Byers  has  been  uniformly  successful  in  his  business  enter- 
prises and  has  found  his  ventures  in  Aledo  highl}'  satisfactory,  so  much 
so  that  when  he  sold  out  his  interest  in  the  Aledo  bank,  he  decided  to 
continue  in  the  business  here,  after  spending  some  months  in  search  of 
a  more  promising  location.  lie  thoroughly  understands  his  business, 
and  has  the  entire  confidence  of  the  business  community  and  of  his 
associate  stockholders  in  the  bank.  He  owns  a  commodious  and  hand- 
some residence,  the  interior  of  which  is  a  model  of  neatness  and  com- 
fort, a  home  in  every  sense  of  the  word. 

His   family   consists   of  himself,    wife,    daughter   Olive    and    son 
Edward.     To  the  daughter  he  has  given  every  educational  advantage,  . 
and  she  is  a  graduate  of  Monticello  seminary.     Her  musical  talent  is 
of  a  superior  order  and  she  ranks  among  the  best  in  Aledo  as  a  pianist 
and  vocalist. 

Upon  the  organization  of  the  Farmers'  Bank,  Capt.  L.  B.  Morey 
was  associated  with  Mr.  Byers  in  its  management  for  the  first  two 
years,  when,  finding  the  business  too  confining,  he  retired.  Capt. 
Morey  was  abnost  raised  in  Mercer  county.  He  served  with  distinction 
during  the  war  as  a  lieutenant  in  company  A,  37th  reg.  111.  A  ol. 
Inf ,  rising  to  the  rank  of  captain.  He  was  for  a  long  time  on  the 
stafi'  of  Gen:   F.   J.   Herron,   during  his  operations  in  Arkansas  and 


550  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   A2fD    HENDERSON    COCXTIES. 

Louisiana.     He  is  still  a  resident  of  Aledo,  and.  in  companv  with 
Maitin  Boyd,  is  engaged  extensively  in  farming  and  stock  raising. 

On  the  retirement  of  Capt.  Morev  from  the  bank,  Mr.  William  X. 
Graham  was  engaged  as  cashier,  a  position  in  which  he  is  now  serving 
his  fifth  year,  during  all  of  which  time  he  has  faithfully  discharged  his 
duties.  Mr.  Graham  came  to  Aledo  over  twenty  years  ago,  engaged 
in  the  plastering  business  for  awhile  with  his  brother  H.  P.,  taught 
school,  clerked  for  Poage  &  Senter  and  Harvey  Senter,  was  in  the  dry 
goods  business  with  his  brother  George  P.  for  awhile,  with  J.  S.  Pax- 
ton  in  the  ffrocerv  business,  and  served  one  term  as  countv  treasurer, 
prior  to  entering  the  bank.  He  has  always  proven  himself  a  good, 
business  man. 

Such  is  a  brief  history  of  the  banking  business  in  Aledo,  so  far  as 
Mr.  Byers  has  been  connected  with  it.  The  Farmers'  Bank  is  on  a 
sound  financial  basis,  has  an  ample  capital,  and  is  backed  by  men  of 
wealth  and  influence.  It  is  an  institution  that  has  added  largely  to  the 
growth  and  prosperity  of  Aledo,  and  deserves  what  it  has  ever  re- 
ceived, the  support  and  patronage  of  the  citizens  of  our  county. 

The  Aledo  Bank  is  also  one  of  the  solid  institutions  of  the  county. 
Mr.  John  McKinney,  Sr. ,  bought  the  interest  of  A.  M.  Byers  in  April 
of  ISTtt,  and  the  firm  name  became  McKinney,  Gilmore  &  Co.,  the 
"Co."  being  L.  C.  Gilmore,  son  of  the  judge.  This  firm  continued 
until  April  of  the  present  year,  when  Mr.  McKinney  purchased  the 
interest  of  the  Gilmores,  and  associated  with  himself  his  son  James, 
under  the  name  of  McKinnev  &  Co.  Mr.  John  E.  Gilmore,  who  was 
for  some  years  in  the  employ  of  the  old  firm,  still  occupies  the  teller's 
desk.  The  bank  has  an  ample  capital  to  meet  all  demands  of  its 
patrons. 

Mr.  John  McKinney,  Sr..  was  one  of  the  early  business  men  of 
Oquawka,  where  he  for  many  years  conducted  a  large  and  eminently 
successful  dry  goods  business.  Tiring  of  this  he  retired,  and  for  a 
number  of  years  did  a  large  business  in  loaning  money  in  that  place 
and  vicinity.  When  he  entered  the  Aledo  Bank  he  purchased  the  fine 
residence  of  Judge  John  S.  Thompson,  and  has  transacted  an  extensive 
business  in  the  way  of  loans,  in  addition  to  the  regular  banking  busi- 
ness, having  much  more  capital  at  his  command  than  could  be  profit- 
ably used  in  the  latter. 

In  18S1  he  erected  a  large  brick  building  adjoining  the  bank  prop- 
erty and  known  as  McKinnev  block.  It  is  one  of  the  best  arrantred 
and  most  commodious  business  blocks  in  town,  and  the  only  one  hav- 
ing a  plate-glass  front.  (Jne  room  is  occupied  by  J.  H.  Pamsey  with 
his  fine  jewelry  stock,  and  O.  A.  TVallen  with  boots  and  shoes.     The 


MERCER   T0WN8HIP.  551 

other  is  used  for  tlie  postoffice,  having  been  built  and  ai-ranged  for 
that  special  purpose.  The  boxes,  general  delivery,  etc.,  are  equal  to 
those  found  in  large  cities,  and  when  fully  completed  the  Aledo  post- 
office  will  be  one  of  the  best  and  most  conveniently  arranged  of  any 
in  Western  Illinois.  John  McKinney,  Jr.,  is  postmaster,  and  John, 
senior,  takes  a  pardonable  pride  in  making  the  room  a  credit  to  the 
owner  and  to  the  village.  The  upper  tioor  of  the  building  is  divided 
into  commodious  aud  well  arranged  office  rooms.  Mr.  McKinney  has 
recently  purchased  the  property  adjoining  the  bank  building  on  the 
south,  and  contemplates  building  a  substantial  brick  building  thereon 
at  an  early  day. 

The  Aledo  Bank  enjoys  the  confidence  and  receives  the  patronage 
of  the  community  at  large,  and  is  known  to  stand  A  1  in  the  large 
commercial  centers.  Its  business  is  large  and  renumerative,  and  it 
reflects  credit  and  adds  dignity  and  standing  to  the  town  whose  name 
it  bears.  James  McKinney,  the  junior  member  of  the  firm,  has  for  a 
number  of  years  assisted  his  father  in  his  loan  and  real  estate  business, 
and  is  well  qualified,  by  education  and  training,  for  the  position  of 
cashier,  which  he  now  fills.  Archie  McKinney,  a  younger  brotlier,  has 
taken  his  place  in  the  loan  department.  The  latter  is  a  young  man  of 
fine  attainments,  having  received  a  thorough  college  training,  and 
graduated  with  honor.  lie  read  law  with  the  firm  of  Pepper  &  Wil- 
son, and  was  last  year  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  has  spent  several 
months  in  Chicago  where  he  expected  to  remain  until  recalled  to  take 
his  present  position.  John  E.  Gilmore  is  a  grandson  of  Judge  E.  Gil- 
more,  and  since  the  death  of  his  father,  some  years  ago,  made  his 
home  with  his  grandparents.  lie  has  received  a  liberal  education, 
and  has  a  thorough  business  training  in  the  bank  in  which  he  is  now 
engaged,  and  his  connection  therewith  cannot  fail  to  prove  advantage- 
ous to  the  business.  The  safe  used  is  one  of  the  best  manufactured ; 
is  made  of  five  plates  of  solid  steel,  with  solid  corners,  built  from  the 
outside  inward,  and  is  fire  as  well  as  burglar  proof.  It  is  provided 
with  the  Yale  time  lock,  and  the  most  approved  combination  locks  on 
inner  and  outer  doors.  It  weighs  three  tons,  and  stands  in  a  fire  proof 
vault  of  rock  and  brick.  With  its  large  capital,  and  such  perfect  vault 
and  safe,  unlimited  security  is  offered  to  depositors.  The  safe  is  as  good 
as  any  in  the  state,  and  its  equal  cannot  perhaps  be  found  outside  of 
Chicago.  L.  C.  Gilmore  is  also  still  connected  with  the  bank.  Few 
towns  in  our  state  can  boast  of  two  such  banks,  and  the  fact  tliat  there 
is  business  enough  for  both  speaks  well  for  the  wealth  and  business 
enterprise  of  Aledo  and  Mercer  county. 

Summing  all  up,  Aledo  well  deserves  the  good  name  it  bears  among 


552  HISTORY    OF   :srERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

all  who  know  of  the  business  enterprise  of  her  citizens.  The  latter  are 
enterprising,  progressive  and  public  spirited  in  an  unusual  degree. 
Her  business  houses  are  mostly  of  brick ;  large  and  well  filled  with 
inviting  and  salable  goods.  She  can  boast  of  more  and  better  side- 
walks than  any  village  of  the  same  size  in  the  state ;  indeed,  some  of 
the  cities  will  not  compare  favorably  with  her  in  this  regard.  Her 
churches  are  numerous,  large  and  well  attended.  Her  public  schools 
are  among  the  best  in  the  state.  Her  streets  are  well  lighted  and  well 
kept.  There  are  an  unusually  large  number  of  fine  residences  and 
comtbrtable  homes.  She  is  surrounded  by  a  wealthy  and  prosperous 
farming  community,  and  lies  in  the  center  of  as  rich  and  productive 
a  section  as  can  anywhere  be  found.  While  her  past  has  been  one  o 
steady  advancement,  her  future  is  promising ;  there  is  scarcely  a  possi- 
bility, and  no  probability  of  a  loss  of  prestige,  or  a  decline  in  wealth, 
prosperity  or  business  enterprise. 

[For  the  compilation  of  the  above  sketch  of  Mercer  township  we 
are  indebted  to  L.  B.  Doughty,  Esq. — Ed.] 

THE    ALEDO    WEEKLY    RECORD. 

Intimately  associated  with  the  history  of  Aledo  is  that  of  the 
"Eecord,"  estabhshed  in  1857,  the  initial  number  appearing  on  July 
14  of  that  year,  by  James  H.  Keed  and  Horace  Bigelow,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Keed  &  Bigelow.  These  gentlemen  had  been  publishing 
the  Oquawka  "■  Plain  Dealer,"  but  had  sold  the  office  in  May,  1857,  to 
Magie  &  Mitchell.  The  material  for  the  "  Record  "  ofiice  was  pur- 
chased in  Chicago,  shipped  to  Rock  Island  by  rail,  and  thence  trans- 
ported to  Aledo  on  wagons. 

Established  during  the  heat  of  the  canvass  for  the  removal  of  the 
county  seat  from  Iveithsburg  to  Aledo,  the  "  Record  "  heartily  espoused 
the  cause  of  its  native  town,  and  though  the  time  was  short,  contrib- 
uted much  toward  insuring  the  success  which  in  August  crowned  the 
efltbrts  of  those  interested  in  the  removal. 

J.  H.  Reed  was  a  man  of  good  education,  a  vigorous  and  aggres- 
sive writer,  quick  and  keen  at  repartee,  and  an  editor  of  rare  ability  ; 
a  good  friend,  but  an  untiring  and  relentless  enemy  in  political  con- 
tests. He  was  a  man  of  fair  business  qualifications,  but  was  not  a 
practical  printer.     He  died  in  Monmouth,  Illinois. 

Horace  Bigelow  served  an  apprenticeship  at  the  printer"'s  trade  in 
the  olfice  of  the  Oquawka  "Spectator,"  under  Col.  J.  B.  Patterson. 
In  March,  1855,  he  purchased  a  one-half  interest  in  the  Oquawka 
"Plain  Dealer,"  of  F.  A.  Dallam,  and  was  probably  at  that  time  the 
youngest  publisher  in  the  state,  being  but  twenty  years  of  age.     Dal- 


MERCER   TOWNSHIP.  553 

lam  subsequently  sold  to  Reed,  and  when  tlie  firm  sold  the  office  Mr. 
B.  spent  some  time  in  the  large  job  printing  establishment  of  S.  P. 
Rounds,  in  Chicago,  increasing  his  knowledge  of  that  branch  of  the 
art.  He  has  tlie  reputation  of  being  a  first-class  business  man,  and 
has  by  honest  industry  and  enei-gy,  and  careful  and  judicious  manage- 
ment, secured  for  himself  and  ffimily  a  good  home  and  a  fair  compe- 
tence, owning  a  fine  farm  of  150  acres  north  of  Aledo,  adjoining  the 
corporation,  upon  which  he  resides  and  which  he  works  to  advantage 
and  profit,  independent  of  his  interest  in  the  "Record  "  office. 

In  June,  1857,  the  material  arrived  and  the  office  was  opened  in  a 
large  double  building  on  College  avenue,  almost  directly  opposite  the 
building  now  occupied.  The  other  half  of  the  buikling  was  occupied 
by  Dr.  S.  Macy,  as  a  dental  room  and  drug-store,  who  afterward  pur- 
chased and  remodeled  the  building  only  to  lose  it  by  fire.  A  much 
better  building  now  stands  on  the  old  site. 

September  1,  1862,  Mr.  Reed  retired  from  the  firm,  Mr.  Bigelow 
purchasing  his  interest.  He  conducted  the  business  alone  for  four 
years,  employing  Mr.  John  Porter  as  both  typo  and  editor.  Septem- 
ber 1,  1866,  Mr.  Porter  purchased  a  one-half  interest,  and  the  firm 
has  since  been  known  as  Porter  &  Bigelow. 

John  Porter,  who  has  been  political  editor  of  the  "Record"  for 
twenty  years,  is  perhaps  one  of  the  best  read  men,  so  far  as  the  political 
history  of  our  nation  is  concerned,  to  be  found  in  western  Illinois.  His 
life  has  been  almost  passed  in  a  printing  office,  he  commencing  to 
learn  the  trade  January  4,  1834,  in  the  office  of  the  Richmond  "Ex- 
aminer," in  Jefferson  county,  Ohio,  and  he  has  stood  at  the  case  during 
all  of  these  forty-eight  years.  He  has  always  been  a  close  student  of 
political  history,  and  possessing  a  memory  which  is  almost  phenome- 
nal, he  can  readily  call  to  mind  men,  measures  and  dates  of  the  long 
ago  which  to  others  are  but  dim  scraps  of  forgotten  history.  A  forci- 
ble writer,  a  wary,  but  not  aggressive  antagonist,  he  seeks  no  quarrel, 
but  when  assailed  he  patiently  awaits  his  opportunity  and  then  deals  a 
strong  and  generally  successful  blow. 

Established  as  a  republican  paper,  when  the  republican  party  was 
in  its  infancy,  the  "Record"  has  remained  ever  loyal  to  the  principles 
of  the  party,  and  has  taken  an  active  part  in  every  campaign,  whether 
national,  state  or  county,  and  its  utterences  have  been  of  no  uncertain 
sound.  It  was  one  of  the  first  newspapers  to  suggest  the  name  of 
Abraham  Lincoln  as  a  candidate  for  the  presidency,  and  one  of  his 
most  earnest  supporters,  not  only  during  the  canvass,  but  throughout 
his  administration,  and  also  for  his  re-election.  During  the  war  it 
was  loyal  to  the  core,  and  its  columns  were  the  popular  medium  of 


554  HISTORY   OF   IVIERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

communication  between  the  Mercer  bo^^s  in  the  army  and  their  friends 
at  home,  it  having  a  correspondent  in  nearly  every  regiment  in  which 
the  connty  was  represented. 

But  while* striking  valiant  blows  for  the  union  and  for  tlie  cause  of 
its  party,  it  has  kept  itself  singularly  clear  of  what  is  termed  "mud 
slinging ;"  the  rule  having  ever  been  to  make  no  charges  against 
opposing  candidates  that  were  not  easily  susceptible  of  proof,  or  at 
least  believed  to  be  so  at  the  time  of  publication. 

Another  rule  of  the  office,  and  one  strictly  adhered  to,  is  that  no 
foreign  advertising  will  be  received  for  less  than  home  patrons  are 
charged  for  same  time  and  space.  Consequently  but  few  "patent 
medicine"  advertisements,  and  others  of  like  nature  have  ever  appeared 
in  its  columns. 

In  1 873,  L.  B.  Doughty  was  employed  in  the  office  as  foreman  and 
job  printer,  but  having  had  considerable  experience  as  a  local  writer, 
he  was  soon  relieved  of  most  of  the  work  in  the  composing  room,  and 
for  the  past  eight  years  has  had  charge  of  the  local  department  of  the 
paper,  which  has  constantly  grown  in  popularity,  and  has  been  one 
cause  of  a  steady  increase  on  the  subscription  list,  which  has  reached 
the  comfortable  figure  of  1,300  weekly,  and  is  still  growing. 

The  job  department  of  the  office  is  deservedly  popular,  and  is  lib- 
erally patronized,  especially  in  the  line  of  commercial  work.  The  cir- 
culation having  grown  beyond  the  capacity  of  the  press  which  has  done 
faithful  duty  for  the  past  twenty-five  years,  a  new  Cottrell  press  has 
recently  been  purchased.  And  now,  after  a  quarter  of  a  century  the 
proprietors  can  boast  that  in  all  that  time  they  have  never  missed  an 
issue,  have  never  used  a  "patent  inside,"  and  have  never  failed  to  ap- 
pear promptly  on  time  on  ])ublication  day,  except  in  a  few  instances 
when  the  paper  was  purposely  held  back  for  important  news. 

As  a  prominent  factor  in  the  growth  of  village  and  county,  as  a 
popular  means  of-  promoting  the  educational  interests,  as  well  as  a  dis- 
seminater  of  reliable  news,  the  "Record"  has  proven  itself  worthy  of 
the  high  esteem  in  which  it  is  held  b}^  those  familiar  with  its  pages  ; 
and  it  has  accomplished  much  for  the  moral  as  well  as  the  temporal 
interests  of  the  county. 

THE    DEMOCRATIC   PRESS    IN    ALEDO. 

Mercer  county  has  been  politically  a  republican  county  ever  since 
the  organization  of  that  party.  Issues  have  occcasionally  been  made 
on  men  or  measures  by  means  of  which  republicans  have  been  de- 
feated, and  democrats  or  other  opponents  have  been  elected  by  the 
peojDle ;  but  these  instances,  however  frequent,  were  still  only  excep- 


/' 


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MERCER   TOWNSHIP.  557 

tional,  and  the  continued  ascendency  of  the  republican  party  has 
been  maintained  and  augmented  greatly  by  the  fact  that  as  soon  as  the 
county  seat  was  settled  at  Aledo,  a  party  organ  was  promptly  pro- 
vided, the  olhcial  patronage  of  the  county  bestowed  on  it,  and  the 
people,  especially  of  the  dominant  party,  slowly  but  surely  educated 
to  contribute  to  the  material  support  of  their  newspaper. 

The  democratic  party,  in  the  minority  numerically  and  without 
men  of  capital,  or  hopes  of  othcial  patronage,  and  destitute  of  am- 
bitious leaders,  made  no  attem])t  to  establish  a  party  organ  for  nearly 
a  dozen  years  after. 

In  the  summer  of  1866,  circumstances  conspired  to  make  the  time 
favorable  for  starting  a  democratic  newspaper  in  Aledo,  something  to 
be  made  a  rallying  center  for  the  democrats  of  the  county  and  those 
displeased  with  the  action  of  the  majority  in  congress  at  that  time. 
President  Lincoln  had  been  assasinated  the  vear  before,  and  vice- 
president  Johnson,  becoming  acting  president,  projected  an  adminis- 
trative policy  to  which  a  majority  of  his  party  in  congress  was  op- 
posed. Hostile  feeling  and  action  arose  between  the  acting  president 
and  the  congress,  and  many  removals  and  appointments  to  office  were 
being  made,  favorable  to  the  policy  of  the  administration  and  gener- 
ally favorable  to  the  democrats.  Appearances  were  that  a  change 
might  be  made  in  the  political  complexion  of  the  whole  country,  and 
that,  with  the  aid  of  what  were  called  the  liberal  republicans,  Mercer 
county  even  might  be  revolutionized.  The  reconstruction  measures 
were  then  being  enacted.  Many  of  the  republicans  thought  these 
measures  too  radical,  if  not  wholly  unauthorized  by  the  organic  law, 
while  the  democrats,  in  addition,  felt  exasperated  at  the  political  dis- 
advantage at  which  the  party  was  placed  by  the  disfranchisement  of  so 
many  southern  states. 

•  One  of  these  disaffected  republicans.  Judge  John  S.  Thompson,  of 
Aledo,  an  able  lawyer  and  shrewd  organizer,  was  put  up  for  congress 
against  the  republican  candidate.  Gen.  Harding.  The  district  was 
then  perhaps  200  miles  long,  extending  from  Port  Byron  to  Keokuk 
along  the  Mississippi  river,  and  Charles  Harris,  of  Oquawka,  a  straight 
democrat,  had  been  able  to  be  elected  to  congress  not  many  years 
prior  to  this  election.  Hope  was  entertained  of  success  under  the 
leadership  of  Judge  Thompson,  and  the  democrats,  in  this  sanguine 
mood  of  mind,  some  time  in  the  month  of  August  had  an  informal 
assembly  of  some  of  its  more  prominent  members  at  the  Barton 
house  in  Aledo,  now  the  Button  house. 

At  this  meeting  it  was  determined  to  raise  funds  and  start  a  demo- 
cratic newspaper.     The  plan  adopted  was  a  stock  company,  bound  by 
32 


558  HISTORY   OF    MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

a  simple  personal  agreement  without  articles  of  incorporation.  The 
shares  were  $10,  and  each  member  of  the  company  was  entitled  to  as 
many  votes  for  officers  as  he  held  shares. 

A  considerrble  amonnt  was  subscribed  at  this  meeting,  and  three 
or  four  papers  were  j)repared  and  put  into  the  hands  of  canvassers,  by 
means  of  which  about  $1,400  was  in  a  short  time  pledged. 

Before  the  Barton  house  meeting  closed  its  sittings  and  put  its 
papers  in  hand,  it  was  necessary  to  name  the  paper.  Several  titles 
were  proposed,  of  more  or  less  partisan  import ;  but  that  fatal  timidity 
and  spirit  of  boundless  concession  that  has  so  long  been  an  element  of 
weakness  in  the  democratic  party,  prevailed  on  this  occasion,  and  the 
proposed  paper  took  the  neutral  meaningless  title  of  "The  Mercer 
County  Press." 

J.  A,  J.  Birdsall,  a  piquant,  versatile  writer,  and  good  collector  of 
local  news,  who  had  had  some  experience  in  publishing  a  democratic 
paper  in  Keith sburg,  was  chosen  as  editor  and  publisher ;  and  with 
$475,  advanced  by  Hon.  T.  B.  Cabeen,  Birdsall  went  to  Chicago  and 
laid  in  a  press  and  materials  for  printing  the  paper,  taking  some  credit ; 
and  some  time  in  the  month  of  September  the  first  number  of  the 
"Press"  was  issued. 

The  pledge  for  the  payment  of  stock  subscriptions  ran  in  this  way: 
"We,  the  undersigned,  agree  to  pay  to  the  publishers  of  'The  Mercer 
County  Press'  the  sums  set  opposite  our  names,  for  the  purpose  of 
publishing  a  democratic  paper  in  the  county  of  Mercer  and  state  of 
Blinois,  whenever  called  for,  or  in  a  reasonable  time." 

The  ' '  Press  "  was  duly  issued.  The  campaign  was  a  spirited  one, 
but  lost  to  the  democracy,  and  their  earnest  colleagues.  After  this 
collapse  the  spirit  and  enthusiasm  of  the  Press  company  were  rapidly 
cooled.  The  fatal  clause  in  the  compact  giving  "a  reasonable"  but 
indefinite  time  for  payment  of  stock  now  began  to  show  its  tur2)itude ; 
not  more  than  two-thirds  of  the  stock  was  ever  collected.  T.  B.  Cabeen 
lost  about  $250  in  money  advanced  to  the  "Press";  and  T.  S.  Robb 
and  I.  C.  Gilmore,  and  other  liberal  men  who  made  advances  from  time 
to  time  to  keep  down  expenses,  had  more  or  less  of  final  loss.  The 
stock  subscribers  were  nearly  all  amply  able  to  pay ;  but  from  some 
defect  in  the  organization  or  energy  in  the  conduct  of  affairs,  no  forci- 
ble means  were  ever  employed  to  make  collections. 

The  subscriptions  to  the  paper  were  taken  up  in  the  same  hasty, 
loose  manner  that  characterized  the  stock  subscriptions.  But  few  were 
pressed  to  pay  on  sight,  and  all  were  freely  trusted ;  besides,  many 
were  scored  down  on  the  list  without  having  been  consulted  or  seen ; 
and  as  a  natural  and  inevitable  result,  the  establishment  was   soon 


arEECER   TOWNSHIP.  559 

carrying  an  immense  delinquent  list,  and  suffering  a  large  accumula- 
tion of  unpaid  bills  for  labor,  materials,  rent,  and  contingent  expenses. 

Added  to  these  untoward  circumstances  was  the  daniaij-inii;  knowl- 
edge  that  the  Johnsonian  policy  was  not  to  succeed.  The  reconstruction 
measures  went  on  without  interruption.  The  acting  president  was 
hemmed  in  on  all  sides  by  what  was  known  as  the  "radicals."  The 
tenure-of-office  act  virtually  took  away  from  him  the  appointing  power 
by  denying  him  the  right  to  make  arbitrary  removals.  When  the 
president's  patronage  was  thus  shorn  otf,  his  influence  and  prestige  fell 
with  it,  and  he  was  shortly  after  put  on  the  defensive  by  articles  of 
impeacliment. 

It  was  only  natural  that  many  of  the  liberals  should  quietly  slide 
back  to  a  more  solid  base ;  and  that  the  democracy,  hopelessly  defeated, 
would  experience  more  or  less  demoralization  in  their  •  ranks.  Mr. 
Birdsali,  finding  the  pecuniary  results  of  his  labors  unsatisfactory,  after 
the  first  year,  gave  way  to  a  young  man  named  Wilson,  of  whom  little 
seems  to  be  known,  and  who  occupied  the  editorial  chair  but  a  short 
time,  and  with  not  very  satisfactory  results.  Some  time  later  in  the 
year  1867  David  R.  Waters,  a  former  citizen  of  Williamsport,  Penn- 
sylvania, but  then  a  resident  of  Aledo,  and  a  law  partner  of  Hon. 
Charles  M.  Harris,  of  Oquawka,  took  the  management  of  the  "Press.'' 
He  was  a  man  of  fine  abilities  in  many  directions.  In  temperament 
he  was  nervous,  and  possibly  a  little  too  sanguine  for  a  safe  business 
man ;  and  a  little  too  Radical  for  the  political  success  of  a  minority 
party.  He  was,  however,  a  fully  reliable  democrat,  an  able  political 
writer  and  speaker,  and  a  faithful  worker  for  the  cause  he  had 
espoused.  His  zeal  for  his  own  cause,  and  his  abhorence  of  the  sup- 
posed errors  of  his  opponents,  seemed  to  lead  him  sometimes  into 
business  and  even  social  discriminations  among  those  he  came  in 
contact  with.  The  business  up  to  about  the  beginning  of  the  year  1868 
had  been  done  in  a  low,  but  roomy  building  that  had  been  occupied 
during  and  before  the  war  by  Mr.  Edwards  as  a  dry  goods  merchant. 
It  stood  north  of  the  Aledo  house  and  on  nearly  the  site  now  occupied 
by  I.  JST.  Edwards'  ice-house ;  it  was  afterward  removed  to  Fifth  street, 
on  the  south  side,  between  Walnut  street  and  College  avenue,  on  the 
second  floor  of  a  frame  building  owned  and  then  occupied  by  A. 
M.  Bj-ers  with  the  first  bank  in  Aledo.  Here  Mr.  Waters  completed 
his  labors  not  long  after  April  1,  1869,  when  it  was  sold  by  the  com- 
pany to  John  Geiger,  of  Aledo,  for  $800 ;  who  immediately  added  to 
the  materials,  which  were  barely  sufiicient  to  issue  the  newspaper,  a 
carefully-selected  little  job  oflice,  at  a  cost  of  about  $500.  This  outlay, 
timely  made,  would  have  avoided  one  great  source  of  financial  weak- 


560  HISTORY   OF   MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

ness  in  the  "Press,"  and  with  all  its  reverses  might  have  kept  it  at 
least  self-sustaining-,  as  its  successors  have  been  ever  since. 

The  new  proprietor,  recognizing  the  fact  that  the  "Press,"  not- 
withstanding its  able  editorial  management,  had  closed  out  a  linancial 
failure,  and  was  virtually  a  pauper,  believed  that  public  conlidence 
could  sooner  be  secured  by  starting  a  new  paper,  with  a  title  more 
expressive  of  its  character  and  objects;  and  with  this  view  he  made  no 
attempt  to  resurrect  the  shattered  fortunes  of  the  "Press,"  but  April 
13,  1869,  issued  the  lirst  number  of  "The  Democratic  Banner."  The 
few  years  that  had  now  passed  since  the  war,  had  begun  to  temper  its 
ascerbities,  and  with  the  better  feelings  and  better  facilities  the  new 
venture  received  a  fair  share  of  remunerative  business.  It  was  con- 
ducted a  while  longer  in  Byer's  building,  and  afterward  a  small  frame 
building  on  College  avenue,  18x36  feet  in  size,  was  purchased  of 
Jacob  Cool,  the  same  that,  with  its  open,  red-trimmed  front,  is  now 
used  for  a  primary  school ;  to  this  place  the  office  was  removed,  where 
it  remained  until  some  time  in  the  autumn  of  1872. 

The  "Banner"  during  this  time  held  the  leading  principles  and 
sentiments  of  the  old  school  democracy ;  and  frequently  found  occasion 
to  dissent  from  the  new  methods  and  policies  propounded  by  platforms 
and  leaders  of  the  times.  The  editor  had,  in  1872,  voted  alone  in 
the  state  convention,  against  a  resolution  favoring  the  nomination  of 
Horace  Greelev.  And  when  afterward  the  nomination  was  made  bv 
the  national  convention,  he  denounced  both  the  nomination  and  the 
nominee,  without  reserve,  as  being  unlit,  whether  viewed  in  the  light 
of  principle  or  of  policy. 

The  nomination  was,  however,  accepted  all  over  the  Union.  Here 
in  Mercer  county,  besides  the  remnant  of  liberal  republicans  that  had 
not  returned  to  their  old  home,  there  was  an  informal,  unorganized, 
intangible,  but  omnipresent  little  party,  then  sometimes  known  as 
grangers.  This  fugitive  gypsy  body,  as  well  as  the  liberals,  were 
enthusiastic  adherents  to  Horace  Greeley.  [Mistake  :  grangers  didn't 
spring  up  till  spring  of  1873. — Rickei-].  And  by  their  ardent  proffers 
of  material,  as  well  as  moral  support,  O.  P.  Arthur  was  induced  to 
make  purchase  of  the  "Banner"  office,  and  he  took  possession  early 
in  July  1872.  He  was  a  young  man  but  lately  from  the  Monmouth 
College,  and  at  this  time  was  a  law  student  in  the  office  of  Bassett  & 
Connell.  He  had  energy  and  learning,  and  a  good  order  of  talent; 
and  withal  could  give  to  the  "  great  commoner  "  a  consciencious  sup- 
port. The  "Banner"  was  still  conducted  as  a  democratic  organ,  and 
supported  democratic  men  and  measures.  The  business  was  for  awhile 
conducted  at  the  little  red  front  building,  but  was  shortly  after  removed 


MERCER    TOWNSHIP.  561 

to  Seventh  street,  and  afterward  to  Ricliey  Brotlier's  old  brick  build- 
ing on  Fifth  street,  east  of  the  Aledo  house. 

Some  time  after  the  defeat  of  Greeley  at  the  approach  of  the  depres- 
sion of  1873,  the  greenback  party  began  to  materialize ;  and  besides 
the  political  gypsies  of  the  country,  many  from  each  of  the  established 
parties,  from  one  cause  and  another,  arising  mostly  out  of  the  pressure 
of  the  times,  gave  adherence  and  active  sup])ort  to  the  new  party.  The 
"Banner"  supported  the  movement  with  such  vigor  that  the  party 
promised  at  one  time  to  become  at  least  second  in  the  county  in  point 
of  numbers.  Arthur  was  a  leader  of  acknowledged  influence.  About 
this  time  he  changed  slightly  the  name  of  the  paper.  Dropping  the 
word  "Democratic,"  the  title  thereafter  was  "The  Aledo  Banner." 
By  trenchant  articles  on  the  financial  abuses  of  both  parties,  b}-  public 
speeches  and  ingenuous  enterprises  for  increasing  his  circulation,  he 
brought  its  reading  patronage  at  one  time  nearly,  if  not  quite,  up  to 
that  of  the  old  established  "Aledo  Record." 

But  reverses  came,  or  i-ather  culminated.  Arthur  was  young  and 
without  experience  or  capital.  His  dash  and  talent  brought  him  admir- 
ers and  even  friends  ;  but  only  feeble  and  dilatory  material  support. 
Had  he  known  the  hollowness  of  proffered  patronage  he  would  never 
have  been  tempted  into  the  uncertain  field  of  party  politics.  He  had 
not  then  read,  with  ])roper  interpretation,  the  history  and  achievements 
of  Col.  Mulberry  Sellers,  or  he  would  not  liaA^e  leaned  on  the  broken 
reeds  that  failed  him  when  the  hour  of  need  came. 

Thenet  earnings  of  the  "Banner  "office  were,  however,  considerable, 
and  from  his  surplus  Arthur  added  largely  to  the  material  of  the  estab- 
lishment. But  in  his  confldence  he  had  married  a  wife  ;  and  among  the 
unseen  calamities  of  all  lives,  it  happened  that  his  young  wife  shortly 
after  took  sick  of  a  lingering  and  incurable  disease.  Personal  distrac- 
tion from  business,  and  large  continued  expenses,  deprived  him  of  the 
means  of  a  thorough  prosecution  of  his  work ;  and  on  his  invitation, 
about  June  1, 1S77,  John  Geiger  was  associated  with  him,  and  as  an  equal 
partner  and  editor-in-chief  changed "  the  paper  once  more  to  a  straight 
democratic  organ.  Arthur's  wife  died  in  the  ensuing  winter;  and 
about  May  1,  1S78,  he  sold  his  remaining  half  of  the  ofhce  to  John 
Geiger,  who  again  became  sole  owner  of  the  paper  he  had  established 
nine  years  before.  Arthur,  after  settling  up  his  accounts  and  arrang- 
ing his  financial  affairs,  went  to  Colorado,  where  he  has  since  held 
several  important  trusts  and  established  himself  in  a  very  respectable 
and  fairly  lucrative  law  practice. 

When  the  "Banner"  returned  to  its  original  owner,  a  commodious 
building  was  purchased  for  it  on  College  avenue,  where  the  paper  was 


562  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

conducted  to  the  end  of  its  checkered  life,  which  the  reader  will  be 
pleased  to  listen  briefly  to. 

During  the  heated  campaign  of  1878  for  some  cause,  never  fully 
declared,  but  generally  understood  here.  Rev.  P.  F.  Warner,  who  had 
formerly  made  some  favorable  acquaintances  here  as  a  preacher  of  the 
Congregational  church,  came  on  several  occasions  and  offered  to  buy 
out  the  "  Banner  "  oflice  and  run  it  as  an  independent  paper.  Geiger 
having  bought  the  office  only  with  a  view  of  closing  up  its  affairs 
honorably,  now  sold  to  Mr.  Warner,  reserving  one  column  for  the  use 
of  the  democratic  campaign  not  yet  closed ;  and  on  September  20,  18T8, 
the  new  proprietor  took  the  chair.  He  was  a  graduate  of  Yale  Col- 
lege. He  had  considerable  literary  ability ;  wrote  fine  essays  on 
theological  and  moral  subjects  for  the  pulpit,  and  wrote  with  some 
force  and  elegance  on  political  topics  so  far  as  he  had  made  acquaint- 
ance with  them.  But  he  was  unacquainted  with  the  details  of  news- 
paper making,  and  was  obliged  to  trust  much  to  employes.  He  was 
a  good  collector  and  financial  manager,  and  while  he  held  the  demo- 
cratic support  turned  over  to  him,  the  business  was  prosperous. 

But  some  time  in  the  next  year,  either  with  a  view  of  supplanting 
the  "  Record  "  office  as  an  organ,  or  from  some  abnormal  working  of  a 
political  conscience,  he  gave  up  the  independent  position,  and  came 
out  a  full  fledged  republican. 

While  this  movement  gave  pleasure  to  some  republicans  that  were 
not  wholly  satisfied  with  the  ' '  Record, "  it  gave  displeasure  to  a  great 
number  of  democratic  supporters,  who  did  not  think  themselves  dealt 
with  in  entirel,y  good  faith.  Slowly  many  of  these  dropped  out,  while 
no  material  strength  was  drawn  from  the  other  political  party. 

After  the  presidential  campaign  of  1880  had  so  far  developed  as  to 
give  the  democrats  hopes  of  carrying  the  national  election,  John  Gei- 
ger was  again  solicited  to  give  the  party  a  campaign  newspaper.  To 
this  he  assented,  but  the  season  was  already  advanced,  arid  the  enter- 
prise would  not  admit  of  delay,  nor  of  an  expensive  outfit.  R.  Russell 
had  a  neat  little  job  office  over  W.  H.  Holmes'  hardware  store  on  the 
avenue.  To  this  was  added  the  old  press  of  the  Woodhull  enterprise, 
and  a  small  collection  of  good  material  bought  of  one  Remington, 
who  had  some  time  before  conducted  a  little  "snide"  paper  in  the 
professed  interest  of  the  local  republicans,  but  really  for  his  bread  ; 
and  a  few  more  were  obtained  from  L.  F.  Jobusch,  Jr.,  who,  then  only 
a  lad,  after  experimenting  a  while  with  a  toy  press,  started  a  sheet 
called  the  "Democratic  Press,""  which,  however,  deserves  only  to  be 
mentioned  as  the  visionary  scheme  of  a  boy,  abandoned  for  want  of 


MERCER   TOWNSHIP.  563 

means  to  sustain,  or  ability  to  conduct  it.  He  has,  however,  since 
occu])ied  an  advantageous  position  of  society  editor  on  Carl  Pretzel's 
paper  in  Chicago.  He  is  a  plausible  and  genial  young  man.  With 
these  fragments  added  to  Russell's  job  materials,  the  paper  was  started 
about  the  second  week  in  July  ;  a  seven-column  folio,  to  run  six 
months,  for  $1  per  copy.  A  circulation  of  about  500  was  gathered 
up,  and  the  enterprise  about  paid  the  expenses,  as  expected.  As  the 
first  of  January  drew  near,  a  strong  wish  from  ditferent  parts  of  the 
county  was  expressed  that  the  paper  now  so  nearly  established  and 
the  party  so  finely  organized  should  not  be  separated  ;  but  that  with 
the  present  basis  we  should  go  on  and  establish  a  permanent  organ 
for  the  party  in  Mercer  county.  Other  new  materials  were  promptly 
purchased,  and  the  paper  which  was  called  "•  The  Aledo  Democrat, " 
was  enlarged  to  an  eight-column,  and  the  first  number  issued  in  Janu- 
ary, at  the  close  of  the  campaign  edition. 

About  or  near  June  1,  1881,  the  proprietor  of  the  "Democrat" 
associated  with  himself  R.  Eussell  and  George  M.  Eames,  two  sober, 
industrious  young  men  of  Aledo,  well  skilled  in  newspaper  and  job 
printing  ;  and  the  new  firm  of  Geiger,  Russell  &  Eames  bought  out 
the  old  "Banner"  materials  from  Mr.  Warner,  and  adding  them  to 
the  other  materials  of  the  "Democrat,"  moved  all  into  the  "Banner" 
building,  and  the  "  Banner"  then  ended  its  singular  career  and  disap- 
peared, Mr.  Warner,  its  last  owner,  making  another  venture  in  Ha- 
vanna,  Illinois. 

Few  newspapers  in  the  world  have  had  so  singlar  a  history  as  the 
' '  Banner. "  It  is  doubtful  whether  ever  before  any  political  paper  has 
gone  the  rounds,  and  alternately  advocated  the  tenets  of  all  parties  and 
factions,  and  repeated  its  original  position,  and  made  the  entire  cycle  in 
twelve  years,  and  yet  received  liberal  support  in  nearly  all  its  tortuous 
course.  It  proves  that  our  people's  minds  are  fiexible  ;  and  further, 
that  a  newspaper  is  valued  more  for  its  news  and  intelligence  and 
advertising  facilities  than  for  its  political  platform. 

In  the  month  of  August,  1881,  Mr.  Russell,  of  the  "Democrat," 
being  offered  an  advantageous  position  at  Kansas  City,  sold  his  inter- 
est to  the  senior  partner ;  and  on  the  first  of  October  so  much  was 
transferred  to  Mr.  Eames  as  to  make  him  an  equal  partner,  and  the 
firm  name  became  Geiger  &  Eames.  The  paper  is  in  a  fairly  prosper- 
ous condition  ;  is  still  democratic,  but,  as  heretofore,  liberal,  and  not 
trammeled  by  platforms  or  the  opinions  of  leaders,  and  generally  finds 
sufiicient  scope  and  liberty  within  the  expansive  and  elastic  folds  of 
its  alma  mater. 


06-i  HISTORY    OF   :SIERCER   A^'D    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

ALEDO  PUBLIC  SCHOOLS. 

The  first  school  taught  in  Aledo  was  by  J.  E.  Harroiin,  but  in  what 
building  we  cannot  learn.  This  was  during  the  winter  of  1856-7.  In 
the  following  winter  Rev.  Bigger  opened  a  school  in  his  residence,  at 
the  then  south  end  of  College  avenue,  and  known  as  the  Dr.  Woods 
house.  It  is  now  the  property  of  E.  L.  Wolff,  and  has  been  thor- 
oughly overhauled  and  refitted,  and  is  occupied  as  a  23arsonage  by  Eev. 
Thomas  Stephenson  of  the  first  Presbyterian  church.  In  the  spring  of 
1857,  the  new  school-building,  now  the  court-house,  was  occupied,  and 
Frank  Herdman  was  employed  in  the  capacity  of  assistant.  Mr.  H. 
had  no  de})artment  under  his  charge,  as  in  the  graded  system  of  the 
present  day,  but  occupied  a  recitation  room,  the  classes  leaving  Mr. 
Bigger's  room  at  stated  hours  for  recitation.  We  remember  Frank  as 
a  fine  elocutionist,  and  that  his  methods  of  teaching  were  then  far  in 
advance  of  the  age.  Mr.  Bigger  was  a  man  of  finished  education,  and 
proved  himself  a  good  and  thorough  teacher. 

During  the  two  following  winters  the  schools  were  taught  by  Mr. 
Baird  and  wife  of  'New  York,  They  were  earnest  Methodists,  and  made 
many  friends  here,  especially  among  the  membership  of  that  church. 
The  next  term  was  taught  by  Mr.  Finkerton,  and  JMisses  Morgan,  Har- 
ris and  Shutledge,  all  of  Pennsylvania.  Joseph  McCoy,  Mrs.  A.  M. 
Young,  and  Miss  Madden,  the  latter  of  Monmouth,  taught  in  the  win- 
ter of  1861-2.     The  two  former  still  reside  in  Aledo. 

During  the  next  year  we  cannot  learn  who  taught  the  school,  except 
that  Mr.  McCoy  was  principal.  About  this  time  a  new  school  build- 
ing was  contracted  for  and  erected ;  the  one  until  then  used  having 
been  refused  by  the  school  board,  from  the  contractors  or  builders,  on 
account  of  some  alleged  fault  in  its  erection.  It  was  taken  by  the  pro- 
prietors of  the  town,  and  by  them  sold  to  the  county  at  a  nominal 
figure,  and  has  ever  since  been  used  as  a  court-house.  School  opened 
in  the  new  building,  in  block  55,  and  a  part  of  the  one  now  used,  in 
the  fall  of  1863,  with  Mr.  McKay  Young,  Wm.  N.  Graham,  and  Miss 
Eva  Marquis  as  teachers.  Mr,  Young  is  the  present  police  magistrate 
of  Aledo,  and  Mr.  Graham  is  cashier  of  the  Farmers'  Bank.  The  fol- 
lowing year  Sennit  Kirk  was  principal  and  Miss  Libbie  Perkins  was 
one  of  his  assistants.  James  McMillen  presided  in  1865-6,  assisted  by 
Mr.  Pardee,  Mrs.  Lizzie  Porter,  wife  of  John  Porter,  of  the  ''Record," 
and  Miss  Nettie  Smith.  The  latter  resigned  during  the  term  and 
Anna  McMillen  filled  the  vacancy.  During  the  latter  year  an  addition 
was  erected  to  the  school-house,  giving  six  large  class  rooms  and  one 
recitation  room.  The  entire  building  is  of  frame,  two  low  stories  in 
height;   arranged  with   some  view  to  convenience   but  no  attention 


:mercer  township.  565 

paid  to  securing  a  proper  ventilation.  In  1S60-T,  Mr.  Pardee  was 
principal,  assisted  by  Mrs.  Porter,  Miss  M.  M.  Burbank,  now  Mrs. 
AVilson,  of  Keene,  New  Hampshire,  and  Miss  Emma  Stevens,  now 
Mrs.  J.  H.  Abercrombie,  ofAledo.  J.  E.  Ilarroun  was  principal  the 
following  year.  Mr.  H.  was  one  of  the  leading  educators  of  our  county, 
and  as  such,  we  give  elsewhere  a  brief  sketch  of  his  life,  so  far  as  it 
pertains  to  this  history.  Mrs.  Mary  Walker,  Mrs.  Porter,  Mrs.  A.  M. 
Young,  Misses  M.  M.  Burbank,  Emma  Stevens,  and  Anna  Maury, 
were  teachers  in  1868-9.  The  latter  is  now  Mrs.  Wm.  Bunting,  of 
David  City,  Nebraska.  In  1869-70,  Sylvanus  B.  Atwater,  now  of 
Greene  township,  presided,  assisted  by  Miss  A.  E.  Frazier,  now  county 
superintendent  of  schools,  Mrs.  Porter,  Mrs.  Young,  Misses  Eva  and 
Jennie  Marquis,  and  Ella  Gailey.  C.  W.  Sherman  was  principal  in 
1870,  1871-2,  two  terms,  assisted  by  Mrs.  Young,  and  Misses  Amanda 
and  Tilla  Frazier,  Miss  Burbank,  and  Miss  Belle  McCoy,  now  Mrs.  W. 
L.  Duncan,  both  terms,  and  Miss  Thornton  the  iirst  term,  or  a  part  of 
it.  Mr.  Sherman  was  at  that  time  a  local  preacher  in  the  Methodist 
church,  but  after  his  work  as  a  teacher  ended  here,  he  entered  the 
itineracy,  but  has  since  severed  his  connection  with  the  church  and  is 
now  a  traveling  evangelist. 

A.  U.  Barler  (now  deceased),  was  principal  for  three  terms,  begin- 
ning in  the  fall  of  1872  and  ending  in  tlie  spring  of  1875.  Assistants 
same  as  the  last  year  except  that  Miss  Barcroft  succeeded  Miss  Bur- 
bank. Second  term  Misses  Mollie  Walker,  Ella  Gailey,  Edith  Pruyn, 
N.  A.  Campbell,  Louisa  Merry  man  and  Mrs.  Comfort  were  employed 
as  assistants.  Mrs.  Comfort  and  Miss  Pruyn  resigned  early  in  the 
term.  Miss  Marie  Hebbard  and  Miss  Olivia  Pattison  being  employed 
to  fill  the  vacancies. 

Alex.  Stephens,  of  Washington,  Iowa,  was  elected  principal  in 
1875,  and  still  holds  that  position.  A  full  account  of  his  school  work 
will  be  found  in  a  brief  sketch  of  his  life,  hereto  appended.  Plis  assist- 
ants the  first  year  were  :  Misses  Ella  Gailey,  N.  A.  Campbell,  Marie 
Hebbard,  Blanche  Rutledge,  Tilla  Frazier  and  Millie  E.  Reed,  latter  of 
Monmouth.  A  new  department  was  added  to  the  school  this  year,  and 
the  school-building  not  being  large  enough,  a  small  building  about  one 
block  distant,  on  the  east  side  of  College  avenue,  was  leased  and  fitted 
up  for  a  school-room.  A  year  or  two  prior  to  this  a  tax  was  author- 
ized, levied  and  collected,  for  the  purpose  of  building  additional  room, 
but  until  1881,  the  citizens  could  never  agree  upon  a  location,  although 
the  question  was  submitted  to  them  nearly  every  year.  The  increase 
of  the  enrollment  from  year  to  year  rendered  more  departments  and 
more  room  necessary,  and  the  upper  floor  of  a  brick  building  south  of 


566  HISTOEY    OF   ilERCER   AISTD    HENDERSON    COTTNTIES. 

the  railroad  was  leased  and  fitted  up  so  that  it  could  be  used,  but  the 
rooms  were  poorly  arranged,  and  were  at  the  best  but  a  poor  excuse 
and  make-shift  for  a  village  whose  gi*eatest  pride  is  in  her  churches  and 
her  public  schools. 

Assistants  for  the  following  years  were : 

18T6-T.— Miss  K  A.  Campbell,  Blanche  Paitledge,  Ella  M. 
Gailey,  Marie  Hebbard,  Emma  Crawford,  Tilla  Frazier,  Camilla 
Reed. 

1877-8. — Same  as  above,  except  that  Misses  M.  J.  Thomas  and 
Lettie  Long  took  the  places  of  Misses  Rutledge  and  Frazier. 

1878-9. — Misses  Campbell,  Rutledge,  Gailey,  Crawford,  Hebbard 
and  Reed,  and  Mrs.  M.  J.  Waterman,  and  Mrs.  T.  H.  Ennis.  The  lat- 
ter only  taught  three  months  and  was  succeeded  by  Miss  N.  A. 
Wilson^ 

1879-80. — Misses  Campbell,  Gailey,  Hebbard,  Cora  D.  Harvey, 
Zerie  Miller,  May  I.  Allen,  Mrs.  Waternuin,  and  Mrs.  M.  J.  Taylor. 

1880-81.— Mr.  K.  M.  Whitham,  Misses  Campbell,  Rutledge,  Mil- 
ler, Frazier,  Allen,  Mrs.  A.*  M.  Hall,  Mrs.  Waterman. 

At  the  term  of  1880-81,  K.  M.  Whitham  was  employed  as  teacher 
of  the  grammar  department,  a  position  he  has  since  well  filled,  and 
which  he  will  doubtless  fill  during  the  next  term.  He  is  a  young  man 
of  more  than  average  ability,  and  should  he  devote  his  life  to  the  pro- 
fession, would  make  a  place  for  himself  among  the  best  educators  of 
the  land.  He  is  utilizing  his  vacations  by  reading  law  in  the  office  of 
L.  D.  Holmes,  and  this  profession  may  prove  more  attractive  than  that 
of  teaching. 

In  the  fall  of  1881  the  course  of  study  was  advanced  to  include 
Latin,  German,  geometry,  trigonometry  and  book-keeping,  and  Miss 
Mary  E.  Turnbull,  of  Monmouth,  was  employed  as  teacher  of  these 
branches  and  assistant  principal,  a  position  which  she  was  well  quali- 
fied to  fill  and  the  duties  of  which  she  discharged  in  an  eminently  sat- 
isfactory manner. 

The  teachers  for  the  past  term  were  :  Alex.  Stephens,  principal ; 
Miss  Mary  E.  Turnbull,  assistant ;  K.  M.  Whitham,  grammar  depart- 
ment ;  Miss  Campbell,  fourth  intermediate ;  Miss  Rutledge,  third 
intermediate  ;  Miss  Zerie  Miller,  second  intermediate ;  Mrs.  A.  M.  Hall, 
first  intermediate  ;  and  the  Misses  Mary  I.  Allen  and  Tillie  Matthews, 
primary  departments. 

Enrollment  for  school  year  1881-2,  -160.  The  school  is  fitted  up 
with  mai)S,  globes  and  other  apjjaratus  ;  a  human  skeleton  and  ana- 
tomical charts  have  been  added  recently,  and  also  a  collection  of 
insects  and  other  zoological  specimens. 


MERCER   TOWNSHIP.  567 

Tlie  first  students  graduated  were  in  the  class  of  1878,  and  were 
the  following  :  Sadie  Eames,  Clarence  Fargo,  Una  Evans,  Hilma 
Lundblad,  Leota  Hause,  Norma  Pepper,  Mamie  Cunningham. 

1879  :  Zerie  Miller,  Emma  Ives,  O.  T.  Moore,  Lizzie  Hause, 
Retta  Galloway,  Fred.  Hollenback,  L.  W.  Thompson,  Harvey  S. 
Pyles,  Will.  H.  Morrison,  Cassie  Thompson,  Kittle  Lynch. 

1880  :  Mattie  Evans,  Fannie  Porter,  Grace  Pitts,  Mable  Pepper, 
Kosa  Wolff,  Hulda  Lundblad,  Will  McKenney,  Lou.  L.  Walker, 
Horace  Edwards. 

1881  :  Louie  Wright,  Georgia  Cole,  Flora  Harvey,  Eda  Hudson, 
Minnie  Leet,  Lizzie  Porter,  Alma  Bickett,  Zoe  McCoy,  Logan  Steph- 
ens, Eobert  McKinney,  John  McKinney,  Frank  Edwards,  Fred  Strong, 
Amos  Cole,  George  Strong,  Frank  Evans. 

Miss  Zerie  Miller,  one  of  the  teacliers  above  mentioned,  is  worthy 
of  special  mention,  as  she  is  a  graduate  of  the  school  in  which  she  has 
so  long  held  her  present  position.  The  circumstances  of  her  widowed 
mother  were  such  that  an  academic  or  collegiate  course  was  entirely 
out  of  the  question,  but  she  early  set  to  work  to  fit  herself  for  teach- 
ing, and  by  untiring  labor  and  a  happy  tact  in  making  the  most  of  the 
advantages  within  her  reach,  she  has  attained  a  success  beyond  her 
briglitest  antici])ati()ns. 

Miss  May  I.  Allen,  who  has  taught  one  of  the  primary  depart- 
ments for  the  past  three  years,  resides  in  Warren  county,  adjoining  the 
Mercer  line.  Her  education  has  been  liberal,  and  she  is  peculiarly 
fitted  in  nature  and  disposition  for  the  position.  She  is  the  friend, 
playmate  and  companion  of  the  little  ones  under  her  charge,  and  has 
not  only  won  their  hearts,  but  the  esteem  of  their  parents,  and  her 
pupils  have  ever  shown  a  marked  and  rapid  degree  of  advancement. 

Misses  Putledge  and  Campbell  have  long  held  positions  and  have 
proven  excellent  teachers.  Mrs.  Hall  has  just  closed  her  second  term 
in  a  most  satisfactory  manner,  while  Miss  Matthews,  in  her  single  term, 
has  well  earned  the  esteem  of  the  school  patrons. 

In  1881,  by  vote  of  the  people,  the  directors  were  authorized  to 
bojrow  money  to  build  additional  school-buildings,  to  levy  a  tax  to  re- 
pay the  same,  and  block  101,  south  of  the  railroad,  was  selected  and 
purchased  for  a  school  site.  Dissatisfied  parties  procured  an  injunction 
against  building  there,  which,  though  not  sustained  in  the  courts,  de- 
layed the  work  until  too  late  to  build  last  year.  In  the  spring  of  this 
year  (1882),  a  petition  signed  by  over  200  of  the  voters  of  the  district, 
was  presented  to  the  directors  asking  them  to  call  an  election  to  vote 
u})on  the  question  of  rescinding  the  vote  selecting  block  101  as  a 
school  site,  and  authorizing  the  erection  of  a  building  large  enough  to 


568  HISTORY    OF   MERCER    AJS^D    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

accommodate  the  entire  district,  upon  block  55,  the  present  school 
site.  The  election  was  held,  and  both  propositions  carried  by  decisive 
majorities.  Another  election  was  held  upon  the  question  of  purchas- 
inii  the  east  half  of  the  block,  but  this  was  defeated.  The  directors 
are  now  receiving  bids  for  the  erection  of  a  building  of  which  the 
following,  compiled  from  the  plans  and  specitications,  is  a  description, 
and  is  an  extract  from  an  article  jjrepared  by  the  writer  and  published 
in  the  Aledo  ''Eecord"  of  July  5,  1882:  The  building  is  to  be  of 
brick,  with  stone  foundation,  73  feet  10  inches  by  65  feet  6  inches  on 
the  ground,  with  vestibule  on  east  and  west  sides  each  38  feet  by  10 
feet  5  inches,  and  on  the  south  19  feet  by  5  feet  9  inches,  the  two 
formei-  running  to  top  of  building,  the  latter  only  to  top  of  basement. 
In  the  basement  will  be  two  class-rooms,  each  31x23  feet,  with  ceiling 
10  feet  2  inches  high  ;  two  fuel  and  storage  rooms,  two  large  furnaces 
for  heating,  closets,  halls,  stairways,  etc.  The  first  and  second  floors 
will  each  contain  four  class-rooms,  two  32  X  23  feet  each  and  two  31  X  23 
feet  each.  The  second  floor  will  contain  in  addition  a  recitation  room 
over  north  hall  15x17  feet,  and  principal's  reception  room  and  appa- 
ratus room  over  east  hall.  The  ceilings  on  both  floors  will  be  13  feet 
high.  Separate  doors,  halls,  stairways  and  closets  are  provided  for 
boys  and  girls,  two  closets  for  the  pupils  and  one  for  the  teacher  con- 
nected with  each  room.  Ample  ventilation  of  the  most  approved  kind 
is  provided  for,  in  the  shape  of  cold  and  foul  air  ducts.  Doors  and 
■windows  are  to  be  stone  capped.  The  halls  are  provided  with  huge 
folding  or  double  doors,  opening  either  out  or  in.  A  large  belfry  and 
cupola,  with  iron  coping  on  the  roof,  completes  the  description.  The 
specifications  require  the  best  of  work  aiul  tlie  use  of  the  very  best 
material.  The  floors  are  to  be  of  southern  yellow  pine,  of  boards  not 
more  than  4  inches  in  width.  Those  of  the  two  upper  floors  are  to  be 
made  double,  the  inner  one  being  covered  with  1|-  inches  of  mortar, 
for  the  purpose  of  deadening  the  sound.  The  floors  do  not  lie  directly 
upon  the  joists,  as  in  ordinary  buildings ;  the  latter  are  crossed  with 
furring  two  inches  square,  and  the  floors  laid  on  these,  lengthwise  with 
the  joists.  The  furnace  rooms  are  to  be  floored  and  covered  with 
brick.  All  rooms  are  to  be  provided  with  blackboards  on  two  walls, 
to  be  made  of  slate  from  a  Pennsylvania  quarry,  to  be  in  slabs  7xi 
feet  in  size  and  J  inch  in  thickness,  to  be  bedded  in  flush  with  plaster- 
ing and  just  above  the  wainscoting.  The  specifications  certainly  call 
for  one  of  the  best  arranged  school-buildings  in  western  Illinois,  one 
of  which  any  community  may  well  feel  proud;  just  what  the  schools  of 
Aledo  deserve  and  what  the  district  needs. 


MERCER   TOWNSHIP.  569 

I'ROF.    ALEX.    STEPHENS. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  December  16,  1840,  in  Perry 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  the  second  child  of  William  L.  and 
Margaret  (Elliott)  Stephens,  and  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  until 
the  age  of  fifteen  years,  when  he  commenced  a  course  at  the  Market- 
ville  academy  in  the  summers  and  teaching  during  the  winters.  He 
graduated  in  1856,  and  for  the  next  two  years  had  charge  of  the  math- 
ematical department  of  that  institution. 

In  1859  he  entered  Bloomlield  college,  in  the  same  county,  and 
completed  the  classical  course  in  1862.  He  then  commenced  the  study 
of  medicine,  but,  for  what  he  deemed  good  reasons,  abandoned  it  at 
the  end  of  six  months,  and  in  the  fall  of  1863  entered  the  State  Normal 
school,  where  he  spent  a  year  in  special  training  for  a  teacher.  He 
taught  at  various  points  in  his  native  state  until  1872,  when  he  emi- 
grated to  Washington,  Iowa,  and  accepted  the  principalship  of  the 
South  Ward  school,  which  he  held  until  1875,  assisting  also  in  the 
conduct  of  the  county  Normal  school.  In  the  latter  year  he  moved  to 
Aledo  and  took  charge  of  the  public  schools  as  principal,  a  position  he 
has  held  until  the  present  time,  and  which  he  has  been  offered  for  the 
coming  term.  During  his  administration  the  standard  improvement 
in  the  school  has  been  greatly  advanced,  and  it  now  ranks  among  the 
best  in  the  state ;  has  risen  high  in  the  favor  of  the  people,  and  of  his 
colaborers  in  the  profession,  and  has  secured  a  substantial  and  endur- 
ing reputation  as  an  educator.  He  is  of  a  genial,  kindly  disposition, 
earnest  and  thorough  in  any  work  he  undertakes,  and  a  man  calculated 
not  only  to  make  friends,  but  also  to  keep  them. 

In  1865  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  Leonard.  They 
have  but  one  child,  Lygan,  now  in  his  sixteenth  year.  They  have  here 
a  commodious  and  well  furnished  residence  where  they  are  ever  pleased 
to  meet  any  and  all  of  tlieir  hosts  of  friends,  and  are  never  happier  than 
in  dispensing  tlieir  hospitality. 

The  graduates  of  the  school  give  to  Prof.  Stephens  the  utmost  credit 
and  veneration  for  his  kindly  direction  and  assistance  during  their 
school  days,  and  are  ever  warm  in  their  expressions  of  gratitude  and 
appreciation. 

The  work  accomplished  by  him  in  and  for  the  Aledo  public  schools 
is  outlined  in  the  following  extract  from  a  report  of  the  last  commence- 
ment by  the  writer  of  this  sketch,  and  published  in  the  Aledo  "Eecord" 
of  May  24,  1882.  It  speaks  for  itself:  "For  the  school  year  of  1875 
and  1876  the  enrollment  was  360 ;  last  year  it  was  470.  During  the 
first  there  were  5,679  days  of  absence,  last  year  but  1,832;  cases  of 
tardiness  first  year  1,708,  last  year  only  45;  neither  absent  or  tardy 


570  HISTORY    or   MERCER   AIs^D    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

first  year  12,  last  year  123 ;  over  forty  per  cent  failed  to  pass  for  ad- 
vancement the  first  year,  less  than  twenty  pev  cent  failed  last  year ;  per 
cent  of  punctuality  first  year  eighty,  last  year  ninety-nine  and  ninety-nine 
one-hundredths.  We  do  not  believe  that  there  is  another  school  in  the 
state  that  can  show  such  a  record  as  this  last  item.  And  punctuality 
means  nine  o'clock  in  the  morning  and  one  o'clock  in  the  afternoon, 
not  one  or  two  minutes  after  these  hours.  There  have  now  been  fifty- 
two  certificates  of  graduation  issued  within  the  past  five  years.  Of 
those  holding  them  sixteen  are  now  or  have  been  teaching,  and  six 
hold  first  grade  certificates  from  the  county  superintendent.  The  certi- 
ficates are  for  the  scientific  course,  which  includes  orthography,  read- 
ing, penmanship,  arithmetic,  English  grammar,  geography.  United 
States  history,  zoology,  botany,  natural  philosophy,  algebra,  composi- 
tion, civil  government,  and  word  analysis.  We  have  good  reasons  to 
be  proud  of  our  schools,  proud  of  our  principal,  proud  of  his  assistants, 
and  proud  of  the  graduates.  We  believe  that  the  Aledo  public  schools 
equal,  if  they  do  not  surpass  any  in  the  state." 

J.    E.    HARROUN. 

Prominent  among  the  educators  of  Mercer  county  was  J.  E.  Har- 
roun,  and  he  merits  a  place  in  our  history. 

Joseph  Elliott  Harroun  was  born  in  Crawford  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania. He  removed  when  a  young  man  to  Galesburg,  Illinois,  and 
entered  Lombard  University,  from  whence  he  came  to  Mercer  county, 
in  1853,  teaching  school  at  the  Pryne  school-house,  two  miles  east  of 
New  Boston,  the  winter  of  that  year.  In  March,  1855,  he  married  Miss 
Margaret  A.,  daughter  of  William  Willits,  of  New  Boston  township, 
and  removed  to  Wapello,  Iowa,  where  he  edited  the  "Wapello  Intel- 
ligencer," for  some  months.  In  the  spring  of  1856  he  came  back  to 
Mercer  county,  locating  in  Aledo,  wliere  he  erected  the  first  building,  in 
which  he  opened  and  kept  the  first  boarding-house.  He  was  the  first 
postmaster  of  Aledo,  and  it  is  said  that  he  carried  the  mail  around  in  his 
hat.  He  taught  the  first  school  in  tlie  village,  in  the  winter  of  that 
year,  and  held  for  some  years  the  ofiice  of  town  clerk.  In  1858  he 
was  elected  county  superintendent  of  schools,  and  proved  one  of  the 
best  and  most  efficient  officers  that  have  ever  filled  that  position. 
During  his  term  of  two  years  he  visited  every  school  district  in  the 
county,  ninety  in  all,  giving  all  the  schools  a  personal  supervision  ; 
helping  and  advising  the  teachers  ;  making  a  suggestion  here  and 
there,  but  always  in  a  kindly  spirit,  and  with  no  air  of  dictation.  He 
was  the  warm  friend  and  supporter  of  the  earnest  teacher,  but  had 
little  patience  with  those  who  taught  merely  to  "fill  in  the  time."     He 


MEECER   TOWNSHIP.  571 

also  held  institutes  and  gave  lectures,  and  was  prominently  connected 
with  the  county  normals  and  institutes.  He  introduced  the  first 
orrery  and  telurian  ever  in  the  county,  and  carried  theni  with  him  in 
his  school  visits,  explaining  their  workings  to  each  school.  He  spoke 
in  an  easy,  happy  manner,  that  won  and  held  the  attenticni  of  pupils. 
His  methods  and  ideas  were  all  new,  and  by  some  deemed  peculiar ; 
but  if  so,  it  was  only  that  they  were  in  advance  of  the  times,  as  they 
have  since  been  adopted  and  made  an  integral  part  of  our  school 
system  as  relates  to  methods  of  teaching.  He  was  one  of  the  first 
teachers  in  the  county  to  attempt  to  impart  instruction  orally,  and 
insisted  that  his  pupils  should  study  the  meaning  of  their  lesson, 
rather  than  the  words. 

His  term  of  service  as  superintendent  was  of  great  benefit  to  the 
schools  of  the  county,  and  he  is  entitled  to  all  the  more  credit  for  his 
labors  when  we  remember  that  at  that  time  there  was  no  salary  to  the 
office. 

In  1858  Mr.  Harroun  removed  to  a  new  farm  he  was  opening 
three  and  one-half  miles  southeast  of  Aledo,  where  he  resided  until 
about  two  years  ago.  During  that  time  he  taught  school  a  part  of  the 
time,  at  Gingle's  corners,  Perryton  township  ;  Freer's  school-house, 
and  in  his  home  district,  Mercer  townsliip  ;  and  at  Sanbeam  ;  in  all, 
nine  terms.     In  1876  he  taught  in  ISTew  Boston. 

While  farming  he  paid  considerable  attention  to  the  improvement 
of  stock,  making  short-horn  cattle  a  specialty,  and  his  herd  was  fre- 
quently exhibited  at  our  county  fairs,  where  it  always  attracted  atten- 
tion. He  was  for  years  prominently  connected  with  tlie  agricul- 
tural boai'd,  serving  as  vice-president  and  secretary'  for  six  years.  He 
took  an  active  part  in  the  removal  of  the  fairs  from  Millersburg  to 
Aledo,  and  in  purchasing  and  fitting  up  the  new  grounds. 

In  1880  he  received  the  appointment  of  clerk  of  the  district  court 
of  Cassia  county,  Idaho  Territory,  and  selling  his  farm  he  removed  to 
Albion,  in  that  country,  where  he  still  resides.  He  is  now  probate 
judge  and  deputy  clerk  of  the  district  court  of  that  county. 

He  was  a  member  of  the  102d  111.  Vol.  Inf ,  in  the  late  war,  enlist- 
ing as  a  private  but  soon  rising  to  the  rank  of  orderly  sergeant,  and 
being  commissioned  lieutenant  of  his  company  prior  to  the  close  of 
his  term  of  service.  He  participated  in  the  marches,  engagements, 
and  manifold  trials  incident  to  army  life  in  connection  with  his 
regiment. 

He  is  the  father  of  six  children,  viz.  :  Adella  T.,  born  Febraary 
12,  1856  ;  married  February  22,  1876,  to  Sanford  M.  Huston  ;  now 
resides  at  Geneva,  Nebraska.     Dora  C,  born  July  30,  1858  ;  married 


572  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND   HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

March  10,  1880,  to  Go  vert  H.  Stephens,  of  Simbeam,  Mercer  county, 
where  they  still  reside.  Lulu  M.,  born  June  6,  1861  ;  died  July  14, 
1878,  in  Aledo.  William  Corwin,  born  May  21,  1866 ;  resides  with 
his  parents  at  Albion.  Ada,  born  October  12,  1868  ;  died  December 
22,  1868.  Jessie  A.,  born  October  31,  1870  ;  resides  with  her  parents. 
Mr.  Harroun  and  his  family  have  many  "warm  friends  yet  in 
this  county.  Mrs.  H.  was  raised  here,  and  they  still  feel  a  deep 
interest  in  all  pertaining  to  their  old  home,  and  we  doubt  not  will  be 
arn.ong  the  most  eager  readers  of  this  history. 

THE  SEAT  OF  JUSTICE. 

By  the  act  of  the  legislature,  of  January  31,  1835,  creating  the 
county  of  Mercer,  New  Boston  was  designated  as  the  ''temporary 
county  seat";  and  in  1837  an  act  was  passed  appointing  William 
McMurtry,  of  Knox  county;  Thomas  Spragins,  of  Jo  Daviess;  and 
John  S.  Stephenson,  of  Ogle,  commissioners  to  select  a  permanent  loca- 
tion. They  selected  Millersburg  as  the  site,  making  their  report  Sep- 
tember 15,  1837,  which  was  signed  by  the  last  two  named.  John  and 
Sarah  Miller  donated  the  amount  of  land  required  by  the  act,  making 
their  deed  therefor  December  18,  1837. 

This  decision  was  not  satisfactory  to  the  citizens  of  the  west  side  of 
the  county,  and  in  1839  they  secured  an  act  authorizing  an  election  in 
April  of  that  year,  to  vote  for  or  against  removing  the  county  seat  to 
New  Boston,  which,  however,  resulted  in  favor  of  retaining  the  "seat" 
at  Millersburg. 

Here  a  two-story  frame  court-house  was  built,  and  a  stone  jail ;  but 
the  latter  was  of  little  use  in  holding  such  prisoners  as  desired  to  gain 
their  freedom,  for  they  could,  and  frequently  did,  dig  out  the  soft  mor- 
tar and  remove  stones  enough  to  gain  a  safe  and  easy  egress.  We 
remember  when  a  boy  of  being  shown  a  hole  in  the  gable  of  the  build- 
ing through  which  a  prisoner  had  recently  made  escape  from  ' '  durance 
vile."  To  render  the  building  more  secure  the  county  commissioners 
had  it  lined  throughout  with  three-inch  oak  plank,  held  in  place  by 
three-cornered  studs  in  the  angles,  these  being  driven  full  of  nails  to 
prevent  their  being  cut  into. 

Agitation  was  still  kept  up,  and  another  board  of  commissioners 
was  secured,  who  again  decided  in  favor  of  Millersburg.  In  1847, 
however,  another  election  was  held,  and  resulted  in  396  votes  for 
Iveithsburg,  340  for  New  Boston,  and  210  for  Millersburg,  Keithsburg 
carrying  oif  the  prize.  Land  was  again  donated,  a  substantial  brick 
court-house  erected,  and  the  county  archives  removed  to  the  new  loca- 
tion.    After  the  removal  of  the  county  seat  from  Millersburg,   the 


MEKCER   TOWNSHIP.  575 

court-house,  jail,  ])ub]ic  square,  and  considerable  adjoining  land  was 
purchased  bj  Mr.  II.  W.  Thornton,  who  still  resides  on  the  outskirts 
of  the  village,  and  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  a  portion  of  this 
history.  The  jail  was  torn  down  and  the  material  put  to  other  uses. 
The  court-house  was  i-emoved  to  a  lot  near  the  then  center  of  the 
village,  and  has  for  many  years  been  used  as  a  wagonmaker's  shop. 

Keithsburg  wore  the  laurels  for  nearly  teti  years,  wlien  another 
election  was  held,  August  3,  1857,  and  by  a  vote  of  1,479  to  519  the 
people  decided  to  remove  the  county  seat  to  Aledo,  which  was  situated 
almost  in  the  center  of  the  rapidly  growing  county.  Land  and  money 
were  donated,  a  building  was  ready  for  the  reception  of  the  officers 
and  the  records,  and  the  work  of  removal  was  quickly  accomplished. 

For  some  time  court  was  held  in  a  building  erected  for  a  school- 
house,  but  being  unfit  for  that  purpose,  was  sold  to  the  county  for 
a  nominal  sum  for  a  court-house,  and  is  still  so  used.  It  is  not  well 
adapted  to  the  purpose,  being  illy-ventilated,  and  positively  unhealthy, 
and  the  feeling  is  growing  in  the  county  that  a  new  building  is  a  neces- 
sity, and  it  will  doubtless  be  erected  at  no  distant  day  upon  the  block 
donated  for  that  purpose.  A  commodious  and  substantial  jail  was 
erected  in  1869,  and  a  fire-proof  building  for  the  county  offices  in  1873. 
The  latter,  while  perhaps  a  safe  place  to  keep  the  records,  is  a  very 
uncomfortable  place  to  work  in,  either  winter  or  summer,  owing  to 
poor  ventilation.  It  stands  upon  Court-House  square,  and  the  jail  is 
in  the  block  immediately  west  of  it. 

The  old  court-house  at  Keithsburg  has  become  the  property  of  the 
town,  and  is  known  as  the  Opera-house,  it  being  fitted  up  with  stage 
and  scenery. 

CHURCHES. 

Preshytej'ian  Church. — The  first  organization  of  this  church  was 
effected  November  10,  1856,  in  a  school-house  west  of  Aledo,  which 
was  at  that  time  known  as  "  the  mile  school-house." 

The  ministers  who  presided  over  and  perfected  the  organization 
were  Rev.  Wm.  Townley  and  Rev.  John  H.  Nevius. 

The  officers  who  were  then  elected  were  :  elders,  Messrs.  "Wm.  W, 
McCandless  and  Edgar  Allen  ;  deacon,  Mr.  Yanbuskirk  ;  trustees, 
Messrs.  Simon  Macy,  John  McKee,  and  John  S.  Thompson. 

This  congregation  for  some  time  after  its  organization,  worshiped  in 
the  same  old  school-house,  and  after  leaving  it,  occupied  a  room  in  Dr. 
Macy's  drug  store  building,  which  was  used  for  a  private  school,  and 
which  stood  upon  the  lot  now  occupied  by  the  residence  of  Mrs.  Jane 
Strother.  Some  time  about  the  year  1857,  they  worshiped  in  another 
33 


576  HISTORY   OF   IVIERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

scliool-room,  where  Dr.  Town  ley  taught  a  select  or  private  school. 
The  same  house  is  now  occupied  as  a  dwelling  by  F.  A.  Hollenbeck,  in 
the  west  part  of  Aledo.  Services  were  held  in  the  above  room  until 
1865,  when  the  congregation  fitted  up  the  chapel  room  of  a  col- 
lege that  was  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery,  and  which  was 
situated  in  the  south  part  of  the  town.  This  room  was  occupied 
by  them  as  a  place  of  worship  until  1871,  from  which  time,  until 
the  building  they  now  occupy  was  finished,  they  worshiped  in  the 
house  of  the  Methodist  bretlu*en.  The  first  pastor  of  the  church 
was  Rev.  Samuel  Linn,  who  continued  in  charge  until  the  spring  of 
1861,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  W.  W.  Williams,  for- 
merly of  Ohio.  It  was  during  the  pastorate  of  Mr.  Williams  the 
chapel  room  spoken  of  before  was  fitted  up  for  worship,  and  the  pros- 
perity of  the  congregation  at  that  time,  and  the  means  of  advancement 
and  growth,  were  largely  due  to  the  energy  of  Thos.  Candor,  familiarly 
known  as  "Father  Candor,"  a  man  of  untiring  zeal  and  christian 
devotion  ;  he  died  in  1871.  Mr.  Williams  remained  in  charge  of  the 
congregation  till  the  fall  of  1866,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  John 
S.  Loots,  who  remained  nearly  three  years,  when  he  resigned,  was 
released  by  the  Presbytery,  and  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  F.  A.  Shearer 
in  the  winter  of  1868  and  1869.  Dr.  Shearer  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
Samuel  T.  Davis,  in  1875,  who  remained  about  two  years  and  was  suc- 
ceeded by  Rev.  Robt.  Edgar,  who  remained  with  the  congregation 
about  three  years,  when,  by  his  own  request,  he  was  released  by  the 
Presbytery.  The  congregation  is  large  and  in  a  prosperous  condition. 
They  have  a  large  and  handsome  place  of  worship,  which  cost  about 
$6,000.  There  are  only  two  surviving  members  of  the  original  organ- 
ization, Mrs.  Amanda  M.  Macy  and  Mrs.  Martha  Detwiler. 

United  Presbyteriaii  ClmrcTi. — In  the  year  1853  or  1854,  Rev. 
Matthew  Bigger  preached  occasionally  to  a  few  members  of  the  Asso- 
ciate Reformed  Presbyterian  church,  living  in  Millersburg  township, 
Mercer  county,  Illinois.  Services  were  generally  held  at  the  house  of 
Samuel  Carnahan,  and  sometimes  in  a  school-house  near  his  place. 
An  organization  was  effected  in  the  vear  1855  bv  the  election  of  Samuel 
Carnahan,  Sr.,  and  William  Haverhill,  as  ruling  elders. 

The  first  pastor  was  the  Rev.  D.  C.  Cochran,  who  was  installed 
Nov.  9,  1856,  and  continued  with  the  congregation  as  pastor  for  about 
two  years.  The  records  show  that  five  persons  were  received  into 
membership  by  certificate  during  the  first  pastorate.  In  the  year  1856 
the  village  of  Aledo  was  laid  out,  and  the  name  of  the  congregation 
was  soon  changed  from  "Millersburg"  to  that  of  "Aledo."  Near 
the  time  that  the  first  pastor  was  released,  the  Rev.  Matthew  Bigger, 


MERCER   TOWNSHIP.  577 

pastor  of  Pope  creek  congregation,  now  Sunbeam,  removed  to  Aledo 
with  his  family,  and  preached  "statedly"  as  supply  to  the  Aledo  con- 
gregation. During  his  labors  the  Sabbath  school  was  organized  and 
W.  D.  Henderson  was  the  first  superintendent. 

John  S.  Paxton  and  W.  D.  Henderson  were  installed  as  ruling 
elders  February  12,  1859.  ]\Irs.  Warwick,  wife  of  J.  M.  AYarwick, 
was  the  first  person  received  into  the  Aledo  congregation,  upon  profes- 
sion of  faith,  and  her  children  the  iirst  baptised. 

Rev.  Matthew  Bigger  entered  the  army  during  the  war  of  the  rebel- 
lion as  chaplain  of  the  50th  reg.  111.  Yol.  Inf  After  the  close  of  the 
war  he  entered  the  active  work  of  the  ministi-y,  in  which  he  continued 
till  his  death  at  Bushnell,  Illinois,  in  December,  1873.  The  second 
pastor  was  Rev.  J.  R.  McCallister,  who  was  installed  in  December^ 
1862. 

Shortly  after  the  above  date  a  new  church  building  was  erected  at  a 
cost  of  about  $2, -100.  This  bulling  was  afterward  sold  to,  and  is  now 
in  use  by,  the  Swedish  Lutheran  church,  of  Aledo.  December  10, 
1867,  Mr.  McCallister  was  released  from  his  pastorate  by  Presbytery, 

The  third  pastor  was  Rev.  A.  W.  Clokey,  who  was  installed  De- 
cember 22,  1868,  and  released  by  Presbytery  June  11,  1872.  The 
fourth  and  present  pastor  is  Rev.  T.  B.  Turnbull,  who  was  installed 
April  16,  1873.  A  new  church  building  was  erected  in  1876;  it  was 
completed  for  occupancy  in  the  basement,  the  auditorium  being  un- 
finished, at  a  cost  of  $8,689.12,  when,  on  June  25,  1877,  a  tornado 
passed  over  the  village  of  Aledo,  blowing  the  tower  of  the  new  church 
building  over  u])on  the  roof  of  the  church,  carr^dng  with  it  to  the  ground 
about  one-third  of  the  main  structure.  The  work  of  repairing  was 
immediately  begun,  and  was  finished  at  a  cost  of  about  $2,200.  The 
church  building  is  the  finest  in  the  county,  being  of  frame  work  after 
the  gothic  style,  and  when  completed  and  finally  furnished  will  cost 
the  congregation  about  $15,000. 

The  actual  membership  of  the  congregation  is  about  140.  The 
Sabbath  school  is  large,  under  the  superintendency  of  Dr.  D.  R.  John- 
ston, formerly  medical  missionary  to  Egypt.  The  oflicers  of  the  church 
at  present  are :  elders,  Stewart  J.  Frew,  Alexander  Rankin,  Paul 
Black,  Joseph  Wallace,  W.  K.  Fulton ;  trustees,  Thomas  Love,  Will- 
iam B.  Frew,  J.  F.  Pyles.  This  church  is  in  a  flourishing  condition, 
and  out  of  debt. 

Methodiat  Episcojxil  Church- — AVas  organized  in  the  spring  of  1857 
by  Rev.  J.  Shelton,  then  traveling  Camden  (now  Milan)  circuit.  In 
the  fall  of  1857  Aledo  was  connected  with  Millersburg  circuit,  and  D. 
A.  Faulkenburg  appointed  as  pastor.     The  subsequent  appointments 


578  HISTORY    OF    IMERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

to  the  Millersburg  circuit  while  Alodo  was  connected  with  Millersburg 
were  as  follows  :  In  1858,  L.  P.  Crouch ;  in  1859,  L.  P.  Crouch  ;  in 
1860,  B.  E.  Kaufman;  in  1801,  J.  D.  Taylor;  in  1862,  J.  D.  Taylor; 
in  1863,  G.  C.  Woodruff;  in  1864,  J.  D.  Taylor.  In  1865,  Aledo 
iirst  appears  as  an  independent  charge,  with  M.  D.  Ileckard  as  pastor. 
Since  then  the  appointments  to  Aledo  have  been  as  follows:  In  1866, 
A.  P.  Hull  ;  1867  and  1868,  F.  Smith ;  1869,  G.  I.  Bailey ;  1870, 
G.  I.  Bailey  ;  1871,  M.  Spurlock ;  1872,  M.  Spurlock;  1873,  the  same; 

1874,  M.  C.  Bowlin;  1875,  the  same;  1876  and  1877,  W.  M.  Collins  ; 
1878  and  1879,  A.  R  Morgan  ;  1880,  W.  McPheeters  ;  1881,  J.  G.  Evans. 

In  1862,  under  the  administration  of  J.  D.  Taylor,  the  society  pur- 
chased a  half  interest  in  the  Free  Presbyterian  churcli.  and  in  1865  the 
Free  Presbyterians  sold  their  remaining  interest  in  the  building  to  the 
Methodists.  The  society  owns  a  good  parsonage.  The  membership 
now  numbers  220,  and  the  Aledo  Methodist  Episcopal  church  is,  and 
has  been  for  years  the  most  prosperous  Methodist  church  in  the  county. 
It  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  pleasant  stations  in  the  confer- 
ence. When  the  society  was  organized  in  1857,  J.  P.  McEwen  was 
appointed  leader.      The  additional  members  were :    Mary  McEwen, 

Mary  M.  Cool,  Criss,  Mr.   Hawkins,  Mrs.  Hawkins,  Elizabeth 

Baxter,  Charles  Moore,  Mrs.  Moore. 

Aledo  Bajjtlst  Church. — The  first  organization  of  this  church  in 
Aledo  took  place  January  5,  1867,  with  twelve  members  consti- 
tuting the  congregation.  The  meeting  was  presided  over-  by  Pev.  J.  C. 
Post,  who  remained  in  charge  of  the  congregation  until  October,  1867, 
when  his  term  expired.  The  officers  of  the  original  organization  were 
as  follows:  clerk,  Chas.  M.  Kay;  trustees,  Wm.  B.  C^rapnel,  C.  M. 
Kay,  J.  B.  Taliafero,  Moses  White,  Aaron  P.  Shafer,  Pobert  H.  Day, 
Aaron  Patterson.  Mr.  Post  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Wm.  Whitehead, 
who  was  called  by  the  congregation  January  1,  1868,  and  remained  in 
charge  until  January  19,  1869.  On  September  11,  1870,  a  call  was 
extended  to  Rev.  D.  G.  Zook,  who  took  charge  of  the  congregation 
and  remained  until  August  2,  1873,  when  he  resigned.  Mr.  Zook  was 
succeeded  by  Rev.  O.  W.  Van  Osdel,  who  was  called  December  4, 

1875,  and  remained  till  October  30,  1878,  when  he  resigned  and  was 
released  March  31,  1880.  A  call  was  extended  to  Rev.  M.  D.  Mur- 
dock,  who  accepted  and  remained  with  the  congregation  till  January 
5,  1881,  when  the  present  pastor.  Rev.  J.  T.  Iloye,  was  called.  For 
some  years  prior  to  1874  the  congregation  worshiped  in  private  houses, 
holding  covenant  and  prayer  meetings.  About  this  year  steps  were 
taken  leading  to  the  erection  of  the  handsome  place  of  worship  they 
now  occupy  (which  was  dedicated  December  5,    1875),   at  a  cost  of 


MERCER   TOWNSHIP.  579 

about  $3,500.  Much  credit  is  due  to  a  few  members  of  tins  cliurcli, 
who  flirnished  a  great  part  of  the  means  for  the  buikling.  As  the 
church  was  comparatively  poor,  the  burden  fell  upon  the  few.  In 
1877  the  congregation  also  built  a  fine  parsonage,  at  a  cost  of  about 
$1,500.  The  congregation  now  numbers  about  eightj-jfive  members. 
The  sabbath  school  is  large  and  interesting,  and  is  superintended  by  the 
pastor.     Of  the  original  members  of  the  congregation  only  four  remain. 

Congregational  Church — Was  organized  February  15,  1869.  The 
officers  of  the  original  organization  were:  trustees,  John  S.  Thompson, 
Horace  E.  Wright,  and  P.  Roberts ;  clerk  and  treasurer,  M.  S.  Boice. 
They  built  a  house  of  worship,  which  was  dedicated  July  3,  1870,  and 
cost  about  $-1,500.  lie  v.  P.  F.  Warner  was  the  first  pastor,  who  con- 
tinued in  charge  till  the  fall  of  1872.  The  congi-egation  was  then  with- 
out a  pastor  till  the  year  1874,  when  Pev.  Robert  Nurse  was  called 
and  presided  over  the  church  till  September,  1877.  The  congregation 
was  again  without  a  pastor,  having  only  occasional  supplies,  till  April, 
1880,  when  the  Rev.  W.  E.  Smith  was  called,  and  who  continued  in 
charge  until  January  1,  1882,  when  he  acce])ted  a  call  from  the  First 
Congregational  church  of  Canton,  Illinois.  The  present  officers  of  the 
church  are  :  trustees,  Joseph  McCoy,  Joseph  Abercrombie  and  James  H. 
Connell ;  deacons,  Robert  Woods  and  Wm.  Pinkerton ;  treasurer, 
Wm.  A.  Lorimer ;  secretary  and  su]3erintendent  of  sabbath  school. 
Miss  Laura  McCoy ;  chorister,  A.  M.  Woods ;  organist.  Miss  Aggie 
McCoy. 

Swedish  Lnthemn  Church — Was  organized  May  19,  1873,  the 
Rev.  A.  Andreen  presiding.  There  were  about  forty  members  who 
signed  the  church  roll.  The  following  officers  were  elected :  trustees, 
J.  D.  Lundblad,  P.  Ringdall,  Clias.  Neiberg,  and  Samuel  Andersen; 
deacons,  C.  Bjorkman,  C.  Runborn,  John  E.  Swomsen,  and  O.  G. 
Olsen.  They  were  without  a  house  of  worship  until  March,  1877, 
when  the  old  building  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church  was  pur- 
chased for  $400,  which  they  removed  to  the  lot  owned  by  them  in  the 
east  part  of  town,  and  repaired  and  fitted  up  at  a  cost  of  about  $2,000. 
The  first  pastor  was  the  Rev.  A.  Andreen,  who  was  succeeded  in  July, 
1873,  by  Rev.  Nils  Fersander,  who  was  succeeded  by  Rev.  Andreen 
again,  who  had  charge  of  the  congregation  for  about  a  year.  Sep- 
tember 8,  1878,  a  call  was  issued  to  the  Rev.  T.  H.  AVinguist,  who 
took  charge  of  the  congregation  in  March,  1879,  and  is  the  present 
pastor.  The  congregation  has  at  present  about  eighty  members,  is  out 
of  debt  and  pros])ering.  Sabbath  school  exercises  are  held  in  English 
every  Sabbath,  under  tlie  direction  of  Mr.  A.  G.  Johnson,  superin- 
tendent. 


580  HISTORY    OF   MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Ejnscojxd  6'A?«'c7i.— This  church  was  first  organized  by  a  few  mem- 
bers in  1870,  and  in  the  year  1878  was  received  under  the  care  of  tlie 
general  church  as  a  mission.  The  church  since  has  so  prospered  that 
in  February  of  the  present  year  (1882)  it  was  organized  as  an  inde- 
pendent congregation.  The  church  is  entirely  out  of  debt,  and  have 
a  fine  place  of  worsliip  erected  by  the  members  at  a  cost  of  about 
$•1,000.  The  rectors  in  charge  since  1870  have  been:  Revs.  Chamber- 
lain, Brown,  Gates,  Allen,  and  the  present  rector,  Rev.  Farrar,  in  the 
order  named. 

Seventh  Day  Adventkts. — Early  in  the  year  of  1869,  a  Rev.  R. 
F.  Andrews,  a  minister  of  this  denomination,  delivered  a  series 
of  lectures  in  Aledo  upon  the  doctrines  of  his  church,  continuing  his 
services  until  some  time  in  March  of  that  year.  He  made  a  number 
of  converts  to  liis  doctrine,  though  no  organization  was  effected  at 
that  time.  A  number  of  the  followers  of  his  faith,  however,  banded 
together,  appointed  a  leader,  and  for  nearly  a  year  met  for  regular 
service  in  the  court-house. 

Mr.  Andrews  came  back  after  being  absent  about  a  year,  and  com- 
menced operations  six  miles  south  of  Aledo,  and  sent  for  Rev.  Mr. 
Whitham,  who  had  embraced  adventism,  to  help  Inm  in  the  work. 
The  two  brethren  labored  in  this  locality  for  some  time,  when  an 
organization  was  effected,  the  brethren  meeting  in  what  is  known  as 
the  "Marsh  school-house."  They  held  meetings  regularly,  with  quite 
a  large  Sabbath-school  as  auxiliary,  until  within  a  few  years  past. 
Many  members  of  the  organization  have  moved  away,  weakening  its 
strength ;  but  the  interest  is  still  kept  alive  among  the  few,  and  the 
organization  is  still  intact. 

Free  Presbyterian  church. — There  is  now  no  such  church.  The 
necessity  for  sucli  an  organization  ceased  when  slavery  died.  It  was 
the  outgrowth  of  that  love  of  principle  which  burned  in  the  hearts  of 
those  noble  men  who  loved  liberty  and  morality,  and  its  cardinal  doc- 
trines as  a  church  were  founded  upon  the  sternest  ideas  and  principles 
of  morality.  As  early  as  1852  there  were  three  organizations  of  this 
church  in  Mercer  county  ;  one  in  the  "  Carnahan  neighborhood.''  The 
place  was  commonly  known  as  "Is^igger  ridge,"  on  account  of  the 
number  of  abolitionists  living  in  the  neighborhood.  Another  organ- 
ization was  in  the  "  Kiddoo  neighborhood,"  and  the  third  at  the 
McClure  school-house.  Messrs.  Carnahan,  McClure,  and  Kiddoo  were 
the  leaders  in  the  movement  in  Mercer  county,  and  are  all  now  dead. 
There  was  a  church  built  in  the  Carnahan  district,  and  it  is  still  stand- 
ing, as  is  another  church  built  at  the  same  time  in  the  Kiddoo  district. 

These  three  congregations    united  and  built  a  church  in  Aledo, 


MERCEK   TOWNSHIP.  581 

about  the  year  1857,  previous  to  whicli  time  Rev.  Joseph  R.  Whit- 
liam,  at  present  living  east  of  Aledo,  a  zeah)us  christian  man,  had 
preached  to  the  three  organizations  in  turn.  After  the  union  Rev. 
James  S.  Pogue  was  the  pastor  of  the  congregation  until  the  close  of 
the  war,  when  the  organization  was  dissolved  and  the  church  building 
sold  to  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  the  members  uniting  with 
various  churches  in  Aledo. 

SOCIETIES. 

Aledo  Lodge  JSfo.  252,  A.F.A.M. — The  charter  was  granted  under 
the  signature  of  James  Hibbard,  Grand  Master  of  the  State  of  Illinois, 
and  bears  date  of  October  7,  1857.  The  charter  members  were  Will- 
iam M.  Brown,  Lucien  B.  Howe,  Pleasant  B.  Mathews,  Elisha  Miller, 
and  Simeon  Macy.  The  first  officers  of  the  lodge  were  as  follows : 
Simeon  Macy,  W.M. ;  William  M.  Brown,  S.  W. ;  P.  B.  Mathews,  J.  W. ; 
O.  C.  Allen,  Sec.  The  lodge  at  that  time  met  in  the  third  story  of  the 
building  now  owned  by  J.  C.  Ricliey,  on  the  south  side  of  Fifth  street. 
The  lodge  was  constituted,  under  the  charter,  by  Deputy  Grand  Master 
Rice,  of  Monmouth  Lodge,  October  10,  1857,  when  the  above-named 
officers  were  installed.  The  first  election  of  officers  was  held  Decem- 
ber 14,  1858,  which  resulted  in  the  following  being  chosen :  Simeon 
Macy,  W.M.;  Thomas  Maddox,  S.W.;  G.  A.  Luvin,  J.W.;  Isaac  N. 
Bassett,  Treas. ;  Elias  Willets,  Sec.  Elias  Willets  was  the  secretary 
till  1860.  He  received  his  demit  from  the  lodge  about  1862,  when  he 
moved  to  Warren  county,  where  he  practiced  his  profession,  that  of  the 
law,  till  about  the  year  1870,  when  he  was  appointed  county  judge,  to 
fill  an  unexpired  term,  at  the  close  of  which  he  was  elected  to  the  same 
office,  which  he  held  till  his  death  in  December,  1881.  M.  L.  Marsh 
was  the  next  secretary  elected,  who  held  the  office  for  several  terms, 
when  he  was  appointed  tyler,  which  office  he  has  continuously  held 
under  the  successive  administrations  of  the  lodge  until  the  present 
time.  At  the  election  in  December,  1862,  William  M.  Brown  was 
elected  W.M.,  and  Thomas  Maddox,  Sec.  January,  1864,  Simeon 
Macy  was  again  elected  W.M.,  and  I.  N.  Bassett,  Sec.  Tlie  next 
change  was  in  1865,  when  Dr.  W.  D.  Craig  was  elected  W.M.,  and 
James  M.  Macy,  Sec.  The  successive  annual  elections  resulted  as 
follows:  December  18,  1866,  J.  M.  Willson,  W.M.,  J.  M.  Macy,  Sec; 
December  10,  1867,  J.  M.  Willson,  W.M.,  John  C.  Wellion,  Sec; 
December  22,  1868,  L.  L.  Troy,  W.M.,  Geo.  P.  Graham,  Sec;  Decem- 
ber 19,  1869,  W.  D.  Craig,  W.M.,  C.  H.  Smith,  Sec;  December  6, 

1870,  John  H.    Snyder,  W.M.,    M.    L.   Marsh,  Sec;   December  19, 

1871,  J.  M.  Willson,  W.M.,  B.  F.  Brock,  Sec;  December  10,  1872, 


582  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   Al^D    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Geo.  P.  Graham,  W.M.,  James  L.  Bentley,  Sec;  December  30,  1SY3, 
Geo.  P.  Graham,  W.M.,  M.  L.  Marsh,  Sec;  December  15,  1874, 
D.  F.  Brock,  W.M.,  A.  B.  McCandless,  Sec;  December  T,  1875, 
Geo.  P.  Graham,  AV.M.,  Luke  Strong,  Sec;  December  26,  1876, 
J.  M.  Willson,  W.M.,  Josejjh  Boyd,  Sec;  December  18,  1877, 
J.  M.  "VVillson,  W.M.,  Alex.  McArthur,  Sec;  since  which  election 
James  M.  "Willson  has  held  the  othce  of  W.M.,  and  the  same  officer 
was  secretary  till  the  election  of  September  14,  1880,  when  Fred 
Clark  was  elected.  The  present  officers  of  the  lodge  are  as  follows : 
J.  M.  Willson,  W.M.;  P.  E.  Patrick,  S.W.;  Philip  Killey,  J.W.; 
J.  F.  McBride,  Treas. ;  F.  Clark,  Sec;  Alex.  McArthur,  Senior 
Deacon ;  K.  M.  AYhitham,  Junior  Deacon ;  A.  E.  Mead  and  Joseph 
Boyd,  Stewards ;  M.  L.  Marsh,  Tyler.  The  lodge  now  occupies  a 
commodious  and  neat  hall  in  the  Aledo  bank  building.  They  are 
comfortably  situated  and  in  a  very  flourishing  condition.  In  talking 
over  the  history  of  this  organization  some  very  pleasant  memories  are 
revived,  not  the  least  of  which  was  the  presentation  in  1880  to  Wor- 
shipful Master  J.  M.  Willson,  who  had  served  the  lodge  for  many 
years  as  its  principal  officer,  of  a  magnificent  cane  to  support  the 
declining  years  of  him  who,  "as  a  Master  Mason,  enjoys  the  happy 
reflection  of  a  well-spent  life. " 

Aledo  Lodge,  I.O.O.F. — This  lodge  was  instituted  July  1,  1857, 
by  virtue  of  a  charter  issued  under  the  seal  of  the  Grand  Lodge  of  the 
United  States,  bearing  the  signatures  of  Augustus  C.  Marsh,  G.M., 
and  Samuel  Willard,  G.S.  The  charter  members  were:  O.  C.  Allen, 
John  S.  Moore,  J.  E.  Harroun,  Jacob  Cool,  and  William  Detwiler. 
The  present  officers  of  the  lodge  are :  C.  S.  Bramkamp,  N.G. ;  Wm. 
Shiver,  Y.  G. ;  G.  B.  Morgan,  Kec  Sec ;  M.  L.  Marsh,  Per.  Sec ; 
J.  O.  Lundblad,  Treas.;  C.  T.  Cunningham,  G.Rep. 

J.  S.  Pinkerton,  of  Aledo,  a  member  of  this  lodge,  was  the  first 
member  of  the  order  initiated  in  Mercer  county ;  his  initiaticm  took 
place  in  New  Boston  Lodge,  No.  188,  in  November,  1855.  The  lodge 
is  in  a  flourishing  condition,  has  forty-four  members,  and  net  assets  of 
$626.31  in  the  hands  of  the  treasurer.  They  meet  in  Abercrombie  hall. 

A.  0.  U.  W. — A  lodge  of  the  Ancient  Order  of  United  Workingmen 
was  instituted  in  Aledo,  December  20,  1878,  with  twenty -five  charter 
members.  The  officers  of  the  original  organization  were  as  follows  : 
P.M.W.,  A.  R.  Morgan;  M.W.,  Wm.  K  Graham;  F.,  James  M. 
Macy ;  Overseer,  Jas.  A.  Cummins ;  Receiver,  J.  I.  Edwards ;  Re- 
corder, W.  A.  Lorimer ;  Financier,  W.  C.  Galloway ;  Guide,  D.  T. 
Hindman ;  I.  Watch,  A.  R.  McDonald ;  O.  Watch,  Ben.  Warlow. 
There  has  been  onl}^  one  death  in  the  order  since  its  organization,  that 


MERCER    TOWNSHIP.  583 

of  James  M.  Macy  in  Januaiy,  1882,  There  is  a  present  membership 
of  sixty-fonr,  and  the  order  is  on  a  sound  financial  basis  and  is  other- 
wise prosperous.  Tlie  order  meets  everj  Thursday  evenini>;  in  Aber- 
crombie's  hall.  The  present  ofiicer's  are:  P.M.W.,  S.  M.  Evans; 
M.W.,  W.  A.  Lorimer;  F.,  James  Bickets;  Overseer,  J.  H.  McPlier- 
ren;  Recorder,  A.  R.  McDonald;  Receiver,  W.  C.  Gallow^ay  ;  Finan- 
cier, R.  J.  McDonald;  Guide,  Jas.  A.  Cummins;  I.  Watch,  J.  H. 
Abercrombie ;  O.  Watch,  Wm.  Winders. 

TOWNLEY'S  TILE  AND  BRICK  MANUFACTORY. 

This  enterprise  was  started  by  Mr.  Townley  in  1874,  by  his  buying 
a  block  and  a  half  of  ground  just  east  of  town,  from  which  he  procures 
a  good  article  of  brick  clay.  The  clay  for  his  tile  he  procures  from  soil 
about  a  mile  north  of  Aledo.  Since  starting  his  works,  Mr.  Townley 
has  been  making  abont  700,000  brick,  and  about  400,000  feet  of  tile 
per  year.  He  finds  a  good  market  for  his  entire  product  from  local 
trade,  and  is  running  his  works  to  their  full  capacity. 

"  WEST  END"  CREAMERY,  MILLERSBURG. 

This  new  enterprise  was  projected  in  JN'ovember,  1881,  by  Messrs. 
Stratton  &  Lunn,  of  Millersburg,  who  began  making  butter  on  a  large 
scale,  and  readily  finding  a  good  market  for  their  product,  increased 
their  facilities  to  what  they  are  at  present.  They  run  a  churn  of  the 
capacity  of  250  gallons  by  a  four-horse  power  engine.  They  use  the 
common  Settle  cans  of  which  they  have  in  use  400,  and  have  500  more 
on  the  way  from  the  manufacturer.  Since  starting  the  enterj^rise  they 
have  made  on  an  average  100  pounds  of  butter  per  day,  employing 
four  men  to  gather  cream.  The  proprietors  now  expect  to  run  twelve 
or  thirteen  different  routes  in  gathering  their  cream,  covering  a  scope 
of  over  twenty  miles  square.  About  the  first  of  March  they  will  put 
up  two  more  vats  for  cream,  which  will  make  their  capacity  1,000  gal- 
lons, at  which  time  they  expect  to  make  500  pounds  of  butter  per  day. 
They  find  a  good  market  for  their  butter  in  Chicago,  and  have  recently 
had  an  offer  from  Pueblo,  Colorado,  for  their  entire  product  for  the 
coming  year.  Messrs,  Stratton  &  Lunn  are  thorough  business  men, 
and  will  doubtless  make  this  enterprise  a  successful  one. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Levi  Willits  (deceased),  is  one  of  Mercer  county's  noblest  dead. 
His  life  was  full  of  good  works  which  in  his  death  stand  out  in  bold 
relief  in  honor  to  the  doer,  Mi\  Willits  was  born  May  31,  1808,  in 
Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  on  a  farm.     His  parents,  William  and  Mary 


584  HISTORY    OF   MERCER    AJ^T)    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Willits,  moved  from  Pennsylvania  to  Ohio  and  in  after  years  to  Indi- 
ana.    Levi  spent  his  youth  on  the  farm,   enjoying   but   few   school 
advantages,   yet   he   early  manifested  peculiar  mathematical  ability. 
When  about  of  age  he  began  the  trades  of  carpentry  and  cabinet  mak- 
ing, which  he  followed  some  years.     He  was  married  December  1, 
1832,  to  Miss  Clarinda  Drury,  daughter  of  Edward  and  Jane  Drury, 
born  in  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  July  20,  1811.     After  marriage,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Willits  resided  in  Kaysville,  Indiana,  for  four  years,  when  it 
was  decided  to  move  to  Illinois.     Accordingly,  in  the  fall  of  1836,  with 
ox-team,  the  journey  was  begun.     Mrs.  AVillits  became  sick  with  the 
measles,  having  to  keep  her  bed  in  the  wagon.     Arrived  near  Mud 
creek,  not  far  from  Blue  river,  the  day  being  warm,  the  oxen  seeing 
the   water  were  uncontrollable  by  the  driver  and  rushed  toward  the 
muddv  element.     In  their  race  the  wagon  was  upset,  precipitating  Mrs. 
Willits,  sick  as  she  was,  into  mud  and  water,  completely  drenching 
her  and  piling  the  heavy  goods  on  her.     In  extricating  her  she  was 
further  bruised.     She   was   then   taken   on   horseback   by  a   passing 
woman  to  a  poor  hovel  and  there  treated  as  well  as  the  circumstances 
would  allow.     The  dirt  and  squalor  of  the  hut  could  not  be  mentioned. 
As  soon  as  able  the  party  pushed  on  with  their  ox-team  to  Indianapolis, 
where  they  remained  some  time.     While  there  Mrs.  AVillits'  sister  was 
taken  ill  of  the  measles  and  died.     They  buried  her  there  in  the  bloom 
of  her  vouth.     It  was  then  dicided  to  return  to  AVayne  county  foV  the 
winter,  at  least,  which  they  did.     In  the  following  spring  the  journey 
was  again  undertaken.     Mr.  AVillits  purchased  three  cows  and  consid- 
erable young  stock,  one  horse  and  the  ox-team.     Mr.  Willits  was  to 
ride  the  horse  and  drive  the  cattle,  while  Mrs.  AVillits  should  drive  the 
ox-team,  the  man  hired  for  the  purpose  being  sick.     Mrs.  AV.  rode  the 
horse  for  a  time  which,  becoming  scared  at  the  cattle  whip  the  driver 
carried,  jumped,  throwing  the  rider,  but  causing  no  dangerous  injury. 
Slowly  and  interruptedl}'  was  the  journey  made.     The  three  cows  and 
much  of  the  young  stock  were  lost  on  the  way.     Arrived  at  New  Boston, 
they  found  three  or  four  log  cabins  and  more  Indians  than  white  men. 
An  old  log  cabin  was  occupied  by  them,  necessitating,  so  dilapidated  was 
it,  the  hanging  of  bed  clothes,  etc.,  over  cracks  and  holes  in  the  walls. 
With  the  ox-team  Mr.  AVillits  hauled  all  the  lumber  he  could  get  at 
Millersburg  and  with  it  built  one  small  room  for  a  dwelling,  with  a  sort 
of  loft  above  for  sleeping  apartment  for  men  employed.     Below  a  bed 
and    a  trundle    bed    occupied   one  corner.      Across    one    corner    was 
hung  a  sheet,  partitioning  oft"  a  little  room  for  Hour  and  smoke  room. 
Hired  men  slept  up  stairs  and  on  the  tioor  down  stairs,  wdiile  the 
"guid"  couple  occupied  the  bed.     In  that  house  was  born  the  first 


IVIERCEE   TOWNSHIP.  585 

child  to  the  Willits.  In  that  house  court  was  held  when  New  Boston  was 
the  county  seat  and  there  the  court  and  jury  were  boarded  and  lodged. 
The  beds,  etc.,  served  as  seats  and  the  floors  were  then-  beds.  Mrs. 
W.  did  her  cooking  in  a  cabin  near  by.  The  young  cattle  brought  with 
them  were  slaughtered  for  food,  a  scarce  article  that  year.  A  small 
stock  of  goods  had  been  brought  with  them,  such  as  groceries,  paints, 
medicines,  liquors,  etc.  With  these  merchandising  was  begun,  which 
grew  into  a  very  lucrative  business.  Wm.  Drury  was  for  years  Mr. 
Willits"'  partner.  Soon  Mr.  AVillits  added  to  his  home  and  with  differ- 
ent additions  the  house  became  large.  The  frame  is  now  owned  by 
Henry  Denison.  During  these  early  days  Mrs.  Willits,  to  aid  in  for- 
tune, did  washing  and  ironing  for  the  young  men  of  that  day  ;  also  made 
pants,  vests,  etc.  A  man  and  a  woman  had  been  hired  to  do  the 
baking  for  the  trade,  but  they  quitting,  Mrs.  Willits  undertook  it.  She 
had  an  oven  made,  constructed  of  straw,  shavings,  mud,  etc.,  and 
plastered  with  mud,  then  burned,  as  there  were  no  brick.  She  paid 
for  this  from  her  own  earnings.  She  also  paid  for  her  first  cook  stove 
by  her  own  efforts.  Mr.  Willits,  two  years  after  opening  his  store, 
declared  he  would  sell  no  more  liquors  to  his  neighbors,  making  them 
drunk,  but  would  put  in  a  supply  of  dry  goods  instead.  He  con- 
tinued in  trade  many  years.  He  also  became  engaged  in  mer- 
chandising in  Millersburg  a  short  time.  He  was  extensively  and 
many  years  engaged  in  the  lumber  business,  trading  in  land,  buy- 
ing grain,  packing  pork,  contract  building,  erecting  a  number  of 
buildings  in  New  Boston.  It  is  unnecessary  to  speak  here  of  his 
laying  out  the  town  of  Aledo ;  of  his  founding,  in  connection  with 
Judge  John  S.  Thompson,  a  college  for  the  Presbyterians  and  one 
for  the  Methodists,  the  foundation  of  the  latter  being  laid  and  material 
ready,  at  his  death  ;  of  his  building  the  Barton  hotel,  and  various 
other  buildings.  All  this  will  be  found  in  the  history  of  Aledo. 
No  doubt  his  exposures  to  water  in  laying  out  the  town  at  the  time 
he  did,  caused,  in  some  degree,  the  rheumatism  that  brought  on 
his  sickness.  He  spent  much  of  his  time  in  Aledo  the  last  year  or 
two  of  his  life.  He  returned  to  his  home  in  New  Boston  to  entertain 
friends,  and  while  there  was  taken  ill.  He  recovered  somewhat,  but 
moving  about  too  much,  he  took  a  relapse,  had  a  chill  on  Thurs- 
day, and  on  the  following  Tuesday  died  of  inflamatory  rheumatism, 
March  2,  1858.  On  the  following  Friday  evening  a  large  concourse  of 
people  gathered  at  the  .court-house  in  Aledo  and  passed  resolutions  of 
respect  for  him  and  admiration  of  his  character.  He  was  not  a  church 
member,  yet  was  considered  a  good  man.  His  house  was  always  open 
to  ministers  and  christians  generally.     The  evening  before  his  death 


586  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

he  called  for  a  glass  of  water  and  holding  it  up,  beautifully  remarked : 
^'Before  to-morrow  morning  I  shall  be  drinking  purer  water  than  that." 
He  died  before  inorning.  Pie  was  always  interested  in  the  educational 
and  general  good  of  the  people.  In  politics  he  had  been  a  whig,  but 
was  a  republican  before  he  died.  Five  children  had  j^receded  him  to 
the  grave,  all  he  had.  One  child  of  James  Thompson,  at  its  mother's 
death,  had  been  taken  to  raise.  It  had  died.  Four  children  of  Har- 
riet Willits  had  also  found  a  father  and  mother  in  the  persons  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Levi  Willits.  One  died  in  her  fourteenth  year.  The  others 
were  well  educated  and  provided  for  in  his  will.  Mr.  Willits'  good 
works  live  after  him,  but  not  as  they  would  had  he  been  spared  to  fur- 
ther prosecute  his  designs.  Disease  deprived  the  people  of  a  noble 
mind,  warm  heart  and  willing  hands.  His  works  cannot  be  individu- 
alized in  the  space  allotted  here. 

John  Geiger.  The  frosts  of  sixty-eight  winters  have  whitened  the 
hair  of  Mr.  Geiger,  but  in  mind  and  body  he  is  still  vigorous  and  capa- 
ble. His  maternal  grandparents  were  German.  His  father's  people 
were  of  South  Carolina,  but  of  German  extraction.  His  father,  John 
Geiger,  was  born  and  raised  in  Martin  sburg,  Virginia,  but  became  a 
resident  of  Maryland.  He  became  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812. 
Shortly  after  the  war  closed  he  removed  to  the  southern  part  of  Bed- 
ford county,  Pennsylvania.  Exposure  and  hardships  incident  to  ai-my 
life  brought  on  pleurisy,  progressing  with  consumption,  and  terminat- 
ing in  death  about  1825  or  1826.  He  was  not  a  strong  man  at  any 
time.  His  wife,  Elizabeth  Kable,  sons  and  daughters,  after  remaining 
in  Hancock,  Maryland,  a  few  years,  settled  in  Marion  county,  Ohio, 
where  she,  her  sons  (but  John)  and  one  daughter,  have  since  died. 
John  Geiger  was  born  in  Williamsport,  Maryland,  January  15,  1814, 
while  his  father  was  yet  fighting  the  British.  He  was  quite  young 
when  his  parents  moved  to  Bedford  county.  There,  on  the  Little 
Licking  river,  under  the  shadow  of  one  of  the  high  eastern  ridges 
of  the  Allegheny  mountains,  he  passed  his  youth  till  seventeen  years 
of  age.  He  says,  in  speaking  of  his  school  days  :  "I^aturally  studious 
and  of  a  somewhat  retentive  memory,  I  led  my  friends  and  teachers  to 
think  me  precocious.  So  I  was  unmercifully  pushed  deep  into  the 
intricate  parts  of  arithmetic  before  twelve  years  old.  But  by  the  im- 
perfect methods  of  teaching  that  prevailed  at  that  time,  I  understood 
nothing  of  consequence  beyond  the  operations  of  the  ground  rules." 
He  further  says:  "Aided  by  some  adverse  circumstances,  I  escaped 
further  attendance  at  school  until  nineteen  years  of  age."  In  1831, 
young  Geiger,  in  company  with  his  oldest  sister  and  her  liusband, 
Daniel  Linn,  crossed  the  Allegheny  mountains  via  the  national  turn- 


MERCER   TOWNSHIP.  587 

jjike  road  to  Ohio,  assisting  at  times  in  caring  for  tlie  team  or  driving. 
At  that  time  the  northwest  and  much  of  the  interior  of  the  state  was 
wild  and  thinly  settled.  A  new  country  presented  dreary  prospects  to 
a  lad  seventeen  years  old,  with  naught  of  wealth  to  assist.  But  the 
love  and  good  counsel  of  his  mother  were  free.  He  began  to  plan 
and  do  for  himself.  He  worked  at  whatever  might  offer,  farming 
principally,  although  alternated  with  work  in  the  stone  quany.  Means 
of  transportation  were  meager,  oxen  furnishing  the  larger  part  of  the 
motive  power.  Wages  were  low,  so  that  money  making  was  tedious. 
His  love  for  study  continued  unabated.  He  attended  school  part  of 
two  or  three  terms,  near  Caledonia,  Oliio,  finishing  arithmetic  and 
gaining  a  fair  knowledge  of  grammar  and  geography.  His  study  of 
school-books  was  interspersed  with  perusal  of  such  works  as  natural 
philoso^ihy,  chemistry,  astronomy.  Goldsmith's  Greece  and  Rome,  Wal- 
son's  Institutes,  Playfair's  Euclid,  Locke's  Essay  on  the  Human 
Understanding,  Good's  Book  of  iSTature,  Butler's  Analogue,  Watts  on 
the  Mind,  and  other  solid  reading.  In  1836,  after  five  years'  labor  and 
economy,  he  had  saved  $200  in  silver.  This  he  expended  in  a  quarter 
section  of  heavily  timbered  congress  land,  in  Whitley  county,  Indiana. 
During  the  ensuing  winter  he  taught  school  in  Huntington,  remaining 
in  the  county  one  year,  making  improvements  on  his  purchase.  Land 
speculation  at  the  date  of  his  buying  was  at  its  height,  but  the  crash 
of  1837  depreciated  values  leaving  much  land  nearly  worthless.  After 
keeping  his  farm  thirteen  years  and  expending  much  labor  on  it,  he 
sold  just  before  the  rise  in  prices  caused  by  the  railroad  excitement. 
Mr.  Geiger  still  made  his  home  in  Ohio,  where  he  was  much  em- 
ploj'ed  as  an  accountant  in  auditors'  offices  for  a  series  of  years,  and 
in  some  four  difierent  counties.  Feeling  the  necessity,  from  experi- 
ence, of  some  tables  for  computing  taxes,  he,  in  1847,  compiled  and 
printed  a  small  book  of  tables.  This  was  sold  almost  exclusively  in 
Ohio.  In  1854  he  prepared  a  much  fuller  work.  This  being  too 
expensive  for  his  limited  means  he  memorialized  the  Ohio  legislature, 
obtaining  an  appropriation  of  $3,500,  to  enable  him  to  publish  his 
work  with  dispatch,  the  state  taking  300  copies  in  consideration  of  the 
appropriation.  The  edition  of  800  copies  was  sold  mostly  in  Ohio, 
Indiana,  Illinois,  Missouri,  Michigan  and  Minnesota.  Mr.  Geiger's 
other  literary  work  has  embraced  a  few  lectures,  essays,  poems,  etc., 
some  of  which  have  appeared  in  the  columns  of  the  press.  In  politics 
he  has  been  an  unfaltering  democrat  through  life.  His  first  political 
activity  was  corresponding  for  Sam.  Medary's  "Ohio  Statesman,''  in 
1840,  when  he  had  the  opportunity  of  seeing  and  hearing  some  of  the 
greatest  platform  orators  known  to  the  public.     In  1850  he  became 


588  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AJSTD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

eclitor-in-cliarge  of  the  "  Moinit  Gilead  Messenger,"  continuing  a  short 
time  during  the  compromise  session  of  congress  of  1S49  and  1850,  and 
the  canvass  for  the  Ohio  constitution  of  1850.  Prosperity  crowned 
the  efforts  of  the  industrious,  so  that  in  1852  Mr.  Geiger  was  able  to 
purchase  1,000  acres  of  land  in  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  buying  in  a 
body  in  Greene  and  Preemption  townships,  to  which  several  hundred 
acres  were  added  in  1853.  In  1854  he  planted  five  or  six  miles 
of  osage  orange  fence,  built  plank  fences,  tenant  houses,  and  made 
other  improvements  looking  to  its  occupation  as  a  grain  and  stock  farm. 
May  27,  1858,  he  was  married  at  Wabash,  Indiana,  to  Mrs.  Martha 
P.  Arthur,  widowed  daughter  of  the  late  Judge  Parish,  of  Columbus, 
Ohio,  a  union  that  has  ever  been  happy.  With  his  wife  and  her  two 
children,  O.  P.  Arthur  and  the  present  Mrs.  James  H.  Connell,  he 
moved  to  his  Illinois  farm  in  October  of  the  same  year.  He  carried 
on  the  grain  and  stock  business  till  1858,  when  he  settled  in  Aledo. 
He  still  owns  part  of  his  farm.  Since  his  residence  in  Aledo  he  has 
been  successfully  conducting  the  Aledo  ''Banner"  and  the  Aledo 
"Democrat,"  some  account  of  whiclv  appears  in  the  history  of  Aledo. 
He  also  superintends  his  farm.  Officially  he  has  occupied  a  few  local 
positions,  but  has  more  frequently  declined  than  accepted  opportunities 
as  candidate  for  such  honors.  Without  intending  any  special  laudation 
it  is  but  proper  to  say  that  Mr.  Geiger's  life  has  been  one  of  success, 
and  may  teach  to  poor  boys  the  lesson  so  often  repeated,  that  even 
though  poverty  may  be  their  lot  in  youth,  they  may,  if  willing  to  try, 
rise  and  become  useful  citizens. 

The  Gilmore  Family. — Among  the  few  white  families  who  consti- 
tuted the  lirst  permanent  settlers  of  Mercer  county,  and  who  have 
taken  prominent  and  active  parts  in  its  history  and  development,  is 
that  of  which  Judge  Ephraim  Gilmore  is  a  member.  He  and  his 
father,  Col.  Eobert  Gilmore,  arrived  in  Warren  county  as  early  as 
1833,  and  the  following  year  the  judge  moved  into  that  part  afterward 
set  off'  as  Mercer  county.  Mr.  Gilmore  was  born  February  T,  1810, 
hence  was  in  full  manhood  when  his  career  became  blended  with  that 
of  Mercer  county.  After  a  residence  of  two  years  in  New  Boston  he 
settled  at  a  point  about  half  way  between  Aledo  and  New  Boston,  on 
a  ftirm  subsequently  owned  .by  the  Hon.  John  McGinnis.  Flere  he 
lived  and  labored  from  1837  to  1871,  when  he  changed  his  residence 
to  Aledo  and  embarked  in  the  banking  business.  November  4,  1834, 
he  married  Miss  Julia  Ann  Denison,  daughter  of  William  and  Kachel 
Denison,  who  were  the  first  white  settlers  of  the  county.  Miss  Den- 
ison was  the  only  single  white  lady  of  the  county  at  the  time  of  this 
marriage.      Seven  sons  and  two  daughters  have  been  born  to  them: 


» 


MERCER   TOWNSHIP.  589 

William,  Robert  N.,  John  A.,  James  E.,  Edwin,  Erastus  E.,  Lyman 
C,  Annie  E.,  and  Mary.      William  and  Mary  are  dead,  Robert  is  a 
resident  of  Johnson  county,  Missouri,  and  Annie  E.  (now  Mrs.  James 
Kiddoo)  is  of  Rice  county,  Kansas.     John  A.  enlisted  August  6,  1861, 
in  company  E,   9th  reg.  111.  Vol.,  and  served   three  years   and   one 
month.     His  I'egiment  was  mostly  recruited  from  St.  Clair  county,  and 
was  commanded  by  Col.  Paine.      John  A.  as  a  soldier  was  engaged  at 
the  first  battle  of  Fort  Donelson,  Sliiloh,  Corinth.      He  then  became 
a  mounted  infantryman,  and  accompanied  SJierman  to  Atlanta,  but  in 
the  meantime  aided  in  guarding  the  Memphis  and  Charleston  railroad. 
He  was  mustered  ou:  at  Springfield.     March  22,  1865,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Allie  Pryme.     She  died  June  28,   1866,   leaving   one   child 
(Charlie).     He  was  next  married  February  17,  1870,  to  Miss  Sarah 
McGinnis,  whose  parents  (John  T.  and  Margaret  McGinnis)  are  prom- 
inent in  Mercer  county  history.     John  A.  has  spent  many  years  on 
the  farm,  but  is  now  in  the  bank.     Robert  N.,  James  E.  and  Edw^in 
were  in  company  K,  102d  reg.  111.  Vol.,  which  regiment  is  so  fully 
noticed  in  the  history.     Robert  was  discharged  on  account  of  ill-health 
incurred   in  Buell's  famous  forced  march.     James  and  Edwin  served 
through  the  war.     Judge  Gilmore's  history  is  so  intimate  with  that 
of  the  county  that  a  re\dew  of  the  one  includes  that  of  the  other. 
He  was  the  first  postmaster  of  New  Boston,  first  circuit  clerk  and 
first  surve3^or  of  Mercer  county,  once  probate  judge,  once  county  treas- 
urer, and  twice  a  member  of  the  state  legislature.      During  his  ofiicial 
career  his  conduct  was  marked  by  a  courtesy  of  manner,  an  honesty 
of  action  and  a  purity  and  patriotism  of  motive  to  such  a  degree  that 
there  is  not  now  in  the  county  a  single  man  to  be  found  who  does  not 
honor  and  feel  proud  of  his  record  and  relations  with  his  people. 
The    Gilmore    family    are    of  Scotch-Irish    descent.      The    ancestry 
came  to  the  United  States  when  they  were  dependent  colonies,  and 
were   during   the   revolutionary   war   active   patriots,   Mr.    Gilmore's 
grandfather,  Ephraim  Gilmore,  being  a  continental  soldier,  who,  after 
the  close  of  the  war,  continued  to  reside  in  Chester  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, where  he  raised  four  sons :  Robert,  Ej^hraim,  John  and  Thomas. 
Robert  afterward  served  as  captain  in  the  war  of  1812.     He  was  twice 
married,  first  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Collins  and  then  to  Miss  Maria  Pil- 
grim.    By  his  first  wife  he  raised  Ephraim  (the  subject  of  this  sketch), 
John,  Arabella,  Ann,  and  Joseph;  and  by  his  second  wife,  James, 
Thomas,  Elizabeth  Rachel,  Lawrence  H.,  Benjamin  F.,  and  Robert  C. 
The  first  marriage  took  place  in  Jefferson  county,  Ohio,  and  the  second 
in  the  city  of  Columbus,  he  being  at  that  time  a  member  of  the  legis- 
lature of. Ohio  from  the  same  county.     Immediately  after  coming  to 


590  HISTORY    OF   ISrERCER   AXD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Warren  county,  Illinois,  lie  was  elected  one  of  the  commissioners  for 
this  county,  which  position  he  held  two  or  theee  terms.  He  died 
about  1856,  and  was  buried  at  Monmouth.  He  was  75  years  old  and 
was  a  man  of  strong  force  of  character.  He  died  in  the  fellowship  of 
the  Presbyterian  church. 

Nicholas  Edwards,  farmer  and  lumber  merchant,  Aledo,  is  a 
native  of  Crawford  county,  Indiana,  where  he  was  born  October  23, 
1816.  His  father,  Isaac  Edwards,  died  of  small-pox,  before  he  can 
remember,  and  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Kachel  Eice, 
married  again.  Mr.  Edwards  lived  on  the  old  homestead  till  1834, 
when  he  engaged  in  flat-boating  to  New  Orleans,  working  at  iirst  for 
$15  per  month.  In  1838  he  quit  the  river,  came  to  Illinois,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1839  settled  at  Henderson,  Knox  county,  and  merchandised 
there  until  1843.  In  September,  1839,  he  attended  the  land  sales  at 
Galena,  but  being  obliged  by  previous  engagement  to  return  before  he 
made  his  purchase,  he  left  his  money  with  friends  who  bid  oif  for  him 
the  tracts  he  had  selected,  the  same  being  the  S.  W.  J  Sec.  18  and  the 
N.  W.  i  Sec.  19,  T.  14.  R.  3,  which  land  he  still  owns.  Arriving 
home  he  celebrated  his  marriage  with  Miss  Lydia  Ann  Edwards,  of 
Hamilton  county,  Ohio,  on  the  6th  of  October.  In  1843  he  settled 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Edwards  river,  below  New  Boston,  where  he  ran 
a  saw-mill  in  connection  with  William  Willit,  now  of  Keithsburg,  and 
Isaiah  Brown,  who  died  in  California.  He  was  elected  the  same  year 
to  the  oiflce  of  justice  of  the  peace.  At  that  time  there  was  no  voting 
precinct  at  Keithsburg,  and  elections  were  held  at  what  is  at  present 
known  as  Glancey's  mills.  The  death  of  his  wife  in  1850  broke  up  his 
family;  and  the  next  to  the  oldest  child,  Sydnie  Elizabeth,  and  the 
next  to  the  youngest,  Isaac  Edward,  were  taken  and  raised  by  their 
uncle,  William  Edwards,  of  Hamilton  county,  Ohio.  They  still  live  in 
that  state.  The  other  children  were  Emily  Erances,  Rachel  Elvira, 
John  W.,  Mary  Eliza,  and  Nancy  Jane,  both  of  which  died  in  inftmcy. 
Immediately  following  this  change  in  his  domestic  affairs,  he  went  to 
trading  on  the  river  between  Cincinnati  and  New  Orleans,  and  was 
thus  engaged  for  Ave  years.  In  1856  he  returned  to  Mercer  county, 
and  from  1857  to  1860  lived  in  Aledo.  Between  the  last  date  and  1869 
his  home  was  in  Keithsburg  and  Oquawka,  and  the  rest  of  the  time 
until  now  in  Aledo,  where  he  has  been  carrying  on  trade  in  lumber. 
In  politics  Mr.  Edwards  is  a  republican.  He  was  formerly  a  whig, 
and  relates  as  an- incident  of  the  early  political  history  of  Keithsburg 
township  that  his  party  once  held  a  ]:)rimary  meeting  to  elect  delegates 
to  the  county  convention,  and  that  himself,  AVilliam  Willett  and  John 
McH.  Wilson  composed  the  attendants.      Willett  presided,  Edwards 


^c^^. 


/>2<^^^^C<^ 


MERUER    TOWNSHIP.  593 

acted  as  secretary,  and  Wilson  made  tlie  motions.  The  meeting  was 
decidedly  harmonious.  Mr.  Edwards  has  for  many  years  been  a  warm 
advocate  of  the  temi)erance  cause,  and  is  at  present  directing  his  efforts 
and  influence  to  assist  in  bi'inging  about  an  entire  prohibition  of  tlie 
manufacture  and  sale  of  spirituous,  vinous  and  malt  liquors. 

Alexander  McArthur,  circuit  clerk,  Aledo,  only  child  of  Alexan- 
der and  Ann  (McGregor)  McArthur,  was  born  in  Perthshire,  Scotland, 
February  4,  1850.  lie  came  with  his  widowed  mother  to  this  coun- 
try, landing  at  New  York  July  4,  1856.  The  following  spring  they 
came  to  Aledo,  where  he  has  since  resided.  Mrs.  McArthur,  to  whom 
our  subject  acknowledges  with  true  filial  gratitude  that  he  owes  all  he 
is  or  may  ever  be,  supported  herself  and  her  son  until  I860,  when  he 
began  to  work  out.  From  this  date  till  1870  he  worked  as  a  farm 
hand,  improving  the  winters  by  attending  district  school.  In  1871, 
he  obtained  employment  in  the  store  ofMcKinney  &  Lorimer,  as  book- 
keeper and  salesman.  In  the  autumn  of  1874,  his  old  employer,  Mr. 
Lorimer,  being  circuit  clerk,  he  was  taken  into  his  office  as  deputy. 
In  January,  1876,  the  clerk  resigned,  and  Mr.  McArthur  was  appointed 
by  "the  judge  of  the  circuit  court  to  fill  the  unexpired  term  of  eleven 
months.  In  the  fall  of  1876,  he  was  elected  by  the  republicans  to  oc- 
cupy the  office,  and  in  1880,  was  re-elected.  He  is  a  member  of  Aledo 
Lodge,  No.  252,  A.F.A.M.,  of  Keithsburg  Chapter,  No.  i7,  and  Everts 
Commandery,  No.  18,  of  Rock  Island. 

Isaac  N.  Dunlap,  of  the  firm  of  Richey  &  Dunlap,  Aledo,  was 
born  in  Pennsylvania,  May  12,  1836.  His  parents  were  Andrew  and 
Jemima  (Roby)  Dunlap.  In  1857,  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  after  living 
one  year  in  Knox  county  he  made  permanent  settlement  in  Mercer. 
In  June,  1861,  he  volunteered  in  Co.  I,  17th  111.  Inf.,  and  fought  his 
only  battle  at  Fort  Donelson  where  he  lost  his  left  leg  by  a  six  pound 
shell.  The  missile  took  off  two  men's  heads  before  it  lodged  in  his 
thigh.  He  was  left  six  days  in  an  old  house  on  the  battle-field  after 
his  leg  was  amputated,  without  care,  in  expectation  that  he  would  die. 
He  recovered  and  was  discharged  in  April,  1862.  The  shell  is  pre- 
served in  the  museum  of  relics  of  the  war  in  Washington,  and  this 
case  is  cited  in  the  medical  history  of  the  rebellion.  Mr.  Dunlap  was 
elected  county  treasurer  in  1865,  by  the  republican  party,  of  which  he 
is  a  staunch  and  zealous  member,  and  discharged  the  duties  of  that 
position  with  credit  and  satisfaction  six  years.  On  January  23,  1866, 
he  celebrated  his  marriage  with  Miss  Tirza  A.  Pinkerton.  They  are 
both  communicants  in  the  Methodist  church.  In  1874,  Mr.  Dunlap 
engaged  in  selling  groceries  with  John  W.  Dilley.  Afterward  he  was 
alone  in  the  same  trade  ;  and  next  was  out  of  business  two  years.  In 
34 


594  HISTORY   OF   IVIERCER   AOT)    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

1877  he  began  dealing  in  boots  and  slioes  in  company  with  William 
Day  ;  the  latter  died  the  next  year,  and  he  closed  out  soon  after.  In 
September,  1879,  he  formed  his  present  partnership  with  C.  S.  Kichey, 
Esq.,  in  general  merchandising. 

Benjamin  F.  Townsley,  brick  and  tile  manufacturer,  Aledo,  was 
born  in  England  in  1850,  and  in  1852  was  brought  by  his  parents, 
John  and  Anna  (Stockdale)  Townsley,  to  Toronto,  Canada.  In  1867 
he  came  to  Mercer  county,  and  during  the  first  five  or  six  years  worked 
at  blacksmithing,  afterward  he  engaged  in  the  brick  and  tile  business. 
He  was  manufacturing  brick  in  New  Boston  in  company  with  his 
brother  James  ;  in  1 876  they  sold  out  and  started  again  at  Aledo.  His 
brother  died  the  next  year,  and  he  has  since  managed  the  work  with- 
out a  partner.  In  1874  they  began  making  drain  tile  on  a  small  scale, 
and  now  Mr.  Townsley  has  extended  the  business  to  include  a  brick 
yard  at  Joy.  In  the  manufacture  of  tile  Mr.  Townsley  uses  Tifl'any's 
centennial  brick  and  tile  machine  for  molding,  and  the  square,  down- 
draft  kilns  invented  by  the  same  patentee  for  burning.  This  business 
represents  an  industry  of  increasing  importance  that  is  destined  to 
exert  an  incalcuable  influence  on  the  productive  wealth  of  the  country. 
The  advantages  of  tile  draining  are  thoroughly  proven  and  becoming 
well  understood,  and  the  amount  of  land  tiled  each  year  is  immensely 
large.  Mr  Townsley  is  an  Odd-Fellow,  and  a  member  of  Aledo  Lodge 
No.  136,  I.O.G.T. 

William  A.  Lorimer,  merchant,  Aledo,  born  in  Perth,  Scotland,  in 
1840,  emigrated  with  his  parents  in  1848  and  lived  first  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, then  a  short  time  in  Ohio,  and  in  1853  came  to  Keithsburg.  He 
was  taken  from  school  when  twelve  years  of  age  and  put  to  work  in 
the  Hudson  (Ohio)  "Observer"  printing  oifice.  On  arriving  at 
Keithsburg  he  went  to  clerking,  and  continued  to  be  so  employed  until 
the  breaking  out  of  the  war.  He  promptly  enlisted  in  April,  1861,  in 
Co.  I,  17th  111.  Inf.,  and  was  fighting  the  battles  of  his  country  a  little 
over  three  years.  The  most  prominent  actions  in  which  he  was  engaged 
were  Fredericktown,  Missouri,  Fort  Donelson,  Shiloh,  and  Vicks- 
burg.  To  this  list  of  great  battles  should  be  added  the  usual  amount 
of  small  fighting.  He  went  out  as  sergeant  of  his  company  and  was 
first  promoted  to  second  lieutenant,  and  next  to  cajitain,  which  latter 
rank  he  held  when  mustered  out  at  Springfield  in  June,  1864.  After 
returning  to  civil  life  he  spent  the  first  year  in  Chicago  ;  then  coming 
back  to  Keithsburg  he  clerked  for  C.  S.  Orth,  after  which,  in  1868,  he 
was  selected  circuit  clerk  by  the  republicans  of  the  county.  This  ofiice 
he  filled  two  terms  of  four  years  each.  He  was  trading  in  dry  goods 
in  company  with  John  McKinney  Jr.,  a  part  of  the  time  during  his 


MEECER    TOWNSHIP.  595 

incumbency  as  an  officeholder,  and  since  his  retirement  from  public 
business  has  occupied  his  present  stand  on  the  southwest  corner  of 
Seventh  street  and  College  avenue.  Mr.  Lorimer  was  married  in  1868 
to  Miss  Orpha  J.  Calhoun.  They  have  had  five  children,  three  of 
wdiich  are  dead. 

MoRDECAi  L.  Marsh,  justice  of  the  peace,  Aledo,  was  born  in 
Eahway,  Xew  Jersey,  in  1813.  His  parents  were  Solomon  and  Fanny 
(Brown)  Marsh,  whose  Quaker  ancestors  came  to  America  in  the  latter 
part  of  the  seventeenth  century,  to  escape  the  English  prosecution  of 
their  sect.  In  New  York  Mr.  Marsh  learned  the  cabinet  and  piano 
trade.  In  183-1  he  settled  in  Buifalo  and  embarked  in  land  specula- 
tions. When  the  crash  of  1837  came  he  was  caught,  like  the  rest  of 
men,  at  a  disadvantage,  and  lost  about  all  his  property.  In  the  same 
year  he  emigrated  to  Ohio,  and  lived  there  till  1852,  when  he  came  to 
Illinois  and  located  his  family  in  Millersburg  township,  this  county, 
and  made  farming  his  occupation  until  Christmas,  1857.  He  then 
moved  to  Aledo,  having  since  resided  here,  and  continuously  held  the 
office  of  justice  of  the  peace,  his  first  election  having  been  in  tlie  spring 
of  1861.  He  has  been  treasurer  of  Mercer  township  several  years.  In 
1832  he  was  united  in  mai-riage  with  Miss  Eliza  Gregory.  She  has 
been  an  unfortunate  invalid  forty-eight  years.  Both  were  at  first 
members  of  the  Baptist  church,  Mr,  Marsh  joining  in  1835  ;  but  about 
1855  they  became  enrolled  in  the  Presbyterian  church,  to  which  they 
now  belong,  and  in  which  our  subject  has  been  a  deacon  nearly  twenty- 
five  years.  These  parents  have  one  son,  William.  Mr.  Marsh  was  a 
whig  until  that  party  disappeared  as  a  political  organization ;  since 
then  he  has  been  a  republican. 

John  G.  McGuffin,  grocer,  Aledo,  was  born  in  Washington  county,. 
Pennsylvania,  in  1829.  He  taught  school  seven  years  in  Pennsyl- 
vania, Ohio,  and  Illinois.  In  1855  he  arrived  in  the  latter  state  and 
settled  in  Warren  county ;  in  1857  he  came  to  Aledo  and  began  clerk- 
ing for  Dr.  Isaac  Edwards,  and  remained  in  his  service  until  lie  went 
into  the  army.  He  volunteered  in  August,  1862,  in  company  K,  102d 
reg.  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  on  the  organization  of  the  company  was  elected 
orderly  sergeant.  He  remained  with  his  regiment  through  all  its 
earlier  and  disciplinary  service,  and  finally  when  it  left  Lavergne, 
Tennessee,  for  the  front,  in  February,  186-1,  he  was  sent  back  to  Xasli- 
ville,  unfit  for  duty,  and  in  October  following  was  honorably  discharged 
on  account  of  disability.  On  his  return  home  he  took  charge  of  Luvin's 
store,  in  that  gentleman's  absence  on  a  visit  to  the  old  country ;  then 
he  clerked  for  Poage  ct  Senter  four  years.  He  was  next  a  member  of 
the.  dry  goods  fii-m  of  Richey  Bros.  &  McGuffin  for  four  years,  and 


596  HISTOKY   OF   MERCER   A^S'D    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

after  that  was  in  the  grocery  trade  in  the  firm  of  Atchison  &  McGufHn. 
The  hist  sold  out,  and  he  soon  started  in  business  alone.  Afterward 
M.  E.  McDonakl  purchased  a  half  interest,  and  in  May,  1881,  was 
succeeded  in  the  partnership  by  H.  D.  Marks,  Mr.  McGuffin's  present 
partner.  The  subject  of  this  notice  was  married,  February  25,  1857, 
to  Miss  Maggie  S.  Harris.  They  have  one  son,  William  Rice,  now 
])reparing  liimself  for  the  profession  of  medicine.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
McGuffin  are  Presbyterians ;  and  he  is  a  republican. 

James  C  Wright,  retired  fjirmer,  Aledo,  is  a  descendant  of  revo- 
lutionary stock,  both  his  grandfathers  having  been  soldiers  in  the  war 
for  independence.  Mr.  AVright's  parents,  Arunah  and  Polly  (Went- 
worth)  Wright,  lived  in  Oneida  county,  New  York,  where  there  were 
born  to  them  six  sons,  two  of  whom  died  young ;  those  who  grew  u]) 
to  manhood  were  Alpheus  W.,  Horace  E.,  George  W.,  and  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  who  was  born  in  the  year  1817.  The  mother  died  in 
1829,  and  the  father  in  1838.  In  the  latter  year  Alpheus  came  to 
Mercer  county  from  Ohio,  to  which  stat-e  he  had  previously  emigrated. 
The  following  year  the  three  remaining  brothers  left  their  native  state 
and  came  here,  and  the  four  settled  at  Warr's  Corners,  in  Richland 
township.  In  the  autumn  of  1842  these  brothers  made  the  lirst  settle- 
ment at  Preemption  Corners,  four  miles  west  of  their  original  location, 
though  some  others  had  made  homes  in  the  neighborhood  a  few  years 
earlier.  In  1846  Mr.  Wrii>:ht  rode  back  to  New  York  on  horseback,  in 
company  with  Andrew  Conant  and  wife,  and  led  six  horses.  He  had 
come  here  without  means.  He  remained  in  Xew  York  till  1851,  and 
directly  on  his  return  was  married,  March  17,  to  Miss  Julia  A.  Stone. 
She  was  a  native  of  Mansfield,  Connecticut,  but  was  raised  in  Mr. 
AYright's  own  county,  where  they  became  acquainted.  Her  father's 
family  removed  to  Lee  county  in  the  fall  of  1850,  and  then  the  next 
year  he  followed  to  Illinois,  and  this  couple  were  married.  They  have 
two  living  children  :  Xewell  N.  and  Louie  A.  Mr.  AV right  was  suj^er- 
visor  of  Preemption  township  two*terms.  He  was  originally  a  demo- 
crat, but  in  1856  joined  the  new  republican  party. 

William  AA'^inders,  produce  dealer,  Aledo,  son  of  John  and  Eliza- 
beth (Paden)  AA^inders,  was  born  in  Fairfield  county,  Ohio,  September 
25,  1836.  In  1856  he  came  to  Mercer  county  and  settled  in  the  country 
near  Aledo,  and  worked  at  his  trade  of  plastering  and  two  years  at 
farming.  The  war  of  the  rebellion  being  in  progress,  on  August  13, 
1862,  he  volunteered  as  a  private  in  company  K,  102d  reg.  111.  Yol. 
Inf  On  the  organization  of  the  company  he  was  appointed  third  cor- 
poral, but  always  did  duty  as  sergeant,  and  was  mustered  out  as  first 
sergeant.     He  was  with  his  regiment  during  its  whole  term  of  service, 


MERCER    TOWNSHIP.  597 

except  one  week,  when  it- was  operating  and  lighting  at  Hesacca.  This 
embraced  the  Atlanta  campaign,  which  Gen.  Halleck  pronounced  the 
greatest  of  the  war,  the  march  to  the  sea,  and  the  campaign  of  the 
Carolinas,  to  which  may  be  added  the  march  to  Washington  and  the 
grand  review.  lie  helped  to  build  the  three  hundred  miles  of  breast- 
works and  the  same  amount  of  corduroy  road  which  Sherman's  army 
made,  fought  in  several  battles,  including  Feachtree  creek  and 
Averysboro,  and  scores  of  skirmishes  and  small  lights.  His  muster- 
out  was  at  Washington,  D.  C,  June  6,  1865.  He  was  married  June 
12,  1S62,  to  Miss  Catharine  E.  Detwiler.  In  the  spring  of  1866  he 
removed  with  his  family  to  Finley,  Hancock  countly,  Ohio,  where  lie 
clerked  in  a  dry  goods  store.  In  1867  he  came  back  and  remained  a 
month  or  two,  after  whicli  he  again  went  to  Ohio  and  stayed  another 
vear,  then  returned  to  Aledo,  where  he  has  since  lived.  He  was 
butchering  three  years,  the  rest  of  the  time  he  has  been  in  his  present 
business.  Mr.  AVinder's  children  are:  Julia  E.,  George  S.,  Thornton 
D.,  Willie  M.,  Charles  Henry,  and  Araminta  Pearl.  He  has  been 
town  trustee  one  year,  and  is  a  mason,  a  workman  and  a  republican. 

Martin  Boyd,  farmer,  Aledo,  oldest  living  chikl  of  Miles  and 
Catherine  (Fisher)  Boyd,  was  born  in  Madison  county,  Indiana,  Feb- 
ruary 12,  1834.  In  1839  his  father  emigrated  to  Mercer  county  and 
settled  in  what  is  now  Eliza  township,  and  four  years  afterward  died 
in  Indiana,  while  there  on  business.  His  mother  married  again  to 
James  Turner,  and  is.  living  on  the  old  homestead.  April  6,  1856, 
Mr.  Boyd  was  married  to  Miss  Lydia,  daughter  of  Martin  Bear,  one 
of  the  original  settlers  of  Eliza  township,  and  the  same  spring  settled 
on  the  N.  W.  J  Sec.  16,  Duncan  township,  and  lived  there  twenty 
years.  In  1876  he  moved  to  Aledo.  He  was  generally  and  quite  ex- 
tensively engaged  while  on  his  farm  in  feeding  cattle.  For  a  number 
of  years  he  was  supervisor  and  assessor  of  Eliza,  and  held,  besides, 
other  offices  in  his  township.  In  1880  he  was  elected  by  the  democrats 
to  the  legislature,  where  he  attended  the  regular  session  of  1880-81, 
and  the  recent  special  session  convened  the  present  year  (1882)  by 
Gov.  Cullom.  He  has  served  on  the  committees  on  county  and  town- 
ship organization,  library,  and  miscellanies.  Mr.  Boyd  has  never  been 
identified  with  any  other  than  the  democratic  party.  He  was  actively 
associated  with  his  friends  in  the  farmers'  movement  from  1873  to 
1875,  was  master  of  a  grange,  and  delegate  therefrom  to  the  state 
grange.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Boyd  have  three  children :  Catharine,  Lenore 
and  Bertha.     Catharine  is  the  wife  of  Minor  Miller. 

Charles  F.  Durston,  deputy  circuit  clerk,  Aledo,  second  child  of 
James  and  Philadelphia  (Bridger)  Dui'ston,  was  born  in  Mercer  county, 


598  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

August  14,  1837.  His  parents  emigrated  from  ISTew  York  to  this 
county  in  1836  and  settled  in  Rivoli  township,  where  thej  lived  till 
their  death.  The  mother  departed  this  life  in  1866,  and  the  father,  an 
Englishman  bj  birth,  in  1878.  This  subject  attended  school  one  year 
at  Wheaton  College.  Combining  his  studies  there  with  other  instruc- 
tion which  he  received,  he  secured  a  very  good  English  education. 
He  was  married  in  186*5  to  Miss  Sarah  Gould,  of  this  county,  and  by 
her  has  had  three  children  :  Lizzie,  Alice  and  Adelphia.  Both  parents 
are  members  of  the  Congregational  church.  Mr.  Durston  lived  by 
farming  until  1873.  In  that  year  he  was  elected  county  clerk,  and 
filled  that  office  with  accej^tance  to  the  people  till  his  successor  was 
elected  in  1877.  He  has  been  deputy  circuit  clerk  the  last  three  years. 
Politically  he  is  a  republican. 

Joseph  B.  Moork,  cabinet  maker  and  furniture  dealer,  Aledo,  w^as 
born  March  14,  1827,  and  is  the  youngest  living  son  of  Foreman  and 
Anna  (Worley)  Moore.  He  followed  carpentering,  farming,  undei'- 
taking  and  boating  in  Ohio,  and  was  several  years  justice  of  the  peace. 
In  1865  he  emigrated  to  Mercer  county  and  for  ten  years  worked  an 
eighty-acre  farm  adjoining  Aledo.  In  1875  he  gave  up  farming  and 
engaged  in  his  present  business.  In  1850  he  celebrated  his  nuptuals 
with  Miss  Margaret  McCall.  Their  family  has  comprised  three  child- 
ren :  Robert  Iv.,  music  teacher  ;  John  W.,  died  in  infancy  ;  and  Mary 
Ellen,  who  married  O.  P.  Arthur,  and  is  now  dead.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Moore  are  communicants  in  the  Methodist  churcli.  He  is  church  trus- 
tee and  has  been  steward  and  class  leader.  He  has  filled  the  office  of 
trustee  of  the  town  of  Aledo  five  years  and  was  president  of  the  board 
part  of  the  time.  Li  politics  he  is  a  democrat,  as  a  rule,  though  he  has 
voted  for  republican  candidates  for  president,  and  does  not  adhere 
strictly  to  party  lines.  Mr.  Moore's  father  was  the  .son  of  Joseph 
Moore,  and  was  born  in  Mason  county,  Kentucky,  June  20,  1792.  He 
came  with  his  parents  to  Scioto  county,  Ohio,  when  six  years  old  and 
lived  in  that  county,  except  a  year  or  two  he  was  in  Adams  county 
when  first  married,  until  he  came  west  with  his  son  Joseph  in  1865. 
He  lives  in  Aledo,  and  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety  years  retains 
goodly  healtli  and  activity.  He  was  married  in  1814  to  Miss  Anna 
Worley.  They  had  nine  children  :  Patience,  Rebecca,  Leroy,  Charles, 
Scienda  (dead),  Joseph,  John  (dead),  Jedediah  (dead),  and  Asbury 
(dead).  The  mother  of  these  children  died  about  1849,  and  a  year 
afterward  the  father  married  Mrs.  Rebecca  Iloobler,  who  is  still  living. 
Mr.  Moore  united  with  the  Methodist  church  at  the  age  of  twelve  and 
has  always  been  a  steadfast,  zealous  laborer  in  the  Master's  vineyard. 
He  has  been  a  licensed  exhorter  over  fortv  vears,  and  has  held  official 


MERCER   TOWNS^IIP.  599 

connection  with  the  church  at  different  times  as  trustee,  steward  and 
class  leader.  He  is  pensioned  by  the  government  for  service  in  the 
war  of  1812.  He  was  mustered  as  a  soldier  in  his  own  county  and 
after  marching  to  Sandusky  was  discharged. 

Thomas  Maddux,  farmer  and  stock  raiser,  Aledo,  is  a  native  of 
Fleming  county,  Kentucky,  where  he  was  born  July  19,  1820.  His 
father,  George  B.  Maddux,  was  three  times  married,  and  the  subject  of 
this  was  the  third  child  among  four  sons  and  five  daughters  by  the 
second  wife,  whose  maiden  name  was  Sarah  Green.  Mr.  Maddux's 
father  was  born  and  reared  in  Fauquier  county,  Virginia.  He  married 
for  his  last  wife  Elizabeth  Hill  and  by  this  union  became  the  father  of 
two  sons,  making  twenty-one  children  of  his  own.  He  died  in  Ken- 
tucky, and  his  wife  in  Aberdeen,  Ohio,  in  1875.  Mr.  Maddux  learned 
the  tinner's  trade  in  Maysville,  Kentucky,  with  Joseph  Fi-ank  ;  in  18-13 
he  removed  to  Laurel,  Franklin  county,  Indiana,  and  lived  there,  en- 
gaged at  his  trade  and  carrying  on  the  hardware  business,  till  June, 
1857,  when  he  located  his  family  in  Aledo.  He  continued  the  same 
business  here  till  1868  and  then  sold  out  to  W.  PI.  Holmes.  On  his 
settlement  in  the  place  he  erected  the  first  building  ever  put  up  on  the 
business  lot  now  occupied  by  Mr.  Holmes  on  College  avenue.  In  1873 
Mr.  Maddux  resumed  his  old  business  on  the  corner  of  Seventh  and 
Maple  streets  under  the  name  of  Maddux  &  Son.  In  March,  1876,  he 
sold  to  Detwiler  &  Son  and  retired  from  trade.  He  had  previously 
become  interested  in  farming  and  is  now  the  owner  of  two  good  farms 
near  the  county  seat.  He  started  a  poor  boy  and  lias  made  a  success 
of  his  undertakings.  After  serving  his  apprenticeship  he  had  $11-1 
with  which  he  began  business.  He  has  been  twice  married  ;  first  in 
1846  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Williams,  of  Laurel,  Indiana.  The  issue  of  this 
marriage  were  three  children  :  Elizabeth  (died  in  infancy),  Lewis  S., 
and  Frank  L.  Mrs.  Maddux  died  July  25,  1855,  and  on  January  5, 
1862,  Mr.  Maddux  was  married  to  Mrs.  Phebe  Whitelaw,  of  Franklin 
county,  Indiana.  They  have  had  a  little  daughter,  Kate  A.,  who  died 
when  three  years  old.  Mr.  Maddux  is  a  Mason,  an  Odd-Fellow  and  a 
republican. 

Charles  C.  Wordin,  county  clerk,  Aledo,  oldest  son  of  Joseph  J. 
and  Sophia  (Brown)  Wordin,  was  born  in  Keithsburg  township,  Sep- 
tember 25,  1840.  He  enlisted  August  5,  1861,  in  Co.  E,  9th  111.  Inf , 
and  served  with  credit  in  that  command  until  the  expiration  of  his  term, 
in  August,  1864,  when  he  was  sent  back  from  before  Atlanta  and  mus- 
tered out  at  Springfield,  Illinois.  He  fought  at  Fort  Donelson,  Shiloh, 
battle  of  Corinth,  October  3'  and  4,  1862,  and  after  his  regiment  was 
mounted,  in  March,  1863,   was  continually  on  scouting  service,  and 


600  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

participated  in  numerous  small  fights.  He  was  also  engaged  in  the 
arduous  service  of  the  Atlanta  campaign.  He  enlisted  a  second 
time  March,  1865,  in  Co.  F,  4th  reg.  U.  S.  Vet.  Vol.,  an  organization 
formed  hv  Gen.  Hancock,  to  which  none  were  admitted  who  had  not 
seen  at  least  two  years  service.  One  year  was  spent  in  garrison  at 
Columbus,  Ohio,  Wasliington  city,  and  Louisville,  Kentucky.  In  March, 
1866,  he  was  nmstered  out  at  the  latter  city.  After  the  war  he  kept 
books  in  Keithsburg  five  and  a  half  years  ;  then  he  was  running  a 
hotel  two  and  one-half  years  ;  and  in  November,  1877,  he  was  elected 
county  clerk,  and  is  still  an  incumbent  of  the  office.  Mr.  Wordin  has 
been  an  Odd-Fellow  since  1868.  December  18,  1872,  he  celebrated 
his  marriage  with  Miss  Jennie  McPhee.  In  1876,  they  lost  their 
only  child,  a  son,  who  was  three  years  old.  Mr.  Wordin's  father  was 
born  in  JRensselaer  county,  New  York,  in  1815.  He  came  to  this 
county  from  Ohio,  in  1837,  and  settled  in  Keithsburg  in  March,  1838, 
living  at  the  landing  till  1840.  Moving  out  two  miles,  he  lived  on  a 
farm  three  years  ;  then  he  returned  and  has  since  had  his  home  in  the 
town.  He  followed  his  trade  of  wagon-making  till  1862  ;  since  that  he 
has  been  a  house  painter.  He  is  one  of  the  few  venerable  pioneers 
left  as  monuments  whose  shadows  link  the  present  with  the  aboriginal 
period  in  Mercer  county. 

William  Henry  Holmes,  hardware  and  stove  dealer,  Aledo.  oldest 
son  of  William  and  Hannah  (Lantey)  Holmes,  was  born  in  Hull,  Eng- 
land, February  15,  1847.  His  father  emigrated  with  his  family  to 
Bi-antford,  Canada  West,  in  1850  ;  and  in  1857  he  removed  to  Wiscon- 
sin. The  next  year  they  came  to  Aledo,  where  they  have  all  since 
lived.  After  coming  here,  Mr.  Holmes  attended  school  and  worked  at 
farm  labor  until  the  spring  of  1864,  when  he  commenced  to  learn  the 
tinner's  trade.  At  the  end  of  two  months  he  volunteered  in  the  one 
hundred  days'  service  in  Co.  F,  140th  111.  Inf.  He  was  mustered  into 
the  service  at  Dixon,  Illinois,  and  after  five  and  one-half  months  spent 
in  doing  guard  and  garrison  duty  in  Missouri  and  Tennessee,  he  was 
mustered  out  at  Camp  Fry,  Chicago.  He  returned  to  Aledo  and  fin- 
ished his  trade,  with  Thomas  Maddux,  Esq.,  and  in  1868  bought  out 
his  employer,  and  has  been  in  business  on  the  same  ground  since.  He 
was  married  in  1874  to  Miss  Mary  C.  Hause.  The  fruits  of  this  union 
have  been  two  children,  Clyde  W.  and  Fannie  May.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Holmes  are  both  members  of  the  Methodist  church.  He  has  been 
steward  in  the  church,  trustee  of  the  town,  is  a  member  of  Aledo  Lodge, 
A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  and  a  republican  in  politics. 

Daniel  T.  Hindman,  county  treasurer-,  Aledo,  was  born  in  Butler 
county,  Ohio,  February  22,  1839.     His  parents  were  Dr.  Andrew  and 


MERCEli   TOWNSHIP.  601 

Margaret  (Trembly)  Ilindman.  The  former  died  in  Union  county, 
Indiana,  in  1852 ;  and  the  next  year  the  mother  came  with  her  five 
sons  to  Rock  Island  county,  Illinois,  and  in  1851  settled  with  her 
family  in  New  Boston.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  received  an 
academic  education;  in  1857  he  went  to  Richmond,  Indiana,  and 
attended  school  one  year ;  afterward  he  studied  medicine  a  year  and  a 
half;  and  in  1860  returned  to  Mercer  county.  In  April,  1861,  he 
enlisted  as  a  private  in  Co.  I,  ITtli  111.  Inf.,  and  was  in  the  military 
service  over  live  years.  He  fought  at  Frederickstown,  Missouri,  Octo- 
ber 21,  1861,  at  Fort  Donelson,  Shiloli,  Corinth,  luka,  the  Hatchie,  and 
Vicksburg.  In  November,  1863,  he  came  north  to  Springfield,  and 
then  to  Mercer  county,  as  recruiting  sergeant,  and  during  the  winter 
obtained  twenty-one  recruits  for  his  regiment.  He  returned  with  them 
to  Vicksburg,  and  by  order  of  the  commanding  general,  Slocum, 
organized  these  recruits  and  the  veterans  of  the  ITth  into  a  battalion  of 
two  companies.  These  were  allowed  to  elect  their  officers,  and  Mr. 
Hindman  was  chosen  captain  by  the  "  veteran"  company.  By  order 
of  Gen.  McPherson,  commanding  the  Army  of  the  Tennessee,  this 
detachment  was  consolidated  w^th  the  8tli  111.  Inf ,  in  June,  1861,  and 
owing  to  the  resultant  change  in  the  line  officers,  Mr.  Ilindman 
accepted  a  second  lieutenant's  commission  in  Co.  E,  to  which  the 
"veterans'"  fi-om  the  ITth  were  assigned.  He  was  in  command  of 
this  company  during  the  remainder  of  his  service,  and  drew  pay  as 
commanding  officer.  After  the  consolidation  he  fought  at  Jackson, 
Mississippi,  in  July,  1864,  and  at  Spanish  Fort  and  Fort  Blakely, 
Mobile.  After  that  he  was  stationed  a  year  at  Shreveport,  Louisiana, 
and  in  Texas,  and  was  mustered  out  at  Baton  Rouge,  May  4,  1866. 
He  soon  after  went  into  business  in  New  Boston,  which  he  continued 
till  the  fall  of  1875,  when  he  was  elected  on  the  republican  ticket  to  the 
office  of  county  treasurer,  to  which  he  has  been  successively  elected 
and  is  now  servmg  liis  third  term.  He  is  a  member  of  the  A.O.U.  W., 
and  has  been  a  Mason  since  1866.  In  the  latter  year  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Mis§  Yiola  J.  Willits.     They  have  a  son  and  a  daughter. 

Henry  Kimel,  (deceased),  was  born  in  Somerset  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, August  6,  1800,  and  was  a  son  of  Isaac  and  Mary  J.  (Musser) 
Kimel,  botli  natives  of  Germany.  In  1808,  the  family  emigrated  to 
Trumbull,  since  Mahoning  county,  Ohio,  where  the  old  people  lived  till 
death.  Henry  Kimel  was  there  married  to  Miss  Anna  M.  Hirst, 
whose  father  was  from  England  and  whose  mother  was  from  Ireland. 
Nine  children  were  born  in  Ohio.  In  1810,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kimel,  with 
five  of  the  children,  James  W.,  Thomas  K.,  Jonathan  T.,  Chauncey 
L.  and  William  P. ,  emigrated  via  the  Ohio  and  Mississij^pi  rivers  to 


602  HISTORY   OF   MERCER    AND    HEXDERSOX    COUXTIES. 

Illinois,  landing  at  Oquawka,  June  10.  They  immediately  took  teams 
for  what  is  now  Ohio  Grove  township,  Mercer  county.  Latter  the 
other  four  children,  Isaac,  Eliza  A.,  Mary  J.  and  Julia,  arrived  after 
a  journey  overland  of  thirty  days.  Mr.  Kiniel  entered  160  acres  of 
congress  land  near  the  center  of  Ohio  Grove  township,  also  secured  a 
quarter  section  of  military  land.  There  were  but  few  settlers  in  the 
township  at  that  time.  No  roads  were  laid  out  for  travel  but  all  was 
wild  and  unbroken  from  Oquawka  to  where  they  settled.  The  usual 
improvements  were  begun  and  carried  out.  Small  crops  were  raised ; 
corn  was  at  one  time  six  and  a  quarter  cents  a  bushel,  and  the  postage 
on  a  letter  twenty -live  cents,  thus  four  bushels  of  corn  being  required 
to  pay  postage  on  one  letter.  But  Uncle  Sam  allowed,  an  envelope  to 
be  mied  without  anj  extra  due  stamps  for  a  long  letter.  One  child, 
John  Harvey,  was  born  in  18-12.  A  sad  bereavement  befell  the 
family  when,  August  IS,  1816,  death  claimed  the  wife  and 
mother.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  Mr.  Kimel 
subsequently  married  Mrs.  Catharine  Case,  of  Rock  Island  county, 
who  became  the  mother  of  four  children  :  Anna,  John  H.,  Eddie,  and 
Aseneath.  She  died  July  5,  1871.  Mr.  Kimel,  in  1848,  sold  the  first 
purchase  and  bought  what  is  known  as  the  Lamar  farm,  which  he  im- 
proved. In  1863  lie  moved  to  Eock  Island  county,  where  he  lived 
till  1878.  He  then  passed  his  remaining  years  about  two  miles  south- 
west of  Yiola,  Mercer  county,  where  he  died  October  10,  1880.  Re- 
ligiously be  was  a  Presbyterian  ;  politically  an  old  line  whig,  and  later  a 
republican.  When  twelve  years  old  he  volunteered  in  the  war  of  1812, 
but  was  rejected  on  account  of  youthfulness.  Shortly  before  his  death 
he  purchased  the  McBride  and  Stephens  saw-mill,  which  he  sold  to  his 
son,  James  W.  James  W.  Kimel,  the  fourth  child  of  the  first  family 
of  Henry  Kimel,  was  born  February  27,  1831,  in  Trumbull  county, 
Ohio,  near  Youngstown.  His  youth  was  spent  on  the  farm,  with  but 
meager  educational  advantages.  Several  seasons  he  broke  prairie  with 
five  and  six  yoke  of  oxen.  In  1848,  he  spent  a  few  months  at  school 
in  Ohio,  and  in  the  following  year  returned  to  the  farm  in  Illinois.  In 
1850,  he  was  seized  with  the  California  fever.  With  a  company  from 
Moline,  Illinois,  April  4,  he  started  overland  for  the  far  west,  where 
he  arrived  in  Sacramento  August  17,  following,  after  the  experiences 
incident  to  such  a  journey.  After  remaining,  with  considerable  suc- 
cess, financially,  till  1853,  he  returned  in  January  to  Illinois.  He 
purchased  the  McBride  and  Stephens  saw-mill  of  his  father,  which  he 
conducted  for  four  years.  In  1858,  he  displaced  tlie  saw-mill  by  a 
grist-mill,  on  the  same  site.  The  grist-mill  he  run  till  1876,  when  he 
erected  his  present  large  structure,  36x46,  three  story  and  basement. 


MERCER   TOWNSHIP.  603 

His  attention  having  been  called  to  the  "  wire  transmission  power," 
he  visited  several  mills  for  examination  and  information.  Satistied  as 
to  its  efficacy  he  determined  to  adopt  it.  He  built  his  mill  300  feet 
from  the  stream  and  prepared  for  his  new  and  lately  invented  "  power," 
which  the  aged  and  knowing  ones  predicted  would  fail.  Time  and 
use  have  proven  the  success  of  this  departure.  The  mill  is  generally 
in  action.  A  small  stock  of  groceries  is  kept  to  accommodate  farm- 
ers. In  1854,  Mr.  Ivimel  purchased  the  quarter  section  of  land  on 
which  he  lives.  In  1S74  he  added  a  quarter,  and  in  1876  an  eighty. 
He  was  married  May  4,  1854,  to  Mary  B.  Burnet,  who  was  born  in 
Salem,  New  York,  August  7,  1832.  Her  parents,  Andrew  and  Ma- 
hettable  Burnet,  were  of  Scotch  descent.  They  emigrated  from  New 
York  to  Ohio  Grove  township,  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  in  1838.  They 
were  emphatically  pioneers  who  dared  the  new  and  wild  west  for 
homes.  He  died  here  May  31,  1861.  She  died  at  Mr.  Kimel's  home 
January  30,  1881.  After  marriage,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kimel  lived  near 
the  old  mill  for  nine  years.  In  1863,  a  house  was  built  on  the  farm 
and  occupied.  In  1868  an  addition  was  made,  bringing  the  dwelling 
into  considerable  notice  as  a  laro;e  and  handsome  building.  Other 
improvements  have  added  much  to  its  beauty.  It  is  enjoyed  by  a 
family  of  six  children,  comprising  Lara,  Lucy  J.,  Abbie  M.,  Jim  B., 
Gussie  C.  and  Bessie  M.  Mr.  Kimel,  politically,  is  republican,  but 
meddles  but  little  with  politics.  His  business  consumes  his  time 
entirely. 

Mark  Cannum's  father' emigrated  to  this  country  from  England  in 
1852,  and  while  on  his  way  to  Illinois  died  near  New  Orleans  where  the 
family  landed.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was  born  near  Peterborough, 
England  in  1843,  and  settled  in  Mercer  county,  near  where  he  now 
lives,  in  1853.  He  entered  the  army  during  the  late  war,  enlisting  for 
three  years  in  August,  1861,  and  participated  in  the  engagements  of 
Fort  Donelson,  Belmont,  Vicksburg,  Corinth,  Brittain's  Lane,  Meri- 
den,  and  the  Atlanta  campaign.  He  was  mustered  out  at  Chattanooga 
Tennessee,  August  4,  1864.  He  was  slightly  wounded  at  Fort  Donelson. 
After  his  return  from  the  army  he  settled  down  to  farming,  in  which 
occupation  he  is  still  engaged.  He  built  his  present  handsome  dwell- 
ing-house in  1876.  Mr.  Cannum  was  married  in  September,  1866,  to 
Miss  C.  J.  Smith  of  Mercer  county,  and  they  have  four  children  living ; 
one  child  is  dead.  The  names  of  the  living  are :  Addie  May,  aged 
fourteen  ;  Carrie  E.,  aged  thirteen  ;  Lewis  D.,  aged  eleven  ;  and  Eph- 
riam,  aged  six  years.  Mr.  C.  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian 
church  of  Ohio  Grove  township.     Mr.  C.  is  politically  a  republican. 

Wm.  McKee,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  and  his  brother  Joseph,  are 


604  HISTORY    OF   AfERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

the  oldest  settlers  now  living  in  Mercer  township.  Thev  having  lived 
in  the  township  since  1841.  The  fiither  of  the  McKee  brothers  bought 
the  southeast  quarter  of  section  28,  from  William  J.  Turner,  the  deed 
bearing  date  of  May  20,  1840.  Wm.  McKee  was  born  in  Lawrence 
county,  Ohio,  March  9,  1829.  He  left  Ohio  with  his  parents  at  the 
age  of  six  years,  coming  with  them  to  AYarren  county,  Illinois,  where 
they  stayed  till  1841,  when  they  moved  to  Mercer  county.  Mr. 
McKee  has  been  a  farmer  all  his  life,  and  is  unmarried.  For  several 
years  he  has  been  director  of  school  district  No.  9,  and  politically  is  a 
democrat. 

Joseph  McKee  was  born  in  Lawi'ence  county,  Ohio,  July  31,  1831. 
His  parents  were  John  and  Nancy  McKee.  His  parents  settled  in 
Mercer  county  in  1841,  since  which  time  Mr.  McKee  has  lived  upon 
a  farm,  and  has  been  a  constant  citizen  of  Mercer  county.  He 
enjoys,  with  his  brother  William,  the  distinction  of  being  the 
only  living  pioneers  of  Mercer  township.  He  was  married  July  8, 
1858,  to  Miss  Isabel  A.  Waddle,  formerly  of  Marshall  county.  West 
Virginia.  They  have  six  children  living  :  Ella  J.,  aged  twenty  ;  Sam- 
uel Elsie,  aged  fifteen;  Orvill  S.,  aged  eleven;  Roland  H. ;Elsey 
Clyde,  aged  live  ;  and  Ralph  Waldo,  aged  one  year  and  a  half.  Mr. 
M.  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Aleclo,  and  politically  is 
a  republican. 

Charles  Fremont  Cabeen  was  born  in  Mercer  county  in  1851, 
being  the  second  son  of  Thomas  and  Mary  Cabeen.  He  spent  the 
early  portion  of  his  life  upon  his  father's  farm  and  going  to  school. 
About  the  year  1879  he  went  to  Aledo  and  for  a  time  kept  the  Aledo 
House,  and  in  connection  with  his  brother,  W.  A.,  w^is  engaged  in  an 
agricultural  implement  store.  At  the  death  of  his  father  in  1880  he 
took  charge  of  the  farm,  which  he  still  manages  and  controls.  Politi- 
cally Mr.  Cabeen  is  an  independent  democrat. 

Jaivies  L.  Bentley  was  born  in  Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  February 
27,  1832,  and  was  the  eldest  son  of  Elim  and  Rachel  (Dilley)  Bentley. 
His  father  being  a  ftirmer,  he  was  raised  upon  a  farm,  where  his  life 
was  passed  until  his  twenty-first  year.  He  then  emigrated  to  Mercer 
county  and  engaged  in  ^teaching  school,  at  which  occupation  he  con- 
tinued till  eleven  years  had  passed,  mostly  in  Ohio  Grove  township, 
district  No.  3.  At  the  expiration  of  this  time  he  turned  his  attention 
to  agricultural  pursuits,  in  1862  buying  the  place  where  he  now  resides, 
some  three  miles  southeast  of  Aledo.  This  he  has  greatly  improved 
and  added  to,  and  now,  retired  from  active  life  to  some  extent,  enjoys 
his  well  earned  plenty.  lie  was  married  September  23,  1853,  to 
Miss  Nancy  Smith,  whose  parents  were  among  the  earliest  settlers  of 


MERCER   TOWNSHIl'.  605 

Mercer  county.  He  has  three  children :  the  eldest,  Charles  E.,  twenty- 
four  years  of  age,  is  engaged  in  teaching  and  farming,  making  his 
home  at  his  father's;  a  daughter,  Minnie  E.,  aged  nineteen,  and  a 
son,  George  S.,  aged  fourteen.  Mr.  Bentley  is  a  member  of  the 
masonic  order,  and  by  political  faith  is  a  republican. 

Martin  L.  Coffland  was  born  in  Jefferson  county,  Ohio,  Eebruary 
11,  1851,  being  the  youngest  son  of  Launcelot  and  Eliza  CofHand. 
Mr.  CotMand  spent  his  early  life  farming  in  Jefferson  and  Belmont 
counties,  Ohio.  In  the  year  1868  he  came  west,  and  worked  upon  a 
farm  most  of  tlie  time  for  ten  years  in  Warren  county,  when  he  settled 
in  Mercer  county,  where  he  now  resides,  five  miles  east  of  Aledo. 
He  was  married  February  21,  1872,  to  Miss  Phcebe  J.  Finley,  of 
Warren  county,  and  has  three  children :  Mary  Grace,  aged  seven 
years,  Rose  Anna,  aged  two,  and  Orion  Finley,  born  April  10,  1882. 
Mr.  Coffland  and  wife  are  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church 
of  Aledo.     Mr.  Coffland  is  a  republican. 

Jacob  Wilson  Unangst  was  born  in  Warren  county,  Xew  Jersey, 
May  13,  1819.  Mr.  Unangst  passed  his  early  life  working  on  his 
father's  farm.  He  left  the  farm  and  worked  upon  the*  Morris  canal 
until  1815,  when  he  was  appointed  as  inspector  of  its  west  division. 
In  this  capacity  he  served  till  1850,  when  he  came  to  Mercer  county 
and  ^settled  in  Ohio  Grove  towhship,  where  he  remained  farming  till 
April,  1882.  He  then  bought  the  Bauer  hotel  in  Aledo,  over  which 
he  now  presides,  having  changed  its  name  to  the  Commercial  House. 
Mr.  Unangst  was  married  in  March,  1841,  to  Miss  C.  Gaston,  of 
Warren  county,  Xew  Jersey,  and  has  three  children,  who  are  all 
grown  and  settled :  Mrs.  Margaret  A.  Pollock  lives  in  Ringgold 
county,  Iowa,  and  Daniel  M.,  who  is  a  carpenter  by  trade,  resides 
in  Aledo,  making  his  home  with  his  father. 

Snowden  K.  White  was  born  August  2,  1855,  in  Greene  county, 
Pennsylvania.  His  parents'  names  were  Isaac  and  L3'dia  (Tustin) 
White.  His  father  was  a  millwright.  Snowden  K.  came  to  Mercer 
county  from  Pennsylvania  in  1877,  where  he  soon  started  quite  exten- 
sively in  the  ditching  and  house  moving  business.  Starting  with  his 
brother,  he  at  this  time  ran  his  business  alone,  and  during  the  year  1881 
cut  over  50,000  rods  of  ditch  in  Mercer  and  Warren  counties,  and  moved 
upward  of  fifty  houses.  Mr.  White  is  altogether  a  self-made  man,  and 
though  young  is  a  man  of  weight  and  standing,  which  his  energy  and 
business  talent  deserve.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church  of 
Aledo,  and  a  worker  in  the  choir  and  Sabbath  school.  Politically  he 
is  a  democrat. 

Joseph  Lair  was  born  in  Fayette  county,  Indiana,  in  1825.      His 


606  HISTORY   OF   JVrERCEE   AND   HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

father  was  a  river  man,  taking  liis  first  trip  up  tlie  Mississippi  by  steam 
from  New  Orleans.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  lived  upon  the  farm  of 
his  father  during  boyhood,  and  spent  his  life  upon  the  farm.  He  set- 
tled upon  the  farm  on  which  he  still  lives  in  Mercer  county,  on  March 
1,  1856.  The  land  was  raw  prairie  at  that  time,  but  is  now  one  of  the 
fine  farms  of  the  many  in  the  county.  Mr.  Lair  was  married  August 
26,  18-1:7,  to  Miss  Sarah  E.  Rose,  of  Fayette  county,  Indiana,  and  has 
had  four  children:  Mrs.  Emily  Alice,  wife  of  Richard  Lemon,  Millers- 
burg  township,  now  deceased;  a  son,  William  W.,  who  lives  on  the 
next  farm  to  his  father;  a  daughter,  Martha  A.,  born  in  1854,  now 
deceased ;  and  a  daughter.  Flora  Luellen,  married  to  Mr.  Roe  Vincent, 
of  Mercer  township.  Mr.  Lair  has  for  many  years  held  the  offices  of 
road  commissioner  and  school  director.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
masonic  order  and  a  republican. 

Henry  Neseitt.  Mr.  ISTesbitt  was  born  in  Indiana  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, October  5,  1834.  His  parents  were  Jonathan  and  Mary 
(McClure)  ISTesbitt.  His  father  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  and  onr 
subject  passed  most  of  his  life  upon  a  farm  ;  emigrating  to  Illinois  in 
1855,  and  settling  in  Mercer  county  in  1857.  He  bought  the  farm 
upon  which  he  lives  in  1871,  and  by  hard  work  and  energy  made  it 
what  it  now  is,  one  of  the  best  improved  farms  in  the  county.  His 
dwelling  is  second  to  none  in  the  county  for  comfort,  style,  and  choice 
of  location,  standing  as  it  does  upon  an  eminence  which  commands  a 
view  of  the  country  for  miles  around.  Mr.  Nesbitt  v/as  married  in 
1861  to  Harriet  Smith,  of  Mercer  township,  and  has  five  children: 
Mary  J.,  aged  seventeen;  Lula,  aged  thirteen;  Minnie,  aged  nine; 
Myrtle,  aged  seven  ;  and  Harry,  aged  one  year.  Mr.  Nesbitt  is  direc- 
tor of  school  district  No.  6,  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  of  Aledo,  and  politically  is  a  republican. 

Joseph  Oscar  Lundblad  was  born  in  Sweden,  December  4,  1823, 
and  landed  in  New  York  September  20,  1852.  He  came  west  to 
Princeton,  Illinois,  and  soon  after  moved  to  Rock  Island,  and  finally 
settled  in  Aledo  in  1869.  He  learned  the  shoemaker's  trade  in  the 
old  country,  and  has  been  engaged  in  tlie  boot  and  shoe  business  ever 
since  coming  to  America.  He  was  married  April  27,  1848,  to  Miss 
Sophia  Gustaver,  of  Sweden,  and  they  have  three  children  living: 
George  Oscar,  aged  twenty-three,  who  is  in  business  with  his  father, 
and  two  daughters,  Hilma  Maria,  aged  twenty-one,  and  Ilulda  Chris- 
tina, aged  eighteen.  Mr.  Lundbland  is  a  member  of  the  Swedish 
Lutheran  church  of  Aledo,  and  for  many  years  was  an  officer  of  that 
church,  and  is  also  a  member  of  the  masonic  and  odd-fellows'  orders. 
Politically  he  is  a  democrat. 


MERCER   TOWNSHir.  607 

Washington  Boone,  grocer,  was  born  in  Medina  county,  Oliio, 
February  22,  1S37.  His  parents'  names  were  Hezekiali  and  Sarali  A. 
Boone.  He  left  Ohio  with  his  parents  in  1848,  they  settling  in  Illinois, 
in  the  southern  portion  of  which  they  lived  for  some  two  years,  when 
in  1850  they  moved  to  Mercer  county.  At  that  time  there  were  not 
more  than  a  dozen  families  in  the  township.  The  subject  of  this  sketch 
was  raised  upon  a  farm,  but  learned  the  shoemaking  trade,  at  which 
he  worked  for  many  years,  when  he  embarked  in  trade,  being  now 
engaged  in  the  grocery  business.  He  was  married  February,  1867,  to 
Miss  Belinda  Baxter,  and  they  have  had  two  children  :  Wm.,  aged 
fourteen,  and  Lois,  aged  twelve  years.  Mr.  B.  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  politically  a  republican  ;  he  cast  his 
first  vote  for  John  C.  Fremont. 

George  A.  Wright,  the  only  son  of  Horace  E.  and  Harriet  (Jewel) 
Wright,  was  born  August  10,  1849,  in  Bock  Island,  Illinois,  being  the 
first  male  child  born  in  that  city.  He  has  lived  in  Mercer  county 
nearly  all  his  life,  attended  common  school,  and  spent  most  of  his  life 
upon  a  farm.  The  last  five  years  he  has  been  engaged  in  mercantile 
pursuits.  In  February,  1882,  he  embarked  in  the  flower  and  seed 
trade  in  Aledo.     Politically  he  is  a  republican. 

Hon.  John  C.  Pepper  was  born  in  Cambridgeshire,  England,  Sep- 
tember 21,  1829.  His  parents  were  Charles  A.  and  Susan  Pepper. 
He  left  England  when  seven  years  of  age  with  his  parents  in  a  sailing 
vessel,  and  after  being  seven  weeks  and  three  days  out  of  sight  of  land 
landed  in  JSTew  York.  His  parents  settled  in  Amboy,  Oswego  county, 
New  York  ;  his  father  was  a  silversmith  by  trade.  Mr.  Pepper's  boy- 
hood was  passed  at  home  with  his  parents  until  his  sixteenth  year, 
when  he  entered  Yernon  academy,  at  Yernon,  New  York,  where  he 
attended  two  years.  He  then  went  to  the  Wayne  county  institute, 
where  he  attended  three  summers,  teaching  school  in  the  winter,  until 
1848,  when  his  health  failed  to  such  a  degree  that  he  came  west  with 
no  expectation  of  ever  regaining  it.  He  staid  one  year  in  Peoria, 
and  then  came  to  Mercer  county,  first  settling  in  Keithsburg,  where  he 
was  admitted  to  the  bar.  He  then  came  to  Aledo,  where  he  has  since 
remained  in  the  practice  of  his  profession.  Mr.  P.  was  married  in 
January,  1851,  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Martin  of  Mercer  county,  and  they  have 
four  children  living  :  Helen,  married  to  Frank  Martin,  an  attorney  of 
Falls  City,  Nebraska,  three  other  daughters ,  Bertha,  Norma  and 
Mabel  being  at  home  ;  three  children  died  when  young.  Mr.  Pepper 
is  the  president  of  the  Illinois  state  temperance  union,  and  an  active 
worker  in  the  cause.     By  political  faith  he  is  a  democrat. 

William  B.  Frew  was  born  in  1829  in  Allegheny  county,  Pennsyl- 


608  HISTORY    OF   ]VrERCER   AA'D    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

vania.  His  father's  name  was  David  Frew,  and  his  mother's  maiden 
name  was  Mary  Jordan.  His  father  was  a  mechanic.  Mr.  F.  spent 
his  youth  until  his  seventeenth  year  chiefly  in  attending  the  public 
schools  and  St.  Clair  academy.  At  the  age  of  seventeen  he  began  to 
teach  the  ])ublic  school  at  Koblestown,  Allegheny  county,  which  occu- 
pation he  alternated  with  attending  college,  first  at  Duquesne  at  Pitts- 
burgh, and  afterward  at  Jeflerson  at  Cannonsburg,  till  185-i,  when  he 
became  principal  of  the  South  Pittsburgh  public  schools,  where  he 
remained  one  year.  For  four  years,  from  1855  to  1858,  he  was  princi- 
pal of  the  Birmingham  public  school.  In  the  summer  of  1855  he 
made  a  trip  west  and  bought  the  land  which  he  subsequently  improv- 
ed, which  is  situated  in  Greene  township,  Mercer  county,  five  miles 
east  of  Aledo,  and  which  he  still  owns.  At  the  close  of  1858,  on 
accoimt  of  ill  health,  he  was  obliged  to  resign  his  school  and  spent  the 
summer  of  1859  at  the  seashore  trying  to  regain  his  health.  In  the 
spring  of  1860  he  came  to  Mercer  county,  and,  after  spending  a  year 
as  tutor  in  a  family,  was  elected  to  the  oftice  of  county  surveyor,  which 
oflice  he  held  for  fourteen  years.  In  1879  he  was  appointed  deputy 
county  surveyor,  which  office  he  still  holds.  From  1862  to  the  present 
time  he  has  been  engaged  in  engineering,  surveying  and  attending  to 
his  farm,  which  he  uses  chiefly  for  stock  raising.  He  was  married 
in  1870  to  Miss  Lydia  J.  Taylor  of  New  Alexandria,  Pennsylvania,  at 
that  time  locating  in  the  home  he  now  occupies  adjoining  the  town  of 
Aledo.  Mr.  Frew  is  a  member  and  a  trustee  of  the  United  Presby- 
terian church  of  Aledo,  and  politically  is  a  republican. 

Alexander  M.  Woods  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, in  December,  1849.  He  came  to  Mercer  county  with  his 
parents  at  the  age  of  seven  years.  His  parents  settled  on  a  farm 
about  ten  miles  south  of  Aledo,  where  they  remained  about  two  years 
and  then  moved  to  Aledo.  Mr.  Woods  attended  the  public  schools, 
and  learned  the  painter's  trade,  which  occupation  he  still  follows. 
AVith  the  exception  of  one  year  passed  in  the  west,  Mr.  Woods  has 
lived  in  Mercer  county.  He  is  a  prominent  man  in  musical  circles. 
He  has  been  leader  of  the  Congregational  church  for  nearly  ten  years. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  Aledo  cornet  band  for  several  years,  and  was 
a  member  of  the  Woods  Bros',  male  quartette  during  the  existence 
of  that  organization,  and  has  been  the  recognized  leader  of  vocal 
music  of  Aledo  for  many  years.     Politically  he  is  a  democrat. 

C.  F.  Thede,  carriagenuiker  and  blacksmith,  was  born  in  Ham- 
burg, Germany,  in  April,  1832.  He  landed  in  New  York  in  1852, 
and  shortly  afterward  settled  in  Michigan,  where  he  had  relatives. 
In  1856  he  moved  to  Rock  Island  and  went  into  business.     He  lived 


d-ttA^ 


-t^^ 


iL<£^  ^.^<^ 


MEROEK    TOWNSHIP,  611 

there  till  1870,  when  he  came  to  Aleclo,  where  he  still  remains,  carry- 
ing on  the  carriage-making:  business  with  his  son  Christian.  Mr. 
Thede  was  married  in  1854  to  Miss  Laura  Herbst,  a  native  of  Berlin, 
Prussia.  They  have  had  twelve  children,  ten  of  whom  are  living  and 
two  dead.  Mr.  Thede  and  wife  are  members  of  the  United  Presby- 
terian church  of  Aledo,  and  politically  Mr.  Thede  is  a  democrat. 

Jesse  Maekee  was  born  in  Allegany  county,  Maryland,  in  1820  ; 
his  fatlier  Avas  a  farmer.  When  Mr.  Markee  was  a  small  child  his 
parents  moved  to  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  where  they  lived  a  few 
years.  The  elder  Markee  then  moved  to  Belmont  county,  Ohio,  and  a 
few  years  after  the  subject  of  this  sketch  moved  back  to  Muskingum 
county,  upon  the  farm  his  father  had  occupied.  Here  he  stayed  till 
1842,  when  he  came  west  and  stayed  about  a  year  and  a  half  in  Iowa, 
when  he  returned  to  Ohio.  He  remained  in  Ohio  till  1853,  when  he 
came  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  which  was  then  very  thinly  settled. 
Wlien  in  Iowa,  about  1843,  Mr.  Markee  witnessed,  at  an  old  trading 
house  near  Eddyville,  the  last  treaty  with  the  Indians,  there  being 
2,700  red  men  present.  Mr.  Markee,  though  raised  upon  a  farm, 
worked  for  about  ten  years  at  the  carpenter  trade.  When  he  came  to 
Illinois  he  bought  240  acres  of  land  in  Ohio  Grove  township,  which 
he  farmed  till  1872,  when  he  came  to  Aledo  and  engaged  in  buying 
and  shipping  stock.  About  1875  Mr,  Markee,  together  with  Mr. 
Richey  and  Mr.  Spicer,  built  the  Aledo  machine  shops,  and  started 
to  manufacture  farm  implements.  He  was  afterward  for  several  years 
engaged  in  the  grocery  business.  Mr.  Markee  and  Mr.  Dunlap,  while 
in  the  grocery  business,  bought  the  lot  and  put  up  the  building  known 
as  Union  Hall,  together  with  its  store  rooms.  Mr.  Markee  then  went 
out  of  trade,  and  has  since  been  engaged  in  looking  after  the  interests 
of  his  farm.  He  was  married  in  1849  to  Miss  Sarah  Bevin,  of  Mus- 
kingum county,  Ohio,  and  they  have  had  five  children,  the  eldest  of 
whom  are  dead.  Of  the  living,  Mary  E.  is  married  to  Tlev.  M.  C 
Bolon,  of  Carthage,  Illinois ;  Mra  L.  is  married  to  Prof.  Silas  Montz, 
of  Dixon,  Illinois  ;  and  the  youngest,  a  son,  J.  N.  Markee,  is  employed 
in  the  drug  store  of  Dr.  Johnston,  of  Aledo.  Mr.  Markee  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  Aledo ;  is  a  member  of  tlie 
masonic  fraternity,  and  politically  is  a  republican. 

Dr.  George  Irvin  was  born  December  25,  1825,  in  Westmoreland 
county,  Pennsylvania,  and  was  the  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Young) 
Irvin.  He  spent  his  early  life  on  his  father^s  farm,  and  received  an 
academic  education.  In  1852,  he  commenced  reading  medicine  with 
Dr.  Thomas  Maybon,  at  Jacksonville,  Pennsylvania,  and  attended  lec- 
tures at  Jefferson  Medical  College,  Philadelphia,  from  1853  to  1855  ; 
35 


612  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

taking  liis  degree  as  M.D.  in  March  of  the  latter  year.  After  graduat- 
ing lie  practiced  at  Prospect,  Butler  county,  Pennsylvania,  for  a  year 
and  a  half;  at  Plumville,  Indiana  county,  for  over  a  year;  and  at 
Jacksonville,  where  he  had  studied  medicine,  for  about  a  year  and  a 
half.  In  May,  1859,  he  removed  to  Aledo,  where  he  has  built  up  a 
large  and  lucrative  practice,  enjoying  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  all. 
He  owns  and  occuj^ies  one  of  the  best  and  most  commodious  residences 
in  town,  and  has  surrounded  himself  and  family  with  all  the  modern 
conveniences  and  luxuries.  He  also  owns  a  large  farm  near  town, 
besides  other  town  property.  He  has  been  twice  married,  and  has, 
by  his  first  wife,  four  children  :  Ai ma,  Frank,  Jessie  and  George.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  and  has  been  for  many  years  a 
deacon  or  elder  therein.  As  a  physician  and  surgeon  he  holds  a  de- 
sei-vedly  high  reputation  throughout  the  country  tributary  to  Aledo 
and  among  the  brothers  of  his  profession.  He  is  the  oldest  resident 
physician  in  practice  in  Aledo. 

Among  the  many  citizens  of  other  states  who  formerly  resided 
in  this  county  there  are  a  few  who  desire  to  live  over  their  early  life 
by  perusing  the  pages  of  this  history,  and  of  the  number  is  Jesse  W. 
McPherren,  of  Little  Pock,  Arkansas.  He  was  born  in  Jefferson 
county,  Indiana,  February  1,  1847,  and  is  the  son  of  James  McPher- 
ren, who  still  resides  in  this  county.  His  father  was  born  June  7, 
1808,  in  Pennsylvania  ;  his  mother,  April  1,  1805,  in  Pockbridge 
county,  Virginia.  The  family  removed  to  Ohio  Grove  township,  this 
county,  in  1855.  His  mother  died  August  18,  1858,  and  was  buried 
in  the  Candor  cemetery,  in  that  township,  leaving  a  husband,  four 
daughters  and  six  sons.  Jesse  was  educated  in  the  public  schools, 
principally  at,  winter  terms.  His  youth  was  spent  in  Grant  county,  In- 
diana, Mercer  county,  Illinois,  and  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  mostly 
on  a  farm,  until  the  age  of  fifteen,  when  he  enlisted  in  Co.  K,  87th  Ohio 
Vol.  Inf.,  for  three  months  ;  was  captured  at  the  surrender  of  Harper's 
Ferry,  Virginia,  September  17,  1862  ;  was  paroled  and  returned  to 
Ohio  ;  was  discharged  October  3,  1862.  He  returned  to  Mercer 
county,  and  spent  the  next  summer  on  a  farm  near  Aledo,  and  on  No- 
vember 4,  1863,  enlisted  in  Co.  C,  11th  111.  Cav.,  at  Quincy,  Illinois, 
for  three  years;  joined  his  regiment  in  the  rear  of  Vicksburg  in  the 
following  December,  and-  remained  with  it  in  Tennessee  and  Missis- 
sippi until  the  close  of  the  war,  when  it  was  mustered  out  of  the  service 
at  Springfield,  IlUnois,  October  13,  1865.  He  is  one  of  six  of  one 
family  who  served  in  the  late  war  ;  His  father,  James  McPherren,  en- 
listed in  Co.  A.,  30th  111.  Inf.,  in  1861,  and  was  discharged  for  disa- 
bility in  1862.     His  four  brothers  served  as  follows  :  James  C,  in  Co. 


MERCER   TOWNSHIP.  (513 

C,  35tli  111.  Inf.;  George  and  John  S.,  in  Co.  II.,  S-ttli  111.  Inf.;  and 
Andrew  M.  in  9tli  111.  Cav.  Of  the  six  all  returned  home  but  George, 
who  fell  at  Murfreesborough,  Tennessee,  January  1,  1S63.  After  leav- 
ing the  service  Jesse  returned  to  Mercer  county,  in  October,  1865,  but 
did  not  remain  long.  During  the  next  few  years  he  resided  in  a  num- 
ber of  places  :  Newago  county,  Mich. ;  Boone  county,  Iowa  ;  Chey- 
enne, and  Bridger's  Station,  Wyoming  Territory  ;  Fairfield,  Iowa ;  and 
St.  Charles,  Mo.,  returning  to  this  county  frequently.  In  1870,  he 
went  south,  and  on  December  31  of  that  year  landed  at  Wessen,  Mis- 
sissippi, where  he  remained  until  1873,  when  he  spent  a  few  months 
in  Kentucky,  returning  to  Wessen  in  November.  January  7,  187-1,  he 
met  with  an  accident  in  the  machine  shops  of  that  place,  causing  the 
loss  of  his  left  eye.  Was  married  October  15,  1871,  in  Wesson  ;  lost 
his  eldest  child  in  July,  1881,  and  his  wife  in  August,  1881.  He  has 
one  child,  a  boy,  aged  four,  and  is  again  married.  In  1881,  he  reinoved 
£o  Little  Rock,  Arkansas,  where  he  is  now  engaged  in  the  drug  busi- 
ness, and  has  secured  a  large  and  lucrative  custom.  He  was  elected 
mayor  of  Wesson,  Mississippi,  in  1875,  and  re-elected  in  1877  ;  belongs 
to  the  Presbyterian  church,  the  Masons,  Odd-Fellows  and  Knights  of 
Pythias.  His  life  has  been  one  of  constant  labor  ;  he  has  been  a 
farmer,  merchant,  engineer  ;  has  engaged  in  saw-milling  and  railroad- 
ing, and  is  now  settled  as  a  druggist.  While  in  some  of  these  he  has 
lost,  he  has,  as  a  whole,  been  successful,  and  is  now  in  comfortable  cir- 
cumstances. He  still  cherishes  a  warm  feeling  for  his  old  home  and 
friends  in  Mercer  county. 

LuciEN  B.  Doughty,  son  of  Rev.  Thomas  L.  and  Mary  J.  Doughty,, 
was  born  March  28,  184-1,  in  Knightstown,  Henry  county,  Indiana, 
The  life  of  Mr.  Doughty  has  been  one  of  activity  and  large  experience. 
He  lacked  six  years  of  having  attained  his  manhood  when  with  his 
father's  consent  he  started  out  into  the  world,  to  battle  with  its  hard- 
ships singlehanded.  not  only  to  make  a  living  for  himself  but  to  assist 
his  father,  which  he  did  b}^  turning  over  to  him  his  small  wages.  The 
family  had  moved  to  ISTew  Boston  in  1843,  when  Lucian  was  two  years 
old,  and  here  he  received  such  education  as  the  schools  and  his  limited 
time  afforded.  He  improved  his  time  then  and  since,  as  is  evidenced 
by  some  very  acceptable  articles  contributed  to  this  work.  In  the  fall 
of  1851  the  family  moved  to  the  northwest  corner  of  Warren  county, 
and  in  1856  Lucien  began  active  life  as  intimated  above  on  a  farm. 
A  year  later  he  entered  the  "Record"  office  at  Aledo  to  learn  the 
printer's  trade,  in  which  business  he  has  been  constantly  engaged  witli 
the  exception  of  a  few  important  years,  as  hereafter  noted.  In  1859 
he  was  working  .on  the  Geneseo  "Republic,"  and  next  year  went  to  Des 


614  HISTORY    or   MERCER    A^^D    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Moines,  Iowa  (1860),  and  worked  on  the  Iowa  State  "'Register,"  part 
of  the  time  on  local  work.  Tlie  alarm  of  war  had  scarcely  been 
sounded  when  Mr.  Doughty  entered  the  ranks  as  a  soldier  for  the  pur- 
pose of  assisting  in  rebuking  rebellion,  and  enlisted  in  Co.  E,  4tli  Iowa 
Inf ,  Capt.  H.  H.  Griffith,  Col.  G.  M.  Dodge.  He  had  nearly  served 
out  his  term  of  three  years  when  he  re-enlisted  as  a  veteran  in  January, 
1861,  at  Woodville,  Alabama.  He  was  finally  discliarged  July  28, 
1865,  having  served  his  country  and  braved  the  dangers  and  hardships 
incident  to  war  over  four  years.  His  experience  as  a  soldier  can  be 
gathered  from  a  brief  mention  of  the  marches  and  engagements  of  the 
regiment  to  which  he  belonged.  From  St.  L<3uis,  their  starting  point, 
they  w^ent  to  Rolla,  Missouri ;  then  to  Pea  Ridge  and  Helena,  Arkan- 
sas ;  thence  with  Sherman  at  Walnut  Hills,  Arkansas  Post,  and  back 
to  Yicksburg  ;  with  Grant  to  Jackson,  Mississippi ;  in  the  siege  of 
Yicksburg  ;  back  to  Jackson  ;  ^vitll  Sherman,  under  John  A.  Logan, 
from  luka  to  Chattanooga;  Math  Hooker  in  the  "light  above  the 
clouds  "  ;  at  Lookout  Mountain,  Mission  Ridge  and  Ringgokl ;  thirty 
days  at  home  in  the  spring  of  186-1  on  veteran's  furlough  ;  again  with 
Sherman  from  Chattanooga,  Atlanta,  and  the  march  to  the  sea ;  thence 
through  the  (^arolinas  and  finally  to  Washington  to  participate  in  the 
grand  review.  May  23.  1865.  To  look  at  the  little  man  it  seems  a 
wonder  that  he  could  go  through  so  much.  In  all  he  was  in  forty- 
three  engagements  and  escaped  without  a  wound.  After  the  war  he 
was  for  a  time  in  Richmond,  Indiana,  and  in  Dayton,  Ohio.  From 
May,  1866,  to  May,  1867,  he  published  the  "Democrat"  at  Eaton,  Ohio, 
and  in  the  fall  of  the  last  mentioned  year  removed  to  Des  Moines, 
Iowa,  and  the  next  year  to  Rolhi,  Missouri,  where  he  edited  the  Rolla 
"Herald."  In  1869  he  got  back  to  his  old  stamping  ground,  Aledo,  and 
worked  nearly  four  years  in  a  carriage  sliop.  At  the  end  of  this  time 
he  again  entered  the  "Record ""  office,  where  he  has  since  been  engaged. 
August  16,  1866,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Fannie  E.  Hayes,  of  Eaton. 
To  them  was  born  one  son,  James  Henry.  June  10,  1867,  and  on 
August  12,  1869,  his  wife  died  and  on  the  next  day  his  s(m.  July  16, 
1871,  Mr.  Doughty  was  again  married,  this  time  to  Clara  D.  Pennell, 
of  Rock  Island.  To  them  three  children  have  been  born  :  Josie 
Amelia,  born  January  8,  1873  ;  Charles  Eli,  February  2,  1875,  and 
Clara  Emma,  IVIarch  18,  1878  (died  April  19,  1878). 

Francis  Lemon,  jeweler,  is  the  fourth  son  of  William  and  Ellen 
(Lockhart)  Lemon,  of  Mercer  county.  He  was  born  in  Columbia 
county,  Pennsylvania,  in  December,  1849,  came  west  with  his  parents 
in  1852,  and  settled  in  Perryton  township,  Mercer  county.  He  received 
a  common  school  education,   and  remained  on  his  father's  farm  till 


( 


MERCER    TOWNSHIP.  015 

1874,  when  he  came  to  Aledo  and  embarked  in  the  grocerj  business, 
which  he  followed  about  one  year.  Mr.  Lemon  being  a  natural  me- 
chanical genius,  had  spent  his  leisure  time  while  on  the  farm  in  learn- 
ing the  watchmaking  trade,  and  in  the  fall  of  1876  he  opened  up  busi- 
ness in  the  jewelry  line  in  Aledo,  where,  by  care  and  attention  to  busi- 
ness, he  has  built  up  a  good  trade  in  his  line. 

Louis  D.  IL)OiEs,  attorney,  was  born  July  24,  1S47,  in  Adams 
county,  Ohio.  He  was  the  eldest  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Traber) 
Holmes,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Adams  county,  Ohio.  He 
spent  his  early  life  upon  a  farm,  and  working  in  a  saw  mill  until  his 
nineteenth  year.  He  received  a  common  school  education,  and  in  ad- 
dition graduated  at  Miami  University  of  Oxford,  Ohio,  where  he  took 
his  degree  in  1868.  He  came  west  in  April,  1869,  and  entered  the 
law  oftice  of  Bassett  &  Connell ;  was  admitted  to  the  bar  in  August, 
1871,  and  has  practiced  his  profession  in  A4edo  ever  since.  He  was 
married  in  May,  1872,  to  Miss  C.  W.  Campbell,  of  Ripley,  Ohio,  and 
has  two  children.  Mr.  Holmes  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Ba])tist 
church,  also  a  member  of  the  board  of  trustees  of  the  town  of  Aledo, 
and  politically  is  a  republican. 

Dr.  D.  R.  Johnston  was  born  August  21,  1842,  in  Logan  county, 
Ohio,  he  being  the  third  son  of  Rev.  Dr.  J.  B.  Johnston,  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  church.  He  received  his  education  at  Geneva  College, 
Ohio,  and  attended  both  the  medical  college  of  Ohio  at  Cincinnati  and 
Rush  Medical  College  of  Chicago,  taking  his  degree  as  M.D.  from  the 
latter  institution,  in  1865.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  he  entered 
the  army  with  the  17th  reg.  Ohio  Yol.  Inf.,  and  in  1S64  was  appointed 
by  Gov.  Morton  assistant  surgeon  of  the  1st  Indiana  heavy  artil- 
lery. He  practiced  medicine  in  Indianapolis  from  1865  to  1868, 
when  he  was  appointed  by  the  board  of  foreign  missions  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  churcli  as  medical  missionary  t(^  Egypt,  where  he  spent 
eight  years,  part  of  which  time  he  was  president  of  the  training  college 
at  Osiout,  upper  Egypt.  The  doctor  returned  to  the  United  States  in 
the  spring  of  1876,  and  in  the  fall  of  that  year  located  in  Mansfield, 
Ohio,  where  he  remained  till  April  1,  1881.  In  the  summer  of  1881  he 
came  to  Aledo  and  bougiit  the  drug  store  of  Dr.  J.  M.  Wallace,  and 
entered  upon  the  practice  of  his  profession.  He  was  married  Decem- 
ber 25,  1868,  to  Miss  Maggie  J.  Stewart,  of  St.  Clairsville,  Ohio,  and 
has  had  four  children,  of  whom  two  died  in  Egypt  and  two  are  living. 
Dr.  Johnston  is  a  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church  of  Aledo, 
and  superintendent  of  its  Sabbath  school,  and  by  political  faith  is  a 
republican. 

Kenneth  M.   Whitha^si  was   born,    September,    1856,    in   Mercer 


616  HISTORV   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

county.  He  is  the  oldest  son  of  Kev.  Jos.  R.  and  Elizabeth  (McCoy) 
Whitham.  He  is  a  graduate  of  the  Aledo  academy,  and  attended 
college  at  Battle  Creek,  Michigan,  for  two  years,  and  since  returning 
from  that  institution  has  been  engaged  in  teaching  in  Mercer  county. 
He  is  at  present  principal  of  the  grammar  department  of  the  public 
schools  of  Aledo,  and  is  president  of  the  Mercer  County  Teachers' 
Association. 

Luke  StkonCx,  photographer,  was  born  in  Clarendon,  Rutland  county, 
Vermont,  in  1825.  His  parents  were  Luke  and  Esther  (Call)  Strong. 
When  he  was  two  years  of  age  his  parents  moyed  to  Indiana  and 
settled  near  Indianapolis;  and  in  1839  they  again  moyed  westward 
and  settled  in  Galesburg,  Illinois.  Mr.  Strong  graduated  from  Knox 
College,  Galesburg,  in  1850,  when  he  went  to  Pottsdam,  Xew  York, 
and  read  law  for  a  year ;  thence  going  to  Oquawka,  where  he  taught 
school  for  two  years.  He  then  embarked  in  the  photograph  business 
at  the  latter  place,  where  he  remained  for  twenty-one  years.  In  April, 
1874,  he  came  to  Aledo  and  engaged  in  business,  building  4;he  large 
gallery  which  he  now  occupies.  He  was  married  in  1855  to  Miss  Ann 
McKinney,  eldest  daughter  of  John  McKinney,  of  Aledo ;  has  two 
children  (boys)  liying,  Fred  H.  and  Geo.  McK.,  who  are  both  gradu- 
ates of  the  Aledo  high  school.  Mr.  Strong  is  a  member  of  the 
masonic  fraternity,  and  politically  a  republican. 

Dr.  James  A.  Campbell,  dentist,  was  born  in  1855,  in  Brown 
county,  Ohio,  the  only  son  of  Alexander  and  Elizabeth  (Williams) 
Campbell.  He  spent  his  boyhood  upon  the  farm  of  his  father,  until 
the  year  1873,  when  for  two  years  he  attended  the  Aledo  academy. 
He  began  the  study  of  dentistry  with  Dr.  E.  B.  David  in  1875,  with 
whom  he  remained  one  year,  and  then  went  to  Philadelphia,  where  he 
attended  the  Philadelphia  Dental  College  three  terms.  In  the  spring 
of  1877  he  returned  to  Aledo  and  opened  a  dental  oflice.  In  Septem- 
ber, 1878,  he  removed  to  Creston,  Iowa,  where  he  practiced  his 
profession  two  years,  and  again  returned  to  Aledo  and  opened  the 
office  which  he  occupies  at  present  in  his  practice.  Dr.  Campbell  was 
married,  November  15,  1880,  to  Miss  Laura  E.  Mentzor,  of  Aledo. 

George  M.  Cool,  druggist,  was  born  in  Aledo,  September  28,  1858, 
and  is  the  second  son  of  Jacob  and  Margaret  (McEowen)  Cool.  He 
received  his  education  in  the  public  schools  of  x^ledo,  and  in  his  seven- 
teenth year  commenced  learning  the  drug  business  with  James  M. 
Macy,  lately  deceased.  He  has  remained  ever  since  in  the  same  situa- 
tion, Mrs.  James  M.  Macy  (sister  of  Mr.  Cool)  owning  the  store,  and 
Mr.  Cool  doing  the  business. 

James  H.  Ramsey,  jeweler,  was  born  in  Cadiz,  Oldo,  February  14, 


MERCEK   TOWNSHIP.  617 

1847  ;  he  is  the  second  son  of  John  and  Nancy  Ramsey.  He  attended 
school  at  Cadiz  till  his  fourteenth  year,  when  he  was  apprenticed  to 
G.  B.  Barrett,  jeweler,  of  Cadiz,  and  served  six  years,  when  he  went 
into  business  for  himself.  He  remained  in  Cadiz  for  two  years,  when 
he  sold  out  his  business  and  went  to  Freeport,  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
remained  one  year,  and  then  went  to  Greencastle,  Indiana,  and  was 
there  about  one  year  when  he  came  to  Aledo,  where  he  commenced 
business  in  May,  1871,  and  where  he  now  remains.  Mr.  Eamsey  was 
married  February  29,  1876,  to  Miss  Sallie  Willson,  eldest  daughter  of 
J.  M.  Willson,  Esq.,  of  Aledo,  and  has  two  small  children. 

John  F.  McBride,  dealer  in  dry  goods,  was  born  November  23,  1853, 
in  Ohio  Grove  township,  Mercer  county ;  he  is  the  eldest  son  of  J.  C. 
and  H.  E.  (Williams)  McBride.  He  came  to  Aledo  in  1870,  and 
began  his  business  career  as  clerk  in  the  dry  goods  liouse  of  Poage  & 
Senters,  in  January,  1871,  in  which  capacity  he  remained  till  the  year 
1877,  when  he  embarked  in  trade  for  himself  in  the  dry  goods  business 
in  partnership  with  Geo.  P.  Graham.  In  the  fall  of  1880  he  bought 
out  his  partner's  interest  and  has  been  since  in  business  for  himself 
Mr.  McBride  was  married  May  13,  1879,  to  Miss  Edna  D.  Kirlin,  of 
New  Boston.  He  is  a  member  of  the  masonic  fraternity,  and  b}'  polit- 
ical faith  a  republican. 

Rev.  Thomas  B.  Turnbull  was  born  April  27,  1847,  in  Warren 
county,  Illinois ;  his  parents  were  David  and  Nancy  (Mitchell)  Turn- 
bull.  His  boyhood  was  passed  upon  the  farm  of  his  father,  the  man- 
agement of  which  devolved  upon  him  at  the  age  of  sixteen  by  reason 
of  the  enlistment  of  his  three  older  brothers  in  the  army  at  the  begin- 
ning of  the  war  of  the  rebellion.  In  1863  he  entered  Monmouth  College 
and  graduated  from  that  institution  in  June,  1870'.  He  spent  the  next 
three  years  in  studying  theology,  attending  the  United  Presbyterian 
Theological  Seminary  at  Monmouth  two  years,  and  the  Allegheny  City 
Seminary  one  year,  and  was  licensed  to  preach  August,  1872.  Receiv- 
ing a  call  the  same  year  from  the  United  Presbyterian  congregation  of 
Aledo,  which  was  accepted,  he  was  ordained  and  installed  pastor 
thereof  in  April,  1873 ;  of  this  church  he  is  the  present  pastor.  Mr, 
Turnbull  was  married  April  24,  1873,  to  Miss  Jean  M.  Home,  of 
Monmouth,  Illinois,  and  has  three  children  living :  Willie,  David  and 
Susie,  aged  six  years,  four  years,  and  eight  months,  respectively. 
His  eldest  child,  a  daughter,  died  at  the  age  of  seven  years. 

M.  F.  Felix,  dealer  in  dry  goods,  was  born  in  March,  1828,  in 
eastern  Pennsylvania,  and  is  the  youngest  son  of  Francis  and  Rose  A. 
Felix.  His  boyhood,  till  his  seventeenth  year,  was  passed  upon  the 
farm  of  his  fiither,  at  which  period  he  was  apjirenticed  to  the  cabinet 


618  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AJSTD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

maker's  trade,  at  which  he  served  his  time,  and  for  which  services  he 
never  received  a  doUar  of  pay.  Mr.  Felix  came  west  about  the  year 
1847,  and  settled  for  a  time  in  Iowa  City,  Iowa,  from  where  he  went  to 
Qunicy,  Illinois,  and  worked  at  his  trade  a  short  time,  and  went  to 
Indiana.  He  came  back  to  Illinois,  and  about  the  year  1850  or  1851, 
went  into  the  dry  goods  business  in  Eock  Island  county,  where  he 
remained  till  1876,  when  he  came  to  Aledo  and  established  himself  in 
his  present  location  and  business.  Mr.  Felix  was  married  in  1854,  to 
Miss  Eliza  Vanatta,  of  Illinois  City,  Rock  Island  county,  Illinois,  and 
has  four  children :  Rose,  Benjamin  (who  is  married  to  Miss  Clara 
Woods,  and  is  in  business  with  his  father),  Emma,  and  Lizzie.  Mr. 
Felix  belongs  to  the  masonic  fraternity,  is  president  of  the  board  of 
trustees  of  Aledo,  and  politically  is  a  republican. 

Tyler  McWhorter  was  born  in  Steuben  county,  j^ew  York, 
August  29,  1815.  His  parent's  names  were  James  and  Anna  (Parker) 
McWhorter.  His  ancestry  on  his  father's  side  was  Scotch.  The  name 
of  Tyler  was  given  him  by  reason  of  the  fact  that  his  grandmother, 
whose  maiden  name  was  Tyler,  was  lirst  cousin  of  president  John 
Tyler,  of  Virginia.  Mr.  McWhorter  never  had  the  advantage  of  a 
regular  college  course  of  education,  but  his  leisure  hours,  both  in  his 
early  and  later  life,  were  devoted  to  a  studious  and  searching  course  of 
reading.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  went  to  Branch  county  Michi- 
gan, where  he  followed  school  teaching,  and  during  two  years  had 
charge  of  the  public  school  of  Coldwater,  the  county  seat  of  Branch 
county,  Michigan.  While  engaged  in  teaching  he  applied  his  leisure 
time  to  a  close  study  of  higher  mathematics,  and  was  subsequently 
elected  county  surveyor  of  Branch  county.  He  married  his  first  wife 
in  Michigan,  in  May,  1842.  She  was  a  woman  of  culture,  though  of  a 
delicate  physical  organization.  In  the  spring  of  1 845  he  moved  from 
Michigan  to  Illinois,  and  located  in  Duncan  township,  Mercer  county, 
three  miles  west  of  Millersburg,  and  engaged  in  horticulture.  His 
nursery,  under  the  name  of  ''Pome  Roy  Nursery,"  became  extensively 
known  and  patronized.  At  his  Pome  Roy  place,  he  raised  an  exten- 
sive market  orchard,  which  is  the  largest  in  the  county.  His  horticul- 
tural business  afforded  an  ample  field  of  investigation  for  the  inquir- 
ing proclivities  of  his  mind.  During  the  early  years  of  his  residence  in 
Mercer  county,  Mr.  McWhorter  was  elected  school  commissioner  of 
the  county,  an  oftice  which  he  held  for  two  successive  terms.  Also, 
while  a  resident  of  Duncan  township,  he  held  for  twenty  years  the 
office  of  township  treasurer.  Mr.  McWhorter,  by  his  first  wife,  had 
three  children,  all  of  whom  are  living  in  Iowa.  He  married  his  pres- 
ent wife  August,  1859,  her  maiden  name  was  Clara  M.  Luce.     Of  this 


MERCEK   TOWNSHIP.  619 

union  there  is  one  cliild,  a  boy,  Laon  A.  McWhorter,  now  twenty 
years  of  age,  who  lives  with  his  parents.  In  the  spring  of  1S69,  Mr. 
McWhorter  moved  from  his  Pome  Roy  place  to  his  present  location, 
one  mile  south  of  Aledo.  Mr.  McW.  has  been  connected  with  the 
liorticultural  societies  of  the  State  for  nearly  thirty  years.  In  1869,  he 
presided  over  the  State  Horticultural  Society  of  Illinois,  and  in  1873 
presided  over  the  northern  state  society.  Mr.  McWhorter  is  continu- 
ally a  student  of  nature.  Wluit  time  he  could  spare  from  secular  busi- 
ness has  been  devoted  to  scientific  investigation  ;  allowing  himself  also 
some  time  to  travel,  he  made  a  trip  to  Vicksburg  during  the  war,  and 
has  since  made  an  extensive  tour  of  the  southern  states.  He  has  been 
for  eleven  years  a  member  of  the  "American  Association  for  the 
Advancement  of  Science,"  in  attending  the  annual  meetings  of  which 
he  has  had  occasion  to  visit  various  parts  of  the  United  States  and 
Canada.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  State  Natural  History  Society,  of 
Illinois.  Mr.  McWhorter,  though  now  in  his  sixty-eighth  year,  is  in 
complete  possession  of  all  his  natural  strong  faculties  of  both  mind  and 
body,  is  hale  and  hearty  and  thoroughly  enjoys  life. 

Milton  S.  Boise  was  born  in  Bnrgettstown,  Washington  county, 
Pennsylvania,  in  1827  ;  came  west  in  1854,  and  settled  in  Geneseo, 
Henry  county,  Illinois,  and  went  into  the  grocery  business,  which  he 
carried  on  for  some  three  or  four  years,  when,  after  spending  a  year  or 
so  looking  up  a  favorable  place  for  business,  he  came  to  Aledo,  and 
went  into  the  book  and  news  business,  the  first  house  of  that  character 
started  in  the  place.  This  business  he  carried  on  for  over  two  years, 
when  he  started  a  soap  factory,  and  also  a  wholesale  grocery,  cpieens- 
ware  and  notion  store,  which  business  he  is  now  engaged  in,  running 
two  store  rooms  in  different  parts  of  the  town.  Mr.  Boise  was  married 
in  1846  to  Miss  Rebecca  Mitchell,  of  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania. 
They  have  two  children  living,  Joseph,  aged  twenty-two,  and  Horace, 
fourteen.  Mr.  Boise  is  a  trustee  of  the  congregational  church  of 
Aledo,  is  a  member  of  the  masonic  fraternity,  and  in  politics  is  a 
member  of  the  democratic  party. 

Dr.  E.  B.  David,  dentist,  was  born  in  Ontario  county.  New  York, 
June  8,  1835 ;  his  parents  were  Uri  and  Catharine  David,  and  they 
moved  to  Michigan  when  he  was  three  years  old  and  settled  in  Jackson 
county.  The  doctor  remained  in  Michigan  till  the  spring  of  1858, 
when  he  came  to  Mercer  countv.  In  1853  he  began  the  studv  of  den- 
tistry  with  Dr.  M.  S.  Dean,  of  Marshall,  Michigan,  now  of  Chicago. 
Dr.  David  entered  the  union  army  during  the  war  of  the  rebellion. 
He  enlisted  August  12,  1861,  in  the  3<)th  111.  Inf.,  and  served  three 
years  and  three  months.     His  army  experience  embraced  the  engage- 


620  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

ments  of  Belmont,  Fort  Donelson,  siege  of  Corinth,  Port  Gibson, 
Raymond,  Jackson  (Mississippi),  Champion  Hill,  Yicksburg,  and  siege 
of  Atlanta.  He  was  mustered  out  at  Chattanooga,  Tennessee,  October 
lY,  1864,  with  the  rank  of  captain,  in  command  of  company  A,  30th 
111.  Inf  He  then  came  back  to  Mercer  county  and  settled  in  New 
"Windsor,  where  he  owned  a  farm,  working  at  dentistry  part  of  the 
time.  Here  he  remained  till  November,  1873,  when  he  came  to  Aledo 
and  commenced  his  practice,  and  where  he  now  remains,  the  senior 
partner  of  the  iirm  of  David  &  Coulson.  Dr.  David  was  a  member  of 
the  Aledo  town  board  of  trustees  for  four  terms,  from  1876  to  1880,  dur- 
ing the  last  two  years  serving  as  president  of  the  body.  He  has  been  a 
member' of  the  county  agricultural  board  for  nine  years,  and  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  state  board  of  agriculture.  Dr.  D.  was  married  September 
1,  1862,  to  Miss  Lizzie  Woodham,  of  New  Windsor,  and  has  five  chil- 
dren. He  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church,  and  by  political  faith  is  a 
republican. 

William  Anderson  Cole  was  born  in  Brown  county,  Ohio,  in  1847, 
and  is  the  son  of  Aaron  and  Mary  Ellen  Cole.  He  lived  in  Brown 
county,  Ohio,  till  he  was  twenty-two  years  of  age,  working  on  a  farm 
during  his  boyhood  (going  to  school  during  the  winter),  up  to  the 
period  of  his  removal.  He  settled  in  Viola,  Mercer  county,  in  1871. 
■He  was  the  first  colored  man  wlio  drove  the  United  States  mail  in  the 
State  of  Illinois,  he  being  so  engaged  during  the  years  1872  and  1873. 
He  came  to  Aledo  and  commenced  working  at  the  barber  trade  in 
1874,  still  carrying  on  the  business  under  the  firm  name  of  Cole  iSz 
Wade.  He  was  married  in  1872,  to  Miss  Catharine  Glasscock,  and 
they  have  three  children  living.  Mr.  Cole  puts  himself  on  record  as  a 
member  of  the  republican  party. 

John  Webster  Dillev  was  born  in  Mercer  county  in  January,  1840. 
His  parents,  William  and  Eliza  (Moorehead)  Dilley,  were  among  the 
early  settlers  of  Mercer  county.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  spent  most 
of  his  life  upon  a  farm,  and  was  so  engaged  upon  the  breaking  out  of 
the  war,  when,  on  July  24,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  the  army  in  Co. 
H,  84th  111.  Inf  He  participated  in  the  battles  of  Chickamauga,  Look- 
out mountain.  Mission  Ridge,  siege  of  Chattanooga,  Ringgold,  Georgia, 
campaign  of  Atlanta,  Franklin,  and  Nashville,  and  was  mustered  out 
June  8,  1865,  at  Nashville,  Tennessee.  In  1869  he  was  elected  coimty 
clerk,  and  held  that  office  four  years  ;  for  a  short  time  after  this  he  was 
engaged  in  the  grocery  business,  and  again  went  upon  the  farm  and 
spent  several  years,  when  he  finally  removed  to  Aledo.  He  filled  the 
office  of  deputy  sheriff  of  the  county  for  two  years,  after  which  he  was 
elected  justice  of  the  peace,  which  office  he  still  retains,  and  is  also  clerk 


MERCER    TOWNSHIP.  621 

of  the  town  of  Aledo.  He  was  married  in  October,  1865,  to  Miss  Mary 
J.  Rose,  and  has  tliree  chikh-en.  He  is  a  member  of  rhe  republican 
party. 

Ben.iamin  F.  Thompson  was  born  in  ( ^linton  county,  Ohio,  March 
28,  1829,  he  being  the  youngest  son  of  Dr.  A.  W.  and  Elizabeth 
(Scarif)  Thompson.  When  a  child  his  parents  moved  to  Lawrence- 
burgh,  Indiana,  where  they  lived  several  years,  and  then  moved  back 
to  Xenia,  Ohio,  where  his  father  practiced  his  profession  till  his  death. 
When  about  sixteen  years  old  Mr.  Thompson  went  to  Washington 
C.  H.,  Ohio,  and  clerked  in  a  dry  goods  store  for  six  years,  when 
he  came  west  and  settled  in  New  Boston,  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  where 
he  formed  a  partnership  with  his  brother-in-law,  J.  C.  Bell,  in  the  dry 
goods  and  pork  packing  business.  In  this  business  he  continued  until 
1859,  when  he  sold  his  interest  to  his  partner.  Under  the  lirst  admin- 
istration of  President  Lincoln  Mr.  Thompson  was  appointed  postmas- 
ter of  New  Boston  and  held  the  office  for  about  eight  years,  when  he 
resigned,  and  in  1871  came  to  Aledo  and  went  into  his  present  busi- 
ness of  real  estate  dealer  and  collector.  He  has  been  in  Aledo  since 
the  above  date  with  the  exception  of  a  year's  absence  in  1875  which 
he  spent  in  Los  Angelos,  California.  Mr.  Tliompson  was  married  in 
1858  to  Miss  Josie  C.  Denison,  of  New  Boston,  They  have  had  four 
children,  only  one  of  whom  is  living,  a  son  eleven  years  of  age.  Polit- 
ically Mr.  Thompson  is  a  democrat. 

Rev.  John  T.  IIoye  was  born  in  Trigg  county,  Kentucky,  April  6, 
1852;  he  being  the  second  son  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  Hoye.  He  left 
Kentucky  with  his  parents  when  about  seven  years  of  age,  they  settling 
in  northern  Missouri,  and  living  there  till  the  close  of  the  war,  when 
they  removed  to  Kansas  City.  Mr.  Hoye  had  the  advantage  of  the 
common  schools  in  boyhood  and  in  his  twenty-third  year  entered  the 
William  Jewell  College,  of  Liberty,  Missouri,  with  a  view  of  pre- 
jDaring  himself  for  the  ministry.  He  attended  here  for  five  years, 
when  he  entered  the  Baptist  Theological  Seminary  of  Louisville,  Ken- 
tucky, after  attending  which  for  two  years  he  began  missionary  work, 
in  Missouri,  where  he  labored  a  short  time,  and  after  preaching  a  short 
time  in  Reynolds,  this  state,  he  was  called  to  preach  for  his  present 
charge,  the  Baptist  church  of  Aledo.  Mr.  Hoye  was  married  June  29, 
1881,  to  Miss  Lucy  W.  DeHoney,  of  Louisville,  Kentucky. 

J.  M.  AViLLis  was  born  in  181:9  in  Guernsey  county,  Ohio,  and  is 
the  son  of  Robert  and  Prudence  (Speai-)  Willis.  He  left  (raernsey 
county  when  nineteen  years  of  age  and  went  to  Cass  county,  Missouri, 
where  he  farmed  for  six  years.  He  then  came  to  Mercer  countv  and 
went  to  farming,  at  whicli  he  continued  for  five  years,  when  he  was 


622  HISTORY    OF   ^rERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

appointed  superintendent  of  the  Mercer  county  infirmary,  which  posi- 
tion he  now  hokls.  Mr.  AVillis  was  married  in  1872  to  Miss  Mary  J. 
Ashmhurst,  of  Aledo.  He  is  a  member  of  the  masonic  order  and 
politically  is  a  republican. 

Charles  W.  Detwiler  was  born  and  raised  in  Mercer  county.  He 
went  to  school  in  Aledo,  and  began  learning  the  trade  of  a  tinsmith 
with  H.  Holmes  in  1872,  with  whom  he  worked  four  years,  since 
which  time  he  has  been  in  business  with  his  father  and  brother.  The 
firm  of  Detwiler  Brothers  was  formed  in  1881.  Mr.  Detwiler  is  a 
member  of  the  Presbyterian  church  and  a  member  of  the  citizens' 
cornet  band  of  Aledo,  and  is  a  republican  in  politics. 

Lewis  Cass  Detwiler  was  born  June  1,  1860,  and  is  the  youngest 
son  of  Eli  and  Martha  Detwiler  of  Aledo.  He  was  born  in  Mercer 
county  and  went  to  the  public  schools  of  Aledo,  learned  his  trade  of 
tinsmith  with  his  brother  Charles,  and  entered  the  firm  of  Detwiler 
Brothers  as  partner  ir^  1881.  The  firm  do  a  general  hardware,  stove 
and  tinware  trade. 

Samuel  Brown,  retired  farmer,  was  born  May  13,  1823,  in  Breck- 
inridge county,  Kentucky.  His  parents,  Alfred  and  Mary  (Mordock) 
Brown,  were  born,  raised  and  married  in  Kentucky.  About  1830  they 
emigrated,  making  their  homes  in  Knox  county,  Illinois,  bringing 
their  five  children:  James  N.,  Samuel,  Harmon,  Taylor,  and  William. 
In  Knox  county  were  born:  Alfred  T.,  Mary,  Sally  A.,  and  Abigail. 
The  elder  Brown  died  in  1866.  Mr.  Brown  was  for  a  time  in  the 
Black  Hawk  war,  receiving  land  as  a  reward.  Samuel  was  reared  on 
the  farm,  and  in  the  rude  log  cabin.  He^  was  educated  with  his 
fellows  in  the  log  hall  of  learning.  He  was  married  June  1,  1854,  to 
Caroline  Greenwood,  daughter  of  AVilliam  and  Elizabeth  (Legg) 
Greenwood.  Her  parents  were  early  settlers  of  Suez  township,  Mer- 
cer county.  Mr.  Brown  settled  in  Suez  township,  purchasing  a  farm 
there.  After  selling  and  buying,  etc.,  he  located  in  North  Henderson, 
where  he  became  owner  of  a  half-section  of  good  land.  He  sold  and 
moved  into  Aledo  in  the  spring  of  18S2.  He  is  one  of  the  many  who 
have  made  farming  a  success,  and  has  aided  in  reclaiming  the  soil 
from  its  wild  state.  His  children  are :  Harmon  G.  (dead),  Maxy  (now 
Mrs.  George  G.  Cheney),  George  E.  (an  Aledo  liveryman).  Grant, 
Mary  E.,  Samuel  T.,  and  Katy  G.     Mr.  Brown  has  property  in  Aledo. 

LoAiViMi  Brown,  liveryman,  is  a  son  of  Richard  G.  and  liebecca 
(Moore)  Brown.  Richard  Brown  was  born  in  Ohio,  and  his  wife  in 
Virginia.  He  became  an  early  settler  of  Iowa.  Loammi,  the  eldest 
of  four  children,  was  born  in  Iowa  Territory,  February  22,  1810.  He 
enlisted  in  the  civil  war  August  11,  1862,  in  company  G,  124th  reg. 


SUEZ   TOWNSHIP.  623 

111.  Vol.  Inf.,  Capt.  Scudder  and  Col.  Sloan.  He  took  part  in  many 
skirniislies  and  in  the  engagements  of  Port  Gibson,  Champion  Hill, 
Black  River,  Fort  Jackson,  et  al.  He  served  till  July  IT,  1865,  when 
he  was  mustered  out  at  Rock  Island.  He  resumed  farming  in  Mercer 
county.  He  has  also  dealt  heavily  in  stock-raising  and  trading.  In 
November,  1875,  he  purchased  the  John  S.  Moore  livery  stables,  and 
has  since  lived  in  Aledo,  where  he  has  a  good  property.  In  politics 
he  is  decidedly  democratic.  Mr.  Brown  was  married  November  12, 
1865,  to  Amanda  J.  Melton,  daughter  of  R.  Gr.  and  Susan  Melton,  of 
Mercer  county.  She  is  a  native  of  Rock  Island  county,  Illinois. 
They  have  had  five  children :  Susie,  Loammi,  Jennie,  Minnie,  and 
Richard. 


SUEZ  TOWNSHIP. 


EARLY  SETTLEMENT. 


The  broad  domain  of  Illinois  did  not  aftbrd  a  more  inviting  spot  to 
the  eye  of  the  early  pioneer  than  the  territory  embraced  within  the 
lines  of  what  is  now  known  as  Suez  township ;  consequently  that  pait 
of  Mercer  county  has  kept  pace  with  any  part  of  the  state  in  settle- 
ment, in  thrift,  and  in  religious  and  educational  progress.  Along  the 
crystal  streams  that  flow  through  the  township  an  abundance  of  timber 
grew,  and,  underlying  portions  of  the  township,  inexhaustible  beds  of 
coal  are  found.  Back  from  the  streams  a  beautiful  expanse  of  fertile 
prairie  greeted  the  eye  of  the  observer ;  and,  shortly  after  the  close  of 
the  Black  Hawk  war,  the  snug  log  cabin  began  to  take  the  place  of  the 
Indian  wigwam ;  the  white-topped  wagon,  the  lowing  of  cattle,  and 
the  sound  of  the  axe  announced  the  fact  that  the  day  of  civilization 
was  dawning.  Among  the  first  to  cast  their  lot  in  Suez  township  we 
find  the  following  names :  David  AVilliams  and  George  Blake  came 
together  from  the  State  of  Indiana  in  1835,  the  former  locating  on  the 
S.  W.  i  of  Sec.  22,  and  the  latter  on  the  S.  E.  i  of  Sec.  21.  In  the 
same  year  James  Stewart  and  family,  Robert  Pollock  and  family,  and 
William  Moore  and  family  came  from  the  State  of  Ohio.  Mr.  Moore 
located  on  the  N.  E.  ^  of  Sec.  5,  James  Stewart  on  N.  E.  ^  of  Sec.  21, 
Robert  Pollock  on  the  W.  ^  of  Sec.  27. 

In  1835  Harison  Brown,  formerly  a  resident  of  Kentucky,  came 
and  located  on  the  S.  E.  ^  of  Sec.  1.  William  Martin  came  in  the 
same  year,  and  located  on  the  N.  AV.  ^  of  Sec.  5.  In  1831  James 
Baine  entered  a  claim  on  the  N.  AV.  J  of  Sec.  29. 


% 


624  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AUT)    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

The  tirst  birth  in  the  township  was  the  daughter  of  George  Blake, 
who  was  born  in  1835.  The  first  marriage  occurred  in  the  same  year, 
the  contracting  parties  being  Robert  Caldwell  and  Miss  Mary  Pollock. 
The  first  death  was  that  of  Mrs.  Preston,  daughter  of  Robert  Pollock, 
which  occurred  in  18-il. 

In  1837  Asa  Ransom,  a  native  of  iSTew  York,  located  on  the  S.  W. 
J  of  Sec.  3.  In  1838  John  Mauk  located  half  a  mile  north  of  Suez 
postoifice.  In  1837  the  Pease  family  came  and  located  on  section  20. 
In  1840  John  and  William  Lafferty  came  from  Trumbull  county,  Ohio, 
the  former  locating  on  section  21  and  the  lattei'  on  section  22.  In  1841 
John  Greenwood  bought  the  claim  owned  by  Henry  B.  Fleharty  and 
located  thereon.  The  Bridger  family  were  also  among  the  earliest 
settlers.  William  Moore  was  the  first  blacksmith  in  the  township, 
and  William  ]\Iartin  the  first  carpenter. 

The  only  road  laid  out  through  the  township,  at  the  time  of  the 
earliest  settlement,  was  one  running  from  Macomb  to  Galena,  which 
extended  diagonally  across  it  from  the  southeast  to  the  northwest 
corner.  The  first  bridge  was  constructed  on  North  Henderson  creek, 
where  the  Macomb  and  Galena  road  crossed  it,  in  1838  or  1839.  The 
structure  was  built  of  oak  logs,  which  were  split  and  the  flat  sides 
turned  downward,  the  hollows  on  the  top  being  filled  with  earth. 

The  first  school-house  in  the  township  was  erected  by  Robert  Pol- 
lock, James  Stewart,  Samuel  Shaw,  and  Mr.  Pease  in  1837,  on  the 
S.  W.  J  of  Sec,  21.  This  rude  structure  was  built  of  logs,  with  a  clap- 
board roof,  doors  of  the  same  material,  and  puncheon  fioor.  In  this 
building  the  first  religious  services  were  held,  the  sermon  being 
preached  by  a  traveling  minister  of  the  Baptist  persuasion.  The  first 
teacher  to  wield  his  hickorj'  within  the  walls  of  this  antiquated  building 
was  R.  Caldwell. 

The  first  church  built  was  the  Associate  Reform,  which  stood  on  the 
]Sr.  W.  J  of  Sec.  31,  and  which  was  erected  in  1841. 

The  fii'st  postoffice  was  established  at  the  residence  of  Moses  Decker, 
on  the  N.  E.  J  of  Sec.  3,  in  1840.  The  next  one  'was  established 
on  the  S.  W.  ^  of  Sec.  22,  and  was  called  North  Henderson,  Robert 
Pollock  officiating  as  postmaster.  Later  the  name  was  changed  to 
Norwood.  In  1839  a  saw  mill  was  built  by  Pelatiah  Pease  on  the 
S.  W.  i  of  Sec.  21  on,  the  banks  of  North  Henderson  creek,  being 
propelled  by  the  waters  of  that  stream.  In  1873  a  steam  grist  mill 
was  built  by  C.  S.  Hart  at  Norwood. 

The  first  coal  mined  in  the  township  was  taken  from  section  21  by 
Mr.  Ditto  in  1837.       • 

There  are  at  present  four  stone  quarries  in  the  township,  located  on 


SUEZ  TOWNSHIP.  625 

sections,  19,  21,  22,  and  29.  The  rock  produced  from  tliese  quarries 
is  of  a  good  quality,  and  the  suj^ply  inexhaustible. 

An  abundance  of  timber  grows  along  the  banks  of  North  Hender- 
son creek,  oak,  hickory,  walnut,  linn,  hard  maple  and  elm  being  the 
predominant  kinds.  An  occasional  honey  locust  and  coffee  tree  may 
be  seen.  Wild  crab  apples,  gooseberries,  plujns,  grapes,  strawberries 
and  blackberries,  abounded  in  early  times. 

The  fences  in  early  times  were  made  exclusively  of  rails.  The  first 
hedge,  was  grown  by  John  Lafferty. 

Thc'  settlers  used  farming  implements  that  would  bring  a  smile  to 
the  countenance  of  our  modern  farmers.  Their  plows  had  wooden 
mold-boards,  and  their  harrows  were  all  of  wood.  William  Lafferty 
states  that  the  first  plow  he  used  in  the  west  was  one  with  a  wooden 
mold-board.  He  started  in  with  the  clumsy  affair,  whej-e  the  weeds 
and  prairie  grass  were  higher  than  his  head.  He  rooted  along  without 
regard  to  sectional  lines,  furrows,  angles,  or  corners,  and  by  night 
found  he  had  rooted  over  about  twelve  acres.  The  land  appeared  as  if 
a  drove  of  long-nosed  hogs  had  been  turned  loose  on  it.  Mr.  Lafterty 
states  that  he  planted  his  corn  in  it,  but  for  reasons  best  known  to  him- 
self did  not  return  to  look  at  it  until  after  harvest. 

The  early  settlers  along  jSTorth  Henderson  creek  did  the  principal 
part  of  their  trading  in  Oquawka  and  Peoria.  Grain  was  frequently 
hauled  to  Chicago,  and  sold  at  a  very  low  price.  Asa  Ransom  states 
that  he  once  worked  a  week  with  a  yoke  of  oxen  to  thresh  out  and  haul 
to  the  house  of  his  creditor  a  hundred  bushels  of  oats,  which  went  to 
liquidate  a  debt  of  five  dollars.  Dressed  pork  brought  $1  to  $1.50 
per  hundred,  Mr.  Ransom  once  gave  1,100  pounds  of  pork  for  a  pair 
of  pantaloons,  after  having  hauled  it  to  Rock  Island. 

This  sti'ingency  in  monetary  aftairs  existed  from  1840  to  1848. 
During  that  period  it  was  almost  impossible  for  the  farmers  to  get 
money  with  which  to  pay  for  their  claims  when  the  land  came  into 
market.  Money  was  sometimes  borrowed  at  fifty  per  cent,  for  this 
purpose. 

Wolf  hunts  in  early  times  were  of  frequent  occurrence.  Large 
numbers  of  the  settlers  would  turn  out  on  these  occasions.  They  were 
carried  on  in  the  following  manner:  a  meeting  was  called,  captains 
elected,  and  a  day  chosen  for  the  hunt.  Every  settler  for  miles  around 
would  generally  be  on  hand,  and  every  musket,  shot-gun,  rifle,  and 
pistol  was  brought  into  requisition.  The  lines  would  form  at  a  uni- 
form distance  from  the  appointed  place,  and  at  a  given  signal  from 
their  respective  captains  would  advance,  from  all  points  of  the  com- 
pass, keeping  time  to  the  melodious  music  of  the  hound  and  the  hunts- 


626  HISTORY    OF   FIERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

man's  bugle.  The  wolf,  with  his  usual  cunning,  would  usually  make 
his  escape,  however,  before  the  point  was  reached,  and  the  hunt  would 
prove  fruitless  so  far  as  wolf-scalps  were  concerned. ' 

On  the  niglit  of  August  10,  1851,  a  terrible  wind  and  rain  storm 
visited  the  southern  part  of  the  county,  which,  owing  to  its  disastrous 
results,  will  long  be  ren^^mbered  bv  those  who  witnessed  it.  For  .about 
four  hours  the  rain  fell  in  sheets ;  every  brook  and  rivulet  was  swelled 
into  a  mad,  roaring  torrent.  The  waters  of  North  Henderson  creek 
rose  about  fifteen  feet  above  their  normal  height.  Every  bridge, 
from  its  source  to  the  Mississippi,  was  carried  away  before  the  rushing 
flood.  This  was  the  most  severe  tempest  in  the  recollection  of  the  old- 
est settlers.  It  is  said  that  barrels  standing  in  dooryards,  away  from 
buildings,  were  actually  filled  with  water. 

The  coldest  winter  in  the  recollection  of  the  old  residents  was  that 
of  1842-43.  On  November  12  Jack  Frost  "  came  down  from  the 
north""  and  held  high  carnival  until  the  following  April.  During  the 
month  of  March  the  sun  shone  brightly  every  day,  but  so  firm  was  the 
grasp  of  the  winter  king  on  the  shrouded  earth  that  its  rays  were  with- 
out efiFect. 

ORGANIZATION. 

Previous  to  April  4,  1854,  this  township  was  known  by  the  name 
of  Palmyra.  It  was  ascertained  however  that  the  name  of  Palmyra 
had  previously  been  conferred  on  another  township  and  postoflice  in 
the  state,  and  consequently  the  name  was  abandoned  and  a  new  one 
substituted  at  the  time  of  organization. 

On  the  date  above  mentioned  a  meeting  was  held  at  the  residence 
of  Henry  Bridger,  at  which  the  township  was  organized  and  oflicers 
elected.  The  names  of  the  first  oflicers  chosen  are  as  follows  :  su- 
pervisor, Thomas  Likely  ;  town  clerk,  John  B.  Hoag ;  assessor, 
William  Laflerty  ;  collector,  F.  M.  Postlewaite  ;  overseei-  of  the  poor, 
James  E.  Kay ;  commissioners  of  highways,  Harison  Brown,  John 
Laflerty,  William  McGreenwood  ;  justices  of  the  peace,  Eobert  Pol- 
lock, J.  O.  Edwards  ;  constables,  David  Molar,  A.  Trask. 

SUEZ  POSTOFFICE. 

What  is  now  known  as  Suez  postoflice  was  established  in  1842, 
Henry  Bridger  being  the  first  postmaster.  The  office  was  then  known 
as  Pope  Creek,  and  still  more  generally  known  as  Bridger's  Cornei-s. 

In  1851  Asa  Eansom  erected  a  hotel  building  at  the  Corners, 
where  for  many  years  he  did  a  thriving  business.  Towns  being  few 
and  far  between,  emigrants  on  their  way  westward  would  always  aim 
for  Bridger's  Corners,  for  a  stopping  place. 


SUEZ  TOWXSHIP.  629 

Samuel  Sliove  opened  the  first  store.  He  was  succeeded  by  Mr. 
Turner.  m^Iio  was  followed  by  Mr.  JSlourse.  Messrs.  Shaw,  Mauk  and 
Sedwick  also  did  business  successively  at  the  Corners.  James  Paffe 
is  now  running  a  grocery,  and  is  the  present  ]wstmaster. 

The  school-house  at  Suez,  commonly  known  as  the  ''White  Lillj" 
school,  was  erected  in  1851,  a  Miss  Stuart,  of  Greene  township,  being 
the  first  teacher. 

In  August,  1881,  a  band  was  organized  at  Suez,  consisting  of  a  few 
of  the  music-loying  gentlemen  of  that  locality.  The  names  of  the 
performers  are  as  follows:  C.  L.  Ransom,  E  flat  cornet;  John  C. 
Bowers,  B  flat  cornet ;  Charles  Furr,  B  flat  cornet ;  Ezra  Hartzell,  first 
alto ;  H.  Woltham,  second  alto ;  P.  F.  Mauk,  tenor ;  J.  Hughes, 
B  Bass ;  James  Page,  E  flat  tuba. 

THE  UNITED  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 

The  above-named  congregation  was  the  outgrowth  of  a  union  of  the 
^^ Associate"  and  "Associate  Reform""  churches.  In  181:2,  by  order  of 
the  Associate  Presbytery,  of  Iowa,  the  Rev.  James  G.  Bruce  preached 
in  a  small  wooden  house  at  the  crossing  of  the  roads  one  mile  west  of 
Norwood,  which  was  then  the  residence  of  S.  L.  Brownlee,  and  organ- 
ized the  Associate  congregation,  of  JS^orth  Henderson.  The  member- 
ship then  numbered  fifteen,  whose  names  are  as  follows :  James, 
Elizabeth,  and  Nancy  Imbrie ;  Robert  and  Mary  Caldwell ;  John 
Humphreys  and  wife ;  S.  L.  and  Sarah  Brownlee ;  William  and  Mary 
Jane  Caldwell ;  John  W.  and  Sarah  A.  Caldwell,  aud  Samuel  and 
Margaret  Graham.  James  Imbrie  and  Robert  Caldwell  were  chosen 
elders. 

For  some  time  services  were  held  in  the  little  dwelling,  except  in 
pleasant  weather,  when  the  people  would  assemble  under  the  trees  to 
Ksten  to  the  divine  teachings.  Lumber  wagons  drawn  by  oxen  were 
the  only  coiiveyances.  The  men  in  checkered  shirts  and  the  women 
in  plain  calicoes  came  from  far  and  near  to  listen  to  the  teachings  of 
the  scripture.  These  were  the  men  and  women  who  paved  the  way 
for  civilization,  and  made  smooth  the  paths  for  those  who  were  to 
follow.  Should  one  of  those  humble  worshipers  enter  a  church  in  one 
of  our  towns  or  cities  to-day,  cold  indeed  would  be  the  reception  with 
which  he  would  meet.  The  domed  and  frescoed  ceiling,  the  rich  car- 
pets, the  upholstered  seats,  the  people  in  gaudy  attire,  and  the  great 
pipe-organ  would  present  a  strange  scene  to  him,  and  we  fear  he  would 
feel  that  he  was  not  welcome  there. 

In  the  fall  of  1844  a  call  was  made  in  connection  with  the  Liberty 
congregation    for   the    services    of  Mr.    R.  W.    French,    and   by   him 
30 


630  HISTORY    OF    FIERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

accepted.  October  2f),  in  that  same  little  dwelling  in  which  the  infant 
congregation  was  organized,  he  was  ordained,  the  brothers  James  and 
William  Bruce,  being  the  officiating  ministers.  The  young  pastor  en- 
teVed  upon  his  duties  cheerfully,  although  the  salary  was  very  small. 
The  house  in  which  he  was  obliged  to  live  afforded  a  very  poor  shelter 
for  his  wife  and  little  ones  against  the  summer  rains  and  winter  blast. 
In  the  following  year  James  Graham  gave  a  lot  from  his  farm  recently 
purchased,  and  a  number  of  able-bodied  men  turned  out  and  erected  a 
plain  but  comfortable  dwelling  thereon,  and  the  pastor  was  soon  occu- 
pying more  pleasant  quarters. 

An  amusing  anecdote  is  related  of  the  reverend  gentleman  that  is 
worth  repeating.  It  was  Saturday  morning,  as  they  supposed,  when 
Mrs.  French,  having  an  errand  to  perform,  went  to  a  neighbor's 
house,  and  meanwhile  her  husband  began  some  work  on  his  lot.  Im- 
agine her  surprise  on  being  told  on  her  arrival  at  the  neighbor's  that  it 
was  Sunday,  and  people  were  by  that  time  seen  wending  their  way 
toward  the  church.  She  went  home  and  informed  her  husband  of 
the  fact.  He  dropped  his  tools,  donned  his  Sunday  garments,  and 
hastened  to  the  church,  where  he  found  most  of  his  congregatton  wait- 
ing for  services  to  begin. 

In  1846  the  first  church  building  was  erected,  being  two  miles  west 
and  a  mile  south  from  Norwood.  The  place  is  still  marked  by  the 
cemetery.  At  the  end  of  four  years  Mr.  French  was  at  liis  own  re- 
quest released  from  the  charge  of  the  congregation.  After  a  brief 
period  of  vacancy  the  congregations  of  South  creek  and  Bethel  were 
united  with  that  of  North  Henderson  in  one  charge,  and  they  united 
in  a  call  for  the  pastoral  services  of  the  Rev.  Nathaniel  McDowel, 
which  was  accepted.  Flis  installation  took  place  in  the  Smith  creek 
church.     In  1854  the  pastoral  relations  were  dissolved. 

During  the  second  period  of  vacancy,  extending  over  almost  two 
years  and  a  half,  a  very  decided  current  of  emigration  carried  pros- 
perity to  the  rising  congregation.  Eighty-seven  names  were  added  to 
its  membership.  In  the  month  of  September,  1866,  a  call  was  extended 
to  the  Rev.  J.  A.  Edie,  which  was  by  him  accepted,  and  on  the  follow- 
ing March  he  took  charge  of  the  congregation.  At  his  ordination  and 
installation,  Revs.  A.  A.  Rogers  and  John  Scott,  D.D.,  officiated. 

THE  ASSOCIATE  REFORMED  BRANCH. 

In  the  early  days  of  North  Henderson  there  appeared  many  warm 
adherents  of  the  Associate  Reformed  church.  On  May  12,  1856,  the 
Rev.  M.  M.  Bigger,  by  direction  of  the  Associate  Reformed  Presbytery, 
of  Monmouth,  preached  in  the  Associate  Reformed  church  at  Spring 


SUEZ   TOWNSHIP.  631 

Grove,  where  he  organized  the  Associate  Reforined  church  of  Xorth 
Henderson,  and  twenty-one  names  were  enrolled.  ( )ii  the  same  day 
the  Sprhig  (Irove  and  Xorth  Henderson  congregations  each  extended 
a  call  for  the  half-time  services  of  the  Rev.  J.  C.  McKnight,  which  was 
by  him  accepted,  and  in  the  following  June  he  was  installed  in  the 
united  charge  and  entered  upon  his  labors.  This  ^^astorate  was  brief, 
ending  in  the  release  of  Mr.  McKnight  from  his  charge  in  the  month 
of  March,  1858. 

On  June  1-1,  1858,  a  joint  meeting  of  the  Associate  and  Associate 
Reformed  congregations  of  Xorth  Henderson  was  held  in  the  Associate 
church,  at  which  it  was  agreed  that  the  two  congregations  would  unite 
in  one  organization,  which  has  since  been  known  as  the  United  Pres- 
byterian church. 

After  the  union  of  the  two  branches  it  became  necessary  to  erect  a 
larger  and  more  commodious  church  building.  Accordingly  during 
the  summer  of  1859  the  neat,  comfortable  building,  in  which  the 
congregation  still  worships,  was  erected.  The  building  is  situated  one 
mile  west  of  Norwood,  is  45x72  feet  in  size,  and  cost  about  $5,000. 

During  the  dark  hours  of  the  rebellion,  that  began  soon  after,  the 
congregation  gave  their  undivided  support  to  the  union  cause.  Many 
of  its  members  bade  farewell  to  friends  and  relatives,  to  the  happy 
associations  that  made  the  old  homes  dear,  and  went  forth  to  defend 
the  principles  they  loved.  The  gray-haired  father  and  mother  knelt 
under  the  nxjf  of  their  cottage  home  and  prayed  for  the  success  of  the 
Hag,  while  their  sons  marched  forth  to  the  wild  music  of  war,  and  gave 
up  their  lives  in  its  defense. 

Mr.  Edie,  the  pastor,  spent  some  time  in  the  army,  administering 
to  the  spiritual  wants  of  the  soldiers  in  camp,  and  to  the  heroes  as  they 
laid  mangled  and  blackened  on  the  field  of  battle. 

After  the  close  of  the  war  Mr.  Edie  continued  his  labors  for  several 
years,  but  finally  desiring  to  change  the  field  of  his  labors,  he  oftered 
his  resignation.  Being  strongly  urged  by  his  congregation  to  remain 
for  a  time,  he  decided  to  do  so.  In  1869  he  again  offered  his  resigna- 
tion, which  was  reluctantly  accepted.  During  the  period  of  eleven 
years,  through  which  Mr.  Edie's  pastorate  extended,  338  persons  were 
added  to  the  roll  of  membership. 

In  April,  1872,  a  call  was  made  to  the  Rev.  J.  M.  French,  which 
was  accepted.  He  entered  immediately  upon  his  labors  and  had  charge 
of  the  congregation  three  and  a  half  years,  during  which  time  seventy- 
six  were  added  to  the  roll  of  membership.  In  June,  1876,  the  Rev,  J. 
T.  McCrory  took  charge  of  the  congregation  and  was  officially  installed 
in  April,  1877,  and  was  released  in  1880, 


H32  HISTORY    OF   MERCER    AND    HEXUERSON    COUNTIES. 

In  1881  the  Rev.  AV.  A.  Spalding  began  his  hibors  and  was  installed 
by  the  Rock  Island  Presbytery  August  23  of  the  same  year.  In  the 
past  few  yeai-s  this  congregation  has  greatly  decreased  in  number, 
owing  to  the  fact  that  many  of  the  members  have  sought  homes  in  the 
western  states,  but  it  is  still  one  of  the  largest  and  most  prosj^erous  in 
the  county. 

The  Sunday  school  in  connection  ^^•ith  the  church  is  in  a  very  pros- 
])erous-  condition,  the  average  attendance  being  about  one  hundred. 
Tiie  land  on  which  the  church  stands  was  donated  by  David  Molar. 
The  parsonage  stands  one  mile  south  of  the  church  on  land  donated 
for  the  purjiose  by  Thomas  Likely. 

THE  ce:metery. 

'•  \\'luit  is  dentil  ?     'Tis  to  be  free— 
^'o  more  to  hoi^e,  to  love,  nor  fear." 

tJontiguous  to  the  grounds  owned  by  the  Presbyterian  church  is 
located  the  Norwood  cemetery.  The  tirst  person  buried  here  was  a 
child  of  Alexander  McKenstry  in  1854. 

The  association  which  has  this  cemetery  in  charge  was  organized 
under  the  state  law  in  187",  and  received  its  charter  in  1881.  The 
])resent  officers  are  :  president,  Thomas  Likely ;  secretary,  George  M. 
Evans  ;  treasurer,  John  Hutchison  ;  trustees,  John  Latferty,  J.  D.  Por- 
ter, William  P.  Morgan.  The  neatly  kept  grounds  indicate  the  feeling 
of  reverence  and  love  entertained  by  the  surrounding  community  for 
their  departed  dead. 

PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH. 

The  initiatory  movement  of  organizing  this  society  was  made  by 
the  members  of  the  Monmouth  Presbyterian  church,  who  resided  in 
the  vicinity  of  North  Henderson.  A  meeting  was  called  and  held  in  a 
school-house  on  Section  29,  on  March  17,  1853.  R.  C.  Mathews  was 
chosen  chairman,  and  J.  D.  Porter  secretary. 

It  was  unanimously  agreed  to  petition  Schuyler  Presbytery  to 
organize  a  church  at  Norwood,  and  J.  I).  Porter  was  selected  to  pre- 
sent the  said  petition.  For  some  reason  not  shown  by  the  records  the 
church  was  not  organized  at  that  time. 

In  the  spring  of  1854,  F.  Postlewaite,  S.  R.  Boggs  and  Thomas 
Likely  were  appointed  a  buikling  committee,  and  a  church  building, 
for  which  purpose  funds  had  already  been  raised,  was  begun.  The 
committte  contracted  with  Russell  6z  McFarland,  of  Oquawka,  Illinois, 
to  erect  a  frame  building,  36x49,  which  was  to  cost  about  $2,100. 
The  building  was  begun  in  the  tail  of  1854  and  completed  in  the  spring 


SUEZ  TOWNSHIP.  633 

of  1S55.  In  that  year,  a  petition,  signed  by  thirty-six  membei-s  of  the 
Presbyterian  church,  and  eleven  persons  who  were  members  of  no 
denomination,  was  presented  to  the  Presbyter}^  of  Schuyler,  which  met 
in  Knoxville,  in  April  of  1S55,  being  in  accordance  with  the  sentiment 
of  the  members  who  held  the  first  meeting,  viz :  that  a  church  should 
be  organized  at  Nortii  Henderson.  The  prayer  <»f  the  petition  was 
granted,  and  Rev.  R.  C.  Mathews  and  the  Rev.  T.  S.  Yaile,  with 
elders  John  Eiken,  of  Knoxville,  and  A.  C.  Gregg,  of  Monmouth, 
were  appointed  to  organize  the  church.  The  connnittee  met  in  the 
new  building  at  Xoith  Henderson,  July  7,  and  proceeded  to  organize 
the  society.  Forty  names  were  enrolled,  twenty -four  of  whom  had  for- 
merly been  members  of  the  Monmouth  congregation.  IVFessrs.  J.  R. 
Boggs,  R.  W.  Porter,  and  S.  R.  Boggs,  were  chosen  elders,  and 
Thomas  Likely,  M.  T.  Postlewaite  and  T.  S.  Robb,  were  chosen  trus- 
tees. jN^o  regular  pastor  was  employed  by  the  congregation  until  June, 
1856,  when  J.  H.  Nevius  began  his  labor,  as  stated  supply,  and  was 
installed  as  pastor,  November  11,  of  the  same  year.  Mr.  I^evius 
officiated  as  pastor  until  April,  1863,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
George  ]Srorcross,  who  acted  as  stated  supply  until  June  6,  1865,  when 
he  was  officially  installed  as  pastor,  in  which  capacity  he  served  about 
a  year. 

The  Rev.  J.  H.  Moore  was  the  next  pastor  called  upon  to  take 
charge  of  the  congregation.  Mr.  Moore  began  his  labors  on  June  2, 
1867,  but  was  not  installed  until  November  2  of  the  same  year.  This 
gentleman  served  as  pastor  until  March,  1876,  when  he  removed  to  a 
new  field  of  labor. 

The  church  was  without  a  pastor  until  January.  1877,  when  Rev.  E. 
B.  Miner  began  his  ministerial  labors  with  them.  Mr.  Miner  was 
installed  in  the  summer  of  the  same  year.  His  relation  as  pastor  was 
continued  until  1881  when  he  relinquished  his  charge. 

On  April  1,  1881,  the  Rev.  I.  T.  Whitmore  responded  to  a  call 
from  the  congregation  and  entered  u]Don  his  duties  as  pastor.  This 
gentleman  still  has  charge  of  the  congregation. 

.  On  December  3,  1880,  the  name  of  the  church  was  changed  from 
North  Henderson  to  Norwood.  The  present  memberseip  is  206.  Since 
the  organization  of  the  congregation,  four  hundred  and  fifty-four 
names  have  been  added  to  the  list  of  membership.  The  names  of  the 
elders  who  liave  been  successfully  chosen  by  the  congregation  are  as 
follows  :  James  Boggs,  R.  W.  Porter,  and  S.  R.  Boggs  were  elected  on 
July  7,  1855  ;  James  C.  Stewart,  elected  November  19, 1855 ;  James  C. 
Postlewaite,  elected  November  19,  1855;  Robert  Woods  was  elected 
January   18,   1860;    Joseph    B.    Stewart,  elected  January  18,    1860; 


634  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND   HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Robert  Holloway,   elected  December  26,  1869 ;  J.  B.  Lafertj  and  M. 
S.  Campbell  were  chosen  in  September,  1879. 

THE  UNITED  BRETHREX  IN  CHRIST. 

The  society  of  the  above  name  was  organized  December  20,  1873, 
b}^  the  Rev.  P.'  R.  Adams.  The  first  trustees  were  :  H.  R.  Peters, 
George  W.  Sedwick,  and  John  McLangldin.  Their  church  building 
was  erected  in  the  summer  of  1875.  The  building  and  grounds  cost- 
ing fourteen  hundred  and  fifty  dollars.  The  building  was  dedicated 
August  6  of  the  same  year  by  the  pi-esiding  elder,  K^.  A.  AValker.  The 
membership  at  the  time  of  organization  numbered  thirty-six,  but  now 
numbers  only  ten. 

The  present  pastor  is  the  Rev.  Orin  Dilley,  who  is  located  at  Alexis, 
AVarren  county.     The  building  is  situated  on  section  10. 

METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH. 

In  1875  a  number  of  citizens  of  the  above  persuasion,  with  the 
liberal  assistance  of  tlie  enterprising  people  of  other  denominations, 
erected  a  neat  church  building  two  miles  west  of  Suez  postoffice.  The 
building  is  36x40  in  size,  and  stands  on  the  N.  E.  J  of  Sec.  8. 

Owing  to  the  weakness  of  the  society,  no  regular  pastor  is  employed 
by  them.     The  membership  at  present  numbers  ten. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

George  A.,  son  of  Christian  and  Catharine  Sheai-er,  was  born  in 
Herkimer  county,  Xew  York,  April  17,  1828.  When  sixteen  years  of 
age  the  family  came  to  Licking  county,  Ohio,  where  they  resided  nine 
years.  In  1853  they  removed  to  Moultrie  county,  Illinois,  and 
remained  one  year,  after  which  they  went  to  Stark  county,  remaining 
until  1859,  when  they  came  to  Mercer  county,  where  they  bought  land 
in  section  18,  Suez  township.  The  father  died  in  June,  1861.  The 
subject  of  this  sketch  was  first  married,  August  24,  1852,  to  Miss 
Sarah  A.  Whitten,  who  died  in  the  winter  of  1861.  He  w^as  again 
married,  May  27,  1862,  to  Miss  Sarah  J.  Morgan.  The  names  of  his 
children  are  as  follows:  Mary  C,  Margaret  H.,  Anna  B.,  Fannie  R., 
Cora  B.,  Sadie  (deceased),  ]S'ellie  R.,  Blanche  E.,  Fred.  M.,  and 
George  O.  Of  these  the  two  former  are  by  his  first  wife.  Mr.  Shearer 
now  resides  on  the  S.  W.  J  of  Sec.  17,  which  he  purchased  in  1865. 

Dan.  W.,  son  of  AVashington  and  Elizabeth  Sedwick,  was  born 
in  Mercer  county,  Pennsylvania,  July  31,  1834.  AYlien  twelve  years 
of  age  lie  went  to  Lawrence  county,  where  he  was  engaged  two 
years  as  clerk  in  a  dry  goods  and  grocery  store.     At  the  end  of  that 


SUEZ  TOWNSHIP.  635 

time  he  went  to  Columbiana  county,  Oliio,  where  he  remained  one 
year  and  a-half,  where  he  was  engaged  in  farming  and  sheep-driving. 
From  here  he  returned  to  the  town  of  Mercer,  in  Pennsylvania,  where 
he  was  emj)loyed  as  turnkey  in  the  county  jail  under  Sheriff  McKean, 
in  which  capacity  he  acted  about  six  months,  after  which  he  went  to 
Crawford  county  and  located  at  Steuben,  on  Oil  creek,  where  he 
remained  a  few  months  and  then  went  to  Centerville,  where  he 
remained  about  five  years,  doing  general  work  around  a  store  and  saw- 
mill. In  1855  he  emigrated  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  and  located  at 
Bridger's  Corners.  During  the  two  following  years  his  time  was  occu- 
pied alternately  in  teaching  and  clerking.  On  September  3,  1857, 
Mr.  Sedwick  was  married  to  Miss  Frances  A.  Bridger,  a  native  of 
Troy,  New  York,  and  daughter  of  Henry  Bridger,  one  of  the  pioneer 
settlers  of  the  county.  The  fruits  of  the  union  are  six  children,  whose 
names  in  the  order  of  their  ages  are  as  follows:  Ida  E.,  Cora  A., 
Henry  D.  (deceased),  Edwin  E.,  Bertram  B. ,  and  Fannie  M.  In  the 
spring  of  1857  he  was  appointed  postmaster  at  Pope  Creek,  which 
position  he  held  until  1870.  In  the  same  year  he  purchased  the  stock 
of  goods  owned  by  his  employers  and  embarked  in  business  for  him- 
self. In  the  fall  of  1862  he  enlisted  as  a  private  in  Co.  E,  102d 
reg.  111.  Vol.  Inf.  When  the  company  was  organized  he  was  elected 
first  lieutenant,  and  on  April  28,  1863,  to  the  position  of  captain.  In 
1865  he  received  the  following  letter  from  the  secretary  of  war: 

Washington,  D.  C.,  .Tune  19.  ISfio. 
Sir, — Yon  are  hereby  informed  that  the  President  of  th%  United  States  has 
appointed  you,  for  gallant  and  meritorious  conduct  during  the  war,  a  niajdr  of 
volunteers  by  brevet  in  the  service  of  the  I'nited  States,  to  rank  as  such  from  the 
13th  day  of  March,  1865.  Should  the  senate  at  their  next  session  advise  and 
consent  thereto,  you  will  be  commissioned  accordingly. 

Edwin  M.  Stanton,  Secretary  of  War. 
Brevet-Major  Dan.  W.  Sedwick,  IT.  S.  Vol. 

No  further  comment  is  necessary  concerning  the  bravery  and 
fidelity  with  which  he  served  his  country.  In  1866  Mr.  Sedwick  was 
elected  to  the  legislature,  where  he  represented  his  district  for  a  term 
of  two  years.  In  1870  he  sold  out  his  store,  purchased  a  farm  south 
of  Bridger's  Corners,  and  since  that  time  has  devoted  his  entire  atten- 
tion to  tilling  the  soil.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Mercer  Country  Agri- 
cultural Board,  and  during  the  year  1879  acted  as  president  of  that 
body.  He  is  also  president  of  the  Soldiers  and  Sailors'  Association, 
of  Mercer  county. 

LoEiisrEE  Johnston,  a  portrait  of  whom  appears  in  this  book,  son  of 
Andrew  and  Mary  Johnston,  was  born  in  Richland  county,  Ohio,  No- 
vember 20,  1820..     He  resided  in  that  county  until  1850,  in  which  year 


636  HISTORY    OF    MERCER    AXD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

he  went  to  California,  crossing  the  plains  with  a  wagon  and  a  mule 
team.  He  located  on  the  Middle  Fork  of  the  American  river  and 
there  engaged  in  mining  in  company  with  his  brother,  William.  After 
having  accumulated  a  considerable  amount  of  wealth  his  brother 
started  back  to  their  native  state,  but  died  on  the  way  of  "Panama 
fever,"  and  their  hard  earnings  stolen  from  his  person  after  death.  In 
the  spring  of  1852,  Lorimer  returned  to  Ohio  and  remained  until  1S,5T, 
when  he  came  to  Mercer  county.  In  186'1,  he  bought  land  in  section 
13,  Suez  township.  He  now  owns  a  farm  of  415  acres,  the  results  of 
economy  and  industry.  Mi-.  Johnston  was  married  July  3,  18-19,  to 
Miss  Hannah  Hayes,  a  native  of  Guernsey  county,  Ohio.  The  fruit 
of  this  union  are  hve  children,  William  S.,  Park  P.,  Michael  H., 
Flora  M.  (deceased),  and  Laura  A. 

Thomas  Likely,  whose  portrait  appears  in  this  book,  son  of  William 
•and  Agnes  (Taylor)  Likely,  was  born  January  29,  1823,  in  Hunting- 
don county,  Pennsylvania.  The  family  on  both  the  father  and 
mother's  side  are  of  Irish  origin.  His  father  came  from  Ireland  in 
1791  and  located  in  the  Tuscarora  valley.  He  had  six  sons  and  five 
daughters.  Of  tliese  Thomas  is  the  youngest  but  one.  He  was  raised 
a  farmer,  assisting  his  father  perform  his  labors.  He  was  married 
September  26,  1844,  to  Miss  Diana  A.  Doyle,  also  a  native  of  Hunting- 
don county.  The  fruits  of  this  union  are  ten  children,  whose  names 
in  the  order  of  their  ages,  are  as  follows :  Ann  E.  (deceased),  Agnes  J. 
(now  the  wife  of  E.  L.  Simpson,  of  Pinggold  county,  Iowa),  Martha  B. 
(wife  of  J.  C.  F(^ter,  of  the  same  county),  William  D.  (deceased  in 
infancy),  Henry  T.  (deceased),  Thomas  D.  (now  residing  in  Buena 
Vista  county,  Iowa),  Lyman  L.,  Samuel  P.  (also  of  Buena  Vista  county, 
Iowa),  William  M.,  and  INIary  J.  For  about  three  years  he  was 
engaged  in  landing  general  merchandise  in  Trough  creek  valley, 
Huntingdon  county.  In  the  spring  of  1850  he  came  to  Pike  county, 
Illinois,  and  remained  until  fall,  after  which  he  went  to  La  Salle 
by  boat ;  after  arriving  here  he  set  out  on  foot  to  find  a  suitable  place 
to  locate.  He  traveled  in  this  manner  over  Lee,  Henry,  Whiteside, 
Ogle,  Bureau  and  La  Salle  counties,  and  failing  to  find  a  })lace  to  suit 
his  taste,  he  came  to  old  Mercer  and  bought  laiid  in  the  N.  E.  J  Sec. 
32,  in  Suez  township.  In  1858  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace. 
At  the  beginning  of  the  war  he  received  authority  from  Adjutant-Gen- 
eral Fuller  to  organize  a  company,  which  he  did  in  seven  days,  and 
was  chosen  captain.  The  company  was  afterward  attached  to  the  102d 
111.  Inf ,  and  known  as  company  E.  He  remained  with  that  regiment 
until  April,  1863,  when  he  resigned  on  account  of  disabilities,  and  was 
succeeded  by  D.  W.  Sedwick.     In  the  winter  of  1863  he  was  elected 


SUKZ    TOWNSHIP.  637 

major  of  the  regiment  by  vote  of  the  reg-imental  officers.     In  1873  he 
was  elected  county  judge,  in  which  capacity  he  served  four  years. 

Haeison  Browx,  whose  portrait  appears  in  this  book,  son  of 
Samuel  and  Henrietta  Brown,  was  born  in  Nelson  county,  Kentucky, 
jMarcli  iT,  ISOS.  When  eiglit  years  of  age  his  father  removed  to 
Breckenridge  county,  Kentucky,  and  remained  until  the  fall  of  1834, 
when  he  emigrated  to  Illinois  and  located  in  jSTorth  Henderson  town- 
ship, Mercer  county.  In  the  spring  of  1836  he  bought  land  in  section 
1,  Suez  township,  where  he  has  since  resided.  Being  one  of  the  pioneers 
he  has  encountered  all  of  the  hardslii[)S  and  trials  incident  to  pioneer 
life.  By  hard  labor  and  economy  he  has  accumulated  a  large  property 
and  in  his  declining  years  he  is  enjoying  the  frmts  of  his  toil.  He  was 
married  in  the  fall  of  1830  to  Miss  Martha  Greenwood,  a  native  of  Vir- 
ginia. Nine  children  are  the  fruits  of  this  union,  wliose  names  are  as 
follows  :  Mary  A.,  Samuel  (deceased),  Thomas,  Floyd  (deceased), 
Sally,  Benjamin,  Peter,  and  Isabel,  His  second  son,  Thomas,  was  a 
member  of  Capt.  Sedwick's  company  in  the  102d  Ills.  Inf 

Asa  W.  R,ANSo:k[,  another  of  the  })ioneers,  son  of  James  and 
Phoeba  Ransom,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Camillus,  Onondaga  county, 
New  York,  May  6,  1818.  When  seventeen  years  of  age  he  turned 
his  face  toward  the  setting  sun  and  started  to  Illinois  by  way  of 
Buffalo  and  Ashtabula,  thence  by  stage  across  the  state  of  Ohio  to 
Wellsville.  From  here  he  went  by  steamboat  to  Cairo,  then  up  the 
Mississippi,  landing  at  New  Boston,  June  10,  1837.  On  the  following 
day  he,  in  company  his  brother,  started  on  foot  toward  the  eastern 
])art  of  the  county  and  located  on  N.  W.  ^  of  Sec.  3,  in  Suez 
township.  In  the  fall  he  returned  to  Ohio,  remaining  until  the  spring 
of  1838.  On  his  return  he  came  as  far  as  Michigan  with  his  uncle  and 
walked  from  there  to  Mercer  county,  a  distance  of  about  300  miles. 
He  states  that  at  that  time  settlements  were  as  high  as  sixty  miles 
apart.  He  stoj^ped  for  a  short  time  in  Chicago,  and  wliile  there  was 
offered  a  lot  on  Wasliington  street  in  payment  for  a  month's  work.  Mr. 
Ransom  was  married  in  February,  1849,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  S.  Edwards, 
a  native  of  Kentucky.  The  names  of  their  children,  in  the  order  of 
their  ages  are  as  follows:  Althea  F.,  Charlora  C,  Chester  L.,  Adra- 
enna,  Marcilla  C,  Vesta,  Asa  S.,  and  Olive.  In  1866  Mr.  Ransom 
removed  to  Chicago  and  engaged  in  the  commission  business.  He 
remg,ined  in  the  city  four  and  a  half  years,  during  which  time  his  chil- 
dren availed  themselves  of  the  excellent  educational  advantages  the  city 
affords.  In  the  spring  of  1870  he  returned  to  his  farm  in  Suez  town- 
ship, and,  excepting  a  few  months,  has  resided  there  since  that  time. 
Mr.  Ransom  arrived  in  Illinois  with  nothing  in  the  way  of  worldly 


638  HISTORY    OF    MERCER    ^VXD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

wealtli,  but  by  hard  labor  and  judicious  management  lie  has  become 
one  of  the  largest  land  owners  in  the  county.  He  furnishes  an  exam- 
ple of  pluck  and  perseverance,  which  the  rising  generation  would  do 
well  to  follow. 

William,  son  of  Jefferson  and  Tabitha  Fuller,  was  born  in  Millers- 
burg  township,  Merger  county,  October  27,  184:5.  He  remained  at 
home  until  July  26,  1862,  when  he  enlisted  in  Co.  H,  84th  111.  Inf.. 
and  was  with  that  regiment  until  June  9,  1865.  He  received  a  wound 
at  the  battle  of  Stone  river,  from  the  effects  of  which  he  was  confined 
in  the  hospital  eleven  months.  He  was  married  February  20,  1867,  to 
Miss  Joanna  Brown,  a  native  of  Ohio.  The  names  of  his  children  are 
Elmer  and  Edgar  C.     * 

James  AV.  Page,  son  of  James  and  Susan  S.  Page,  was  born  in 
Sussex,  England,  December  15,  1810.  In  1841,  the  family  emigrated 
to  America,  and  located  at  Hudson,  Summit  county,  Ohio.  In  August, 
1856,  he  came  to  Mercer  county.  In  August,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  Co. 
A,  30th  reg.  111.  Inf ,  and  remained  in  the  service  of  his  country  until 
August,  1864,  when  he  was  discharged.  On  the  bottom  of  his 
discharge  we  find  the  following : 

"  Private  James  W.  Pa*je  has  sustained  an  unblemished  character  in  the  army; 
has  been  a  faithful  soldier,  and  is  entitled  to  the  gratitude  of  his  adopted  country 
and  the  confidence  of  all. 

Signed,  Charles  Turner,  Colonel,  108th  111.  Vol." 

December  20,  1867,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Annie  E. 
Bridger,  daughter  of  Henry  Bridger,  one  of  Mercer  county's  pioneers. 
Five  children  are  the  fruit  of  this  union,  four  of  whom  death  has 
claimed  as  his  victims ;  Nina  G.  alone  remains  to  brighten  the  home. 
Mr.  Page  is  now  located  at  Suez,  engaged  in  the  grocery  business. 
He  has  many  friends,  and  is  highly  respected  by  all. 

Andrew  Trask  was  born  in  Boston,  Massachusetts,  in  1813.  AYhen 
thirteen  years  of  age  he  experienced  a  desire  to  go  to  sea,  and  accord- 
ingly obtained  a  position  on  the  Trident,  of  Xew  Bedford,  and  was 
on  the  ocean  three  years,  being  most  of  that  time  on  the  Pacific.  He 
was  married  in  1845,  to  Miss  Ellen  Weld,  who  died  in  eighteen  months 
after  their  marriage.  He  was  again  married  in  1848,  to  Miss  Lucinda 
Ramsey.  The  names  of  his  children  are  as  follows :  Edward,  Harriet, 
Lucina,  and  George.  His  second  wife  died  in  1862.  Mr.  Trask  came 
to  Mercer  county  in  1850,  and  located  on  section  16,  Suez  towns^hip, 
where  he  still  resides. 

Thomas,  son  of  Thomas  and  Martha  (Wilson)  Spicer,  was  born  in 
Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  October  2,  1823.  The  Spicer  family  are  of 
English,  and  the  Wilson  of  Irish,  origin.     Mr.  Spicer  was  married  in 


I 


SUEZ  TOWNSHIP.  639 

IS-K),  to  Miss  Rebbecea  D.  "Wilson,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  Mrs. 
Spicer  was  born  December  15,  1828.  The  names  of  the  children  born 
to  the  couple  are  as  follows:  Oliver  AV.,  born  October  26,  1848,  in 
Ohio;  Mary  C,  born  August  30,  1851,  in  Ohio;  James  C,  born 
December  9,  1854,  in  Ohio,  and  Thomas  II.,  born  June  9,  1858,  in 
Illinois.  In  1856,  Mr.  Spicer  came  to  Warren  county,  Illinois,  where 
he  remained  until  1859,  when  he  removed  to  Mercer  county,  and 
located  on  section  8,  in  Suez  township. 

WiLLiAivE  A.,  son  of  John  and  Grizelle  (Stewart)  Laiferty,  was  bom 
in  Suez  townshi}),  December  13,  1850.  The  log  cabin  in  which  he  was 
born,  still  stands,  and  is  situated  near  his  present  residence.  He  was 
married  in  1870,  to  Miss  Mattie  Edie,  a  native  of  Kentucky.  The 
names  of  their  children  are  as  follows:  John  H.,  George  G.,  Minnie, 
William  L.,  Charles,  Harry  A.,  and  Maggie.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lafferty 
are  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church. 

John  B.,  son  of  William  and  Louisa  Lafferty,  was  born  in  Suez 
township,  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  October  19,  1847.  He  was  married 
August  30,  1870,  to  Miss  Ada  A.  Brownlee,  daughter  of  D.  S.  Brown- 
lee,  Esq.,  of  Suez  township.  The  fruits  of  this  union  are  five  children, 
whose  names  are  as  follows:  Harry  S.,  Maggie  L,,  Annie  M.,  William 
E.,  and  Olive  C.  Mr.  Lafferty  owns  a  fine  farm  of  320  acres,  situated 
on  sections  15  and  27.  He  and  Mrs.  Lafferty  are  both  members  of  the 
Ignited  Presbyterian  church,  with  which  they  united  in  1867. 

Matthew  S.,  son  of  John  and  Mary  Campbell,  was  born  in  Hunt- 
ing(U)n  county,  Pennsylvania,  December  27,  1848.  The  family  are  of 
Scotch-Irish  decent,  the  early  ancestors  having  fled  to  Ireland  during 
the  covenanters'  rebellion.  In  1863  Mr.  Campbell  came  to  Illinois,  and 
located  in  Warren  county,  near  the  Mercer  and  Warren  county  line. 
A  few  years  after  he  removed  to  Suez  township  and  located  on  section 
26.  He  was  married  in  1866  to  Miss  Annie  AVatt,  a  native  of  Mifflin 
county,  Pennsylvania.  Tiie  names  of  their  children  are  as  follows  : 
Willie  R.  (deceased),  Clyde  P.,  and  Clarence  W. 

William  F.,  son  of  Arthur  and  Hannah  (Postlewaite)  Graham, 
was  born  in  Huntingdon  county,  Pennsylvania,  March  13,  1833.  In 
1839  the  family  came  to  Warren  county,  and  located  near  Little  York. 
Mr.  Graham's  early  days  were  spent  in  the  wilderness,  and  roaming 
through  the  trackless  forest  constituted  the  amusements  of  his  boyhood. 
He  was  married  in  1858  to  Miss  Margaret  LIutchison,  also  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania.  The  names  of  their  children  are  as  follows:  Mildred 
L.,  Mary  IL,  Arthur  H.,  Daniel  II.,  Maggie  E.,  and  Mattie  E. 

James  P.,  son  of  Henry  and  Jane  (Latta)  McLaughlin,  was  born  in 
Mercer  county,  Pennsvlvania,  in  1825.     His  family  are  of  Scotch  and 


640  HISTOEY    OF    MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Irish  origin,  and  came  to  this  country  at  a  very  early  date ;  his  grand- 
father, John  Latta,  served  as  major  in  the  revolutionary  war.  He  was 
married  in  January,  1850,  to  Miss  Jane  Lossell,  a  native  of  Trumbull 
county,  Ohio;  she  died  May  15,  1862.  In  1864  he  married  Miss 
Louisa  Sedwiek,  a  sister  of  Captain  Sedwick,  of  Suez  township.  The 
names  of  his  children,  in  the  order  of  their  ages,  are  as  follows  :  Oscar, 
Eliza  J.,  Ella,  Amanda,  Oharlie,  Maggie,  Alice,  Lewis,  Dora,  and  Roy. 
The  five  latter  are  by  the  second  wife.  In  1854  Mr.  McLaughlin  came 
to  Illinois  and  bought  land  in  section  2,  in  Suez  township.  He  now 
owns  about  a  section  of  land  in  Mercer  county,  and  160  acres  in  Iowa, 
situated  about  twenty  miles  north  of  the  city  of  Davenpoit.  Mrs. 
McLaughlin  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Mr. 
McLaughlin  started  out  in  life  without  anything  to  aid  him,  but  by 
perseverance  and  an  untiring  energy,  he  has  made  his  life  a  success. 
He  has  many  friends  and  is  highly  respected  wherever  known. 

William  IL,  son  of  James  A.,  and  Anna  Simpson,  was  born  in 
Huntingdon  county,  Pennsylvania,  July  12,  1835.  He  was  reared  a 
farmer,  and  followed  that  pui'suit  until  April  19,  1861,  ten  days  after 
Fort  Sumter  was  tired  on,  when  he  responded  to  the  call  of  the  gov- 
ernment and  enlisted  in  Co.  H.  15th  Pa.  Inf.,  acting  as  second  lieu- 
tenant. At  the  expiration  of  three  months,  the  time  for  which  the 
regiment  was  enlisted,  he  returned  home  and  remained  until  August, 
1862,  when  he  raised  a  company,  which  was  attached  to  the  125th  Pa., 
and  designated  as  Company  F.  In  the  battle  of  Antietam  he  was  struck 
by  a  fragment  of  a  shell  which  made  a  severe  flesh  wound  in  the  side  of 
his  face.  He  was  discharged  in  June,  1862,  and  returned  home.  He 
was  married  in  December,  1864,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Smith  also  a  native 
of  Huntingdon  county,  Pennsylvania.  The  names  of  the  children  in 
the  order  of  their  ages  are  as  follows  :  Carrie,  Charles  E.,  Archie  E., 
Mary  E.,  Earl  and  Pearl,  who  are"  twins.  In  the  spring  of  1865 
he  emigrated  to  Mercer  county  and  located  on  the  S.  E.  J  'of  sec.  28, 
Suez  township.  Mr.  Simpson  and  his  family  are  kind  and  hospitable. 
Their  home  is  a  happy  one,  and  we  hope  the  future  through  whose 
misty  veil  none  can  see  may  smile  as  brightly  upon  him  and  his  loved 
ones  as  the  j^ast  has  done. 

John  A.,  son  of  William  and  Martha  Marrow,  was  born  in  Guern- 
sey county,  Ohio,  Decembers,  1828.  He  was  reared  a  farmer.  When 
twenty-three  years  old  he  left  his  native  county  and  went  to  Eldorado 
county,  California,  where  he  remained  about  five  years,  during  which 
time  he  was  engaged  in  mining  and  various  occupations.  In  the  spring 
of  1856  he  returned  to  Ohio,  and  in  the.  spring  of  the  following  year 
came  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  and  located  on  section  32  in  Greene 


SUEZ    TOWNSHIl*.  641 

townsliip.  Ill  Jaiiuai-y,  1862,  lie  enlisted  in  Co.  G.  80tli  111.  Inf., 
and  was  with  that  regiment  at  Fort  Donelson,  Siege  of  Corinth,  Brit- 
tain's  Lane,  Raymond,  Champion  Hill,  Siege  of  Vicksbiirg,  and  Kene- 
saw  Mountain.  He  was  taken  prisoner  at  Peach  Tree  Creek,  and  was 
in  the  hands  of  the  enemy  abont  two  months,  when  he  was  exchanged. 
He  was  discharged  January  22,  1865.  In  1869  he  opened  a  coal  mine 
on  his  farm  in  Greene  township.  The  producing  ca])acity  of  which  is 
forty  thousand  bushels  a  year.  In  1870  he  removed  to  his  farm  in 
section  5,  in  Suez  township.  Mr.  Marrow  was  married  in  1865  to 
Miss  Mary  Ogdeii,  a  native  of  Fountain  county,  Indiana.  The  names 
of  his  children  in  the  order  of  their  ages  are  as  follows:  Samuel  O., 
John  W.,  Mary  J.  (deceased),  and  Estella.  He  and  his  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  United  Presbyterian  church. 

Heney  Bridgee.  a  portion  of  the  early  ancestors  of  the  Bridger 
family  were  driven  from  France  during  the  religious  jiersecution.  The 
other  branch  of  the  family  came  from  Normandy  with  William  the 
Conqueror,  and  cast  their  lot  in  England.  One  of  the  descendants  of 
this  family  was  Henry  Bridger  (deceased),  who  was  born  in  Sussex 
county,  England,  near  the  town  of  Hastings,  October  25,  1798.  In 
October,  1820,  he  came  to  America  and  located  in  Albany;  after  re- 
maining a  year  he  went  to  Troy.  He  was  married  in  that  city  to 
Elizabeth  Terrey,  October  7,  1822.  Miss  Terrey  was  a  native  of  Suf- 
folk county.  Long  Island.  In  the  spring  of  1836  Mr.  Bridger  emi- 
grated to  Mercer  county,  Illinois.  In  IS^ovember  of  that  year  he 
enteVed  a  claim  on  the  N.  E.  J  of  Sec.  35,  Greene  township.  In  June, 
1841,  he  removed  to  Suez  township  and  bought  land  in  section  2, 
where  two  of  his  sons  now  reside.  The  names  of  his  children,  in  the 
order  of  their  ages,  are  as  follows:  William  H.,  Mary  E.,  Julia  M., 
Barbara  A.  (deceased),  Henry  T.,  Frances  A.  (wife  of  Hon.  D.  W. 
Sedwick,  of  Suez),  James  C.,  Philip  T.  (now  residing  in  Chari- 
ton county,  Missouri),  and  Annie  E.  (wife  of  James  Page,  of  Suez). 
The  death  of  the  father  occurred  December  17,  1873,  and  he  was 
bin-ied  in  the  family  burying  ground,  situated  on  the  N.  E.  J  of  Sec.  2. 

George  M.  Evans,  son  of  George  D.  and  Mary  (McCague)  Evans, 
was  born  in  liipley,  Ohio,  March  9,  1830.  Left  an  orphan  at  an  earW 
age,  he  was  reared  by  relatives  in  Adams  county.  At  the  age  of  sev- 
enteen he  began  attending  school  at  South  Salem,  where  he  remained 
about  two  and  a  half  years.  Between  the  ages  of  seventeen  and 
twenty  he  taught  school  about  six  months.  He  was  married  June  22, 
1853,  to  Miss  Ruhama  Mclntire,  a  native  of  Adams  county.  Shortly 
after  his  marriage  he  embarked  in  the  mercantile  business  in  Ripley, 
which  he  continued  until  the  spring  of  1855,  when  he  came  to  Mercer 


642  HISTORY    OF   MERCER    AISTD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

county,  Illinois.  In  the  fall  of  that  year  he  engaged  in  business  at 
Norwood ;  since  that  time  he  opened  a  store  in  Aledo.  In  1880  he 
removed  to  his  farm  northwest  of  Norwood,  his  business  being  con- 
ducted bv  his  partner.  His  first  wife  died  December  1,  1854.  He 
was  again  married  February  19,  1863,  to  Miss  Barbara  J.  Allison,  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  who  died  December  23,  1873.  His  third 
mari-iage  occurred  June  6,  1876,  Miss  Mary  AY.  Carson,  a  native  of 
Ireland,  being  the  next  connubial  partner.  Mr.  Evans  has  two  children 
living,  both  of  whom  were  born  to  him  by  his  second  wife.  Their 
names,  in  the  order  of  their  ages,  are  as  follows:  Mary  E.,  aged 
eighteen,  and  Robert  A.,  aged  sixteen  years.  He  is  a  prominent 
member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church,  with  wliich  he  united  in 
1853  at  Ripley,  Ohio.  Mr.  Evans  is  a  man  of  kindly  manner,  and 
the  stranger  being  thrown  upon  his  hospitality  is  treated  with  great 
courtesy. 

John  Laffertt,  whose  portrait  appears  in  this  book,  son  of  Jo.lm 
and  Ann  Lafferty,  was  born  July  28,  1816,  in  Trumbull  county,  Ohio. 
In  the  spring  of  1840,  he,  in  company  with  his  brother,  William,  emi- 
grated to  Illinois  and  bought  land  in  the  N.  E.  J  Sec.  21,  Suez  town- 
ship. Mr.  Lafferty  was  married  June,  1843,  to  Miss  Grizell  Stewart, 
a  native  of  Indiana.  The  fruits  of  the  union  are  eight  children,  whose 
names  are  as  follows :  James  H.,  Harriet  A.,  Nancy  A.,  William  A., 
John  S.,  Susan  E.,  and  Mary  E.  He  is  a  member  of  the  United  Pres- 
byterian church,  with  which  he  united  in  1850.  Mr.  Lafferty  is  spoken 
of  by  his  neighbors  as  an  excellent  citizen,  and  possesses  the  love'  and 
esteem  of  all.  A  spirit  of  liberality  has  ever  chacterized  his  actions, 
and  to  all  charitable,  educational,  and  religious  purposes  he  has  given 
with  a  willing  hand. 

John  Mauk,  son  of  Peter  and  Catharine  Mauk,  was  born  in  1814,  . 
in  the  picturesque  valley  of  the  Shenandoah,  Yirginia.  His  father, 
Peter  Mauk,  was  born  January  4,  1775.  His  family  are  of  German 
origin.  For  many  years  Mr.  Mauk  was  employed  as  an  engineer  on 
the  Mississippi  and  Ohio  rivers.  In  1836  he  emigrated  to  Warren 
county,  Illinois.  In  1840  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Amerett 
Tinkham,  a  native  of  Windom  county,  Vermont.  The  names  of  their 
children,  in  the  order  of  their  ages,  are  as  follows  :  Martha  A.,  Benja- 
min (deceased  in  his  fourteenth  year),  Mary  E.,  Anna  L.,  Alice,  Peter, 
George  B,  In  1838  he  came  to  Mercer  county,  and  settled  in  Suez 
township.  In  1841  he  removed  to  Davenport,  Iowa,  and  was  em- 
ployed as  an  engineer  on  the  ferry  boat  plying  between  the  cities  of 
Davenport  and  Rock  Island.  In  1841  he  returned  to  his  farm  in  Suez 
township.    He  was  for  several  years  engaged  in  the  dry  goods  business 


SUEZ    TOWNSHIP. 


at  Bi'idger's  Corners.  Mr.  Mauk  died  at  his  residence  June  19,  1879, 
and  liis  departure  was  mourned  by  many  friends,  some  of  whom  had 
often  received  favors  at  the  hands  of  the  deceased. 

WillijVjvi  p.  Morgats^,  son  of  Sankey  and  Ann  (Brown)  Morgan,  was 
born  in  Bedford  county,  Pennsylvania,  Marc'h  18,  1839.  He  received 
his  early  education  in  a  log  school-house  in  Pennsylvania.  In  1858 
the  family  emigrated  to  Mercer  county,  Dlinois,  and  located  on  section 
19,  in  Suez  township.  Mr.  Morgan  was  married  in  1868  to  Miss 
Martha  J.  Atchison,  a  native  of  Ohio.  The  fruits  of  this  union  are 
seven  children,  six  sons  and  one  daughter.     He  enlisted  August  9, 

1862,  in  company  E,  102d  Bl.   Inf.      He  was  discharged  October  18, 

1863,  at  Laverne,  Tennessee.  Mr.  Morgan  is  a  member  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  church  with  which  he  united  in  1868.  He  is  also  justice 
of  the  peace. 

Richard  C.  McClellan,  son  of  liichard  and  Susana  McClellan, 
was  born  in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  September  25,  1838. 
Mr,  McClellan  received  his  education  at  what  is  now  known  as  the 
Jefferson  College,  in  Washington  county.  In  February,  1865,  he 
enlisted  in  the  8Ttli  Penn.  Inf ,  and  was  with  the  regiment  imtil 
mustered  out.  He  was  married  October  26,  1866,  to  Miss  Martha 
McCutcheon,  a  native  of  Ohio.  The  fruits  of  the  union  are  live  chil- 
dren, whose  names,  in  the  order  of  their  ages,  are  as  follows  :  Nathaniel 
R,  Evart  S,,  Clarence  R.,  Minnie  G.,  and  Armadilla  S.  Mr.  McClel- 
lan is  a  memher  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church,  with  which  he 
united  in  1866, 

Gus  Bruington,  son  of  Alfred  and  Adeline  Bruington,  was  born  in 
Suez  township,  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  September  22,  1846.  He  was 
married  in  1871  to  Miss  Annie  Laifertv,  a  daughter  of  William 
Lafferty,  Sr.,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Suez  township.  Mr, 
Bruington,  although  quite  young,  has  surrounded  himself  by  all  the 
luxuries  and  comforts  the  country  affords,  and  has  before  him  a  bright 
and  prosperous  future. 

Joshua  H.  Brown,  son  of  Benjamin  and  Lucinda  Brown,  was  born 
in  the  town  of  JSTorth  Henderson,  July  6,  1841.  His  father  w^as  one  of 
the  pioneer  settlers  of  Mercer  county.  Mr.  Bvown  received  his  educa- 
tion in  the  public  school  of  jSTorth  Henderson.  July  22,  1862,  he 
entered  the  service  of  his  country  in  Co.  H,  84tli  111.  Inf,  and 
remained  in  that  regiment  until  June  16,  1865.  On  January  1,  1867, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Mrs.  Mary  (Dilley)  Rodgers,  a  native  of 
Mercer  county,  and  daughter  of  William  Dillej',  of  Ohio  Grove  town- 
ship. The  names  of  his  children,  in  the  order  of  their  ages,  are  as 
follows:  Vinnie  R.,  Cyrus  D.,  Gus  B.,  and  Lucinda  M,  (deceased  in 


CA-i  HISTORY    OF    MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

iiitancj).  In  August,  1878,  Mr.  Brown  was  nominated  for  slierift  at 
the  republican  convention,  at  Aledo.  In  the  following  November  lie 
was  elected,  receiving  as  many  votes  as  both  his  greenback  and  demo- 
cratic opponents.  Mr.  Brown  is  a  member  of  the  Universalist  church, 
of  Suez. 

Henry  T.  Bridge r,  son  of  Henry  and  Elizabeth  Bridger,  was  born 
April  28,  1832,  in  Benssalaer  county,  ISTew  York.  In  183(1,  the  family 
moved  to  Mercer  county.  In  the  fall  of  1862,  Mr.  Bridger  enlisted  in 
Co.  E,  102d  111.  Inf  He  remained  in  the  service  of  his  country  about 
one  ,year,  being  discharged  on  account  of  disabilities.  In  December, 
1867,  he  was  united  in  the  holy  bonds  of  matrimony  to  Miss  Sarah 
J.  McLaughlin,  a  native  of  Mercer  county,  Pennsylvania.  The  fruits 
of  this  union  are  three  children  :  Amy  M.,  William  J.,  and  Edna  E. 
The  family  are  attendants  at  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Thomas  G.  Brown,  son  of  Ilarison  and  Martha  Brown,  was  born 
in  IS^orth  Henderson  township,  Mercer  county,  March  25,  1836.  Mr. 
Brown  received  his  early  education  in  a  log  school-house  that  stood  on 
section  6,  North  Henderson  township.  In  December,  1862,  he  enlisted 
in  Co.  E,  102d  111.  Inf,  and  was  with  that  regiment  in  every  engage- 
ment until  mustered  out  of  service.  He  was  discharged  June  7,  1865, 
at  Chicago.  In  February,  1869,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Louisa  Coleman,  a  native  of  Ohio.  The  fruits  of  this  union  are  two 
children,  Nellie  and  Peter  F.  It  will  be  seen  that  Mr.  Brown  was  one 
of  the  first  white  children  born  in  the  county.  His  father,  Harison, 
spoken  of  elsewhere  in  the  work,  is  one  of  the  few  surviving  pioneers 
of  Mercer. 

William  L.,  son  of  James  and  Jane  Stewart,  was  born  in  Union 
county.  Indiana,  in  1827.  In  1835  the  family  emigrated  to  Illinois, 
and  his  fatlier  bought  the  claim  owned  by  George  Blake,  in  section  21. 
In  1858  he  was  married  to  Miss  Harriet  Dry  den,  a  native  of  Ohio,  who 
died  in  1859.  March  7,  1861,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  M. 
Caldwell,  a  native  of  Shelby  county,  Ohio.  The  names  of  his  children 
in  the  order  of  their  ages  are:  Nancy  J.,  Mattie  E.,  Mira  L.,  William 
J.,  Mary  J.,  Ettie  F.,  and  Earl  O.  In  August,  1862,  Mr.  Stewart 
enlisted  in  Co.  E,  102d  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  remained  with  that  regi- 
ment until  the  close  of  the  war.  He  is  a  member  of  the  United  Pres- 
byterian church,  with  which  he  united  in  1858.  In  politics  he  is  a 
republican.  His  father,  James  Stewart,  now  residing  in  Alexis,  was 
one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  Suez  township,  and  assisted  in  preparing 
some  notes  for  the  historical  association. 

Thomas  J.  Greenwood,  son  of  John  and  Catharine  (Filony )  Green- 
wood, was  born  in  Suez  township,  Mercer  county,  September  23,  1849. 


kJu^^JL^<^^ 


I 


SUEZ   TOWKSHIl'.  647 

In  1806  he  left  the  quiet  life  of  the  farm  and  went  to  Galesbnrg  and 
attended  school  at  the  Lombard  imiversitv.  lie  remained  here  one 
year.  In  ISSl  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  for  a  term  of  four 
years.  In  1878  he  was  elected  assessor  for  one  term,  and  in  this 
office,  as  in  all  others  which  he  has  filled,  he  gave  excellent  satis- 
faction. September  22,  1881,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Jennie  Goddard,  a  native  of  Warren  county,  Illinois.  Mr.  Greenwood 
owns  a  fine  farm  of  120  acres,  on  sections  10  and  15,  and  we  predict 
for  him  a  bright  and  prosperous  future.  He  is  a  prominent  republican, 
and  takes  an  active  part  in  political  affairs.  Mr.  Greenwood  is  a 
member  of  I.O.O.F.  lodge,  526,  at  Alexis,  with  which  he  united  in 
August,  1880.  He  has  many  friends  throughout  the  country,  and  is 
highly  respected  by  all. 

JoHX  DiNGWELL  was  bom  in  county  Donegal,  Ireland,  in  March, 
1814.  At  an  early  age  he  came  to  America,  and  followed  the  star  of 
empire  westward  to  Illinois,  locating  in  North  Henderson  township, 
Mercer  count3^  In  1840  he  bought  a  farm  near  Norwood,  in  Suez 
township.  In  1849  he  went  to  Galesburg  and  began  a  course  of  study 
in  the  academv  at  that  i)lace.  At  the  end  of  two  years  he  returned  to 
Mercer  county,  and  in  1852  was  married  to  Mrs.  Mercy  Grabtree,  a 
native  of  England.  In  the  same  yeixr  he  bought  land  in  section  3,  in 
Suez  township.  The  names  of  his  children  are:  Jennie  E.,  (deceased 
in  her  twenty-fourth  year),  William  G.  (now  residing  in  Suez  town- 
ship), and  John  (deceased  in  infancy).  Mr.  Dingwell  died  Nov.  4, 
1873.  The  funeral  services  were  performed  in  the  United  Presbyterian 
church,  at  Viola.  In  his  early  life  Mr.  Dingwell  had  been  a  Cove- 
nanter, but  later  united  with  the  United  Presbyterian  denomination. 

Henry  W.,  son  of  David  and  Elizabeth  (Snyder)  Mauk,  was  born 
in  Harrison  county,  Indiana,  June  14,  1830.  When  twenty-four  years 
of  age  he  came  to  Mercer  county,  and  in  1856  purchased  land  in 
section  11,  in  Suez  towmship.  In  August,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Co. 
E.  102d  111.  Inf.,  and  was  with  that  gallant  regiment  until  June, 
1865.  He  was  married  January  4,  1871,  to  Miss  Annie  Smith,  a 
native  of  Warren  county,  Illinois.  The  names  of  their  children,  in 
the  order  of  their  ages,  are :  David  R.  (deceased),  Freddie  G.  (de- 
ceased), Ora  B.,  and  Alta  M.,  who  are  twins. 

Robert  Campbell,  son  of  Matthew  and  Hannah  Campbell,  was 
born  November  26,  1822,  in  Huntingdon  county,  Pennsylvania.  In 
1848  he  came  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  and  in  1850  he  bought  land 
in  section  30,  in  Suez  township.  His  father's  family  are  of  Scotch 
and  Irish  descent,  and  his  mother  was  born  in  the  land  of  freedom. 
In  1844  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Rachel  Morgan,  a  native  of 
37 


648  HISTORY    OF   ^LERCER    A>fD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Pennsylvania,  who  died  in  1874.  In  1875  he  was  married  to  Mrs. 
Amanda  M.  Cantrall.  The  names  of  his  children,  in  the  order  of 
their  ages,  are  as  follows :  Hannah  R. ,  Matthew  F. .  Ann  E. ,  Frank- 
lin P.,  Helen  C,  Robert  I.,  Martha  J.,  Mary  X.,  Lvdia  M.,  Sarah  L. 
(^deceased),  and  Eugene  P.  ;  the  last-named  is  by  the  second  wife. 
Mr.  Campbell  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church,  and  his  wife  is  a 
member  of  the  old  school  PresbA'terian  church.  He  has  a  fanii  of  1 20 
acres  of  excellent  land  in  Suez  township. 

George,  son  of  George  and  Mary  Bruington,  was  born  in  Breck- 
enridge  county,  Kentucky,  in  1821.  In  1852  he  emigrated  to  Mercer 
comity,  Illinois,  and  bought  land  in  section  24,  Suez  township.  Mr. 
Bruington  was  married  in  1842  to  Miss  Dowel,  also  a  native  of  Ken- 
tucky. The  names  of  their  children,  in  the  order  of  their  ages,  are  as 
follows :  Benjamin,  James,  and  Amanda.  He  is  a  member  of  no 
church,  but  tries  to  do  his  duty  toward  God  and  his  fellow  men. 

James  H.  Brownlee,  son  of  William  and  Catharine  (^Hutchison) 
Brownlee,  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  May  1, 
1828.  His  family  are  of  Scotch  origin.  He  received  his  education 
in  the  pubKc  schools  of  his  native  county.  In  1853  the  family  came 
to  Illinois,  and  locating  in  Mercer  county,  purchased  land  in  section 
31,  in  Suez  township.  His  father  now  resides  in  Labette  county, 
Kansas.  Mr.  Brownlee  was  married  September  20,  1855,  to  Miss 
Martha  J.  Barclav,  a  native  of  Washington  countv,  Pennsvlvania, 
Their  children,  in  the  order  of  their  ages,  are  as  follows:  Etha  L., 
Blanch  M.  (deceased),  Elmer  F.,  Ulysses  G.,  Albin  B.,  Ennis  P., 
Xora  K.,  and  Poy.  In  the  winter  of  1855  he  bought  land  on  the 
X.  E.  ^  of  Sec.  31,  and  he  is  now  the  possessor  of  a  one-half  section 
of  fine  land.  Mrs.  Brownlee  is  a  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian 
chm-ch,  having  united  early  in  life.  The  family  are  highly  respected 
bv  all,  and  manv  and  true  are  their  friends. 

M^ARTiN  Pease,  son  of  Pelatiah  and  Xancy  Pease,  was  bom  in  1824, 
in  Waldo  countv,  Maine.  In  1837  the  familv  emigrated  to  Mercer 
county,  Illinois,  and  located  on  section  20,  in  Suez  township,  the 
nearest  postoffice  being  Spring  Grove.  He  saw  the  men  building  the 
first  school-house  in  the  township,  which  was  of  logs,  and  stood  on 
section  21.  In  1847  he  was  married  to  ^Miss  Martha  A.  Pollok, 
daughter  of  Robert  Pollok,  one  of  Mercer  coimtv's  pioneers.  The 
traits  of  this  marriage  are  seven  children:  Alonzo  U.,  Xelson  S.  (de- 
ceased), Edwin  (deceased),  Charles  R.  (deceased),  Mary  I..  Martin  A., 
and  May.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pease  are  both  members  of  the  United  Pres- 
b^~terian  church,  with  which  thev  united  in  1850.  In  1850  he  bouu^ht 
land  in  section  20,   and  now  owns  a   fine  farai  of  150  acres.     On 


SUEZ  TOWNSHIP.  640 

October  24,  18S0,  his  house  took  fire  from  a  defective  ilue,  and  burned 
to  tlie  ground.  Loss  $200,  and  no  insurance.  In  1881  Mr.  Pease 
erected  a  liandsome  residence  on  the  same  foundation.  He  has  many 
friends  and  is  respected  wherever  lie  is  known. 

Jc^SKPii  Pease,  son  of  Pelatiah  and  Nancy  Pease,  was  born  in  Knox 
county,  Maine,  February,  5,  1822.  The  family  on  his  father's  side  are 
of  English  origin.  In  1837,  the  family  emigrated  to  Mercer  county, 
and  bought  a  claim  in  Suez  township.  October  14,  1845,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Caroline  Libby,  who  died  March  15,  1852. 
January  24,  1853,  he  married  Miss  Sarah  Stewart,  who  died  Sep- 
tember 27,  1864.  March  15,  1866,  he  was  again  married  to  Miss 
Christiana  Sprowl.  The  names  of  his  children  are :  Zorah  E. 
(deceased),  Laura  G.,  IN^ancy  F.  (deceased),  Joseph  S.,  Campbell  B., 
John  A.,  Pelatiah,  Ausley,  Elizabeth  J.,  Sarah  L.  (deceased),  Mary 
L.,  and  George  W.  Mr.  Pease  is  a  member  of  the  United  Presby- 
terian church,  with  which  he  was  united  in  1876.  He  is  one  of  Mercer 
county's  pioneers,  and  did  his  part  toward  paving  the  way  for  civil- 
ization. 

John  A.,  son  of  Joseph  and  Sarah  Pease,  was  born  in  Suez  town- 
ship, June  23,  1858.  He  was  married  February  14,  1878,  to  Miss 
Susan  Laiferty,  daughter  of  John  Lafferty,  of  Suez  township.  He  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church,  with  which 
they  united  in  1879, 

A.  Pease,  son  of  Joseph  and  Sarah  Pease,  was  born  in  Suez  town- 
ship, Mercer  county.  May  8,  1859.  He  was  married  January  23,  1879, 
to  Miss  Maggie  A.  Wallace,  a  native  of  Warren  county,  Illinois.  They 
have  one  child,  whose  name  is  Guy  C.  Mr.  Pease  owns  land  in  sec- 
tion 16,  where  he,  with  his  pleasant  family,  resides. 

James  H.  Lafferty,  son  of  John  and  Grizelle  Lafferty,  was  born 
in  Suez  to^vnship,  Mercer  county.  May  24,  1844.  He  remained  at 
home  until  August  8,  1862,  when  he  entered  the  service  of  his  country, 
in  Co.  E,  102d  111.  Inf.,  and  remained  with  the  regiment  until  June  9, 
1865,  when  he  received  his  discharge.  On  February  28,  1867,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Porter,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania. 
The  fruits  of  this  union  are:  Frank  S.,  Mattie  G.,  John  (deceased),  and 
Guy  C.  In  1874,  Mr.  Lafferty  engaged  in  the  stock  business  and 
keeps  on  hand  from  fifty  to  one  hundred  head  of  short  horn  cattle. 
While  at  his  farm  the  writer  had  the  pleasure  of  being  shown  some 
very  handsome  animals,  a  few  of  which  were  recently  imported  from 
England.  His  farm  is  admirably  adapted  to  the  business,  and  this 
fact,  together  with  the  enterprise  of  the  proprietor,  will,  doubtless, 
render  his  labors  highl}'  successful. 


650  HISTORY    r>F    MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

John  L.,  son  of  Henrv  and  Jane  McLanglilin,  was  bora  in  Mercer 
county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1817.  His  father  and  mother  were  both  of 
Irish  descent.  His  mother  was  a  niece  of  Gen.  Potter,  of  Revohition- 
ary  fame.  In  1856,  he  emigrated  to  Illinois,  and  in  1857,  bought  land 
in  section  2,  Suez  township.  His  father  died  in  September,  1881, 
aged  eighty-six,  and  was  buried  in  the  Norwood  cemetery.  Mr. 
McLauo-hlin  was  married  in  1844  to  Miss  Martha  J.  Angelo,  also  a 
nativ^e  of  Mercer  county.  The  names  of  the  children  born  to  them  are  : 
Sarah  J.,  James  H.  (deceased),  Cassius  C,  Willis  J.,  Mary  M.,  and 
Josepliine.  Both  are  members  of  the  United  Brethren  church,  at 
Suez. 

George  AV.  Sedwkk  was  boru  in  Mercer  county,  Pennsylvania, 
His  father's  given  name  was  Washington,  and  his  mother's  Elizabeth. 
AVhen  thirteen  years  of  age  he  went  to  AA^illiamsport,  Ohio,  and  entered 
ii  machine  shop,  for  the  purpose  of  learning  the  trade.  After  working 
here  two  years  he  went  to  Mount  Jackson  and  worked  two  years  more 
imder  instruction.  At  the  end  of  that  time  he  went  to  New  Castle, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  remained  until  1861.  In  that  year  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Caroline  Peeble,  a  native  of  Bavaria.  Their  children's 
names  are  as  follows  :  Willis  D.,  Harry  L.,  and  an  adopted  child, 
Lillie  R.  In  the  spring  of  1861,  Mr.  Sedwick  came  to  Mercer  county, 
Illinois.  In  1864  he  bought  land  in  section  16,  in  Suez  tovraship.  In 
1870  he  sold  his  farm  and  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  at  Suez, 
which  he  continued  until  1874,  when  he  closed  out  his  stock  and  bought 
a  farm  in  section  9,  where  he  now  resides.  He  and  Mrs.  Sedwick  are 
both  members  of  the  United  Brethren  church. 

The  Brownlee  family  are  of  Scotch  origin.  David  S.,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  January  1,  1820. 
His  father's  name  was  David,  and  his  mother's  Betsey.  In  1839  his 
father  and  family  emigrated  to  Warren  county,  Illinois,  and  located 
near  Little  York.  In  1842  the  subject  of  this  sketch  came  to  Mercer 
county,  and  for  about  a  year  was  engaged  in  breaking  prairie  and 
threshing.  In  1843  he  bought  land  in  section  16,  Suez  township. 
In  1873  Mr.  Brownlee  was  elected  supervisor  of  Suez  township,  in 
which  capacity  he  served  for  several  terms.  He  was  married  in  1845 
to  Miss  Margaret  Pollok,  daughter  of  Eobert  Pollok,  one  of  the  earliest 
settlers  in  Mercer  county.  His  tirst  wife  died  November  23,  1872,  and 
he  was  again  married  January  11,  1877,  to  Miss  Maria  Montgomery. 
May  27,  1881,  his  second  wife  died.  The  names  of  his  children,  in 
the  order  of  their  ages,  are  as  follows  :  Robert  B.,  Addie  A.,  and  Ida 
M.  Mr.  Brownlee  is  a  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church, 
with  which  he  united  in  1848. 


SUEZ    TOWNSHIl'.  651 

De.  James  F.  McCutciian  was  born  in  Adams  county,  Oliio,  in 
183o.  His  early  life  was  spent  on  the  farm.  When  twenty-two  yeai-s 
of  age  he  entered  college  at  Washington,  Iowa,  and  graduated  from 
that  institution  in  May,  1861.  Immediately  after  completing  his 
studies  he  enlisted  in  Co.  H,  2d  reg.  Iowa  Vol.  Inf  During  his 
connection  with  that  regiment  he  became  personally  acquainted  with 
Gen.  James  B.  Weaver.  In  the  fall  of  1863  he  was  made  captain  of 
Co.  D,  9th  reg.  Iowa  Yol.  Cav.,  and  acted  in  that  capacity  until 
the  close  of  the  war.  Previous  to  his  promotion,  however,  he  partici- 
pated in  several  engagements  with  the  2d  Iowa,  among  which  was  the 
battle  of  Fort  Donelson,  where  that  regiment  won  for  itself  a  name 
that  will  go  down  into  the  pages  of  history.  The  doctor  was  dis- 
charged in  May,  and  was  married  in  August,  1865,  to  Miss  M.  J.  S. 
Graham,  a  native  of  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania.  The  names 
of  their  children,  in  the  order  of  their  ages,  are  as  follows:  Mary 
Edna  and  Sarah  Edith  (twins),  were  born  JSTovember  13,  1866;  A. 
Joseanna,  born  December  14,  1870;  Alma  O.,  born  June  12,  1876; 
and  Clara  G.,  born  April  2,  1881.  In  the  fall  of  1865  he  entered  the 
office  of  Dr.  Webster  at  Monmouth,  and  was  under  that  gentleman's 
instiiictions  one  year.  In  the  fall  of  1866  he  became  a  student  at 
Keokuk,  Iowa,  and  received  his  diploma  in  the  spring  of  1868.  In 
that  year  he  located  at  Norwood,  and.  since  that  time  has  practiced  in 
that  vicinity.  In  conversing  with  the  doctor  the  writer  found  him  to 
be  a  gentlemen  of  more  than  ordinary  intelligence,  fluent  in  conversa- 
tion, and  progressive  in  all  things. 

James  M.  Lee,  son  of  John  and  Eliza  Lee,  was  born  in  Centre 
county,  Pennsylvania,  in  May,  1836.  In  the  spring  of  1857  he  came 
to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  where  he  worked  at  carpentering  imtil  the 
spring  of  1861.  August  8,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  E,  102d  reg. 
111.  Yol.  Inf,  and  was  with  that  regiment  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  was  married  November  22,  1866,  to  Miss  Llarriet  A.  Laflerty, 
daughter  of  John  Lafterty,  of  Suez  township.  Their  children's  names 
are:  John  A.,  Miriam  E.,  Marietta,  Lela  I.,  and  Ethel  A.  They  are 
both  members  of  the  United  Presbyteriaii  church. 


652  HISTORY   OF   MERCER    A>T)   HEXDERSOX   COUXTEES. 


GREENE  TOWNSHIP. 

GEOLOGY. 

CXJXTRIBCTED  BY  DR.  J.  V.  FRAZIER,  OF  VIOLA. 

Greene  township  is  traversed  throughout  its  length  from  east  to 
■west  bv  an  irregular,  broad  and  elevated  plateau  or  water-shed,  the 
drainings  from  which  on  the  north  bear  a  north  and  westerly  direction 
to  the  Edwards  river,  while  on  the  south  the  water  courses  bear  south 
and  westerly  to  join  Pope  creek. 

The  Edwards  river,  coming  from  the  east,  flows  just  north  of  and 
along  the  northeastern  portion  of  the  township,  tor  two  and  a  half 
miles,  when  it  enters  the  township  about  midway  of  the  north  line  of 
section  3.  running  thence  nearly  west  until  it  passes  beyond  our  town- 
ship's line  on  section  6.  Pope  creek  enters  the  township  at  near  the 
the  southeast  comer  and  passes  in  a  westerly  direction  entirely  through 
it  on  its  southern  border.  The  Donohue  and  Skunk  runs,  as  also  two 
or  three  unnamed  deep-cut  water-ways,  fed  here  and  there  by  springs, 
carry  the  surface  waters  from  the  north  half  of  the  township  into  the 
Edwards  river,  while  2sorth  Pope,  Collins,  or  "Xigger"  run.  with 
two  or  three  deep  ravines,  serve  to  drain  the  south  half  into  Pope 
creek. 

These  streams  and  water-courses,  while  famishing  an  abundant  su}>- 
ply  of  water,  at  the  same  time  shape  the  surface  of  the  c-ountry  and 
determine  the  quality  of  the  soil.  Xot  more  than  three-fifths  of  the 
township  is  prairie.  Along  the  immediate  valleys  of  the  larger 
streams  there  is  a  deep  black  sod.  rich  in  humus,  and  in  some  places 
covered  by  heavy  growths  of  timber,  while  upon  the  ridges  bordering 
the  water-c-ourses  are  the  so  called  ••barrens."  The  soil  of  the  prai- 
ries is  m< :»stly  deep  and  of  a  blackish  or  chocolate  colored  loam,  with  a 
vellow  or  light  brown  clav  subsoil.  The  soil  of  the  ••barrens"  is 
similar  to  that  of  the  prairies,  only  Kgliter  colored  and  less  in  depth, 
becoming  of  a  light  brown  or  yellowish  color  along  the  sides  and 
over  the  tops  of  the  ridges,  on  ac-c-ount  of  the  character  of  the  sub- 
s<5il  which  comes  near  the  surface. 

The  surface  deposits  of  the  township  comprise  the  ordinary'  sub- 
divisions of  the  quarternary  period,  alluivium,  loess,  and  drift.  The 
alluivium  deposits  are  mostly  confined  to  narrow  belts  along  the  larger 
streams.  Some  of  tliis  land  is  so  low  as  to  be  too  much  subject  to 
overflow  for  growuig  cereals,  but  aflbrding  excellent  meadow  and 
grazing  grounds. 


I 


GREENE    TOWNSHIP.  653 

The  loess  deposit  is  found  sparingly,  capping  some  of  the  high 
points  along  Pope  creek,  but  not  sufficient  in  quantity  to  require  special 
notice. 

Drift. — The  deposits  of  this  subdivision  consist  of  a  series  of  brown 
and  blue  clays,  mixed  here  and  there  with  sand,  gravel  and  small  peb- 
bles, which  are  spread  over  the  entire  surface  of  the  township.  Quite 
a  number  of  boulders  of  igneous  or  metaniorphic  rocks  lie  scattered 
along  the  borders  of  the  streams  and  in  the  valleys  of  most  of  the  tem- 
porary water  courses. 

Coal  Measures. — The  stratified  rocks .  exposed  in  this  township  all 
belong  to  the  coal  measures  and  include  the  lower  groups,  from  coal 
No.  3  of  the  Illinois  section  down  to  near  the  base  of  this  formation. 
They  consist  of  various  strata  of  limestone,  sandstone,  clay,  shale,  and 
coal,  and  are  supposed  to  reach  a  thickness  of  from  100  to  150  feet.  A 
boring  on  section  14,  near  Viola,  reaches  130  feet  witliout  passing 
entirely  through  this  formation. 

There  have  been  three  seams  of  coal  found  and  more  or  less  worked 
in  the  township,  although  No.  3  and  No.  1  have  been  the  most  exten- 
sively mined.  Coal  No.  3  has  been  found  only  on  sections  31  and  32. 
The  mines  of  Mr.  Martin  and  Mr.  Morrow  are  on  this  seam,  while 
about  twenty-five  feet  lower  down  coal  No.  2  was  formerly  worked  by 
Mr.  Martin  by  a  drift  into  the  hill.  The  discovery  of  the  thicker  and 
more  profitable  vein  No.  3  above  caused  its  abandonment  several 
years  ago.  Coal  No.  3  at  Martin's  bank  varies  from  three  to  five  feet 
in  thickness,  is  safely  and  profitably  worked,  and  affords  one  of  our 
very  best  fuel  coals. 

Coal  No.  2  of  the  Illinois  group,  in  all  the  exposures  thus  far  made 
in  the  township,  has  shown  too  thin  a  vein  for  profitable  mining  at 
present,  varying  from  one  and  a  half  to  two  feet  in  thickness.  This 
seam  has  been  found  at  several  points,  notably  on  the  Gilmore  farm, 
S.  W.  \  of  Sec.  23,  on  the  Morey  farm,  N.  E.  \  of  Sec.  27,  and  at  Mar- 
tin's bank  in  the  S.  W.  \  of  Sec.  31.  Besides  the  mining  formerly 
done  on  this  vein  on  Martin's  bank,  the  openings  on  the  Gilmore  farm 
and  on  B.  F.  Morey's  old  farm  afibrded  a  fair  quantity  of  fuel  coal,  but 
were  never  operated  except  for  the  use  of  the  owners'  families  and  some 
of  their  neighbors.  At  the  two  last  named  farms  the  coal  was  mined 
by  stripping  the  soil,  clay  and  slate  overlying  it,  but  the  increasing 
depth  of  the  overlying  clay  and  shale  as  they  neared  the  higher  ground 
rendered  its  mining  unprofitable  by  this  process,  and  the  promise  of  a 
poor  "  roof"  over  the  coal  discouraged  the  owners  from  running  a  drift 
into  the  hills. 


65-i  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

From  the  shales  overlying  coals  No.  3  and  Xo.  2  our  amateur 
geologists  have  gathered  many  of  the  fossils  peculiar  to  the  coal 
measures  of  this  part  of  the  state.  Besides  several  species  of 
bryozora,  these  sections  furnish  conularia,  haniproartes  creuistro, 
lima  retifero,  spirifer  lunitus,  attrvrus  subtitito,  productus  nebrascensis, 
pleurophorus  solenifornius,  etc.  The  greater  portion  of  the  coal  pro- 
duced, for  which  our  township  is  somewhat  famous,  comes  from  coal 
No.  1  of  the  Illinois  section.  This  seam  varies  in  thickness  from  three 
and  a  half  to  four  and  a  half  feet,  the  general  average  reaching  about 
four  feet.  The  deposit  of  this  coal  seam  stretches  across  the  towns] lip 
fi'om  east  to  west,  being  a  part  only  of  the  great  Edwards  river  seam. 
It  has  been  found  and  extensively  mined  on  sections  2,  3,  4,  5,  6  and 
the  N.W.  J  of  11.  The  principal  shafts  now  in  operation  are  N.  B. 
Frazier's,  on  the  S.  E.  of  section  2,  Eussell  Park's  and  H.  Boone's  on 
section  3,  Wm.  Blaine's,  W.  P.  Collins'  and  Guthrie's  shafts  on  section 
4 ;  Bell  Brothers'  on  section  5 ;  Geo.  Pinkerton's  and  Hegg's  works 
on  section  6.  This  vein  of  coal  probably  underlies  a  very  considera- 
ble portion  of  the  township,  particularly  along  the  northern  half,  but 
will  be  found  at  a  considerable  depth,  if  found  at  all,  under  the  higher 
water  shed  of  the  township,  all  the  ojjenings  heretofore  made  being 
located  in  the  valleys  of  the  streams,  fully  150  feet  below  the  plateau 
upon  which  A^iola  stands.  This  vein  shows,  in  some  localities,  a 
peculiarity  worthy  of  mention.  Starting  from  the  east  side  of  the 
township,  where  we  find  but  little  admixture  of  slate,  there  is  a  gradual 
development  of  this  material  westward  until  we  reach  section  4,  where 
it  constitutes  a  parting  strip  of  about  four  inches,  about  midway  of  the 
seam,  and  from  thence  west  thickens  out  so  rapidly  that  on  section  6  it 
forms  a  pai-ting  varying  in  thickness  from  eighteen  to  twenty  inches. 
AVhile  this  layer  of  shale  between  the  upper  and  lower  coal  does  not 
impair  its  quality  seriously,  still  it  renders  mining  tedious  and  expen- 
sive on  account  of  the  necesssity  of  taking  care  of  so  much  refuse 
mattei". 

Potters^  Clay. — A  test  of  some  of  the  wdiitish  or  pale  blue  clay 
found  above  coal  No.  1.  proves  it  to  possess  excellent  qualities  for 
the  manufacture  of  stoneware.  Several  barrels  of  it  were  shipped, 
a  few  years  ago,  to  a  firm  in  Iowa  who  pronounced  it,  after  a  thorough 
trial,  worthy  of  the  attempt  to  erect  a  factory  near  by  it.  Some 
negotiations  were  entered  into  with  the  manufacturer  alluded  to  and 
parties  here,  but  the  enterprise  was  finally  abandoned. 

A  superior  deposit  of  clay,  suitable  for  the  manufacture  of  sewer 
tile  and  fire-brick  has  been  developed  within  the  past  few  years.  This 
deposit  is  just  below  coal  No.  2.  and  the  heaviest  body  of  it  is  found 


GREENE   TOWNSHIP.  ()o5 

on  the  S.W.  ^  of  Sec.  35.  The  Monmoutli  Manufacturing  Company, 
of  Monmouth  Illinois,  purchased  forty  acres  of  this  land  and  have 
shipped,  for  several  years  past,  as  high  as  150  tons  ]jer  year  of  their 
clay,  the  greater  portion  of  which  they  use  in  making  iire-brick  and  in 
heavy  sewer  tile.  They  claim  it  to  be  tli6  best  clay  in  the  west  for 
their  purposes. 

Lime. —  Some  of  the  blue  limestone  found  above  coal  Xo.  1  has 
been  burned  for  and  yielded  a  fair  quality  of  lime,  but  on  account  of 
impurities  needs  to  be  sorted  and  screened  before  using,  and  the 
amount  so  obtained  is  comparatively  small,  rendering  its  manufacture 
scarcely  profitable. 

Building  Stone. — The  sandstone  lying  just  above  Ccral  Xo.  2,  Illi- 
nois section,  is  of  a  light  color,  varying  from  a  dull  white  to  yellow, 
and  soft  when  first  quarried,  but  hardens  on  exposure.  There  are 
several  quarries  of  this  rock  in  the  township,  some  of  which  are  yield- 
ing a  fine  quality  of  building  stone.  In  some  of  the  quarries  it  can  be 
taken  out  in  blocks  of  almost  any  desired  size.  This  stone  is  found  on 
section  38,  near  F.  McGaughey's  house ;  on  the  ]S".  W.  J  of  Sec.  2fi ; 
on  the  N.  E.  J  of  Sec.  34 ;  and  inferior  qualities  at  other  places.  The 
best  and  most  extensive  quarry  is  that  of  H.  Gilbert  on  section  34, 
from  which  has  been  taken  a  large  portion  of  all  the  sandstone  for 
cutting  and  use  in  heavy  masonry  about  Viola  and  the  surrounding 
country. 

The  limestone  which  overlies  Coal  No.  1,  of  the  Illinois  section,  is 
a  drab-colored,  impure  limestone,  varying  from  eight  to  fifteen  feet  in 
depth,  with  about  two  feet  of  a  very  solid  blue  limestone  just  below. 
In  some  localities  we  find  a  flinty  limestone  interposed  between  the  blue 
and  gray.  The  blue  limestone  is  of  small  value  for  building  material, 
as  it  soon  falls  to  pieces  on  exposure  to  the  atmosphere.  This  drab- 
colored  rock  is  extensively  quarried  on  sections  3,  4,  and  5,  and  is  hefd 
in  high  esteem  for  building  purposes,  numy  hundreds  of  tons  having 
been  hauled  out  into  other  portions  of  the  county  for  economic  uses. 
The  rock  is  found  mostly  in  layers  from  two  to  eight  inches  in  thick- 
ness, the  layevs  growing  thicker  gradually  from  above  downward. 
Some  of  the  lower  layers  can  be  broken  into  almost  any  desired  sizes, 
up  to  ten  or  twelve  feet  square.  The  large  slabs  that  form  the  flo(n*s 
and  roofs  of  the  cells  in  the  county  jail  were  quarried  on  section  4, 
as  also  the  large  slabs  lining  and  covering  the  vaults  of  the  Aledo 
bank. 

From  the  shale  above  the  coals  of  Greene  township  and  the  over- 
laying limestones  are  gathered  nearly  every  species  of  our  Mercer 
ceunty  coal  measures  fossils ;  in  fjict,  the  fossils  found  in  this  township 


656  HISTORY    OF   MERCER    AJSTD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

are  the  typical  fossils  of  the  coal  measures  in  the  county.  It  would  be 
tedious  and  uninteresting  for  many  of  your  readers  were  we  to  name  a 
tenth  part  of  these  interesting  relics  of  a  by-gone  period  of  our  earth's 
growth,  which  have  only  in  recent  years  possessed  anything  of  interest 
or  significance  to  human  understandings ;  but  we  will  say,  in  general 
terms,  that  in  addition  to  those  already  noted  above,  we  find  some 
species  of  the  nautilus,  the  goniatite,  the  straparolus,  murchisonia, 
pleurotomaria,  bellerophon,  productus,  and  several  varities  of  cren- 
oidiae,  more  or  less  broken  and  fragmentary. 

Of  fossil  ferns,  some  of  them  very  well  preserved,  we  have  several 
species,  while  fragments  of  the  rhododenden  and  sigillaria,  with  the 
roots  of  the  latter  (stigmai'ia),  are  common  trophies  of  our  amateur 
collectors. 

That  many  of  the  monster  mammals  of  the  quarternary  period 
once  had  a  home  in  our  neighborhood  and  roamed  over  the  then 
marshy  and  fern-clad  plains,  which  now  constitute  the  high  rolling 
prairie  and  grass-covered  valle3's  of  Greene  township,  there  can  be  but 
small  doubt.  Their  bones,  which  were  buried  here  in  that  distant  age, 
are  now  and  then  recovered  from  their  unmarked  burial  grounds,  and 
stand  as  witnesses  of  their  former  occupancy  of  the  soil.  In  my  cabi- 
net are  a  part  of  a  tooth  of  the  mastodon,  and  a  large  and  well-pre- 
served tooth  of  the  elephas  primogeneous  (0  found  on  section  3  in  this 
township.  The  locality  where  found  bore  evidence  of  having  been  in 
former  times  a  marsh  or  swamp,  and  the  evidences  from  the  place  and 
its  surroundings  are  strongly  suggestive  that  the  monsters  whose  teeth 
now  grace  my  cabinet  died  where  the  teeth  were  found. 

EARLY   SETTLEMENT. 

The  first  actual  settler  in  what  is  now  known  as  T.  14,  R.  2,  west 
oi  the  4th  P.M.,  was  David  Williams,  who  came  in  1836  and  entered 
a  claim  on  the  S.  W.  J  of  Sec.  14.  In  the  following  year  came  Nathan 
McChesney,  who  located  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  township,  and 
Thomas  Weir,  who  located  in  section  9.  In  the  spring  of  1839  John 
Collins,  formerly  a  resident  of  Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  came  from 
the  eastern  part  of  the  county,  where  he  had  located  in  1837  near  the 
present  site  of  Joy.  Mr.  Collins  located  on  the  W.  ^  of  JST.  E.  J  of 
Sec.  15.  He  erected  a  log  cabin  about  twenty  rods  east  and  on  the 
opposite  side  of  the  road  from  the  present  residence  of  his  son, 
AVilliam  P.  The  last  vestige  of  this  rude  habitation  has  disappeared, 
and  immediately  over  the  spot  daily  passes  the  "iron  steed,  swifter 
than  eagles  fly." 

In  the  same  year  came  John  Cowden,  who  located  on  the  N.  W.  ^ 


GREENE    TOWNSHIP.  657 

of  Sec.  IT ;  William  Brownlee,  who  located  on  the  N.  E.  ^  of  Sec.  17; 
John  Liim,  who  located  on  S.  E.  ^  of  Sec.  14;  and  Elijah  Stewart, 
who  bought  the  claim  of  David  Williams.  John  Carnahan,  Sr.,  for- 
merly of  Mercer  countj^  Pennsylvania,  came  and  located  on  section  18. 
His  sons,  William  and  David,  and  his  son-in-law,  Erank  Anderson, 
took  claims  in  the  same  section. 

William  Pinkerton,  Sr.,  came  in  1840,  and  also  settled  on  section  18. 
John  AValker  also  came  at  a  very  early  day.  The  Park  family  came 
in  1839.  George  McEerren,  Matthew  Doak,  and  Henry  Griffin  were 
also  among  the  early  settlers  of  the  townshij).  Charles  Durston  was 
the  lirst  white  child  born  in  the  township. 

Although  the  strong  armed  pioneer  experienced  many  hardships, 
privations  and  difficulties,  his  life  was  not  destitute  of  sunshine.  His 
rude  log  cabin,  with  its  inmates,  was  as  dear  to  him  as  though  it  had 
been  a  palace.  After  a  hard  day's  work  in  the  "•clearing,"  he  would 
retire  to  rest  with  his  loved  ones  about  him,  and  was  rewarded  for  his 
toil  by  a  night  of  sound  sleep 

"Unbroken  l)y  the  wolf's  l(in<i;  Imwl, 
Or  the  panther  si)ringin}j;  by.'" 

Being  neighbors  and  companions  in  a  wilderness  cut  off  from  civil- 
ization, a  genial  spirit  of  friendship  generally  existed  among  the  set- 
tlers, and  a  neighbor  was  as  welcome  to  share  the  rude  comforts  of  the 
pioneer's  cabin  as  a  brother.  Nor  did  the  settlers  lack  for  amusement. 
"Corn  huskings,"  ^'spelling  schools,"  ""taiiy  pullings,"  and  "shooting 
matches,"  were  frequent,  young  and  old  participating,  and  on  the 
"puncheon  floor"  the  young  men  and  blushing  maidens  tripped  the 
''light  fantastic  toe"  as  merrih',  if  not  as  gracefully,  as  the  more 
accomplislied  dancers  of  the  present  day.  While  the  traditional 
"back  woods'  tiddler"  patted  the  floor  with  his  number  ten  "cow- 
hides," and  made  the  log  cabin  ring  with  such  melodies  as  the  "flsher's 
horn-pip.e,"  and  the  "devil's  dream." 

If  a  "new-comer"  desired  to  build  a  house,  he  had  the  services  of 
all  the  settlers  in  the  surrounding  neighborhcjod  at  his  disposal.  Car- 
pentering was  then  in  its  sim])licity,  a  broad-ax,  an  auger,  and  a 
cross-cut  saw  constituted  a  set  of  carpenter's  tools,  and  out  of  a  pile  of 
logs  of  various  sizes  a  cabin  was  soon  constructed,  the  cracks  "chunk 
and  dobbed,"  with  a  kind  of  mortar  made  of  clay  and  prairie  grass.  A 
chimney  and  flre-place  made  of  the  same  material,  and  the  house  was 
ready  for  its  occupants. 

One  of  the  worst  enemies  the  settlers  had  to  contend  with  was  the 
])rairie  Are.     Hunters  would  frequently  set  fire  to  the  tall  grass,  which. 


658  HISTORY    OF    MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    (  OUNTIES. 

in  the  fall,  would  readily  ignite ;  the  prairie  wguld  soon  be  a  sea  of 
flame,  and  woe  unto  the  unlucky  farmer  who  had  not  taken  the  proper 
precautions  to  protect  his  property.  These  fires  were  sometimes 
arrested  in  their  flight  by  the  settlers,  who  would  turn  out  and  ''fight 
them."  Mr.  W.  P.  Collins  states  that  he,  in  company  with  his  father, 
brother,  and  several  neighbors  once  fought  a  fire  from  Saturday  until 
Sunday  night,  without  food,  water  or  sleep.  The  manner  in  which 
this  was  done  was  to  plow  a  furrow  in  front  of  the  fire,  and  then  burn 
the  grass  between,  being  careful  in  the  beginning  to  prevent  the  grass 
on  the  opposite  side  from  igniting. 

The  people  also  experienced  great  difiiculty  in  getting  breadstufl". 
Mills  being  scarce,  they  were  frequently,  in  case  of  bad  weather,  com- 
pelled to  manufacture  their  own  meal,  which  was  done  bv  grating  the 
corn  while  on  the  ear.     Corn  bread  and  ])ork  constituted  the  bill  of 
fare. 

William  Terry  was  also  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  Greene  town- 
ship, having  came  in  1836,  from  New  York  state.  He  entered  in  all 
about  440  acres  of  land,  160  of  which  was  entered  in  his  son's  name. 
Mr.  Terry  is  now  nearly  eighty -four,  and  is  apparently  as  rugged  as 
when  the  writer  first  saw  him  a  score  of  years  ago.  His  mind  is  as 
clear  and  his  memory  as  retentive  as  in  his  boyhood.  He  is  familiarly 
spoken  of  as  "Uncle  Billy."  During  an  interview  with  this  venerable 
gentleman,  the  writer  listened  to  many  amusing  incidents  illustrative 
of  pioneer  life.  When  Mr.  Terry  came  to  Mercer  county,  there  was 
but  one  other  settler  in  Grreene  township.  Game  of  all  kinds  abounded 
He  states  that  he  has  seen  as  many  as  fifty  deer  in  a  drove,  browsing 
on  Pope  creek  bottom.  Lynx  and  wolves  were  also  verv  plentiful. 
One  evening,  while  driving  his  cows  down  to  the  creek  bottom,  he 
heard  a  rustling  in  the  bushes  near  at  hand,  and  on  walking  up  nearer 
to  ascertain  the  cause,  a  huge  black  wolf  sprang  at  him,  with  glaring 
eyes  and  open  jaws.  Uncle  Billy  sprang  across  a  little  stream  that  ran 
near  by,  and  started  homeward  at  a  rate  which  he  thinks  was  ^lie  fast- 
est on  record  at  that  time.  He  arrived  safely  at  home,  minus  his  hat. 
On  the  following  morning  he  went  back  to  the  scene  of  the  fright  and 
found  from  its  tracks,  that  the  wolf  had  pursued  him  as  far  as  the  water 
and  stopped.  He  was  returning  home  one  evening  from  Bridger's 
corners,  where  he  had  been  transacting  some  business  which  had  not 
gone  to  suit  him.  This  rendered  his  feelings  very  unamiable,  and  as 
he  was  passing  through  Pope  creek  timber,  his  mind  was  very  sud- 
denly diverted  from  his  financial  aflairs  by  the  appearance  of  a  large 
gray  wolf,  immediately  in  front  of  him  and  right  in  his  path.  He 
stopped  for  a  moment,  and  the  wolf  raised  himself  on  his  haunches, 


GREENE    TOWNSHIP.  659 

and  sat  glaring  at  him  in  a  very  threatening  manner.  But  Uncle 
Billy-s  combativeness  would  not  allow  him  to  Hee,  nor  to  turn  from 
the  path.  He  seized  a  club,  started  toward  the  animal,  and  it  politely 
stepped  aside,  allowing  him  to  pass,  but  he  states  that  he  kept  one  eje 
on  his  wolfship  until  he  disappeared  in  the  distance.  Mi'.  Terry  states 
that  the  settlers  in  that  part  of  the  county  did  their  trading  at  Hender- 
sonville,  Knox  county,  where  they  paid  as  high  as  twenty  dollars  per 
barrel  for  flour,  and  other  commodities  in  proportion.  His  family 
once  subsisted  for  several  weeks  on  bread  made  from  wheat  ground  in 
a  coft'ee  mill.  The  first  religious  services  Mr.  Terry  attended  in 
Illinois  were  held  in  the  cabin  of  Mr.  James  Mann,  in  North  Hender- 
son township.     People  then  drove  to  church  with  ox  teams. 

Hopkins  Boone,  now  a  resident  of  Viola,  was  the  second  settler  in 
Preemption  township,  having  located  on  Edwards  river  in  the  fall  of 
1835.  Mr.  Boone  first  made  a  trip  to  Illinois  in  1830  and  had  decided 
to  make  his  home  in  the  southern  part  of  the  state.  But  on  returning 
after  the  close  of  the  Black  Hawk  war  he  found  that  locality  too  thickly 
settled  to  suit  his  ideas  of  a  new  country,  and  he  accordingly  came 
farther  north.  At  that  time  and  for  several  years  subsequent  the 
county  was  divided  into  three  voting  precincts,  his  being  called  the 
Pichland  Grove  precinct.  The  polling  place  was  then  at  the  residence 
of  a  Mr.  Parker  in  what  is  now  Richland  Grove  township.  On  election 
day  in  183B  Mr.  Boone,  in  company  with  a  neighbor,  walked  to  Mr. 
Parker's  to  cast  their  votes.  On  their  arrival  they  f()und  fifteen  or 
twenty  settlers  from  other  parts  of  the  precinct  who  had  congregated 
there  for  the  same  purpose.  They  had  no  printed  tickets,  and  as  not  a 
soul  of  them  knew  the  names  of  the  electors,  it  was  impossible  for 
them  to  vote,  and  after  laughing  and  joking  considerably  over  their 
predicament  they  returned  to  their  respective  homes. 

Mr.  Boone  states  that  at  that  time  there  was  no  road  leading  north 
and  south'  except  an  Indian  trail,  which  could  be  traveled  only  on 
horseback,  and  which  lay  between  Monmouth  and  Rock  Island.  He 
states  that  there  had  been  a  state  road  laid  out  from  Beardstown  to 
Rock  Island,  but  as  there  had  been  no  work  done  on  it  through  Mer- 
cei"  county  it  could  not  be  traveled  by  wagon. 

Until  after  they  had  raised  a  crop  the  settlers  were  obliged  to  get 
their  provisions  from  Knox  and  A¥arren  counties.  In  order  to  reach 
Monmouth  by  wagon  they  were  obliged  to  go  west  to  the  Mississippi 
and  there  take  a  road  running  from  New  Boston  to  that  place,  which 
made  a  roundabout  journey. 

For  several  years  after  locating  at  Farlow's  Grove  their  nearest  mill 
was  one  situated  on  the  Cedar  fork  of  Henderson  creek  in  Warren 


660  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

county.  As  there  was  but  little  wheat  raised  the  settlers  were  obliged 
to  subsist  principally  on  corn  bread,  and  occasionally  on  "hog  and 
hominy."  As  game  was  plentiful  a  piece  of  venison  or  a  wild  turkey 
frequently  broke  the  monotony.  Mr.  Boone  states  that  a  drove  of  wild 
hogs  was  seen  along  the  river  in  1836  and  some  of  them  were  shot  by 
the  settlers. 

Mr.  Boone  erected  the  first  saw-mill  built  on  Edwards  river  and 
did  work  for  settlers  for  many  miles  around. 

He  is  one  of  the  four  remaining  pioneers  of  Mercer  county.  He  is 
a  distant  relative  of  the  famous  Daniel  Boone,  and  like  him,  in  his 
younger  days,  excessively  fond  of  life  in  a  wild  country.  He  says  the 
happiest  days  of  his  life  were  spent  in  a  log  cabin.  In  early  times  he 
could  stand  in  the  door  of  his  rude  habitation  and  look  far  up  and 
down  the  river  and  across  the  country  for  miles,  seeing  nothing  but 
praiiie,  with  here  and  there  a  belt  of  timber;  hills  adorned  with 
flowers  of  every  hue,  between  which  glided  the  silvery  waters  of  the 
river,  and  here  and  there  herds  of  deer  feeding  on  the  plain. 

But  what  a  change  tinie  has  wrought.  Civilization  in  its  onward 
march  has  blotted  out  all  traces  of  the  cabin,  and  where  the  bounding 
deer  dwelt  and  the  wild  flowers  bloomed,  are  school-houses,  dwellings 
and  fields  of  gi-ain. 

The  canoe  of  the  swarthy  savage  is  seen  no  more  darting  up  and 
down  the  stream,  while  in  the  distance  can  be  heard  the  shriek  of  the 
locomotive  and  the  clanging  of  the  church  bells. 

He  like  many  others  has  stepped  out  of  the  busy  whirlpool  of  life, 
aud  is  living  in  quiet  retirement.  He  has  the  satisfaction  of  knowing 
that  he  assisted  in  paving  the  way  for  civilization  and  for  progress,  and 
in  his  later  years  his  memory  loves  to  dwell  on  the  past,  which  for  him 
has  been  marked  by  many  hardships  and  dangers,  yet  has  not  been 
without  its  pleasures 

ORGANIZATION. 

Greene  township  assumed  organization  in  1854.  The  name  of 
Greene  was  suggested  by  John  Collins,  with  whom  General  Greene  of 
revolutionary  fame  was  a  great  favorite.  The  first  town  meeting  was 
held  in  a  school-house  that  stood  on  a  hill  in  what  is  now  the  eastern 
part  of  the  village  of  Viola.  John  Collins  was  chosen  chairman  by 
acclamation,  after  which  Uri  Smith  was  chosen  moderator,  and  Henry 
Hoagland,  clerk  pro  tern.  The  polls  being  opened  the  following 
ofiicers  were  chosen  by  ballott :  Elisha  Miles,  supervisor;  Henry  Hoag- 
land, town  clerk  ;  William  P.  Collins,  assessor  ;  Alexander  McGauhey, 
collector  ;  John  Frazier,  overseer  of  the  poor  ;  Samual  E.  Russell,  John 


GREENE    TOWNSHIP.  661 

H.  Park  and  David  Somerville,  Jr.,  commissioners  of  higliways; 
John  Griffin  and  Henry  Hoagland,  justices  of  the  peace  ;  William  T. 
McGauhey  and  W.  P.  Collins,  constables  ;  Jeremiah  Boyer,  and  David 
Somerville,  Jr.,  pound  masters  ;  Alexander  M.  Stewart,  Van  K.  Har- 
riott, and  C.  Doty,  overseers  of  highways. 

VIOLA. 

The  village  of  Viola  was  laid  out  by  Ford,  Shepard  and  Perkins  in 
1856.  As  that  time  the  old  Air  Line  railroad  was  being  surveyed 
through  the  country,  and  Viola  was  one  of  the  points  selected  for  a 
station.  The  name  was  conferred  u})on  the  infant  village  by  Judge 
Perkins,  and  is  said  to  have  been  suggested  to  him  by  one  of  his  daugh- 
ters. In  1856-7  the  judge  erected  the  large  brick  hotel,  supposing  that  a 
prosperous  town  would  soon  surround  it.  But  owing  to  the  collapse  of 
the  railroad  scheme  the  great  building  stood  almost  alone  in  its  glory 
for  several  years  after,  and  proved  to  have  been  a  very  unprotitabte 
investment  to  the  builder. 

The  first  business  house  erected  after  the  laying  out  of  the  village 
was  that  of  Dyer  Ford,  father  of  M.  M.  Ford,  one  of  the  proprietors 
of  the  town.  Soon  after,  the  Crosby  brothers  erected  a  building  and 
opened  up  a  stock  of  general  mei-chandise.  The  first  drug  store  was 
opened  by  Mr.  Balkam.  The  postoffice  was  established  in  the  village 
in  1856  at  the  residence  of  Samuel  Peny,  Mr.  Perry  officiating  as 
postmaster  for  a  short  time,  resigned,  and  was  succeeded  by  Dyer 
Ford.  The  names  of  the  successive  postmasters  down  to  the  present 
time  in  the  order  of  their  appointment  are  as  follows  :  B.  F.  Warner, 
resigned,  E.  S.  Fugate,  resigned,  N.  H.  Pond,  resigned,  E.  T.  Crosby, 
resigned,  E.  L.  McKinnie,  removed,  and  V.  R.  Harriott.  The  latter 
named  gentleman  was  appointed  in  1880,  and  has  discharged  his 
duties  faithfully  and  satisfactorily. 

For  a  period  of  nearly  twelve  years  after  the  laying  out  of  the 
village,  but  little  growth  or  progress  was  made,  but  after  the  comple- 
tion of  the  branch  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  railroad  in 
1869,  it  began  to  show  some  signs  of  life,  and  entered  upon  an  era  of 
prosperity  and  growth  which  surprised  the  most  sanguine.  In  1869 
Park  &  McKinnie  erected  a  handsome  drug  store.  In  1870  Crosby  & 
Phares  erected  a  building  in  the  same  block.  In  1871  H.  B.  Frazier 
built  a  handsome  two-story  store  building  22  X  60  feet,  and  has  since 
added  twenty  feet  in  length.  In  the  winter  of  1869-70  John  G. 
Gilbert  erected  a  store  building  and  masonic  hall  on  the  corner  of 
Shepard  and  Eighth  streets.  Since  that  time  he  has  added  two  other 
handsome  store-rooms,  making  the  entire  building  64x64  feet.     The 


662  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AXD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

first  stock  of  hardware  was  jDut  in  by  Y.  R.  Harriott,  in  the  old  hotel 
building.  In  1869  an  elevator  was  built  by  Mack,  Reynolds  &  Co.,  of 
Galesburg,  which  was  operated  by  the  Manning  brothers.  In  1880 
E.  J.  Morgan  also  erected  a  large  grain  elevator  west  of  the  former 
one,  which  is  now  owned  by  Finkterton  Brothers.  The  capacity  of 
this  building  is  20,000  bushels. 

During  the  winter  of  1880-81,  400,000  bushels  of  corn  were 
shipped  from  A^ola,  which  we  presume  was  not  exceeded  at  any  point 
in  the  county.  Tlie  village  was  incorporated  March  19,  1870,  Dr.  J. 
Y.  Frazier,  E.  J.  Morgan,  Henry  Allen,  F.  L.  McKinnie,  and  W.  K. 
Garwood  being  the  first  trustees.  During  the  twelve  years  of  her  in- 
corporated existence  Yiola  has  had  a  licensed  saloon  within  its  limits 
but  two  years.  During  that  time  king  alcohol  held  undisjjuted  sway, 
and  with  his  polluting  breath  sent  misery  and  wretchedness,  want  and 
despair  into  many  households.  With  his  subtle  ^Dower  he  tore  the 
dimpled  arms  of  the  laughing  child  from  about  its  father's  neck,  and 
changed  him  from  a  loving  father  to  a  demon.  Thanks  to  the  unceas- 
ing labors  of  the  temperance  people,  he  was  checked  in  his  devilish 
career.  They  declared,  through  the  ballot,  that  the  saloonkeeper  must 
go,  and  he  has  gone,  let  us  hope,  forever. 

NIGGER  RIDGE. 

For  several  years  previous  to  and  during  the  war,  the  people  in  the 
western  part  of  the  township  are  said  to  have  been  large  stockholders 
in  the  underground  railway.  A  depot  or  station  was  established  in 
the  neighborhood,  and  many  a  dusky  slave,  fleeing  from  the  cruelty  of 
the  master's  lash,  was  by  those  kind-hearted  people  assisted  on  his 
way  toward  the  star  in  the  north,  and  owing  to  such  humane  acts,  to- 
gether with  the  fact  that  the  people  in  the  vicinit}^  were  almost  unani- 
mous in  the  most  radical  abolition  principles,  the  neighborhood  won 
the  name  of  Nigger  Ridge.  Rather  an  uncouth  nickname  it  is,  yet 
one  of  which  they  may  justly  be  proud.  With  it  are  mingled  the 
recollections  of  the  child  being  torn  from  the  arms  of  its  dark-skinned 
mother  and  sold  at  the  auction  block,  of  the  cruel  lash,  of  the  savage 
bloodhound,  of  the  four  long  years  of  war  that  struck  the  shackles 
from  the  arms  of  millions  of  slaves. 

FIRES. 

In  June,  1865,  the  residence  of  Dr.  J.  Y.  Frazier  took  fire  from  a 
defective  flue,  and  was  burned  to  the  ground;  loss,  $1,500. 

In  1866  the  drug  store  of  E.  S.  Fugate  took  fire,  burning  the  north- 
west corner  of  the  building,  and  destroying  his  books  and  papers  ; 


i 


(^^T^^^^^i^-^-ir/c^ 


(JREENE    TOWNSHIP.  665 

loss,  about  $800.     Owing  to  tlie  timelj  assistance  of  the  citizens,  the 
buikling  was  saved  from  entire  destruction. 

In  1878  the  residence  of  B.  N.  Peck  took  fire,  and,  with  ahnost  its 
entire  contents,  totally  destroyed.  The  dwelling  was  insured,  and 
Mr.  Peck  received  the  entire  amount. 

EPISODES. 

In  February,  1881,  the  postoffice  was  entered,  and  stamps  and  reg- 
istered letters,  amounting  to  $100,  taken.  The  perpetrator  was  never 
captured. 

July  3,  1875,  a  large  crowd  assembled  at  Yiola  for  the  purpose  of 
celebrating  the  Fourth,  that  day  coming  on  Sunday.  During  the  after- 
noon a  crowd  of  miners  got  into  a  melee  with  the  police,  and  a  general 
row  ensued,  in  which  some  bravery  and  a  great  deal  of  cowardice  was 
manifested.  Titus  Snyder,  Samuel  Park,  and  one  or  two  others  having 
been  authorized  to  act  as  policemen,  contended  for  a  time  with  a  howl- 
ing mob  of  infuriated  drunkards,  and,  although  severely  handled,  they 
succeeded  in  leveling  half  a  dozen  of  the  ruffians  to  the  earth,  after 
which  quiet  was  restored. 

In  the  fall  of  1876  George  Parrot,  a  traveling  salesnuxn  stopping  at 
the  village  hotel,  committed  suicide  by  taking  morphine. 

On  the  night  of  November  17,  1878,  a  burglar  named  Lothringer 
tried  to  effect  an  entrance  into  the  dry  goods  store  of  H.  B.  Frazier  & 
Co.  George  Goding,  a  brother  of  one  of  the  firm,  was  sleeping  in 
the  store  at  the  time,  and  was  suddenly  awakened  by  the  cracking  of 
glass  in  the  rear  end  of  the  building.  He  seized  his  revolver  and 
crept  quietly  back  until  he  felt  the  cold  air  coming  through  the  hole  that 
had  been  made  in  the  glass  in  the  panel  door.  The  head  and  shoulders 
of  the  burglar  soon  appeared,  and  he  was  in  the  act  of  crawling  in, 
when  Goding  fired,  the  ball  taking  effect  in  his  breast.  He  turned 
and  ran  across  the  street,  where  he  fell  and  was  captured.  He  was 
afterward  sent  to  the  state  prison. 

ORGANIZATIONS. 

The  United  Prenhyterian  Church — Was  organized  in  1855  by  the 
Rev.  Matthew  Bigger,  and  was  at  that  time  known  as  the  Twin  Grove 
congregation.  The  names  of  the  first  trustees  elected  are  as  follows : 
John  Mitchell,  chairman ;  W.  P.  Collins,  secTetary ;  trustees,  S.  E. 
Pussell,  J.  B.  Mitchell,  and  W.  P.  Collins.  The  membership  then 
numbered  twenty-eight,  and  was  organized  under  the  care  of  the 
Associate  Reform  Presbytery  at  Monmouth.  John  Collins,  John 
Mitchell,  Sr,,  and  Samuel  Ross  were  members  of  the  session.  The 
38 


^66  HISTORY    OF   JMERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

iirst  regular  pastor  was  the  Kev.  D.  C.  Cochran,  who  was  installed  in 
the  spring  of  1857.  There  has  been  since  the  organization  of  the 
society  about  ?>25  members  united  with  them.  The  present  member- 
ship is  110.  The  largest  number  of  members  attending  services  at 
any  one  time  was  180.  The  present  pastor  is  the  Rev.  W.  S.  McClan- 
nahan.  Tlie  present  session  is  composed  of  the  fcjllowing-named 
members :  Richard  Gardner,  J.  C.  Pinkerton,  Leonard  Hogg,  Richard 
Aitkin,  James  Stewart,  and  S.  E.  Russell.  The  present  trustees  are : 
W.  C.  Breckenridge,  John  Ashenhurst  and  S.  E.  Russell.  The  Sabbath 
school  in  connection  is  in  a  very  flourishing  condition  and  numbers 
about  100  members.  This  congregation  is  one  of  the  largest  and  most 
prosperous  in  the  county.  The  church  building  was  erected  in  1857; 
in  1876  additional  improvements  were  made.  The  entire  cost  of  the 
building  was  about  $4,500. 

Methodist  £j)i.scojxd. — This  society  was  organized  in  1867.  The 
tirst  trustees  being  Delos  Crosby,  Jonah  Flora,  James  M.  Walker, 
E.  J.  Morgan,  Elias  Beachlor,  George  Griffin,  and  O.  R.  Morey.  The 
church  building  was  completed  in  1870.  The  flrst  pastor  was  the  Rev. 
Theodore  Hoagland.  Owing  to  very  imperfect  records  the  data  in 
regard  to  this  organization  are  verj'  meagre.  The  society  was  iirst 
organized  by  the  Rev.  J.  Fleliarty,  who  held  meetings  in  the  old  brick 
school-house,  and  through  whose  earnest  eiforts  many  converts  were 
brought  into  communion  with  Christ. 

Congregational  Church. — This  society  was  organized  in  1857,  by 
tlie  Rev.  C.  H.  Eaton,  who  acted  as  the  Iirst  regular  pastor.  The 
church  building  was  erected  the  same  year.  The  Iirst  trustees  were : 
B.  C.  Perkins,  Joseph  Scholield,  George  Bolton,  Thomas  Merriman, 
John  A.  Iloffnuxn.  This  organization  was  in  a  very  flourishing  condi- 
tion until  about  1865-6,  but  having  been  originally  composed  of  mem- 
bers who  had  previously  belonged  to  other  denominations,  it  began  to 
decrease  in  number  and  soon  became  practically  extinct. 

Presbyterian. — This  society  was  organized  April  22,  1872,  in  the 
old  Congregational  church  building,  and  was  made  up  pi-incipally  of 
persons  who  had  formerly  been  members  of  the  Edwards  river  congre- 
gation, and  the  old  Congregationalist  church  at  Yiola.  The  flrst  pastor 
was  the  Rev.  E.  Robb,  licentiate  of  Auburn,  IS^ew  York,  seminary. 
The  flrst  elders  were  Russell  Park  and  Hopkins  Boom.  In  1878  the 
society  erected  a  church  building  at  a  cost  of  about  $2,700.  This 
building  is  pleasantly  located,  surrounded  by  a  natural  grove,  and  is 
an  ornament  to  the  \'illage.  The  interior  of  the  building  is  handsomely 
flnished,  and  furnished  to  correspond.  The  congregation  is  in  a  pros- 
perous condition,  and  is  at  ])resent  under  the  supervision  of  the  Rev. 
R.  IT.  Fulton. 


GREENE    TOWXSHIl'.  6(>7 

BetJid  Church. — About  four  miles  west  of  Viola  a  society  was 
organized  in  1854,  and  was  called  the  Bethel  Free  Presbyterian  Church. 
At  the  time  of  organization  the  membership  numbered  twenty.  .1.  K. 
Whittim  was  the  lirst  pastor,  and  the  Urst  trustees  were  James  McClure, 
William  M.  Carnahan,  and  John  Carnahan.  The  church  was  known 
by  the  above  name  until  1866,  when  slavery  had  ceased  to  be  an  issue 
and  the  name  was  changed  to  AVesleyan  Methodist,  and  since  has  gone 
by  that  name. 

Lodge  JSfo.  577,  A.  F.  (Hid  A.  J/!,  was  organized  July  16,  1867, 
with  the  following  officers  :  Master,  J.  B.  Longley  ;  Senior  Warden, 
B.  F.  Morey  ;  Junior  Warden,  S.  B.  Atwater ;  Treasurer,  Eussel 
Park  ;  Secretary,  V.  K.  Harriott ;  Senior  Deacon,  Warren  L.  Smith  ; 
Junior  Deacon,  Robert  Park  ;  Tyler,  M.  K.  Flory.  Following  are  the 
names  of  the  charter  members  :  Allen  Robinson,  W.  L.  Smith,  M.  K. 
Flory,  Edward  Lynes,  John  Baxter,  Levi  McLaughlin.  Russell  Park, 
B.  F.  Morey,  J.  M.  Erne,  Robert  Park,y.  R.  Harriott,  S.  B.  Atwater, 
S.  R.  Moore,  W.  D.  Morford,  J.  B.  Longley,  Allen  McLaughlin,  Rich- 
ard Cooper.  The  Lodge  was  conducted  under  dispensation  until  1868, 
when  they  received  their  charter.  The  names  of  the  present  officers  are 
as  follows  :  Worshipful  Master,  H.  B,  Frazier  ;  Senior  Warden,  P.  F. 
Mauk  ;  Junior  AVarden,  B.  C.  Bowers ;  Treasurer,  Russell  Park  ; 
Secretary,  V.  R.  Harriott ;  Senior  Deacon,  W.  L.  Smith  ;  Junicn- 
Deacon,  J.  E.  Greenwood  ;  Stewards,  Reuben  Perry,  M.  K.  Flory  ; 
Tyler,  J.   B.   Smith.     The  present  membership  of  the  lodge  number 

forty-three. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  lirst  school  in  the  township  was  taught  by  Elizabeth  Collins,  in 
the  rear  part  of  her  lather's  (John  Collins),  residence,  in  1840,  which, 
during  its  existence,  was  kept  up  by  subscription.  The  lirst  public 
school  building  in  the  township  was  erected  in  1842,  and  stood  on  a 
hill  in  the  eastern  part  of  the  village  of  Viola,  north  of  the  present  site 
of  the  steam  mill,  and  was  used  until  1856,  when  a  two  story  brick  build- 
ing was  erected,  about  forty  rods  southwest  of  it.  which  was  occupied 
until  1871,  when  the  large  increase  in  attendance  made  it  necessary  to 
erect  a  new  and  larger  building.  Acc*ordingly,  the  })eople  of  the  dis- 
trict held  a  meeting,  for  the  purpose  of  ascertaining  the  sentiment  in 
regard  to  it,  and  it  was  decided  to  proceed  at  once  with  the  work. 
Dr.  J.  V.  Frazier  drew  up  and  submitted  to  the  meeting  a  plan  for  the 
proposed  building,  which  was  adopted,  and  Delos  Crosby  employed  to 
superintend  the  construction  of  the  same.  The  grounds  selected  upon 
which  to  erect  the  building  are  in  block  114,  where  two  lots  were  pur- 
chased, at  a  cost  of  about  $500.     The  building,  one  of  the  best  in  the 


66S  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

eonnty,  was  com])leted  in  1S71,  and  school  opened  in  the  fall  of  that 
year,  Miss  Sarah  Hayes  being  tlie  first  princi]ial.  For  reasons  which 
niig-lit  be  mysterious  to  some  and  transparent  to  others,  the  accounts  of 
the  expenditures  on  the  building  were  very  impei^fectly  kept ;  in  fact 
they  were  not  kept  at  all,  and  thes  people  of  the  district  are  to-day 
ignorant  of  the  cost  of  their  school  edifice.  An  investigating  commit- 
tee was  once  appointed  to  look  into  the  matter,  but  their  labors  were 
rewarded  by  the  same  success  that  usually  attends  such  eftorts.  Tliey 
were  obliged  to  guess  at  both  the  cost  of  the  building,  and  the  disposal 
that  was  made  of  the  public  funds.  We  will  state  that  their  opinion 
in  regard  to  the  former,  but  will  withhold  it  in  refei-ence  to  the  latter. 
According  to  their  estimate,  the  building,  including  grounds,  cost 
about  $7,000.  The  building  is  two  stories  in  height,  the  main  build- 
ing, 54x32  feet  in  size,  and  the  wing  17x20.  It  is  divided  into  four 
■dej)artments,  which  are  designated  in  alphabetical  order,  beginning  at 
A.  Mr.  S.  P.  Wiley,  of  Aledo,  is  the  present  ])rincipal,  and  is  con- 
^ducting  the  school  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of  the  people  of  the  district. 

THE  CEMETERY. 

The  cemetery  is  located  about  a  luilf  a  mile  north  and  west  of  the 
villao-e.  The  ground  was  donated  to  the  United  Presbyterian  church 
by  John  Collins.  The  first  burial  that  took  ])lace  here  was  the  remains 
of  fJohn  Kennedy.  It  is  now  used  as  a  public  cemetery  and  has 
recently  been  enlarged. 

It  is  admirably  located  on  gently  rolling  ground,  and  is  surrounded 
by  a  grove  of  forest  trees.  In  visiting  this  burial  place  one  is  struck 
by  the  surrounding  beauty,  by  the  hallowed  stillness,  broken  only  by 
the  twittering  of  wild  birds,  and  cannot  but  realize  how  well  the  loca- 
tion was  chosen.     John  Collins,  the  donor,  is  buried  here. 

The  cemetery  in  connection  with  Bethel  church  was  established  in 
1856  on  land  donated  by  William  and  Porter  Carnahan.  It  is  located 
in  section  IS.  and  is  used  is  a  public  burial  place. 

THE  VIOLA  VINEYARD. 

Prominent  among  the  places  of  interest  in  Mercer  county  is  the 
vineyard  owned  by  J.  M.  Erne,  contiguous  to  the  village  of  Viola.  In 
1875  Mr.  Erne  purchased  twenty-two  acres  of  timber  land,  joining  the 
village  on  the  north  and  east,  and  by  ceaseless  labor  and  excellent  man- 
agement he  has  removed  the  timber  and  is  now  the  proprietor  of  the 
largest  vineyard  in  the  county.  He  carries  on  the  business  in  a  scien- 
tific and  skillful  manner.  The  hillsides  facinsi:  the  southeast  are  orna- 
uK'uted  by  rows  of  vines,  numbering  in  A,ll  about  (),000,  and  consisting 


GKEENK    TOWNSmi'.  fU?i) 

<^f  about  thirty  varieties  of  grapes.     In  18S(>  these  vines  produced  about 
iifty  tons  of  fruit. 

In  addition  to  these  he  has  about  600  apple  trees,  among  which 
about  twenty  varieties  of  aj^ples  are  represented.  Pie  also  has  about 
fifteen  different  varieties  of  strawberries,  six  of  raspberries  and  three  of 
cherries.  He  is  experimenting  with  Gernum  prunes  and  several  other 
kinds  of  fruit  which  have  lieretofore  been  unknown  in  the  American 
vineyards. 

Among  the  novelties  to  be  found  in  his  vineyard  is  the  "Viola 
Crsfb,"  which  is  indebted  to  Mr.  Erne  for  its  name,  and  which  is  des- 
tined to  figure  prominently  among  the  fine  fruits  of  tlie  country.  The 
tree  from  which  the  grafts  were  taken  was  discovered  by  Mi-.  Erne  in 
the  timber  south  of  Viola,  and  seemed  to  be  a  cross  between  the  tame 
apple  and  wild  crab  apple.  The  fruit  resembles  the  Roman  stem  in 
shape  and  color,  and  Mr.  Erne  thinks  it  superior  to  any  fruit  of  the 
crab  genus  in  existence.  This  fruit  is  supposed  to  be  transcendent. 
Mr.  Erne  is  carefully  cultivating  this  novelty  and  thinks  his  labor  will 
be  rewarded  by  his  being  known  as  the  discovere]-  of  a  fine  species  of 
fruit. 

He  is  also  experimenting  with  seedling  grapes  and  the  result  of  his 
experiments  are  several  new  varieties  of  that  delicious  fruit,  u])on 
which  he  has  not  yet  conferred  names.  He  has  developed  an  extra 
fine  white,  and  a  fine  copper  colored  fruit,  and  also  a  kind  that  grows 
in  very  compact  clusters.  He  has  also  developed  a  seedling  peach  that 
ripens  early  in  July,  called  the  Early  Mercer. 

Mr.  Erne  deserves  great  credit  for  his  perseverance  and  untiring- 
diligence  in  developing  this  fruit  enterprise.  He  also  manufactures 
large  quantities  of  wine  of  an  excellent  quality. 

GREEN  BOWER  NURSERY. 

This  enterprise,  managed  by  James  Ferry,  is  situated  about  f  nir 
miles  southeast  of  Viola.  For  many  years  Mr.  Ferry  and  his  father 
have  devoted  a  great  deal  of  their  attention  to  fruit  growing,  and  in 
1869  James  opened  his  nursery.  It  is  handsomely  situated  and  the 
trees  and  shrubs  so  tastefully  arranged  as  to  present  a  pretty  view. 
The  land  on  which  it  is  located,  consisting  of  about  twenty-two  acres, 
is  rolling,  the  hills  sloping  to  the  south  and  east.  Mr.  Ferry  keeps  on 
hand  about  sixty  varieties  of  apple  trees,  and  a  dozen  of  ras})berries  ; 
in  blackberries  he  makes  a  specialty  of  the  "snyder"  and  "killinaf' 
in  grapes  of  the  "concord."  Of  strawberries  he  keeps  about  ten 
varieties.  Aside  from  these  are  found  all  kinds  of  ornamental  trees. 
The  nursery  is  well  ])rotected  on   all  sides  by  a  natural  grove  of  oak 


670  HISTORY    OF   MERCER    AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

trees.  It  is  also  well  drained,  and  with  these  natural  advantages, 
together  with  the  enterprise  and  excellent  judgment  of  the  proprie- 
tor, we  see  no  reason  why  it  should  not  be  a  long-lived  success. 

THE  stea:\i  mill. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1869,  an  elderly  gentleman,  of  suave  man- 
ner, appeared  on  the  streets  of  Yiola,  introducing  himself  to  some  of 
the  citizens  as  AYilliam  Cannon.  His  business  in  the  village  was  to 
ascertain  the  feeling  of  the  people  in  regard  to  having  a  steam  mill 
added  to  their  list  of  enterprises.  After  finding  the  sentiment  favorable 
to  his  project,  lie  very  modestly  stated  that  he  would  need  a  little 
pecuniary  aid  in  constructing  the  building,  and  proposed  that  in  case 
the  citizens  raised  him  $2,500,  to  proceed  at  once  with  the  work. 
Enough  kind-hearted  gentlemen  were  soon  found  to  make  up  the 
desired  amount,  and  as  security  they  were  given  a  lien  on  the  property. 
At  the  expiration  of  two  years,  the  time  when  the  money  was  to  have 
been  refunded,  the  double-barreled  firm  of  Cannon  &  Cannon  collapsed, 
and  the  wily  creditors  pounced  down  on  the  property.  After  gaining 
possession  of  the  same  they  were  informed  that  other  parties  held 
claims  on  the  mill  amounting  to  nearly  $5,000.  After  liquidating 
these  liens  the  property  was  sold  to  L,  S.  Hunter,  the  present  proprie- 
tor, for  $1,800.  Just  how  much  these  philanthropic  gentlemen  realized 
fi'om  the  speculation,  except  that  they  had  been  swindled,  is  not 
known. 

WAR  RECORD. 

In  sending  out  troops  to  aid  in  the  suppression  of  the  rebellion, 
(xreene  was  not  behind  her  sister  townships.  She  furnished  troops  for 
the  8th  Kansas,  17th  Illinois,  30th  Illinois,  -1:5th  Illinois,  65th  Illinois, 
83d  Illinois,  84th  Illinois,  27th  Illinois,  102d  Illinois,  124th  Illinois, 
140th  Illinois  and  53d  Illinois,  and  12tli  111.  Cavalry.  Upon  the  alter 
of  her  country  she  laid  her  sacrifice.  Some  of  her  brave  sons  who  had 
gone  out  full  of  life  and  health,  had  returned,  sick  and  emaciated  from 
the  effects  of  hardships  and  exposure,  to  their  old  homes  to  die  with 
their  loved  ones  about  them,  while  the  graves  of  others  are  scattered 
over  the  soil  of  Tennessee,  of  the  Carolinas,  of  Georgia,  on  the  banks  of 
the  Mississippi,  and  on  the  shore  of  the  moaning  sea.  The  tales  of 
their  deeds  of  heroism  have  been  "■enshrined  in  song  ;"  a  stately  shaft 
of  marble  has  been  erected  to  their  memoi-y,  and  their  epitaphs  are 
written  on  the  hearts  of  the  American  people. 


GKEENK    TOWNSHIP..  671 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Among  the  many  prominent  men  of  which  Mercer  county  can 
boast,  none  are  more  deserving  of  the  respect  of  her  citizens  than  Dr. 
Jesse  V.  Fr.vzier.  Dr.  Frazier  is  a  son  of  John  and  Nancy  (Veach) 
Frazier,  and  was  born  in  Hubbard.  Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  February 
15,  1824.  Jesse  remained  on  the  farm  with  his  father  until  eighteen 
years  of  age,  when  he  went  to  Youngstown,  Ohio,  and  began  a  course 
of  study  in  the  academy,  and  with  the  exception  of  two  winters,  during 
which  he  taught  school,  continued  his  studies  three  years.  In  the 
spring  of  1845  he  began  the  study  of  medicine  in  the  office  of  Dr. 
B.  F.  Richardson,  who  has  since  been  made  a  professor  in  one  of  the 
medical  colleges  in  Cincinnati.  He  studied  in  the  office  of  that  gen- 
tleman until  the  spring  of  1847,  when  he  and  his  father  started  for 
Illinois.  Taking  passage  on  a  boat  at  Pittsburgh  they  went  down  the 
Ohio  to  Cairo,  thence  up  the  Mississippi  as  far  as  Keokuk,  where  they 
found  the  river  clogged  with  ice  to  such  an  extent  as  to  stop  further 
progress  of  the  boat.  Walking  across  on  the  ice  to  the  Iowa  side,  they 
walked  to  Burlington,  where  they  hired  a  man  to  row  them  across  the 
channel  to  where  the  ice  was  sufficiently  solid  to  permit  them  to  walk 
ashore.  This,  although  a  very  perilous  operation,  was  accomplished 
without  accident.  Having  made  their  way  to  the  Illinois  side,  they 
started  toward  their  destination  on  foot,  and  arrived  at  Viola  on  the 
second  of  March.  They  bought  a  farm  one  and  a  half  miles  from  that 
village,  and  while  the  father  returned  to  Ohio  for  the  family,  Jesse 
attended  to  putting  in  their  crops.  Shortly  after  the  arrival  of  the 
family  he  went  to  Rock  Island  and  resumed  his  medical  studies  in  the 
office  of  Dr.  Winslow  S.  Peirce,  now  of  Indianapolis.  In  the  fall  of 
1847  he  attended  lectures  at  McDowel's  medical  college  in  St.  Lojns. 
In  the  latter  part  of  1848  he  began  practising  in  Millersburg,  and  in 
February,  1849,  received  a  diploma  from  the  Rock  Island  medical  col- 
lege. During  his  studies  in  these  two  cities  he  distinguished  himself 
as  a  student  of  more  than  ordinary  talent,  and  in  his  final  examination 
acquitted  himself  with  the  highest  honors,  and  received  the  most  flat- 
tering encomiums  from  his  fellow  students  and  professors.  In  Septem- 
ber he  was  stricken  with  a  fever  which  defied  the  contents  of  an 
apothecary  store  as  well  as  the  skill  of  any  human  physician,  and  for 
which  there  was  no  antidote  nearer  tlian  the  gold  m!ne.s  of  California. 
He  accordingly  prescribed  for  himself  a  trip  to  that  country.  In  com- 
pany with  his  friend  Dr.  Peirce  he  took  a  boat  to  Xew  Orleans,  and 
there  took  passage  in  a  steamer  bound  for  Panama.  Shortly  after 
landing  in  Gorgonia,  he  in  company  with  several  others  stepped  into  a 
restaurant  for  dinner.      Having  partaken  of  the  bountiful  repast,  he 


fi7:2  HISTORY    OF    MERCER    AXD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

put  liis  hand  in  his  pocket  and  made  the  startling  discovery  that  his 
money  was  gone.     His  jjochet  had  heen  picked.     His  feelings  may 
easily  be  imagined   on  iinding  himself  penniless  in  a  strange  land 
whose  inhabitants  spoke  a  language  unknown  to  him.     He  went  to 
the  American  consul,  located  in  that  city,  and  stated  his  ease  and  pro- 
duced his  diploma.     Having  con^^nced  that  official  of  the  truthfulness 
of  his  story,  he  received  the  promise  of  a  commission  as  surgeon  on  the 
first  vessel  that  would  depart  for  San  Francisco.     The  first  vessel  to 
come  in  was  the  "Sea  Queen,"  a  British  vessel  from  Dundee,  Scotland, 
laden  with  coal.     After  being  unloaded  this  vessel  was  cleaned  up, 
bunks  and  berths  put  in  and  made  ready  for  carrying  passengers.    This 
completed  she  soon  hove  anchor  and  departed  for  San  Francisco,  in 
which  port  she  landed  on  the  evening  of  January  9,  1850.    On  his  arrival 
here  he  was  prostrated  by  a  fever  contracted  during  his  stay  in  Panama. 
After  remaining  a  sliort  time  he  managed,  with  the  assistance  of  a 
friend,  to  get  to  Marysville,  where  they  lived  in  a  tent  until  his  recov- 
ery, when  they  went  to  a  mining  camp  known  as  Rough  and  Ready,  in 
Nevada  county,  and  began  work  in  the  mines.     The  Doctor  remained 
here  until  September  when  he  sold  his  claims  and  bought  two  ox  teams 
with  which  he  engaged  in  hauling  supplies  from  Sacramento  to  the 
mines.     In   the   spring   of  1851    he   again   entered   the   mines,   and 
remained  until  January,  1852,  when  he  received  an  appointment  as 
first  clerk  in  the  state  comptroller's  office,  by  his  old  friend  Dr.  Peirce, 
who  liad  been  elected  to  that  position.     Ill  health  soon  compelled  him 
to  abandon  that  pursuit,  however,  and  he  resolved  to  try  his  fortune  in 
Los  Angelos,  where  he  embarked  in  the  live  stock  business,   which 
proved  to  have  been  a  very  lucrative  one,  and  in  whicli  he  exhibited 
great  financial   shrewdness.      He   continued   dealing   in    stock   until 
January,  1853,  by  which  time  he  had  accumulated  about  $10,000,  and 
had  resolved  to  return  to  Illinois.     A  treacherous  partner,  however, 
vetoed  that  decision  by  absconding  with  all  but  about  $500  of  the 
doctor's  money,    and  that  was   consumed  in  paying   detectives   and 
vainly  searching  for  the  miscreant.     Undaunted  by  this  terrible  mis- 
fijrtune,  he  went  to  Sonora  and  again  entered  the  mines.     In  1856  the 
doctor  was  chosen  by  the  republican  element  of  the  county  as  a  candi- 
date for  the  legislature,  and  although  that  party  was  in  its  infancy,  and 
so  decidedly  in  the  minority  as  to  render  his  election  hopeless,  he 
entered  the  contest  with  the  same  vim  and  enthusiasm  that  has  ever 
characterized  his  actions.     He  "stumped"  the  entii-e  district  and  came 
within  eighty  votes  of  being  elected.     May  1,  1857,  he  sailed  for  Xew 
"^""ork  and  arrived  in   that  city  about  tlie  last  of  the  month.     After 
spending  several  months  visiting  the  princijial  cities  of  the  east,  he 


GKEKNE    TOWNSHIP.  673 

returned  to  the  sucker  state,  wliicli  has  since  been  his  home.  The 
doctor  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  scientific  and  historical  associa- 
tion of  Mercer  county,  of  which  organization  he  was  the  first  president, 
also  a  member  of  the  state  medical  association.  He  was  married  in 
1859  to  Miss  Salina  P.  Cowden,  whose  father  was  one  of  tlie  pioneer 
settlers  of  the  county.  He  is  the  father  of  five  children,  four  of  whom 
are  living:  Kate  M.,  born  August  10,  1868;  Cluirles  Edward,  born 
August  13,  1866;  Pearl,  born  September  3,  1870  (died  October  12, 
1870);  and  Lena,  born  September  30,  1873.  The  Doctor  located  in 
Viola  in  March,  1861,  and  since  that  time  has  devoted  his  entire  atten- 
tion to  his  professional  duties.  Although  a  politician  of  great  foresight 
and  sagacity,  he  has  never  been  an  office  seeker,  and  contrary  to  the 
wishes  of  his  many  friends,  he  has  furthered  the  political  interests  ot 
others  rather  than  those  of  his  own. 

Hugh  B,  Frazier,  son  of  John  and  !Nancy  (Yeach)  Frazier,  was 
born  in  Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  in  1835.  In  1847  the  family  removed 
to  Mercer  county,  where  Hugh  assisted  his  father  on  the  farm  in  the 
summer  and  attended  a  district  school  in  the  winter,  until  1854,  when 
he  went  to  Rock  Island  and  attended  school  during  the  years  of 
1854-5;  In  the  fall  of  1826  he  went  to  Detroit,  Michigan,  and  attended 
school  four  months  at  Gregorie's  commercial  college,  fi'om  which  insti- 
tution he  graduated.  In  1858  he  went  to  Kansas  and  bought  land 
near  Olathee,  intending  to  devote  his  attention  to  farming,  but  becom- 
ing dissatisfied  with  the  monotony  of  farm  life  he  returned  to  Illinois, 
where  he  remained  until  August,  1862,  when  he  enlisted  as  a  private 
in  Co.  D,  83  111.  Inf.,  and  was  with  that  regiment  during  all  its  weary 
marches,  all  its  hardships  in  camp  and  on  the  battle-field.  He  was 
soon  promoted  to  the  position  of  sergeant,  then  to  1st  sergeant,  finally 
to  2d  lieutenant,  and  acted  in  that  capacity  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  relates  an  incident  that  occurred  near  Bowling  Green,  Kentucky, 
which,  like  many  other  occurrences  of  a  like  nature,  is  not  found  in  gen- 
eral histories.  He  in  company  with  his  father-in-law,  Lieut.  Robb, 
and  five  other  soldiers,  were  detailed  to  guard  a  train  on  the  Louisville 
&  Memphis  railroad  en  route  for  Bowling  Green.  The  train  was  thun- 
dering along  at  the  rate  of  twenty  miles  an  hour,  when  it  suddenly  left 
the  track  and  plunged  into  a  steep  embankment,  and  almost  simulta- 
neously with  the  crash  came  a  volley  of  musketry  from  the  hill  above, 
accompanied  by  oaths  and  a  demand  for  all  ''on  board  to  surrender." 
Two  of  the  union  soldiers  were  shot  dead  the  first  volley,  but  the 
remaining  five  seizing  their  arms  returned  the  fire,  killing  four  rebels, 
one  of  whom  was  the  captain,  after  which  the  guerillas,  for  such  they 
were,  beat  a  hasty  retreat.      A  telegrapji  wire  was  cut  and  an  engine 


t)74  HISTOKY    OF    -\rEKCKR   AND   HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

telep;niplicd  for  wliicl;  arnvcd  -within  r.n  hour  and  the  train  proceeded 
on  its  way.  Lieut.  Robb  afterward  received  a  verv  compHmentary 
letter  from  Gen.  Rosseau,  congratulating  him  and  his  brave  little  band 
that  saved  the  train.  In  June,  1865,  the  regiment  was  mustered  out 
at  Nashville,  Tennessee,  and  returned  to  Chicago,  where  after  receiving 
their  pay  they  disbanded.  In  October  of  the  same  year  Mr.  Frazier, 
in  company  with  his  brother-in-law,  Y.  R.  Harriott,  embarked  in  the 
dry  goods  and  grocery  business  in  Yiola.  Since  that  time  Mr.  Frazier 
has  been  one  of  the  most  active  business  men  in  the  county  and  has 
exhibited  excellent  business  qualifications  and  great  financial  skill  in  all 
his  undertakings.  Mr.  Frazier  was  married  on  July  4,  1864,  to  Miss 
Mary  Robb,  a  daughter  of  Lieut.  Robb,  and  is  father  of  six  children  : 
John,  Fred,  Ada  11. ,  Xannie  A.,  Edwin  It.,  and  Sadie  R.  Mr.  Frazier 
is  a  member  of  Masonic  Lodge,  No.  577,  with  which  he  united  August 
24,  1871,  and  is  worshipful  master  of  that  lodge,  also  a  member  of 
Horeb  Chapter,  No.  4,  at  Rio,  and  Everts  Commandery,  No.  18,  at 
Rock  Island.  Mr.  Frazier  started  out  in  the  world  with  nothing  in  the 
way  of  wealth,  but  possessing  an  ambitious  disposition,  he  has  accumu- 
lated a  large  competence,  besides  winning  for  himself  the  reputation 
of  being  a  successful  business  man. 

William  P.,  son  of  John  and  Eleanor  Collins,  was  born  in  the 
town  of  East  Liverpool,  Columbiana  county,  Ohio,  in  1828.  John 
Collins  was  a  merchant  in  that  village,  and  continued  business  until 
the  spring  of  1837,  when  he  came  west  to  Illinois.  With  his  family 
and  personal  effects  loaded  on  a  flat  boat,  without  sail  or  rudder,  he 
floated  down  the  Ohio  river  as  far  as  Cincinnati.  A  buggy  box,  which 
was  fastened  on  the  roof  of  the  craft,  and  the  wheels,  suspended  from 
the  sides  by  ropes,  attracted  attention  on  the  voyage,  and  in  passing 
steamboats  was  the  subject  of  frequent  jests.  They  were  often  asked 
if  they  intended,  in  case  the  river  went  dry,  to  proceed  on  wheels.  At 
Cincinnati  the  clumsy  vessel  was  exchanged  for  two  barrels  of  flour, 
and  the  family  took  passage  on  a  steamboat,  and  arrived  at  New  Bos- 
ton, without  having  encountered  any  mishaps  worthy  of  note,  in  May, 
1837.  On  landing,  a  gang  of  red  men,  loaded  with  fish  and  trinkets, 
came  on  board  the  boat  for  the  purpose  of  trading  with  the  whites. 
This  circumstance  reminded  them  that  they  were  in  a  wild  country. 
As  the  trials  and  hardships  of  the  early  settlers  during  the  pioneer 
period  will  be  portrayed  in  the  general  history,  we  will  pass  over  that 
])art  of  Mr.  Collins"'  life,  and  speak  of  his  career  since  he  arrived  at  the 
years  of  manhood.  Mv.  Collins  was  married  in  1857  to  Miss  Mary 
R.  Bradford,  and  is  the  father  of  ten  children,  nine  of  whom  are  living: 
Ella  M.,  Clara  A.  (deceased),  Lottie  E.,  William  R.,  John  B.,  Efiie  J., 


UREENE    TOWNSHIl'.  075 

Samuel  E.,  Charles  TI.,  M:n-y  E.,  Mattie  Bell.  Me  is  a  prominent 
member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  chiircli,  witli  wliich  he  united 
several  yeuva  previous  to  the  organization  of  the  Viola  congregation. 
By  hard  labor  and  skillful  iinanciering,  Mr.  Collins  has  acquired  a 
large  ])roperty.  He  has  excellent  advantages  for  stock  raising,  and 
turns  his  attention  mostly  to  that  business.  Having  come  west  when 
Illinois  was  almost  a  wilderness,  he  has  lived  to  see  cities  and  villages 
take  the  place  of  the  log  cabin  and  the  Indian  wigwam.  Where  he 
once  saw  the  bounding  deer,  and  listened  to  the  wolf's  long  howl,  are 
heard  the  shriek  of  the  locomotive  and  the  chiming  of  church  bells. 
His  father  and  mother  now  lie  in  the  cemetery,  north  of  Viola,  and 
their  quiet  resting  place  is  marked  by  a  granite  shaft.  Hand  in  hand 
they  walked  down  the  journey  of  life,  sharing  its  sorrows  and  its  joys, 
and  after  a  long  career  of  usefulness  Mr.  Collins  grew  weary  and  laid 
down  his  burden  by  the  wayside.  Mrs.  Collins  remained  on  earth  but 
a  few  years  after,  and  they  now  lie  side  by  side  in  death,  leaving  as  a 
legacy  to  their  descendants  a  noble  example,  which,  if  followed,  will 
win  for  them  the  respect  of  the  entire  community  in  which  they  live. 

Moses  K.  Flory,  wagon  manufacturer,  son  of  Jonas  and  Catharine 
Flory,  was  born  in  Harrison  county,  Ohio,  March  1,  1832.  In  1839, 
the  family  removed  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  and  located  in  what  is 
now  North  Henderson  township.  For  a  few  years  after  locating  here 
his  father  ran  a  saw-mill,  located  on  Pope  creek.  While  operating 
this  mill,  he  did  work  for  the  settlers  for  many  miles  around,  his  being 
the  only  mill  from  the  eastern  part  of  the  county  to  the  Mississipjji. 
Moses  received  his  education  in  an  old  log  school-house  that  stood 
about  a  mile  south  of  the  residence  of  James  Bridger.  This  building 
was  one  of  those  traditional  structures,  with  a  puncheon  floor,  clapboard 
roof,  and  hewn  seats.  In  ISI-l  Moses,  then  a  mere  lad,  went  to 
Galena,  Illinois,  and  worked  a  season  in  the  lead  mines.  In  1848  he 
went  to  Ohio,  and  worked  two  years  at  carpentering,  near  Toledo. 
Returning  in  1850,  he  began  working  his  sister's  farm,  which  he  con- 
tinued three  years.  In  1854  he  again  resumed  car])enter  work  in 
company  with  John  Longle}^,  of  Rivoli  township.  In  August,  1861, 
Mr.  Flory  enlisted  in  Co.  A,  30th  111.  Inf.,  and  was  with  that  regiment 
in  the  battles  of  Belmont,  Fort  Henry,  Donelson,  Raymond,  Jackson 
(Mississippi),  Fort  Gibson  and  (Champion  Hill.  He  was  taken  prisoner 
at  Fort  Donelson,  February  15,  1862,  and  was  taken  to  Memphis, 
where  he  was  kept  twenty-eight  days,  tlience  to  Tuscaloosa,  where 
he  remained  three  months,  after  which  he  was  removed  to  Macon, 
Georgia,  where  he  was  kept  four  months,  and  was  then  taken  to  Rich- 
mond, where  he  was  paroled  October  19,  1862,  and  sent  to  Washing- 


676  HISTORY    OF    :SIERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

ton,  thence  to  Sijringfield,  Illinois,  and  from  there  to  Benton  barracks, 
St.  Louis,  whence  he  was  sent  to  rejoin  his  regiment,  at  Memphis. 
During  a  part  of  his  imprisonment,  he  was  under  the  care  of  the  notori- 
ous Captain  Wirtz,  whose  name  will  go  down  as  the  archhend  of 
American  history.  After  doing  duty  at  Eock  Island  eight  months,  he 
was  discharged,  and  again  returned  to  his  old  home,  having  faithfully 
and  bravely  discharged  the  duty  to  wliich  his  country  called  him.  In 
1866  Mr.  Flory  located  in  Viola,  where  he  built  a  wagon  shop. 
Being  naturally  endowed  with  an  inventive  genius,  lie  invented  a 
revolving  hay  rake,  upon  which  he  received  a  patent  in  1872.  He 
began  manufacturing  for  the  wholesale  trade  in  that  year,  and  has  no 
trouble  in  selling  all  he  has  the  capacity  to  make.  Mr.  Flory  is  a 
prominent  member  of  the  A.F.A.M.  lodge,  No.  577,  at  Viola. 

Joseph  A.  Goding,  son  of  Amos  and  Lucinda  Goding,  was  born 
near  Farmington,  Franklin  county,  Maine,  February  2,  1848.  He 
received  his  education  in  the  public  and.  state  normal  school  at  Farm- 
ington, graduating  from  the  latter  institution  June  4.  1868.  In  October, 
1869,  be  came  to  Chicago,  and  taught  school  six  months  near  Dunton, 
in  Cook  county.  In  the  summer  of  1870  he  came  to  Mercer  county, 
and  began  teaching  in  the  "Brickyard"  school-house  in  New  Boston 
township.  He  was  married  May  14,  1872,  to  Miss  Sarah  E.  Noble, 
daughter  of  E.  J.  Noble,  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  New  Boston 
township.  After  his  marriage  he  returned  to  his  native  state,  and 
farmed  two  seasons  on  the  old  homestead,  teaching  in  the  winter.  In 
1874  he  again  returned  to  Mercer  county,  and  was  employed  as  princi- 
pal of  the  Millersburg  public  schools.  He  taught  two  years  and  three 
months  in  that  village  and  then  came  to  Viola,  having  been  made 
principal  of  the  schools  in  that  village.  After  teaching  two  years  he 
bought  an  interest  in  the  dry  goods  lirm  of  H.  B.  Frazier  &  Co.,  and 
has  been  engaged  in  that  business  until  the  present  time.  The  names 
of  Mr.  Goding's  children  in  the  order  of  their  ages  are  as  follows : 
Lena,  Clara,  Bertha,  Delia,  and  Maurice  R.  He  is  a  prominent  mem- 
ber of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  with  which  he  united  in  the 
fall  of  1876. 

Van  R.  Harriott  was  born  in  Mercer 'county,  Pennsylvania,  in 
1831.  When  he  was  ten  years  of  age  the  family  removed  to  Laporte 
county,  Indiana,  where  they  remained  until  1846.  In  that  year  they 
removed  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  and  located  near  Norwood.  Van 
worked  on  a  farm  in  Greene  townshi])  two  seasons  and  then  went  to 
breaking  prairie  with  an  ox  team,  which  he  continued  for  several 
seasons.  In  the  spring  of  185H  Mr.  Harriott,  in  company  with  a 
number  of  acquaintances,  started  across  the  plains  with  an  ox  team, 


GREENE    TOWNSHIl'.  077 

and  arrived  at  Pike's  Peak  in  July,  after  a  long,  tedious  journey.  Soon 
after  arriving  there  a  «ompany  was  formed,  of  which  Mr.  Harriott  was 
a  member,  and  the  party  began  work  in  the  mines.  Not  being  fortu- 
nate in  locating  their  claims,  a  part  of  the  company  retui-ned  to  Illinois 
in  September.  In  ISfii  Mr.  Harriott  enlisted  in  the  140th  reg.  111. 
Vol.  Inf.,  which  regiment  enlisted  for  a  hundred  days.  From  Dixon 
they  were  sent  to  Springtield ;  thence  to  Memphis,  where  they  did 
guard  duty  on  the  Memphis  &  Charleston  railroad  for  about  three 
months.  At  tiie  expiration  of  that  time  the  regiment  came  to  Chicago, 
and  from  there  were  sent  to  Missouri,  where  they  remained  two  weeks, 
after  which  they  returned  to  Chicago  and  were  mustered  out.  Mr. 
Harriott  was  married  in  1852  to  ]\Iiss  Mary  Iv.  Frazier,  a  native  of 
Trumbull  county,  Ohio.  The  fruits  of  the  union  are  four  children: 
Jesse  C.  (now  of  Sherman  county,  Nebraska),  Lillian  A.  (wife  of 
Frank  E.  Kitzmiller),  Salina  M.,  and  Arthur  V.  Mr.  Harriott  united 
with  the  Congregationalist  church  in  1877,  and  is  also  a  Mason,  having 
been  initiated  into  its  mysteries  in  1865,  and  has  twice  been  master  of 
the  Yiola  lodge.  In  1865  Mr.  Harriott  embarked  in  the  dry  goods  and 
grocery  business  in  Viola,  in  company  witli  his  brother-in-law,  H.  B. 
Frazier.  In  1869  the  firm  dissolved,  and  Mr.  Harriott  entered  the 
hardware  and  grocery  business  in  the  brick  liotel  building.  In  1871 
Mr.  Harriott  closed  out  his  business  and  engaged  in  farming  on  land 
half  a  mile  south  of  the  village,  which  he  had  bought  in  1868.  During 
the  years  that  followed  he  was  engaged  in  various  pursuits  until  the 
fall  of  1880,  when  he  again  embarked  in  the  dry  goods  and  grocery 
business  in  company  with  M.  K.  Flory.  He  is  now  in  the  grocery 
business  in  company  with  John  Ashenhurst,  and  the  firm  is  doing  a 
lucrative  business.  Mr.  Harriott  is  the  present  postmaster  at  Viola, 
and  discharges  his  duties  in  that  capacity  to  the  entire  satisfaction  of 
the  people. 

Francis  A.,  son  of  Henry  and  Sarah  Hoagland,  was  born  in  New 
Bedford,  Pennsylvania,  April  5,  1838,  In  1846  the  family  emigrated 
to  Mercer  county  and  located  in  Greene  township.  His  lather  was  the 
first  justice  of  the  peace  in  the  township,  and,  with  the  exception  of  a 
few  months,  held  the  position  until  the  time  of  his  death,  which 
occurred  in  1880.  Frank  remained  at  home  with  his  parents  until 
September,  1861,  when  he  enlisted  in  Co.  G,  30tli  111.  Inf.  He  was 
with  that  regiment  during  the  battles  of  Belmont,  Brittian's  Lane,  Fort 
Henry,  Fort  Donelson,  Corinth,  Grand  Gulf,  Champion  Hill,  Ray- 
mond, siege  of  Vicksburg,  and  in  the  Atlanta  campaign.  He  states 
that  during  the  siege  of  that  city  the  picket  lines  were  only  about  forty 
yards  apart,  and  the  boys  in  blue  and  those  in  gray  exchanged  remarks 


678  HISTORY   OF    MERCEK    A^^D    HENDERSON    COUNTIES, 

as  tkniiliarlj  as  though  thej  had  been  neighbors  and  friends  instead  of 
foes.  He  also  participated  in  the  battle  of  Jonesboro  and  many 
other  severe  skirmishes.  He  was  discharged  at  Springtield,  Illinois, 
in  August,  1685,  after  which  he  returned  home  and  resumed  his  labors 
on  the  farm.  For  many  years  after  he  was  engaged  in  breaking  prairie. 
He  was  married  September  21,  ISSl,  to  Miss  Jane  A.  Storey,  and 
now  resides  on  a  farm  he  recently  purchased  in  section  23  in  Greene 
township. 

John  W.  ]\IcCRKi.onT,  son  of  Matthew  and  Elizabeth  McCi-eight, 
was  born  in  Adams  county,  Ohio,  December  29,  3  828.  In  1851  Mr. 
McCreight  came  to  Mercer  county  and  located  at  Sunbeam.  In  1851: 
he  purchased  land  in  Section  31,  Greene  township.  In  February  of 
that  year  he  was  married  to  Miss  Eebecca  E.  Xevius,  daughter  of 
William  I.  Nevius,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  Mercer  county.  It  is  sup- 
posed by  the  early  settlers  that  Mrs.  McCreight  was  the  first  white 
female  child  born  in  the  county.  The  names  of  the  children  born 
to  the  couple  are:  Joel  S.,  Walter  E.,  William  S.,  Henry  A.,  Effie  L. 
(deceased  in  her  infancy),  Lora  N.,  and  Louisa  B.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
McCreio'ht  are  members  of  the  United  Fresbvterian  church,  having 
united  with  that  organization  early  in  life. 

Robert  Guthrie,  son  of  Andrew  and  Susan  Guthrie,  was  born  in 
Dumbartonshire,  Scotland,  August  16,  1814.  In  1849  the  family  emi- 
grated to  Canada,  where  they  remained  until  the  fall  of  1864,  when 
they  removed  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  and  settled  in  the  soutliern 
part  of  Preemption  township.  He  was  married  March  1,  1870,  to 
Miss  Isabella  Stewart,  a  native  of  Scotland.  The  names  of  their 
children,  in  the  order  of  their  ages,  are  as  follows :  Jennie  S.  (deceased), 
Susie  A.,  Minnie  B.  (deceased),  Andrew  W.,  and  Charles  S.  Mr. 
Guthrie  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church, 
with  which  he  united  in  1869  at  Yiola.  He  owns  a  fine  tarm  of  350 
acres  in  sections  4  and  5  in  Greene  townsliip. 

Robert  M.  Pinkerton,  son  of  Joseph  and  Violet  (Scott)  Pinkerton, 
was  born  in  Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  in  1841.  In  1850  the  family  re- 
moved to  Mercer  county,  and  located  on  section  6  in  Greene  township. 
In  1859  Robert  was  afllicted  with  a  severe  attack  of  the  gold  fever, 
and  consequently  started  for  Colorado  territory,  with  an  ox  team ;  the 
party,  consisting  of  several  wagons  and  men,  arrived  at  the  foot  of  the 
Rockv  mountains  after  a  long,  tedious  iournev  of  sixtv-three  davs. 
Mr.  Pinkerton  first  entered  the  Gregory  mines,  forty-four  miles  west  of 
Denver,  and  joined  in  the  great  struggle  for  wealth.  He  remained  in 
the  mountains  until  the  fall  of  1862.  During  his  stay  there  he  traveled 
over  the  ground  where  Leadville  now  stands,  little  dreaming  of  the 


GREEJO':    TOWNSHIP.  «)79 

fabulous  wealth  hidden  under  his  feet.  On  returning  home  he  turned 
his  attention  to  farming-  and  coal  mining  on  his  father's  farm,  which  he 
continued  until  1S63,  when  he  bought  a  farm  in  section  5  and  began 
business  for  himself.  Mr.  Pinkerton  was  married  in  1S<!3  to  Miss 
Caroline  J.  Breckinridge,  and  is  now  father  of  six  children  :  Archie  M., 
Cecil,  Guy,  Robert  C,  Allie  V.,  and  Maggie  Z.  In  1877  he  removed 
to  Yiola,  and  embarked  in  the  grain  and  lumber  business.  Since  that 
time  his  brother  William  joined  him  in  business,  and  the  iirm  pur- 
chased the  elevator  formerly  owned  by  E.  J.  Morgan.  Mr.  Pinkerton 
is  a  member  of  the  I.O.O.F.,  lodge  No.  33B,  at  Aledo,  with  which  he 
recently  united,  and  also  a  prominent  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church,  to  which  he  has  belonged  since  lS6(i.  April  4,  1882,  he 
was  elected  supervisor  of  the  township,  and  being  a  man  of  excellent 
judgment  will  make  an  efficient  officer. 

Matthkw  B.  Kennedy,  butcher,  son  of  John  and  Margaret  Ken- 
nedy, was  born  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania,  March  11,  1839. 
When  ten  years  of  age,  the  family  emigrated  to  Moi'gan  county,  Ohio, 
where  they  resided  until  the  spring  of  1850,  when  they  removed  to 
Mercer  county,  Illinois,  and  bought  laud  in  sections  19  and  20  in 
G-reene  township.  In  185T  the  father  died,  leaving  a  family  of  four 
children,  Brice  being  the  eldest.  The  old  gentleman  was  the  lirst  to  be 
buried  in  the  Viola  cemetery.  Brice  remained  at  home  with  the 
family  until  May  3,  1861,  when  he  enlisted  in  Co.  F,  17th  reg.  111.  Vol. 
Inf ,  and  was  with  that  regiment  at  Fort  Donelson.  Shortly  after  this 
battle  he  was  taken  sick,  and  was  sent  to  Cairo,  Illinois,  where  he  was 
detailed  at  the  soldiers'  home  for  a  time,  and  then  made  provost-guard. 
He  remained  here  about  five  months,  when  he  again  joined  his  regi- 
ment, then  at  Lake  Providence,  Louisiana.  He  went  with  the  regi- 
ment to  Vicksburg,  and  was  again  taken  ill  and  sent  to  Memphis, 
where  he  remained  about  two  weeks,  when  he  and  a  friend  stole  away, 
got  aboard  of  a  boat  and  again  joined  the  regiment.  He  was  dis- 
charged November  3,  1863,  and  returned  home  and  resumed  his  labors 
on  the  farm.  He  contracted  heart-disease  while  in  the  service  of  his 
country,  from  which  he  has  not  yet  recovered.  Mr.  Kennedy  was 
married  in  1866  to  Miss  Bell  J.  Carnahan,  a  native  of  Lawrence 
countv,  Pennsylvania,  and  is  the  father  of  six  children,  whose  names, 
in  the  order  of  their  ages,  are  as  follows:  Nannie  A.,  Maggie  L., 
David  C,  George  M.,  John  C,  and  Ralph  W,  He  is  a  member  of 
the  United  Presbyterian  church,  with  which  he  united  in  1859. 

Frank  E.  Kitzmiller  was  born  in  Mansfield,  Ohio,  July  19.  1848. 
When  he  was  five  years  of  age  the  family  emigrated  to  Williams 
county,  Ohio.     Frank  remained  home  with  his  parents  until  February 


680  HISTORY    or    MERCER    AXD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

22,  1S63,  wlien  he  enlisted  in  Co.  B,  38th  Ohio  Vol.  Inf.,  and  was 
with  that  regiment  in  the  battles  of  Mission  Kidge,  Jonesboro,  and 
Raleigh,  also  the  Atlanta  and  Carolina  campaigns,  and  the  siege  of 
Savannah.  Mr.  Kitzmiller  came  to  Illinois  in  1867,  and  located  in 
Morris,  where  he  remained  until  the  spring  of  1869,  when  he  came  to 
Yiola  and  opened  a  paint  shop.  He  remained  in  the  painting  business 
until  1879,  when  he  was  employed  as  clerk  for  the  firm  of  II.  B.  Fra- 
zier  *Sz  Co.,  in  Yiola.  He  was  married  June  7,  1870,  to  Miss  Lillian 
Harriott,  daughter  of  Y.  R.  Harriott,  of  Yiola.  The  names  of  his 
children,  in  the  order  of  their  ages,  are  as  follows :  Leland  Y.  (deceased), 
Ray,  Bert,  and  Harry.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church 
with  wliicli  he  united  in  1870.  Also  a  member  of  I.O.O.F.,  lodge 
No.  236,  at  Aledo. 

Edwin  T.  Crosby,  son  of  Carlos  and  Emil}^  Crosby,  was  born  in 
Peoria,  Illinois,  October  21,  181-7.  When  Edwin  was  two  years  of  age 
the  family  removed  to  Pekin,  Illinois,  where  his  father  was  engaged  in 
the  drug  and  jewelry  business  until  1856,  when  he  removed  to  Yiola, 
and,  in  company  with  his  brother,  Delos,  embarked  in  the  dry  goods 
and  grocery  business.  The  iirm  of  Crosby  Brothers  was  one  of  the 
iirst  in  the  village.  When  Edwin  was  seventeen  years  of  age  his 
father  died,  and  he  was  thrown  upon  his  own  resources  to  make  his 
way  in  the  world.  He  began  clerking,  and  worked  for  different  parties 
in  that  capacity  until  1870,  when  he,  in  company  with  Martin  Phares, 
now  of  Galesburg,  embarked  in  the  grocery  business.  He  was  made 
postmaster  in  that  year  and  held  the  office  until  1875.  His  business 
career  has  been  one  of  success  and  prosperity.  Although  compelled 
to  contend  with  man}-  disadvantages,  he  has  gradually  worked  to  the 
top,  and  through  his  tinancial  shrewdness  and  energy  has  placed  him- 
self among  the  foremost  business  men  of  the  county. 

Thoalvs  Leary,  farmer,  son  of  Dennis  and  Mary  (Downey)  Leary, 
was  born  iii  county  Cork,  Ireland,  in  1822.  AYlien  twenty  years  of  age 
Thomas  emigrated  to  Canada  West,  where  he  remained  two  years,  after 
which  he  went  to  jS^ew  York.  After  remaining  one  year  in  that  state, 
during  which  time  he  worked  in  a  brick-yard  in  Buffalo,  he  removed 
to  Ohio,  where  he  assisted  in  laying  the  track  on  the  Sandusky  &  Mans- 
field railroad,  which  was  the  first  road  built  in  the  state.  In  August, 
1845,  he  turned  his  face  westward  and  arrived  in  Chicago  in  the  latter 
part  of  that  month.  At  that  time  the  city  was  but  a  struggling  village, 
and  little  did  he  dream  that  he  would  live  to  see  a  great  city  of  600,000 
inhabitants  rise  as  if  by  magic  on  the  ground  that  was  then  covered 
by  water,  rushes,  and  prairie  grass.  Mr.  Leary  worked  three  years  on 
the  Illinois  canal,  after  which  he  went  to  Indiana,  and  remained  about 


f/1AF^YC.(PEARCE)  B^OOK. 


GREENE    TOWiSTSHIP.  683 

ten  years.  In  the  fall  of  1856  he  came  to  Mercer  county,  and  bought 
land  in  section  12,  Greene  township.  Mr.  Leary  was  married  in  1848 
to  Miss  Mary  Dwyer,  a  native  of  Ireland,  who  died  in  1864.  The 
names  of  the  children,  in  the  order  of  their  ages,  are  as  follows  :  Mary 
A.,  Joseph  P.,  Daniel  (deceased),  Catharine,  Cornelius  (deceased), 
John,  Bridget,  and  Ellen.  He  and  his  family  are  members  of  the 
Koman  Catholic  church,  with  which  he  united  very  early  in  life.  Mr. 
Leary  is  one  of  the  leading  farmers  in  the  townsliip,  and  is  highly 
respected  by  the  entire  community.  He  furnishes  an  example  of 
energy,  resokitioii,  and  hard  labor ;  of  how  a  young  man  with  nothing 
but  a  pair  of  strong  hands  and  a  firm  will  may  carve  himself  a  heritage 
and  a  good  name. 

■  WiLLiAjvr  M.  PiNKERTox,  dealer  in  lumber  and  grain,  son  of  Joseph 
and  Yiolet  (Scott)  Pinkerton,  was  born  near  Warren,  Trumbull  county, 
Ohio,  in  1828.  AVhen  twenty  years  of  age  William  came  to  Mercer 
county.  In  the  winter  of  1848-9  he  made  his  home  with  Judge  Gil- 
more  and  taught  school  in  that  clistrict.  In  the  spring  of  1849  he 
bought  land  in  section  16,  in  Greene  township,  and  began  farming. 
He  was  present  at  the  organization  of  the  township  in  1854,  and 
remained  in  the  towTiship  until  1877,  when  he  removed  to  Mercer 
township  and  located  on  land  he  had  bought  in  1856.  Mr.  Pinkerton 
was  married  October  30,  1850,  to  Miss  Eliza  Carnahan.  The  Carna- 
han  family  have  been  in  the  United  States  since  1770,  when  the  grand- 
father of  Mrs.  Pinkerton  emigrated  to  the  "new  world"  and  located  in 
Adams  county,  Pennsylvania.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  the 
revolution.  Mrs.  Pinkerton's  father  was  born  February  2,  1792,  in 
Allegheney  county,  Pennsylvania.  The  names  of  Mr.  Pinkerton's 
children,  in  the  order  of  their  ages,  are  :  Willard  S.,  John  Ward 
(deceased),  James  and  Julian  (both  deceased),  Mary  L.  (deceased), 
Maria  M.,  Alice  M.,  Abraham  L.,  and  Jennie  V.  Willard  married  a 
daughter  of  Jeremiah  Boyer,  and  the  eldest  living  daughter,  Maria, 
married  John  Nefit",  now  a  resident  of  Bayard,  Iowa.  Mr.  Pinkerton  is 
a  member  of  the  Congregational  church,  with  which  he  united  in  1 875 
in  Aledo.  In  1862  Mr.  Pinkerton  enlisted  in  the  83d  111.  Inf.  and  was 
with  the  regiment  when  it  made  the  gallant  fight  in  defense  of  Fort 
Donelson.  The  last  eighteen  months  of  his  service  was  spent  in 
detached  service  in  a  corps  of  topographical  engineers  connected  with 
the  headquarters  of  Gen.  Thomas,  at  Nashville.  During  his  absence 
Mrs.  Pinkerton  took  charge  of  financial  affairs  at  home  and  conducted 
them  skillfully  and  successfully.  On  his  return  he  entered  more 
largely  into  stock  raising,  and  success  has  ever  attended  his  efibrts. 
He  has  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  Mercer  county  and  is  now  enjoying 
39 


684  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND   HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

the  fruits  of  his  toil.  In  November,  1881,  Mr.  Pinkerton  removed  to 
Viola,  where,  in  company  with  his  brother  Robert,  he  entered  the 
gi-ain  and  lumber  business,  having  purchased  the  elevator  owned  by 
other  parties,  and  the  firm  of  Pinkerton  Brothers  are  doing  an  exten- 
sive grain  and  lumber  business. 

Dr.  Ebknezer  L.  McKixxie,  physician,  was  the  son  of  Ebenezer 
and  Ruhamah  McKinnie,  and  was  born  in  the  village  of  Cadiz,  Harri- 
son county,  Ohio,  February  24,  1848.  The  family  resided  in  that 
county  until  1856,  when  they  emigrated  to  Ogle  county,  Illinois,  where 
they  remained  about  nine  months,  and  then  removed  to  Millersburg, 
Mercer  county,  where  they  resided  a  year  and  removed  to  Crawfords- 
ville,  Iowa.  Ebenezer  received  his  education  in  the  high  school  at  that 
place  and  immediately  after  completing  his  studies  he  began  teaching 
in  the  adjacent  country,  which  he  continued  until  1869,  when  he  came 
to  Yiola  and  began  a  course  of  medical  study  in  the  office  of  his  brother, 
Dr.  P.  L.  McKinnie,  now  of  Moliije.  In  1871  he  piu-chased  the  stock 
of  drugs  owned  by  Park  ^  McKinnie  and  embarked  in  that  business. 
In  1880  he  received  his  diploma  from  the  College  of  Physicians  and 
Surgeons,  at  Keokuk,  Iowa,  and  began  the  practice  of  medicine  at 
Viola,  where  he  has  since  had  a  very  lucrative  practice.  The  doctor 
was  married  in  (Jctober,  1870,  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Moore,  a  native  of 
Mahoning  county,  Ohio.  He  is  a  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian 
church,  having  united  with  that  society  at  Crawfordsville,  Iowa,  in  1865. 

Oliver  Ellis,  farmer,  son  of  Manoali  and  Deidema  Ellis  was  born 
in  Berkshire  county,  Massachusetts,  in  1808.  The  family  on  the 
father's  side  are  of  English  origin,  his  great  grandfather  having  emi- 
grated from  that  country  at  an  early  day  and  located  on  Cape  Cod.  He 
had  live  sons,  one  of  whom  was  the  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  who  spent  his  younger  days  on  the  sea.  When  Oliver  was  six 
years  of  age  his  fatlier  emigrated  to  Crawford  county,  Pennsylvania. 
Here  Oliver  resumed  his  education  in  a  log  school  house  two  miles 
distant  from  his  father's  cabin.  Mr.  Ellis  was  married  in  1830  to  Miss 
Mary  Hill,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  The  pair  had  four  children  born 
to  them,  namely  :  James,  Olive  (now  Mrs.  Wilson),  Calkins,  Phoebe 
(wife  of  Jerry  Mathews),  and  Amelia  (wife  of  George  Griffin),  who  re- 
cently died  from  injuries  sustained  in  mi  being  kicked  by  a  horse.  In  1 850 
Mr.  Ellis  emigrated  to  Illinois  and  bought  land  in  section  12  in  Greene 
township.  For  many  years  he  performed  his  labors  with  oxen.  By 
hard  labor  and  economy  he  has  accumulated  a  respectable  portion  of 
the  world's  goods  to  maintain  him  in  his  declining  years. 

Russell  Park,  larmer,  son  of  John  H.,  and  Elizabeth  (Gottshall) 
Park,   was  born  in  Northumberland  county,   Pennsylvania,   October 


GREENE    TOWNSHIP.  685 

23,  1881.     His  father  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  August  19,  1803.   He 
and  his  wife  were  both  members  of    tlie  old    school    Presbyterian 
church  and  their  remains  now  lie  in  the  cemetery  at  Farlow's  Grove. 
The  old  gentleman  was  at  one  time  a  merchant  in  Milton,  ISTorthum- 
berland  county,  Pennsylvania,  but  in  1839  decided  to  try  his  fate  on 
the  broad  prairies  of  the  west.      He  accordingly  loaded  his  earthly 
possessions  into  a  country  wagon  and  set  out  on  his  journey  toward 
the  setting  sun,  arriving  in  Mercer  county  in  August  of  that  year,  and 
bought  a  claim  near  Edwards  river  for  $150,  erected  a  cabin  thereon 
and  began  the  laborious  task  of  improving  his  farm.      By  the  aid  of 
his  sons  he  had  accumulated  and  was,  at  the  time  of  liis  death,  the 
owner  of  520  acres  of  land.      The  lirst  coal  known  in  the  county  was- 
discovered  on  his  farm,  in  1840,  and  in  1845  he  began  to  develop  a 
mine.     The  Farlow's  Grove  postoffice  was  removed  to  his  residence  in 
an  early  day,  and  he  was  the  first  postmaster  in  Greene  township,  which 
position  he  held  until  the  otfice  was  established  at  Viola.      Russell 
Park  when  twenty-one  years  of  age  purchased  eighty  acres  of  land  from 
his  father  in  the  S,  W.  ^  of  Sec.  3,   built  a  house,  and  was  married 
November  17,  1852,  to  Miss  Elizabeth,  daughter   of  Alexander   and 
Margaret  Henry.     They  are  parents  of  the  following  named  children  : 
James,   Russell,   Mary,   Elizabeth,   Maggie,  William  A.,  Joseph  D., 
Mary,  Emma,  Rachel,  William  Henry,  John  Alexander,  and  Julia  E. ; 
of  the  these  William  A.,  John  A.,  Mary  E.,  and  Joseph  D.,  are  dead. 
James  is  married  to  Miss  Agatha  Budlier,  and  Maggie  to  Stephen 
Farwell  of  Preemption  township.     In  1865  Mr.  Park  sunk  a  coal  shaft 
near  his  house,  and  in   1873  a  second  shaft,  opening  up  a  four-foot 
vein  of  very  fine  coal,  from  which  he  has  taken  as  high  as  50,000 
bushels  per  year,       Mr.  Park  has  increased  the  original  size  of  his 
farm  to  300  acres,  which  he  and  his  son  carry  on  in  connection  with 
his  coal  business.     He  is  a  member  of  the  mas<mic  order,  and  with  his 
wife  united  with  the  old  school  Presbyterian  church.      Miss  Elizabeth 
Collins  was  his  first  school  teacher.       Without  any  educational  advan- 
tages more  than  was  aiforded  by  the  district  school,  he  has  made  him- 
self an  intelligent  and  successful  business  man.       He  has  been  four 
times  elected  to  the  otfice  of  supervisor,  and  was  recently  appointed 
to  fill  the  place  of  the  incumbent,  who  is  about  to  remove.      Mr.  Park 
is  a  man  of  worth  in  the  community;  kind,  sociable  and   fair  in  his 
dealings,  he  is  respected  by  all. 

William  Stuart  (deceased),  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born 
in  county  Donegal,  Ireland,  in  1814.  In  1844,  he  came  to  America, 
making  the  voyage  from  Liverpool  to  New  Orleans  in  a  sailing 
vessel.     From  New  Orleans  he  came  uj)  the  river  to  New  Boston, 


68P>  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

thence  eastward  across  the  country.  Being  attracted  by  the  fertile 
prairies  of  what  is  now  Suez'  township,  he  purchased  a  claim  and 
located  on  section  19.  Mr.  Stuart  was  married  in  1846,  to  Miss  Jane 
Patterson,  also  a  native  of  county  Donegal,  Ireland.  Three  sons 
were  born  to  the  couple,  all  of  whom  are  living,  and  whose  names,  in 
the  order  of  their  ages,  are  as  follows:  Joseph,  A.  C,  and  Amzi. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch  died  August  6,  1881,  of  dropsy  of  the  heart. 
The  funeral  ceremonies  were  performed  at  his  residence,  and  the 
remains  interred  in  the  Norwood  cemetery.  The  large  tract  of  land 
accumulated  by  the  deceased,  during  his  industrious  life,  is  now  under 
the  supervision  of  his  worthy  sons. 

George  L.  F.  Robinson,  attorney  and  teacher,  son  of  William  C. 
and  Fanny  (Bouene)  liobinson,  was  born  in  Stockbridge,  Berkshire 
county,  Massachusetts,  September  27th,  1832.  His  father  had,  in  his 
younger  days,  been  a  teacher  by  profession,  having  been  a  precepter 
in  the  Attleboro  academy,  Massachusetts.  Pie  removed  from  there  to 
Rutland  county,  Yermont,  in  about  the  year  1810,  and  engaged  in  the 
manulacturing  business  and  continued  about  four  years,  and  subse- 
quently removed  to,  and  remained  in,  the  birth  place  of  the  subject  of 
this  sketch,  who,  having  received  the  advantage  of  a  New  England 
aca<lemical  education,  commenced  teaching  among  the  Berkshire  hills, 
when  a  mere  youth,  and  luuing  had  the  advantages  of  parents  highly 
accomplished  in  botli  music  aud  literature,  and  also  inheriting  a  gift  of 
nature  in  that  direction,  early  sought,  with  precocious  intention,  the 
tavored  vocations,  for  which  he  seems  to  have  been  so  admirably 
adapted.  Coming  to  Illinois  when  the  school  system  of  the  west  was 
in  its  infancy,  he  has  for  long  years  been  prominently  identified  with 
those  interests,  and  having  enjoyed  lirst  grades  from  every  superin- 
tendent in  the  county,  also  having  acquitted  himself  with  great  credit 
in  adjoining  counties,  and  although  a  pioneer  teacher,  is  live,  progres- 
sive, and  awake  to  the  advancement  that  has,  and  is  being,  made,  in 
our  ]u-esent  admirable  school  system.  When  the  war  broke  out,  Prof. 
Robinson,  although  denied  the  privilege  of  becoming  a  soldier,  was 
none  the  less  active  in  furthering,  by  every  means  in  his  power,  the 
triumph  of  right  over  wi'ong,  as  his  record  fully  shows.  It  is  no  won- 
der, when  we  see  his  standing  on  the  superintendent's  record,  that  his 
services  are  being  sought  in  this  and  adjoining  counties,  where  he  is 
teaching  for  the  third  term  with  the  same  success  that  has  ever 
attended  his  eifort. 

Joseph  Pinkertox,  farmer,  was  born  in  Chester  county,  Pennsylvania, 
January  9,  1798.     His  father,  William  Pinkerton,  was  also  a  native  of 
tliat  state.     His  motheFs  mai(k^n  name  was  Hannah  Kennedy,  also  of 


GREENE    TOWNSHIP.  687 

Pennsylvania.  His  grandfather,  William,  was  a  native  of  London- 
derry, Ireland ;  his  grandmother  on  his  father's  side  was  Elizabeth 
Criswell,  also  of  Pennsylvania.  The  maiden  name  of  his  grand- 
mother Kennedy,  was  Agnes  JVIcMahon,  a  native  of  Scotland,  and  his 
grandfather  Kennedy  was  from  Tyrone,  Ireland.  When  the  subject  ot 
this  sketch  was  twenty -eight  years  old  his  parents  removed  to  Trum- 
bull county,  Ohio,  and  there  his  father  died,  at  the  age  of  eighty-two, 
and  his  mother,  in  her  eightieth  year.  He  purchased  a  farm  in  the 
t<}wn  of  Berzetta,  in  Trumbull  county,  and  was  married  in  [lowland,  in 
March  23,  1827,  to  Miss  Violet  Scott,  a  native  of  Chester  county. 
Here  he  had  twelve  children  born  to  him.  Their  names,  in  the  order 
of  their  ages,  are:  William  M.,  James  S.,  Hannah  L.  (wife  of  Joseph 
Carnahan),  John  C,  Jane  (1.  (wife  of  Richard  Cabeen),  Mary  E.  (wife 
of  Pobert  Cabeen),  George  W.,  Robert  M.,  Alice  L.  (wife  of  Hiram 
Dunlap),  Thirza  A.  (wife  of  Newton  Dunlap),  Margaret  R.  (deceased  in 
her  fourteenth  year),  and  Amanda  V.  (wife  of  Otis  Morey).  All  of  this 
number  came  to  Illinois  by  teams,  in  1850,  and  only  the  eldest 
daughter  has  removed  from  Mercer  county,  she  being  in  Kansas.  In 
Ohio,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pinkerton  were  connected  with  the  Presbyterian 
church,  and  subsequently  in  Illinois,  but  that  organization  becoming 
extinct,  they  united  with  the  Methodist  church,  at  Viola.  This  ven- 
erable couple  are  widely  known  in  Mercer  county,  and  possess  the 
respect  of  all.  With  them,  the  shadows  of  life  are  lengthening  toward 
the  east,  and  when  the  hour  comes  for  them  to  lie  down  by  the 
wayside,  there  will  be  many  other  mourners  besides  the  sons 
and  daughters  they  have  reared,  and  to  whom  they  leave  a  noble 
example. 

John  C.  Pinkerton,  farmer,  son  of  Joseph  and  Violet  (Scott)  Pink- 
erton, was  born  in  Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  September  27,  1833,  In 
1850  the  family  emigrated  to  Illinois,  and  located  in  Greene  township, 
Mercer  county.  Mr.  Pinkerton  received  his  education  in  a  district 
school.  He  remained  at  home,  assisting  his  father  on  the  farm,  until 
twenty-one  years  of  age,  when  he  began  breaking  prairie  with  an  ox 
team,  which  occupation  he  followed  for  about  live  years.  In  1856  he 
bought  eighty  acres  of  land  in  sections  5  and  8,  and  began  fanning  for 
himself.  He  remained  here  until  1875,  when  he  purchased  the  farm 
formerly  owned  by  D.  Y.  Cowden  in  section  17.  By  hard  labor  and 
good  management  he  has  accumulated  200  acres  of  excellent  land  and 
a  beautiful  home.  Mr.  Pinkerton  was  married  in  the  spring  of  1859 
to  Mi,ss  Mary  J.  Jackson,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  The  names  of 
their  children,  in  the  order  of  their  ages,  are:  Herbert  AV.,  Robert  G., 
William  J.,  -lolin  S.,  and  Raymond.      He  is  a  prominent  member  of 


688  HISTORY    OF    MERCER    A^'D    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

the  United  Presbyterian  churcli,  witli  which  he  united  in  1870,  having 
formerly  been  a  Methodist. 

John  C.  Gardner,  farmer,  son  of  Richard  and  Sarah  Gardner,  was 
born  in  Mercer  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  March,  1846.  When  John 
was  seven  years  of  age  the  family  emigrated  to  Illinois,  and  located 
near  Oxford,  Henry  county.  He  remained  at  home  and  assisted  his 
father  on  the  farm  until  March  23,  1864,  when  he  enlisted  in  Co.  C, 
112th  reg.  111.  Tol.  Inf,  and  was  sent  to  join  that  regiment  .at  Kene- 
saw  mountain.  He  was  with  the  regiment  during  the  Georgia  cam- 
paign. The  regiment  moved  from  Atlanta  to  Decatur,  where  they  re- 
mained ten  days,  when  Hood  drove  the  union  forces  back  to  Columbus, 
where  they  held  the  rebels  in  check  for  a  time.  He  also  participated 
in  the  terrible  contlict  at  Franklin  and  also  the  battle  of  ]^ashville, 
after  which  they  marched  to  the  Tennessee  river,  driving  Hood  before 
them.  Here  they  took  transports  and  went  to  Cincinnati,  thence  to 
Columbus,  and  thence  to  Alexandria,  Virginia,  by  way  of  Washington. 
They  remained  eleven  days,  and  were  then  sent  to  Fort  Fisher,  Xorth 
Carolina.  After  this  Mr.  Gardner  was  with  his  regiment  during  the 
battles  of  Wilmington,  North  Carolina,  and  Fort  Anderson.  After  a 
series  of  skirmishes  the  army  arrived  at  Raleigh,  and  was  there  during 
the  review.  He  was  discharged  in  July,  1865,  at  Raleigh,  with  the 
6oth  i-eg.  HI.  Vol.  Inf,  having  been  transferred  to  that  regiment  a 
short  time  previous.  After  his  discharge  he  returned  home,  and  began 
farming  in  Mercer.  Mr.  Gardner  was  married  December  24,  1869,  to 
Miss  Rebecca  H.  Carroll,  a  native  of  Miibrook,  Mercer  county,  Penn- 
sylvania. The  names  of  Mr.  Gardner's  children,  in  the  order  of  their 
ages,  are  as  follows:  William  W.,  Edith  B.,  and  Harry  C.  He  is  a 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  with  which  he  united 
in  1869. 

John  G.  Gilbert,  son  of  Henry  and  Sally  A.  Gilbert,  was  born  in 
Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  June  12,  1845.  In  1856  the  family  came 
to  Illinois,  and  bought  land  in  section  85  in  Greene  township.  John 
remained  at  home,  working  on  the  farm,  until  seventeen  years  of  age, 
when  he  enlisted  in  Co.  F,  140th  reg.  111.  Vol.  Inf,  and  was  discharged 
October  27,  1864.  In  1866  he  began  working  at  the  carpenter  trade 
with  E.  J.  Morgan,  with  whom  he  learned  the  trade.  In  1869  he  em- 
barked in  business  for  himself,  the  first  contract  being  the  residence 
now  owned  by  A.  Park.  Since  that  time  he  has  erected  buildings  in 
Mercer,  Warren.  Knox,  Henry,  and  Rock  Island  counties.  His  supe- 
rior workmanship  is  testitied  to  by  all  who  have  secured  his  services. 
In  the  winter  of  1869-70  he  erected  a  business  house  on  the  corner  of 
Shepard  and  Eighth  streets  in   Viola.     Since  that  time  he  has  con- 


GREENE    TOWNSHIP,  689 

stnicted  extensive  additions  to  the  original  corner  building,  and  is  now 
the  owner  of  three  handsome  store-rooms,  forming  a  building  64x64 
feet.  In  1878  he  erected  a  handsome  residence  in  the  eastern  part  of 
the  village,  where  he  now  resides.  Among  the  silent  testimonials  ^of 
his  mechanical  skill,  are  the  residences  of  Robert  Park  (two  miles 
north  of  Viola),  Mrs.  Mauk  (at  Suez),  also  those  of  S.  E.  Russell, 
Mrs.  Bissell,  and  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Viola ;  also  the  school 
building  and  two  churches  at  Cable,  the  former  being  the  finest  of  its 
kind  in  the  county.  Mr.  Gilbert  was  married  in  December,  1872,  to 
Miss  Lizzie  Ramsey,  a  native  of  Tennessee,  and  is  the  father  of  two 
children,  Vinnie  R.  and  Harvey  B.,  aged  eight  and  six  years.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  masonic  lodge,  No.  577,  at  Viola,  with  which  he  * 
united  in  1869,  also  a  member  of  Horeb  Chapter,  No.  4,  at  Rio. 

Jacob,  son  of  John  P.  and  Christine  E.  Krause,  was  born  in  Baden, 
Germany,  near  Munheim,  June  3,  1842.  In  1844  the  family  emi- 
grated to  America,  and  located  in  Bennington,  Wyoming  county,  New 
York.  Jacob  remained  at  home  assisting  his  father  on  the  farm  until 
the  fall  of  1861,  when  he  turned  his  face  toward  the  setting  sun  and 
landed  in  Richland  Grove  township,  where  he  farmed  until  August  8, 
1862,  when  he  enlisted  in  Co.  C,  102d  111.  Inf ,  and  was  with  that  gal- 
lant regiment  at  Resacca,  Cassville,  Newhope  church,  Ivenesaw  Moun- 
tain, Chattahoochee  Heights,  Peachtree  creek,  and  in  the  Atlanta 
cam])aign  in  all  its  marches  and  hardships  while  defending  the  integrity 
of  the  country's  flag.  He  was  discharged  June  14,  1865,  at  C-hicago. 
July  4,  1866,  Mr.  Krause  was  married  to  Sarah  L.  Tenney,  a  native  of 
Mercer  county,  by  whom  he  is  the  father  of  six  children:  Millie  M., 
William  S.  (deceased),  Ora  L.,  Jennie  L.,  Maud  M.,  and  Clara  A. 
He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  with  which  he 
united  in  1869,  at  Oxford. 

Samuel  E.,  son  of  William  and  Ann  (Stuart)  Russell,  was  born  in  - 
Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  April  11,  1819.  At  the  age  of  twenty -three 
he  came  to  Illinois,  and  entered  land  in  section  23,  Greene  township. 
For  lifteen  years  after  locating  in  Greene  township,  Mr.  Russell  worked 
at  wagon  making,  having  erected  a  shop  near  the  site  of  his  present 
residence.  In  1857  he  abandoned  that  busin'ess  and  commenced  im- 
proving his  farm,  and  since  that  time  has  devoted  his  entire  attention 
to  farming  and  stock  raising.  Mr.  Russell  was  married  in  1844  to 
Miss  Ann  Collins,  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  a  daughter  of  John  Collins, 
one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  the  county.  In  1852  his  iirst  wife  died, 
and  in  Se})tember,  1854,  he  was  again  married  to  Miss  Ettie  Cabeen, 
of  Ohio  Grove  township.  The  fruits  of  the  latter  union  are  seven 
children:    Annie  C,  Maggie  J.,  Mary  (deceased  in  her  ninth  year), 


690  HISTORY    OF   FIERCER   AXD    HENDERSON    COFN'riES. 

Eunice,  James  E.,  Tvicliard,  and  William  C.  Mr.  Russell  is  a  member 
of  the  United  Presbyterian  church,  witli  which  he  united  in  1846,  at 
what  is  now  known  as  Sunbeam.  AAlien  the  Yiola  congregation  was 
organized,  he  united  with  them  and  has  since  been  prominently  iden- 
tified with  that  society,  and  has  been  one  of  the  pillars  of  the  church. 
During  the  rebellion  Mr.  Russell  used  all  his  influence  toward  promot- 
ing the  union  cause,  and  has  always  been  a  staunch  republican. 
Through  economy  and  industry  he  has  accumulated  a  respectable  por- 
tion of  the  world's  goods,  and  is  a  citizen  of  worth  in  all  respects.  He 
is  not  an  office  seeker,  but  on  the  contrary  has  refused  being  a  candi- 
date when  his  numerous  friends  have  urged  him  so  to  do.  His  deeds 
of  good  are  done  in  a  quiet,  unassuming  way,  as  he  does  not  care  to 
win  the  approval  of  the  public,  but  derives  his  satisfaction  from  the 
consciousness  of  having  done  his  duty. 

William  C,  son  of  James  and  Hannah  Gillespie,  was  born  in 
Mercer  county,  Pennsylvania,  December  13,  1829.  In  January,  1853, 
he  came  to  Illinois  and  located  in  Mercer  county.  In  1854  his  father 
came  and  bought  land  in  section  12,  Mercer  township.  In  the  spring 
of  1860  William  went  to  Colorado  where  he  engaged  in  the  mining 
business,  in  EusselFs  gulcli,  near  Central  City.  He  remained  there 
until  December,  1861,  when  he  returned  to  Moline,  Illinois.  He 
desired  to  enlist  but  the  quota  of  Illinois  being  full  at  that  time  he 
went  to  Leavenworth,  Kansas,  and  enlisted  in  Co.  H,  8th  Kan.  Inf 
He  remained  with  that  regiment  about  sixteen  months,  when  he  was 
discharged  on  account  of  having  very  sore  eyes.  He  returned  to 
Illinois,  and  his  eyes  becoming  better  under  medical  treatment,  he 
again  enlisted  in  the  140tli  111.  Inf,  and  was  with  that  regiment  until 
they  were  mustered  out.  Mr.  Gillespie  was  married  February  22, 
1871,  to  Miss  Sarah  M.  Decker,  a  native  of  Mercer  county.  The 
names  of  their  children,  in  the  order  of  their  ages,  are:  Hannah  M., 
John  C,  and  Ida  E.  He  in  a  member  of  lodge  No.  252,  A.F.A.M., 
with  which  he  united  in  1865,  at  Aledo. 

Ammi  Bissell  (deceased)  was  the  son  of  Porter  and  Margaret 
Bissell,  and  was  born  in  Mahoning  county,  Ghio,  in  1833.  In  1854 
the  family,  consisting  of  the  father,  mother  and  six  children,  came  t6 
Mercer  county.  Ammi  first  bought  land  of  John  Geiger  in  section  1, 
in  Greene  township,  and  began  farming  for  himself  During  the  war 
he  availed  himself  of  the  excellent  opportunities  the  prices  then  afforded 
to  either  make  or  break,  and  began  dealing  in  stock.  During  the 
remaining  years  of  his  life  he  dealt  largely  in  live  stock,  and  added 
every  year  to  his  large  tracts  of  land.  Mr.  Bissell  was  married  in  May, 
1857,  to  Miss  Mary  McKennan,  and  the  couple  had  five  children  born 


GREENE    TOWNSHIP.  691 

to  tliem,  whose  names  in  tlie  order  of  their  ages  are:  AVilliam  H., 
Cleon  (deceased),  John  L.  (deceased),  Ethelbert,  and  Frank.  Mr. 
Bissell  was  an  excellent  financier,  and  bj  shrewd  management  he 
accumulated  a  large  amount  of  property,  having  at  the  time  of  his 
death  nearly  1,100  acres  of  land,  besides  a  great  deal  of  stock. 
He  was  a  man  who  would  trade  for  anything,  and,  although  a  close 
dealer,  was  never  accused  of  dishonesty,  or  of  taking  advantage  of 
the  poor.  He  died  from  the  effects  of  injuries  sustained  by  being 
thrown  fi'om  a  horse,  and  was  buried  November  26,  IS 73.  His  death 
was  deeply  mourned  by  the  entire  community.  Mrs.  Bissell  now 
resides  in  Viola,  where  she  recently  erected  a  handsome  residence,  and 
where  she  has  a  large  circle  of  friends. 

William  C  Beeckenridge,  merchant,  Viola,  was  born  in  Mahon- 
ing county,  Ohio,  February  18,  1813.  Here  the  family  resided  until 
William  was  fifteen  years  of  age.  In  1851  his  father  died,  leaving  a 
family  of  six  children,  William  being  the  second  oldest.  In  1858  the 
family  came  to  Illinois,  and  bought  land  of  John  Geiger  in  sections  1 
and  12,  Greene  township.  In  January,  1862,  William  went  to  Kansas, 
and  soon  after  enlisted  in  a  brigade  that  was  being  made  up  to  send  to 
New  Mexico  ;  but  that  expedition  being  abandoned,  they  were  consoli- 
dated with  the  8th  Kansas  at  Fort  Leavenworth.  They  first  went  to 
Fort  Riley  and  then  returned  to  the  city  of  Leavenworth  ;  thence  down 
the  Missouri  and  Mississippi  rivers  to  Columbus,  Kentucky,  where  they 
landed  and  marched  to  Corinth  and  joined  the  main  army.  This 
regiment  participated  in  the  battles  of  Murfreesborough,  Chickamauga, 
Mission  Ridge,  Franklin,  and  Nashville.  Mr.  Breckenridge  did 
excellent  service  for  his  country,  and  was  twice  wounded.  He  was 
discharged  in  January,  1866,  after  which  he  returned  to  Mercer 
county  and  resumed  his  labors  on  the  farm.  He  was  married  in  1868 
to  Miss  Ella  Gardner,  and  is  now  the  father  of  five  children,  whose 
names  in  the  order  of  their  ages  are :  Frank  O.,  Ina  (deceased),  Almy, 
Edna,  and  Sue.  He  is  a  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church, 
with  which  he  united  in  1866.  In  1877,  he  began  business  in  Viola, 
first  putting  in  a  stock  of  groceries,  but  is  now  a  member  of  the  dry 
goods  firm  of  H.  B.  Frazier  &  Co. 

Benjamin  F.,  son  of  Charles  F.  and  Polly  Morey,  was  born  in  the 
town  of  McKean,  Erie  county,  Pennsylvania,  March  10,  1822.  At 
tlio  age  of  nineteen  he  came  to  Warren  county,  Illinois,  where  he 
landed  with  $1  in  money  in  his  pockets,  and  an  old  suit  of  clothes, 
which  constituted  his  entire  stock  of  worldly  possessions.  He  began 
working  in  a  brick-yai'd  in  Monmouth.  While  in  that  city  he  was 
present  at  the  trial  of  the  notorious  Jo.  Smith,  who  had  been  arrested 


692  HISTORY   OF   :MEECEK   AJSTD    HENDEKSON   OOL'XTIES. 

for  being  accessory  in  the  murder  of  Gov.  Boggs,  of  Missouri.  He 
remained  in  the  vicinity  of  Monmouth  about  tln-ee  years,  working  at 
various  pursuits  in  the  summer  and  teaching  in  the  winter.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  iii'st  board  of  supervisors  in  Warren  county  in  1854. 
Mr.  Morey  was  married  March  12,  1844,  to  Miss  Philetta  Higgins,  a 
native  of  Vermont.  He  was  a  resident  of  Warren  county  until  the 
spring  of  1861,  when  he  removed  to  Mercer  county  and  bought  hind 
in  sections  26  and  27,  Greene  township.  In  the  spring  of  1864  he  was 
elected  supervisor  of  the  township,  and  since  that  time  has  acted  in 
that  capacity  for  twelve  years,  the  last  two  terms  being  chairman  of  the 
board.  In  the  winter  of  1864  Mr.  Morey  was  appointed  by  the  town- 
ship to  attend  to  filling  the  quota  of  troops,  in  order  to  prevent  a  draft. 
He  went  to  Quincy  vested  with  the  proper  authority  and  arranged  mat- 
ters so  that  no  draft  was  made.  The  names  of  Mr.  Morey's  children 
in  the  order  of  their  ages  are  as  follows :  Otis  R.  (now  a  resident  of 
Audubon  county,  Iowa),  Orinda  O.  (wife  of  W.  L.  Smith,  deceased  in 
her  thirty-iifth  year),  Ella  (wife  of  Charles  Park,  now  residing  in  Cloud 
county,  Kansas),  Orlin,  Oscar,  Cornelius,  Eunice,  Lettie,  and  Dollie. 
Mr.  Morey  is  a  member  of  lodge  l^o.  577,  A.F.A.M.,  at  Yiola,  of 
which  institution  he  was  one  of  the  first  members.  He  is  a  member 
of  no  church  ;  but  his  wife  and  five  of  his  children  belong  to  the 
Methodist  denomination.  During  his  residence  in  Mercer  county  Mr. 
Morey  has  taken  a  prominent  part  in  ])ublic  affairs,  and  honesty  and 
integrity  have  ever  characterized  his  actions. 

William  S.,  son  of  John  and  Martha  (Wright)  McClannahan,  was 
born  in  Adams  county,  Ohio,  January  26,  1836.  His  parents  i-esided 
in  that  state  until  1855,  when  they  removed  to  Monmouth,  Illinois, 
where  they  located  a  farm  part  of  which  was  within  the  corporate  limits 
of  the  city.  William  assisted  his  father  on  the  farm  until  1856  when 
he  began  a  course  of  study  in  the  Monmouth  College,  from  which 
institution  he  graduated  in  1860,  and  in  the  fall  of  that  year  entered 
the  theological  seminary  at  that  place.  After  having  attended  a  term 
in  that  institution  he  was  employed  as  principal  of  the  West  ward 
school.  About  this  time  he  became  convinced  that  duty  called  him  to 
another  field  of  action  where  muskets  instead  of  ferrules  were  in 
vogue,  and  consequently  after  teaching  a  week  he  enlisted  in  the  17th 
111.  Inf ,  and  set  out  for  the  theatre  of  war.  He  acted  as  orderly  in 
in  that  regiment  until  August,  1863,  when  he  was  promoted  to  second 
lieutenant.  Shortly  after  his  promotion  he  returned  to  Monmouth, 
and  resumed  his  studies  in  the  seminary,  which  he  continued  until  the 
spring  of  1864,  when  a  company  was  organized,  composed  principally 
of  students,  and  of  which  Mr.  McClannahan  was  made  captain.     This 


GREENE   TOWNSHIP.  f)93 

company  entered  the  ISStli  111.  Inf.,  and  were  mustered  out  in  Se|> 
tember  of  IStJi.  In  the  winter  of  1864  he  again  resumed  his  studies 
and  completed  them  in  the  spring  of  1865.  He  was  then  sent  as  stated 
supply  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  where  he  had  charge  (^f  a  congregation  one 
year,  when  he  returned  to  Grandview,  Iowa,  where  he  took  charge  of 
two  congregations,  and  for  two  years  was  princijjal  of  the  Grandview 
Academy.  After  remaining  in  Iowa  four  years,  his  services  were 
engaged  by  the  United  Presbyterian  congregation  at  Viola.  He  has 
been  pastor  of  that  church  since  1870,  and  during  that  time  has  won 
the  love  and  respect  of  his  entire  congregation.  Mr.  McCannahan 
was  married  April  23,  1868,  to  Miss  ]\Iary  J.  Potter,  wliose  fotlier 
resides  near  Wapello,  Iowa,  and  the  fruits  of  the  union  are  six  chil- 
dren, whose  names  in  the  order  of  their  ages  are  :  Victor  A.,  Zenis 
H.,  May  M.  (deceased),  Enoch  Potter  (deceased),  Amy,  and  Paul  H. 
It  is  well  to  add  that  four  members  of  the  McClannahan  family  enlisted 
in  the  service  of  their  country.  The  father,  Capt.  McClannahan,  and 
three  sons,  the  youngest  of  which  was  the  junior  member  of  a  family 
of  seventeen  children.  The  father  fell  at  Fort  Donelson,  where  pre- 
vious to  his  death  he  had  conducted  himself  with  heroic  bravery,  and 
among  all  the  dead  who  fell  in  tliat  terrible  conflict  under  the  shadow 
of  the  banner  they  made  free,  none  were  more  deeply  mourned  than 
the  gray -haired  captain. 

John  B.,  son  of  Edward  and  Rebecca  (Reasoner)  Smith,  was  born 
in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  in  1818.  In  1848  the  family  removed  to 
Delvalb  county,  Indiana,  where  they  resided  eight  years.  In  1856 
his  parents  removed  to  Mercer  county  and  bought  land  in  Mercer  town- 
ship. Mr.  Smith  was  married  December  26,  1839,  to  Miss  Margaret 
Boyle,  a  native  of  Knox  county,  Ohio.  The  names  of  his  children  are  : 
Edward,  Xancy  Harriet  (wife  of  Henry  ^esbitt),  Randolph  D.,  Jane 
(wife  of  Mark  Cannum),  JolinE.,  Ephriam  B.,  Louisa  (wife  of  David 
Robb),  Perry  A.,  Henry,  William  (deceased),  Mary  Elizabeth  (de- 
ceased). Two  of  Mr.  Smith's  sons  enlisted  in  the  service  of  their  coun- 
try, Edward  in  the  early  part  of  1862  in  the  88th  Ind.  Inf.,  Randolph 
D.  in  1864  in  the  45th  111.  Inf.  Mr.  Smith  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  with  which  he  united  in  1842,  and  is  also 
a  member  of  the  A.F.A.M.  lodge,  No.  577,  at  Viola.  Mr.  Smith 
has  been  constable  in  the  different  localities  where  he  has  resided  for 
the  past  twenty-five  years.  He  is  a  citizen  of  worth,  respected  by  all 
who  know  him. 

AVallace  W.,  son  of  William  and  Rachel  Pinkerton,  was  born  in 
Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  May  6,  1842.  AVhen  an  infant  his  father 
came  to  Illinois  and  entered  a  claim  on  section  18,  in  Greene  township, 


694  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch  remained  at  home  until  tlie  fall  of  1856.  In 
1859  he  went  to  Colorado  and  engaged  in  mining  in  Russell  Gulch, 
near  Central  City,  and  remained  there  until  the  fall  of  1861,  when  he 
returned  to  Illinois,  where  he  farmed  until  August,  1862,  when  he 
enlisted  in  Co.  D,  83  111.  Inf.  Was  with  the  regiment  but  one  year, 
after  which  he  did  detached  duty,  until  tlie  close  of  the  war.  In  Sep- 
tember, 1863,  he  and  his  three  companions  rode  up  to  a  house  in 
which  were  hidden  seven  guerrillas.  A  skirmish  followed  in  which 
Mr.  Pinkerton  was  shot  in  the  hand,  tearing  one  Hnger  from  the 
socket.  They  succeded  in  dispatching  six  of  them  and  the  company 
that  was  coming  up  behind  captured  the  seventh.  Mr.  Pinkerton  was 
discharged  June  15,  1865,  after  which  he  returned  to  Illinois.  During 
his  residence  in  IlJinois  he  has  been  engaged  in  farming  and  coal  min- 
ing. He  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  J.  Carroll,  who  died  in 
1875.  He  was  again  married  in  1878  to  Miss  Nancy  Dilley.  He 
is  father  of  two  children,  whose  names  in  the  order  of  their  ages  are  : 
Kate  and  Myrtle.  Mr.  Pinkerton  is,  at  the  present  writing,  still  a 
resident  of  Illinois,  but  is  making  preparations  to  start  on  a  long  jour- 
ney toward  the  setting  sun,  and  intends  to  cast  his  lot  among  the 
mountains  of  the  west. 

RoswELL  C,  son  of  Poswell  and  Elizabeth  Sexton,  was  born  in 
Herkimer  county,  New  York,  in  1803.  His  parents  resided  there  until 
he  was  nine  years  of  age,  when  they  removed  to  Meadville,  Crawford 
county,  Pennsylvania.  His  father  and  mother  were  both  natives  of 
Connecticut.  During  their  residence  in  Meadville  his  father  was  the 
proprietor  of  a  hotel  at  that  place,  and  it  was  here  that  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  i-eceived  his  education.  In  1832  he  went  to  Centerville,  in 
the  same  county,  and  was  married  there  in  1833  to  Miss  Mary  Peck,  a 
native  of  New  York.  He  remained  in  Pennsylvania  over  twenty 
years  after  his  marriage.  In  1857  he  came  west  and  located  near  Ox- 
ford, Henry  county,  where  he  remained  until  1860,  when  he  came  to 
Viola  and  began  keeping  hotel  in  the  Perkins  building.  The  names 
of  Mr.  Sexton's  children,  in  the  order  of  their  ages,  are:  William  H., 
now  county  clerk  in  Warren  county;  Prior  B.,  who  resides  on  a  farm 
near  Yiola ;  Amelia,  deceased  in  her  eighteenth  year ;  Dora,  wife  of 
H.  Southwell,  present  superintendent  of  schools  in  Rock  Island  county; 
Theodore  F.,  who  resides  in  Yiola;  and  Dora,  wife  of  L.  Menold,  also 
of  Yiola.  Two  of  Mr.  Sexton's  sons  enlisted  in  the  service  of  their 
country,  in  defense  of  the  i)rinciples  they  ever  held  dear.  William 
enhsted  in  August,  1862,  in  Co.  D,  83d  111.  Inf ,  and  Theodore  in 
March,  1865,  in  the  same  regiment  and  company.  William  was  quar- 
termaster of  his  regiment,  and  acted  in  that  capacity  until  the  close  of 


GKEENE    TOWNSHIP.  695 

the  war.  The  family  are  all  prominent  members  of  the  Presbyterian 
church,  with  which  the  father  united  in  1828.  Mr.  Sexton  and  sons 
are  all  citizens  of  great  worth,  and  are  universally  respected.  The  old 
people  are  well  advanced  in  years,  and  (tan  look  back  over  the  pathway 
of  life  with  pleasure,  and  console  themselves  with  the  thought  that  for 
their  sons  and  daughters  they  leave  as  a  legacy  a  noble  example,  a 
spotless  name. 

George  W.,  son  of  Joseph  and  Yiolet  (Scott)  Pinkerton,  was  born 
in  Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  January  3,  1839.  When  eleven  years  of  age 
his  father's  family  emigrated  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois.  George  re- 
mained at  home  on  the  farm  until  August,  1861,  when  he  enlisted  in  a 
company  at  Rock  Island  which  was  attached  to  the  14th  Mo.  Inf.,  and 
was  sent  to  Lexington.  In  the  battle  of  that  place  the  company  was 
taken  prisoners,  and  shortly  afterward  were  ])aroled  and  sent  to  St. 
Louis  where  they  were  discharged.  Mr.  Pinkerton  returned  home  and 
remained  until  July,  1862,  when  he  again  enlisted  in  Co.  D,  83d  111. 
Inf.,  and  was  with  that  regiment  until  it  was  mustered  out  in  July,  1865. 

Urban  D.,  son  of  Merritt  A,  and  Betsy  G.  Lathrop,  was  born  in 
Chenango  county,  New  York,  December  5,  1848.  When  two  years  of 
age  his  parents  emigrated  to  Waukegan,  Illinois.  After  remaining 
here  about  three  months  they  removed  to  Bureau  county.  Soon  after 
his  father  began  work  in  the  ministrj-,  as  a  local  preacher,  in  the 
United  Brethren  chm-ch,  and  since  that  time  has  devoted  about  twenty- 
tive  years  of  his  life  to  ministerial  labor.  LTrban  remained  at  home  on 
the  farm  until  February  6,  1865,  when,  although  a  mere  lad,  he  left 
school  and  enlisted  in  Co.  A,  151st  111.  Inf ,  and  was  discharged  in 
February  of  the  following  year  at  Springfield,  Illinois,  after  which  he 
returned  home  and  resumed  his'  labors  on  the  farm.  The  following 
winter  he  went  to  Linn  county,  Iowa,  where  he  began  a  course  of  study 
in  the  college  at  that  place.  In  February,  1872,  having  received  his 
license  from  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  church,  he  took  charge  of  a  cir- 
cuit in  Bureau  county.  In  1878  he  received  a  call  from  the  Hopewell 
and  Hamlet  circuit  in  Mercer  county,  and  he  accordingly  located  in 
the  parsonage  at  Bethel  three  miles  west  of  Viola.  Mr.  Lathrop  was 
married  October  15,  1871,  to  Miss  Sarah  C.  Cartwright,  a  native  of 
Indiana.  The  fruits  of  the  union  are  five  children,  whose  names,  in 
the  order  of  their  ages,  are  as  follows :  Arme  R.,  Elmer  R.,  Urban  C, 
John  M.,  and  Ora  E.  Mr.  Lathrop  is  president  of  the  Illinois  confer- 
ence, to  which  he  was  elected  the  third  term,  in  the  fall  of  1881. 

JoHx,  son  of  Samuel  and  jSTehusta  Grifhn,  was  born  in  the  town  of 
Lee,  Berkshire  county,  Massachusetts,  March  29,  1795.  He  remained 
at  home  with  his  parents  until  seventeen  years  of  age,  when  he  went 


696  HISTORY    OF    MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

to  Athens,  New  York,  where  he  was  apprenticed  to  learn  the  weaving 
trade.  He  followed  that  business  until  nineteen  years  old,  when  he 
was  drafted,  and,  with  a  New  York  regiment,  sent  to  Brooklyn 
Heights,  where  he  took  part  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  was  married 
in  1816  to  Miss  Mary  Hoag,  a  native  Columbia  county.  The  family 
emigrated  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  in  the  spring  of  1841,  and  bought 
land  in  section  13  in  Greene  township.  He  lived  on  his  farm  until 
June,  1865,  when  he  was  called  away,  leaving  a  large  circle  of  friends 
and  relatives  to  mourn  his  departure.  His  widow,  Mary  Grifhn,  still 
resides  on  the  old  homestead.  She  was  born  in  Pittstown,  New  York, 
June  IT,  1Y98.  She  united  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  in 
1821,  and  has  ever  adhered  to  the  faith.  She  states  that  the  family 
frequently  walked  to  Farlow's  Grove,  a  distance  of  four  miles,  to  attend 
religious  services.  The  names  of  the  children,  in  the  order  of  their 
ages,  are  as  follows :  William  H.  (deceased),  Henry  G.  (now  a  resident 
of  Henry  county,  Illinois),  James  M.  (deceased),  Sarah  (deceased), 
Huldah  G.  (now  the  wife  of  Anson  Calkins,  of  Henry  county),  Mary  E. 
(deceased),  Septimus,  and  George  (deceased).  The  grim  harvester  has 
robbed  her  of  many  of  her  loved  ones,  and  she  will  probably  soon 
follow,  leaving  a  noble  example  for  those  who  survive  her. 

Charles  W.,  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  Southern,  was  born  in  Giles 
county,  Virginia,  in  1829.  When  thirteen  years  of  age  his  father's 
family  emigrated  to  Cedar  county,  Iowa,  where  he  remained  until  1850, 
when  he  came  to  Mercer  countv,  Illinois,  and  bouii-ht  land  in  section 
21,  Greene  township.  Mr.  Southern  was  married  in  1851  to  Miss  Ruth 
Hoover,  a  native  of  Ohio.  The  names  of  their  children  in  the  order  of 
their  ages,  are  as  follows  :  Catharine  E.  (now  the  wife  of  George 
Martin),  Sarah  E.  (now  the  wife  of  Taylor  Ashenhurst,  residing  in 
Adair  county,  Iowa),  William  L.,  and  Levi  M.  Mr.  Southern  devoted 
his  entire  attention  to  farming  until  March,  1865,  when  he  enlisted  in 
Co.  A,  83d  Ills.  Inf.  He  was  discharged  September  11  in  the  same 
year.  Mr.  Southern  has  served  as  commissioner  of  highways  six  years 
and  is  an  efficient  officer. 

William,  son  of  Thomas  and  Hannah  Terrey.  was  born  in  Smith- 
town,  Long  Island,  May  17,  1799.  In  1808  his  father's  family  removed 
to  New  York  city.  In  1811  William  went  to  Troy  and  remained  one 
year,  after  which  he  went  to  Vermont,  where  he  remained  until  the 
latter  part  of  1814,  when  he  returned  to  Troy,  and  while  there  ^^^t- 
nessed  the  peace  celebration  that  took  place  in  Januaiy,  1815.  While 
in  that  city  he  was  engaged  as  a  clerk  in  a  hardware  store,  which  he 
continued  until  the  fall  of  1836,  when,  owing  to  the  state  of  his  health 
he  resolved  to  try  a  change  of  climate.     Although  his  physician  told 


GREENE    TOWNSHIP.  097 

him  he  could  not  live  two  years  he  still  survives,  and  for  one  of  his  age 
is  hale  and  hearty.  He  came  to  Buffalo  by  canal  and  there  took  a 
schooner  bound  for  Chicago,  When  off  North  Point  on  Lake  Erie  a 
severe  storm  struck  them  and  all  the  heavy  articles,  including  a  stock 
of  hardware  belonging  to  Mr.  Terrey,  was  thrown  overboard.  This 
mishap  left  him  without  anything  to  speak  of,  and  after  reaching 
Chicago  he  came  out  to  Mercer  county  and  bought  a  claim  in  what  is 
now  section  36,  Greene  township,  borrowing  money  at  twenty -five  per 
cent  with  wliich  to  make  the  purchase.  Mr.  Terrey  was  married 
December  J  2,  1824,  to  Miss  Barbara  Vanalstyne,  a  native  of  New 
York,  born  December  16,  1S06.  The  fruits  of  the  union  was  four  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  are  dead,  and  whose  names  are  as  follows :  Mary  E. 
(deceased  February  22,  1826),  Isaac  B.  H.  (deceased  September  17, 
1833),  Catharine  A.  (deceased  May  11,  1837),  and  Emily,  (deceased 
July  21:,  1840).  James  William,  adopted  shortly  after  the  death  of  Mary 
E,,  was  born  February  17,  1826.  His  wife,  Barbara,  died  in  August, 
1866.  He  was  again  married  in  October,  1868,  to  Mrs.  Chloe  H. 
Burrill,  anativeof  IsTew  York.  In  1843  Mr.  Teri-ey  was  elected  county 
assessor,  which  office  he  held  six  terms.  In  1849  he  was  elected  county 
treasurer  and  served  four  years  in  that  capacity.  When  he  first 
assessed  Keithsburg  there  were  but  three  houses  in  the  village. 

Warren  L.,  son  of  Uriah  and  Rlioda  Smith,  was  born  in  Medina 
county,  Ohio,  April  27,  1842.  The  family,  consisting  of  his  father, 
mother  and  five  children,  emigrated  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  in  1851, 
and  located  on  section  27,  Greene  township.  His  father,  in  early  times, 
took  an  active  part  in  public  affairs,  and  was  deputy  sheriff  during  the 
years  of  1856,  1857-8.  Warren  remained  at  home,  assisting  his  father 
on  the  farm  until  February  15,  1862,  when  he  enlisted  in  Co.  B,  65th 
111.  Inf.  In  1864.  he  re-enlisted  at  Louisville,  Kentucky,  and  was  with 
that  regiment  during  all  the  terrible  battles  in  which  it  took  part.  He 
was  mustered  out  July  15,  1865,  at  Greensborough,  North  Carolina.  He 
was  married  August  30,  1866,  to  Miss  Orinda  Morey,  daughter  of  B. 
F.  Morey,  Esq.,  of  Greene  township.  The  fruits  of  this  union  are  three 
children,  namely  :  Arthur  W.,  Charles  L.,  and  Nellie  L.  Mrs.  Smith 
died  January  25,  1882,  in  her  thirty-fifth  year,  leaving  a  large  circle  of 
friends  and  relatives  to  mourn  her  loss.  Mr.  Smith  is  a  member  of  the 
A.F.A.M.  lodge.  No.  577,  of  which  he  is  a  charter  member,  and 
was  the  first  Senior  Deacon.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
E])iscopal  church,  with  which  he  united  in  1867. 

George  W.  ,  son  of  John  and  Emeline  Morris,  was  born  September 
25,  1853,  near  Keithsburg,  Mercer  county,  Illinois.  In  1879,  he  pur- 
chased the  farm  commonly  known  as  the  Cohran  farm,  in  section  16, 


698  HISTORY   OF   iCERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

consistiiiij:  of  eighty  acres.  Previous  to  that  time,  he  had  made  his 
home  with  his  father.  He  was  married  March  13, 1879,  to  Miss  Anna 
Johnston,  daughter  of  WilHam  H.  Johnston,  of  Preemption  township. 
The  names  of  their  children  are  George  L.,  and  Frank.  Mr.  Morris 
is  a  farmer  of  enterprise  and  industry,  and  we  predict  for  him  a  bright 
and  pi'osperous  future. 

Edwin,  son  of  John  and  EmeKne  Morris,  was  born  in  Cuyahoga 
county,  phio,  in  1849.  He  came  west  with  his  father  in  1851,  and 
has  always  devoted  his  attention  to  farming  and  stock  raising.  He 
was  married  December  12,  1877,  to  Miss  Emma  J.  McFate,  daughter 
of  Samuel  McFate,  of  Greene  township.  Mr.  Morris,  although  quite 
young,  has  accumulated  160  acres  of  excellent  land  in  sections  10 
and  15. 

Lucius  E.,  son  of  Israel  A.  and  Emma  Jane  Smith,  was  born  in 
Medina  county,  Ohio,  December  24,  1844.  In  the  year  1850  the 
family,  consisting  of  the  father,  mother,  and  four  children,  emigrated  to 
^Mercer  county,  Illinois,  and  located  on  section  27,  Greene  township. 
Israel,  the  father,  and  the  mother.  Emma  J.,  were  members  of  the 
United  Presbyterian  church,  with  which  they  united  after  coming  to 
Illinois.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  remained  at  home  until  March, 
1864,  when  he  enlisted  in  Co.  I,  83d  111.  Inf.,  serving  with  that  regi- 
ment until  mustered  out,  after  which  he  served  two  months  in  the  61st, 
being  discharged  in  September  of  the  same  year.  Married  in  April, 
1872,  to  Miss  Harriet  F.  Thompson,  a  native  of  Iowa.  The  names  of 
their  children,  in  the  order  of  their  ages,  are  as  follows :  Edith, 
Lyman,  and  Leonard.  Mr.  Smith  now  resides  on  section  28,  in 
Greene  township. 

John  Morris  was  born  in  Somersetshire,  England,  May  27,  1816. 
His  father  and  family  came  to  America  in  1840,  arriving  at  Xew  York 
on  July  3.  They  came  to  Ohio,  where  the  subject  of  this  sketch  bou_ght 
a  farm  near  Cleveland.  On  March  1,  1847,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Emeline  C.  Hicks,  at  Zanes\dlle.  In  1851  Mr.  Morris  and  family 
came  to  Illinois,  by  way  of  the  lakes  to  Chicago,  and  thence  by  teams 
to  Mercer  county,  locating  near  Keithsburg.  His  father  died  here  in 
1856,  in  his  sixtv-eighth  vear.  After  residing  in  Mercer  count v  five 
years,  Mr.  Morris  moved  to  Warren  county,  but  again  returned  to 
Mercer  in  1865,  and  bought  a  farm  in  section  9  in  Greene  township, 
to  which  he  has  added,  by  purchase,  other  land  in  the  vicinity  of 
Yiola.  Their  children,  named  in  the  order  of  their  ages,  are :  Vic- 
toria M.,  Edwin  and  Edraond  (who  are  twins),  George  W.,  Clara, 
Eugene  (deceased),  Elwood  J.,  Ida  S..  and  Cora  M.;  besides  the  above 
named,  three  sons  and  one  daughter  have  been  bm-ied  in  infancy. 


Jy,  /j,  ch-T^Aj-r- 


COMPANY    E,    NINTH    REGIMENT.  701 


COMPANY  E,  NINTH  REGIMEMT. 

The  Nintli  Illinois  Regiment  was  one  of  the  six  regiments  organ- 
ized at  Springfield  for  the  three  months^  service.  The  regiment  was 
mustered  into  service  April  28,  1861,  and  ordered  to  Cairo,  where  it 
remained  during  the  three  months'  service  in  the  brigade  commanded 
bj  Bridadier  G.  M.  Prentiss. 

July  26  the  regiment  was  mustered  into  the  three  years"'  service  by 
Capt.  Pitcher,  U.S.A.  About  500  of  the  three  months'  men  re-enlisted 
for  three  years,  and  on  September  1,  1861,  the  regiment  numbered 
1040.  September  5,  1861,  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  Paducah, 
where  it  passed  the  winter.  During  the  winter  expeditions  were  made 
to  Milburn,  Maylield,  Viola,  Calloway  Landing,  and  elsewhere  in 
Kentucky.  Three  hundred  men  of  the  ninth,  under  command  of  Maj. 
Jesse  J.  Phillips,  surprised  and  attacked  a  force  of  200  rebel  cavalry 
at  Saratoga,  Lyon  county,  Kentucky,  killing  eight,  wounding  several, 
and  taking  thirty-six  prisioners,  besides  many  horses  and  equipments. 

On  February  5,  1862,  the  regiment  moved  up  the  Tennessee  river 
to  Fort  Henry,  and  was  in  the  1st  Brig.,  2d  Div.,  Army  of  the  Ten- 
nessee, Col.  John  McArthur  commanding  the  brigade  and  Gen.  C.  F. 
Smith  commanding  the  division.  The  brigade  moved  up  the  left  bank 
of  the  Tennessee  river,  driving  the  rebels  from  Fort  Heiman  and  cap- 
turing all  camp  equipages  and  stores  there.  February  12  they  moved 
to  Fort  Donelson,  and  were  engaged  in  that  battle  with  eight  com- 
panies, sustaining  a  loss  of  35  killed,  166  wounded  and  6  prisoners. 
The  part  taken  in  this  action  by  Col.  McArthur's  brigade,  of  which 
this  regiment  formed  a  part,  has  no  place  in  any  official  report  of  that 
action.  His  brigade,  which  formed  a  part  of  Gen.  Smith's  division, 
was  detached  to  the  support  of  the  hrst  division,  commanded  by  Brig. 
Gen.  McClernand,  and  was  engaged  on  the  right  of  our  army  during 
the  fighting  of  Saturday,  February  15,  where  most  of  the  severe  fight- 
ing took  place. 

February  22  they  moved  up  the  Cumberland  river  and  occupied 
Clarksville.  February  27  they  moved  to  Nashville,  and  returned 
March  1.  March  6  tliey  embarked  for  Paducah  and  up  the  Tennessee 
to  Pittsburg  Landing,  where  they  disembarked  Marcli  19.  The  regi- 
ment was  engaged  at  the  battle  of  Shiloh,  April  6  and  7,  and  sustained 
a  loss  on  the  6th  of  61  killed,  287  wounded  and  two  prisoners.  Out 
of  the  twenty-six  officers  of  field,  stall"  and  line,  twenty-one  were  killed 
or  wounded.  The  second  brigade  was  commanded  by  Brig. -Gen.  John 
McArthur  and  the  division  by  Brig. -Gen.  W.  H.  L.  Wallace. 
40 


702  HISTOKY   OF    MERCER   ANT)    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

During  tlie  advance  upon  Corinth  the  brigade  was  commanded  by 
Brig. -Gen.  J.  R  Oglesby  and  the  division  by  Brig. -Gen.  Thomas  A, 
Davies.  On  the  evacuation  of  Corinth  the  division,  attached  to  the 
third  araiv  corps  (Maj.-Gen.  John  Pope  commanding),  pursued  the  re- 
treating enemy  to  Booneville,  twenty-five  miles  soutli.  They  remained 
in  camp  at  C(jrinth  from  Jure  13  to  August  16,  and  at  Rienzi,  fifteen 
miles  south  of  Corinth,  until  October  1.  The  brigade  was  engaged  at 
the  battle  of  Corinth,  October  3  and  4,  and  sustained  a  loss  of  nine- 
teen killed,  eighty-two  wounded  and  fifty-two  prisoners.  After  the 
engagement  the  regiment  was  ordered,  one  battalion  to  Danville  and 
one  to  Eienzi,  from  whence  they  were  ordered  to  Corinth  November 
27.  December  13  the  regiment  was  ordered  out  on  a  reconnoissance 
to  Gemtown,  Saltillo,  Tupelo,  and  Marietta,  Mississippi.  The  brigade 
(9th  reg.  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  81st  Ohio  Inf ,  1st  batt.  Stewart's  111.  Cav.,  and 
two  guns  of  Tanrath's  battery),  commanded  by  Col.  Aug.  Mersey, 
captured  seventy-eight  prisoners'  and  a  large  number  of  horses  and 
mules. 

As  origiif'ally  organized,  Alexander  G.  Hawes,  of  Belleville,  was 
captain  of  Co.  E,  which  was  largely  raised  in  Mercer  county.  William 
D.  Craig,  of  Aledo,  was  first  lieutenant,  and  Roswell  B.  Patterson,  of 
Belleville,  was  second  lieutenant.  The  first  and  last  named  served  in 
their  respective  oftices  until  the  experiation  of  their  terms  in  1864. 
Wm.  D.  Craig  was  promoted  June  8,  1862,  to  the  oftice  of  first  assist- 
ant surgeon,  and  retained  that  position  until  the  expiration  of  his  term, 
August  20,  1864. 

Near  the  expiration  of  their  term,  the  regiment  was  reorganized  and 
consolidated,  and  Thomas  C.  Kidd,  of  Springfield,  was  chosen  captain 
of  Co.  E,  Thomas  F.  McClintock,  of  Aledo,  first  lieutenant,  and  Wm. 
P.  Reese,  second  lieutenant.  David  D.  Bigger,  of  Henderson,  was 
surgeon ;  Charles  B.  Fleming,  of  Keithsburg,  was  second  lieutenant  of 
Co.  A,  and  was  afterward  promoted  to  first  lieutenant.  For  some 
time  before  and  after  the  consolidation,  the  regiment  followed  the 
fortunes  of  Sherman's  bummers,  as  they  were  styled,  through  to 
Savannah,  and  north  through  the  Carolinas.  In  all  the  9th  is  credited 
with  being  in  110  battles  and  skirmishes.  Thirteen  of  Mercer  county's 
best  citizens,  members  of  Co.  E,  gave  their  lives  as  a  sacrifice  for  their 
country's  salvation. 


COMPANY    r,    TWENTY-SIXTH    INFANTRY.  703 


COMPANY  C,  TWENTY-SIXTH  INFANTRY. 

This  company  was  made  up  largely  of  men  from  Millersburii;  and 
vicinity.  The  rest  of  the  company  was  from  Bond  county.  It  was 
organized  August  23,  1861,  and  mustered  into  service  the  same  day. 
George  W.  Keener,  of  Bond  county,  was  elected  captain,  Thomas  L. 
Yest,  of  the  same  county,  first  lieutenant,  and  James  A.  Dugger,  of 
Millersburg,  second  lieutenant.  Dugger  was,  u[)on  the  resignation  of 
the  captain,  and  again  of  the  first  lieutenant,  promoted  to  each  posi- 
tion, and  in  the  office  of  captain  he  was  serving  when  he  was  killed, 
July  16,  1863.  James  H.  Comer,  of  Millersburg,  served  awhile  as 
second  lieutenant,  and  James  Manies  and  John  McAllister,  of  the 
same  place,  each  served  as  first  lieutenant.  This  company  was,  how- 
ever, considered  a  Bond  county  company,  and  in  the  main  was 
ofticered  by  men  from  that  county.  Seventeen  members,  formerly 
residents  of  Mercer  county,  were  either  killed  or  met  their  death  from 
disease  contracted  in  the  army. 

The  26th  regiment  was  partially  organized  at  Camp  Butler,  August 
31,  1861,  and  were  ordered  to  Quincy  for  the  protection  of  that  place. 
Their  first  arms  were  as  primitive  as  could  be  desired,  being  simply 
hickory  clubs.  During  the  latter  part  of  the  year  they  changed  their 
munitions  of  war  to  something  but  little  bettei*,  the  old  English  mus- 
ket. These  did  quite  well,  however,  as  they  were  not  called  upon  to 
put  them  into  active  use  until  three  other  companies  (the  original  num- 
ber being  seven)  were  added.  The  marches,  engagements,  skirmishes 
and  privations,  from  that  time  forth,  were  all  that  the  most  heoric 
could  desire.  At  New  Madrid  the  regiment  was  first  engaged,  after 
which  Fort  Pillow,  siege  of  Corinth  (Co.  G  of  this  regiment  being  the 
first  to  enter  after  evacuation),  luka,  siege  of  Jackson  (where  Captain 
Dugger  was  killed).  Mission  Ridge,  were  scenes  of  conflict  in  which 
the  regiment  was  engaged.  At  the  last  named  place  the  regiment 
suffered  gi-eatly,  losing  in  killed  and  wounded  one-tenth  of  the  regi- 
ment. On  June  1,  1864,  there  were  only  515  men  present  ready  for 
duty,  of  whom  463  re-enlisted  as  veterans.  After  a  home  furlough  the 
regiment  went  on  the  Atlanta  campaign,  thence  to  Savannah,  and 
finally  through  the  Carolinas,  and  participated  in  the  grand  review  at 
Washington.  The  general  features  of  the  marches  and  engagements 
are  so  fully  given  in  this  book,  in  tlie  course  of  other  regiments,  that 
details  and  repetition  are  not  considered  advisable  at  this  time. 


'04  HISTORY    (»F    MERCER    AND    HEN'DERSON    tJOUJSTTIES. 


PREEMPTIOX  TOWNSHIP. 

Than  the  township  of  Preemption,  as  the  traveler  now  beholds  it, 
it  would  be  hard  indeed  to  conceive  a  place  which  affords  scenes  of 
greater  beauty,  homes  indicative  of  more  thrift,  or  resources  more  avail- 
able and  giving  stronger  assurance  of  wealtli  and  luxury  ;  so  diversi- 
tied  is  its  surface,  so  various  its  products.  In  the  north  are  broad,  fer- 
tile prairies,  -occupied  by  prosperous  farmers,  who  have  expended  no 
little  money  in  beautifying  their  homes.  Indeed,  the  gently  undulat- 
ing prairies  invite  irresistably  to  expend  time  and  taste  in  ornamenta- 
tion, so  fully  do  they  reveal  and  enhance  every  touch  of  beauty  given 
them.  They  liave  accordingly  been  studded  with  line  residences,  set 
amidst  ornamental  trees  and  shrubs  and  full-blooming  orchards  ;  their 
rich  acres  enclosed  with  neatly  trimmed  hedges,  whose  dark-green  con- 
trasts harmoniously  with  the  broad  fields  of  weaving  grain. 

In  the  south  the  surface  is  sharply  broken  and  covered  in  places 
with  a  heavy  growth  of  jack-oak  and  hazel,  but  well  adapted  to  pur- 
poses of  grazing.  Here  also  are  found  large  quantities  of  excellent 
coal  and  building  stone.  The  Edwards  river  affords  perfect  drainage 
to  the  entire  township,  besides  adding  to  its  varied  beauty  of  scenery 
by  the  dee.])  gorges  and  iirecipitous  ravines  cut  by  its  numerous  tribut- 
aries. 

Very  different,  but  scarcely  less  beautiful,  must  have  been  this 
favored  section  when,  in  1835,  John  Farlow  and  Hopkins  Boone,  in 
short  succession,  with  their  families,  entered  and  set  about  preparing 
homes.  Then  the  prairie  stretched  away  to  the  north,  brightened  with 
the  gorgeous  hues  of  native  flowers  ;  about  him  was  the  deep  silence  of 
a  large  white  oak  forest  and  all  the  rudeness  and  lonliness  of  the  un- 
trodden wilderness.  At  their  doors  flowed  the  beautiful  but  treacher- 
ous Edwards  river,  its  banks  now  rising  rough  and  precipitous,  now 
spreading  out  into  broad,  fertile  bottoms.  Instead  of  the  busy  sounds 
of  labor,  the  cheerful  voices  of  friendly  neighbors,  were  heard  the  howl 
of  tlie  wolf,  the  cry  of  the  wild-cat,  the  hateful  rattle  of  the  rattlesnake. 
Instead  of  herds  of  cattle,  deer  roamed  the  prairies  and  started  from  the 
thickets  ;  instead  of  the  cries  of  domestic  fowl  were  lieard  the  whir  of 
the  grouse's  wing,  the  whistle  of  the  quail,  and  the  call  of  the  wild 
turkey,  while  nndtitudes  of  geese  and  ducks  covered  the  ponds  in  the 
bottoms  of  the  Edwards  river.  Yet  with  all  its  rudeness,  its  beaut}^ 
and  promise  must  have  foreshadowed  to  the  mind  of  the  pioneer  the 
present  prosperity  and  wealth  of  Preemption  townshij).  For  nearly  a 
year  John  Farlow  and  IIoj)kins  Boone  had  no  neighbors,  there  being 


i'rp:emption  tow^sjiij'.  705 

no  family  between  them  and   Rock  river  on   the   north,  and  but  one 
between  them  and  Monmouth  on  the  vsouth. 

In  tlie  following  spring  there  came  into  the  settlement,  with  their 
families,  Rev.  John  JVIontgomerv,  a  Presbyterian  minister,  and  James 
Boone,  from  Pennsylvania,  and  from  Indiana,  Gabriel  Barkley, 
Christopher  Miller  and  Rev.  .losepli  Jones,  a  Ba}>tist  preacher.  But 
they  were  still  isolateil  from  any  considerable  settlement,  for  there  was 
no  road,  the  only  line  of  comnumication  being  an  Indian  trail  leading 
from  Monmouth  to  Rock  Island,  which  could  be  tra\-eled  only  on  foot 
or  on  horseback;  there  was  no  postofiice,  no  c(mvenient  market,  no 
mill.  But  this  state  of  atfairs  did  not  long  continue  ;  the  natural  ad- 
vantages of  the  location  attracted  settlers  and  the  increasing  population 
and  production  demanded  increased  facilities  for  the  transfer  of  emi- 
grants and  the  transportation  of  crops  to  market. 

In  1832  a  road  had  been  laid  out  from  Beardstown  to  (xalena,  fol- 
lowing the  n^ain  route  to  the  lead  mines  located  at  the  latter  place. 
This  road,  however,  was  im])assable  by  wagons  on  account  of  the  river 
banks  being  so  cutout  by  the  swift  currents  of  the  streams,  until  in  1837 
the  county  built  across  the  Edwards  river,  on  section  34,  a  trestle 
bridge,  covered  with  oak  plank.  The  only  other  regularly  laid  out 
road  previous  to  1840  was  the  state  road,  leading  from  New  Boston, 
Mercer  county,  to  a  town  in  Henry  county,  now  defunct,  named  Rich- 
mond. 

In  1838  there  came  into  the  northern  part  of  the  township  Benjamin 
Clarke,  David  Little,  John  Beirbeau,  and  Charles  Minick,  settling  on 
section  1  and  2,  and  E.  J.  Farwell,  on  section  14.  Only  those  who 
went  through  the  trials  of  these  early  times  can  appreciate  their  se- 
verity. Now  railroads  intersect  the  county  in  various  directions  ;  hard 
roads  and  good  bridges  make  stations  easily  accessible  ;  mercantile 
enterprise  brings  the  products  of  the  best  mills  and  factories  to  one's 
very  doors.  Not  so  at  the  early  days  of  which  we  write.  Then  the 
settler  must  go  long  distances  to  mill  with  his  grist,  and  there  wait  his 
turn  to  have  it  ground.  The  particular  settlers  of  whom  we  write, 
were  obliged  to  go  to  Monmouth  to  mill,  fording  on  their  way  both 
the  Pope  creek  and  the  Edwards  river.  To  market  their  produce  they 
must  go  miles  away  over  the  prairies  to  New  Boston,  or  to  the  town  of 
Stevenson,  now  Rock  Island.  Had  the  prices  of  their  crops  brought 
been  proportionate  to  the  labor  of  getting  them  to  market,  or  had  the 
cost  of  the  necessaries  of  life  been  correspondingly  low,  their  hard- 
ships, though  still  great,  would  have  been  much  relieved.  Unfortun- 
ately, neither  condition  existed  ;  witness  the  following  schedule  of 
prices:  Wheat,  twenty -live  cents  per  bushel,  to  be  paid  for  in  goods 


706  HISTORY    OF    MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

(at  what  prices  we  sliall  presently  see) ;  corn,  if  one  could  sell  at  all, 
ten  cents  per  bushel  ;  dressed  hogs  weighing  200  pounds  and  upward, 
$1.50  per  hundred  ;  hogs  of  lighter  weight  at  a  less  price.  Mr.  Boone 
relates,  as  a  fair  illustration,  this  incident :  learning  that  a  certain 
merchant  at  Andalusia,  Iowa,  was  paying  $2  per  hundred  for  good 
dressed  pork,  and  needing  some  salt,  he  and  his  hand  spent  a  day  at 
killing  and  dressing  such  hogs  as  he  had  ready  ipr  market.  Proceed- 
ing by  a  laborious  route  to  Andalusia,  he  sold  his  pork,  450  pounds,  foi- 
^9.  Recrossing  the  river  at  Davenport,  to  Rock  Island,  he  bought  his 
salt,  paying  therefor  $9,  or  450  pounds  of  dressed  pork.  In  1837  these 
settlers  obtained  a  postottice,  located  at  the  residence  of  Hopkins  Boone, 
the  second  in  the  county,  called  the  Farlow's  Grove  postoffice.  The 
postage  was  twenty-live  cents  a  letter,  just  the  price  of  a  bushel  of 
wheat.  The  mail  came  at  loflg  intervals  and  irregularly,  carried  on 
horseback  along  the  okl  Indian  trail.  As  the  county  grew,  the  postal 
facilities  increased,  till  now  the  office,  removed  since  to  the  \dllao;e  of 
Preemption,  receives  and  sends  daily  mails.  AYith  the  growth  of  the 
farming  interests,  the  development  of  the  mineral  resources  has  kept 
equal  pace.  Tlie  demand  for  stone  has  steadilj-  increased  with  the 
population.  The  quarries  have  furnished  the  stone  for  most  of  the 
cellars  and  wells  of  the  township.  Shortly  after  the  settlement  of  the 
township,  coal  was  found  cropping  out  in  various  places.  It  has 
proved  to  be  of  good  quality,  abundant  in  quantity,  easily  accessible. 
One  vein  is  five  feet  in  thickness.  The  depth  of  the  veins  below  the 
surface  varies  from  twenty-five  to  seventy-five  feet.  This  industry  has 
far  outgrown  the  demands  of  the  township  and  surrounding  country, 
and  the  railroad,  built  by  Mr.  Cable,  finds  lucrative  employment  in 
C(»nveying  to  other  points  the  surplus  production  of  this  and  Richland 
Grove  township  mines.  This  brief  sketch  but  very  insufficiently  indi- 
cates the  great  resources  of  the  township.  Perhaps  the  best  indication 
of  what  is  in  store  for  its  citizens  in  the  future  w^ill  be  a  statement  of  its 
present  wealth,  accumulated  in  less  than  a  half  century  since  the  first 
settler  pitched  his  tent  within  its  limits.  The  pO}>ulation  has  increased 
to  1,410  in  ISSO.  In  1881  the  assessed  value  of  lands  was  $362,743  ; 
of  town  lots,  $1,170  ;  of  personal  property,  $125,164.  But  this  can  be 
hardly  more  than  an  earnest  of  what  is  yet  to  be  attained  here  in  point 
of  wealth.  Besides  all  this  there  has  grown  up  a  busy  village  with  excel- 
lent buildings  and  enterprising  merchants.  The  first  hotel,  opened  by 
H.  E.  Wright  in  1854,  has  given  place  to  the  excellent  house  of  Mrs. 
Robt.  Hammond.  The  business  of  blacksmith  shop  of  Xorton  Griffith, 
established  in  1853,  the  wagon  shop,  opened  by  W.  C.  Gray  in  1855, 
has  been  augmented  by  the  beautiful  drug  store  of  Dr.  Jas.  H.  Sevier, 


PREEMPTION    TOWNSHIP.  707 

the  exteiivsive  general  store  of  IVm.  Hammond,  Mr.  Brigg's  grocery, 
the  large  mill  operated  by  Mr.  Carver,  the  lumber  yard,  and  the 
creamery,  controlled  respectively  by  J.  E.  Otto,  and  D.  W.  Little. 
From  this  list  must  not  be  omitted  the  name  of  the  veteran  merchant, 
Mr.  Phillip  E.  Stevens,  successor  with  Mr.  Wright  to  Messrs.  Whar- 
ton &  Crawford,  the  Urst  general  merchants  of  the  township. 

The  titles  to  the  lands  occupied  by  the  early  settlers  upon  the  tract 
lying  between  the  Illinois  and  Mississippi  rivers,  upon  the  security  of 
which  depended  so  largely  the  prosperity  and  peace  of  the  settlement, 
were  not  established  without  difficulty  and  the  exercise  of  much  de- 
cision and  courage  on  the  part  of  the  j^ioneers.  At  the  time  the 
settlers  came  the  land  had  not  been  oifered  for  sale,  and  there  were 
no  preemption  or  other  laws  to  protect  the  settlers  in  their  claims  and 
improvements.  Two  classes  of  persons  sought  to  take  advantage  of 
this  to  reap  profits  of  the  frontiersman's  sacrifices  and  labors, —  the 
claim-jumper  and  the  moneyed  speculator.  The  former  sought  to 
obtain  a  claim  upon  land  already  occupied  and  improved  by  settling 
upon  it ;  the  latter  by  bidding  against  the  settlers  at  the  ])ublic  land 
sales.  This  conflict  of  claims  had  been  the  fruitful  source  of  serious 
difficulties  and  the  occasion  of  some  murders.  To  prevent  any  such 
trouble,  the  settlers  of  Preemption  and  some  other  townships  formed 
an  association  for  mutual  protection.  One  of  their  number,  Mr.  Hop- 
kins Boone,  was  chosen  recorder,  and  the  claim  of  each  settler  duly 
recorded,  according  to  its  location  on  the  prairie;  each  settler,  more- 
over, being  limited  in  the  size  of  his  claim  to  a  reasonable  amount  of 
land.  Previous  to  the  sale  of  the  lands  of  this  township,  two  claims 
were  "jumped."  In  both  cases  the  settlers  at  once  sent  a  committee 
and  ordered  the  parties  to  "leave  the  diggius."  They  left.  The  land 
of  Preemption  township  came  into  market  October  30,  1S44,  the  last 
of  Mercer  county  to  be  sold.  The  fact  that  prior  to  this  sale  the  set- 
tlers of  this  township  held  their  homes  under  the  preemption  law,  gave 
it  its  name — Preemption. 

For  voting  purposes,  this  section  belonged  to  the  Pichland  (Irove 
precinet.  It  is  related  that  at  the  presidential  election  of  1836,  tlie 
people  of  this  precinct  gathered  to  vote ;  but  vainly  had  they  come, 
for  no  one  knew  wlio  were  the  electors.  Converting  their  disappoint- 
ment into  a  resolve  that  some  one  in  the  settlement  must  take  a  news- 
paper thereafter,  they  had  a  neighborly  chat  and  went  home.  That 
they  were  so  far  neglected  by  the  solicitous  politician  is  most  con- 
vincing proof  of  their  complete  isolation.  The  first  election  in  the 
township  was  held  the  following  year,  at  Hopkins  Boone's  residence. 
The  township  organization  was  effected  in  1854.     The  officers  elected 


(08 


HISTORY    OF    MERCEB   AND    HENDERSON    rOUNTIES. 


at  this  and  the  successive  elections  are  given  in  the  following  list, 
furnished  bj  the  courtesy  of  Mr.  Thomas  L.  Johnson,  appointed,  at 
the  last  town  meeting,  clerk,  in  place  of  Mr.  R.  J,  Stewart,  during  the 
latter's  illness : 


The  life  of  the  pioneer  was  not  undarkened  by  domestic  sorrow,  nor 
unbrightened  by  domestic  joys.  The  minister  of  the  little  settlement 
early  found  occasion  to  share  the  sorrows  and  the  joys  of  his  neigh- 
bors, to  oiFer  the  consolations  of  religion  to  the  bereaved,  to  extend  his 
congratulations  and  god-speed  to  those  who  in  marriage  had  united 
heart  and  hand  to  subdue  tlie  wilderness,  and  make  it  blossom  as  the 
rose. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hopkins  Boone  first  claimed  the  pastor's  tender  ser- 
vices in  the  burial  in  this  lonely  place  of  their  infant  son.  They,  too, 
were  the  first  to  hail  tlie  birth  of  a  child,  a  daughter,  who  lived  to 
grow  up  in  the  old  homestead,  to  assist  her  parents  in  their  hardships, 
and,  with  Mr.  Geddes,  to  make  another  home. 

With  all  their  hard  labors,  these  pioneers  still  found  time  to  woo 
and  win  the  fair  daughters  of  their  neighbors.  Scarcely  the  second 
winter  passed  since  John  Farlow  built  his  cabin  on  the  banks  of  the 
Edwards  river,  when  (in  a  figure)  the  first  wedding  bells  called  to  the 
marriage  of  Susan,  daughter  of  James  and  Hannah  Boone,  to  Dr.  Joseph 
S.  Mans,  of  Pekin,  Illinois.  In  1838  another  daughter  became  the 
helpmeet  of  Mr.  Alfred  Perry. 


\ 


PREEMPTION    TOWNSHIP.  709 

Rapid  and  absorbing  as  lias  .been  the  material  development  of  this 
township,  the  claims  of  religion  have  not  been  neglected.  Among 
the  tirst  settlers  was  a  Presbyterian  minister,  Rev.  John  Montgomery, 
who  became  pastor  of  the  first  chui'ch  in  the  comnnmity,  organized 
at  Farlow's  Grove  in  1889,  with  the  following  constituent  members  : 
Elder  John  Linn  and  wife,  Elder  Robert  Stewart,  wife  and  two 
daughters,  Elder  Barrows  and  daughter,  Sanmel  AVhan  and  wife, 
,Mrs.  H.  Boone,  Mr.  Black  and  wife,  and  others.  In  1843,  John 
Montgomery,  now  deceased,  was  followed  in  the  pastorate  of  the 
church  by  Thomas  S.  Yale,  a  very  talented  man  from  Princeton 
college.  He  remained  until  about  184(5,  when  he  was  succeeded 
by  Rev.  L.  B.  Crittenden,  who  continued  as  pastor  till  about  1850. 
About  this  time,  Mr.  John  Whitsitt,  who  had  been  ordained  as 
elder  in  1845,  removed  his  membership  to  Rock  Island,  where  his 
children  were  at  school.  In  1867,  Mr.  Whitsitt's  energy  procured  a 
church-building  on  his  farm  adjoining  the  village  of  Preemption. 
Here  in  1868  a  church  was  organized  with  John  Whitsitt,  Hugh  Liv- 
ingstone, and  James  Henry  as  elders,  of  whom  the  latter  two  were 
elected  and  ordained  at  this  time,  the  iirst  named  having  been  ordain- 
ed vears  before  at  Farlow's  G-rove.  For  manv  years  this  church  flour- 
ished,  having  in  its  membership  a  number  of  the  very  best  citizens  of 
Preemption  townshij).  In  1881  an  unfortunate  controversy  arose, 
which  has  severely  injured  the  organization.  The  society  now  hold 
services  in  Hammond's  Hall.  The  church  at  Farlow's  Grove  still 
exists,  though  less  vigorous  than  informer  years.  They  have  no  settled 
pastor  but  have  occasional  preaching. 

METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH. 

The  first  Methodist  society  in  the  township  of  Preemption  was 
organized  in  the  year  1841,  at  the  house  of  Mr.  Benjamin  Clarke,  with 
six  members,  viz :  Benjamin  Clarke  (leader)  and  wife,  David  Little 
and  wife,  Andrew  Gilmore,  and  Margaret  Gilmore.  They  held  their 
meetings  at  this  place  until  1846,  when  a  house  of  worship  was  built, 
under  the  following  circumstances:  Judge  Savage,  who  had  been  in 
this  section  looking  after  his  real  estate  interests,  observing  the  lack 
of  means  for  the  development  of  either  or  both  educational  and  re- 
ligious interests,  and  believing,  as  do  all  intelligent  men,  that  through 
these  mediums  only  come  true  prosperity  and  the  successful  building 
up  of  a  new  country,  he  deposited  in  Rock  Island  $50  to  be  used  in 
building  a  house  for  church  and  school  purposes.  This  fact  Mr. 
Savage  communicated  to  John  Whitsitt,  who  soon  after  conferred  with 
Mr.  C.  A,  Spring,  an  agent  of  the  American  Sunday  School  Union  of 


710  HISTORY    OF    ]MERUER    AND    IIE>rDERSOX    COUNTIES. 

ISTew  York,  wlio  was  then  here  in  the  interest  of  that  society.  Through 
Mr.  Spring's  infiiience  Mr.  Lemuel  Brewster,  a  benevolent  gentleman 
in  New  York,  was  induced  to  build  three  houses  here,  one  at  Farlow's 
Grove  in  section  34,  one  at  Preemption  Corners  in  section  11,  and  one 
in  Rock  Island  countv  ;  the  $50  donated  by  Judge  Savage  was  finally 
used  in  improving  and  fencing  the  Union  cemetery  at  Farlow's  Grove. 
In  this  house  at  Preemption  the  Methodists  worshiped  until  they  erect- 
ed their  present  commodious  church  edifice  on  the  southwest  corner  , 
of  David  Little's  farm  in  section  2,  adjoining  the  village  of  Preemption, 
in  1867.  The  old  building  is  still  (and  may  it  for  many  years  to  come) 
standing  as  a  memorial  to  the  memory  of  its  benevolent  buildei*. 

The  perusal  of  the  following  pages  will  be  the  evidence  of  how  the 
All-wise  Ruler  of  all  things  crowned  these  early,  yet  feeble,  efforts 
with  success.  Reverting  in  the  history  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal, 
church  to  1865,  we  find  it  in  charge  of  Rev.  Amos  Morey  as  pastor, 
with  101  members  and  fourteen  probationers.  Rev.  Mr.  Morey  filled 
this  position  up  to  1868,  when  he  reported  three  preaching  places,  123 
members  and  nineteen  probationers,  a  church  worth  $3,000,  and  •a 
comfortable  parsonage.  The  pastors  succeeding  him  were :  M.  P. 
Armstrong,  W.  M.  Sedore,  and  J.  E.  Rutledge  (each  one  year),  J.  Q. 
Adams  (three  years),  Thomas  Watson  (two  years),  Charles  Atherton 
(two  years),  who  was  assisted  in  his  last  year  by  Frank  Doran.  At 
the  close  of  the  conference  year  of  1878,  the  charge  was  divided,  Rey- 
nolds taking  all  the  otlier  appointments,  leaving  Preemption  alone, 
tacitly  a  station  without  am^  outside  appointments,  ninety-six  members 
and  three  church  buildings  going  to  the  Reynolds  circuit,  while  fifty- 
nine  members,  one  church  and  tlie  parsonage  were  left  with  Pre- 
emption. 

.In  1879  Rev.  Thomas  Watson  was  for  the  second  time  appointed 
to  this  charge.  He  died  the  May  folh^wing,  and  his  time  was  filled 
out  by  W.  C.  Knapp  and  the  Rev.  B.  C.  Dennis.  In  1880  brother 
B.  C.  Dennis  became  pastor  in  charge,  retaining  the  same  three  years, 
whicli  is  the  full  extent  of  time  allowed  by  the  conference  on  one 
charge.  During  the  broken  year  above  referred  to  no  change  numeri- 
ically  was  made,  but  during  the  last  three  years  of  Brother  Dennis' 
labors  tlie  membership  has  grown  from  fifty-nine  to  eighty-six. 

The  Sunday  school  is  in  a  specially  flourishing  condition,  and  at 
the  present  time  (1882)  larger  than  any  ever  before  held  in  the  town- 
ship. The  charge  is  one  of  the  best  patrons,  per  member,  of  the 
missionary- and  other  benevolent  societies  of  any  church  in  the  bounds 
of  the  conference,  if  not  of  the  state.  Their  missionary  collections  for 
the  year  1881  were  $3,000,  and  during  the  last  two  years  the  benevo- 


PREEMI^ION    TOWNSHII'.  711 

lent  collections  of  the  charge  have  averag-ed  considerably  over  $11  per 
member,  while  home  expenses  are  all  paid  up  promptly  in  advance, 
all  of  which  grows  (jut  of  the  fact  that  a  few  of  the  leading  liberal  and 
wealthy  men  in  the  community  appreciate  the  value  of  the  church  and 
the  beneiits  of  its  benign  influence. 

Of  the  church  history  from  18-15  to  1865  nothing  authentic  could  be 
obtained,  as  there  are  no  records  earlier  than  the  latter  date,  and  the 
only  pa)"ty  now  living  who  could  give  any  reliable  information  stub- 
bornly i-efused  to  do  so. 

ST.  JOSEPH  ('ATHOLIC  ciinicii. 

Quite  early  in  the  history  of  Preemption  township,  the  (Jonways, 
Odays,  lirenens,  and  a  few  others  of  the  Catholic  faith,  settled  in  and 
around  the  southeast  part  of  the  township,  and  to  them  occasionall}' 
priests  from  Rock  Island  would  come  and  minister,  holding  meetings  at 
the  cabins  of  the  early  settlers.  This  was  continued  up  to  1875,  when 
steps  were  taken  to  l)uil(l  a  church,  which  was  soon  accomplished.  On 
January  23,  1875,  a  subscription  was  drawn  up  by  Daniel  Mack,  who 
subscribed  $100.  This  was  followed  by  several  other  $100  subscrip- 
tions. The  Macks,  the  Conways,  the  McManises,  the  Dooleys,  and 
tlie  Lucuses,  leading.  Many  of  what  might  be  termed  outsiders  and 
members  of  other  churches  also  lent  a  hel])ing  hand  to  the  enterprise ; 
foremost  among  whom  was  William  W.  Johnston,  who  donated  twenty- 
five  dollars.  On  January  30,  1875,  the  contract  to  build  a  church,  in 
size  30  X  42,  of  good  material,  with  stone  foundation,  was  let  to  Mathias 
Schnell,  who  completed  the  work  the  following  July. 

On  September  9,  1875,  the  church  was  dedicated  by  Rev.  Father 
I.  P.  Rowles.  The  edifice  cost  $1,600,  which  was  promptly  paid.  In 
1878  a  vestry,  12x1-1  feet  was  added,  at  a  cost  of  $166.  Tlie  building 
now  presents  a  neat  and  substantial  appearance,  and  the  interior  outfit 
and  finish  would  do  credit  to  an  older  and  wealthier  congregation. 
They  now  have  a  membership  of  about  thirty  families,  and  have  ser- 
vices every  alternate  Sabbath.  Their  ])astor  is  a  resident  of  Keiths- 
burg,  and  as  both  this  and  the  Keithsburg  church  are  one  charge, 
reference  may  be  had  to  the  history  of  that  church  for  the  names  of  the 
past  and  present  officiating  priests.  This,  like  all  other  Catholic  church 
pro}>erty,  is  vested  in  their  bishop. 

THE  EPISCOPAL  CHrRCII. 

The  first  clergyman  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church  who  per- 
formed mission  labor  in  Preemption  townshi]).  was  Rev.  Jacob  S. 
C^hamberlain,  who  was  called  in  the  month  of  December  to  minister  to 


712  HISTORY    OF    MERCEK    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

the  spiritual  wants  of  Mrs.  Rachel  Johnston,  the  wife  of  Joseph  John- 
ston, Jr.,  who  was  at  the  time  on  her  death  bed.  This  was  his  intro- 
duction as  missionary  in  this  field.  Early  in  the  spring  of  1868,  Rev. 
Chamberlain  commenced  active  missionary  work,  which  resulted  in 
1869  in  the  erection  of  the  present  church  building  on  land  deeded  by 
Robert  Foster  and  wife  to  James  Johnston,  William  Johnston,  Thomas 
Armstrong,  and  Thomas  Doonan,  trustees,  and  described  as  a  part  of 
Sec.  4,  T.  15,  R.  2  W.,  bearing  date  of  June  1,  1869;  consideration 
$100.  Rev.  Chamberlain  closed  his  labors  in  this  field,  as  missionary, 
in  August,  1871. 

In  October,  1872.  Rev.  Wm.  Thomas  Currie  was  appointed  mis- 
sionary in  the  same  field,  and  continued  his  labors  until  October  1, 
1875.  On  Septembei-  6,  1874,  permission  was  obtained  from  the 
standing  committee  of  the  diocese  of  Illinois  to  organize  a  parish,  and 
on  October  19,  1874,  a  meeting  was  held  in  the  church,  a  parish 
organized,  and  officers  duly  elected,  consisting  of  wardens  and  vestry- 
men, as  follows :  William  H.  Johnston,  John  Manes,  and  Thomas 
Doonan,  wardens ;  Thomas  L.  Johnston,  George  Clark,  and  Robert 
Hix,  vestrymen.  The  organization  to  be  known  as  St.  John's  Parish, 
of  Preemption,  Illinois.  Shortly  after  the  termination  of  the  labors  of 
Rev.  Mr.  Currie,  as  missionary,  the  Rev.  T.  M.  Thorp  was  called  to 
the  rectorship  of  the  parish,  but  resigned  in  the  spring  of  1877.  Rev. 
N.  P.  Chariot  was  elected  as  the  rector  by  the  wardens  and  vestrymen 
in  May,  1877,  and  entered  upon  his  duties  as  such  July  1,  1877,  and 
resigned,  after  a  labor  of  five  years,  on  July  1,  1882.  The  present 
membership  is  small,  and  but  little  interest  seems  to  be  manifested  by 
them  in  matters  pertaining  to  religion. 

MASONIC. 

Preemption  Lodge,  No.  755,  A.F.A.M.,  was  organized  June  27, 
1877,  under  dispensation,  and  so  held  meetings  till  October  21  of  the 
same  year,  when  they  received  their  charter  fnnn  the  grand  lodge. 
The  charter  members  were  W.  C.  Gray,  Henry  II.  Ilayford,  James  H. 
Seyler,  H.  II.  Hammond,  Wm.  Steinhauer,  Geo.  Bartlett,  B.  W. 
Thompson,  J.  B.  Harris,  jr.,  Wm.  H.  Hickock,  Samuel  Bailey,  S.  F. 
Everett,  Geo.  C.  Gray,  Leander  Stiles,  John  Weiler. 

The  following  officers  were  appointed  under  dispensation  and  elected 
when  organized  and  chartered:  Wm.  C.  Gray,  W.M. ;  James  H. 
Seyler,  S.W.;  Joseph  B.  Harris,  J.AV.;  B.  W.  Thompson,  S.D.; 
Samuel  Bailey,  J.D. ;  S.  E.  Everett,  Treasurer;  H.  H.  JIayford,  Sec- 
retary; II.  H.  Hammond,  Tyler;  Geo.  C.  Gray  and  John  Weiler, 
Stewards.     They  now  have  a  membershi]^  of  twenty-six,  with  seven  on 


PREEMPTION    TOWNSHIP.  718 

the  way  to  full  membership.  The  lodge  is  in  a  flourishing  condition, 
with  the  present  board  of  ofticers  :  James  II.  Seyler,  W.M. ;  W.  J. 
Armstrong,  S.W. ;  H.  H.  Hammond,  J.W. ;  "Wm.  Steinhauer,  Treas- 
urer ;  W.  W.  Hickock,  Secretary.  Regular  meetings  are  held  on  Fri- 
day evenings  on  or  before  full  moon  in  each  month.  They  have  lost 
one  member  by  death,  Bro.  Geo.  Bartlett,  who  died  in  Kansas  in  1S81. 

ORANGEMEN. 

Preemption  Loyal  Orange  Lodge  No.  132,  was  organized  Jidy  8, 
1870,  by  Matthew  Mayne,  of  Chicago,  with  the  followng  charter  mem- 
bers :  James  Connelly,  W.M. ;  Thomas  Doonan,  Deputy  W.M. ;  Wm. 
Holden,  Secretary  ;  John  Holden,  Treasurer  ;  Wm.  Wilson,  Chap- 
lain ;  Thomas  Wilson,  Tyler  ;  and  Thomas  J.  Armstrong,  James 
Gawley,  James  F.  Johnston,  Robei-t  Wadsworth,  George  Wadsworth, 
John  Wadsworth,  James  R.  Doonan,  James  Allwell,  John  H.  Johns- 
ton :  in  all  iifteen.     There  is  now  a  membership  of  forty. 

The  flrst  year  they  held  their  meetings  in  the  school-house  of  district 
No.  2,  after  which  they  built  a  hall  on  the  farm  of  Joseph  B.  Johnston, 
about  two  miles  west  of  the  village  of  Preemption.  D.  W.  Little  is  the 
present  secretary.  Their  established  holiday  is  on  the  twelfth  of  July, 
when  they  meet,  as  is  to  them  a  time  honored  custom,  and  with  sing- 
ing, speaking  and  martial  music  commemorate  the  day  when  prot- 
estantism gained  the  ascendancy  in  Ireland  at  the  battle  of  the  Boyne 
in  1690. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  first  school  was  taught  at  Farlow's  Grove  by  Miss  Boone,  and 
the  second  at  Preemption  corner,  on  section  11,  in  the  house  built  by 
Mr.  Brewster,  spoken  of  in  connection  with  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  history.  At  the  present  writing  there  are  a  goodly  number  of 
well  patronized  schools  in  the  township.  The  houses  are  neatly  built 
and  present  a  very  attractive  appearance  to  the  traveler  as  he  turns 
at  many  of  the  section  corners  or  cross  roads. 

.    BIOGRAPHICAL. 

In  closing  this  brief  sketch,  some  little  mention  nmst  be  made  of 
the  few  noble  men  who  were  to  some  extent  the  founders  of  this 
flourishing  section.  John  Farlow  remained  here  but  a  short  tinie  when 
he  sold  his  claim  to  James  Boone,  made  a  short  move,  died  a  few 
years  later,  and  his  family  went,  in  181:7,  with  the  Millers,  to  Oregon, 
where  they  still  reside.  James  Boone  died  here  in  1842,  and  his  faith- 
ful wife  in  1858.  Hopkins  Boone  enjoys  the  ])rosperity  his  early  sacri- 
flces  merit,  living  in  his  comfortable  home  in  the  village  of  Viola.     A 


714  HISTORY    OF    MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

fuller  account  of  this  worthy  gentleman  will  be  found  in  the  history  of 
that  place.  Eev.  Joseph  Jones  died  here  some  years  after  his  settle- 
ment. A  daughter  of  his,  now  Mrs.  Joseph  Pitman,  still  resides 
here.  Benjamin  Clarke  died  here  in  18-14,  and  his  family  still  reside 
on  the  farm  first  entered.  David  Little,  now  the  largest  land  owner  in 
the  township,  if  not  in  the  county,  is  still  living  on  his  iirst  purchase. 
He  was  born  in  county  Fermanagh,  Ireland,  in  1815,  and  came  to 
America  in  1834,  and  started  without  means  except  a  pair  of  willing 
hands  and  a  determined  will.  In  addition  to  the  accumulation  of  a  large 
amount  of  property,  he  has  reared  a  very  interesting  and  prosperous 
family  of  eight  children,  five  only  of  wh(^ni  are  now  living.  His  oldest 
son,  William  F.,  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Prairie  Grove,  iVrkansas,  dur- 
ing the  late  war.  Of  ( 'liarles  Minick,  and  John  Bierbeau,  nothing  was 
ascertained.  Among  the  successful  and  hardy  pioimers  may  be  men- 
tioned Mr.  .1.  Conway,  who  settled  and  now  owns  a  large  farm  in  the 
southwest  part  of  the  township.  W.  W.  Johnston  also  came  in  an 
early  day,  and  has  since  become  one  of  the  large  real  estate  owners  not 
only  in  this  township,  but  also  in  Rock  Island  county.  Wm.  H.  John- 
ston, too,  will  be  remembered  as  among  the  industrious  and  enterpris- 
ing farmers  of  Preemption  township  and  for  many  years  its  supervisor. 
He  was  born  in  county  Fermanagh,  Ireland,  in  1819,  came  to  this 
township  iu  1848,  and  settled  on  section  16,  where  he  now  resides. 
Among  the  more  public  spirited  and  push-a-head  men  who  came  in  an 
early  day  to  this  township,  may  be  mentioned  Mr.  John  Whitsitt.  He 
settled  here  on  section  2,  in  1844,  and  has  devoted  much  of  his  time  to 
improving  and  beautifving  his  home.  He  has,  for  a  number  of  years, 
been  turning  his  attention  to  breeding  thoroughbred  short  hoi'ned  cat- 
tle. Judge  Wm.  Wilmerton,  whose  name  has  been  so  familiar  to  his 
fellow  citizens  since  his  coming,  in  184i^,  enjoys  the  honor  and  respect 
his  straightforward  course  has  merited.  A  full  biography  of  him  will 
be  found  in  its  proper  place. 

In  closing,  we  desire  to  mention  also  some  of  the  fine  farms  and 
residences  which  characterize  the  township.  First  among  these  we 
mention  the  beautiful  home  of  Mr.  Samuel  F.  Everett,  who  came  from 
Ohio  in  1852,  and  entered  lands  in  sections  18  and  20.  His  house  was 
erected  at  a  cost  of  $6,000,  and  is  acknowledged  the  finest  in  the  town- 
ship, and  among  the  finest  in  the  county.  Less  costly,  but  very 
elegant,  are  the  residences  of  Judge  Wilmerton,  George  Smith,  John  Y. 
Johnson,  Thomas  L.  Johnson,  D.  W.  Little.  That  so  many  residences 
are  worthy  of  special  mention  leaves  no  room  for  further  comment,  or 
prophecy  as  to  its  future  prosperity. 

William  Wilmerton  is  an  example  of  those  men  who  stand  out  as 


PREEMPTION    TOAVNSIIIP.  715 

landmarks  to  rising  young  men  to  direct  and  invite  to  success,  even 
though  life  begin  in  most  straitened  circumstances.  Many  a  poor  boy 
has  worn  the  honors,  civic  or  financial,  'ere  gray  hairs  counted  his 
allotted  years.  William  Wilmerton  was  born  May  1,  1822,  in  New 
Jersey.  He  is  the  son  of  Fenimore  and  Permila  (Van  Kirk)  Wilmer- 
ton. His  father  was  a  cousin  to  the  celebrated  American  author, 
J.  Fenimore  Cooper,  founder  of  Cooperstown.  His  father  died  soon 
after  his  (William's)  birth,  so  that  the  boy  was  left  to  the  cold  graces 
of  the  world.  At  the  age  of  six  years  he  found  a  home  with  a  Quaker 
family,  with  whom  he  remained  till  quite  able  to  support  himself.  He 
then  became  a  common  laborer  at  whatever  might  offei*,  applying  his 
earnings  to  the  acquirement  of  an  education.  He  attended  college 
some  years,  gaining  a  good  fund  of  general  information.  In  the  sum- 
mer of  181:2  he  made  his  way  to  Preemption  township,  Mercer  county, 
Illinois.  The  first  summer  he  spent  in  prospecting  foi*  a  location  suita- 
ble to  general  purposes.  He  taught  school  the  first  winter.  He 
bought  a  surveyor's  outfit  and  engaged  in  surveying  for  some  time. 
His  first  purchase  was  eighty  acres  of  land,  necessitating  the  expendi- 
ture of  all  he  had.  He  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  in  1846,  which 
office  lie  filled  for  over  twenty  years,  doing  a  very  extensive  business. 
His  business  was  largely  making  collections.  This  was  before  the  days 
of  so  many  banks.  He  was  trusted  by  everybody  and  performed  his 
business  with  satisfaction  to  all.  He  also  served  four  years  as  judge. 
He  has  accumulated  his  savings  and  his  earnings  till  he  now  owns 
more  than  1,000  acres  of  land,  a  mark  of  his  unusual  success.  Just 
subsequent  to  the  war  he  was  commissioned  an  attorne}^  that  he  might 
prosecute  soldiers'  claims  without  the  certificate  of  a  regular  attorney 
living  at  a  distance.  Mr.  Wilmerton  was  married  December  10,  1850, 
to  Miss.  Khoda  A.  Kelsey,  a  native  of  New  York  state.  They  have 
three  children :  Louisa  (wife  of  N.  J.  McDonald,  of  Davenport,  Iowa), 
Frank  (real  estate  agent  in  La  Mars,  Iowa),  and  William  W,  (at  home). 
Prior  to  the  war  Mr.  Wilmerton  was. democratic  in  politics  ;  since  that 
time  he  has  voted  independently. 

The  family  of  John  Whitsitt  originated  in  Scotland,  but  his  more 
recent  ancestors  were  natives  of  Ireland.  His  father  was  Benjamin 
Whitsitt  of  county  Fermanagh,  in  the  province  of  Ulster.  His 
mother's  maiden  name  was  Sarah  Fitzgerald.  He  was  a  land  proprie- 
tor, and  also  engaged  in  mercantile  and  milling  business.  There 
were  eleven  cliildren,  of  whom  only  now  are  living  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  and  his  sister,  Margaret  J.  (married  to  Mr.  J.  C.  Morehead),  in 
Ireland.  In  1871,  his  father  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years,  and 
his  mother  many  years  previous,  when  forty-eight  years  of  age.      A 


716  HISTORY    OF   arERCEK   AND-  HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

second  wife  still  survives  the  eldest  Mr.  Wliitsitt  in  the  country  of  their 
birth.  Mr.  John  Wliitsitt,  the  second  son,  fourth  child,  was  born  in 
Rosslea,  Fermanagh  county,  Ireland,  June,  7,  1816.  He  was  reared 
with  good  advantages  of  education  for  business  purposes,  and  also 
made  familiar  with  farming  and  stock  raising.  He  was  married 
August  12,  1836,  to  Miss  Eliza  Henrey,  a  native  of  Monaghan  county, 
Ireland,  and  of  Scotch  ancestry.  In  1844  Mr.  Wliitsitt  and  family 
sailed  from  Liverpool  for  New  Orleans,  where  they  arrived  after  a 
forty -three  days'  passage,  and  from  that  place  by  river  to  St.  Louis  and 
thence  to  Rock  Island.  He  selected  land  in  section  3,  Preemption 
township,  and  bought  the  claim  of  Ezekiel  Morey,  and  entered  the 
same  at  the  land  office  in  Dixon.  All  the  rest  of  his  present  premises 
of  600  acres,  he  bought,  excepting  forty,  at  various  prices  from  time  to 
time.  The  dairy  business  first  occupied  them,  and  their  product  was 
carried  to  Rock  Island  and  shipped  to  Galena,  then  crowded  with 
miners  and  abounding  with  wealth.  When  help  was  absent  Mr.  Wliit- 
sitt and  wife  have  milked  twenty  cows  per  day,  and  it  is  not  surpris- 
ing that  the  energy  and  ])rudence  thus  exhibited  brought  wealth  and 
comfort  in  their  train.  Their  brand  of  butter  always  commanded  the 
highest  market  price,  and  tlieir  commission  merchants,  Messrs.  Camp- 
bell &  Smith,  were  always  anxious  to  handle  their  article.  In  the 
course  of  ten  years  Mr.  Wliitsitt  began  to  make  a  specialty  of  handling 
blooded  cattle,  and  he  was  one  of  the  first  in  this  region  to  appreciate 
the  importance  of  this  interest.  He  brought  on  his  farm  some  choice 
selections  from  Mr.  Alexander's  celebrated  Kentucky  herds.  He  has 
disposed  of  many  fine  cattle  at  private  and  public  sale,  and  has  at 
present  some  whose  pedigrees  are  traced  back  to  imported  stock  and 
entered  in  the  American  Herd  Book,  Vol.  XIII.  In  1875  he  had  on  his 
place  two-year  old  and  coming  three,  cattle  that  weighed  1,600  lbs.  and 
upward.  Misses  Elizabeth  and  Sarah,  his  two  daughters,  are  living 
with  their  ])arents  in  their  happy  home  near  the  village  of  Preemption. 
A  son,  Benjamin,  the  oldest,  who  is  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Bitty, 
is  living  near  them  on  a  part  of  the  original  home  farm,  and  another 
son,  Richard  H.  (married  to  Miss  Henrietta  Fitzgerald),  also  lives 
upon  a  porfion  of  his  father's  place.  Both  sons  have  had  a  due 
appointment  from  their  father  upon  their  outstart  in  life.  There  were 
two  children  additional  to  the  above  named  born  to  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Wliitsitt,  now  deceased  ;  one  was  an  infant,  Robert,  and  the  other  a 
daughter,  Mary  Ann,  who  died  in  Illinois  in  her  fourteenth  year,  and 
whose  funeral-mound  grows  green  beneath  the  orchard  trees  of  her 
early  home.  Mr.  Wliitsitt  has  never  been  a  politician,  but  has  always 
held  decided  views  upon  the  leading  questions  of  the  day.    He  was  not 


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PKEEMPTION    TOWXSIIIP.  719 

a  republican,  Ijut  when  the  question  of  supporting  the  administration 
of  his  adopted  country  came  up  against  the  other  issues  of  rebellion, 
Mr.  AY.  was  on  the  side  of  the  union  with  his  money  and  influence  to 
assist  in  tilling  up  the  quota  of  the  township.  His  personal  integrity  and 
worth  were  always  recognized  by  his  neighbors,  so  that  for  four  terms 
he  was  returned  as  supervisor  of  his  township  when  the  party  with 
which  he  was  identified  was  always  in  a  two-thirds  minority.  With 
Mrs.  Whitsitt,  who  has  always  been  a  devoted  wife  and  mother,  and 
partner  in  all  the  plans  and  purposes  of  his  life,  he  visited  the  home 
and  the  scenes  of  her  early  years.  Mr.  Whitsitt's  affections  and  duty 
are  fidly  given  to  the  country  of  his  adoption.  They  are  connected 
with  the  Presbyterian  church,  that  stands  on  land  donated  by  Mr. 
Whitsitt  upon  a  corner  of  his  farm.  *  • 

Samuel  F.  Everett  was  born  in  Marion  county,  Ohio,  February 
12,  1831:.  He  is  the  son  of  Samuel  F.  and  Sarah  (Karr)  Everett.  His 
father  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  of  Scotch  and  Irish  ancestry,  while 
his  mother  was  born  in  Meigs  county,  Ohio.  He  was  reared  on  a 
farm  where  he  enjoyed  the  advantages  of  good  schools,  finishing  his 
education  with  a  course  at  the  Marion  academy.  In  the  spring  of 
1852  he  came  on  a  prospecting  tour  to  Illinois.  Liking  the  land,  and 
other  advantages  being  equal,  he  entered  a  half  section  in  sections  18 
and  20,  Preemption  township,  Mercer  county,  and  returned  to  Ohio. 
In  the  fall  of  tlie  same  year,  in  com]")any  with  his  mother,  sister  and 
sister's  husband,  G.  D.  Miller,  he  came  by  team  to  the  new  home. 
After  his  arrival  here  he  at  once  began  to  make  and  improve  his  home, 
which  is  now  one  of  the  most  pleasant  in  this  part  of  Mercer  county, 
having,  in  1880,  built  a  very  fine  and  beautiful  residence,  at  a  cost  of 
about  $6,000.  His  real  estate  comprises  550  acres.  June  4,  1872,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  E.  McHard,  a  daughter  of 
William  and  Mary  McIIard.  She  was  born  in  Mercer  county,  Illinois, 
January  5,  18-10,  and  is  one  among  the  first  born  here  now  living. 
They  are  the  parents  of  two  children,  William  R.,  and  Sarah  R.  Mr. 
Everett's  father  died  in  Ohio  about  1842,  and  his  mother  died  at  his 
home  in  this  township  in  the  winter  of  1868.  Mr.  Everett  is  now 
actively  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising.  He  is  now  filling  his 
second  term  of  supervisor. 

As  a  man  who  not  only  merits  but  enjoys  the  respect  and  confidence 
of  his  fellow  citizens,  David  Andeew  Ci.aeke  occupies  no  second 
place.  He  was  born  October  24,  1835,  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania, 
where  his  parents  were  married  October  31,  1834.  In  1838  they  came 
to  Mercer  county^,  Illinois,  and  pennanently  located  on  Sec.  1,  T.  15, 
R.  2,  Preemption,  and  there  Mr.  Clarke,  David's  father,  died  in  1844, 
41 


720  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AJSTD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

leaving,  besides  his  wife  who  still  survives,  live  children,  three  of 
whom  are  living:  David  A.,  Maggie,  and  Mary  (wife  of  Henry  Ketzel, 
of  Perryton  township).  Those  deceased  were:  Jane  (who  died  in 
1866),  Henry  B.  (died  in  New  Orleans  aged  twenty  years,  during 
the  late  war,  a  victim  of  the  malarial  fevers  of  a  southern  clime). 
David  A.  now  owns  and  occupies  the  old  home  farm  of  860  acres,  and 
is  actively  engaged  in  stock  raising  and  farming.  He  served  the 
township  eight  years  as  clerk,  and  in  1876  was  elected  justice  of  the 
peace,  which  trust  and  honor  he  still  holds.  He  is  also  a  prominent 
member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  contributes  largely  of 
his  means  for  its  support  and  prosperity.  Himself  and  mother  have 
been  longer  residents  in  the  township  than  any  others  now  living 
Vitliin  its  borders.  His  father,  Benjamin  Clarke,  was  born  in  the 
county  Fermanagh,  Ireland,  in  1802,  and  was  reared  a  farmer,  follow- 
ing that  vocation  through  life.  His  mother  was  also  a  native  of  Ire- 
land. Mr.  Clarke  was  married  in  1864  to  Sarah  Ellen  Little,  daughter 
of  David  Little.     She  died  in  1865,  and  he  has  not  since  married. 

Jesse  Carver.  In  the  colony  founded  by  AVilliam  Penn  in  1682 
were  three  brothers  by  the  name  of  Carver.  One  of  these  (John 
Carver)  settled  in  that  part  afterward  set  oft'  as  Bucks  county,  Penn- 
sylvania. *  He  became  prominent  in  the  colonial  history  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. Jesse  Carver,  the  subject  of  these  lines,  is  the  son  of  John 
Carver  and  the  grandson  of  John  Carver,  and  a  descendant  of  the 
John  Carver  above  noted.  The  Carvers  were,  of  course,  Quakers  or 
Friends  in  early  days.  Jesse  Carver  was  born  in  Bucks  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, January  29,  1816.  His  education  was  limited  to  the  common 
school  of  his  day.  Farming  has  been  his  avocation  all  his  years,  hav- 
ing been  sufficiently  successful  to  save  a  competency  for  old  age.  He 
was  married  August  23,  1838,  to  Miss  Sarah  W.  Lewis.  She  was  bom 
March  10,  1810,  in  Bucks  county,  Pennsylvania.  She  is  connected 
with  the  Elicott  family,  thoroughly  wiitten  up  in  a  book  set  apart  to 
that  family  alone.  After  marriage  Mr.  Carver  rented  a  farm  near 
Buckingham,  Pennsylvania.  In  1851  he  emigrated  westward,  settling 
in  Preemption  township,  Mercer  count3%  Illinois,  where  he  entered 
land  in  section  14.  In  the  following  year  he  built  and  soon  moved 
into  his  own  house,  a  consummation  sought  for  many  years.  No 
longer  a  tenant  but  a  lord.  He  has  added  to  his  first  purchase  till  he 
owns  over  360  acres  of  good  land.  He  has  eight  children :  Watson  T., 
Letitia  L.  (now  Mrs.  Jackson  Thornton  of  Millersburg),  Readding  L., 
Thomas  E.,  Edward  W.,  Wintield  S.,  John  M.,  and  Marietta  (wife  of 
Hai-vey  T.  Trovillo). 

Readding  L.   Carver  was  born  in  Bucks  county,  Pennsylvania, 


PREEMPTION   TOWNSHIP.  721 

March  6,  1843.  He  has  spent  the  larger  i)art  of  his  life  in  Mercer 
county.  He  enlisted  in  Co.  C,  102d  reg.  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  August,  1862. 
lie  carried  the  colors  thi-ough  the  war  to  the  restoration  of  peace.  He 
was  wounded  at  Resacca,  Georgia,  having  three  teeth  shot  out  and  his 
mouth  badly  shattered.  His  career  is  the  career  of  the  102d  regiment. 
At  his  return  he  resumed  farming,  but  soon  engaged  in  the  manufac- 
ture of  sorghum.  In  187T,  at  the  solicitation  of  many  of  his  friends^ 
he  was  induced  to  embark  in  the  milling  business,  and  he  began  build- 
ing in  that  year  in  Pi-eemption.  His  mill  has  grown  from  incipiency 
to  flour  and  feed  mill,  general  machine  and  repair  shops,  and  grain 
elevator.  Mr.  Carver  was  married  June  19,  1S72,  to  Mrs.  Jane 
Geiger,  a  native  of  Ohio  and  daughter  of  William  David.  They  have 
live  children  :  William  D.,  Laura,  Emma  O.,  James  E.,  and  Jesse. 

Prominent  among  the  early  settlers,  and  members  of  the  Cath- 
olic church,  may  be  mentioned  Mr.  Joseph  Conway,  who  was  born 
in  county  Clare,  Ireland,  in  1826.  He  was  reared  to  the  pri)i- 
ciples  of  economy  and  indnstry.  He  emigrated  to  America  in  the 
summer  of  1816.  He  sailed  from  Limerick  June  25  in  the  sailing 
ship  Emma,  and  after  a  voyage  of  many  weeks  landed  in  Oswego- 
August  20.  For  the  following  six  years  he  applied  himself  to  any 
honorable  employment  which  would  turn  an  honest  penny.  In  the 
fall  of  1852  he  came  to  Rock  Island,  Illinois,  and  the  following  Feb- 
ruary put  his  axe  on  his  shoulder  and  walked  to  Preemption  township, 
and  began  to  improve  the  land  he  had  entered.  The  following  June 
he  received  the  patent  for  his  land,  signed  by  President  Pierce.  July 
10,  1851,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Bridget  Ayers,  a  native 
of  Ireland.  She  died  January  6,  1870,  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-nine 
years,  leaving,  besides  her  loving  husband,  six  children  to  mourn  her 
early  death.  The  children's  names,  in  the  order  of  their  birth,  are : 
Thomas,  Marguretta,  Joseph  Patrick,  Mary  A.,  Lizzie  (deceased),  and 
Martin  W.  Mr.  Conway,  since  the  death  of  his  companion,  has  re- 
mained single.  His  estimable  daughter  is  his  housekeeper,  and  cheers 
his  home  by  her  pleasant  and  affable  manner.  When  Mr.  Conway 
flrst  settled  on  section  30  in  this  township  he  had  but  $200 ;  money 
earned  in  this  country,  and  when  he  landed  at  Oswego,  ISTew  York,  he 
had  but  one-quarter  of  a  dollar.  But  honest  industry  has  its  reward^ 
and  lie  has  long  since  been  the  independent  owner  of  680  acres  ot 
land. 

John  Y.  Johnston  (deceased),  came  from  the  county  Fermanagh, 
Ireland,  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  in  the  spring  of  1864,  bringing 
with  him  his  wife,  Maiy,  and  two  children,  one  of  whom  was  born  to 
them  while  on  the  way.     They  permanently  located  in  Preemption 


722  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

township,  on  Sec.  9,  T.  15,  R.  2,  where  they  reared  a  family  of  six 
cliihh-en.  Mr.  Johnston  died  in  January,  1870,  and  Mrs.  Johnston 
Aug:ust  6,  1866.  James  Y.  Johnston,  their  second  child,  was  born  on 
the  Mississippi  river  in  April,  1846,  w^hile  on  their  way  from  Xew 
Orleans  to  Hock  Island.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  educated  in 
the  common  schools.  July  3,  1871,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Matilda, 
daughter  of  John  H.  and  Jane  (Welch)  Johnston.  She  w^as  born  in 
Preemption  township,  October  22,  1852.  They  are  the  parents  of 
three  children,  whose  names,  in  tlie  order  of  their  birth,  are  Nina  A., 
Henry  A.,  and  Mary  J.  Mr.  Johnston  now  owns  and  occupies  the  old 
home  farm  and  other  land  adjoining,  to  the  number  of  236  acres,  and 
is  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising. 

John  Y.  Johnston  is  a  son  of  William  AY.  and  Margaret  (Lipton) 
Johnston,  and  was  born  in  this  township,  April  1,  1857.  He  was 
reared  on  the  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools,  with  the 
additional  advantage  of  a  college  course  at  Abingdon,  Illinois,  and 
Davenport,  Iowa.  March  10,  1881,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Rebecca 
Johnston,  the  daughter  of  William  H.  and  Jane  (Allen)  Johnston  ;  she 
was  born  in  this  township,  February  7,  1859.  In  1881  Mr.  Johnston 
built  his  present  fine  residence  on  his  farm  on  the  K.  E.  J  of  Sec.  18. 
His  father  is  now  living  near  Reynolds,  in  the  northwest  part  of  Pre- 
emption township,  and  is  one  of  the  wealthy  land  owners  of  this  county, 
after  having  given  to  each  of  his  sons  a  good  farm. 

Thomas  L.  Johnston,  farmer  and  stock  raiser,  is  a  son  of  William 
W.  and  Margaret  (Lipton)  Johnston,  and  was  born  in  Rock  Island 
county,  Illinois,  November  16,  1848.  With  the  exception  of  from 
1852  to  1855,  with  his  parents  in  California,  his  years  have  been  spent 
in  Preemption  township,  actively  engaged  in  farming.  His  educational 
advantages  were  good  and  well  improved.  He  remained  at  home  with 
his  father  until  about  the  age  of  twenty-six  years,  and  was  well  re- 
warded by  the  gift  from  his  father  of  a  good  160  acre  farm ;  the  N.  E. 
^  of  Sec.  7,  on  which,  in  1880,  he  built  a  fine,  two-story  residence  at  a 
cost  of  over  S3,0(»0.  Julv  1,  1874,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  J. 
Goodner,  a  daughter  of  William  D.  and  Edith  J.  (Griswold)  Goodner. 
She  was  born  in  Indiana,  August  7,  1850,  and  came  with  her  parents 
to  Mercer  county,  in  1853.  They  are  the  parents  of  four  children : 
Edward  W.,  Edith  E.,  Maggie  B.,  and  an  infant.  Mr,  Johnston  is 
engaged  in  farming,  but  devotes  much  of  his  time  to  buying,  feeding 
and  shipping  stock. 

William  Connolly  is  a  son  of  James  and  Elizabeth  (Little) 
Connolly,  and  was  born  in  the  county  Fermanagh,  Ireland,  May  29, 
1832.     In  November,  1846,  with  his  parents,  he  left  the  land  of  his 


I'REEMl'TION    TOWNSHIP.  723 

birth,  and  sailing  for  America,  landed  in  Xew  Orleans  early  in  the 
winter  of  1847.  Soon  after  their  arrival  in  New  Orleans  they  started 
np  the  Mississippi  river,  landing  at  Rock  Island  on  April  4th  of  the 
same  year.  They  soon  after  purchased  land  in  Sec.  3,  T.  15,  li.  2  AV., 
in  Preemption  township,  where  our  subject  still  lives,  and  where  his 
parents  lived  till  the  time  of  their  death.  The  father  died  in  Septem- 
ber, 1881i  aged  eighty-two  years.  He  was  an  enthusiastic  Orangeman, 
and  through  his  instrumentality  a  lodge  of  that  order  was  organized  at 
Preemption,  in  this  county,  and  one  at  Brooklyn,  Iowa.  In  the  work- 
ings of  these  organizations  he  used  largely  of  his  means,  having  tvidce 
visited  Canada  in  the  interest  of  the  order.  The  mother  died  in  1861> 
at  the  age  of  seventy-eight  years.  They  were  the  parents  of  seven 
children  :  Mary  (now  the  wife  of  Dr.  Martin),  James,  Margaret  (now 
Mrs.  William  Vye),  William  (the  subject  of  this  notice),  Jane  (wife  ot 
Thomas  Burchby),  Eliza  (wife  of  Frank  Johnston),  and  Sarah  A.  (wife 
of  AVilliam  J.  liansom).  AVilliam  was  mari-ied  February  14,  1861,  to 
Miss  Elizabeth  A.  Moft'ett,  a  native  of  Fermanagh  county,  Ireland. 
She  died  in  1873.  Mr.  Connolly's  second  marriage  was  on  ^November 
12,  1874,  with  Miss  Fanny  Moffett,  who  was  born  in  Rock  Island 
county,  Illinois,  April  24,  1849.  He  is  the  father  of  eight  cliildren, 
whose  names  in  the  order  of  their  birth  are  :  James  W.,  William  F., 
Elizabeth,  Robert,  and  Lucinda,  by  his  first  wife,  and  Edward  W., 
Mary  A.,  and  Gilbert  H.,  by  his  present  wife,  who  is  an  excellent 
mother  to  the  whole  family.  Mr.  Connolly  is  taking  great  interest  in 
the  education  of  his  cliildren. 

David  W.  Littlk,  the  thrifty  and  enterpi-ising  proprietor  of  the 
Preemption  creamery,  is  a  son  of  David  and  Elizabeth  (Wiltshire) 
Little,  and  was  born  in  this  township  March  28,  1851.  He  received  a 
good  common  school  education  while  growing  up  on  the  farm,  to  which 
he  added  several  terms  at  Abingdon,  Illinois,  and  Mount  Vernon, 
Iowa.  He  was  married  December  18,  1874,  to  Miss  Clara  E.  Goudy, 
daughter  of  William  II.  and  Margaret  (Smith)  Goudy,  of  Mount  Ver- 
non, Iowa.  She  was  born  in  Linn  county,  Iowa,  April  5,  1853.  They 
are  the  parents  of  four  children  :  William  H.,  Elizabeth  E.,  Benjamin 
F.,  and  Margaret  A.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Little  engaged  in  farm- 
ing, but  since  1880  he  has  turned  his  attention  exclusively  to  the  man- 
ufacture of  butter.  The  prospect  of  success  in  1882  induced  him  to 
establish  a  branch  creamery  in  Rivoli  township,  and  he  has  extended 
the  buying  of  cream  into  the  adjoining  counties. 

William  Briogs,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  about  1807 
in  Ireland,  where  he  spent  his  early  life.  When  at  the  age  of  twenty- 
five  he  came  to  America,  in  company  with  his  brother  Thomas.     They 


724  HISTORY   OF    MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

first  landed  on  the  British  Islands,  in  Canada.  They  stayed  there  two 
months,  and  then  went  to  New  York,  where  he  followed  teaming  and 
wea^^ng.  He  next  moved  to  Illinois  in  1846,  first  stopping  at  Kock 
Island  ;  from  there  he  moved  to  Swedonia,  where  he  found  employ- 
ment at  fifty  cents  per  day  for  ten  years.  In  the  meanwhile  he  bought 
a  small  piece  of  land  ;  but  not  having  a  team  of  his  own,  he  was  forced 
to  hire  one,  for  which  he  gave  his  own  labor  in  excliange  for  the  use 
of  a  horse.  He  bought  his  first  eighty  acres  of  Levi  Wasson  and  paid 
for  it  in  trade.  He  next  bought  some  government  land  from  a  man 
who  had  entered  it.  He  was  married  in  ISTew  York  in  1834  to  Miss 
Isabella  Clay.  By  this  marriage  they  had  five  children  born  to  them, 
one  only  of  whom  was  born  in  Illinois.  John,  the  oldest,  married 
Miss  Ann  Armstrong,  who  is  deceased.  He  was  mari-ied  a  second 
time  to  Lena  Colter.  They  have  one  child  living  and  one  dead. 
Henry  married  Miss  Vina  Smith,  and  they  have  one  child.  In  Mr. 
Briggs'  father's  family  there  were  five  boys  and  three  girls,  all  of  whom 
were  born  in  Ii-eland :  Margaret,  John,  Richard,  Jane,  Mary,  Mur- 
phy, Thomas  and  Robert.  Margaret  is  deceased  ;  John  lives  in  Xew 
York ;  Richard  died  at  Pleasant  Hill ;  Jane,  wife  of  David  Bates, 
resides  in  Ireland ;  Mary  married  John  Murph}' ;  Robert  married  in 
New  York.  When  the  war  of  the  rebellion  broke  out  Mr.  Briggs 
furnished  two  soldiers  from  his  family.  Robert  entered  the  service  as 
a  private  and  was  promoted  second  lieutenant,  and,  at  the  time  of  his 
discharge,  a  captain's  commission  was  forwarded  by  the  governoi-.  He 
was  a  brave  officer,  and  was  with  his  regiment  through  all  the  various 
battles  with  the  western  army,  and  was  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Lex- 
ington. He  was  a  member  of  Co.  B,  65th  reg.  111.  Yol.  Inf.  Thomas, 
a  mercliant  of  Preemption,  was  a  member  of  the  140th  reg.  111.  Yol. 
Inf.,  cojnmanded  by  Col.  Sherman.  He  entered  the  service  in  1864  at 
Dixon.  After  his  return  home  he  met  with  an  accident,  a  misfortune 
which  necessitated  the  amputation  of  his  arm.  Mr.  and.  Mrs.  Briggs 
are  members  of  the  Episcopal  church,  of  Preemption. 

Potter  Kelly,  son  of  Samuel  and  Sarah  Kelly,  was  born  in  Jeft'er- 
son  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1843.  He  attended  a  common  school 
until  sixteen  years  of  age,  when  he  began  a  course  of  study  in  Glade 
Run  Academy,  in  Armstrong  county.  After  attending  here  two  ses- 
sions he  began  teaching.  In  the  summer  of  1866  he  came  west  to 
Jackson  county,  Iowa,  where  he  taught  one  year.  In  the  spring  of 
1867  he  came  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  and  began  teaching  one 
mile  south  of  Bridger's  Corners,  in  Suez  township.  Since  that  time 
Mr.  Kelly  has  pursued  the  profession  of  teaching  in  that  and  adjoining- 
townships  in  Mercer  county,  and  his  labors  have  always  been  attended 
by  success.  • 


PKEEMPTION   TOWNSHIP.  725 

Peter  Cameron  was  born  in  Juniata  county,  Pennsylvania,  De- 
cember 28,  1820.  In  his  father's  family  there  were  nine  children, 
of  whom  our  subject  is  the  sixth  child.  His  father  was  married  about 
1810  to  Miss  Sarah  Jones,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  whose  father 
came  from  Wales  in  an  early  day  and  settled  in  that  state.  His  tatlier, 
John  Cameron,  was  born  of  Scotch  parents,  on  the  highlands  of  Scot- 
land. He  came  to  Pennsylvania  and  settled  near  the  Juniata  river, 
where  he  died.  Mr.  Cameron  came  to  Illinois  in  1850,  in  company 
with  a  brother  and  sister.  They  first  settled  in  Ohio  Grove  township, 
near  the  line  between  Ohio  Grove  and  Abington,  where  he  entered  a 
piece  of  government  land  containing  a  quarter  section.  Before  his 
removal  to  this  state  he  followed  milling  and  worked  witli  his  fathei-. 
Our  subject  was  married  in  Pennsylvania,  February  26,  1861,  to  Miss 
Margaret  E.  Crabtree,  whose  parents  had  moved  to  Illinois  a  short 
time  prior  to  Mr.  Cameron's  arrival  here.  By  this  union  they  have 
had  four  children  born  to  them  as  follows :  Malinda  (wife  of  Frank 
Humpstead,  of  DeKalb  county),  Lewis  E.,  born  January  25,  1866, 
George  M.,  born  September  29,  1868,  Clarence  F.,  born  November  2, 
1872.  When  the  war  broke  out  Mr.  Cameron  entered  the  service  and 
was  engaged  in  all  the  battles  with  liis  regiment,  from  Chattanooga  to 
Hardeeville,  (South  Carolina),  and  was  wounded  at  Resacca,  May  15, 
1864.  Mrs.  Cameron's  parents  on  her  father's  side,  were  of  English 
descent,  and  on  her  mother's  side,  Irish.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cameron  are 
both  members  of  the  Methodist  church.  ^ 

Robert  Hicks  was  born  in  Ireland,  May  24,  1817,  and  came  to 
America  in  1844.  He  landed  in  New  York  and  from  there  went  to 
Buffalo,  Chicago,  and  Canada,  and  finally  to  Galena,  where  he  found 
employment  in  the  mines  in  the  winter,  and  in  the  summer  worked 
upon  a  farm.  Being  industrious  and  saving,  he  laid  up  a  part  of  his 
earnings  and  in  1856  invested  in  160  acres  of  raw  prairie  land.  He  at 
once  began  to  improve  the  same,  to  accomplish  which  he  was  forced  to 
borrow  money,  for  which  he  paid  fifteen  per  cent  interest.  Mr. 
Hicks  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  church. 

Julius  E.  Otto  was  born  in  Berlin,  Prussia,  June  16,  1847.  His 
early  youth  was  partly  spent  on  a  farm,  but  before  his  majority  he  had 
learned  the  trade  of  shoemaker  with  his  father.  In  1866  he  left  the 
home  of  his  birth  and  sailed  for  America,  with  a  view  of  securing  a 
home  in  a  land  of  plenty.  After  his  arrival  he  engaged  as  a  hand  in  a 
brick-yard,  at  Whitewater,  Wisconsin,  where  he  remained  until  1868, 
when  he  removed  to  Davenport,  Iowa,  and  there  and  in  Rock  Island 
worked  in  a  lumber-yard  till  November,  1878.  Then  he  came  to  Pre- 
emption to  take  charge  of  the  station  on  the  Rock  Island  &  Mercer 


726  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

County  railroad.  Here  lie  is  also  engaged  in  selling  lumber  on  com- 
mission. October  4,  1870,  he  married  Miss  Pliilepene  Elirliard,  a 
daughter  of  John  Ehrhard.  She  is  a  native  of  Khein  Baiern,  (4er- 
many.  She  came  to  America  in  the  fall  of  1868,  landing  here  January 
1,  1867.  They  have  four  children,  August  H.,  Ludv^^ig  L.,  Amelia  T., 
and  Edward  J.  They  are  m-jmbers  of  the  Lutheran  church,  of  Eock 
Island. 

Among  the  leading  physicians  of  Mercer  county  may  be  mentioned 
Dr.  James  H.  Seyler.  He  was  born  in  central  Pennsylvania,  Jan- 
uary 6,  1842.  His  early  years  were  spent  on  the  farm  and  in  the 
common  schools,  beginning  at  the  age  of  sixteen  to  attend  the  higher 
grade  of  schools.  In  his  seventeenth  year  he  entered  the  academy  at 
Glade  Run,  remaining  nearly  four  years.  He  then  became  a  student 
at  Jeiferson  literary  college,  in  tlie  State  of  Pennsylvania,  where  he 
graduated  with  the  class  of  1865,  receiving  his  diploma  from  the  united 
Washington  and  Jefferson  college.  He  then  began  reading  medicine 
with  Dr.  Scott,  of  Cleveland,  Ohio.  He  also  attended  medical 
lectures  at  Cleveland.  He  linally  entered  the  medical  department  of 
the  University  of  Pennsylvania,  from  which  he  received  his  degree  of 
M.D.,  in  1868.  After  practicing  his  profession  dhe  year  at  Sharps- 
burg,  Pennsylvania,  he  removed  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  and  per- 
manently located  at  Preemption,  where  he  has  established  an  enviable 
reputation  as  a  successful  physician.  In  1881  he  erected  a  line  brick 
building  ^irjiich  he  occupies  as  a  drug  store.  In  November,  1874,  he 
was  mari-ied  to  Miss  Lauretta  Criswell,  daughter  of  Matthew  Criswell, 
Esq.,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  but  at  that  time  a  resident  of  Pock 
Island  county.  One  child,  Sarah  F.,  was  born  to  them  in  1876.  Dr. 
Seyler  is  a  prominent  member  of  the  masonic  fraternity,  and  he  and 
wife  are  active  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

William  Ha]mmond  is  a  son  of  Robert  and  Margery  (Bird)  Ham- 
mond, and  was  born  in  Mercer  county,  Pennsylvania,  June  3,  1839. 
His  early  youth  was  spent  on  a  farm  where  he  received  a  good  com- 
mon school  education,  which  he  finished  with  two  years  at  Westminster 
college.  In  August,  186],  he  enlisted  in  the  Co.  B,  100th  Pa.  Vol.  Inf , 
as  first  lieutenant,  from  which  he  was  promoted  to  captain.  He  partici- 
pated in  the  following  battles  :  Port  Royal  and  Port  Royal  ferry,  S.  C, ; 
James  Island,  Bull  Run  and  Chantilla,  Va. ;  South  Mountain  and  An- 
tietam,  Md.;  Fi-edericksburg,  Va. ;  Vicksburg  and  Jackson,  Miss.; 
Blue  Springs,  Campbeirs  Stations  and  siege  of  Knoxville,  Tenn;  the 
battles  of  the  wilderness,  Spotsylvania,  Spotsylvania  court-house,  North 
Ann  river.  Cold  Harbor,  Petersburg,  Va. ;  and  Mine  explosion.  At  the 
latter  place  he  was  wounded  for  the  third  time  during  the  service,  and 


PREEMPTION   TOWNSHIP.  727 

was  sent  to  Georgetown  hospital,  D.  C,  from  wliicli  he  was  finally 
discharged.  After  the  restoration  of  peace  and  his  return  home,  he 
spent  some  time  in  prospecting  in  several  states,  for  a  suitable  place 
to  settle,  and  in  1866  came  to  Preemption.  He  was  at  once  impressed 
with  the  beauty  of  the  country,  and  settled  in  Preemption,  and  for  a 
short  time  enaraffed  in  the  druii:  business  but  soon  run  into  a  general 


"&"o 


store,  selling  out  the  drug  department.  In  1877  he  built  his  present 
tine  brick  store,  where  he  is  now  engaged  in  a  prosperous  trade. 
March  12,  1867,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Olive  M.  Morey, 
a  daughter  of  Ezekiel  and  Esther  (Underhill)  Morey,  who  were  among 
the  early  pioneers  of  this  county.  She  was  born  in  Preemption  town- 
ship, March  11,  1844-.  They  have  one  child  living,  Will  D.;  Bird  U. 
died  JSTovember  24,  1878,  aged  over  four  years.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ham- 
mond are  prominent  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 

George  Smffh  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Mary  (Potts)  Smith.  He 
was  born  in  Ireland,  July  2,  1827.  In  1846,  his  parents,  with  their 
nine  children,  came  to  America,  sailing  from  Belfast  in  the  ship  Annie. 
They  first  settled  in  Bytown,  now  Ottawa,  Canada,  where  they  re- 
mained six  years.  They  then  removed  farther  west  in  Canada,  and 
settled  in  the  county  of  Bruce,  west  of  Toronto,  where  the  parents  re- 
mained until  the  time  of  their  death.  George,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  the  third  son.  He  was  reared  like  his  father,  a  farmer, 
at  the  same  time  receiving  a  good,  common  school  education,  as  well 
as  early  training  in  the  way  of  thrift  and  industry.  November  3,  1858, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Jane  AVadsworth,  daughter  of 
John  and  Jane  (Johnston)  Wadsworth.  She  was  born  February  11, 
1836,  in  the  county  Fermanagh,  Ireland,  and  came  with  her  parents  to 
the  United  States  in  1847.  They  are  the  parents  of  an  interesting 
family  of  eleven  children,  whose  names,  in  the  order  of  their  birth, 
are:  Emma  J.  (wife  of  Thomas  Johnston,  of  Rock  Island  county), 
William  J,,  Caroline  V.,  Mary  E.,  George  A.,  Sarah  E.,  Jemima  K., 
Angeline  M.,  Harriett  E.,  Charles  E.,  and  Losada  L.  After  his  mar- 
riage Mr.  Smith  engaged  in  farming  till  1865,  when  he  sold  his  Cana- 
dian home  and  removed  to  Mercer  county,  settling  in  Preemption 
township,  on  section  16.  For  his  first  eighty  acres  he  paid  $2,000,  for 
his  second  he  paid  $4,500,  and  for  his  last  forty  acres,  bought  in  1882, 
he  paid  $3,000.  Mv.  Smith  is  now  (1882)  actively' engaged  in  stock- 
raising  and  farming.  The  raising  of  pork  for  market  has  been  with 
him  a  decided  success.  Himself  and  his  estimable  wife  are  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Daniel  Mack  is  a  son  of  John  and  Bridget  (Conway)  Mack,  and 
was  born  in  county  Clare,  Ireland,  in  May  1849.     His  father  died,  and, 


728  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

early  in  the  spring  of  1853,  he.  with  his  mother  and  her. family,  set 
sail  for  America  in  the  sailing  ship  Mary  Pleasant,  and  all  safeW 
landed  in  Philadelphia  on  May  10,  1853.  In  the  spring  of  1855  they 
removed  to  Rock  Island,  Illinois,  where  our  subject  spent  the  next 
four  and  a  half  years  clerking  in  a  hotel  and  working  at  other  odd  jobs 
from  which  he  could  earn  an  honest  penny,  at  the  same  time  making 
the  best  use  he  could  of  all  spare  time  in  securing  an  education. 
Though  he  did  not  have  the  advantage  of  a  college  course  of  instruc- 
tion, he  is  one  of  those  j)ractical,  self-made  men  occasionally  found 
among  the  emigrants  to  this  county  who  were  by  poverty  thrown  upon 
their  own  resources.  After  coming  to  Preemption  township,  in  1859, 
he  engaged  in  breaking  prairie,  and  became  known  as  Dan.  Mack,  the 
j)rairie  breaker.  In  August,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  H,  84th  111.  Vol. 
Inf.,  and  served  his  adopted  country  until  the  close  of  the  war.  While 
in  the  service  he  was  wovmded  at  Chickamauga,  September  19,  1853. 
January  1,  1866,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Catharine  Oday,  a  daugh- 
ter of  John  and  Margaret  (Burk)  Oday,  who  is  also  a  native  of  Ire- 
land, and  came  to  America  in  about  1860.  They  are  the  parents  of 
seven  children,  living:  John  W.,  Daniel,  Thomas  F.,  Elizabeth,  Will- 
iam, James  P.,  Joseph  C,  and  three  deceased.  Though  Mr.  Mack 
began  a  poor  boy,  he  is  now  the  independent  owner  of  510  acres  of  land 
in  this  township,  and  is  actively  engaged  in  stock  raising  and  shipping 
as  well  as  farming. 

Robert  Foster  is  a  son  of  Robert  and  Margaret  (Nickson)  Foster. 
He  was  born  in  the  county  Fermanagh,  Ireland,  in  1820,  and  was 
reared  on  a  farm,  at  the  same  time  receiving  a  good  education.  On 
March  17,  1845,  with  his  brother  John  and  others  of  his  father's 
family  he  left  his  native  home  for  America,  and  about  May  1  of  the 
same  year  arrived  at  Rock  Island,  Illinois.  The  first  summer  was 
spent  by  him  working  in  a  brick-yard  at  Rock  Island,  while  John 
worked  the  first  season  in  Preemption  township  for  John  Whitsitt, 
Esq.  Thus  they  made  their  start  '' slow  but  sure."  The  brothers 
finall}^  purchased  land  in  section  3,  in  Preemption  township,  where 
Robert  still  lives,  and  where  John  lived  till  the  time  of  his  death, 
December  30,  1881,  in  the  seventieth  year  of  his  age.  He  was  a 
devoted  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  to  which  he  gave 
liberally  of  his  ni«ans,  making  it  a  ])oint  to  give  annually  fifty  dollars 
toward  the  support  of  the  church  of  which  he  was  a  membei'.  Some 
years  before  his  death  he  gave  a  house  and  lot  in  Rock  Island  to  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  Church  there  to  be  used  as  a  parsonage,  and  a  short 
time  previous  to  his  death  he  willed  to  the  missionary  society  of  Rock 
Island  property  to  the  value  of  $2,000,  the  proceeds  of  which  is  to  be 


COMPANY    A,    THIRTY-SEVENTH    REGIMENT.  '     729 

used  in  foreign  missionary  work,  and  during  tlie  last  year  of  his  life 
he  contributed  in  cash  $100  to  the  missionary  fund.  In  1859  Kobert 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth  Kennedy,  a  native  of 
county  Fermanagh,  Ireland,  by  whom  he  became  the  father  of  twelve 
children,  seven  of  whom  are  now  living  :  Matilda,  John,  William, 
"Walter,  Sarah  J.,  Abba  M.,  and  Robert  D.  The  oldest  daughter,  aged 
twenty  years,  and  the  third  son,  aged  fifteen  years,  fell  victims  to  that 
dread  scourge  diphtheria,  as  well  as  did  some  of  his  family  in  younger 
years.  Mr.  Foster  and  wife  are  consistant  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church. 


COMPANY  C,  THIRTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT. 

Quite  a  number  of  Mercer  county  men  entered  this  company,  which 
was  organized  in  Warren  county  and  was  officered  almost  entirely  by 
men  from  that  county.  The  organization  took  place  August  20,  1861, 
and  the  muster-in  took  place  about  one  month  later  at  Aurora.  A  day 
or  two  after  the  organization  the  regiment  went  to  Quincy,  Illinois,  and 
thence  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  Some  of  the  principal  battles  in  which 
this  regiment  was  engaged  were  :  Bentonville,  Pea  Ridge,  Perryville, 
Stone  river,  Chickamauga  creek.  Many  other  skirmishes  and  light 
engagements  were  participated  in  by  this  regiment.  Nine  of  Mercer 
county's  citizens  died  at  the  enemy's  hands  or  from  disease  contracted 
in  the  service. 


COMPANY  A,  TIIIRTY-SEYENTII  REGIMENT. 

This  was  a  Rock  Island  county  company,  ancyike  many  other  com- 
panies and  regiments  from  adjoining  counties,  drew  liberally  on  Mer- 
cer county  for  men.  The  regiment  was  made  up  of  S(|uads  from  all 
parts  of  the  state  and  from  other  states.  Company  A,  to  which  the 
Mercer  county  boys  attached  themselves,  was  organized  August  14, 
18f)l,  and  a  month  and  a  few  days  later  the  regiment  was  organized 
and  the  men  mustered  into  service  at  Chicago.  The  war  had  then 
begun  to  be  a  reality  and  troops  were  not  kept  in  the  state  long  for 
show  or  drill,  but,  as  was  the  case  with  the  thirty-seventh,  were  sent 
immediately  to  the  scene  of  action.  The  next  day  after  the  completion 
of  the  organization  this  regiment  was  sent  to  St.  Louis,  and  a  few  days 
later  to  Booneville,  Otterville  and  Springfield.  On  January  2-1,  1862, 
the  regiment  was  in  the  battle  of  Pea  Ridge  and  September  29  at  New- 
tonia,  the  battle  of  Favetteville  soon  after  being  the  scene  of  an  engage- 


730  HISTOKY    OF   MERCER    AND    HENDERSON   (jOUNTIES. 

ment  in  which  this  regiment  participated.  The  regiment  was  mustered 
out  May  15,  1866.  Twelve  names  on  the  monument  at  Aledo  attest 
the  devotion  of  Mercer  county's  heroes  to  the  old  flag. 


COMPANY  I,  SEVENTEENTH  REGIMENT. 

Co.  I,  of  the  ITth  reg.  111.  Yol.  Inf.,  was  raised  from  men  at  New 
Boston,  Keithsburg  and  Aledo.  Dr.  E.  P. 'Wood,  of  New  Boston 
(afterward  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  regiment),  Geo.  W.  Sanders, 
William  Avery,  E.  S.  Bruington,  and  D.  T.  Hindman  were  leading 
spirits  in  organizing  the  company.  Enos  P.  Wood  was  afterward 
(April  20,  1S61)  elected  captain,  and  a  month  later,  on  the  organization 
of  the  regiment,  elected  lieutenant-colonel ;  Edward  S.  Bruington, 
second  lieutenant  (afterward  captain);  and  Geo.  W.  Sanders,  who  also 
afterward  was  promoted  to  the  captaincy,  as  first  lieutenant.  William 
Avery  succeeded  from  second  to  lirst  lieutenancy  on  the  formation  of 
the  regiment.  Wm.  A.  Lorimer  was  promoted  to  second,  then  to  first 
lieutenant,  and  was  mustered  out  as  captain  of  the  company.  Theo- 
dore Glancey  was  chosen  second  lieutenant  April  2,  1863,  and  after- 
ward, and  until  tlie  expiration  of  his  term,  pi'omoted  to  second 
lieutenancy. 

The  company  left  New  Boston  April  lU,  1861,  for  Monmouth, 
whither  they  marched.  At  Monmouth  they  tan-ied  tour  days,  and  in  the 
meantime  were  met  by  company  F,  of  Warren  county.  April  23  they 
took  the  cars  to  Peoria,  and  went  into  camp,  tlie  camp  being  named 
Camp  Mather.  Company  I  was  raised  as  a  three  months'  company,  but 
the  call  for  the  three  months"  men  was  already  full  and  overflowing  when 
they  arrived  in  camj#  It  was  generally  understood  before  arriving 
there  that  such  was  the  case,  and  nearly  all  were  ready  to  enlist  for 
three  years.  A  few,  however,  declined  and  returned  home.  May  24 
the  regiment  was  organized,  and  company  I,  with  as  brave  a  lot  of  men 
as  ever  carried  the  musket,  was  assigned  the  position  indicated  by  the 
letter  given  above. 

One  item  in  the  history  of  this  company  will  be  remembered  as 
long  as  a  member  of  it  remains.  Though  rough  usage  and  privations 
incident  t<j  army  life  left  their  impressions,  yet  they  were  not  suflered 
to  sink  so  deeply  into  the  heart  of  the  rough  soldier  as  did  the  act  of 
kindness  of  the  citizens  of  Monmouth  during  tlie  four  days  of  their 
stay  in  that  city.  The  best  and  foremost  people  of  tlie  town  opened 
their  doors,  their  cupboards,  and  their  hearts  to  the  boys,  and  nothing- 
was  considered  too  good  for  them.     Long  years  have  passed  and  many 


COMPANY    I,    SEVENTEENTH    REGIMENT.  731 

of  tile  incidents  of  the  war  have  been  obliterated  from  the  minds  of 
the  grim  warriors,  but  these  acts,  which  went  down  deep  into  the 
heart,  are  as  fresh  as  though  performed  but  yesterday. 

The  Seventeenth  liegiment  of  111.  A^ol.  Inf.,  was  mustered  into  the 
the  United  States'  service  at  Peoria,  Illinois,  on  May  24,  1861,  and 
left  camp  on  the  17th  of  June  for  Alton,  Illinois,  for  the  purpose  of 
more  fully  completing  its  organization  and  arming.  Late  in  July  it 
proceeded  from  Alton  to  St.  Charles,  Missouri,  remaining  but  one  day  ; 
thence  went  to  Warrenton,  Missouri,  where  it  remained  in  camp  about 
two  weeks :  company  A  being  detailed  as  body  guard  to  General  John 
Pope,  with  headquarters  at  St.  Charles. 

The  regiment  left  Warrentou  for  St.  Louis,  aiid  embarked  on 
transports  for  Bird's  point  Missouri  ;  remained  at  Bird's  point  some 
weeks,  doing  gaiTison  duty  ;  then  proceeded  to  Sulphur  Springs  Land- 
ing ;  debarking  there  proceeding  via  Pilot  Knob  and  Ironton,  to 
Fredericktown,  Missouri,  in  pursuit  of  General  Jeff.  Thompson,  and 
joined  General  B.  M.  Prentiss'  command  at  Jackson,  Missouri.  They 
thence  proceeded  to  Kentucky  and  aided  in  the  construction  of  Fort 
Holt.  They  were  then  ordered  to  Elliott's  mills  ;  remained  there  a 
short  time  and  returned  to  Fort  Holt.  They  went  from  thence  to  Cape 
Girardeau,  and  with  other  regiments  were  again  sent  in  pursuit  of  Gen. 
Jetf.  Thompson's  forces  ;  participated  in  the  engagement  near  Green- 
field ;  lost  one  man  killed  and  several  wounded,  and  returned  to  Cape 
Girardeau,  doing  provost  duty  until  early  in  February,  1862,  when  they 
were  ordered  to  Fort  Henry ;  participated  in  that  engagement  and  Fort 
Donelson,  losing  several  men  killed,  wounded  and  taken  prisoners. 
They  then  proceeded  to  Metal  Landing,  Tennessee  river,  and  embarked 
for  Savannah,  Tennessee  ;  from  thence  to. Pittsburg  Landing  and  were 
assigned  to  the  First  Division,  Army  West  Tennessee,  under  Gen. 
John  A.  McClernand  ;  were  engaged  in  the  battles  of  April  6  and  7, 
and  suffered  great  loss  in  killed  and  wounded 

They  were  with  the  advance  to  Corinth.  After  the  evacuation  of 
Corinth  they  marched  to  Purdy,  Bethel  and  Jackson,  Tennessee,  and 
remained  there  until  July  17,  when  the  regiment  was  ordered  to 
Bolivar,  and  was  assigned  to  duty  as  provost  guard.  They  remained 
at  Bolivar  until  November,  1862,  during  which  time  they  participated 
in  the  expedition  to  luka,  to  reinforce  Gen.  Bosecrans,  and  afterward 
at  the  battle  of  Hatchie.  They  returned  again  to  Bolivar,  and 
remained  there  until  the  middle  of  November.  They  were  then 
ordered  to  Lagrange,  reporting  to  Major  Gen.  John  A.  Logan,  and 
were  assigned  to  duty  as  provost  guard.  Col.  Norton  being  assigned 
to  the  conimand  at  that  post.      Early  in  December  they  marched  to 


732  HISTORY    OF   MEKCEE   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

Hollj  Springs  ;  thence  to  Abbeyville  guarding  railroads,  and  thence  to 
Oxford.  After  the  capture  of  Holly  Springs  the  regiment  was  assigned 
to  the  Sixth  Division,  Seventeenth  Army  Corps,  under  Maj.  Gen. 
McPherson.  They  then  proceeded,  via  Moscow,  to  Collierville ; 
from  there  to  Memphs,  and  the  regiment  was  assigned  to  duty  at 
the  navy  yard.  They  remained  there  until  Januar}^  16,  and  then 
embarked  for  Yicksburg  ;  re-embarked  and  proceeded  to  Lake  Provi- 
dence, Louisiana,  then  the  headquarters  of  the  Seventeenth  Army 
Corps,  doing  duty  there  until  the  investment  of  Vicksburg  commenced. 
Arriving  at  Milliken's  Bend,  on  or  about  May  1,  they  commenced  to 
march  across  the. Delta  to  Perkins'  landing,  on  the  Mississippi  river  ; 
thence  to  the  crossing  below  Grand  Gulf,  advancing  with  McPherson's 
command,  via  Raymond,  Champion  Plills,  Jackson,  Big  Black,  and  to 
the  final  investment  of  Vicksburg.  After  the  surrender  of  that  citv, 
the  regiment  remained  there  doing  garrison  duty  and  making  incur- 
sions into  the  enemy's  country  as  far  east  as  Meridian,  and  west  as  far 
as  Monroe,  Louisiana.  Peturning  to  Vicksburg  they  remained  there 
until  May,  1864,  the  term  of  service  of  the  regiment  expiring  on  May 
24,  of  that  year. 

The  regiment  was  ordered  to  Sj^ringfield,  Illinois,  for  muster-out 
and  final  discharge,  when  and  where  those  of  the  original  organization 
who  did  not  re-enlist  as  veterans  were  mustered  out  and  discharged. 
A  sufficient  number  not  having  re-enlisted  to  entitle  them  to  retain 
their  regimental  organization,  the  veterans  and  recruits  whose  term 
of  service  had  not  expired  consolidated  with  the  Sth  111.  Vol.  Inf ,  and 
were  finally  mustered  out  wdth  that  regiment  and  discharged  in  the 
spring  of  1866. 

Seventeen  names  are  engraved  on  Mercer  county's  soldiers'  monu- 
ment as  having  given  up  their  lives  for  their  country's  warfare.  Some 
of  these  were  killed  on  the  battle-field ;  some  were  wounded,  and,  after 
long  and  painful  suffering,  died  from  the  effects  of  wounds  ;  and  some 
were  victims  of  diseases  brought  on  by  exposure  in  the  camp  and  on 
the  marcli. 


RICHLAND  GROVE  TOWNSHIP. 

EARLY  HISTORY. 

Arasmith  Grove  was  changed  to  Richland  Grove  in  1837.  The 
circumstances  connected  with  the  change  were  these :  Josiah  Jordan 
was  building  a  house,  and  a  talk  arose  as  to  the  name  of  the  grove. 
He  proposed  to  those  present  that,  as  some  did  not  like  the  name 


RICHLAND    GROVE   TOWNSHIP.  733 

Arasmitli,  tliev  there  and  then  change  the  name  to  Kichland  Grove. 
The  name  was  almost  unanimously  adopted,  and  has  come  down  to 
the  present  time.  In  1 834  the  township  was  a  solitary  tract  of  desert 
waste,  not  a  single  house  having  yet  been  built. 

The  first  house  was  built  by  Abner  Arasmitli,  in  the  S.  W.  I  of 
Sec.  13.  The  first  store  was  kept  by  Asa  McMurtry,  and  the  second 
by  Willis  Peckingpaugh.  The  first  blacksmith  shop  was  kept  by 
George  Lorance  and  the  second  by  Luther  Barnard. 

Chancy  Stanard,  the  hero  of  those  early  days,  taught  the  first 
school,  in  the  winter  of  1837-8,  in  a  log-house  (size  12x14  feet) 
wliich  stood  on  the  Peter  Metzler  farm  (S.  E.  I  of  S.  E.  J  of  Sec.  14). 
Chancy  Stanard  also  conducted  the  first  Sunday  school,  in  1837,  near 
the  same  place. 

In  1835  Wesley  Arasmitli,  Sr.,  Abner  and  Alvin  Arasmitli,  and 
Thomas  Sellers  constituted  the  settlers.  In  1836  Peter  and  John 
Metzler,  George  and  John  Love,  Hugh  Montgomery,  Charles  Norman, 
Sr.,  Henry  Stowers,  Henry,  George  and  John  Peckingpaugh,  Thomas 
Chires,  Sr.  and  Jr.,  William  Parker,  Hugh  McMuUen,  Almond  Wilcox, 
James  Manning,  Daniel  Valentine,  and  Levi  Shaw,  came  to  the 
township. 

In  1837  James  Glenn,  Alden  Perce,  Chancy  Stanard,  Alfred 
Dorsee,  Parker  Tinney,  Wm.  Lowther,  Jonathan  Smith,  and  Albert 
Merryman  settled  here,  and  in  1838  Thomas  J.  Jordan,  John  A. 
Jordan,  John  Rhodenbaugli,  Lucius  Dimmock,  L.  F.  Langford,  Joseph 
B.  Trego,  John  Morey,  and  Abner  Vanmeter.  Of  those  named 
who  are  known  to  be  living  there  are :  John  Metzler,  George  Love, 
Charles  Norman,  Sr.,  Henry  Stowers,  Thomas  Chires,  Jr.,  Alfred 
Dorsee,  John  A.  and  Thomas  J.  Jordan,  Parker  Tinney,  L.  F.  Langford, 
Albert  Merryman,  John  Rhodenbaugh,  Joseph  B.  Trego,  and  John 
Morey.  The  graveyard  west  of  Swedona  contains  many  honored  dead 
of  those  early  days,  and  as  the  early  settler  talks  of  his  old  associates, 
the  tears  will  fill  his  eyes,  thinking  of  the  many  happy  days  spent 
together. 

VILLAGE  OF  SWEDONA. 

The  village  now  known  by  the  above  name  was  laid  out  in  1838  by 
Abner  Arasmith,  now  of  Kansas.  Being  located  on  what  was  known 
as  the  state  road,  between  Knoxville  and  Rock  Island,  it  became  quite 
a  thriving  village,  reaching  at  one  time  a  population  of  about  5<)0.  The 
first  store  building  was  erected  by  Asa  McMurtry.  The  name  was 
changed  from  Berlin  to  Swedona  in  1869,  and,  as  the  name  implies, 
the  population  consists  largely  of  Swedes. 


T34  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

METHODIST  EPISCOPAL  CHURCH,  SWEDONA. 

The  society  of  American  Methodists  was  organized  by  Eev.  Asa 
McMurtry  in  1837.  The  leader  was  Chancy  Stanard.  Some  did.  not 
join  for  some  time,  but  all  remember  the  early  days.  The  names  are  : 
Chancv  Stanard,  leader,  Mrs.  Stanard,  William  and  Mrs.  Lewis, 
Lucius  Dimmock,  Alvin  and  Mrs.  Arasmith,  Thomas  and  Mrs.  Chires, 
Thomas  Chires,  Jr.,  Ann  and  Sarah  Chires,  Mary  Love,  Stephen  and 
Mrs.  Smith,  Thomas  and  Mrs.  Brittingham,  Mrs.  William  Smith',  John 
Ehodenbaugh,  Stower's  family  (four),  Mr.  Consider,  and  Mrs.  Barney, 
Sr.,  Joseph  C'rawford,  Irvin  and  Mrs.  Stone. 

The  building  now  occupied  by  the  congregation  was  completed  in 
1848,  although  services  had  been  held  in  it  years  previous  to  that  date. 

EVANGELICAL  LUTHERAN  (SWEDISH),  SWEDONA. 

The  Lutheran  church  society  was  organized  by  Rev.  Jonas  Swanson 
in  1858  with  My  communicants.  The  church  was  built  in  1859.  This 
society  has  continued  to  grow  until  now  it  is  one  of  the  largest,  if  not 
the  largest,  in  the  county.  There  are  now  over  500  communicants, 
and  they  always  have  a  large  congregation.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  N.  M. 
Chilberg,  who  are  the  oldest  Swedish  settlers  in  the  township,  still  live 
near  the  church,  and  they  look  back  with  pleasure  over  the  history  of 
the  society. 

UNITED  BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST. 

The  American  Society  of  United  Brethren  was  organized  by  the 
Rev.  Abner  Norman  in  the  winter  of  1871-2,  with  a  membership  of 
about  thirty.     The  church  building  was  erected  in  1873. 

The  Swedish  Methodist  Episcopal  church  society  was  organized  by 
Rev.  Victor  Vitting  in  1856  with  a  small  membership.  The  church 
was  built  in  1860.  The  society  has  continued  to  grow  and  is  now  large 
and  prosperous. 

9RIFFIN  BROTHERS'  TILE  WORKS. 

On  [the  S.  W.  \  of  Sec.  34,  are  situated  the  tile  works  owned  and 
operated  by  the  Grittin  Brothers.  The  works  were  established  in 
1879.  and  since  that  time  these  enterprising  gentlemen  have  been 
scarcely  able  to  meet  the  great  and  increasing  demand  for  their  tile. 
The  clay  underlying  their  land  is  of  a  very  fine  quality,  and  is  pro- 
nounced by  Prof.  Weber  equal  to  any  in  the  state.  These  gentlemen 
are  sons  of  William  E.  Gritlin,  Esq.  (deceased),  who  was  for  many 
years  supervisor  of  the  township. 

[For  the  above  matter,  collected  from  John  A.  Jordan,  we  are 
indebted  to  B.  F.  Eckley,  Esq.— Ed.] 


RICHLAND   GROVE    TOWNSHll'.  Td  t 

CABLE. 

The  populrttioii  of  this  viUage  consists  chiefly  of  miners  in  the  em- 
ploy of  the  Cable.  A  shaft  and  slope  are  operated  here  under  the 
supervision  of  Robert  Lee.  The  aggregate  capacity  of  the  two  mines 
being  about  80,000  tons  annually,  about  400  men  are  constantly  em- 
ployed, besides  eight  mining  machines,  each  performing  the  labor  of 
about  six  men.  The  coal  is  transported  over  the  Mercer  County  rail- 
road to  Rock  Island,  and  thence  to  surrounding  towns. 

On  the  afternoon  of  June  5,  1844,  a  mass  of  angry  clouds  were 
seen  gathering  west  of  Swedona,  which,  owing  to  their  peculiar  appear- 
ance, attracted  considerable  attention.  About  five  o'clock  in  the  even- 
ing they  began  to  move  rapidly  eastward,  and  in  a  few  moments  the 
storm  burst  with  terrific  fury  upon  the  village  and  surrounding  country. 
The  air  seemed  full  of  electricity,  the  crackling  of  which  sounded  like 
the  discharge  of  musketry.  Huge  trees  were  torn  ofl',  a  great  man\' 
barns  and  dwellings  were  badly  damaged,  and  a  number  of  people 
killed,  among  whom  were  Mr.  Trego  and  son  a  few  miles  northwest 
of  Swedona.  This  storm  was  probabl)'  the  severest  ever  known  in 
this  locality,  but  the  country  being  very  sparsely  settled  the  fatality 
was  not  so  great  as  attends  some  of  those  whirling  monsters  of  later 
days.  An  eye  witness  states  that  for  some  time  after  the  storm  had 
subsided,  streaks  of  phosphorescent  light  were  seen  ci-eeping  over  the 
ground,  and  the  air  had  a  peculiar  smell  resembling  sulphur.  The 
storm  moved  eastward  strewing  death  and  desolation  in  its  path,  and 
was  last  heard  of  in  Henry  and  Bureau  counties. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Among  the  many  men  and  women  who  in  early  times  bade  farewell 
to  friends  and  kindred  and  took  up  their  abode  in  the  wilds  of  Illinois, 
none  are  more  deserving  of  the  reverence  of  posterity  than  Samuel 
Clark,  and  liis  wife,  Sarah  Clark.  The  burden  of  life  which  they 
had  borne  together  through  so  many  years  has  been  laid  down  by  the 
wayside,  and  tbe  venerable  couple  rest  side  by  side  in  the  peaceful 
sanctuary  of  the  tomb.  Samuel  Clark  was  born  near  Londonderry, 
Ireland,  in  1813.  He  emigrated  to  America  in  1833,  and  located  in 
Brooklyn,  New  York,  where  he  remained  two  and  a  half  years.  In 
the  fall  of  1836  he  came  to  Mercer  county,  and  located  on  section  12. 
He  was  married  in  1838  to  Miss  Sarah  Huyck,  of  Dayton,  Ohio. 
Five  children  were  born  to  the  couple,  whose  names  are  as  follows : 
James  G.,  Jennie  (deceased  wife  of  Dr.  Ansley),  Louisa  (deceased  in 
infancy),  Florence  (deceased),  and  Florence  (now  residing  in  Swedona). 
Mrs.  Clark  died  April  5,  1878,  and  Mr.  Clark  in  May,  1882. 
42 


738  HISTOKY    OF   MERCER   AJS'D    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

George  Eckley  was  born  in  Richland  county,  Ohio,  January  5, 
1821.  He  emigrated  with  his  parents  to  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  in 
1834,  and  from  there  to  Stark  and  Knox  counties,  in  the  latter  of  which, 
November  23,  1843,  he  married  Miss  Melinda  CuUenson.  Together 
they  removed  to  Rivoli  township,  Mercer  county,  in  1851,  and  iinally 
to  Richland  Grove  township,  Swedona,  where  they  now  live.  In 
August,  1862,  Mr.  Eckley  enlisted  in  Co.  C,  102d  reg.  111.  Vol.  Inf., 
and  served  until  the  close  of  the  rebellion.  After  the  rebellion  he  was 
the  leader  in  the  long  struggle  against  saloons  in  Old  Berlin,  and  they 
were  finally  banished  the  place.  His  education  is  limited,  but  with 
many  other  early  day  men  he  has  good  general  information.  He  is  an 
ardent  republican  and  supporter  of  republican  principles.  A  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  for  many  years  leader  of  the 
class  in  Swedona.  Mr.  Eckley  is  a  man  of  energy  and  firmness,  and 
when  he  undertakes  a  work  he  is  determined  to  carry  it  through. 
Mrs.  Melinda  Eckley  was  born  in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  November  18, 
1821,  and  came  to  Illinois  with  her  parents  in  1842,  and  marrj^ing 
Mr.  George  Eckley  November  23,  1843,  her  work  has  been  to  assist  in 
all  that  could  make  home  pleasant  and  prosperous.  They  are  the 
parents  of  eight  children,  four  of  whom  are  living :  Rebecca  Jane, 
Margery  Ellen,  Susan  Caroline,  and  Benjamin  Franklin.  If  you  ever 
visit  Swedona  be  sure  and  call  and  see  uncle  George,  who  still  livxs 
on  his  farm  west  of  the  village. 

C.  Beecher  Bristol,  was  born  in  Oxford,  Co;^necticut,  Septem- 
ber 14,  1798.  His  great  grandfather  was  born  on  the  ocean,  in  1714. 
He  located  in  Connecticut  when  the  New  England  states  were  almost 
a  wilderness,  cleared  a  farm  and  built  a  home  where  our  subject  and 
his  father  and  grandfather  were  born.  Early  in  life  Mr.  Bristol  experi- 
enced a  desire  to  enter  the  ministry,  and  he  began  studying  for  that  pur- 
pose. After  having  received  an  academical  education,  he  entered  the 
Princeton  seminary,  receiving  liis  diploma  from  that  institution  at  the 
end  of  three  years.  He  officiated  as  pastor  of  various  congregations  until 
1856,  when  he  came  to  Preemption  township,  where  he  was  sent  as 
stated  supply.  He  was  married,  shortly  after  completing  his  studies,  to 
Miss  Maria  Henderson.  Four  sons  and  four  daughters  were  the  fruits 
of  this  union,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  One  of  his  sons,  Beecher, 
enlisted  in  the  60th  111.  Inf.,  and  after  two  years  re-enlisted  as  veteran. 
He  is  now  located  in  Monmouth,  as  is  also  a  younger  son,  Leavitt,  who 
recently  graduated  from  Monmouth  college.  Tliis  venerable  gentleman 
has  lived  to  a  ripe  old  age,  and  can  feel  that  he  has  not  lived  in  vain. 

Dr.  J.  M.  Ansley  was  born  in  Westmoreland  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, May  21,  1833.     He  received  an  academical  education  at  Glade 


\ 


RICHLAND   GROVE   TOWNSHIP.  739 

run  academy,  after  wliicli  he  went  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  received 
his  medical  education,  graduating  from  Jefferson  college.  After  finish- 
ing his  studies  he  practiced  about  five  years  in  his  native  state,  after 
which  he  came  to  Illinois  and  located  at  Swedona,  where  he  now  has 
a  very  lucrative  practice.  In  February,  1869,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Mrs.  Jennie  (Clark)  Trego,  daughter  of  Samuel  Clark,  one 
of  the  pioneers  of  Mercer  county,  who  died  in  May,  1873.  Two  children 
were  born  to  this  couple,  Clark  F.  and  Charley;  of  these  the  latter 
died  in  infancy. 

James  G.,  son  of  Samuel  and  Sarah  Clark,  was  born  in  Richland 
Grove  township,  November  7,  1840,  and  is  consequently  a  production 
of  Mercer  county.  He  received  his  education  in  the  district  schools, 
attending  his  first  term  at  Oxford,  Illinois.  He  is  the  eldest  of  a. 
family  of  five  children,  whose  names  are  given  elsewhere.  He  was 
married  February  2(),  1873,  to  Miss  Emma  K.  Engle.  The  names  of 
the  children  born  to  this  worthy  couple,  are  as  follows :  Charles  A., 
Grace,  Jennie,  and  Samuel.  Mr.  Clark  was  elected  supervisor  in 
1879,  and  is  now  serving  in  that  capacity  a  third  term.  He  is  highly 
spoken  of  by  his  neighbors,  and  we  believe  has  established  a  character 
and  reputation  that  are  above  reproach. 

James  S.,  son  of  Jesse  and  Ann  Quaintance,  was  boi'n  in  Crawford 
county,  Ohio,  September  5th,  1831.  In  1854  he  came  to  Illinois  and 
located  on  section  15,  Richland  Grove  township.  Married  in  February, 
1857,  to  Miss  Martha  A.  Hardenbrook.  The  fruits  of  this  union  are 
seven  children,  whose  names  in  the  order  of  their  ages  are  as  follows  : 
Erwood  J.,  Stella  A.,  Hadley  W.,  Adeline  M.,  Bertha  B.,  Harry,  and 
Jesse  C.  Mr.  Quaintance  is  a  member  of  the  A.F. A.M.,  New 
Windsor  lodge.  He  is  also  assessor  in  Richland  Grove  township,  and 
is  highly  respected  by  all  who  know  him. 

David,  son  of  David  and  Elizabeth  Sherrard,  was  born  in  Franklin 
county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1818.  He  was  married  in  183()  to  Miss 
Eliza  Sawers,  a  native  of  Mercer  county,  Pennsylvania.  The  names 
of  their  children,  in  the  order  of  their  ages,  are  as  follows  ;  Rachel  H., 
James  W.,  David  II.,  John  Y.,  Olive,  Vance  S.,  and  Frank  W.  In 
1854  he  came  to  Mercer  county,  and  located  on  section  4,  Richland 
Grove  township,  where  he  has  since  resided.  By  hard  labor  and 
industry  he  has  accumulated  a  large  property. 

Henry,  son  of  Albert  and  Jane  Merryman,  was  born  in  Richland 
Grove  township,  in  January,  1843.  Married  December  29,  1870,  to 
Miss  Flora  Peters,  a  native  of  AVhitcsides  county,  Illinois.  The  names 
of  their  children,  in  the  order  of  their  ages,  are  as  follows :  Winnifred 


740  HISTORY    OF    MERCEK    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

•(deceased),    Ethel   L.,    Harry   L.,    Bertlia   M.,    and   Edith   L.     Mrs. 
Merryman  is  a  member  of  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  cliureh. 

John  B.,  son  of  William  and  Mary  (Butler)  Adams,  was  born  in 
Columbia  county,  Pennsylvania.  When  twenty-five  years  of  age  he 
came  to  Illinois  and  entered  land  hi  sections  31  and  32,  Richland 
Grove  township.  He  was  married  in  the  spring  of  1S54  to  Miss  Han- 
nah E.  Crossley,  also  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  Elwood,  Harvey, 
Jennie,  Dallas  B.,  George,  William,  and  John,  are  the  names  of  their 
children. 

Albert  D.,  son  of  Timothy  and  Elizabeth  Merryman,  was  born  in 
Cumberland  county,  Maine,  November  7,  1812.  His  father  was  a 
soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  In  the  fall  of  1836  the  family  emigrated  to 
Fulton  county,  Illinois.  In  the  spring  of  1837  they  located  on  section 
27,  Richland  Grove  township.  Our  subject  was  married  August  25, 
1836,  to  Miss  Jane  Patten.  The  names  of  the  children  born  to  the 
couple  are  as  follows :  Emily,  Amanda,  Joseph  P.  (deceased),  Henry, 
Thomas  J.,  William  A.  (deceased),  Ann  E.  (deceased),  Sidney,  and 
Marion. 

David  D.,  son  of  Timothy  and  Elizabeth  Merryman,  was  born  in 
Kennebec  county,  Maine,  in  1819.  In  the  fall  of  1836  the  family 
came  to  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  and  remained  until  the  following 
spring,  when  they  came  to  Mercer  county  and  located.  Mr.  Merry- 
man was  married  in  August,  1846,  to  Miss  Ph(Bbe  A.  Hibbard,  who 
died  June  22,  1848.  He  was  again  married  in  1852  to  Miss  Mary  M. 
Evans,  who  was  born  in  Galena,  Illinois,  October  8,  1827.  The 
names  of  their  children  are  as  follows :  Freeman,  Flora  A.,  Florence 
A.,  J^elson  I.,  Perry  A.,  Charles  A.,  George  E.,  Frank  L.,  and  Fannie 
A.     His  eldest  son  was  a  member  of  Co.  C,  102d  111.  Inf 

Daniel,  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Shiffler)  Mowry,  was  born  in 
Washington  county,  Mai-yland,  October  6,  1819.  In  1856  he  emigrated 
to  Mercer  county,  and  located  on  section  3,  Richland  Grove  township. 
He  was  married  Xo  member  14,  1843,  to  Miss  Nancy  Newcomer,  also  a 
native  of  Maryland.  Following  are  the  names  of  the  children  born  to 
the  worthy  couple :  George  D. ,  and  Charles  M. ,  both  of  whom  now 
reside  in  Nodaway  county,  Missouri;  Cornelia  J.,  wife  of  B.  F.  Trego, 
of  Rock  Island  county;  Otho  J.,  and  Lena  J.  (deceased  in  her  third 
year).  Our  subject  and  wife  are  both  members  of  the  United  Brethren 
church,  with  which  they  united  in  1852.  The  Mowry  ftimily  are  of 
German  origin.  Mrs.  Mowry  was  born  in  1818.  Her  mother's  maiden 
name  was  Elizabeth  Garber.  In  1871  Mr.  Mowry  was  elected  super- 
visor of  Richland  Grove  township,  in  which  capacity  he  served  five 
terms,  giving  universal  satislaction. 


RICHLAND    GROVE    TOWNSHIP.  741 

David,  son  of  Samuel  and  Cliarlott  Wilson,  was  born  in  Rensselaer 
county.  New  York,  June  1,  1820.  His  father  had  charge  of  the  com- 
missary department,  at  East  Troy,  during  the  war  of  1812.  In  1841: 
our  subject  came  to  Mercer  county  and  located  at  Berlin  (now  known 
as  Swedona),  where  he  remained  four  years.  At  the  end  of  that  time 
he  went  north,  where  he  was,  for  ten  years,  engaged  in  the  lumbering 
business.  He  enlisted  in  the  spring  of  1864  in  Co.  A,  loOtli  111.  Inf., 
and  served  until  the  following  September.  He  was  married  in  181:1  to 
Miss  Caroline  Hungford,  a  native  of  New  York,  who  died  in  1848. 
He  was  again  married  in  1853  to  Miss  Mary  Abbott,  a  native  of 
Minnesota.  He  is  the  father  of  one  son,  Hartland,  who  was  born  to 
him  by  his  first  wife, 

Charles  Exgle,  son  of  Joseph  and  Hannah  Engle,  was  born  in 
Burlington  county.  New  Jersey,  August  3,  1822.  In  the  spring  of 
1844  he  joined  the  throng  of  emigrants  pouring  westward,  and  con- 
tinued his  journey  toward  the  setting  sun,  until  he  reached  Mercer 
county.  He  located  on  section  4,  in  Richland  Grove  township. 
He  was  married  September  11,  1846,  to  Miss  Sarah  Kinsey,  daugh- 
ter of  Ednmnd  Kinsey,  wlio  came  to  the  county  in  1841,  having 
formerly  been  a  resident  of  Knox  county,  Pennsylvania,  where  Mrs. 
Engle  was  born.  The  names  of  the  children  born  t(^  them  are  as  fol- 
lows :  Joseph,  (now  of  Dallas  county,  Iowa),  Emma  K.  (wife  of  James 
Clark,  Esq.),  Martha  K.  Trego  (deceased  in  her  twenty -sixth  year), 
Mary  E.  (wife  of  Frank  Trego,  of  Orion,  Illinois),  AVilliam  H.,  Edgar 
W.,  Fred,  and  Sadie  K.  The  family  are  of  Quaker  descent,  which 
fact  may  partially  account  for  the  kindness  and  courtesy  with  which 
even  a  stranger  is  greeted,  who  visits  their  happy  home. 

Although  at  present  a  resident  of  Rock  Island  county,  Capt.  John 
A.  Jordan  deserves  a  place  in  the  history  of  Mercer.  He  was  born  in 
Rockland,  Maine,  January  11,  1819.  The  family  are  of  English  origin. 
The  grandfathers  on  both  sides  were  soldiers  in  the  revolution.  His 
father  participated  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  our  subject  and  two  of  his 
sons  took  up  arms  in  defense  of  the  flag,  in  the  late  rebellion.  Thus 
have  the  Jordan  family  took  part  in  all  the  great  struggles  that  have 
taken  place  upon  American  soil  since  tlie  birth  of  the  republic ;  a  re- 
markable fact,  and  one  of  which  they  and  their  ancestors  may  well  be 
proud.  His  father,  Robert  Jordan,  was  a  seaman  by  profession,  hav- 
ing spent  twenty  years  of  his  life  on  the  ocean  wave.  The  family 
emigrated  to  Tiffin,  Ohio,  when  our  subject  was  in  his  youth.  Here 
his  father  died  on  November  4,  1832.  In  1838  the  two  brothers,  John 
A.  and  Thomas  J.,  came  to  Illinois  and  located  on  section  14,  Rich- 
land Grove  township.     In  1841  our  subject  was  married  to  Miss  Rachel 


742  HISTORY    OF   MERGER    AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

Metzler,  of  Coshocton  county,  Ohio.  The  names  of  the  children  bom 
to  them  are  as  follows:  Bj-ron,  Edwin  T.,  Olive  M.  (deceased  in  her 
seventeenth  year),  and  William  H.  In  August,  1861,  Mr.  Jordan, 
with  that  promtitude  and  enthusiasm  w^hicli  characterize  his  every 
action,  raised  and  organized  Co.  A,  37th  111.  Inf.,  of  which  he  was 
made  captain.  On  January  1,  1862,  he  resigned  his  position  on  account 
of  disabilities,  but  raised  one  full  company  and  part  of  another  after 
his  return  home.  The  captain  now  resides  in  Rural  township,  Rock 
Island  county,  and  is  its  present  supervisor.  He  is  a  man  of  more 
than  ordinary  intelligence,  and  his  kind,  genial  ways  leave  pleasant 
impressions  upon  those  who  have  ever  enjoyed  his  hospitality. 

Dr.  James  S.  Rosenberry  was  born  in  Warren  count}^  New  Jersey, 
in  1837.  In  1849  the  family  emigrated  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  and 
located  in  Perryton  township.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  began  the 
study  of  medicine  in  1855,  in  the  office  of  Dr.  James  S.  Mathews,  of 
Preemption  township,  under  whose  instructions  he  remained  three 
years.  August,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  the  66th  Illinois  Sharpshooters,  in 
which  regiment  he  acted  as  hospital  steward  during  the  term  of  his 
enlistment,  which  expired  August  31,  1864.  On  his  return  he  entered 
the  medical  university  of  Ann  Arbor,  Michigan,  where  he  took  one 
course  of  lectures.  He  then  entered  the  Keokuk  university,  from 
which  institution  he  received  his  diploma,  May  30,  1865.  He  then 
located  at  Coal  Valley,  Illinois,  where  he  practiced  five  years.  In 
1870  he  located  in  Richland  Grove  township,  where  he  still  resides. 
He  was  married  in  1867  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Tenny,  who  died  in  1872. 
Again  married  in  January,  1881.  to  Miss  Sarah  E.  Rains,  a  native  of 
Scott  county,  Iowa. 


RIVOLI  TOWNSHIP. 

This  township,  which  is  designated  in  the  government  surveys  as 
T.  14  N.,  R.  1  W.  of  the  4th  P.M.,  was  originally  called  North  Pope, 
but  its  name  was  changed  to  Rivoli,  at  the  suggestion  of  Hon.  R.  H. 
Spicer,  one  of  the  earliest  pioneers. 

The  first  settler  in  this  township  was  Mr.  James  Bridger,  who 
located  here  in  the  spring  of  1836,  having  previously  located  in 
Schuyler  county,  this  state,  where  he  arrived  from  New  York  Decem- 
ber 9,  1833.  Mr.  Bridger  was  born  in  Sussex,  England,  August  1^, 
1802,  emigrating  to  America  in  the  spring  of  1822,  arriving  in  New 
York  in  April  of  that  year.  He  made  the  trip  across  the  Atlantic  in  a 
sail  vessel  in  the  then  unprecedented  time  of  seventeen  days.     In  1 835 


RIVOLI    TOWNSHIP.  743 

Mr.  Bridger  accompanied  a  gentleman  from  Schuyler  county  on  a 
horseback  trip  to  Kock  Island,  where  the  gentleman  had  business, 
Mr.  Bridger  going  for  the  sake  of  seeing  the  country.  Rock  Island  at 
that  time  comprised  two  log  cabins,  giving  but  very  little  earnest  of  its 
present  population,  wealth  and  business.  Going  to  Rock  Island  they 
followed  a  trail  that  led  them  near  the  present  county  line  between 
Mercer  and  Henry  counties. 

Returning  they  struck  for  Monmouth,  following  the  old  military 
trail  as  it  was  called,  which  was  very  near  the  present  line  of  road 
from  Rock  Island  to  Monmouth.  After  passing  a  cabin  near  the 
present  site  of  Milan  the  n-ext  habitation  they  saw  was  that  of  Hopkins 
Boone  on  Edwards  river.  They  reached  the  ford  on  North  Henderson 
after  dark,  and  not  knowing  its  character,  they  did  not  like  to  venture 
in.  Seeing  a  light  from  the  cabin  of  William  Stewart,  who  lived  then 
near  the  ford  on  the  south  side  of  the  stream,  they  hailed,  and  were 
answered  by  Mr.  Stewart  in  person,  who  brought  a  torcli  and  lighted 
them  across  the  stream,  bidding  them  welcome  to  the  hospitality  of 
his  cabin  in  true  pioneer  style. 

This  trip  resulted  in  Mr.  Bridger  removing  to  this  county  the  fol- 
lowing spring,  and  improving  a  claim  on  the  W.  ^  of  the  S.  W.  of 
Sec.  31  in  this  township,  where  he  still  resides,  enjoying  the  fruits  of 
his  early  industry  and  economy.  Mr.  Bridger  figures  in  the  initial 
history  of  this  township  in  more  points  than  that  of  being  the  Urst 
settler.  The  .death  of  his  first  wife,  which  (occurred  in  June,  1836, 
was  the  first  death  in  the  township.  She  was  buried  in  the  Mann 
cemetery  on  section  6,  in  Xorth  Henderson  township,  and  was  the  first 
burial  in  that  cemetery  and  the  first  in  that  township,  in  fact.  His 
marriage  in  January,  1837,  to  Mrs.  Eliza  Longley  was  the  first  mar- 
riage in  the  township,  and  his  son  (Ira  G.),  born  October  14,  1837, 
was  the  first  birth.  In  his  cabin  occurred  the  preaching  of  the  first 
sermon  in  the  township,  by  Rev.  Samuel  P.  Burr,  who  was  two  years 
in  the  Mercer  circuit  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  an  old 
pioneer,  having  settled  in  Edgar  county,  Illinois,  in  1820.  He  was 
born  in  Langdon,  New  Hampshire,  September  8,  1809,  and  died  in 
Madison  county,  Nebraska,  November  25,  1881.  The  winter  of 
1836-7  his  cabin,  which  was  14x18  feet  dimension,  sheltered  a  family 
of  fourteen  persons,  but  still  they  had  room  to  entertain  any  belated 
traveler  who  chanced  to  come  that  way. 

In  the  summer  of  1841  a  band  of  Pottawattomie  Indians  on  a  hunt- 
ing expedition  were  encamped  near  Mr.  Bridger's  for  a  month  or  more. 
While  there  a  son  of  the  chief  was  sick  and  died,  and  they  buried  him 
on  a  hill  on  the  south  side  of  Pope  creek,  in  tlie  N.  E.  J  of  Sec.  6,  in 


744  HISTOKY    OF   MP:RCER   and    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

•N^ortli  Henderson  township,  erecting  a  tall  white  oak  pole  by  the  grave, 
to  the  top  of  which  was  attached  a  white  flag.  This  pole  remained 
standing  for  many  years,  but  the  grave  was  marked  longer  by  the  re- 
mains of  a  pen  of  heavy  rails  that  enclosed  it,  which  could  be  identi- 
fied until  quite  recently,  if  it  cannot  be  even  yet. 

Ira  G.,  the  oldest  son,  married  Miss  Susan  E.  Brown,  a  native  of 
N^orth  Henderson  township,  daughter  of  Benjamin  F.  Brown,  an  old 
pioneer.  They  were  married  July  24,  1864,  and  lived  on  the  Bridger 
homestead  until  the  death  of  Mrs.  Susan,  which  occurred  May  15, 
1877,  leaving  no  family  but  her  husband,  who  still  lives  on  the  old 
place"  and  cares  for  his  aged  parents.  A  younger  son  (Albert  C.) 
married  Miss  Sallie  Brown,  daughter  of  Harrison  Brown,  of  Suez 
township,  in  1862,  and  he  enlisted  in  Co.  E,  102d  reg.  111.  Vol.  Inf., 
the  same  year,  and  died  of  disease  at  Gallatin,  Tennesse,  December 
8,  1862,  holding  the  rank  of  sergeant  in  his  company. 

Richard  Cox  was  among  the  first  settlers  in  the  eastern  part  of  the 
township,  locating  in  1837.  He  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  of  limited  edu- 
cation, but  of  good  native  sense  and  strictly  upright  character.  He 
was  among  the  first  elected  to  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  in  the 
eastern  part  of  the  county.  He  was  one  of  the  early  county  commis- 
sioners, also,  and  was  re-elected  to  botli  offices  several  times.  He  was 
a  man  of  pronounced  views,  and  outspoken  in  their  advocacy,  and  was 
esteemed  and  respected  by  his  neighbors.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church;  a  whig,  while  that  party  existed,  and  a 
republican  after  the  organization  of  that  party. 

James  Durston  is  anotlier  pioneer  who  has  left  a  very  prominent 
mark  in  the  history  of  this  township ;  born  in  Ashcott,  Sommerset- 
shire,  England,  April  24,  1806.  He  came  to  America  in  1832,  stop- 
ping first  in  the  State  of  New  York,  where  he  married  Philadelphia 
Bridger,  who  was  born  in  Sussex,  England,  April  18,  1817,  and  came 
thence  to  New  Yoi'k,  in  1828.  There  their  oldest  daughter,  Maria, 
was  born,  August  19,  1833.  •  He  came  to  Illinois  in  1837,  and  settled 
first  on  section  36,  in  Greene  township,  where  Charles  F.,  the  oldest 
son,  was  born,  August  14,  1837,  the  first  birth  in  that  township. 
Besides  the  two  above  named  children  were  James  T.,  born  April  17, 
1839;  Sidney,  September  14,  1841;  Martha,  May  7,  1843;  Joseph, 
March  1,  1845,  died  November  10,  1846;  Samuel'  L.,  June  10,  1847; 
Harriet,  July  8,  1849;  William  E.,  November  2,  1851;  Elizabeth 
Matilda,  May  22,  1854;  Alfred  Orion,  December  25,  1856;  Elmer, 
December  12,  1861,  died  January  31,  1864. 

In  1838  Mr.  D.  made  a  claim  on  section  30,  in  this  township,  which 
he  afterward  sold  to  Mr.  Spicer,  and  made  his  improvements  on  sec- 


I 


RIVOLI   TOWNSHIP.  ,  745 

tion  15,  where  he  lived  until  his  death,  which  occurred  September  S, 
1879,  his  wife  having  died  April.  11,  18(36.  The  family  constitute  a 
prominent  feature  of  the  township,  having-  held  various  positions  of 
honoi-  and  trust  in  the  township  and  county.  Charles  F.,  though  living 
in  Aledo  now,  owns  a  good  farm  in  the  township.  James  T.  and 
Sidney  also  own  good  farms  on  which  they  reside.  Samuel  L.  has 
the  old  homestead. 

On  Mr.  Durston's  place  was  built  the  first  school-house  in  the 
township,  in  1848,  the  frame  of  which  now  does  duty  in  a  granary  for 
Hon.  A.  J.  Streeter.  Mr.  Durston  was  one  of  the  original  members 
of  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  church,  organized  in  Oxford  in  August 
1847,  and  also  of  the  class  organized  at  Hopewell  in  the  spring  of  1848, 
as  part  of  that  church.  This  Hopewell  class  being  the  first  church 
organization  effected  in  that  townshij),  and  until  the  school-house  above 
referred  to  was  built,  their  meetings  where  held  at  Mr.  Durston's  resi- 
dence or  that  of  Mi-.  Chidester. 

Nelson  Chidester  and  his  wife,  Rebecca  (Stewart),  are  among  the 
early  pioneers  who  still  live  to  enjoy  the  advantages  their  labors  have 
helped  to  build  up  out  of  the  privations  of  pioneer  life.  Mr.  Chidester 
was  born  in  Trumbull  county,  Ohio,  May* 20,  1811 ;  was  married  in 
that  state  October  29,  1834,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1839,  spending  the 
first  winter  at  Little  York,  in  Warren  county ;  removing  in  the  spring 
of  1840  to  the  northeast  of  section  16,  in  this  township,  where  he  still 
resides.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chidester  were  original  members  of  the  above- 
mentioned  church,  to  which  they  still  belong.  The  second  school 
taught  in  the  township  was  on  Mr.  Chidester's  premises,  occupying  a 
back  porch  when  the  weather  was  pleasant,  and  moving  into  the 
kitchen  when  it  rained.  This  school  was  taught  in  the  summer  of  1843 
by  Mary  Stewart.  The  next  year  (1844)  Mr.  Chidester  built  a  temporary 
building  in  his  yard  with  lumber  designed  for  a  barn,  where  Miss 
Pollock,  of  North  Henderson,  taught  when  the  weather  was  pleasant ; 
when  it  rained  she  had  to  adjourn  her  school  to  the  house,  and  that  was 
a  frequent  occurrence  that  year. 

Another  pioneer  who  has  helped  largely  to  make  the  history  of  the 
township,  through  the  influence  of  his  family,  which  still  resides  there, 
was  Stephen  Smith,  who  was  born  in  Massachusetts,  February  22,  1801. 
Emigrated  to  Ohio  about  1820.  The  spring  of  1823  he  married  Miss 
Anna  Belt,  who  was  born  in  Licking  county,  Ohio,  August  25,  1803. 
Mr.  Smith  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade,  having  served  a  seven  years' 
apprenticeship  at  the  trade  in  Massachusetts.  He  worked  at  his  trade 
in  Ohio,  his  special  forte  being  the  working  of  steel  and  making  axes, 
which  business  at  that  time  was  not  exclusively  in  the  hands  of  large 


746  HISTORY    OF   MEROEB   AJ^D    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

manufacturers  as  at  present.  In  1874  Mrs.  Smith  was  visiting  about 
her  old  home  in  Ohio,  and  was  shown  axes  still  in  use  that  Mr.  Smith 
made  before  leaving  there  thirty-four  years  previously.  In  1840  Mr, 
Smith  came  to  Illinois,  locating  first  in  Richland  Grove  township, 
where  he  lived  two  years  before  moving  into  this  township  in  1842. 
He  operated  the  lirst  blacksmith  shop  in  the  township  on  his  place  in 
section  4.  Mr.  Smith  died  April  10,  1847,  leaving  his  wife  to  rear  the 
family.  The  honorable  position  the  children  occupy  in  the  town  is 
ample  voucher  for  the  faithful  and  able  manner  in  which  she  executed 
the  trust. 

Maj.  McMullen  was  another  early  settler,  making  one  of  the  first 
improvements  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  township.  His  house 
was  blown  from  its  foundation  by  a  tornado  that  swept  up  through  the 
Edwards  valley  June  5,  1844.  For  many  years  after,  in  breaking 
prairie  or  plowing  in  the  vicinage  of  improvements  that  were  in  the 
line  of  that  storm,  people  would  encounter  stakes  where  the  wind  had 
driven  fence-rails  into  the  ground  and  broken  them  oif. 

In  1837  John  Heriford  (there  is  some  question  as  to  the  proper 
orthography,  as  his  deeds  from  Uncle  Sam  for  various  tracts  of  land 
entered  at  difterent  times  have  it  as  above,  and  also  Heryford  and 
Herryford)  made  a  claim  and  settled  on  section  29,  but  after  a  few 
years  he  sold  out  and  left  the  country.  Tradition  has  it  that  the  first 
school  in  this  township  was  taught  in  a  cabin  belonging  to  Mr. 
Heriford,  which  stood  nearly  opposite  where  Zion  Methodist  Episcopal 
church  now  stands,  but  nothing  very  definite  can  be  obtained  in  regard 
to  it. 

Another  pioneer  was  Abram  Watson,  who  came  to  this  township 
in  1838,  and  was  probably  the  only  revolutionary  soldier  ever  living 
in  the  county,  if  we  except  George  Spies,  who  lived  for  a  short  time 
with  Richard  Cox,  and  afterward  lived  eight  years  with  Mr.  Bachus,  of 
Oxford,  and  died  there  some  twenty  years  ago  at  the  age  of  105  years. 
Mr.  AVatson  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  enlisted  in  the  revolutionary 
army  at  the  age  of  fourteen.  He  was  engaged  at  the  siege  of  York- 
town,  and  was  ])resent  at  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis.  He  was 
wounded  during  the  siege  by  a  bayonet  thrust  through  the  leg.  It  was 
the  custom  when  soldiers  were  standing  upon  the  breastworks,  if  any 
one  saw  a  puff  of  smoke  arise  in  front  of  them,  indicating  the  discharge 
of  a  gun  by  the  British,  to  call  shot !  when  they  would  instantly  seek 
the  shelter  of  the  trenches.  On  one  occasion  of  this  kind,  Mr.  Watson, 
boy-like,  without  looking  behind  him,  leaped  backward  from  the  top 
of  the  para])et,  receiving  the  bayonet  of  a  fellow-soldier  in  the  calf  of 
his  leg.     He  lived  on  his  claim  in  section  29  until  his  death,  which 


RIVOLI    TOWNSHIP.  747 

occurred  in  Mav,  1847,  when  over  eighty  years  of  age,  and  was  buried 
on  his  chiini.  He  emigrated  from  Virginia  to  Kentucky  at  an  early 
day,  and  thence  to  this  state,  at  what  time  is  not  known,  as  he  had 
been  living  in  Warren  county  prior  to  coming  to  this  county.  He 
married  his  second  wife  in  Warren  county,  and  she  survived  him  until 
soon  after  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  war  of  the  rebellion.  At  her 
death  the  neighbors  removed  his  remains  to  the  Woodhams  cemetery, 
where  they  are  buried  with  hers. 

Daniel  Jones  settled  in  this  county  in  the  spring  of  1837,  having 
came  to  the  state  a  year  previously  and  lived  at  Knoxville,  Knox 
county.  Though  his  educational  advantages  had  been  limited,  his 
energy,  his  native  good  sense  and  sterling  integrity  soon  caused  him 
to  be  held  in  high  estimation  by  his  fellow  pioneers.  His  neighbors 
having  elected  him  to  some  local  office,  he  was  averse  to  its  accej^tance 
because  he  was  not  a  native  of  the  United  States,  but  the  adaption  of 
the  constitution  of  1848  soon  after  cured  that  difficult}',  and  he  served 
his  neighbors  in  numerous  official  positions  of  importance  afterward. 
He  was  among  the  first  school  trustees  of  the  township,  subsequent  to 
the  school  organization  in  1848.  At  the  third  election  for  town  offi- 
cers under  township  organization  in  1856,  he  was  elected  supervisor  for 
the  township,  and  was  re-elected  in  1858. 

Soon  after  settling  on  the  E.  ^  of  the  N.  E.  of  Sec.  25,  he  made  a 
claim  on  the  X.  E.  of  the  S.  E.  of  the  same  section,  and  had  made  rails 
and  fenced  and  broke  part  of  it,  when  another  man  came  along  and 
made  a  claim  on  the  same  tract.  Mr.  J. ,  becoming  satisfied  that  through 
some  informalitv  he  could  not  hold  the  claim,  had  intimated  as  much 
to  some  of  his  neighbors.  One  night  shortly  after,  entirely  unknown 
to  Mr.  J.,  his  neighbors  turned  out  and  hauled  all  the  rails  off  the  dis- 
puted claim  and  piled  them  up  near  Mr.  J.'s  house.  He  is  now  at 
the  age  of  seventy-four  years  cari-ying  on  a  farm  of  eiglity  aci*es  near 
Galesburg,  Illinois,  to  wliich  place  he  removed  in  1863,  overseeing  the 
business  and  taking  care  of  his  stock  himself  He  was  born  in 
Canada,  February  22,  1808,  and  on  March  2,  1830,  was  married  to 
Miss  Atlanta  Bartlett,  whose  brother,  Gardner  Bartlett,  was  sent  by  the 
Baptists  of  Vermont  as  a  missionary  to  Illinois,  in  1833.  His  labors 
and  acquaintance  in  this  part  of  the  state  influenced  Mr.  Jones  to 
remove  hither  three  vears  later.  Thev  raised  a  familv  of  six  children, 
two  daughters  and  four  sons,  all  of  whom  are  respected  and  useful 
members  of  the  communities  in  which  they  reside.  Mrs.  J.  died 
August  27,  1868. 

Orson  Jones  was  born  in  Canada,  January. 6,  1834,  and  June  24, 
1858,  married  Amelia,  oldest  daughter  of  R.  C.  Sexton,  of  Viola, 


748  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AJSTD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Illinois,  who  died  three  months  after  her  marriage.  May  29,  1860,  he 
was  again  married  to  Miss  Helen  P.,  daughter  of  William  C.  Bartlett, 
one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Geneseo,  in  Ilenrv  county.  Miss  Helen 
was  born  in  Geneseo,  October  30,  1840.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in  Co.  D, 
83cl  reg.  111.  Vol.  Inf.  At  the  time  of  the  enlistment  of  the  colored 
•troops,  he  applied  foi-  a  transfer  and  was  commissioned  as  first  lieu- 
tenant, Co.  F,  14th  reg,  U.  S.  ColVl  A^ol.  Inf.,  with  which  command  he 
served  until  it  was  mustered  out  in  March,  1866,  nearly  a  year  after 
the  close  of  the  war.  Upon  his  return  from  the  army  in  the  spring 
of  1866,  he  settled  upon  his  present  farm  of  154  acres,  situated  in 
section  7,  in  Oxford  township,  Henry  county,  where  he  continues  to 
reside. 

He  has  held  nearly  all  the  local  offices  in  the  gift  of  the  people  of 
his  township,  and  now  fills  the. important  office  of  county  surveyor  of 
Henry  county,  and  is  also  secretary  of  the  Rivoli  Township  Farmer's 
Insurance  Company  of  this  county,  of  which  he  is  a  member.  He  is 
one  of  those  men  who  have  made  the  most  of  their  limited  opportu- 
nities, and  he  now  stands  high  in  the  respect  and  esteem  of  his  fellow 
citizens.  Farming  and  stock  raising  have  been  his  chief  occupations. 
Republican  in  politics.  Religiously  he  and  his  wife  are  baptists,  but 
there  being  no  church  of  that  faith  near  them,  they  have  connected 
themselves  with  the  C^ongregational  society  of  New  Windsor.  They 
have  two  children  :  Frederick  D.,  born  September  13,  1861,  and  Minnie 
G,,  born  January  1,   1867. 

The  next  son,  Xorville,  served  in  Col.  Woods'  140th  reg.  111.  Vol. 
Inf.,  and  now  resides  near  Malvern,  Iowa.  Granville  lives  near  Gales- 
burg.  Corwin,  at  Farragut,  Iowa.  Louisia  (now  Mrs.  Andreson)  at 
Malvern,  Iowa ;  and  Mrs.  Lockwood,  also  in  Iowa. 

March  3,  1870,  Mr.  Jones  (Daniel)  married  Mrs.  Ward,  of  Oxford, 
Henry  county,  who  now  shares  his  home  with  him  in  his  declining 
years.  Other  names  might  be  mentioned  here  among  the  pioneers, 
but  their  stay  was  short  and  their  trails  are  well  nigh  obliterated  by 
the  growth  of  time. 

The  Rev.  Hugh  Breckenridge  has  been  identified  with  this  county 
since  1855,  at  which  time  he  came  to  this  state  from  Mercer  county, 
Pennsylvania,  where  he  was  born  May  5,  1826.  The  first  four  years 
of  his  residence  here  he  worked  at  the  carpenter  trade,  mostly  in  Ohio 
Grove  township.  His  father,  William,  and  his  mother,  Jane  (Wallace) 
Breckenridge,  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  His  paternal  grandfather 
and  mother  were  natives  of  Scotland,  whence  they  emigrated  to  this 
country.  In  the  fall  of.  1859  Mr.  B.  returned  to  his  native  state,  and  Feb- 
ruary 3,  1860,  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Watson,  a  native  of  Mercer 


EIVOLI   TOWNSHIP.  749 

county,  Penns^'lvania,  and  daugliter  of  John  and  Lucinda  Watson,  of 
that  county.  Bringing  his  wife  to  Illinois  with  him,  he  settled  April 
21,  1861,  on  his  farm,  the  northwest  of  section  4,  in  Rivoli  township, 
building  his  present  residence  that  year.  His  farm  now  embraces  200 
acres.  They  are  members  of  the  Hopewell  Wesleyan  Methodist 
church,  of  which  Mr.  B.  is  now  a  reo-ularlv  ordained  minister,  having 
been  ordained  September  20,  1874,  though  he  has  been  engaged  in 
preaching  for  the  last  sixteen  years.  For  two  years  he  was  pastor  in 
charge  of  Hopewell  circuit  and  was  on  the  Ball  Blutt"  circuit  two  years. 
The  last  three  years  he  has  been  associate  jjastor  of  the  Hopewell  cir- 
cui  .  They  have  had  six  children,  of  whom  iive  survive  at  present: 
Juanita,  born  December  31,  1860;  Clara  L.,  September  23,  1862; 
William  W.,  July  13,  1S65;  Sarah  L.,  January  4,  1868  (died  October 
17,  1868);  Edward  E.,  May  23,  1869;  and  Mary  A.,  June  7,  1870. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  tirst  official  record  of  the  schools  of  Rivcdi  township,  14  IST., 
B.  1  W.,  is  dated  February  26,  1848,  at  wliich  time  James  Bridger, 
Nelson  Chidester,  and  Jonathan  D.  Wood,  school  trustees,  met  at  the 
house  of  B.  R.  Cox  and  appointed  the  latter  treasurer,  and  divided  the 
township  into  three  districts  as  follows  :  "The  first  district  shall  com- 
mence at  the  southeast  corner  of  said  township  and  run  three  miles  west, 
and  then  due  north  until  it  strikes  Xorth  Pope  creek,  then  up  said  creek 
to  the  township  line,  then  south  along  said  line  to  the  place  of  beginning. 
The  second  district  sliall  be  composed  of  all  the  said  township  north  of 
North  Pope  creek.  The  third  district  shall  commence  at  the  southwest 
corner  of  said  township  and  run  three  miles  east,  then  north  till  it 
strikes  North  Pope  creek,  then  down  said  creek  to  the  west  line  of 
said  township,  then  south  to  the  place  of  beginning.""  They  also  "or- 
dered R.  R.  Cox  to  purchase  three  books  for  the  use  of  the  treasurer, 
not  to  exceed  in  value  $2.00."" 

At  the  second  meeting  of  the  trustees,  held  April  1,  1848,  they  dis- 
tributed the  funds  on  hand,  amounting  to  $19.65,  to  the  several  dis- 
tricts, of  which  district  number  one  was  entitled  to  receive  $6.01;  num- 
ber two,  $6.37;  and  number  three,  $7.27.  They  also  ordered  the 
treasurer  to  pay  E.  H.  McConoughty,  teacher,  $5.20;  L.  Chidester, 
teacher,  $1.15;  and  H.  Brown,  teacher,  $1.67.  At  the  next  meeting, 
July  1,  1848,  they  ordered  $3.49  paid  to  Sarah  C.  AYestfall,  teacher. 
At  the  next  meeting,  October  7,  1848,  after  settling  with  the  treasurer, 
they  find  the  cash  on  hand  to  amount  to  $11.75,  and  order  the  same  to 
be  loaned  as  township  funds.  January  6,  1849,  they  find  $3.99  in  the 
treasurer's  hands,    which  they  order  loaned.      April    7,    1849,    they 


750  .        HISTORY    OF    MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

apportioned  $27.00  to  the  districts,  as  follows  :  district  number  one, 
$8.25;  district  number  two,  $8,75;  and  district  number  three,  $10.00. 
The  teachers  ordered  paid  at  that  time  were  L.  Cawkins,  A.  B. 
McChesney,  and  John  Libby.  It  is  also  recorded  at  this  meeting  that 
"The  trustees  do  hereby  agree  to  act  as  directors  of  schools  in  said 
township."  July  7,  1849,  "This  day  the  trustees  were  to  meet,''  but 
there  was  "  none  present  but  Nelson  Chidester,''  who  "  examined  the 
treasurer's  books  and  notes, "  and  ' '  found  all  to  his  satisfaction. "  He 
also  "presented  a  schedule  from  district  number  two  for  $7.50,"  and 
"ordered  to  pay  Martha  Cole,  teacher,"  that  sum.  He  then  "ad- 
journed to  meet  at  the  house  of  R.  R.  Cox  on  the  first  Saturday  of 
October. " 

October  6,  1849,  the  teachers  ordered  paid  were  Catharine  B.  Har- 
vey and  Martha  Cole.  At  this  time  the  trustees  returned  a  list  of  the 
children  in  the  township,  amounting  to  105,  distributed  as  follows  :  dis- 
trict Xo.  1,  26 ;  district  IS^o.  2,  42 ;  and  district  Xo.  3,  37.  January 
12,  1850,  trustees  met  and  an  election  was  held  to  elect  a  new  board, 
which  resulted  in  the  election  of  Daniel  Jones,  James  Durston,  and 
John  L.  Stewart.  At  this  meeting  R.  H.  Spicer  presented  a  petition 
from  citizens  of  T.  14  N.,  R.  2  W.,  asking  that  all  the  territory  in  said 
town  south  of  North  Pope  creek  be  attached  to  T.  14  N.,  R.  1  W.,  for 
school  purposes,  and  be  included  in  district  Xo.  3  of  said  town.  The 
prayer  of  the  petitioners  was  granted.  January  19,  1850,  the  new  board 
of  trustees  met  and  appointed  R.  R.  Cox,  treasurer,  tixing  the  penalty 
of  his  bond  at  $500.  April  6,  1850,  the  trustees  found  $20.63  on  hand, 
to  which  they  ordered  $15  added,  being  "money  remaining  in  the 
hands  of  school  committee."  The  sum  of  $35.63  was  then  distributed 
to  the  three  districts  in  proportion  to  the  number  of  children.  At  this 
meeting  the  schedules  of  J.  S.  jNIahan,  teacher  in  district  Xo.  1,  and 
Harmon  Brown,  teacher  in  district  No.  3,  were  approved  and  ordered 
paid.  October  5,  1850,  trustees  approve  and  order  paid  the  schedules 
of  Melissa  Wilber,  teacher  in  district  Xo.  1,  and  Martha  Cole,  teacher  in 
district  Xo.  2.  April  12,  1851,  the  Schedule  of  Xathan  T.  Smith; 
teacher  in  district  Xo.  1,  was  presented.  Settlement  with  the  treas- 
urer at  this  time  showed  a  balance  of  twenty-five  cents  on  hand,  which 
was  ordered  loaned  as  township  funds.  October  11,  1851,  trustees  filed 
census  of  children  under  twenty-one  years  of  age  in  the  town,  number- 
ing 128,  of  whom  district  Xo.  1  had  33,  district  Xo.  2  had  55,  and  dis- 
trict Xo.  3  had  40.  At  this  time  it  appears  that  Mary  Underwood 
taught  in  district  Xo.  1;  Martha  Cole,  in  Xo.  2;  and  Lydia  Ann  Wilber, 
in  Xo,  3.  At  this  time  the  bond  of  Alfred  Cooper  for  one-half  acre  of 
land  for  a  school-house  site  in  district  Xo.  3  was  approved.     It  calls 


RIVOLI    TOWNSHIP.  751 

for  such  land  as  shall  be  agreed  upon,  off  the  east  side  of  the  S.  E.  ^  of 
Sec.  30,  on  or  near  the  road  running  east  and  west.  October  4,  1851, 
appears  the  first  record  of  the  election  of  school  directors,  at  which 
time  James  Bridger  presented  to  the  trustees  a  poll  book  of  an  election 
held  at  the  school-house,  in  district  No.  3,  in  which  it  is  certified  that 
James  M.  Garrett,  Richard  Cooper,  and  William  Terry  were  elected 
directors.  January  10,  1852,  an  election  was  held  at  the  school-house 
in  district  No,  2,  to  elect  three  trustees  of  schools,  resulting  in  the 
election  of  George  Eckley,  James  Durston,  and  John  W.  Cox.  After- 
ward it  was  found  that  John  W.  Cox  would  not  serve  as  trustee 
because  he  would  move  out  of  the  township  in  a  short  time,  and  they 
neglected  returning  the  poll  book  of  said  election,  so  the  treasurer  gave 
notice  of  another  election  to  be  held  at  the  same  place  on  February  28. 
"The  legal  voters  met  on  that  day  and  concluded  that  it  would  not  be 
lawful  to  elect  three  new  trustees."  So  they  "concluded  that  the  former 
trustees  should  serve  another  term."  At  this  time  James  Bridffer  was 
appointed  treasurer. 

It  is  evident  from  the  record  that  some  parties  having  school  funds 
were  not  prompt  in  the  payment  of  interest,  as  the  record  of  April  17, 
1852,  says:  "We,  the  trustees  of  schools,  do  hereby  make  it  the  treas- 
urer's duty  to  go  according  to  law  if  interest  is  not  paid  within  one 
month  after  due,  hereafter."  The  teachers  whose  schedules  were 
apjjroved  at  this  meeting,  were  Lewis  Cawkins,  Theodore  Hoagland, 
E.  T.  Scott,  and  E.  A.  Shaw.  At  the  October  meeting,  1852,  schedules 
were  audited  for  Mary  Stewart,  Jane  Littlefield,  and  Lydia  Ann  Wilber, 
teachers. 

The  names  of  Thomas  I.  McNair,  Joseph  T.  Lafferty,  Peter  Eckley, 
and  G.  W.  Freson,  teachers,  appear  on  the  record  of  the  April  meet- 
ing, 1853.  The  census  of  children  under  twenty-one  years  of  age, 
filed  October  1,  1853,  shows  1T6  in  the  town;  37  in  district  No.  1,  92 
in  district  No.  2,  and  47  in  district  No.  3.  Jane  E.  Lockwood  and 
Martha  Cole  appear  on  the  roll  of  teachers. 

January  7,  1854,  an  election  held  at  the  school-house  in  district 
No.  2,  resulted  in  the  choice  of  Christian  Harshbarger,  R.  II.  Spicer, 
and  Lafayette  Cliidester  for  trustees  of  schools. 

April  1,  1854,  teachers'  roll  shows  the  names  of  N.  P.  Smith  in 
district  No.  1,  C.  E.  Cox  in  district  No.  2,  and  Peter  Eckley  in  district 
No.  3. 

June  3,  1854,  a  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of  A.  E.  Doty,  in 
district  No.  1,  to  organize  the  district,  which  was  done  by  electing 
A.  E.  Doty,  James  E.  Fenton,  and  R.  R.  Cox,  school  directors. 

August  24,  1*854,  a  strip  one  mile  wide  on  the  east  side  of  district 


752  HISTORY    OF   MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

'No.  1,  extending  from  the  south  line  of  the  township  to  Xorth  Pope 
creek  was  attached  to  Oxford  school  district  in  Henry  county. 

October,  1854,  the  trustees'  census  showed  two  hundred  and  iiftj-one 
children  in  the  town.  In  the  part  attached  to  Oxford  district  there 
were  twenty  children.  District  No.  1  had  50 ;  No.  2  had  134 ;  No.  3 
had  47. 

April,  1855,  district  i^o.  2  was  divided  into  three  districts,  and  the 
number  of  all  the  districts  changed.  District  No.  1  comprised  Sees. 
1,  2,  11,  12,  13,  14,  and  the  N.  i  of  23  and  24.  No.  2  included  Sees. 
3,  4,  9,  10,  15,  16,  and  the  N.  ^  of  21  and  22.  No.  3  took  Sees.  5,  6, 
7,  8,  17,  18,  and  the  N.  ^  of  19  and  20.  No.  4  was  comprised  of  the 
S.  I  of  Sees.  19  and  20,  and  Sees.' 29,  30,  31  and  32,  to  which  was 
attached  Sees.  25  and  36,  and  the  E.  -|  of  Sec.  35  in  township  14  N., 
E.  2  W.  District  No.  5  included  the  S.  |-  of  Sees.  21,  22  and  23,  and 
Sees.  26,  27,  28,  33,  34  and  35;  leaving  the  S.  i  of  Sec.  24,  and  Sees. 
25  and  36  attached  to  Oxford  district. 

April  23,  1855,  the  first  tax  for  general  school  purposes  was  levied 
by  the  trustees  at  the  rate  of  forty  cents  on  the  one  hundred  dollars  on 
all  taxable  property  and  real  estate. 

October,  1855,  the  number  of  children  in  the  town  two  hundred  and 
sixty,  divided  by  district  as  follows:  1st,  29  ;  2d,  75  ;•  3d,  39  ;  4th,  46  ; 
5th,  56 ;  and  fifteen  in  the  part  attached  to  Oxford. 

March,  1856,  James  Bridger  was  reappointed  treasurer  and  directed 
to  procure  five  well  bound  books  for  the  use  of  the  board  of  school 
trustees.  The  record  book  of  this  set  not  being  attainable  there  is  no 
more  official  history  of  the  schools  until  we  come  down  to  more  mod- 
ern times,  or  until  1866. 

In  1856  the  people  in  district  No.  3  wanted  a  school,  but  had  no 
school-house.  Mr.  Wilshire  Calkins  being  very  anxious  to  have  a 
school,  vacated  the  bedroom  in  the  southwest  corner  of  their  house,  nine 
feet  square,  and  in  this  room  schools  were  taught  during  the  summer 
of  1856,  1857-8 ;  the  attendance  ranging  as  high  as  fifteen  and  six- 
teen pupils.  The  furniture  consisted  of  slab  benches  jjlaced  against 
the  four  walls  of  the  room,  the  teacher  having  standing  room  in  the 
center  where  she  could  reach  any  schclar  in  the  room  without  leaving 
her  place.  Here  Miss  Olive  Atwater,  sister  of  our  whilom  county 
superintendent,  S.  B.  Atwater,  taught  in  1856.  One  Friday  afternoon 
there  were  to  be  some  rhetorical  exercises  in  the  school,  and  Miss 
Atwater  invited  Mrs.  Calkins  to  be  present.  Mrs.  Calkins  had  pro- 
vided an  outside  door  to  the  room  so  that  the  school  need  not  pass 
thi'ough  the  house.  To  this  door  Mrs,  Calkins  went  at  the  appointed 
time,  and  thinking  there  was  so  little  room  inside  concluded  to  remain 


RIVOLI   TOWNSHIP.  755 

on  the  outside  and  look  in.  After  standing  some  time  with  one  foot 
on  the  ground  and  one  resting  on  the  threshohl  she  removed  the  foot 
from  tlie  threshohl  to  the  ground  to  change  position.  Feeling  some- 
thing yield  under  the  pressure  of  her  foot  she  continued  to  bear  her 
weight  on  the  other  foot,  and  being  very  much  interested  at  the  time 
in  the  exercises  progressing  within  stood  some  seconds  unthoughtfully 
rolling  the  object  back  and  forth  under  her  foot.  When  at  last 
she  thought  about  what  she  was  doing  she  concluded  to  see  upon 
what  she  was  standing.  Looking  down,  judge  of  her  surprise  at  seeing 
a  very  large  rattlesnake  stretched  at  full  length  beneath  her  feet,  and 
ap])arently  enjoying  the  novel  petting  of  which  it  was  the  recipient. 
Mrs.  Calkins  did  not  continue  the  amusement,  however,  and  without 
even  awaiting  an  invitation  she  very  expeditiously  took  the  tloor.  No 
reporter  being  present,  however,  her  speech  cannot  be  given  the  readers 
of  this  histor3\ 

From  the  small  beginning  reported  above,  the  schools  of  this  town- 
ship have  grown  until  the  number  of  school  children  in  the  township, 
as  shown  by  the  directors'  census  of  1881,  is  504,  and  $3,722.51  is  the 
amount  of  money  expended  for  school  purposes  during  the  past  year. 

CHURCHES. 

The  first  preaching  in  this  township  was  at  the  cabin  of  James 
Bridger,  early  in  the  forties,  by  Rev.  Samuel  T.  Burr,  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  at  that  time  on  what  was  known  as  the  Mercer  cir- 
cuit, which  included  all  of  this  county  and  part  of  Rock  Island,  Knox 
and  Warren  counties.  It  took  the  minister  a  month  to  make  the  cir- 
cuit. Elder  Joseph  Jones,  of  the  Predestinarian  Baptist  church,  also 
used  to  preach  occasionally  at  the  cabins  of  the  early  settlers,  and  his 
"Boys  —  ah  !  come  in  off  the  fence  —  ah,  and  hear  Father  Jones  —  ah, 
preach  the  gospel  —  ah,  to  the  heathen — ah,"  is  still  fresh  in  the 
memory  of  many  of  the  old  settlers. 

But  the  first  church  organization  made  in  the  township  was  the 
Wesleyan  Methodist  class  formed  at  Hopewell  in  the  spring  of  1848. 
The  church  was  organized  first  at  Oxford  in  August,  1847,  by  Rev. 
C.  H.  Drake  as  the  First  Wesleyan  Methodist  Church  of  Oxford,  but 
the  membership  was  mostly  resident  of  this  township,  and  the  class 
was  formed  at  Hopewell  as  part  of  the  Oxford  church.  When  first  or- 
ganized this  church  formed  part  of  the  Farmington  circuit,  afterward 
divided,  and  the  new  circuit  of  Abingdon  was  formed,  which  included 
the  Oxford  church.  Some  years  later  Abingdon  circuit  was  divided, 
and  the  new  circuit  of  Oxford  was  formed.     Since  then  both  the  Farm- 


756  HISTORY    OF   JNIEBCER   AJSTD    HENDERSON   COUN'nES. 

inoton  and  Abino-don  circuits  have  ceased  to  exist,  but  the  Oxford  cir- 
cult  continues  in  a  prosperous  condition. 

Prior  to  1861  this  church  was  served  by  tlie  following  pastors : 
C.  H.  Drake,  B.  F.  Haskins,  R.  F.  Markham,  and  J.  M.  Snyder. 
March  25,  1865,  Hopewell  and  Hamlet  churches  were  united  in  one 
circuit  called  Hopewell  circuit,  which  arrangement  continues  to  the 
present  time.  This  circuit  also  includes  Bethel  church  in  Greene 
township.  The  ministers  in  charge  following  Rev.  Snyder  have  been 
L.  K.  Stratton,  J.  A.  McGillora,  H.  T.  Bessie,  Milton  Smith,  A.  R. 
Brooks,  and  U.  D.  Lathrop,  with  Rev.  Hugh  Breckenridge  as  asso- 
ciate pastor  with  Mi\  Lathrop  at  present. 

The  original  membership  of  this  church,  including  those  who 
united  with  the  church  prior  to  1860,  before  which  time  no  record  was 
kept  of  the  dates  of  union  with  the  church,  were  Govert  S.  Fleharty, 
Margaret  Flehartj^,  James  Durston,  Pliiladelphia  Durston,  Nelson  and 
Rebecca  Chidester,  Anna  Smith,  Martha  K.  Bridger,  William  D. 
Fleharty.  Nancy  Goodman,  Mary  T.  Underwood,  Harriet  Woodhams, 
Martha  Shaw,  Maria  Smith,  Laird  and  Melinda  Bean,  Walter  Good- 
rich, John  Greenman,  Catherine  Braught,  Erastus  and  Louisa  Smith, 
Margaret  J.  Fleharty,  and  Margaret  E.  Roberts. 

In  IS  TO  this  church  erected  a  neat  building  at  Hopewell  about 
32x48x18  feet  dimensions  *at  a  cost  of  about  $2,500,  upon  which 
they  have  since  expended  about  $500  more.  It  was  dedicated  Se]> 
tember,  1871. 

In  January,  1856,  a  church  was  organized  at  Oak  Ridge  by  the 
United  Brethren.  The  organization  was  effected  by  Rev.  George 
Weaver,  the  iirst  class-leader  being  James  Meadows,  and  steward, 
Henry  Birdwell.  Besides  the  above-named  othcers  the  original  mem- 
bership included  John  and  Jane  Meadows,  John  and  Mary  Shroyer, 
Asa  and  Atlanta  Streeter,  Samuel  Young.  Julia  Stevens,  Adison 
Buckly.  C^Tithia  Birdwell,  and  Rebecca  Meadows.  This  church  has 
no  building,  lia\"ing  used  the  Oak  Ridge  school-house  for  their 
meetings. 

Zlon  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. — This  class  was  organized  in 
1858,  with  Christian  Harshbarger  as  class-leader,  which  office  he  held 
continuously  until  1879,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  J.  Arthur  Garrett, 
who  is  the  present  leader.  Thus  has  this  class  been  led  during  its 
twenty-four  years'  existence  by  two  leaders.  There  is  no  record  obtain- 
able of  the  original  members  of  this  class,  but  its  present  membership 
is  twenty-two.  In  1870  the  class  built  a  small,  plain  church  in  the 
S.  E.  J  of  Sec.  29,  which  they  use  for  their  public  exercises,  though  it 
has  never  been  entirely  iinished. 


RTVOLI   TOWNSHIP.  lOi 

The  Church  of  Christ,  of  Oak  Ridge,  wiis  organized  May  21,  1S65, 
by  Rev.  E..  Fisher.  The  original  membership  comprised  James  and 
Martha  Marford,  Rebecca  Shoyer,  Thomas  and  IVfatikla  Ilill,  Louisa 
Braught,  Edna  Watson,  Mary  J.  Bnnyan,  Martha  J.  Thompson,  James 
and  Mary  A.  Meadows,  Mary  A.  Miller,  Levi  and  Margaret  J.  Spen- 
cer, and  Mary  Roosa.  James  Marford  and  James  Meadows  were  the 
first  elders,  and  Thomas  Hill  the  first  deacon.  In  1873  the  society  was 
removed  to  New  Windsor  and  reorganized  there  by  Rev.  T.  J.  Bur- 
ton. The  society  here  purchased  a  church  building  of  the  Presbytery 
of  United  Presbyterian  church.  This  building  was  the  first  church 
edifice  erected  in  the  township,  having  been  built  in  1867.  This 
removal  proved  disastrous  to  the  society;  the  members  living  south  and 
west  of  Oak  Ridge,  being  too  far  away  from  the  church,  the  society 
lost  membership  and  became  too  weak  to  pay  for  the  church  they 
bought,  so  it  reverted  to  the  Ignited  Presbyterian  Presbytery,  and  the 
Church  of  Christ  ceased  to  exist. 

The  J^i7'st  Congregational  Church,  of  New  Windsor,  was  organized 
October  11,  1870,  by  W.  W.  Allen,  Sarah  A.  Allen,  William  D. 
Fleharty,  Mary  C.  Fleharty,  Alice  Barnes,  Mary  Ann  Mayo,  Florence 

C.  Byrnes,  Delia  A.  Hammond,  and  Charlotte  Goold,  as  members, 
assisted  by  the  Rev.  L.  F.  Waldo,  W.  J.  Beecher,  R.  B.  Guild,  B.  F. 
Haskins,  and  A.  R.  Mitchell,  pastors  respectively  of  the  First  Congre- 
gational churches  of  Oneida,  Galesburg,  Galva,  Yictoria  and  Yiola, 
with  deacons  M.  C.  Metcalf,  and  R.  C.  Sexton,  as  delegates,  Rev.  L. 
F.  Waldo,  moderator,  and  Rev.  W.  J.  Beecher,  scribe.  W.  W.  Allen 
was  elected  clerk.  Since  the  organization  there  have  been  eighty -four 
members  admitted  to  the  church,  making  a  total  membership  of  ninety- 
three  during  the  little  more  than  eleven  years  since  the  first  organiza- 
tion.     October  22,  1870,  W.  W.  Allen  was  elected  deacon,  and  William 

D.  Fleharty,  treasurer.  Rev.  Cyrus  H.  Eaton,  the  first  pastor,  b.egan 
his  labors  April  30,  1871.  The  society  built  a  small  but  very  nice 
church  during  the  year  1872,  which  was  completed  in  the  spring  of 
1873,  at  a  cost  of  $2,381.64,  and  dedicated  May  25,  1873.  T.  B. 
Mayo,  A.  J.  Streeter,  and  William  D.  Fleharty  were  the  building  com- 
mittee. The  pastorate  of  Rev.  C.  H.  Eaton  ceased  November  1,  1874. 
Rev.  B.  F.  Haskins  acted  as  supply  until  the  Rev.  J.  A.  Waterworth 
began  his  labors,  May  30,  1875.  He  continued  to  serve  as  pastor 
until  June  1,  1878,  and  was  succeeded  by  the  present  incumbent.  Rev. 
R.  L.  McCord,  who  began  his  labors  in  January,  1879. 

The  United  Presbyterian  Church,  of  New  Windsor,  was  organized 
in  Oxford,  Henry  county,  August  10,  1866,  by  Joseph  M.  and  Nancy 
H.  Christy,  Thomas  R.,  Catharine  and  Elizabeth  McMiller,  Margaret 


758  HISTORY    OF    MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

A.  Hogue,  Elizabeth  McLauijIilin,  Thomas  li.  and  Sarah  Brown, 
William  H.  and  Margaret  Kerr,  Sarah  Surplnss,  ISTancv  Epperson, 
Thomas  and  Eliza  M.  Ramsey,  John  M.  and  Sarah  A.  Christy,  and 
Stephen  and  Isabella  Woodburn.  The  first  elders  were  Joseph  M. 
Christy  and  William  H.  Kerr.  In  1867  this  society  built  the  first 
church  edifice  erected  in  the  township  of  ISTew  Windsor.  After  a  four 
years'  struggle  this  society  was  dissolyed  by  the  Pi-esbytery,  some  of  its 
members  think  unjustly. 

The  New  Windsor  Metkodkt  Eplmopal  Church  was  organized  in 
1868,  under  the  charge  of  Rey.  Peter  S.  Garretson,  this  being  his  first 
appointment,  he  haying  trfiyeled  one  year  preyiously  on  the  Orion  cir- 
cuit as  supply.  Key.  W.  B.  Carithers  receiyed  his  appointment  to  this 
circuit  in  1869,  during  which  year  the  class  procured  a  lot  and  pur- 
chased a  building  26x40  feet  that  had  been  built  for  a  school-house 
and  conyerted  it  into  a  house  of  worship.  This  building  the  class  still 
uses  as  its  church.  Rey.  Theodore  Hoagland  was  placed  in  charge  of 
this  class  in  1870  and  was  continued  two  years.  The  preachers  in 
charge  since  Rey.  T.  Hoagland  haye  been  Reys.  William  Lieber, 
U.  Z.  Gilmer,  A.  Myers,  J.  E.  Taylor,  two  years;  Geo.  Miller,  John 
McCord,  and  J.  D.  Calhoun,  two  years.  The  class  organized  in  1868, 
with  a  membership  of  eight,  John  Coleman,  Elizabeth  Colemen, 
Loyina  Coleman,  Samuel  Coleman,  Rey.  John  Abbott,  Alice  Abbott, 
W.  A.  Buckley,  and  Mary  Buckley.    • 

The  present  membership  of  the  class  is  forty-fiye.  The  church  is 
out  of  debt  and  in  a  flourishing  condition. 

The  Swedish  Evangelical  Lutheran  Churchy  of  Xew  Windsor,  was 
organized  May  24,  1869,  with  Carl  A.  Johnson,  Tetes  Falk,  and  John 
M.  Blad,  as  trustees,  and  Carl  A.  Johnson,  C.  Bjorkengren,  Carl 
Adolf  Falk,  and  Carl  Falk,  as  deacons.  G.  A.  Falk,  secretary.  August 
23,  1869,  the  society  decided  to  build  a  church  edifice,  which  it  did 
that  fall,  erecting  a  building  28x60x20  ft.  dimensions,  which  rests  on 
a  stone  foundation  three  and  a  half  feet  aboye  the  surface  of  the 
ground.  This  building  cost  $6,726.70.  The  society  has  a  good 
commodious  parsonage  also,  which  cost  about  $1,500,  and  a  cemetery 
where  it  buries  its  dead  exclusively. 

It  has  had  three  pastors  since  its  organization :  S.  T.  A.  Lindahl, 
T.  N.  Sannquist  and  the  present  pastor,  N.  T.  AVinquist,  who  has 
been  in  charge  since  April,  1879.  •  The  latter  gentleman  being  a  fine 
scholar  and  a  yer}^  intelligent  man.  He  was  born  in  Stockholm, 
Sweden,  Xoy ember  9,  1840,-  and  receiyed  his  education  there,  coming 
to  America  in  1867.  He  took  a  course  at  the  Swedish  Theological 
Seminary  at  Paxton,  Illinois,  since  remoycd  to  Rock  Island,  Illinois. 


KIVOLI   TOWNSHIP.  75 9 

To  his  otlier  scholarly  attainments  he  adds  a  knowledge  of  the  Hebrew 
language.  This  society  has  a  membership  of  280  comnnmicants, 
and  160  children,  wdiich  it  regards  as  members,  making  a  total  mem 
bership  of  440. 

The  village  of  IS^ew  Windsor  was  originally  laid  ont  in  1857  by  W. 
T.  Hammond,  on  the  S.  E.  ^  of  See.  13,  and  was  expected  to  be  a 
station  on  the  Great  Western  Air  Line  railway,  which  was  to  be  a 
trans-continental  line  spanning  the  country  from  Philadelphia  to  San 
Francisco.  But  the  financial  collapse  of  that  year  served  a  perpetual 
writ  of  mandamus  upon  the  construction  of  many  great  lines  of  rail- 
way. The  railroad  was  not  built,  and  the  seed  that  was  to  produce 
New  Windsor  failed  to  germinate.  In  1868  the  Chicago,  Burlington  & 
Quincy  Railroad  Company,  by  a  series  of  manipulations  known  to  rail- 
road magnates,  came  into  possession  of  the  franchises,  right  of  way, 
etc.,  of  the  American  Central  railroad,  which  was  the  successor  of  the 
Great  Western  Air  Line,  and  proceeded  to  build  and  equip  the  road 
from  Galva  to  New  Boston,  having  it  ready  to  operate  in  the  spring 
of  1869  as  a  branch  to  -its  main  line.  With  the  building  of  the  rail- 
road, New  AYindsor  sprang  into  being  as  if  by  magic,  so  rapid  was  its 
growth. 

On  August  2,  18(i9,  the  people  decided  by  a  vote  of  thirty-four  to 
seven  to  incorporate  their  town.  On  August  1-1,  A.  J.  Moore,  J.  H. 
Epperson,  P.  Casler,  E.  L.  Larkin  and  G.  W.  Gregg  were  elected  the 
first  board  of  trustees,  and  Joseph  M.  Christy  the  first  police  justice. 

At  an  election  held  August  1,  1870,  the  people  of  the  town  of  New 
Windsor  voted  to  issue  $10,000  in  the  bonds  of  the  town  to  the  Pock- 
foi'd.  Pock  Island  &  St.  Louis  railroad,  when  said  railroad  was  com- 
pleted and  a  depot  built  in  the  incorporation.  This  measure  was 
carried  by  a  vote  of  forty-three  to  fourteen.  As  the  conditions  were 
never  complied  with  the  bonds  were  7iot  issued.  The  road  was  built 
three  miles  east  of  New  AVindsor,  and  Alpha  came  into  being  at  the 
crossing  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  ifc  Quincy  branch. 

April  19,  1878,  the  town  voted  thirty  to  twenty-two  to  organize  as 
as  a  village  under  the  general  incorporation  law  of  the  state. 

The  present  board  of  trustees  are :  W.  H.  Gladman,  president ;  R. 
B.  Pobinson,  J.  A.  Maxwell,  W.  C.  Cole,  C.  Shaw,  and  S.  T.  Samuel- 
son  ;  S.  C.  Whiteomb.  village  clerk. 

This  village  enjoys  the  distinction  of  having  the  only  telescope  for 
astronomical  purposes  in  this  part  of  the  country.  Mr.  Edgar  L.  Larkin 
having  erected  an  observatory  here  mounting  a  six  inch  equatorial, 
made  by  Alivin  Clark  ife  Sons. 

Februarv  3,  1877,  the  state  auditor  issued  a  certificate  of  organiza- 


760  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

tion  granting  twentv-five  ,years  life  to  tlie  "Eivoli  Farmers'  Mutual 
Insui-ance  Company,"  with  its  business  office  in  New  Windsor,  and 
authorized  to  transact  business  in  its  line  in  the  townships  of  Kivoli. 
Richland  Grove,  North  Henderson,  Greene,  and  Suez,  in  this  county, 
and  Oxford  township,  in  Henry  county. 

The  company  organized  with  thirty  charter  members,  whose 
aggregate  policies  amounted  to  $60,000.  The  first  board  of  directors 
were :  S.  B.  Slmmway,  W.  S.  Fleharty,  H.  II.  Roberts,  A.  P.  Petrie, 
T.  D.  Merryman,  N.  P.  Smith,  J.  M.  Merryman,  B.  Kasenberg  and 
T.  S.  Wilson.  The  officers  were :  A.  P.  Petrie,  president ;  N.  P.  Smith, 
secretary,  and  T.  D.  Merryman,  treasurer. 

The  last  annual  report  of  the  secretary,  January,  1882,  shows  the 
total  number  of  policies  in  full,  164:.  covering  $178,468.  The  present 
officers  of  the  company  are :  S.  B.  Shumway,  president ;  Orson  Jones, 
secretary,  and  T.  D.  Merryman,  treasurer. 

Oxford  Lodge.,  No.  367,  A.F.A.M.  was  granted  a  dispensation 
October  18,  1860,  by  the  grand  master  of  the  state,  to  open  a  new 
lodge  U.  D.,  in  Oxford,  in  Henry  county.  Tlje  lodge  worked  U.  D., 
until  October  16,  1861,  it  received  its  charter  and  number  from  Grand 
Master  Ira  A.  W.  Buck.  Its  first  officers  were  :  Paul  Halm,  W.M.  ; 
Robert  Detheridge,  S.W.  ;  Wm.  Fleharty,  J.W.  ;  Samuel  Wilson, 
Treasurer;  M.  S.  Shephard,  Secretary;  Thomas  Robertson,  S.D.  ; 
George  Gale,  J.D.  ;  Samuel  Epperson,  Tyler. 

The  charter  members  were  P.  W.  Epperson,  Thomas  Robertson, 
Samuel  Wilson,  S.  C.  Moberly,  J.  D.  Kennedy,  J.  M.  Herbert,  M.  S. 
Shephard,  Joshua  Bruner,  and  N.  McCombers.  The  lodge  removed  to 
and  held  its  lirst  meeting  in  New  Windsor  July  12,  1870.  It  owned 
its  hall  in  Oxford,  which  it  sold  to  S.  B.  Shumway,  and  in  September, 
1870,  bought  its  present  hall  and  undivided  half  interest  in  the  lot  on 
which  it  stands  of  J.  A.  Maxwell.  It  is  in  good  financial  condition 
and  numbers  among  its  members  some  of  the  foremost  and  best  men 
in  the  community,  ranking  as  one  of  the  best  working  lodges  in  the 
country.  It  has  had  on  its  roll  the  names  of  over  130  members,  its 
present  active  memberslup  being  forty-six.  During  its  twenty-one 
years'  existence  the  following  eight  members  have  filled  the  office  of 
Worshipful  Master  :  Paul  Halm,  two  years  ;  R.  Detheridge,  four  years ; 
S.  B.  Shumway,  six  years ;  M.  Colley,  J.  M.  Timberlake,  A.  D. 
Underwood,  two  years ;  A.  P.  Petrie,  two  years  ;  and  R.  S.  Petrie, 
three  years.  The  present  officers  of  the  lodge  are  :  H.  II.  Roberts, 
W.M.;  B.  F.  Brooks,  S.W.;  J.  F.  Cox,  J.W.;  W.  W.  Parsons, 
Treasurer;  A. P.  Shroyer,  Secretary;  A.  Olson,  S.D.;  A.  G.  McMul- 
len,  J.D.;  R.  Blair,  Tyler. 


RIVOLI   TOWNSHIP.  TBI 

A  chapter  of  the  Eastern  Star  was  recently  organized  in  connection 
with  this  lodge,  having  eighteen  charter  members,  seven  of  whom  are 
women.  Its  othoers  are:  Mrs.  Jennie  Petrie,  W.M. ;  Mrs.  Lizzie  Mc- 
Mullen,  W.A. ;  A.  P.  Forgie,  W.T.;  Mrs.  Martha  Veeder,  Treasurer; 
C,  F.  Peterson,  Secretary. 

New  Wi?idsor  Lodge  No.  518^  I.O.O.F..,  was  organized  June  3, 
1873,  by  Dept.  G.  M.  James  Kelly.  Charter  members  were  :  J.  B. 
Armstrong,  A.  A.  Willett,  W.  W.  Jobes,  W.  H.  Gladman,  and  Samuel 
Adams.  Its  lirst  officers  were  :  J.  B.  Armstrong,  N.G. ;  W.  H.  Glad- 
man,  V.G. ;  Samuel  Adams,  Secretary;  A.  A.  Willett,  Treasurer.  Its 
roll  shows  a  total  membership  of  ninety-five  since  its  organization,  witli 
a  present  active  membership  of  twenty-six.  It  owns  a  hall  over  the 
drug  store  of  A.  J.  Posenbaum  and  the  undivided  half  of  the  lot  on 
which  it  stands.  The  hall  was  built  in  the  fall  of  1879.  The  lodge 
occupied  its  hall  the  lirst  time  November  20,  1879.  Its  present  officers 
are:  Dr.  F.  D.  Rathburn,  N.G.;  H.  Higley,  V.G.;  B.  F.  Brooks, 
Secretary  ;  D.  Harkness,  Treasurer  ;  W.  H.  Kerr,  Warden  ;  John 
Olson,  Cond. ;  James  Ulam,  Chap.;  J.  E.  Gould,  D.D.G.M. 

The  office  of  Noble  Grand  has  been  held  by  S.  Adams,  two  terms  ; 
W.  H.  Gladman,  two  terms  ;  A.  J.  Smith,  W.  S.  Coe,  J.  L.  David,  H.  J. 
Piper,  J.  E.  Gould,  J.  L.  McNaghten,  W.  II.  Kerr,  A.  B.  Firkins, 
James  Ulam,  two  terms  ;  J.  N.  Cox,  and  B.  F.  Brooks. 

There  are  four  cemeteries,  in  this  township. 

The  Woodham.^  Cemetery  on  the  E.  \  of  the  N.  W.  of  Sec.  21, 
covers  two  acres,  which  was  set  apart  for  that  purpose  by  Mr.  William 
Woodhams  during  his  life  and  afterward  deeded  to  the  township  by 
the  family.  Mrs.  W.  was  the  iirst  one  buried  in  this  cemetery,  which 
contains  the  remains  of  several  of  the  township's  pioneers. 

The  Coopei'  Cemetery  on  the  S.  W.  \  of  the  S.  E.  \  of  Sec.  30,  the 
property  of  Richard  Cooper,  was  started  as  a  private  cemetery  by  the 
Cooper  family,  and  is  occupied  mostly  by  members  of  that  family  and 
connections. 

The  Neui  Windsor  Cemetery.,  on  the  S.  E.  J  of  Sec.  12,  was  donated 
by  the  late  William  F.  Petrie,  one  of  the  proprietors  of  the  village,  and 
is  on  a  beautiful  rolling  site,  and  is  being  rapidly  improved  by  trees 
and  flowers,  which  must  soon  render  it  very  attractive. 

The  Swedish  EvcmgeUcal  Lutheran.  Cemetery.,  in  the  village  of  New 
Windsor,  near  the  southeast  corner  of  section  12,  and  separated  from  the 
church  by  a  street,  is  the  property  of  that  church  and  designed  exclus- 
ively for  the  use  of  members  of  that  church. 

The  following  were  the  first  township  officers  elected  after  the 
county  went  into  township  organization  in  1851 :    supervisor,  R.   R. 


762  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Cox  ;  town  clerk,  James  Bridger ;  assessor,   L.  Cliidester ;  collector, 
N.  Chidester  ;  justice  of  the  peace,  C.  Harshberger. 

The  following  is  the  list  of  town  officers  to  date,  with  the  number 
of  terms  that  each  held: 

Super viso/'. — R.  R.  Cox,  two  years ;  Daniel  Jones,  two  years ;  A. 
J.  Streeter,  five  years ;  John  W.  Mills,  two  years ;  N.  P.  Smith,  four 
years ;  T.  G.  Woodhams ;  A.  P.  Petrie,  nine  years ;  IV.  D.  Fleluirty, 
two  years ;  J.  G.  Sexton,  three  years. 

Tov:}i  Clerk. — James  Bridger,  twelve  years ;  J.  Lyman  Smith,  two 
years ;  A.  P.  Petrie ;  C.  F.  Durston,  four  years ;  Joseph  M.  Christy, 
four  years ;  S.  L.  Durston ;  A.  J.  Smith  ;  T.  B.  Mayo,  three  years ; 
J.  W.  Peterson. 

In  twenty-nine  years  nine  persons  have  filled  both  of  these  offices. 
One  of  J.  G.  Sexton's  terms  is  fractional,  having  been  appointed  to  fill 
a  vacancy  caused  by  the  resignation  of  A.  P.  Petrie. 

Asses.mr. — L.  Chidester;  N.  P.  Smith,  four  years;  Wm.  Pitman; 
S.  B,  Shumway,  two  years  ;  C.  F.  Durston,  three  years ;  J.  L.  Smith, 
three  years ;  H.  R.  West ;  Joseph  M.  Christy,  two  years ;  A.  J.  Jmith  ; 
W.  C.  Cole ;  J.  B.  Longley,  eight  years ;  Ira  G.  Bridger. 

Collector. — ]Sr.  Chidester  ;  Chas.  E.  Cox  ;  H.  R.  "West,  eight  years ; 
Orson  Jones  ;  J.  Menold ;  T.  G.  Woodhams,  four  years  ;  J.  B.  Smith ; 
E.  B.  David ;  C.  S.  Smith,  two  years ;  Sidney  Durston ;  W.  B. 
Cullison;  W.  W.  Jobes  ;  Ira  G.  Bridger;  S.  L.  Durston;  W.  W. 
Allen ;  T.  B.  Mayo ;  Geo.  W.  Gregg  ;  W.  W.  Parsons ;  O.  Roberts ; 
Royal  Chidester ;  W.  W.  Watson ;  H.  L.  Loomis. 

'Justice  of  the  Peace. — Term  of  office  is  four  years:  C.  Ilarsberger, 
two  terms ;  Peter  Eckley  ;  R.  R.  Cox  ;  John  B.  Longley,  three  terms ; 
J.  W.  Peterson,  two  terms;  M.  F.  Whipp;  J.  Lyman  Smith;  James 
Meadows ;  John  Christy ;  C.  F.  Durston,  two  terms  ;  M.  F.  Postlewait ; 
Joseph  M.  Christy ;  W.  C.  Cole ;  W.  W.  Parsons,  three  terms ;  J.  G. 
Sexton,  two  terms. 

In  1865  the  town  auditors  levied  a  tax  of  $2.60  on  the  $100  valuation 
for  a  bounty  tax.  The  total  amount  expended  for  fifteen  volunteers  to 
fill  the  quota  of  this  township  was  $7,910.75,  of  which  $3,620  was 
raised  by  subscription. 

In  1851  the  first  assessment  under  township  organization  showed 
that  there  were  in  the  township  163  horses,  105  cattle,  5  mules,  226 
sheep,  619  hogs,  15  wagons  and  carriages,  39  clocks  and  watches ; 
moneys  and  credits  $779.  The  total  personal  property  assessed  was 
$19,821;  the  total  real  estate  assessed  was  $35,238.29;  total  assess- 
ment, $55,059.29. 

The  New  Windsor  Observatory,  located   at  New  Windsor,   and 


RIVOLI   TOWNSHIP.  763 

owned  by  Edgar  L.  Larkin,  is  an  object  of  mncL  interest.  It  was 
erected  for  astronomical  purposes,  and  is  pi-ovided  witli  a  telescope 
made  especially  for  celestial  observation.  The  diameter  of  the  object- 
ive is  six  inches  in  the  clear,  and  its  focal  length  is  eight  feet  ten  inches. 
The  observatory  is  in  free  telegraphic  communication  with  the  Smith- 
sonian Institute  at  Washington,  D.C.,  and  with  the  Howard  College 
observatory  at  Cambridge,  Massachusetts.  The  telescope  is  called  an 
equatorial ;  that  is,  it  rests  on  two  strong,  cast-iron  axes,  that  have 
motions  so  adjusted  that  when  the  telescope  is  set  on  a  star  it  w^ll 
remain  so,  since  it  is  revolving  on  axes  that  move  as  the  earth  does. 
The  telescope  and  all  its  belongings  are  lirst-class,  and  it  would  be  a 
pleasure  to  note  all  of  its  peculiarities  and  appliances,  but  space  forbids 
more  than  the  above  mention. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

REiTBEisr  H.  Spicek,  Sr.,  was  born  in  the  town  of  Kent,  county  of 
Litchtield,  state  of  Connecticut,  June  24,  1810.  In  1819  his  father 
removed  to  western  New  York,  then  a  new  country.  The  schools 
there  at  that  day  wei-e  of  the  frontier  type,  but  such  as  they  were  Mr. 
Spicer  had  the  privilege  of  attending  from  two  to  three  months  during 
the  year.  Such  was  the  advantage  he  took  of  the  limited  opportunities 
that  at  the  age  of  fourteen  he  was  spoken  of  for  a  teacher.  DabolFs 
arithmetic,  Webster's  spelling  book,  with  writing,  comprised  the  entire 
curriculum  of  the  common  school  then,  but  through  the  partiality  of 
one  or  two  teachers  and  a  Baptist  minister,  Mr.  Spicer  was  enabled  to 
go  a  little  beyond  the  standard  course  and  obtain  an  introduction  to 
mathematics,  geography  and  grammar.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he 
left  the  home  farm  at  his  father''s  suggestion,  and  spent  scmie  time  in 
southern  New  York  and  northern  Pennsylvania,  which  being  an  older 
settled  portion  of  the  country,  brought  him  in  contact  with  a  higher 
grade  of  society,  and  better  opportunities  to  gratify  his  ardent  desire 
for  knowledge  and  self-imy.)rovement.  One  of  the  lirst  steps  taken  by 
him  was  to  form  a  temperance  society  of  one,  for  at  that  time  the  use  of 
liquor  was  almost  universal,  standing  upon  the  sideboard  of  every  well- 
to-do  gentleman,  and  in  the  closets  of  poorer  people ;  greeting  the 
guest  upon  arrival  and  following  his  de])arture  as  a  stirrup  cup.  See- 
ing the  degradation  and  misery  which  too  frequently  resulted,  especially 
among  young  meA,  from  the  use  of  intoxicating  liquors,  he  resolved  to 
deny  himself  the  use,  and  faithfully  did  he  adhere  to  that  resolution, 
and  now  as  he  reviews  his  past  life  he  does  not  hesitate  to  award  to 
that  resolve  the  credit  for  his  being  a  better  man  and  more  useful 
citizen  than  he  could  have  been  with  the  associations  of  those  who  had 


T64:  HISTORY    OF    MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

a  greater  fonclDess  for  liquor  and  smoke  than  for  mental  culture.  After 
traveling  considerably  through  the  middle,  some  of  the  southern  and 
eastern  states,  in  the  fall  of  1831  he  went  to  Michigan,  the  only  new 
country  then  thought  to  be  habitable,  with  the  expectation  of  making 
it  his  home.  He  spent  the  wintei-  in  Ann  Arbor,  then  a  flourishing 
town  with  good  society.  Early  next  spring  with  a  pony  he  started  out 
and  during  the  season  traversed  the  territoiy  in  various  directions, 
Indian  trails  being  the  substitute  for  roads.  Indians  were  numerous 
and  he  often  found  them  useful  in  mapping  the  geography  of  the 
country  for  him ;  with  their  ramrods  tracing  in  the  sand  the  course  of 
trails,  rivers,  ravines  and  sloughs,  and  marking  the  crossings,  all  with 
an  unerring  accuracy  that  would  have  done  honor  to  a  learned  pro- 
fessor. While  stopping  for  tlie  night  at  Bronson,  now  Kalamazoo,  in 
the  earl)^  summer,  the  people  were  aroused  to  great  excitement  by  the 
arrival  of  a  messenger  announcing  the  breaking  out  of  the  Black  Hawk 
war,  and  claiming  to  have  been  sent  for  aid  to  arrest  the  advance  of 
the  hostiles,  which  was  represented  to  be  rapid  and  not  far  distant. 
The  people  were  panic  stricken;  old  men  and  women  traversed  the 
streets  wringing  their  hands,  not  knowing  which  way  to  turn  for  safety. 
Mr.  Spicer's  destination,  Prairie  Ronde,  now  Schoolcraft,  led  him 
directly  toward  the  advancing  foe,  and  he  resumed  his  journey  next 
morning  against  the  earnest  protests  of  the  people  of  the  village.  He 
made  the  journey  in  safety,  transacted  his  business,  and,  returning  on 
the  second  day  met  the  volunteers  en  route  for  the  seat  of  war. 
Among  them  was  every  man  from  tlie  Gull  Prairie  settlement,  where 
he  had  been  stopping,  even  Deacon  Mills,  the  old  man  of  the  settle- 
ment, with  whom  Mr.  Spicer  had  been  boarding.  By  taking  his  place 
in  the  ranks  Mr.  Spicer  induced  the  deacon  to  return  to  his  home,  and 
thus  he  was  led  into  making  a  campaign  in  the  Black  Hawk  war. 
With  the  desire  for  a  higher  education  as  strong  as  ever,  he  returned 
east  in  the  fall  of  1832,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  began  that  course 
of  education  that  most  young  men  now  finish  before  that  age.  For  two 
years  he  applied  himself  with  untiring  assiduity  to  his  studies.  In  the 
spring  of  1835  he  again  started  west,  this  time  with  Texas  as  his 
objective  point,  that  state  being  engaged  at  that  time  in  the  struggle  to 
free  itself  from  Mexican  rule.  Arrived  at  Cincinnati  he  found  the 
funds  too  low  to  ])roceed  farther,  so  crossed  over  to  Kentucky  and  pro- 
cured a  situation  in  a  school  and  began  to  teach.  He  applied  himself 
with  such  diligence  in  his  new  profession  that  he  soon  found  himself  at 
the  head  of  one  of  the  most  flourishing  local  schools  of  the  state.  Two 
years  of  such  intense  application  told  upon  his  health,  and  he  was 
forced  to  give  up  his  school.     In  the  spring  of  1837  he  married  Miss 


RIVOLI    TOWNSHIP.  765 

Sopliia  Whitehead,  of  Covington,  Ky.,  who  was  a  native  of  London, 
Enghmd,  and  they  started  at  once  for  Illinois.  Arrived  at  Peoria  ho 
found  speculation  a  mania,  corner  lots  selling  far  up  in  the  thousands. 
After  inspecting  the  country  abcmt  Peoria,  he  proceeded  up  the  river 
to  Peru,  thence  to  Aux  Plaines  and  Chicago.  While  stopping  with  a 
brother  at  Aux  Plaines  he  incidentally  heard  of  a  wonderfully  fertile 
country  bordering  on  the  Mississippi  south  oH  Rock  river.  A  place 
where  a  man  of  small  means  had  a  chance  to  become  the  peer  of  his 
neighbor  with  no  greater  means.  Chancing  to  meet  a  former  acquaint- 
ance from  the  east,  he  started  for  the  new  Eldorado  on  foot,  there 
being  few  inducements  then  for  even  stage  lines  to  traverse  the 
trackless  prairies.  After  viewing  the  country  he  purchased  a  claim 
that  is  now  embraced  within  tiie  limits  of  his  fai'm.  He  returned  to 
his  claim  with  his  wife  in  July.  The  improvements  on  the  claim  con- 
sisted of  two  acres  broken  and  a  log  cabin  erected,  14x16  feet  dimen- 
sion, with  a  place  cut  for  a  door  and  a  lire-place,  and  a  place  6X8  feet 
in  one  corner  covered  by  a  puncheon  floor.  Mr.  Spicer,  writing  of 
this  cabin,  says:  ''This  domicile  had  its  conveniences.  First,  it  was 
well  ventilated,  then  the  open  door  and  flre-place  made  ample  provision 
for  the  easy  ingress  and  egress  of  itinerant  dogs  and  prowling  wolves, 
the  latter  being  much  the  more  numerous."  Speaking  of  these  times 
Mr.  Spicer  remarked  that  "Political  organizations  at  this  time  had  not 
disturbed  the  unity  of  the  settlements.  In  1838  the  flrst  breeze,  faint, 
but  yet  perceptible,  swept  over  these  prairies.  In  1840  the  invader 
arrived  and  the  two  parties,  democrat  and  whig,  for  the  first  time 
measured  their  strength.'"  Mr.  Spicer  was  a  democrat,  and  though  he 
foresaw  that  the  probabilities  were  against  that  party  acquiring  a  per- 
manent ascendency,  he  preferred  to  be  right  in  his  own  estimation 
rather  than  yield  his  opinion  to  expediency.  In  1841  he  was  sent  as 
delegate  to  the  state  convention ;  the  first  delegate  of  either  party  from 
the  county  to  a  state  convention.  He  found  some  difficulty  in  making 
the  geographical  location  of  the  county  known.  In  answer  to  questions 
as  to  its  whereabouts,  he  replied  that  "Time  would  make  it  known  as 
one  of  the  first  counties  of  the  state."  This  was  received  with  very 
incredulous  smiles.  He  there  formed  the  acquaintance  of  many  of  the 
prominent  men  of  the  state,  which  became  a  source  of  much  pleasure 
to  him  in  after  years.  In  1843  he  was  elected  to  the  legishxture  from 
the  district  composed  of  the  counties  of  Mercer  and  Knox.  In  1848  he 
was  put  in  nomination  for  the  state  senate  for  the  district  composed  of 
Mercer,  Rock  Island,  Henry,  Knox,  Warren  and  Henderson  counties. 
The  canvass  of  that  year  was  the  most  spirited  in  this  section  up  to  that 
time ;  Gov.  Joseph  B.  Wells  and  Col.  E.  D.  Baker,  candidate  for  congress, 


766  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES, 

participated.  By  the  defection  of  a  small  portion  of  his  party  in  Knox 
county  he  was  defeated.  This  virtually  closed  his  political  career,  as 
impediments  beyond  his  control  prevented  his  taking  any  further  part 
in  that  direction.  Yet  in  1851,  without  his  consent  or  knowledge  even, 
he  was  again  })ut  in  nomination  for  the  same  office,  to  till  a  vacancy. 
His  business  arrangements  were  such  then  that  he  could  not  accept  it 
and  took  no  part  in  the  canvass.  He  has  always  been  an  earnest  advo- 
cate of  the  public  schools,  laboring  officially  and  individually  for  their 
improvement,  having  served  over  twenty  years  as  a  school  officer  in  his 
district  and  township.  At  the  breaking  out  of  the  rebellion  he  was 
among  tlie  lirst  to  advocate  its  suppression,  believing  that  the  union 
must  and  should  be  preserved.  Loss  of  hearing  has  for  many  years 
been  a  serious  obstacle  to  the  transaction  of  business,  and  still  greater 
to  the  enjoyment  of  social  intercourse,  for  which  he  is  so  eminently 
qualified,  and  from  which  he  would  derive  such  great  pleasure.  Nat- 
urally of  a  studious  disposition,  this  deprivation  has  caused  him  to 
turn  more  of  liis  attention  to  books,  and  especially  in  that  greatest  of 
all  books,  the  book  of  nature,  where  he  finds  his  greatest  solace.  His 
father  was  a  man  of  more  than  ordinary  energy,  and  had  executive 
faculties  of  a  high  order.  Starting  with  a  very  imperfect  education,  he 
made  his  way  througli  life  a  success.  Frequently  having  large  busi- 
ness operations  under  his  supervision,  he  won  the  confidence  of  an  ex- 
tended circle  of  friends.  He  held  many  of  the  local  offices  of  his  county, 
and  when  over  sixty  years  of  age  removed  from  New  York  to  the 
vicinity  of  Lawrence,  Kansas,  for  the  benefit  of  his  younger  children. 
The  climate  and  change  seemed  to  affect  his  health,  but  he  lived  to 
reach  nearly  four  score  years.  His  grandfather  gave  his  services  to  his 
country  during  the  entire  period  of  the  revolutionary  war.  His  grand- 
mother resided  at  Xew  London,  Connecticut,  at  the  time  Arnold 
invaded  that  place,  but  was  one  of  those  who  escaped  to  the  hills  in  the 
rear  of  the  place.  Mr.  Spicer's  first  claim  and  residence  was  on  the 
S.  E.  of  the  S.  E.  of  section  25,  in  Greene  township ;  his  present  resi- 
dence was  not  built  until  1841,  and  is  on  the  N.  W.  of  the  S.  W.  of 
section  30,  in  liivoli  township.  Of  the  ten  children,  nine  are  living: 
Sarah  A.  (wife  of  C.  V.  Shove,  Yiola,  Illinois);  S.  Augusta  (wife  of 
Wm.C.  Garrett,  farmer,  Rivoli  township);  E.  Levis  (member  of  Co.  H, 
84th  111.  Yol.  Inf.,  was  mortally  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Stone  river, 
Tennessee,  and  was  buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Nashville) ;  Talbut  T. 
(farmer,  married  daughter  of  Elihu  Eathbun,  lives  near  Chariton,  Iowa); 
Charles  F.  (senior  partner  of  firm  of  Spicer  ct  (lilmore,  dealers  in  agri- 
cultural implements,  Aledo,  Illinois);  Lucy  A.;  Reuben  II.,  Jr.  (mar- 
ried to  Laura  (■.,  youngest  daughter  of  L.  W.  Conger,  now  of  Putnam 


KIVOLI   TOAVNSHIP.  76  T 

county,  Missouri);  Franklin  P.;  Minnie  I.  (wife  of  John  L.  Stewart, 
fanner,  Rivoli  townsLip);  and  Mary  E. 

Plon.  Alexander  P.  Petrie  was  born  at  Rosendale  on  the  Hudson, 
in  Ulster  county,  New  York,  Ausjust  81,  1837.  He  came  to  Illinois 
with  his  father's  family  in  1844,  via  the  lakes  to  Chicago,  and  thence 
by  wagon  to  Pichland  Grove  townshij),  arriving  at  the  house  of  Samuel 
Clai-k,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  that  township,  June  6,  184-1,  the  next  day 
after  the  great  toi'nado  that  had  blown  from  their  foundations  the 
McMullen  and  Wilcox  houses,  the  only  two  houses  then  on  the  prairie 
south  of  Edwards  creek.  His  youth  was  spent  on  the  farm  with  only 
the  very  limited  advantages  for  education  afforded  by  the  common 
schools  of  that  day.  He  afterward  took  a  course  in  a  commercial 
school  at  Chicago.  On  August  9,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  C,  112tli 
reg.  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  at  the  com])any  organization  was  elected  orderly- 
sergeant,  was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  as  second  lieuten- 
ant, at  Peoria,  September  22,  1862,  went  with  his  regiment  to  Covington, 
and  thence  to  Lexington,  Kentucky,  where  he  wintered;  went  with  a 
detachment  from  his  regiment  in  the  summer  of  1864,  on  Saunder's 
raid  into  east  Tennessee,  destroying  railroads  and  confederate  supplies. 
Some  of  his  command  were  captured  near  Cumberland  Gap,  but  he 
escaped.  Reaching  Lancaster,  Kentucky,  they  celebrated  July  4,  1863, 
there,  and  afterward  rejoined  his  regiment  at  Danville,  Kentucky; 
was  at  the  siege  of  Knoxville,  Tennessee,  and  at  Kelly's  Ford,  east 
Tennessee.  January  27,  1864,  he  was  wounded  by  a  shot  in  both  legs 
during  a  cavalry  engagement.  For  his  wound  he  received  a  furlough 
for  two  months  and  visited  his  home.  He  rejoined  his  command,  then 
a  part  of  Gen.  Sherman's  grand  army,  rendezvoused  near  Chattanooga, 
Tennessee,  in  the  spring  of  1864,  taking  part  in  that  wonderful  hun- 
dred days'  campaign  which  resulted  in  the  fall  of  Atlanta,  his  command 
being  in  the  Twenty-third  Army  Corps  under  Gen.  Schofield.  He  com- 
manded his  company  after  the  battle  of  liesacca,  in  the  spring  of 
1864,  until  after  the  battle  of  Franklin,*  Tennessee,  November  30,  1864, 
in  which  his  brother,  Edward  P.,  a  member  of  his  company,  was 
killed  and  borne  from  the  field  by  Lieut.  Petrie  in  person.  He  was 
also  with  his  command  in  the  right  wing  of  the  army  under  Gen. 
George  H.  Thomas,  when  Gen.  Hood  received  his  final  defeat  at 
Nashville.  His  command  having  been  sent  to  Fort  Fisher  after  the 
battle  of  Nashville,  to  take  part  with  Gen.  Sherman  in  the  Carolina 
campaign,  he  joined  it  at  Kingston,  North  Carolina,  in  March,  1865. 
He  was  mustered  out  at  Greensboro,  North  Carolina,  June  20,  1865, 
as  first  lieutenant,  reaching  home  on  July  9,  following.  August  28, 
1862,  Mr.  Petrie  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Alice,  daughter  of  Dr. 


768  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

T.  S,  Petrie,  probably  a  distant  relative,  as  both  parties  trace  their 
lineage  back  four  or  iive  generations  to  one  James  Petrie,  gardener  and 
florist,  Forest,  Elginshire,  Scotland.  Miss  Alice  was  born  in  Liverpool, 
England,  April  1,  1839,  and  came  to  America  with  her  parents  in 
1840,  via  New  Orleans  and  the  river,  to  Peoria,  Illinois,  settling  first  at 
Trivoli,  in  Peoria  county,  thence  moving  to  Brimfield,  and  thence  to 
Rivoli,  Mercer  county.  Mr.  and  Mi-s.  P.  have  four  children,  two  sons 
and  two  daughters.  The  oldest,  Maggie,  being  now  in  attendance  at 
St.  Mary's  school,  Knoxville,  Illinois.  In  the  spring  of  186"  Mr. 
Petrie  was  elected  supervisor  for  Pivoli  township,  to  which  office  his 
neiii'hbors  continued  to  call  him  until  lie  had  served  them  ten  vears. 
He  lias  been  an.  active  member  of  the  republican  party  ever  since  his 
majority,  but  not  in  the  roll  of  an  office  seeker,  the  offices  having 
sought  him.  In  1880  his  party  called  on  him  to  represent  the  twenty- 
second  senatorial  district  in  the  house  of  representatives  of  the  Illinois 
legislature,  which  position  lie  fills  with  as  much  honor  to  himself  and 
his  constituents  as  any  of  the  new  members  of  that  body.  Mr.  T.  is  a 
member  of  the  Congregational  church,  of  New  Windsor,  and  of  Oxford 
Lodge,  No.  367,  A.F.A.M.,  of  New  Windsor,  of  which  lodge  he  was 
W.M.  for  two  years.  His  farm,  consisting  of  560  acres,  lies  near  the 
village  of  New  Windsor  ;  his  residence,  where  he  has  lived  since  Feb- 
ruary, 1866,  is  on  the  southwest  quarter  section  12.  The  farm  is  in  a 
high  state  of  cultivation  and  has  1,600  rods  of  drain  tile  laid  at  present. 
His  business  has  been  farming  and  stock  raising,  and  for  a  few  years, 
he  was  engaged  quite  extensively  in  raising  hedge  plants.  His  father, 
William  F.  Petrie,  was  born  at  Forest,  Elginshire,  Scotland,  April  19, 
1803,  and  came  to  America  in  1828,  and  M^as  overseer  several  years 
for  Commodore  Stockton,  of  the  United  States  navy,  at  his  place,  near 
Princeton,  New  Jersey.  Here  he  married  Miss  Ann  Regan,  who  was 
born  in  Ireland  in  1809,  and  was  at  the  time  a  nurse  in  the  family  of 
Commodore  Stockton.  Went  from  Princeton,  New  Jersey,  to  Rosendale, 
New  York,  and  engaged  in  mercantile  ]iursuits;  then  on  to  a  farm  in 
Oneida  county.  New  York;  thence  to  Illinois  in  1844,  settling  on  the 
southwest  quarter  section  twenty-five,  in  Richland  Grove  township, 
Mercer  county.  In  1849  he  crossed  the  plains  of  California,  where  he 
remained  two  years,  most  of  the  time  plying  his  vocation  as  gardener, 
near  San  Francisco.  While  there  he  took  the  contract  to  abrade  Stock- 
ton  street  in  tlie  above  named  city.  Having  sold  his  farm  in  Richland 
Grove  township,  he  bought  land  on  sections  12  and  13,  in  Rivoli  town- 
ship, and  moved  on  to  the  northeast  quarter  section  thirteen,  in  1857. 
He  was  one  of  the  original  proprietors  of  the  village  of  New  Windsor, 
part  of  the  town  ])lat  being  on  the  northeast  of  section  13.     Mr.  P. 


RIVOLI    TOWNSHIP.  769 

had  nine  children,  one  daughter  and  eight  sons,  four  dying  in  in- 
fancy and  one,  Edward  R.,  killed  in  battle  as  mentioned  before.  The 
four  survivors  reside  in  and  near  New  Windsor,  viz  :  Mary  C,  (wife  of 
W.  D.  Fleharty),  Alexander  P.,  Richard  S.,  and  Cornelius  L.  Mr.  P. 
was  an  energetic,  thorough  going  man  in  all  that  he  undertook,  being 
awarded  the  i)remium  three  successive  vears  bv  the  Mercer  Countv 
Agricultural  Society,  for  the  best  cultivated  farm  in  the  county.  He 
died  August  19,  1866,  his  worthy  wife  surviving  him  until  September 
10,  187-1.  Their  remains  are  deposited  with  those  of  their  heroic  son, 
Edward  R.,  in  the  village  cemetery  north  of  New  Windsor,  the  site  for 
which  was  donated  by  Mr.  Petrie. 

Hon.  Alson  J.  Streeter,  one  of  Mercer  county's  most  prominent 
citizens,  was  born  in  Rensselaer  county.  New  York,  January  18, 
1823.  His  father,  Roswell  Streeter,  was  born  in  Massachusetts  in 
1799,  and  his  mother,  Eleanor  Kenyon,  M'as  born  in  Westerly, 
Rhode  Island,  August  20,  1798.  There  were  six  sons  and  two 
daughters  the  offspring  of  this  union,  of  whom  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  is  the  oldest,  and  the  only  one  living  in  this  county  now.  His 
sister,  Mrs.  Shumway,  living  in  Oxford,  Henry  county,  is  the  only 
member  of  the  family  living  near  him.  Mr.  Streeter  came  to  Illinois 
in  1836,  when  only  thirteen  years  old,  with  his  father,  who  settled  at 
that  early  day  in  what  is  now  Lee  Centre,  Lee  county,  Illinc^is.  His 
father  died  April  11'  1850,  in  Iowa,  en  route  for  California.  His 
mother  survived  until  June  8,  1871,  when  she  died,  in  the  seventy- 
third  year  of  her  age,  at  her  son's  residence  near  New  Windsor.  His 
youth  was  spent  on  the  fjirm  and  in  traj^ping,  hunting  and  iishing, 
which  were  his  favorite  employments  at  that  time  and  at  which  he 
was  very  successful.  The  furs  and  pelts  of  the  wolf,  mink,  otter, 
muskrat,  etc.,  being  about  the  only  medium  of  exchange  obtainable  at 
that  time.  He  has  treasured  up  many  interesting  incidents  connected 
with  his  early  pioneer  life,  when  the  settlers  who  had  endured  the 
hardships  to  which  they  were  subjected  at  that  early  day  were  obliged 
to  form  societies  for  mutual  protection,  to  prevent  by  the  force  of 
might  the  greedy  speculator  from  entering  their  homes,  which  the  set- 
tlers could  not  purchase,  there  being  no  money  in  the  country  with 
which  to  buy.  He  also  relates  how  they  used  to  burn  charcoal  and 
haul  it  fourteen  miles  to  Grand  Du  Tour,  on  Rock  river,  where  one 
John  Deere  (now  of  Moline  plow  fame)  had  a  blacksmith  shop  with 
two  forges  in  it.  Lie  would  sometimes  get  hfty  cents  and  sometimes  a 
dollar  in  cash  on  his  load,  the  balance  would  be  taken  in  blacksmith- 
ing  as  it  was  needed.  It  was  when  making  one  of  these  trips  that  he 
iirst  saw  a  steel  plow  that  would  scour,  Mr.  Deere  having  just  begun 


770  HISTORY    r»F   iLERCER   AND   HENDERSON   COUNTIES, 

the  manufacture  of  a  dianiond-sliaped  steel  plow,  the  only  plow  then 
in  use  having  a  wooden  mold-board,  with  a  piece  of  iron  fastened  on 
the  lower  edge  for  a  share.  Returning  home  he  reported  to  his  father 
what  he  had  seen,  and  they  concluded  the}^  must  have  one  of  the  new 
plows.  So,  taking  a  load  of  charcoal,  he  went  to  the  shop  and  ti*aded 
for  a  plow.  Repairing  to  a  neighboring  sand-bank  he  hitched  his  oxen 
to  the  plow  and  drove,  while  Mr.  Deere  held  the  plow,  to  scour  it,  not 
having  any  implement  to  grind  with  at  that  time.     While  living  in 

Lee  countv  he  attended  two  terms  of  school  in  an  old  log  school-house, 
'     .  .  .  .  .         • 

At  the  age  of  twenty-three,  with  an  ardent  desire  to  improve  his  edu- 
cation and  $12  of  hard-earned  savings  in  his  pocket,  he  went  to  Gales- 
burg  to  attend  Knox  college.  By  the  industrious  use  of  the  frower 
and  knife  riving  and  shaving  hard-wood  shingles,  he  maintained  liim- 
self  two  and  one-half  years  at  school.  In  18-19  he  went  overland  to 
California  and  spent  two  years  in  the  mines,  returning  in  1851.  In 
1853  he  went  across  the  plains  with  a  drove  of  cattle,  and  repeated  the 
trip  again  in  1851:.  On  his  return  from  this  last  trip  he  bought  240 
acres  of  land  in  section  11,  Rivoli  township,  to  which  he  has  continued 
to  add  until  his  farm  at  present  spreads  over  3,100  acres,  about  one- 
half  of  which  is  in  pasture  at  present  and  on  which  he  raises  large 
numbers  of  hogs  and  cattle,  having  one  of  the  finest  herds  of  thorough- 
bred short  horns  in  the  county.  Farming  and  stock  raising  has  been 
his  business,  and  although  his  private  alfairs  have  grown  to  such  large 
dimensions  of  late  years,  he  has  always  kept  himself  posted  on  the 
course  of  current  politics,  taking  deep  interest  in  everything  affecting 
agriculture  and  education.  Though  having  business  interests  that 
would  seem  to  require  all  his  time,  he  has  always  held  himself  in 
readiness  to  serve  his  neighbors  in  any  position  they  have  called  upon 
him  to  fill.  He  has  represented  his  town  several  years  on  the  board 
of  supervisors.  In  1872  he  was  elected  by  the  cumulative  system  the 
minority  representative  to  the  state  legislature  from  the  twenty-second 
senatorial  district,  composed  of  Knox  and  Mercer  counties,  serving 
two  years  as  a  member  of  the  twentj^-eighth  general  assembl}-  to  the 
satisfaction  of  his  constituents  and  honor  to  himself.  Serving  on  the 
committee  on  agriculture  and  education,  he  helped  to  ehape  all  the 
legislation  upon  those  two  subjects,  in  which  he  takes  so  great  interest. 
A  democrat  until  about  1874,  he  deemed  that  neither  of  the  two  lead- 
ing parties  was  serving  the  people's  interests  as  it  should,  and  since 
that  time  he  has  identified  himself  with  the  national  greenback  labor 
union  party.  Standing  for  that  party  as  candidate  for  congress  from 
the  tenth  congressional  district  in  1878,  he  received  over  3,600  votes. 
Again  in  1880,  the  candidate  of  the  same  party  for  governor  of  the 


^ 


I 


RIVOLI   TOWNSHIP.  7T3 

state,  he  received  28,808  votes.  He  is  always  found  on  the  side  of  the 
masses,  battling  against  the  encroachments  of  the  great  moneyed  cor- 
porations, and  believes  most  firmly  in  enforcing  our  railroad  and  ware- 
house laws.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church  of  New 
Windsor,  and  is  also  a  Royal  Arch  Mason.  On  his  place  is  one  of  the 
curiosities  of  this  section  of  country :  a  crows'  roost.  Near  his  house 
is  a  patch  of  brush  land  densely  covered  with  a  young  growth  of  black 
oaks.  In  this  the  crows  assemble  every  evening  to  roost,  departing 
early  in  the  morning  on  their  daily  foraging  expeditions.  When  they 
are  all  congregated  in  the  evening  they  cover  about  five  acres,  sitting 
so  closely  together  that  they  completely  cover  the  trees,  making  each  a 
veritable  quercus  niger.  Mr.  Streeter  says  they  were  there  when  he 
came,  and  he  does  not  see  that  they  have  either  increased  or  dimin- 
ished in  number  during  the  now  nearly  thirty  3'ears  of  his  acquaint- 
ance with  them.  He  does  not  allow  them  to  be  disturbed,  and  they 
have  never  done  any  damage  on  his  place.  He  has  never  heard  of 
but  one  other  roost  in  the  state,  and  that  is  in  the  southern  part.  He 
thinks  his  crows  range  over  a  circle  wliose  radius  is  more  than  one 
hundred  miles.  During  the  brooding  season  they  do  not  return  to  the 
roost,  but  as  soon  as  the  young  can  fly  they  take  them  there.  His 
children,  in  the  order  of  their  ages,  are:  George  A.,  Frank  W.,  Marj^, 
Nellie  May,  Fannie  Rose,  Minnie  Grace,  and  Charles  Dallas.  The 
four  last-named  are  children  of  his  second  wife  (Susan  Menold),  to 
whom  he  was  married  in  August,  1861.  George  A.  married  a  daugh- 
ter of  Joshua  Goddard,  of  Viola.  Frank  W.  married  a  daughter  of 
Samuel  Park,  near  Viola,  and  now  lives  on  the  place,  having  charge 
of  the  farm  and  stock.  Mary  is  the  wife  of  Thomas  Burling,  and 
lives  in  Nebraska.  Minnie  Grace  died  January  23,  1882,  fi:-om  the 
effects  of  diphtheria,  deeply  mourned  by  a  wide  circle  of  friends  and 
acquaintances.  She  was  a  girl  of  more  than  ordinary  promise,  for 
whom  a  very  brilliant  future  seemed  just  opening.  February  22,  1882, 
Nellie  May  was  married  to  Mr.  Frank  Crane,  of  Osco,  Henry  county, 
Illinois.  Fannie  Rose  and  Charles  Dallas  are  all  that  remain  at  home. 
By  energy  and  perseverance  he  has  wrested  from  the  soil  his  present 
ample  means,  and  has  earned  a  justly  merited  reputation  for  honor 
and  probity  that  is  worth  more  than  money  or  lands.  Mr.  Streeter 
resides  on  his  original  purchase  in  section  11,  two  and  one-half  miles 
northwest  of  the  village  of  New  Windsor. 

CoENELius  L.  Petrie  was  born  in  Richland   Grove  township,  in 

Mercer  county,  Illinois,  September  25,  1849,  son  of  William  Petrie. 

[For  family  history  see  biography  of  Hon.  Alexander  P.  Petrie].     His 

youth  was  spent  on  his  father's  farm  in  this  county.     October  6,  1880, 

44 


774  HISTORY    OF    MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

he  married  Sylvina  B.  Coleman,  daugliter  of  John  Coleman,  of  this 
township,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1850.  He  then  settled  on 
his  present  place  in  the  southeast  of  section  12,  and  has  been  engaged  in 
farming.  His  farm  comprises  215  acres  in  excellent  cultivation.  He 
and  his  wife  are  active  membei's  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of 
New  AYindsor,  near  which  village  they  live. 

John  G.  Sexton,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  though  not  one  of  the 
pioneers,  has  been  prominently  identified  with  the  township  during  the 
comparatively  short  period  of  his  residence  here,  which  dates  from  the 
spring  of  1868,  when  he  came  here  from  Ohio  and  settled  on  the  W.  ^ 
of  S.  E.  of  Sec.  7,  this  township,  where  he  now  resides  in  a  good, 
commodious  frame  house,  built  in  1879,  his  farm  comprising  eighty 
acres.  He  has  held  numerous  local  offices  in  the  township.  Five 
years  ago  he  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace,  and  although  he  has  been 
called  upon  to  adjudicate  several  suits,  brought  before  him  on  change 
of  venue,  he  has  not  yet  issued  an  original  summons,  having  succeeded 
thus  far  in  getting  the  parties  to  compromise  or  agree  to  an  arbitration 
in  all  cases  that  have  been  brought  to  him  to  commence  suit.  In 
November,  1880,  he  was  appointed  supervisor  vice  A.  P.  Petrie, 
resigned.  In  1881  he  was  elected  to  the  same  office,  and  reelected  the 
spring  of  1882.  He  was  born  in  Mahoning  county,  Ohio,  December  2, 
1833.  His  father,  Stephen  Sexton,  was  born  in  Washington  county, 
Tennessee,  in  1801.  His  grandfather,  Stephen  Sexton,  was  an  only 
son  and  was  born  in  New  Jersey  in  1762,  and  went  to  Ohio  in  1800 
and  bought  a  farm  in  Mahoning  count3%  to  which  he  removed  his  family 
in  1802.  From  the  purchase  of  this  farm  in  1800  the  deed  to  his  son 
Stephen  was  the  only  transfer  of  the  property  until  sold  by  the  heirs  in 
1879.  He  died  in  1856  when  ninety-four  years  old.  His  grandfather's 
family  consisted  of  four  sons  and  three  daughters,  of  whom  one  sou 
only  survives.  His  father  married  AEiss  Sarah  Gibson,  who  was  a, 
native  of  Ohio.  They  had  nine  children,  eight  sons  and  one  daughter, 
all  of  whom  survi^'e,  one  residing  in  Connecticut,  one  in  Pennsylvania, 
one  in  Iowa,  and  the  other  five  in  Ohio.     Mr.  S.  married  Miss  Eliza 

C.  Hogg,  in  Ohio,  April  29,  1856,*  born  in  that  state  March  25,  1837, 
her  father,  James  Hogg,  being  a  well  known  resident  of  Viola,  Illinois, 
having  been  collector  of  his  town  for  several  years.  They  have  had 
three  children:  James  G.,  born  in  Pennsylvania  December  20,  1857 
(married  Miss  Nettie  Jobes  April  13,  1881),  lives  in  Preemption  town- 
ship ;  Lizzie  E.,  born  March  10,   1860,  died  October  21,  1863;  and 

D.  Findlay,  born  August  20,  1866.  In  politics  Mr.  S.  is  republican; 
His  educational  advantages  were  confined  to  the  common  school. 

Sidney  Durston,   the  subject   of  this  sketch,  is   the  third  son  of 


RIVOIJ  TOWNSHIP.  775 

James  and  Philadelpliia  (Bridges)  Durston,  pioneers  in  this  township, 
and  was  born  here  September  14,  1841.  His  oldest  brother,  Charles  F., 
was  born  August  14,  1837,  on  section  36,  in  Greene,  being  the  first  birth 
in  that  township.  In  3  862  he  enlisted  in  Co.  D,  83d  reg.  111.  Yol.  Inf., 
and  served  with  his  command  until  it  was  mustered  out  after  the  close 
of  the  war.  Sejitember  18,  1866,  he  married  Miss  Mary  L.  Edgerton, 
daughter  of  S.  C.  Edgerton,  born  in  Galesburg,  Illinois,  May  iJ,  1843. 
In  the  spring  of  1867  he  settled  on  his  farm  in  the  northwest  of  section 
10,  which  comprises  l(i()  acres.  Having  no  children,  in  March,  1880,  they 
adopted  two  boys,  Harry  and  Bert,  twin  sons  of  Ilenrj^  J.  Piper,  who 
were  born  March  11,  1876.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  D.  are  members  of  the 
Hopewell  Wesley  an  Methodist  church.  In  politics  Mr.  Durston  is 
republican. 

Samuel  L.  Durstox,  son  of  James  Durston,  was  born  in  this  town- 
ship June  10,  1847,  was  brought  up  on  his  father's  farm  with  such 
common  school  advantages  as  the  country  afforded,  to  which  he  added 
a  course  in  a  commercial  school  in  Monmouth.  April  23,  1874,  he 
married  Miss  Emma  Morton,  who  was  born  in  Peoria  county,  Illinois, 
August  22,  1855.  Her  parents  were  natives  of  the  Isle  of  Man.  Her 
mother  and  one  sister  reside  in  Galva,  Illinois,  another  sister  in  Aledo, 
Illinois,  and  a  brother  resides  in  Joliet,  this  state.  They  have  two 
children,  Lora,  born  March  19, 1875  ;  and  Jeanie,  born  April  19,  1880. 
They  are  members  of  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  cluu-ch  of  Hopewell,  his 
father  being  one  of  the  original  members  of  the  church  when  it  was 
organized  at  Oxford  in  1847.  His  farm  consists  of  100  acres  and  em- 
braces the  old  homestead  that  his  father  improved  forty  years  ago.  In 
politics  he  is  republican. 

William  C.  Garre'jt  was  born  in  Kn<jX  county,  Illinois,  October  18, 
1845,  and  came  with  his  parents  to  this  township  in  1850.  His  father, 
James  M.,  was  born  in  Indiana  in  1815,  and  came  to  Illinois  with  his 
father,  George  Garrett,  as  early  as  1835,  and  settled  near  Abington,  in 
Knox  county;  his  older  brothers,  William  F.  and  John  S.,  having 
come  to  the  state  still  earlier,  being  here  to  jjarticipate  in  the  Black 
Hawk  war  in  1832.  His  mother  (Mary  M.  Cullison)  was  born  in  Knox 
county,  Ohio,  August  4,  1824,  and  came  to  Knox  county,  Illinois,  with 
-her  parents  in  the  spring  of  1842,  settling  first  on  Haw  creek,  near  the 
present  town  of  Gilson ;  moving  to  the  vicinity  of  Victoria,  in  the 
same  county,  in  1845.  She  was  married  to  James  M.  Garrett,  in 
Knox  county,  in  December,  1844.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  was 
married  November  25,  1869,  to  Miss  S.  Augusta  Spicer,  daughter  of 
Hon.  P.  H.  Spicer,  of  this  township. .    She  was  born  in  Greene  town- 


776  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AJS^D    HENDERSON    COUiSTTIES. 

ship  April  11,  1840.  Until  March,  1872,  they  lived  in  the  old  home- 
stead with  Mrs.  M.  M.  Garrett,  at  which  time  they  remoyed  to  a  farm 
which  thej  owned  in  section  16,  this  township.  By  partition  and 
exchange  in  1876  they  came  into  possession  of  the  old  homestead 
again,  where  they  now  reside.  His  farm  consists  of  220  acres.  They 
have  three  children :  Georgia  (born  February  24,  1873),  Mortimer  S. 
(July  6,  1877),  and  E.  Roy  (January  8,  1880).  They  are  members  of 
Zion  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  William  C.  is  the  oldest  of  the 
family.  His  next  brother,  George,  died  when  a  youth ;  the  next, 
J.  Arthur,  married  Miss  Lizzie  Harbour,  and  lives  on  E.  ^  S.  E.  Sec. 
17,  in  this  township.  His  only  sister,  M.  Ella,  who  is  a  graduate  of 
Hedding  College,  lives  with  her  mother  in  Abington. 

Clinton  Shaw.     Among  the  pioneers  to  this  county  were  Levi  and 
Martha  (Metzlar)  Shaw,  who  settled  in  what  was  then  called  Berlin 
(now  Swedona),  Ma}"-  31,  1836.     The  former  was  a  native  of  Trenton, 
^ew  Jersey,  and  the  latter  of  Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania. 
They  were  married  in  Coshocton  county,  Ohio,  Februar}'  22,  1831,  and 
-came  thence  to  Illinois.     Mr.  Shaw  was  married  twice.     Almond,  the 
•only  child  by  his  first  wife,  is  now  a  resident  of  Kansas,  but  was  form- 
erly a  merchant  at  Swedona,  in  this  county.     He  enlisted  in  Co.  C, 
102d  feg.  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  in  1862,  and  was  made  first  lieute*iant  of  his 
company,   and  afterward,   upon  the  resignation  of  Capt.  Sliedd,   he 
became  captain  of  the  company.     By  his  second  marriage  Mr.  Shaw 
had  eleven  children,  six  sons  and  five  daughters,  all  of  whom  are  living 
except  the  youngest  daughter.     Clinton  was  reared  on  the  farm,  with 
the  common  school  advantages  of  that  early  day,  taking  his  start  in  life 
September  8,   1813,  at  Berlin.     When  in  his  sixteenth  year  he  was 
crippled  by  the  accidental  discharge  of  a  shot-gun,  the  charge  passing 
through  his  right  arm,  nearly  severing  it.     Five  years  later  he  had  the 
misfortune  to  lose  the  use  of  his  left  eye.     He  left  the  farm  at  the  age 
of  eighteen  and  clerked  in  a  store.     In  1865  he  took  a  course  in  a 
commercial  school  in  Chicago,  after  which  he  clerked  three  years  for 
his  brother  Almond  at  Swedona,  and  then,  with  George  W.  Gregg  as 
partner,  became  proprietor  of  the  store.     In  1870,  having  sold  out  his 
business,  he  began  clerking  for  Stephens  &  Gibson,  of  I^s^ew  Windsor, 
becoming  a  partner  in  1872  under  the  style  of  Gibson  &  Shaw,  after- 
ward becoming  Gibson,  Shaw  &  Halberg,  from  which  latter  firm  he 
has  just  withdrawn,  the  spring  of  1882.     July  1,    1866,  he  married 
at  Swedona  Miss  Ellen  L.  Bell,  sister  of  J.  D.  Bell,  since  a  prominent 
merchant  of  Woodhull.     She  was  born  near  New  Albany,  Indiana, 
October  17.  1816,  and  came  to  Illinois  in  1865.     Tliev  have  had  four 


RIVOLI   TOWNSHIP.  777 

children,    three   of  whom   are   li\dng:    Minnie   H.,    Genoa  V.,   and 
Cleo  ]Sr.     Mr.  Shaw  is  a  member  of  the  masonic  order. 

John  A.  Maxwell  was  born  in  Ireland  May  22,  1835.  Came  to 
America  in  the  fall  of  1852.  Lived  one  year  in  St.  Louis  and  one  year 
in  Rock  Island.  Was  traveling  most  of  the  time  until  his  marriage 
with  Mary  J.  Baker,  born  February  11,  1845,  daughter  of  William 
Baker,  of  Swedona,  in  this  county,  who  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
which  event  occurred  January  1,  1867.  lie  then  established  himself 
in  mercantile  business  in  Swedona.  Two  years  later,  when  the  railroad 
was  completed  to  New  Windsor,  he  removed  to  the  latter  place  and 
continued  the  business  until  November,  1875,  when  he  sold  his  store  to 
C.  Cole,  who  conducts  it  at  the  present  time.  Mr.  Maxwell  was  raised 
on  a  farm  until  eighteen  yeai'S  of  age,  and  owns  a  farm  of  160  acres, 
the  S.  E.  j;  of  Sec.  8,  in  Rivoli  township.  They  have  three  children : 
James  B.  (born  July  1,  1870),  Flora  J.  (born  December  1,  1873),  and 
Grace  G.  (born  October  16,  1876).     Politically  republican. 

Andrew  J.  Rosenbum  was  born  in  Wythe  county,  Virginia,  Sep- 
tember 4,  1828.  His  father,  Anthony  Rosenbum,  was  also  a  native  of 
Virginia,  and  emigrated  to  Kentucky  about  the  year  1829,  settling  in 
Barren  county.  He  moved  thence  to  Monmouth,  Illinois,  in  1835, 
opening  the  first  blacksmith  shop  in  the  place  where  he  continued  to 
work  at  his  trade  for  fifteen  years.  He  died  in  Monmouth  in  1851. 
His  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Hoffman,  had  two  brothers  in 
Monmouth,  who  were  wagon  makers,  and  Mr.  Rosenbum  did  their  iron 
work.  His  mother  died  in  Henry  county  in  1874.  Mr.  Rosenbum 
attended  school  ten  years  in  the  first  school-house  built  in  Monmouth, 
which  stood  on  the  present  site  of  the  Methodist  church.  The  old 
school-house  was  lighted  by  two  windows,  one  in  the  east  and  one  in 
west ;  the  bottoms  of  the  windows  being  nearly  as  high  as  the  top  of 
the  door.  He  remembers  going  to  school  there  when  he  had  to  part 
the  tall,  blue  stem  grass  that  waved  away  above  his  head  to  make  a 
path  to  reach  the  school-house.  In  1852  Mr.  Rosenbum  crossed  the 
plains  to  California,  where  he  remained  five  years,  returning  to  Illinois 
in  1857.  After  his  return  from  California  he  located  in  Henry  county, 
where  he  resided  until  September,  1862,  when  he  enlisted  in  •  Co. 
G.  112th  111.  Vol.  Inf  He  was  engaged  in  all  the  battles  and 
skirmishes  in  which  that  regiment  took  part,  and  they  were  many. 
While  operating  as  mounted  infantry  he  had  a  horse  shot  under  him 
at  Philadelphia,  Tennessee.  After  three  years  and  three  months'  ser- 
vice he  was  mustered  out  at  Goldsboro,  North  Carolina.  After  his 
return  home  from  the  army  he  resided  in  Oxford,  in  Henry  county, 
until  1869,  when  he  removed  to  New  Windsor  and  engaged  in  the  drug 


778  HISTORY    OF   MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

business  which  he  has  continued  to  the  present  time.  He  had  one 
brother,  James,  who  died  in  1876,  At  Oxford  lie  married  Sarah 
Crighxr,  who  was  born  in  Ohio  in  January,  1843.  They  have  no  chil- 
dren, but  an  adopted  son.  Is  a  member  of  Oxford  Lodge,  No.  367, 
A.F.A.M. ;  also  of  Horeb  Chapter,  No.  7,  R.A.  Masons;  also  of  New 
Windsor  Lodge,  No.  578,  I.O.O.F.     In  politics  he  is  a  democrat. 

William  B.  Cltllison  was  born  in  Knox  county,  Ohio,  March  17, 
1831.  His  father,  Jeramiah  Cullison,  was  a  native  of  Maryland,  and 
a  farmer.  He  emigrated  to  Ohio  in  1810,  and  there  married  Rebecca 
Coulter,  who  was  a  native  of  Penns^dvania.  He  moved  to  Illinois  in 
1842,  settling  on  Haw  creek,  near  Gilson,  Knox  county.  In  1845  he 
removed  to  the  vicinity  of  Victoria,  in  the  same  county.  The  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  engaged  in  farming  until  1852,  when  he  crossed  the 
plains  to  California  where  he  was  engaged  in  mining  and  packing 
until  1856,  when  he  returned  to  Illinois,  arriving  home  in  December  of 
that  year.  In  the  spring  of  1860  he  again  went  to  California  where  he 
remained  until  1862,  arriving  in  Illinois,  on  his  return,  in  February. 
The  following  summer  he  enlisted  in  company  E.  102d  111.  A-^ol.  Inf.; 
was  with  the  regiment  through  all  its  varied  experiences  until  the  17th 
of  July,  1864,  at  the  Chattahoochie  river  in  Georgia ;  he  was  sent 
to  the  hospital  at  Nashville,  thence  to  Evansville,  Indiana,  thence  to 
Quincy,  Illinois,  where  he  was  discharged  at  tlie  close  of  tlie  war. 
September  16,  1868,  he  married  Ellen  Bradford,  daughter  of  A,  B. 
Bradford,  of  Greene  township,  this  county,  who  was  a  native  of 
Pennsvlvania,  but  lived  some  time  in  Ohio  before  coming  to  Illinois. 
Her  mother,  Margaret  Hall,  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  where  Ellen  was 
born  January  11,  1840.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Cullison  settled  on  a 
farm,  the  E.  ^  S.W.  Sec.  21,  in  Rivoli  township,  to  which  he  has 
added  from  time  to  time  until  his  farm  now  comprises  three  hundred 
and  twenty  acres.  In  1879  he  built  a  new  house,  which  is  very  finely 
finished,  on  the  N.W.  J  of  Sec.  27  where  he  now  resides.  The  chil- 
dren are  Sadie,  born  June  4,  1872,  and  Arthur,  born  May  9,  1876. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cyullison  are  both  members  of  Zion  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  Mr.  ( -uUison  is  a  member  of  Oxford  Lodge,  No.  377, 
A.F.A.M.  Mr.  Cullison  engages  quite  largely  in  stock  raising,  feed- 
ing, and  in  buying  and  shipping  stock. 

J.  Warren  Reynolds  was  born  in  Canada,  June  30,  1840,  and 
came  to  the  United  States  with  his  parents  in  June,  1841,  and  settled 
near  Lafayette,  in  Stark  county,  Illinois.  Removed  to  Mercer  county 
April,  1855,  settling  on  the  southwest  of  section  26,  in  Rivoli  township, 
where  he  now  resides,  his  farm  comprising  eighty  acres.  May  31, 
1868,  married  Harriet  E.  Armstrong,  of  Berwick,  Warren  county,  Illi- 


KIVOLT    TOWNS  I  IIP.  779 

nois,  who  died  April  4,  1873.  Tliey  had  two  chihlren :  a  boy,  Orvie 
E.,  born  April  29,  1869,  and  a  girl,  who  died  in  February,  1873. 
May  M,  1874,  married  Miss  Alice  Summers,  daughter  of  Joseph  Sum- 
mers, of  Viola,  Illinois.  She  is  a  native  of  this  state,  born  August  17, 
1849.  They  have  two  children  :  Esther,  born  June  4,  1875,  and  Jessie 
B.,  born  November  24,  1879.  His  father,  Alan  son  Reynolds,  was  a 
native  of  Canada,  and  died  here  August  17,  1879,  at  the  age  of 
eighty-seven.  His  mother  died  September  10,  1879,  at  the  age  of 
seventy-seven.  One  brother,  Peter  Eeynolds,  lives  in  Kansas,  and 
served  in  a  Kansas  regiment  during  the  war,  and  carries  in  his  person 
two  bullets  received  from  Price's  men  at  Osawatomie,  Kansas.  In 
1881  Mr.  K.  built  a  neat  and  commodious  residence  on  his  farm,  where 
he  can  enjoy  the  fruits  of  his  industry.  Mr.  R.  can  relate  many  amus- 
ing incidents  connected  with  his  early  life  in  this  §tate,  having  driven 
a  team  to  Chicago  in  company  with  his  father  on  several  occasions, 
when  it  was  common  to  haul  wheat  from  this  part  of  the  country  to 
that  city.  In  politics  Mr.  R.  is  a  democrat.  He  is  also  a  member  of 
Oxford  Lodge,  No.  367,  A.F.A.M. 

Matthkw  F.  Postlewait  was  born  in  Huntingdon  county.  Penn- 
sylvania, August  22,  1817.  His  father,  John  Postlewait,  was  also  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania,  born  in  1776;  came  to  Illinois  in  1855,  and 
died  in  February,  1861.  Mr.  P.  spent  his  boyhood  on  the  farm,  but 
learned  the  trade  of  carpenter,  at  which  he  worked  until  he  came  west, 
and  for  a  short  time  after  his  arrival  in  this  state.  August  24,  1841, 
he  married  Miss  Mary  J.  Yocum,  born  in  Pennsylvania,  January  1, 
1823,  daughter  of  Jesse  Yocum,  of  that  state,  who  died  in  the  spring 
of  1877.  Mr.  P.  came  to  Illinois  i  i  1845,  by  the  way  of  the  Ohio  and 
Mississippi  rivers,  landing  at  Oquawka.  It  took  four  weeks  to  make 
the  trip.  His  tirst  settlement  was  on  the  northwest  of  section  28,  in 
Suez  township,  where  he  continued  to  reside  until  1857,  when  he  sold 
his  farm  and  removed  to  his  present  place,  the  southwest  of  section 
26,  in  Rivoli  township,  where  he  has  134  acres.  He  also  owns  eighty 
acres  in  North  Henderson  township.  For  some  time  after  he  came 
here  he  did  all  his  trading  at  Oquawka,  but  after  Keithsburg  was 
established,  he  transferred  his  trade  to  that  place.  Their  children  are  : 
Hannah  G.,  born  August  15,  1842  (deceased);  Calvin  W.,  born  Octo- 
ber 8,  1843,  now  in  mercantile  business  at  Alexis;  Martha  E.,  born 
August  12,  1845  (deceased);  John  M.,  born  April  21,  1848,  on  a  farm 
in  North  Henderson  township;  William  G.,  born  December  20,  1850, 
farmer,  lives  in  Missouri;  Amy  E.,  born  April  8,  1853  (deceased); 
Jessie  Y.,  born  October  22,  1855,  in  hardware  and  grocery  business 
in  Cable,  Illinois ;  Olivia  B.,  born  November  4,  1857 ;  Blanche  A.,  born 


780  HISTORY    OF   IVIERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

June  8,  1860,  is  one  of  Mercer  county's  successful  teachers;  and 
Ralph  J.,  born  April  13,  1864.  The  three  last  named  reside  at  home. 
Mrs.  P.  is  a  member  of  the  Congregational  church,  of  l^ew  Windsor. 
Mr.  P.  is  an  old  Jeliersonian  democrat. 

John  Coleman  was  born  in  Mercer  countv,  Pennsylvania,  July  24, 
1824.  His  father,  Samuel  Coleman,  was  also  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
born  in  the  year  1800,  and  died  in  the  fall  of  1875.  His  mother, 
Sarah  Alvin,  was  of  Irish  descent,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  born 
in  1803,  and  still  lives,  six  miles  east  of  Victoria,  in  Knox  county. 
His  father  came  to  Illinois  in  1854,  by  wagon,  from  Pennsylvania. 
He  raised  a  family  of  fourteen  children,  eight  boys  and  six  girls,  of 
whom  the  subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  oldest.  Twelve  of  these  still 
live,  seven  boys  and  five  girls.  Two  of  the  brothers  live  in  Iowa ;  the 
rest  all  live  in  this  State.  In  1847  Mr.  Coleman  married  Elizabeth 
Ghost,  born  m  Venango  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1820,  and  died  in 
1875,  in  the  fifty -lifth  year  of  her  age.  They  had  four  children : 
Vinie  (wife  of  C.  L.  Petrie,  of  New  Windsor),  Samuel,  Susan,  and 
John  G.  In  January,  1877,  Mr.  Coleman  was  again  married  to  the 
widow  of  David  Ramsey,  nee  Josie  M.  Gasney.  Mrs.  Coleman  has 
three  children :  Maud  Ramsey  (twelve  years  old),  Emma  R.  (ten 
years  old),  and  Edith  P.  Coleman  (born  January  14,  1878.  Mr.  Cole- 
man was  brought  u])  on  a  farm,  and  has  always  followed  that  avoca- 
tion. His  present  farm  contains  210  acres  of  the  very  best  land  in 
the  township,  and  lies  adjoining  the  plat  of  the  village  of  New  Wind- 
sor. In  1881  Mr.  Coleman  erected  a  fine  large  residence  on  his  farm, 
which  he  did  not  get  entirely  finished,  but  expects  to  complete  during 
the  present  season.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Coleman  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  New  Windsor,  he  being  one  of  its 
most  active  members  and  leader  of  the  class  for  a  number  of  years. 

Dr.  Edward  L.  Emekson  was  born  in  Keithsburg  township,  Mercer 
county,  Illinois,  August  18,  1846.  His  father,  William  S.,  and  mother, 
Delilah  Hurt  Emerson,  were  both  natives  of  Wayne  county,  Indiana, 
'and  settled  in  Keithsburg  township,  in  this  county,  about  the  year 
1842,  on  the  place  where  they  now  reside.  The  family  is  composed 
of:  Edward  L.,  William  A.  (married  and  farming  in  Nebraska), 
Albert  L.  (married  and  farming  near  his  father's),  Thomas  H.,  and 
Ida  May.  Edward  L.  was  reared  on  his  father's  farm  until  the  sum- 
mer of  1862.  When  sixteen  years  old  he  enlisted  in  Co.  C,  102d  111. 
Vol.  Inf.,  and  shared  in  all  the  trials  and  helped  to  win  all  the  glory 
won  by  that  regiment.  In  1863,  while  the  regiment  was  stationed  at 
Gallatin,  Tennessee,  he  was  sent  with  a  squad  as  guard  to  a  forage 
train.     While  on  this  duty,  the  squad  was  attacked  by  a  large  partisan 


r 


RIVULI   TOWNSHIP.  781 

force  of  the  confederates,  and  lie  and  William  Merritt,  of  company  I 
of  the  same  regiment,  were  captured  at  Epperson  Springs,  Tennessee, 
and  sent  to  Libby  prison,  Kichmond,  Virginia.  They  were  both  ex- 
changed the  latter  part  of  the  summer,  and  Edward  L.  rejoined  his 
regiment  at  La  Yergne,  Tennessee,  in  September,  1863.  From  that 
time  until  the  final  mustering  out  and  discharge  of  the  regiment  at 
the  close  of  the  war,  he  was  with  the  command,  sharing  in  its  weary 
marches  and  hard  fought  battles ;  and  the  latter  were  by  no  means 
few,  as  the  old  flag  at  S[)ringiield  will  attest.  After  his  return  from 
the  army  he  attended  school  one  year  at  Keithsburg,  and  then  took 
a  special  course  of  nine  months  at  a  select  school  taught  in  Ohio  Grove 
township,  giving  three  months  to  grammar,  the  same  time  to  rhetoric 
and  elocution,  and  the  same  to  mathematics.  In  September,  18H8,  he 
married  Laura  Markee,  daughter  of  Jesse  Markee,  of  Ohio  Grove 
township,  by  whom  he  has  two  children :  Jesse  W.  (now  thirteen  years 
old),  and  May  F.  (nine  years  old).  After  his  marriage,  in  1868,  he 
located  on  a  farm  near  Millersburg.  August  10,  1877,  his  wife  died, 
and  was  buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Aledo.  After  her  death  he  resolved 
to  lit  himself  for  the  practice  of  medicine.  While  carrying  on  his 
farm,  he  began  a  course  of  reading  under  Dr.  W.  B.  Artz,  of  Joy, 
which  he  continued  for  two  years,  reciting  twice  each  week.  During 
the  fall  and  winter  terms  of  1879-80,  and  the  spring  term  of  1880,  he 
attended  Rush  Medical  College,  Chicago.  The  summer  of  1880  he 
spent  in  the  office  with  Dr.  Craig,  of  Aledo,  finishing  his  course  at 
Rush  Medical  College  during  the  fall  and  winter  terms  of  1880-81, 
graduating  Febi'uary  22,  1881.  He  also  took  a  special  course  under 
Prof  E.  Fletcher  Ingalls,  on  diseases  of  the  throat  and  chest,  and 
another  under  Prof.  E.  L.  Holmes,  on  diseases  of  the  eye  and  ear. 
March  23,  1881,  he  married  Miss  Ella  M.  Gailey,  daughter  of  S.  W. 
Gailey,  of  Aledo,  and  on  March  26  located  and  began  the  practice 
of  his  profession  in  New  Windsor.  Is  a  member  of  the  order  of 
A.F.A.M.,  and  also  of  the  LO.O.F. 

Dr.  John  B.  Rathbun  was  born  in  Crawford  county,  Pennsylvania, 
October  12,  1820,  and  is  son  of  Eliliu  Rathbun,  who  was  born  in  the 
state  of  jSTew  York,  September  8,  1791,  and  Eleanor  Beatty,  who  was 
a  native  of  Pennsylvania  and  related  to  the  Darlingtons,  of  east  Penn- 
sylvania. Mr.  Rathbun  moved  from  New  York  to  Pennsylvania  in 
1816,  and  there  married  Miss  Beatty.  After  the  death  of  his  first  wife 
he  married  Miss  Sarah  To  well,  who  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  Dur- 
ing his  residence  in  Pennsylvania  he  was  engaged  in  farming  and  the 
ministry.  In  1835  he  came  to  Illinois,  settling  in  what  is  now  Bowling 
township,  in  Rock  Island  county,  but  for  several  years  past  has  resided 


782  HISTORY    OF    MEKCER    A>rD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

in  Yiola,  in  this  coiintv.  Mr.  Rathbun's  children  by  his  first  wife 
were:  Aclaline  (deceased),  John  B.,  Margaret  E.,  Bulina  A.,  and  Fin- 
law  Darlington  (deceased);  by  his  second  wife:  Fitz  W.,  Homer  H. 
(who  enlisted  in  the  9th  111.  Vol.  Cav.  and  died  in  Missouri  while  in 
the  service),  Elihu,  Phcebe  and  Isaac  (who  are  twins),  and  Sarah  (wife 
of  T.  T.  Spicer,  now  living  near  Chariton,  Iowa).  Dr.  Rath  bun's  youth 
was  spent  on  his  father's  farm  and  in  attending  the  common  school  of 
that  day.  He  attended  Alleghany  college  two  years  and  then  followed 
Prof.  Griffith  from  that  institution  to  Mercer  academy,  where  he  at- 
tended two  years,  working  at  intervals  to  pay  his  way.  He  then  went 
south  with  Prof.  Griffith  and  taught  two  years,  reading  medicine  dur- 
ing the  time  under  Dr.  Terrell,  of  Black  Hawk,  Mississippi.  He  after 
ward  completed  his  medical  course  at  the  Eclectic  Medical  college, 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  graduating  in  1847;  began  the  practice  of  his  profes- 
sion in  West  Greenville,  Pennsylvania,  where,  on  September  17,  1S48, 
he  married  Emeline  J.  Waugli,  who  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in 
1822,  and  a  sister  of  the  well  known  proprietor  of  Waugh's  mill,  at 
Richland  Grove,  in  this  county.  June  1852  he  moved  to  Rock  Island, 
in  this  state,  and  practiced  there  until  the  spring  of  1857,  when  he  re- 
moved to  Richland  Grove,  in  this  county.  June  21,  1859,  his  wife 
died,  leaving  two  sons,  William  W.,  and  Frank  Darlington.  William 
W.  was  born  in  June  1850,  and  Frank  D.,  in  September,  1854. 
William  W.  studied  law,  and  graduated  at  Union  College  of  Law, 
Chicago.  After  practicing  three  years  in  Rock  Island,  his  health  be- 
came so  impaired  that  he  removed  to  New  Windsor,  in  this  county, 
and  is  now  engaged  in  the  drug  business.  He  married  Miss  Ella 
Bai"ge,  daughter  of  William  Barge,  a  leading  lawyer  of  Dixon,  her 
mother  being  a  daughter  of  John  Dixon,  the  well  known  pioneer  of 
Lee  county  and  founder  of  the  city  of  Dixon.  Frank  D.  graduated 
from  Rush  Medical  College,  Chicago,  in  1877,  and  from  Jefferson 
Medical  College,  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  in  1878,  and  served  one 
year,  after  leaving  the  last  named  institution,  in  the  Philadelphia 
hospital.  He  is  now  practicing  in  New  Windsor,  whither  Dr.  John 
B.  Rathbun  removed  from  Richland  Grove,  April  1878,  and  where  he 
still  resides  to  assist  his  son  in  his  now  large  practice. 

Isaac  Brooks  was  born  near  Manchester,  England,  July  4,  1829. 
Came  to  the  United  States  in  May,  1849,  and  settled  in  Carbon  county, 
Pennsylvania.  Lived  there  five  years,  working  in  various  coal  mines. 
After  traveling  about  the  country  for  two  years,  he  iinally  settled  in 
this  county  in  1856.  In  the  spring  of  1857  he  moved  on  to  the  N.  E.  J 
of  Sec.  2,  Rivoli  township,  since  which  time  he  has  added  to  his 
farm  until  he  now  owns  880  acres  in  this  county  and  eighty  acres  in 


KIVOLI    TOWNSHIP.  783 

Henry  county.  April  9,  1849,  just  before  leaving  England,  lie  married 
Maria  Ann  Jul,  wlio  came  to  America  with  him  and  made  him  a  faith- 
ful wife  and  helpmeet  until  her  death,  which  occurred  February  21, 
1880,  leaving  no  children.  His  father  died  in  England  when  he  was 
an  infant,  and  his  mother,  who  came  to  this  country,  died  in  Oliio.  He 
has  one  brother,  Thomas,  living  at  West  Brooktield,  Stark  county, 
Ohio,  and  another,  George,  who  lives  in  Trego  county,  Kansas,  the 
latter  having  a  family  of  nine  or  ten  cliildren.  December  21,  1880,  he 
married  Emma  J.  Peterson,  who  was  born  in  Sweden,  December  22, 
1862,  and  came  to  America  in  18T-1,  with  her  father,  Andrew  Peterson, 
of  Cable,  this  county.  Mr.  Brooks  is  a  Master  Mason,  a  member  of 
Oxford  Lodge,  No.  367,  A.F.A.M.  Their  only  child  Mary  L.,  was 
born  April  22,  1881. 

Victoria  C.  M.  Tracy  was  born  near  Cleveland,  Oliio,  January  28, 
1847,  daughter  of  John  and  Emeline  C.  (Hicks)  Morris.  Her  tathei- 
was  born  in  Somersetshire,  England,  May  27,  1816,  and  came  to 
America  with  his  lather  in  1840,  and  settled  near  Cleveland,  Ohio. 
March  1,  1846,  he  married  Emeline  C.  Hicks,  of  Zanesville,  Ohio,  who 
w^as  born  in  that  state  August  20,  1827.  Her  father  was  killed  by 
robbers  in  Zanesville,  leaving  a  brother  (Thomas  Hicks)  in  Kentucky, 
and  a  son  (John)  in  Louisville,  Kentucky.  Her  mother  was  Esther 
Black,  of  French  descent,  her  family  living  near  Philadelphia.  Mrs. 
Tracy  came  to  Illinois  with  her  parents  in  1851,  by  the  lakes  to  Chicago, 
and  thence  by  team  to  Mercer  county,  settling  near  Keithsburg.  Five 
years  later  tliev  moved  to  Warren  county,  and  in  1865  returned  to 
Mercer  county,  Mr.  Morris  buying  a  farm  in  section  9,  in  Greene  town- 
ship, where  he  resides  now.  His  father  died  near  Keithsburg  in  1856, 
aged  sixty-eight ;  and  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Sarah 
Brewer,  died  in  1864,  aged  eighty-one  years.  April  22,  1869,  Miss 
Victoria  married  Jonathan  Tracy,  of  Rivoli  township,  their  residence 
being  on  S.  E.  J  of  Sec.  1.  Mrs.  Tracy  has  three  children:  Ida  (born 
February  28,  1870),  Baz.  (May  1,  1872),  and  Fred.  (August  13,  1874). 
May  26,  1878,  Mr.  Tracy  died,  since  which  time  Mrs.  Tracy  has 
managed  the  affairs  of  the  farm,  consisting  of  372  acres,  with  marked 
ability,  taking  high  rank  among  the  large  and  successful  farmers  of  the 
county.  Her  business  tact  caused  her  neighbors  to  elect  lier  school 
director  of  her  district,  which  office  she  still  holds.  In  1871  Mr.  Tracy 
built  a  large  and  elegant  residence  on  his  farm,  where  the  family  now 
reside,  one  and  one-half  miles  north  of  the  village  of  New  Windsor. 
Jonathan  Tracy  was  born  in  Mason  county,  Kentucky,  November  25, 
1830.  His  father  (Vesey  Tracy)  and  mother  (Rachel  Ilayden)  were 
natives  of  that  state,  and  were  married  in  1828.     In  1839  his  motlier 


784  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

died,  and  his  father  afterward  married  Miss  Nancy  Grenard,  by  whom 
he  had  two  sons,  George  W.  and  Francis  M.,  wlio  live  near  Winterset, 
Iowa.  In  1850  lie  married  Miss  Mary  Dancer,  who  died  a  year  later. 
In  1853  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  pnrchased  land  in  Henry  county. 
May  21,  1856,  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Love,  a  native  of  Mercer 
county.  Having  sold  his  farm  in  Henry  county  that  year,  he  bought 
land  in  the  S.  E.-Jof  Sec.  1,  Rivoli  township,  which  forms  a  part  of 
the  present  homestead.  Here  were  born  :  George  (December  31,  1857, 
who  died  in  his  sixth  year),  Rach'el  (September  22,  1859),  Jane  (March 
3,  1861),  Emma  (Novembers,  1862),  Mary  (December  7,-1861:);  and 
in  August,  1868,  his  second  wife  died,  leaving  him  witli  four  mother- 
less children.  Mr.  Tracy  was  always  engaged  in  farming,  and  by 
industry  and  energy  raised  himself  from  humble  beginnings  to  the 
position  of  a  well-to-do  farmer.  He  was  not  a  member  of  any  church 
or  society,  and  in  politics  adhered  to  the  democratic  faith. 

Nathan  P.  Smith  was  born  in  Ohio  in  1830,  and  came  to  Illinois 
with  his  parents  in  1810,  when  ten  years  old.  His  father  (Ste]ihen 
Smith)  was  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  and  emigrated  to  Ohio  when  a 
young  man,  and  there  married  Anna  Belt,  who  survived  him,  living 
with  her  son  Frank  on  the  old  homestead  in  section  1  in  this  township. 
He  hrst  came  to  Illinois  in  1838,  and  entered  forty  acres  of  prairie  in 
section  1  and  120  acres  of  timber  land  in  Ricliland  Grove,  also  a  tract 
of  timber  land  on  Pope  creek.  Peturning  to  Ohio  he  brought  his 
family  to  Illinois  in  1840,  and  settled  on  the  forty  acres  of  prairie  he 
had  previously  entered  in  section  4.  He  died  in  1845,  leaving  eight 
children,  four  boys  and  four  girls.  Two  of  these  have  died  since, 
Lyman  and  Mattie  (formerly  wife  of  T.  G.  Woodham).  Four  of  the 
survivors  reside  in  this  township:  Nathan  P.,  ('hauncey,  Frank,  and 
Mary  (wife  of  James  Durston).  Two  daughters  (married)  live,  one  in 
Iowa  and  one  at  Moline,  Illinois.  Mr.  Smith  was  a  blacksmith,  and 
opened  on  his  place  the  hrst  blacksmith  shop  in  the  township.  Nathan 
P.  spent  his  youth  upon  the  farm,  and  in  the  winter  of  1847.  when 
seventeen  years  old,  taught  his  first  school  in  Kichland  Grove  town- 
ship, agreeing  to  teach  for  $12  per  month,  and  was  to  have  $15  if  the 
patrons  were  suited.  AVhen  his  school  closed  he  made  out  his  bill  at 
$15  per  month,  and  it  was  paid  without  question.  He  afterward 
taught  four  winters  in  Oxford,  Ilenrj^  county,  and  four  winters  at  the 
Hopewell  district  in  this  township,  also  taught  at  Henderson  Grove. 
In  1860  he  married  Mary  Ann  Woodham,  and  built  his  present  resi- 
dence, and  settled  in  the  N.  ^  of  the  N.  E.  of  Sec.  9,  wliich  he  had 
been  improving  for  some  years  previously.  The  farm  consists  of  100 
acres  of  prairie,  besides  which  he  has  twenty  acres  of  timber.     He 


I 


RivoLi  TOWNSnii'.  785 

has  two  cliildren,  Minnie  (the  elder)  and  Cliarles.  He  was  supervisor 
of  this  township  three  successive  years  during  war  times.  In  politics 
he  is  a  republican,  but  is  not  very  partisan. 

Timothy  D.  Merrvman  was  born  in  Kennebec  county,  Maine,  Jan- 
uary 14,  1827,  town  of  Chesterville,  now  in  Monroe  county.  His 
father,  Timothy  Merryman,  was  born  in  Brunswick,  Maine,  November 
16,  1787,  and  married  Elizabeth  Dunning  January  23,  1813,  who  was 
also  a  native  of  Maine.  He  was  a  ship  carpenter  by  trade,  also  a 
farmer,  clearing  for  himself  a  farm  among  the  pines  of  his  native  state. 
In  1835,  with  his  three  oldest  sons  and  eldest  daughter  he  came  to 
Illinois,  and  locating  in  Richland  Grove  township,  sent  for  the  remain- 
der of  the  family  to  come,  which  they  did  the  next  year,  1836,  coming 
all  the  way  with  teams.  Mrs.  Merryman  being  sick  on  their  arrival  at 
Wheeling,  Virginia,  took  ])assage  on  a  boat  with  one  of  her  daughters 
and  came  by  river  to  Rock  Island.  They  had  nine  children,  six  sons 
and  three  daugliters,  seven  of  whom  survive.  The  six  sons  in  the 
order  of  their  ages  are  :  Albert  D. ,  Thomas,  David  D. ,  Joseph  M. , 
Timothy  D.,  and  Ira.  The  only  surviving  daughter,  Thirza  Ann,  is  the 
wife  of  Robinson  Nye  and  resides  in  Moline,  Illinois.  Mrs.  Merryman 
died  in  October,  1852,  aged  sixty-four,  and  Mr.  M,  died  in  April,  1873, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-six,  their  remains  resting  in  the  cemetery  at 
Moline.  Timothy  D.  was  brought  up  on  the  farm,  and  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one  began  his  fortune  with  a  capital  of  $50.  He  bought  an 
interest  in  a  saw  mill  that  his  father  and  one  of  his  brothers  had  built 
in  Richland  Grove  in  1845.  While  engaged  in  this  mill  he  made  a 
claim  on  160  acres  of  land  in  section  9,  Rivola  township,  to  which  he 
afterward  added  eighty  acres  in  the  same  section  and  entered  it  with 
land  warrants  in  1850.  He  had  forty  acres  under  improvement  when, 
in  1853,  he  crossed  the  plains  to  California  with  an  ox  team.  Thus 
can  he  boast  of  having  crossed  the  continent  from  Maine  to  California 
with  a  team.  He  was  engaged  there  in  mining,  farming  and  teaming 
until  1863,  when  he  returned  to  Illinois  and  settled  where  he  now 
lives,  on  the  northeast  of  section  9.  December  1,  1864,  he  married 
Miss  Mary  Manning,  who  was  born  in  Richland  Grove  township,  in 
this  county,  July  23,  1840.  She  was  daughter  of  James  Manning,  one 
of  Mercer  county's  pioneers,  who  settled  in  that  township  in  1835.  Of 
six  s(ms  and  three  daugliters  but  two  survive,  Mrs.  Merryman  and  one 
brother  in  Indiana.  March  24,  1873,  his  house  was  burned,  but  he 
replaced  it  with  a  fine,  spacious  residence,  surrounded  by  quite  a  grove 
of  maples,  that  have  grown  from  seed  planted  by  himself,  and  fi*om 
which  he  can  now  make  a  barrel  of  syrup  annually.  He  has  added  to 
his  original  farm  until  he  now  owns  640  acres,  including  twenty  acres 


786  HISTORY    OF   MERCER    AXD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

of  timber.  In  1878  he  built  ou  liis  place  the  tirst  clairj  in  the  county, 
which  has  made  large  quantities  of  cheese  and  butter  since  that  time, 
but  is  run  exclusively  now  as  a  creamery.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Merryman 
are  both  active  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

A.  P.  Shroyer  was  born  in  this  township  in  1851.  His  father, 
Henry  Shroyer,  was  born  in  Indiana  in  1815,  and  in  1842  married 
Miss  Rebecca  Hughes,  who  was  born  in  that  state  in  1820 ;  and  there 
their  oldest  son  (William)  was  born  in  1846.  In  1847  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Shroyer  came  from  Indiana  to  this  state,  settling  on  the  S.  E.  J  of  Sec. 
15,  in  this  township,  where  he  lived  until  his  death  a  few  years  ago, 
and  where  his  widow,  who  survives  him,  still  lives.  Besides  the  above- 
named  children  there  are :  M.  L.  (born  in  1856),  Sarah  J.  (born  1859), 
and  Martha  I.  (born  1863).  January  1,  1869,  William  married  Miss 
Johanna  Powell,  daughter  of  Horatio  Powell,  an  old  settler  in  jSTorth 
Henderson  township.  A.  P.  married  Miss  Donna  Meadows  November 
11,  1875.  She  was  born  in  Warren  county,  Illinois,  June  12,  1855; 
daughter  of  James  Meadows.  They  have  three  children,  all  boys. 
A.  P.  is  a  member  of  Oxford  Lodge,  No.  367,  A.F.  A.M.,  and  is  its 
secretary  at  present.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian 
church,  and  were  connected  with  the  church  in  New  Windsor  as  long 
as  it  was  in  existence.  He  was  formerly  in  the  drug  business  in  New 
Windsor,  but  is  now  engaged  in  farming.  Two  years  ago  he  built  a 
very  commodious  residence  on  part  of  the  old  homestead,  where  he 
now  resides,  and,  with  his  brother  (M.  L.),  cariies  on  the  farm,  which 
comprises  280  acres.  The  family  is  of  German  origin,  the  name  having 
been  spelled  Schroyer,  but  Avith  the  lapse  of  time  the  c  has  become 
elided. 

T.  G.  WooDHAMS  was  born  in  Albany,  New  York,  October  19,  1837. 
His  father  and  mother,  William  and  Harriet  (Gorham)  Woodhams, 
were  both  natives  of  England.  Mr.  Woodhams  came  to  America  first 
in  1820,  but  returned  again  after  a  short  stay.  In  1828  he  came  to 
America,  to  make  this  his  permanent  home.  He  married  Harriet 
G(n-liam  in  Albany,  New  York.  In  1838  he  came  to  Illinois  and 
settled  on  the  N.  E.  \  of  Sec.  21,  this  township,  where  the  subject  of 
this  sketch  was  raised  and  still  lives.  Mr.  AVoodhams  died  October 
20,  1844,  and  was  the  first  person  buried  in  the  W^oiidhams  cemetery, 
the  site  for  which  was  donated  by  him  for  that  purpose.  Mrs.  Wood- 
bams  resides  on  tlie  place  with  her  oldest  son  (William),  who  is  a  bach- 
elor and  a  wheelwright.  A  younger  son  (John  C.)  enlisted  in  Co.  D, 
83d  reg.  111.  Vol.  Inf,  and  died  at  Fort  Donelson,  Tennessee,  No  y em- 
ber 30,  1862.  His  remains  are  interred  in  the  Woodhams  cemetery. 
Their  daughter  (Harriet)  is   the  wife  of  E.   B.   David,   dentist,   and 


COMPANY    G,    'rWENTV-SEVENTII    REGIMENT.  787 

resides  in  Aleclo.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  married  February  10, 
1867,  Miss  Martha  A.  Smith,  daughter  of  Stephen  Smith,  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  this  townshi]),  mentioned  in  the  history  of  this  township. 
She  died  July  5,  1873,  leaving  three  children:  Mary  A.  (born  Decem- 
ber 1,  1867),  Adelbert  L.  (boi-n  Marcli  21,  1870),  and  John  L.  (born 
October  8,  1872).  September  16,  1874,  he  married  Mrs.  Maria  Smith, 
widow  of  J.  Lyman  Smith,  and  daughter  of  James  Durston,  the 
pioneer.  She  was  born  in  Rensselaer  county,  New  York,  August  10, 
1833,  and  came  to  Illinois  with  her  parents  in  1837.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Woodhams  are  active  members  of  the  Wesleyan  Methodist  church,  of 
Hopewell.  By  industry  and  economy  Mr.  Woodhams  has  added  to 
the  old  homestead  until  his  home  farm  now  comprises  480  acres.  He 
raises  and  feeds  cattle  and  hogs  quite  largely,  and  does  an  extensive 
business  in  buying  and  shipping  stock  to  the  Chicago  market.  At  one 
time  he  represented  this  town  on  the  board  of  supervisors  of  the 
county,  and  for  several  years  he  has  served  on  the  board  of  commis- 
sioners of  highways  of  this  town.  In  politics  Mr.  AVoodhams  is  a 
republican. 


COMPANY  G,  TWENTY-SEYENTH  REGIMENT. 

.  This  company  was  composed  of  men  from  different  parts  of  Mercer 
county  and  other  counties,  but  perhaps  the  largest  number  was  from 
the  vicinity  of  New  Boston.  The  company  was  organized  August  23, 
1861,_  with  Henry  R.  Southward  as  captain,  Simeon  Sheldon,  of  New 
Boston,  as  first  lieutenant,  and  Robert  P.  Lytle,  of  New  Boston,  as 
second  lieutenant.  Southward  served  to  the  end  of  his  term  of  enlists 
ment,  Sheldon  was  promoted  to  adjutant,  and  held  the  office  a  few 
months,  and  Lytle  was  promoted  to  captain  of  company  B.  George 
R.  Beardsley  succeeded  Lytle,  but  soon  resigned,  and  was  succeeded  by 
Hugh  M.  Love,  of  Swedonia,  who  afterward  became  first  lieutenant 
and  was  killed  in  battle  November  25,  1863. 

The  regiment  was  organized  at  Camp  Butler,  with  seven  companies, 
August  10,  1861,  and  at  once  ordered  to  Jacksonville  as  a  part  of  John 
A.  McClernand's  brigade.  About  a  month  later  the  regiment  went  to 
Cairo,  where  it  was  joined  by  three  other  companies,  making  the 
regiment  complete.  Two  months  later  (November  7)  the  regiment 
was  engaged,  under  Gen.  McClernand,  at  Belmont,  and  bore  a  promi- 
nent part  and  lost  heavily. 

'  .'    March  14,  1862,  it,  with   other  regiments,  was  formed  into  what 
was  known  as  the  Mississippi  flotilla,  and  started  down  that  river  and 


788  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

was  at  the  famous  siege  of  Island  No.  10,  and  was  the  first  to  land. 
After  this  the  regiment  was  engaged  at  the  siege  of  Corinth  and  battle 
of  Farmington,  guarding  railroads,  and  finally,  after  many  and  long 
marches,  arrived  at  Nasliville  September  12,  1862.  It  was  in  the 
battle  of  Stone  Kiver,  Chickamauga,  Chattanooga,  Mission  Eidge,  and 
numerous  other  engagements. 

April,  1864,  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  join  the  Atlanta  cam- 
paign, in  which  it  was  engaged  at  Kocky  Face  Ridge,  Resacca,  Dallas, 
Kenesaw  Mountain,  Peach  Tree  creek,  and  in  the  skirmishes  around 
Atlanta.  After  this  (August  25)  the  regiment  was  mustered  out  at 
Springfield,  Illinois. 

The  veterans  of  the  regiment  generally  went  into  the  ninth  regi- 
ment. During  the  term  of  service  the  regiment  lost  in  killed,  or  died 
of  wounds  or  disease,  182,  of  whom  twenty-four  were  from  Mercer 
county. 


COMPANIES  A  AND  G,  THIRTIETH  REGIMENT. 

These  two  companies  were  raised  almost  entirely  in  Mercer  county, 
and  mainly  from  the  eastern  portion,  from  sons  and  members  of  some 
of  the  oldest  and  finest  families.  The  names  of  many  adorning  the 
monument  at  Aledo  will  be  recognized  as  the  same  as  those  mentioned 
frequently  in  the  pages  of  this  work  as  pioneers  of  Ohio  Grove, 
Mercer,  Richland  Grove,  Millersburg,  Abington'  and  Keithsburg. 
Company  A  was  organized  August  28,  1861,  by  the  election  of  Warren 
Shedd,  of  Aledo,  as  captain ;  N.  R.  Kirkpatrick,  Ohio  Grove,  as  first 
lieutenant ;  and  F.  G.  Burnett,  of  Ohio  Grove,  as  second  lieutenant. 
April  22,  1862,  Warren  Shedd  was  promoted  to  the  office  of  major, 
and  Francis  G.  Burnett,  who  had  already  been  promoted  to  first  lieu- 
tenant became  captain.  [Burnett  resigned  September  3,  1862,  and  was 
succeeded  as  captain  by  Elijah  B.  David,  then  of  Richland  Grove. 
Capt.  David  was  mustered  out  October  27,  1864,  his  term  having 
expired,  and  Daniel  M.  Candor  was  promoted  to  the  captaincy. 

N.  R.  Kirkpatrick,  elected  first  lieutenant  on  the  organization,  was 
killed  at  Fort  Donelson.  David  W.  Park,  of  Millersberg,  and  Robert 
S.  Pinley,  of  Ohio  Grove,  served  for  a  time  as  first  lieutenants, 
and  Samuel  McCreight,  of  Ohio  Grove,  and  Lorenzo  D.  Hanson, 
of  Millersburg,  were  second  lieutenants. 

Company  G  was  organized  September  30,  1861,  by  the  election  of 
James  Burnett,  of  Ohio  Grove,  as  captain;  Henry  G.  Calhoun,  of 
Keithsburg  as  fii-st  lieutenant ;  and  Orla  Richardson,  of  Keithsburg,  as 


^^ 


^^7^4^ 


THIRTIETH    REGIMENT.  791 

second  lieutenant.  May  16,  1863,  Calhoun  having  resigned,  and  Capt. 
Burnett  having  been  killed,  Ricliardson  was  promoted  to  the  office  of 
captain,  and  held  the  same  until  his  resigination,  August  12,  1864. 
David  H.  Wolf  was  then  promoted  to  the  captaincy,  and  served  until 
mustered  out,  July  17,  1865.  H.  H.  Hurst  served  a  short  time  as 
second  lieutenant,  and  John  McClure  was  second  and  then  first  lieu- 
tenant. James  A.  Logan  was  chosen  first  lieutenant,  September  15, 
1864,  and  retained  the  office  until  his  muster  out,  July  17,  1865. 


THIETIETH  REGIMENT. 

The  Thirtieth  Infantry  Illinois  Volunteers  was  organized  at  Camp 
Butler,  Illinois,  August  28,  1861,  Col.  P.  B.  Fouke,  commanding. 
September  1,  1861,  it  moved  to  Cairo,  Illinois,  and  was  assigned  to 
Brig. -Gen.  John  A.  McClernand's  brigade,  Brig. -Gen.  Ulysses  S.  Grant 
commanding  district  of  Cairo,  and  Maj.-Gen.  John  C.  Fremont  com- 
manding department  of  Missouri.  October  22,  it  went  on  scout  into 
Kentucky,  near  Columbus.  November  7,  it  was  engaged  in  the  battle 
of  Belmont.  The  regiment  did  gallant  service  during  this  action,  and 
captured  the  celebrated  ' '  Watson's  New  Orleans  battery.  ■" 

January  10,  1862,  the  regiment  moved  from  Cairo  on  a  reconnois- 
sance  into  Kentucky,  and  returned  on  the  22d.  February  4,  it  moved 
up  Tennessee  river,  and  on  the  6tli  was  in  tlie  attack  and  taking  of 
Fort  Henry,  in  Col.  Oglesby's  brigade.  It  was  engaged  in  the  siege 
and  taking  of  Fort  Donelson,  13tli,  14th  and  15th  of  February,  1862. 

It  arrived  at  Pittsburg  Landing  April  25th  and  took  part  in  the 
siege  of  Corinth,  in  Col.  Logan's  brigade.  June  4th  and  5tli  it  inarched 
from  Corintli  to  Bethel,  and  on  the  8th  occupied  Jackson,  Tennessee. 
On  the  13th  and  14th  of  August  the  regiment  marched  to  Estenaula, 
and  on  the  31st  to  Denmark. 

September  1,  1862,  the  regiment  marched  toward  Medan  Station, 
on  the  Mississippi  Central  railroad,  and  about  four  miles  from  that 
place  met  the  enemy's  cavalry,  6,000  strong,  under  Gen.  Armstrong, 
and  after  four  hours'  hard  fighting  drove  the  enemy  from  the  field,  gain- 
ing a  brilliant  victory.  The  Thirtieth  was  commanded  by  Maj.  Warren 
Shedd,  Col.  Dennis,  commanding  brigade  of  20th  and  30th  Illinois  in- 
fantry, one  section  Schwartz's  Illinois  battery,  Capt.  Forster's  com- 
pany of  independent  Ohio  cavalry,  and  thirty-four  men  of  the  Fourth 
Illinois  cavalry. 

On  the  2d  of  September  the  regiment  marched  to  Medan  ;  3d,  to 
Jackson;  and  on  the  2d  of  November,  to  Lagrange.     On  the  11th  it 
45 


792  HISTORY    OF    MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

marched  toward  Water  Yallej,  Mississippi,  arri^ang  December  19th. 
On  the  21st  it  marched  for  Memphis,  Tennessee,  arriving  January  19, 
1863.  It  was  stationed  at  Memphis,  Tennessee,  in  CoL  Leggett's 
brigade,  Maj.-Gen.  Logan's  division,  Maj.-Gen.  McPherson's  corps. 

February  22,  1863,  the  regiment  moved  to  Lake  Providence,  Louisi- 
ana, and  moved  soon  after  to  Yista's  phintation.  April  17,  it  moved 
to  Milliken's  Bend,  Louisiana,  and  joined  Grant's  army,  and  moved  to 
BiTiinburg,  Mississippi,  crossing  Mississippi  river.  May  1,  it  moved 
to  Thom])son's  Hill ;  after  that  it  moved  to  Hankinson's  Ferry,  on 
Black  river,  skirmishing  with  the  enemy  en  route,  and  then  moved  to 
Raymond,  Mississippi.  The  regiment  was  engaged  in  the  battle  of 
Raymond,  May  12,  and  then  moved  via  Clinton  to  Jackson,  and  pur- 
sued the  retreating  enemy  after  their  defeat,  14th  of  May.  May  16  it 
engaged  in  the  battle  of  Champion  Hills,  losing  heavily,  and  crossed 
Black  river  with  the  army,  and  arrived  in  the  rear  of  Vicksburg  May 
19,  1863. 

May  25,  the  regiment  moved  with  the  expedition  to  Mechanicsburg, 
under  Gen.  Blair.  Returning,  it  actively  participated  in  the  siege  of 
Vicksburg  until  June  23,  and  then  moved  to  Black  river,  under  Gen. 
Sherman,  to  watch  the  rebel  Gen.  Johnson.  The  regiment  then  moved 
with  Gen.  Sherman's  army  to  Jackson,  and  assisted  in  the  investment 
of  that  place,  after  which  it  went  to  Vicksburg,  arriving  July  25,  and 
remained  in  camp  until  August  20,  when  it  moved  to  Monroe,  Louis- 
iana, returning  the  28th.  October  14,  it  moved,  under  Gen.  McPlier- 
son,  toward  Canton,  Mississippi,  and  was  in  engagement  at  Bogachitta 
creek,  and  returned  the  same  month. 

Januar}^  1,  1864,  the  regiment  mustered  in  as  a  veteran  organization 
and  on  the  10th  moved  with  an  expedition  up  the  Mississippi  river 
against  guerillas,  and  returned  on  the  15th.  February  3,  left  Vicks- 
burg, on  Meridian  campaign,  under  Gen.  Sherman,  and  participated  in 
the  several  skirmishes  with  the  enemy,  and  arrived  at  Meridian  Feb- 
ruary 15th.  It  returned  March  3d.  March  5,  the  regiment  left  Vicks- 
burg on  a  veteran  furlough  to  the  state,  arriving  at  Camp  Butler 
March  12th. 

April  18,  the  regiment  left  Camp  Butler,  and  on  the  28th  left  Cairo 
with  the  "Tennessee  river  expedition,"  under  Gen.  W.  Q.  Gresham, 
and  arrived  at  Clifton,  Tennessee,  the  30th.  May  5,  it  marched,  via 
Pulaski,  Tennessee,  and  Athens,  Alabama,  to  Huntsville,  Alabama, 
and  on  May  25th  moved  to  Decatur,  crossing  Mississippi  river  the  27th. 
Thence  it  went,  via  AVarrentown,  Alabama,  to  Rome,  Georgia ;  thence, 
via  Kingston,  joining  Gen.  Sherman's  "grand  army"  at  Ackworth, 
June  8th.     On  the  10th  it  moved  to  Big  Shanty,  and  commenced  skir- 


«  THIRTIETH    REGIMENT.  793 

iiiisliing  with  the  enemy,  and  on  the  2Tth  moved  out  to  make  a  demon- 
stration in  front,  losing  about  twenty  killed  and  wounded. 

On  the  night  of  July  2,  the  regiment  moved,  with  the  Seventeenth 
Army  Corps,  to  the  right  of  Gen.  Sherman's  army,  and  on  the  otli 
moved  to  Nickajack  creek.  On  the  9th  the  regiment  was  sent  to  guard 
department  headquarters,  and  on  the  12th  moved  to  Sweet  Water 
creek.  July  17,  it  moved  toward  Decatur,  via  Marietta,  crossing  the 
Chattahoochie  at  RoswelFs  and  arriviiiii;  at  Decatur  on  the  20th.  It 
was  in  the  battle  of  July  21st,  near  Atlanta,  and  also  in  the  battle  of 
July  22d,  near  Atlanta  ;  lost  heavily.  It  was  actively  engaged  until 
the  fall  of  Atlanta  and  Jonesboro,  and  camped  at  East  Point,  Septem- 
ber 6th. 

October  4,  1864,  the  regiment  moved  northward,  in  the  pursuit  of 
Gen.  Hood,  via  Kenesaw  mountain,  to  Resacca,  and  returned  to  Smyrna 
camp  ground  via  Galesville,  Alabama,  arriving  November  5tli.  No- 
vember 13,  it  moved  to  Atlanta  and  on  the  loth  moved  with  Gen. 
Sherman's  army  in  the  ''march  to  the  sea,"  participating  in  the  capture 
of  Savannah,  Georgia,  December  21st.  Left  Savannah  January  4, 
1865,  and  moved  by  water  to  Beaufort,  South  Carolina.  Left  Beaufort 
Januarj'  13th  and  participated  in  the  capture  of  Pocotaligo  on  the  15th  ; 
remained  at  Pocotaligo  until  the  30tli ;  marched  with  Sherman's  army 
to  Goldsboro,  North  Carolina,  where  the  regiment  arrived  March  25, 
1865.  The  regiment  was  engaged,  during  the  march,  in  the  capture 
of  Orangeburg,  Columbia  and  Cheraw,  South  Carolina,  and  Fayette- 
ville,  North  Carolina,  besides  destroying  railroad  track,  etc. 

April  10,  the  regiment  moved  to  Raleigh,  arriving  there  on  the  14th, 
and  remained  in  camp  until  the  surrender  of  the  rebel  army  under 
Gen.  Johnson.  April  29,  it  marched  northward,  via  Richmond,  to 
Alexandria,  Virginia,  arriving  May  19tli.  The  regiment  took  part  in 
the  grand  review  May  24,  1865,  at  Washington,  D.  C,  and  camped 
near  Washington  the  same  day.  It  left  Washington  June  7th,  via 
Baltimore  &  Ohio  railroad,  arriving  at  Parkersburg,  Virginia,  the  9th, 
and  proceeded  by  steamboat  to  Louis\dlle,  Kentucky,  remaining  in 
camp  at  Louisville. 

It  was  mustered  out  of  United  States  service  July  17,  1865,  by  First 
Lieutenant  Aug.  P.  Noyes,  A.  C.  M.  third  division.  Seventeenth  Army 
Corps,  and  arrived  at  Camp  Butler,  Illinois,  July  20tli,  where  the  men 
received  final  payment  and  discharge  July  27,  1865. 

Of  company  A  thirty-one  men  died  from  wounds  and  disease,  or  in 
battle,  and  of  company  G  nineteen  reaped  a  like  reward  for  their 
bravery. 


*t94:  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AXD    HEXDERSON    COUNTIES. 


COMPARY  D,  EIGHTY-THIRD  REGIMENT. 

Company  D  was  raised  largely  in  the  eastern  part  of  Mercer  and  the 
western  part  of  Henry  county.  It  was  organized  August  21,  1862,  by 
the  election  of  Joshua  M.  Snyder,  of  Yiola.  Mercer  county,  as  captain ; 
Hugh  M.  Robb,  of  the  same  county,  as  first  lieutenant ;  and  Francis 
M.  Sykes,  of  Oxford,  Henry  county,  as  second  lieutenant. 

There  were  but  few  changes  in  the  officials  of  this  company,  and 
consequently  but  few  promotions.  Snyder  and  Robb  went  in  for  the 
whole  war  and  were  mustered  out  with  the  boys  three  years,  lacking  a 
€Ouple  of  months,  after  their  enlistment.  Sykes  resigned,  after  having 
been  second  liteunant  just  two  years,  and  Hugh  B.  Frazier  succeeded  him, 
and  was  mustered  out  at  the  close  of  the  war.  The  83d  was  raised 
largely  in  Warren  county,  and  was  organized  at  Monmouth,  August 
21,  18()2,  by  A.  C.  Harding,  who  was  promoted  a  year  later  to  the 
office  of  brigadier-general,  upon  which  Arthur  A.  Smith  succeeded 
him.  The  regiment  did  heavy  guard  duty  the  most  of  first  year  and 
a  half.  The  country  along  the  Tennessee  and  Cumberland  rivers  was 
infested  mth  guerillas,  and  this  regiment  had  almost  daily  skirmishes 
with  them,  some  of  them  being  quite  severe.  On  February  3,  1863, 
the  regiment  was  brought  in  contact  with  8,000  men  of  Forest's  com- 
mand, and  snccessfully  resisted  them,  compelling  them  to  retire  with  a 
loss  of  800  killed  and  wounded ;  and  with  a  loss  of  thirteen  killed  and 
fifty-one  wounded  in  the  83d  regiment.  .  It  was  in  consequence  of  this 
brilliant  achievement  that  Col.  Harding  was  promoted  to  brigadier- 
general  and  Smith  to  colonel.  During  the  year  1854,  the  regiment 
had  about  200  miles  of  communications  to  guard.  The  regiment  was 
mustered  out  at  IS^ashville,  and  from  thence  proceeded  to  Chicago  for 
final  pay  and  discharge. 


COMPANY  G,  ONE  HUNT)RED  AND  TWENY-FOURTH 

REGIMENT. 

The  124th  regiment  with  few  exceptions  was  raised  from  men  resi- 
dents in  the  vicinity  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quicy  railroad 
between  the  west  end  of  Mercer  county  to  Chicago,  and  almost  every 
town  and  county  along  the  line  contributing  a  share.  New  Boston  and 
vicinity  furnised  nearly  one  whole  company,  the  one  above  named. 


COMPANY    B,    ONE    HUNDRED    AND    TWENTY-SIXTH    REGIMENT.  795 

The  company  was  organized  September  10,  1862.  Lyman  H.  Scudder 
was  elected  captain,  Ezra  C.  Benedict  first  lieutenant,  and  Benton 
Pratt,  second  lieutenant.  The  first  two  named  afterwai-d  resigned,  and 
Pratt  succeeded  each  in  course  and  was  mustered  out  captain.  John 
W.  Mosby  and  William  B.  Day  each  succeeded  to  higher  offices  in 
consequence,  and  the  former  was  mustered  out  as  first,  and  the  latter  as 
second,  lieutenant.  The  organization  of  the  regiment  took  place  at 
Camp  Butler  the  same  month,  and  one  month  later  was  in  the  enemy's 
country  at  Jackson,  Tennessee,  and  on  the  2Sth  of  November  was  assist- 
ing in  driving  the  rebels  across  tlie  Tallahatchie  river.  During  the 
year  1863  the  regiment  fought  in  the  battles  of  Kaymond,  Jackson, 
Champion  Hills,  and  was  in  the  whole  of  the  siege  of  Yicksburg, 
including  the  charge  on  the  fortifications,  and  the  assault  on  Fort  Hill. 
The  121:th  received  from  Maj.-Gen.  McPherson  the  prize  banner 
offered  by  Brig. -Gen.  Leggett  for  excellency  in  discipline  and  drill  and 
soldierly  appearance.  Upon  the  banner  was  inscribed  "Excelsior 
Regiment,  Third  Division,  Seventeenth  Army  Corps.''  After  this 
the  regiment  was  engaged  in  the  raid  to  Meriden,  the  campaign  under 
General  Slocum  to  Jackson.  The  balance  of  the  term  of  service  was 
spent  mostly  in  the  extreme  south  around  New  Orleans  and  Mobile. 


COMPANY   B,    (mE    HUNDRED   AND   TWENTY-SIXTH 

REGIMENT. 

This  company  was  raised  near  the  line  between  Rock  Island  and 
Mercer  counties,  Duncan  and  Perry  ton  townships  furnishing  quite  a 
number  of  tlie  men.  The  company  was  organized  September  4,  1862, 
and  the  regiment  the  same  day  at  Alton,  Illinois,  whither  the  members 
of  the  company  and  the  companies  and  parts  of  companies  had  gone. 

About  two  months  later  we  find  the  regiment  at  Bolivar,  Tennes- 
see, and  November  28,  at  La  Grange.  December  19  the  regiment 
went  to  Jackson,  Tennessee,  to  re-enforce  that  place.  September  10, 
1863,  the  regiment  participated  in  the  cajiture  of  Little  Rock,  Arkan- 
sas. The  regiment  was  also  engaged  in  the  siege  of  Yicksburg  and 
Clarendon,  Arkansas.     It  was  mustered  out  June  2C},  1864. 


796  HISTORY    OF    MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 


COMPANY  F,  ONE  HUNDRED  AND  FORTIETH  REGIMENT. 

One  compan}'  of  this  regiment  was  raised  in  Mercer  county.  This 
was  a  three  months',  or  100  days',  regiment.  The  company  and  the 
regiment  were  organized  June  18,  1864.  Russell  S.  Osborn,  of  Aledo, 
was  captain  of  company  F,  George  Boone,  of  Aledo,  was  first  lieuten- 
ant, and  Yan  R.  Harriott  was  second  lieutenant.  There  were  no 
resignations  or  deaths  in  the  ranks  of  these  officers,  and  consequently 
no  promotions,  and  all  were  mustered  out  October  29,  1864,  130  days 
after  date  of  enlistment. 


NORTH  HENDERSON  TOAYNSHIP.     . 

This  township,  which  is  T.  13  N.,  R.  1  W.  of  the  4th  P.  M.,  is 
one  of  the  best  agricultural  townships  in  the  county.  Pope  creek 
skirting  along  its  northern  boundary,  sometimes  in  tiiis  and  sometimes 
in  Rivoli  township,  made  a  strip  of  rough,  broken  land,  averaging 
about  one-half  mile  in  width  the  entire  length  of  the  township.  A 
portion  of  this  was  originally  covered  by  excellent  timber.  The  north 
half  of  section  1  was  especially  noted  for  the  very  heavy  body  of  tim- 
ber on  it,  and  great  effort  was  made  by  some  of  the  first  settlers  to  find 
the  owner  or  owners  of  it,  so  much  did  they  covet  its  possession.  It 
was  held  under  what  was  known  as  a  patent  title,  and  no  clue  to  the 
ownership  being  obtainable  it  became  what  was  known  in  those  days 
as  a  "hooking  quarter,"  and  many  a  mile  of  worm  fence  was  made 
with  the  rails  cut  and  split  upon  this  land. 

The  north  fork  of  the  Henderson  river,  from  which  the  township 
takes  its  name,  has  its  source  in  Rio  township,  Knox  county,  cross- 
ing the  line  into  this  township  near  the  northeast  corner  of  section  13, 
and  running  nearly  due  west  across  it,  leaves  it  near  the  half  section 
line  of  section  18.  There  are  but  two  small  groves  of  native  timber  on 
this  stream,  within  the  bounds  of  this  township;  Hickorj^  grove  in 
sections  15  and  16,  and  Scott's  grove  in  section  18.  There  is  but  a 
small  percentage  of  broken  land  bordering  this  stream  in  this  township. 

The  St.  Louis  branch  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  railroad, 
which  was  built  as  the  Rockford,  Rock  Island  &  St.  Louis  railroad,  in 
1871,  passes  through  this  township ;  entering  on  the  S.  E.  ^  of  Sec.  24, 
it  runs  in  a  southwesterly  direction,  leaving  near  the  southwest  cornei* 
of  section  31.  The  village  of  North  Henderson,  which  is  the  only 
village  in  the  township,  is  located  on  this  railroad  and  was  laid  out 


NORTH    HENDERSON    TOWNSHIP.  797 

in  1871,  on  the  W.  i  of  the  N.  W.  of  Sec.  26,  by  Win.  H.  and  John 
T.  Brown,  sons  of  Allen  S.  Brown,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  this  town- 
ship. This  is  now  quite  a  nourishing  village,  having  two  stores  doing 
a  general  mercantile  business,  two  drug  stores,  two  hardware  stores, 
two  agricultural  implement  dealers,  two  grain  merchants,  one  lumber 
yard,  one  restaurant,  one  harness  shop,  one  shoe  shop,  one  furniture 
store,  one  millinery  store,  one  blacksmith  and  repair  shop,  one  livery 
stable,  one  hotel,  one  barber  shop,  and  four  doctors.  There  is  a  good 
two-story  school-house  in  the  village  and  one  church,  the  Methodist 
Episcopal.  The  I.O.O.F.  also  have  a  fine  two-story  building  here, 
28x48  feet,  twenty  feet  posts,  built  two  years  ago  at  a  cost  of  $1,600. 
The  lower  story  is  fitted  up  for  a  public  hall  and  the  second  floor  for 
the  exclusive  use  of  the  order,  which  is  very  strong  here. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  class  of  IN'orth  Henderson  is  the  oldest 
church  organization  in  the  township,  having  been  organized  at  the 
house  of  David  Bruner,  in  the  spriug  of  1840,  by  Asa  McMurtry,  who 
was  at  that  time  on  the  Mercer  circuit,  which  included  all  of  this 
county  with  part  of  Rock  Island,  Knox  and  Warren  counties,  requir- 
ing a  month  for  the  minister  to  make  the  round  of  his  charge.  The 
original  members  of  this  class  were :  David  Bruner  and  wife,  Margaret 
Bruner  (now  the  wife  of  W.  R.  Mathers),  John  Vestal  and  wife,  Susan- 
nah Wood  (who  was  a  daughter  of  David  Bruner),  and  Andrew  J. 
Holmes  and  wife. 

In  this  township  live  several  members,  including  the  present  pastor, 
Elder  John  M.  Brown,  of  the  oldest  church  organization  in  this  part 
of  the  state,  though  organized  and  having  its  church  building  in  Knox 
county.  It  is  the  Henderson  Predestinarian  Baptist  church,  and  was 
constituted  August  14,  1S30,  at  the  house  of  D.  Boundtree,  by  Elders 
Stephen  Stricklin  and  John  Logan,  the  original  members  being 
Jacob  and  Rhoda  Gum;  James  and  Martha  Goff;  Reuben  and  Ruth 
Nance;  John  D.,  Dariah  and  Mary  Roundtree;  Martha,  Daniel  and 
Obadiah  Fuqua ;  Nicholas  and  Deborah  Vailes.  This  church  has 
had  a  continuous  and  uninterrupted  existence  from  the  time  of  its 
constitution  until  the  present,  and  its  records  show  the  proceedings  of 
every  monthly  meeting,  which  now  lack  but  one  of  completing  the  full 
period  of  fifty-two  years.  This  church  belongs  to  the  Spoon  river 
association  of  the  Predestinarian  Baptist  church,  formed  in  1830,  in 
which  connection  it  has  been  evei*  since  its  constitution.  Elder  Josej)h 
Jones,  who  was  well  known  to  the  pioneers  of  this  county,  joined  this 
church  in  November,  1847,  and  died  Januarj^  29,  1848.  He  had 
previously  been  connected  with  a  branch  of  this  church,  in  this  county, 
called  the  Regular  Baptist  Church  of  Jesus  Christ,  of  Edwards  river. 


798  HISTORY   OF    MERCEE   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

The  first  record  of  this  cliiireh  is  the  minutes  of  a  meeting  of  the  mem- 
bers, held  at  the  house  of  George  Miller,  on  Edwards  river,  July  21, 
1838,  of  which  meeting  Jeremiah  Swafford  was  chosen  mederator,  and 
Abraham  Miller,  Jr.,  clerk.  This  meeting  was  held  within  the 
present  limits  of  Perryton  township.  Meetings  were  held  in  the  private 
houses  of  members  until  at  a  meeting  held  in  the  house  of  Gabriel  M. 
Barkley,  in  Farlow's  grove  (now  in  Preemption  township),  December 
22,  1838,  the  next  regular  meeting  was  appointed  at  the  school-house 
in  Sugar  Grove  (now  Perryton  township).  March  23,  1839,  they 
voted  to  appeal  to  Henderson  church  for  letters  of  dismission  and  help 
to  constitute  them  into  a  separate  church.  Their  prayer  was  granted, 
and  the  Edwards  river  church  was  constituted  June  29,  1839,  by 
Elders  Joseph  Jones,  Charles  Yandever,  and  Hiram  Bowman.  The 
members  at  the  constitution  were :  Joseph  and  Rebecca  Jones ;  George, 
Mary  Ann,  and  Julia  Ann  Miller ;  Abraham  Miller,  Jr. ;  John  and 
Sarah  Farlow;  lioswell  and  Mehitable  Stanard;  Youngs  Green; 
Michael  Donahoo ;  Gabriel  M.  and  Hannah  R.  Barkley;  Mary  Miller; 
and  Susannah  Shelley.  Gabriel  M.  Barkley  was  chosen  iirst  deacon 
of  the  church,  and  Abraham  Miller,  Jr.,  first  clerk;  Gabriel  M. 
Barkley,  treasurer;  Elder  Joseph  Jones,  moderator  and  pastor. 

The  first  delegation  from  this  church  was  Joseph  Jones,  Gabriel  M. 
Barkley,  George  Miller,  John  Farlow,  and  Abraham  Miller,  Jr.,  to  sit 
in  council  with  and  constitute  a  church  at  William  Denison's.  It  was 
voted  at  this  time  to  hold  meetings  one-half  the  time  at  Sugar  Grove 
and  one-half  the  time  at  Farlow's  Grove.  The  last  regular  meeting  of 
this  church  was  held  October  9,  1847,  when,  "after  consultation  and 
due  deliberation  being  had  the  church  and  council  thought  it  expedient 
to  letter  each  other  out  and  so  become  dissolved,  inasmuch  as  the 
members  are  moving  away  out  of  the  bounds  of  this  church." 

There  ai-e  but  two  church  buildings  in  this  township.  Besides  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  mentioned  above  is  the  Maple  Grove 
United  Brethren  church,  located  on  the  IST.  E.  ^  of  Sec.  36,  in  a  beau- 
tiful grove  of  soft  maple  trees.  This  society  was  organized  in  1869, 
and  built  its  church  the  same  year,  a  very  neat  structure  30x40x16 
feet.  Its  present  pastor  is  Rev.  Mr.  Dilley,  resident  at  Alexis,  where 
is  another  church  of  this  denomination. 

A  class  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  was  formed  at  the  Mann 
school-house  at  an  eai-ly  day,  probably  soon  after  the  class  was  formed 
at  David  Bruner's,  but  its  early  record  is  not  now  obtainable.  This 
class  was  ministered  to  by  David  Bruner  and  other  local  preachers  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  transient  ministers,  wuth  an  occasional 
visit  from  the  minister  in  charge  of  the  Mercer  circuit. 


NORTH    HENDERSON    TOWNSHIP.  799 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  North  Henderson  was  the  iirst 
church  built  in  the  township.  It  was  built  at  what  is  known  as  Mount 
Yernon,  south  of  the  village,  and  was  moved  into  the  village  after 
that  had  become  a  fact. 

The  Odd  Fellorns  have  a  very  strong  lodge,  with  a  fine  hall  in  the 
village.  North  Henderson  Lodge,  No,  028,  I.O.O.F.,  was  chartered 
October  11,  1876,  by  J.  H.  Oberly,  grand  master  for  the  state.  Its 
charter  members  were  Israel  T.  Jones,  Lewis  Schwartz,  C.  W.  Cum- 
mins, Laland  Salts,  Michael  Karl,  L.  E.  Dredge,  and  James  Smith. 
The  first  ofiicers  of  this  lodge  were  J.  M.  Hall,  N.G. ;  Lewis  Schwartz, 
V.G. ;  I.  T.  Jones,  Sec;  C.  W.  Cummins,  Treas. 

North  Henderson  Encampment,  No.  99,  I.O.O.F.,  was  chartered 
December  28,  1880.  Its  charter  members  were  H.  C.  Dodge,  A.  F. 
Howard,  Fred  Rich,  John  Flory,  Jesse  Jackson,  J.  H.  Humes, 
Michael  Karl,  Dr.  C.  G.  Stewart,  John  T.  Morford,  I.  N.  Frederick, 
Lewis  Schwartz,  C.  "W.  Cummins,  L.  E.  Dredge,  and  C.  A.  Pinne, 
chartered  by  John  P.  Foss,  Grand  Patriarch.  The  first  ofiicers  of  this 
Encampment  were  C.  G.  Stewart,  G.P. ;  John  T.  Morford,  H.P. ; 
Henry  Simms,  S.W. ;  I.  N.  Fredericks,  J.W. ;  J.  H.  Humes,  scribe; 
A.  F.  Howard,  Treas.  The  Past  Grands  of  the  lodge  are  J.  M.  Hall, 
I.  P.  Jones,  A.  H.  Jones,  Michael  Karl,  L.  Schwartz,  John  T.  Mor- 
ford, and  Fred  Pich.  In  1880  the  lodge  built  a  two  story  hall 
28X48X20  feet,  at  a  cost  of  $1,600  ;  the  ground  floor  being  fitted  for 
a  public  hall  and  the  second  floor  exclusively  for  the  use  of  the 
order. 

The  township  has  built  a  neat  and  commodious  town  hall  in  the 
village  for  the  public  uses  of  the  town.  The  first  postofiice  established 
in  this  township  was  called  Ethel,  and  was  located  on  section  21,  John 
Goff',  postmaster.  After  the  village  of  North  Llenderson  was  estab- 
lished, the  Ethel  postofiice  was  removed  to  the  village  and  the  name 
changed,  though  Mr.  Gofi'  continued  to  be  postmaster.  George  A. 
Blue,  druggist,  is  the  present  postmaster. 

February  18,  1838,  the  first  marriage  ceremony  was  solemnized  in 
this  township  by  the  Pev.  Mr.  Gardiner,  of  Galesburg,  a  LTniversalist 
minister,  uniting  Benjamin  F.  Brown  and  Miss  Lucinda  Mann.  The 
first  birth  in  the  township  was  that  of  William  D.  Fleharty,  October  4, 
1834,  son  of  Govert  and  Margaret  Fleharty,  who  lived  on  section  1  at 
that  time.  The  first  death  to  occur  in  this  township  was  a  child  of 
John  Pollock,  which  was  the  second  interment  in  the  Mann  cemetery, 
the  wife  of  James  Bridger  having  been  the  first,  in  1836.  Thither  Mr. 
James  Mann,  who  gave  the  site  for  this  cemetery,  soon  followed,  dying 
March  10,  1837,  at  the  age  of  sixty-four.     In  1840  scarlet  fever  broke 


800  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND   HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

out  as  an  epidemic  in  this  neighborhood  and  the  mortality  was  very 
great  for  such  a  sparsely  settled  country,  there  having  been  ten  inter- 
ments in  this  cemetery  in  one  month. 

The  first  settler  within  the  limits  of  this  township,  was  Mr.  Govert 
Fleharty,  who  located  on  the  southeast  quarter  of  section  1,  in  the 
spring  of  1833.  In  the  fall  of  1834  James  Mann  and  his  son,  Young 
C,  and  Timothy  Meeker,  arrived  from  Indiana,  w^intering  in  Knox 
county,  just  east  of  Mr.  Fleharty's  ;  they  made  claims  in  this  township, 
upon  which  they  located  the  following  spring  of  1835,  Mr.  Mann's 
claim  being  on  section  6,  where  Young  C.  still  resides,  and  Mr.  Meek- 
er's on  section  5,  his  widow  now  residing  on  the  old  homestead  with 
one  of  lier  sons,  other  sons  and  daughters  living  in  the  vicinity.  The 
same  spring  of  1835  Benjamin  F.  and  liarison  Brown  made  claims  on 
sections  18  and  19.  The  Scott  family  came  into  this  township  in  1837, 
Notley  Scott  buying  the  claim  of  Harison  Brown  on  sections  18  and 
19,  alluded  to  above,  Benjamin  F.  having  previously  sold  his  claim  to 
Harrison.  The  latter  then  made  a  claim  on  section  1,  Suez  township, 
where  he  still  resides.  March,  1838,  Benjamin  F.  made  a  claim  on 
sections  6  and  7,  where  he  resides  yet.  In  the  spring  of  1839  Allen 
S.  and  Benjamin  Brown  made  claims  in  the  southeast  part  of  this 
township,  the  former  on  section  25,  and  the  latter  on  section  35.  They 
were  followed  that  fall  by  David  Bruner  and  Andrew  J.  Holmes,  who 
also  located  in  the  southeastei-n  part  of  the  township. 

Tlie  first  schools  taught  in  this  township  were  by  John  Wilshier, 
the  first  term  in  the  house  of  AYilliam  McGreenwood,  and  the  second 
in  the  cabin  of  Young  C.  Mann,  both  on  section  6.  Afterward  Robert 
Shaw  taught  a  term  of  school  in  this  same  neighborhood,  for  which  he 
was  to  receive  $8  per  month,  and  take  his  pay  in  wheat.  The  early 
records  of  the  schools  of  this  township  after  organization  are  not  attain- 
able. As  early  as  1839  there  was  preaching  in  the  cabin  of  Benjamin 
F.  Brown,  on  section  7,  by  the  Rev.  Mr.  Fuller,  of  Galesburg,  a  Uni- 
versalist  minister.     Mr.  F.  is  still  li%ang  in  Galesburg. 

The  township  was  called  Liberty  when  first  organized  in  1854,  but 
w^as  changed  to  its  present  name  on  or  before  the  annual  town  meet- 
ing in  1855.  The  first  ofiicers  elected  in  this  township  in  1854  were 
Notley  Scott,  supervisor  ;  Joshua  Bruner,  town  clerk  ;  John  W.  Miles, 
assessor  ;  James  M.  Holmes,  collector  ;  R.  R.  Mathers,  Eli  Tangham 
and  Kathan  Bailey,  commissioners  of  highways  ;  Timothy  Meeker, 
overseer  of  poor  ;  Andrew  J.  Holmes  and  William  F.  Garret,  justices 
of  the  peace  ;  and  James  M.  Holmes,  constable.  Total  number  of 
votes  cast  at  that  time,  twenty -four. 


KORTH    HENDERSON    TOWNSHIP.  801 

The  principal  offices  of  this  town  have  been  iilletl  since  its  organi- 
zation by  the  following  persons,  and  for  the  number  of  terms  men- 
tioned : 

Supervisor — Notley  Scott,  two  years;  Lewis  L.  Heflin ;  Joshua 
Bruner,  four  years;  Allen  S.  Brown,  two  years;  Thomas  J.  Jones, 
three  years;  H.  M.  Buchanan;  G.  W.  Higgins,  two  years;  L.  F. 
Gentry ;  William  H.  Brown,  four  years ;  P.  AV.  Johnston,  two  years ; 
Richard  Garrett,  three  years ;  M.  D.  Scott ;  A.  W.  Xelson,  four  yeai-s. 

Tovjn  Clerk — Joshua  Bruner;  Michael  Stumbaugh  ;  R.  R.  Simms  ; 
J.  C.  Morford,  two  years ;  James  Bruner ;  E.  L.  Carroll ;  W.  M.  Fle- 
harty ;  J.  T.  Morford,  three  years ;  I.  R.  Evans ;  James  M.  Goff,  four 
years ;  William  Church,  two  years ;  O.  M.  Bartlett ;  D.  N.  Holmes ; 
John  L.  Goif,  four  years ;  L.  C.  Heare ;  O.  W.  Caldwell ;  George  W. 
Miller;  Joseph  H.  Humes,  four  years. 

Assessor — John  W,  Miles;  Thomas  Tate;  G.  W.  Taylor;  A.  J. 
Walker ;  James  M.  Holmes ;  James  M.  Goif,  three  years ;  John 
Douglass ;  H.  M.  Buchanan  ;  Joshua  Bruner ;  I.  R.  Evans ;  William 
H.  Brown ;  Richard  Garrett,  nine  years ;  William  A.  Nelson,  two 
years ;  S.  M.  Brown ;  Thomas  Camblin. 

Collector — James  M.  Holmes;  Xathaniel  Bailey,  four  years;  John 
T.  Marfoi«d  ;  C.  M.  Barnett ;  Michael  Stumbaugh,  two  years ;  John  C. 
French ;  L.  F.  Gentry ;  G.  A.  Crosby ;  D.  X.  Holmes ;  Levi  G.  Bair ; 
A.  H.  Jones;  J.  N.  Blackburn;  A.  W.  Xelson,  two  years;  L.  T. 
Johnston ;  Frank  Herbert ;  George  A.  Blue ;  Lewis  Scott ;  M.  Y. 
Drew ;  Robert  Blaney. 

Justices  of  the  Peace — Andrew  J.  Llolmes ;  William  F.  Garrett; 
Thomas  Camblin,  three  terms ;  James  Marford,  two  terms ;  AV.  R. 
Mathers,  three  terms ;  Richard  Garrett ;  J.  B.  Hoag ;  G.  W.  Green- 
wood ;  Jacob  Shauholtzer ;  Lewis  L.  Heflin,  two  terms ;  J.  I*^.  Black- 
burn ;  J.  C.  Jackson,  two  terms ;  John  T.  Marford. 

In  1880  this  township  built  a  town-hall  24  X -12  X 14  feet,  at  a  cost 
of  $785. 

On  the  farm  of  G.  W.  Higgins  in  section  14  is  the  only  artesian 
well  in  this  county.  Mr.  Higgins  began  this  well  in  1874,  but  it  was 
not  completed  until  1876.  The  tirst  compan}-  failed  with  its  drill  fast 
in  a  strata  of  magnetic  rock,  so  the  second  company  employed  had  to 
begin  at  the  sui-lace.  The  well  attained  a  depth  of  1,209  feet.  The 
last  surface  water  w^as  passed  at  a  depth  of  127  feet.  At  915  feet 
water  was  struck  that  rises  to  within  eighty  feet  of  the  surface,  and  an 
inexhaustible  supply.  A  ten-horse-power  engine,  running  to  its  full 
capacity  four  hours,  throwing  a  four-inch  stream,  failed  to  perceptibly 
lower  the  water  line  in  the  well.     The  watei-  is  soft  and  contains  a 


802  HISTOEY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

small  percentage  of  iron  ;  temperature,  sixtj-two  degrees  F.  In  boring 
this  well  the  first  coal  was  struck  at  seventj-five  feet,  without  roof; 
coal  was  struck  again  detween  440  and  485  feet.  Magnetic  rock  was 
found  at  405  feet. 

The  following  list  gives  the  different  strata  passed  through,  with 
the  thickness  of  each,  beginning  at  the  surface : 

Feet.  Feet. 

Yellow  Clay 30  30 

Dark  Clay  and  Gravel 4-">  75 

Coal  and  Shale 40  115 

Limestone  and  Water 12  127 

Shale 10  137 

Black  Slate 18  155 

Dark  Shale 123  278 

Limestone 3  281 

Shale 15  296 

Limestone ■ 4  300 

Shale,  with  Sulphate  of  Irf)n 27  327 

Bastard  Limestone 18  345 

Limestone 95  440 

Limestone  and  Coal 45  485 

Limestone 25  510 

Blue  Shale 05  575 

Limestone 17      *  592 

Alternate  Strata  of  Shale  and  Limestone,  two  to  three  feet. ...     78  670 

Blue  Shale 30  700 

Limestone 412  1,112 

Sandstone 88  1 ,200 

Black  Shale ' 9  1,209 

Besides  the  Mann  cemetery  mentioned  above,  there  was  a  cemetery- 
laid  out  in  1860  in  the  N.  E.  J  of  Sec.  35,  called  Mount  Vernon  ceme- 
tery, which  has  been  quite  extensively  patronized  since  that  time  by 
the  people  of  the  southeast  corner  of  the  county. 

In  introducing  the  history  of  some  of  the  pioneers  of  this  town- 
ship it  is  fitting  that  Govert  S.  Fleharty  should  be  the  first  one  men- 
tioned, as  he  was  its  first  white  inhabitant.  •  This  cannot  be  better 
done  than  by  quoting  from  the  pen  of  one  who  knew  the  fiimily  well, 
and  wrote  of  its  history  as  follows : 

THE  FLEHARTY  FAMILY. 

Among  others  who  came  to  Mercer  county  in  those  far  ofi"  and 
romantic  days,  ere  the  Indian  war-wlioop  had  died  away  from  the 
praii-ies  of  northern  Illinois,  were  the  four  brothers,  Stephen  W.,  Gov- 
ert S.,  Bennett  E.,  and  Henry  Fleharty,  and  their  respective  families. 
They  were  accompanied  by  their  aged  father  and  mother,  William  and 


NORTH    HENDERSON   TOWNSHIP.  .    803 

Margaret  (Withgot)  Fleharty,  who  were  natives  of  Maryland,  and  dur- 
ing the  early  years  of  their  married  life  had  a  delightful  home  on  the 
far-famed  Eastern  Shore,  near  Coptauk  river.  Grandfather  Flehartj, 
as  he  was  called  in  later  years,  was,  in  his  younger  days,  a  slaveholder, 
and  although  not  imbued  with  anti-slavery  sentiments  to  any  great 
extent,  he  removed  with  his  family  to  Ohio  in  1810,  mainly  for  the 
purpose  of  escaping  from  the  demoralizing  influences  of  slavery.  The 
four  brothers  above-named  were  typical  western  pioneers;  athletic, 
courageous,  and  possessed  of  great  physical  endurance.  They  located 
in  Mercer  county,  at  different  periods  between  the  years  1833  and  1835. 
This  portion  of  the  state  was  then  a  primitive  ]3aradise.  Many  hard- 
ships were  to  be  endured  by  the  early  settlers,  but  there  was  grand 
inspiration  in  their  surroundings.  Not  far  away  was  the  great  father 
of  waters,  with  shores  bordered  with  dark,  dense  forests.  Here  and 
there  were  lovely  groves,  which  in  the  summer  season  appeared  like 
islands  in  an  emerald  sea.  Nimble  footed  deer  frequented  the  woods 
and  streams  or  bounded  over  the  prairies  in  herds,  scarcely  realizing 
the  presence  of  the  few  and  scattered  pioneers.  The  prairies  were 
nature's  own  flower  gardens.  There  the  wild  bees  gathered  their  win- 
ter stores  and  thence  they  were  followed  by  the  wary  bee  hunters  to 
the  knarled  oaks  which  contained  their  hoarded  wealth.  Looking 
across  the  years  that  have  intervened  since  those  days,  and  realizing  the 
value  of  the  work  that  was  accomplished  by  all  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of 
Illinois,  it  seems  fitting  tliat  for  those  who  have  gone  to  their  long  home, 
pioneers  now  in  the  land  beyond  the  river,  there  should  be  a  memorial 
decoration  day,  and  that  their  graves  should  be  annually  strewn  with 
fairest  flowers.  Illinois  had  a  grand  army  of  these  pioneer  settlers, 
grand  in  character  if  not  in  numbers.  In  this  army  the  brothers 
above-named  held  an  honorable  rank.  It  is  related  of  Henry,  the 
3'Ounger  of  the  four,  that  in  the  sports  of  muster  day,  as  the  militia 
meetings  for  drill  were  styled,  he  was  only  equaled  in  feats  of  strength 
and  agility  by  one  person,  Mr.  Notley  Scott,  who  was  one  of  the  most 
athletic  men  in  that  part  of  the  state.  Henry  Fleharty  died  before  he 
had  reached  the  prime  of  manhood. 

Stephen  W.  Fleharty,  the  elder  of  the  four  brothers,  was  born  in 
the  state  of  Maryland  on  the  28th  day  of  December,  1799.  He  removed 
Mdth  the  family  to  Ohio  in  1810,  and  to  Springfield,  Illinois,  in  1825. 
He  was  married  three  times  during  his  life  of  eighty-two  years.  A 
daughter,  Margaret,  by  his  first  wife,  married  Mr.  James  T.  Jones  and 
now  resides  at  Mount  Hecla,  Texas.  Her  mother  died  while  yet  very 
young.  Mr.  Fleharty's  second  wife,  Amelia  W.,  was  the  daughter  of 
Rev.  John  Kirkpatrick,  one    of  the  pioneer  Methodist    ministers  of 


804  .  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Illinois.  The  union  proved  to  be  a  liappy  one  and  they  raised  a  large 
family  of  children.  The  family  settled  in  Mercer  county  in  1834,  on  a 
handsome  tract  of  land,  composed  of  timber  and  prairie,  one  and  a 
half  miles  east  of  what  was  then  known  as  "Bridger's  Corners,"  now 
Suez.  Mr.  Fleharty  was  a  cabinet-maker  by  trade  and  was  a  thorough 
workman.  Articles  of  furniture  made  by  him  are  still  in  use  among 
some  of  the  older  families  of  Mercer  count^^  When  not  employed  on 
the  farm  he  worked  industriously  at  his  trade,  and  in  this  way  finally 
secured  a  comfoitable  home.  Pie  was  a  strong  man  intellectually,  a 
great  reader;  a  whig  in  politics,  then  a  republican,  and  always  a 
patriot.  The  partner  of  his  joys  and  sorrows  during  those  early  years, 
Mrs.  Amelia  W.  Fleharty,  was  a  true  christian  woman,  and  lier  life, 
so  gentle  and  affectionate  in  the  midst  of  many  trials,  illustrated  the 
most  winning  graces  of  Christianity.  She  was  the  mother  of  ten  chil- 
dren, including  two  pairs  of  twins.  Only  four  of  the  ten  are  now  liv- 
ing. George  Washington  and  Marquis  Lafayette  (twins),  Amelia, 
Sarah  E.,  and  Fletcher  A.  all  died  young.  Mrs.  Fleharty  passed  away 
to  the  land  of  the  blessed  in  the  year  1865.  Mr.  Fleharty  married  a 
third  time,  and  a  son  was  born  to  him  when  he  was  nearly  seventy 
years  old.  He  died  on  April  10,  1882,  in  his  eighty-third  year.  The 
following  is  an  extract  from  a  notice  of  his  death  that  was  published  in 
the  Galesburg  "Republican  Register":  "A  good  man,  whose  life 
reaches  back  into  the  last  century  and  forward  so  late  in  the  present 
century  ;  a  man  whom  every  one  calls  honest  and  honorable  ;  having  a 
record  of  eightj^-three  years  unstained  and  unchallenged,  is  one  of  the 
choicest  treasures  of  a  commonwealth.  Such  was  Stephen  W.  Fleharty, 
as  every  one  who  knew  and  respected  him  will  allow."  His  widow, 
Mrs.  Julia  B.  Fleharty,  and  her  son  Eddie  are  living  near  Galesburg. 

AVilliam  L.  Fleharty,  the  oldest  of  the  family  excepting  the  half- 
sister  above  mentioned,  possessed  all  of  the  sterling  qualities  of  his 
father  and  the  gentleness  of  his  mother.  He  married  young,  worked 
industriously  and  provided  for  himself  and  family  a  pleasant  home 
near  Galesburg.  His  wife's  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth  Terrill.  He 
died  in  the  prime  of  life,  aged  forty-six,  and  Mrs.  Fleharty  survived 
him  only  a  few  years.  They  left  a  family  of  six  children,  two  of  whom 
are  married. 

J.  Q.  A.  Fleharty  (twin  brother  of  H.  C),  is  a  traveling  minister 
in  the  North  Nebraska  Conference  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
and  has  been  very  successful  in  his  vocation. 

H.  C.  Fleharty  is  engaged  in  farming  near  Fullerton,  Nebraska. 
He  was  married  when  young  to  Miss  Margery  E.  Cullison,  of  Knox 
coimty,  Illinois.  They  have  an  interesting  family  of  bright,  promising 
children. 


NOR'l'H    HENDERSOX   TOWNSHIP.  805 

Rev.  J.  J.  Fleliarty,  the  next  in  order  of  birth,  entered  the  minis- 
terial profession  when  very  young,  and  was  for  many  years  a  member 
of  the  Central  Illinois  Conference.  He  has  been  eminently  successful 
as  a  minister.  Was  married,  when  young,  to  Miss  Anna  B.  Brace,  of 
Stark  county,  Illinois.  Tliey  have  had  only  one  child,  Clara,  now  a 
charming  young  lady.  Rev.  Fleharty  is  now  president  of  the  Nebraska 
Wesleyan  University,  located  at  Fullerton,  an  institution  that  is  young 
in  years  but  full  of  promise.  He  also  continues  in  the  work  of  the 
ministry. 

S.  F.  Fleharty,  the  youngest  of  the  four  brothers  who  are  living, 
was  born  September  6,  1836,  and  was  either  the  first  or  second  child 
born  within  the  limits  of  Suez  township.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
102d  111.  Yol.  Inf.  during  the  late  war,  and  was  sergeant-major  of  the 
regiment.  Was  a  member  of  the  Illinois  legislature  in  1870-72, 
representing  Mercer  county.  Removed  to  Nebraska  in  1875,  where 
he  engaged  successfully  in  the  newspaper  business,  and  is  now  private 
secretary  of  the  governor  of  Nebraska. 

GovERT  S.  Fleharty. — Returning  to  the  "old  stock,"  it  is  a  pleas- 
ure to  sketch  the  career  of  another  of  Mercer  county's  honored  pioneers. 
Govert  S.  Fleharty  was  born  on  the  eastern  shore  of  Maryland,  Feb- 
ruary 22,  1804,  a  patriotic  beginning  of  a  life  that  was  marked  by  the 
strongest  impulses  of  patriotism,  and  of  devotion  to  the  inalienable 
rights  of  man.  He  removed  with  the  family  to  Ross  county,  Ohio,  in 
1810,  and  to  Sangamon  county,  Illinois,  in  1825,  where  he  was  married 
in  1828  to  Margaret  L.  Harmon.  They  remained  in  that  county  some 
five  years,  during  which  time  Martha  C,  Stephen  W.,  and  Mary  A. 
Fleharty  were  born.  In  1833  the  family  removed  to  Mercer  county, 
selecting  a  home  on  the  S.  E.  J  of  Sec.  1,  North  Henderson  township, 
and  there  WilHam  D.  and  Margaret  were  born,  the  latter  being  the 
youngest  and  last  of  the  family.  In  1838  the  family  removed  to 
Henry  county,  where  they  lived  for  many  years,  in  a  pleasant  home 
near  the  village  of  Oxford.  Govert  S.  Fleharty  was  physically  and 
mentally  a  strong  man,  earnest  in  his  convictions,  and  adhering  to 
them  with  unswerving  fidelity  hi  the  face  of  the  most  bitter  persecu- 
tions. He  was  an  old-time  abolitionist,  and,  to  his  honor  be  it  said, 
that  he  aided  more  than  one  fugitive  slave  that  was  fieeing  from  the 
bloodhounds  and  the  lash  of  the  southern  slaveholder.  He  died  Octo- 
ber 20,  1876,  and  it  is  written  of  him  that  he  was  born  on  Washing- 
ton's birthday,  and  died  during  the  centennial  year  of  American  inde- 
pendence. His  wife,  Margaret  L.  Fleharty,  was  a  faithful,  devoted, 
and  aft'ectionate  christian  woman,  whose  good  example  and  kindly 
nature  has  left  an  enduring  impression  upon  the  surviving  members  of 


806  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   A^"D    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

the  family.  She  died  DecemVjer  10,  1880.  The  chikh-en  are  all  living. 
Martha  C.  married  Mr.  W.  T.  Bridger.  They  have  a  family  of  four 
children,  and  a  pleasant  home,  one  mile  north  of  Oxford  and  just 
across  the  line  from  Mercer  county. 

S.  W.  Fleharty,  the  elder  of  the  two  sons,  was  born  October  24, 
1S30,  and  was  married  in  1856  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Watson,  of  Mercer 
county.  They  reside  on  theii*  beautiful  farm,  a  short  distance  east  of 
New  Windsor,  and  by  their  industry  have  made  a  happy  home  for 
themselves  and  their  children.  Wesle}^,  as  he  is  commonly  called,  is 
a  man  of  the  strictest  integrity,  an  original  and  independent  thinker, 
bold  and  direct  in  expressing  his  views  on  all  subjects,  uncompro- 
mising, yet  kind  at  heart,  and  worthy  of  the  respect  which  he  univer- 
sally receives. 

The  second  son,  William  D.  Fleharty,  was  born  October  4,  1834, 
and  was  the  first  white  child  that  was  born  in  North  Henderson  town- 
ship. He  was  married  in  1860  to  Miss  Mary  C.  Petrie,  daughter  of 
William  F.  Petrie,  and  sister  of  Hon.  A.  P.  Petrie.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  F. 
have  only  one  child,  Annie,  now  twelve  years  old,  and  very  natarally, 
as  well  as  deservedly,  their  only  darling  is  the  sunlight  of  their  happy 
home.  Mr.  Fleharty  has  been  engaged  in  business  as  a  grain  buyer 
at  New  Windsor  for  many  years,  and  has  been  remarkably  successful. 
During  all  of  that  period  he  has  maintained  a  character  that  is  above 
reproach,  and  all  classess  have  implicit  confidence  in  his  business  in- 
tegrity. He  has  been  twice  elected  to  the  office  of  supervisor  for  Rivoli 
township,  and  has  discharged  the  duties  of  the  office  with  credit  to 
himself  and  to  his  constituents.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Flehartv  have  an 
elegant  home  in  New  Windsor. 

Mary  A.  Fleharty,  the  second  daughter,  married  Mr.  Peter  Stevens 
a  substantial  and  well-to-do  farmer,  who  resides  in  Ohio  Grove  town- 
ship. They  have  seven  children.  The  youngest  daughter,  Margaret, 
married  Mr.  David  McLaughlin,  and  their  home  near  Oxford  is  the 
old  home  of  Govert  S.  and  Margaret|Fleharty,  the  father  and  mother 
of  five  children,  who  have  all  been  successful  in  life  and  an  honor  to 
their  parents. 

Another  brother,  William  Fleharty,  next  in  age  to  Stephen,  was 
a  minister,  and  at  the  time  the  family  settled  here  he  went  into  the 
lead  region  of  southwestern  Wisconsin,  where  he  married  and  settled 
and  died.  He  has  one  son  residing  in  Wisconsin  and  one  in  Kansas. 
A  sister  Ann  married  Joseph  Holiday,  in  Sangamon  county,  before  the 
family  came  to  this  county,  afterward  removing  to  Knox  county,  and 
settling  near  Bennett.  When  William  Fleharty  settled  in  what  is  now 
Suez  township,  it  became  known  that  he  had  served  as  justice  of  the 


.■'..<C^> 


■#^i^ 


/L  /\_X_  rL^'-V-'J^       ^^^^^>*^^i^""V^W'-UC/~;Xl 


NORTH    HENDERSON    TOWNSHIP.  809 

peace  in  Ohio  for  some  years,  so  he  was  elected  to  the  same  office  here. 
At  that  time  the  state  was  too  poor  to  furnish  more  than  three  or  four 
copies  of  the  statutes  for  the  use  of  the  legislature,  and  Mercer  county 
was  not  the  possessor  of  a  single  copy.  Mr.  F.  had  a  copy  of  the  Ohio 
statutes  so  he  administered  justice  according  to  the  statutes  of  Ohio, 
and  no  one  could  question  his  decisions  as  they  could  produce  no 
Illinois  law  in  his  court. 

Bennett  E.  Fleharty. — The  early  history  of  Mercer  county  would 
be  incomplete  without  a  sketch  of  Bennett  E.  Fleharty,  one  of  tlie  four 
brothers  named  at  the  beginning  of  this  article.  Old  settlers  remem- 
ber him  as  one  of  the  most  conscientious  men  that  ever  lived.  He  was 
a  mild  mannered  man,  very  quiet,  and  ever  faithful  to  his  duties  as  a 
christian.  It  is  related  of  him  that  after  working  hard  during  the 
week,  he  often  walked  from  seven  to  ten  miles  for  the  purpose  of 
attending  the  Methodist  class  meeting  of  those  days.  His  home  was 
on  the  south  side  of  Pope  creek,  near  the  eastern  line  of  the  county. 
His  wife's  maiden  name  was  Charlotte  Cook.  They  raised  a  family  of 
four  children :  William,  Jolm,  Sarah,  and  Jane.  The  family  removed 
to  Kansas,  some  years  ago,  and  soon  afterward  Uncle  Bennett,  as  he 
was  familiarly  called,  passed  away  to  that  land  from  which  no  traveler 
returns.  The  news  of  his  death  was  heard  with  great  sorrow  by  old 
neighbors  and  relatives  here,  and  his  exemplary  life  will  not  soon  be 
forgotten.  The  surviving  members  of  the  family  are  living  in  the  state 
of  Kansas. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Among  the  earliest  settlers  of  this  township  was  Benjamin  F. 
Brown,  who  was  born  in  Nelson  county,  Kentucky,  April  7,  1810,  the 
son  of  Samuel  and  Henrietta  (Hobbs)  Brown.  His  father  died  in  Ken- 
tucky, but  his  mother  came  to  Knox  county,  Illinois,  with  the  family, 
in  1831.  The  family  consisted  of  nine  children,  seven  of  whom  lived 
to  have  families.  Alfred,  now  deceased,  left  several  children  :  Har- 
mon lives  in  Knox  county  ;  Sallie  (wife  of  Peter  Frantz),  lives  in  Knox 
county  ;  Harrison  and  Benjamin  F.  live  in  this  county  ;  Joshua  H,  in 
Knox  county  ;  Samuel  W.  in  Washington  Territory,  has  had  a  position 
in  a  United  States  land  office  there  for  a  number  of  years ;  Margaret 
(deceased),  was  the  wife  of  Mr.  Freeman,  of  Knox  county  ;  and  John 
(deceased),  lived  in  this  county  at  the  time  of  his  death.  Benjamin  F. 
came  to  Knox  county,  Illinois,  in  the  spring  of  1831.  In  the  spring  of 
1832  he  joined  Capt.  William  McMurtry's  company  of  rangers,  which 
formed  part  of  Maj.  Bogard's  regiment,  enlisted  in  the  counties  of 
Schuyler,  McDonough,  Warren  and  Knox,  for  the  defense  of  the 
46 


810  HISTORY    OF    MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

frontier  against  the  bands  of  Black  Hawk,  who  had  taken  the  war-path 
again  that  spring.  In  one  of  the  scouts  made  that  season  by  a  detach- 
ment of  his  company  he  proceeded  to  the  present  site  of  the  city  of 
Rock  Island,  which  was  marked  at  that  time  by  the  presence  of  one  log 
cabin.  The  years  1833  and  1834  he  spent  in  the  lead  mines  about 
Galena.  The  spring  of  1835  he  began  to  improve  a  claim  with  his 
brother  Harison,  on  sections  18  and  19.  Selling  out  his  claim  to  his 
brother  Harison  in  1836,  he  returned  to  Knox  county.  February 
18,  1838,  he  married  Miss  Lucinda  Mann,  daughter  of  James  Mann, 
whose  early  settlement  is  spoken  of  elsewhere.  She  was  a  native  of 
Ohio,  born  near  Cincinnatti.  That  spring  he  began  to  improve  a  claim 
on  sections  6  and  7,  which  now  forms  part  of  his  farm,  which  consists 
at  present  of  324  acres  on  the  southwest  section  6,  northwest  section  7, 
and  E.  ^  N.  E.  Sec.  12,  in  Suez  township.  He  has  a  line  residence  on 
the  southwest  section  6,  built  in  1861,  where  the  latch-string  is  always 
out,  in  true  pioneer  style,  and  no  more  hospitable  welcome  is  to  be 
found  than  beneath  his  roof.  Mr.  B.  was  fond  of  the  chase  and  in  the 
days  when  game  was  plenty  his  trusty  ritie  brought  many  a  deer  to  the 
dust.  He  was  also  fond  of  luring  the  finn^^  denizens  of  the  rivers  from 
their  native  element,  and  acquired  so  great  a  reputation  in  this  line 
that  he  is  commonly  spoken  of  now  by  the  old  pioneers  as  ''Fisher 
Ben. ""  He  and  his  wife  are  active  members  of  the  Universalist  church, 
to  which  they  have  been  attached  for  many  years.  They  have  a  parish 
organized  now  in  Suez  townsliip  and  a  half  interest  in  a  church  with 
the  United  Brethren  on  section  10  in  that  township.  Mr.  B.  was  for- 
merly a  whig,  but  ujjon  the  demise  of  that  party  and  the  organization  of 
the  republican  party,  he  has  been  a  zealous  and  active  adherent  of  that 
party.  Their  children  were  :  Susan  E.,  born  November  17,  1838, 
married  Ira  G.  Bridger  July  24,  1864,  and  died,  without  any  children, 
May  15,  1877  ;  Joshua  H.,  born  July  6,  1841,  enlisted  in  Capt.  Pep- 
per's company,  84th  reg.  111.  Yol.  Inf ,  in  1862,  and  served  his  country 
faithfully  until  the  close  of  the  war  ;  January  1,  1867,  he  married  Mrs, 
Mary  (Dilley)  Rodgers  and  now  resides  on  the  southeast  of  section  10, 
in  Suez  township;  Samuel  M.,  born  in  March  10,  1844,  married  Feb- 
ruary 6,  1868,  Miss  Almira  Allen,  daughter  of  Henry  H.  and  Amanda 
(Abbott)  Allen,  she  being  a  daughter  of  Johnson  Abbott ;  (Mrs.  A. 
was  a  native  of  Kentucky,  and  Mr.  A.  of  this  state ;  they  have  three 
children:  Benjamin  A.,  born  September  19,  1870  ;  Ida  Olive,  March 
20,  1873,  and  Cora  May,  January  12,  1881.  They  reside  in  this  town- 
ship, having  a  farm  of  140  acres  on  the  southwest  of  section  9); 
Vachel  H.  (born  October  7,  1846,  died  November  24,  1850) ;  Hen- 
rietta H.  (born  November  10,  1851,  married  John  Allen,  brother  of 


NORTH    HENDERSON    TOWNSHIP.  811 

Samuel  M.'s  wife,  October  8,  1874,  now  reside  in  Wyoming  Terri- 
tory); Olive  (born  April  24,  185T,  died  May  31,  1875);  Margaret 
(born  November  2,  1860),  is  the  onh^  one  now  at  home  with  her 
parents. 

Another  pioneer  was  Allen  S.  Brown,  who  traces  his  genealogy 
from  John  Brown  and  his  wife  (Elizabeth  Crosslj'),  who  emigrated  from 
New  Jersey  to  Kentucky  in  the  days  of  Daniel  Boone ;  emigrating 
thence  to  Ohio  in  1786.  Mrs.  B.  finally  died  in  Indiana  when  101 
years  old.  These  were  his  grandparents.  His  father,  Samuel  Brown, 
was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1782,  and  married,  in  Butler  county,  Ohio, 
March  12,  1807,  Miss  Jane  Bell,  who  was  of  Irish  descent.  He 
received  a  bounty  and  pension  from  the  government  for  his  services  in 
the  war  of  1812.  He  moved  from  Ohio  to  Indiana,  and  thence  to 
Knox  county,  Illinois,  with  his  family  in  1834.  He  died  in  Warren 
county,  Illinois,  September  10,  1856,  and  Mr^.  Brown  survived  him 
until  May  12,  1869.  There  were  nine  children  in  the  family:  Eliza- 
beth,* Hester,  Mary,  Benjamin,  Allen  S.,  Nancy,  Jane,  Samuel,  and 
John.  Hester  was  the  wife  of  Timothy  Meeker,  and  survives  him, 
living  upon  the  old  homestead.  Allen  S.  was  born  near  Ggnnelsville, 
Wayne  county,  Indiana,  November  7,  1818.  December  31,  1837,  he 
married  Miss  Polly  McMurtry,  of  Knox  county,  who  was  in  her  eight- 
eenth year  at  that  time.  She  was  the  oldest  daughter  of  John  and 
Mary  (Williamson)  McMurtry.  Mr.  McMurtry  was  born  in  Mercer 
county,  Kentucky,  in  1797,  his  ancestors  coming  from  Ireland  before 
revolutionary  times;  his  grandfather  tailing  a  victim  to  the  Indians 
in  the  early  settlement  of  Kentucky.  He  removed  to  Indiana  in  1813, 
and  was  married  in  Crawford  county,  that  state,  September,  1819.  His 
wife  was  a  native  of  South  Carolina.  Their  family  consisted  of  six 
girls :  Polly,  Lovicy,  Martha,  Harriet,  Sarah,  and  Eliza,  all  born  near 
Leavenworth,  Indiana.  In  1830  he  hired  a  team  to  bring  liis  family 
through  to  Illinois,  he  following  with  a  few  head  of  cattle.  He  located 
on  section  33,  Rio  township,  Knox  county,  building  a  rail  pen  and 
covering  it  with  canvas,  in  which  they  sheltered  themselves  for  three 
weeks  while  erecting  a  log  cabin.  In  1831  all  the  settlers  north  of 
Henderson  Grove  were  warned  away  on  account  of  threatened  depre- 
dations by  the  Indians.  Some  who  left  their  claims  did  not  stop  until 
they  reached  the  friendly  shelter  of  Indiana's  wooded  plains.  Mr. 
McMurtry  removed  his  family  to  a  block-house  on  the  south  side  of  the 
grove  near  James  Gummas,  known  as  the  Gumm  fort.  After  remain- 
ing there  two  or  three  months,  they  returned  to  their  claim.  In  the 
spring  of  1 832  they  were  driven  into  a  fort  near  Paul  Halm's,  on  the 
north  side  of  the  grove,  that  had  been  built  by  the  settlers  during  the 


* 

812  HISTORY    OF   MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

previous  winter  for  their  better  protection.  Here  tliey  remained  four 
weeks  and  then  returned  to  their  home.  This  fort  was  not  far  from 
their  chiim ;  so  when  danger  threatened,  they  would  go  to  the  fort  at 
night  and  return  to  tlie  claim  to  work  during  the  day.  On  some  occa- 
sions, after  a  period  of  fancied  security,  when  remaining  in  their  cabin 
nights,  they  would  be  warned  by  a  courier  of  the  approach  of  Indians, 
and,  thinking  they  had  not  time  to  reacli  the  fort,  they  would  conceal 
themselves  in  the  shadows  of  the  neighboring  woods,  or  in  the  tall 
grass  that  bordered  all  the  sloughs  on  the  prairies,  remaining  in  their 
hiding  places  until  daylight  revealed  to  them  that  the  alarm  had  been 
a  groundless  one.  But  to  return  to  the  subject  of  tliis  sketch.  Mr. 
Bi-own,  after  his  marriage,  rented  a  farm  one  year,  but  in  April,  1839, 
he  settled  on  the  W.  ^  of  S.  E.  of  Sec.  25,  which  he  afterward  entered. 
Here  they  began  life,  with  a  log  cabin  hav^ing  one  room  in  it,  one  yoke 
of  oxen,  and  a  two-year-old  lilly.  From  this  small  beginning  they 
accumulated  a  handsome  property,  owning  some  800  acres  of  land 
before  Mr.  Brown's  death,  which  occurred  June  19,  1871.  Their  chil- 
dren are :  Sarah  J.  (wife  of  A.  X.  Tate,  deceased),  Eliza  A.  (wife  of 
L.  F.  Genh-y,  deceased),  Mary  E.  (wife  of  William  Brown),  William  H., 
Martha  E.  (wife  of  Isaac  Stevens,  deceased),  James  N.  (died  in  infancy), 
John  T.  (now  married  and  living  on  the  old  homestead),  Amanda  M. 
(died  in  her  sixth  year).  Charles  W.,  Annette  (\vife  of  L.  J.  Smith), 
Allen  Douglas,  Levi  F.,  and  Fred  A.  Mr.  Brown  was  a  man  of  more 
than  the  average  native  ability.  Though  never  united  with  any  society, 
Mr.  Brown  was  a  Universalist  in  his  religious  belief  Aunt  Polly 
J3rown,  as  she  is  familiarly  called  by  a  wide  circle  of  friends,  has 
-endeared  herself  to  all  with  whom  she  has  come  in  contact  by  her 
many  acts  of  kindness  to  the  old,  and  her  rare  motherly  interest  in  and 
solicitude  for  the  welfare  of  the  young.  She  now  resides  in  the  village, 
keeping  house  for  her  son,  Allen  Douglas,  who  recently  lost  his  wife 
after  a  brief  season  of  wedded  happiness.  William  H.,  the  oldest 
son,  was  born  February  29,  1844.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in  Co.  A,  102d 
reg.  111.  Yol.  Inf ,  and  was  made  a  sergeant  on  the  organization  of  the 
company,  but  was  mustered  out  with  the  rank  of  first  lieutenant.  He 
was  wounded  in  the  battle  of  Eesacca,  May  15,  1864,  but  continued  in 
the  service  until  the  close  of  the  war.  October  3,  1866,  he  married 
Miss  Maria  Heflin,  youngest  daughter  of  Reuben  Heflin,  one  of  the 
pioneers  of  Knox  county.  She  died  March  15,  1875,  leaving  two 
children  :  Claud  I.  and  Maud.  In  May,  1880,  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Belle  AVatson,  a  native  of  Canada.  He  was  four  years  supervisor  of 
this  town,  and  has  always  taken  an  active  interest  in  political  matters, 
being  a  democrat.      Since  the  death  of  his  first  wife  he  has  studied 


NORTH    HENDERSON    TOWNSHIP.  813 

medicine,  graduating  at  Rush  Medical  College,  Chicago,  and  is  now 
practicing  with  Dr.  C.  G.  Stewart  in  North  Henderson. 

One  of  North  Henderson's  prominent  citizens  at  present,  tliough 
not  a  pioneer,  is  Joseph  H.  Humes,  who  was  born  in  Pennsj-lvania  in 
18-14  ;  his  father,  wliose  name  was  Josepli,  was  also  a  native  of  that 
state.  His  grandfather  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  liis  great- 
grandfather a  soldier  in  the  war  of  the  revolution.  Tlie  tamilj  is  of 
Scotch-Irish  descent.  His  motlier,  whose  family  name  was  Ernst,  was 
descended  from  a  Hessian  soldier  taken  prisoner  during  the  revolution- 
ary war  and  afterward  settled  in  Pennsylvania.  Her  father,  Andrew 
Ernst,  died  in  Knox  county,  Illinois,  and  is  buried  in  the  Fuller  ceme- 
tery. His  father  came  to  Illinois  in  1853  and  settled  in  McDonough 
county,  removing  to  this  county  in  1859.  In  1864  Mr.  H.  enlisted  in 
Co.  D,  139tli  111.  Vol.  Inf ,  which  was  a  regiment  of  hundred  day  men. 
He  was  honorably  discharged  November,  1864.  Married  Eliza  Dunn 
September  7,  1865.  and  engaged  in  farming.  In  1871  he  had  the  first 
house  built  in  the  village  of  North  Henderson,  the  present  hotel  build- 
ing. Mr.  J.  L.  Goff  had  previously  moved  a  building  into  the  village. 
He  kept  the  hotel  two  years  and  was  then  engaged  in  the  grain  busi- 
ness eight  years.  Has  been  in  the  lumber,  hardware,  and  agricultural 
implement  business,  since  1880.  He  has  two  children,  Ilattie,  born 
November  1866,  and  Leo,  born  February  20,  1877.  He  is  at  present 
clerk  of  the  town,  having  held  the  office  four  years.  He  is  a  member 
of  both  North  Henderson  Lodge  and  Encampment  of  Odd  Fellows. 
He  is  also  a  member  of  Horeb  Chapter,  No.  4,  R.A.M.,  of  Rio,  and 
Galesburg  Commanderv,  No.  8,  K.T.     In  p(jlitics  he  is  a  democrat. 

George  A.  Blue,  druggist,  is  the  son  of  an  old  pioneer,  William 
Blue,  who  was  born  in  Indiana  in  1826.  He  settled  on  the  S.  W.  J  of 
Sec.  27,  in  this  township,  in  1837.  During  the  year  1851  he  lived  in 
Knox  county,  and  December  21,  that  year,  he  married  Miss  Ellenor 
Rice,  of  that  county.  She  was  born  in  Indiana  January  19,  1825,  and 
came  to  Knox  county,  Illinois,  with  her  parents  in  1831.  After  his 
marriage  he  returned  to  this  county,  where  he  died  in  March,  1864, 
having  had  a  family  of  five  children,  three  of  whom  are  living :  George 
A.,  born  January  1,  1853;  Thomas  J.,  born  April  4,  1855,  owns  the 
old  Rice  homestead,  in  Knox  county  ;  Fi-ank  W.,  born  December  19, 
1863,  lives  in  North  Henderson.  George  A.,  who  was  raised  on  the 
farm,  owns  the  old  homestead,  the  southwest  of  section  27.  He  has 
been  engaged  in  the  drug  business  in  the  village  since  1879,  and  post- 
master since  1880.  He  married  Sej^tember  8.  1874.  Miss  Lura  Glass, 
daughter  of  Seymour  and  Isabelle  (Black)  Glass.  Her  grandfather, 
Samuel  Black,  was  one  of  the  old  pioneers  of  Warren  county.     They 


814  HISTORY    OF   MERCER    AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

have  one  cliild,  Archie  W.,  born  September  19,  1876.  George  A.  is 
a  member  of  Horeb  Chapter,  No.  -1,  R.A.M.,  of  liio,  also  of  Galesbnrg 
Commandeiy,  Xo.  8,  K.T. 

M.  H.  Johnston,  druggist,  is  a  son  of  Larimer  and  Hannah  (Hayes) 
Johnston,  of  Suez  township  in  this  county,  whose  history  will  be  found 
in  connection  with  the  history  of  that  township.  He  was  born  in 
Grundy  countj^,  Ohio,  November  26,  1855,  and  came  to  Illinois  with 
his  parents  in  1857,  settling  in  Suez  township,  where  he  was  raised  on 
the  farm  with  such  advantages  as  the  common  school  of  liis  district 
afforded,  which  he  supplemented  with  a  commercial  course  in  Allen's 
Business  College  in  Aledo.  April  20,  1881,  he  married  Miss  Anna 
Galloway,  daughter  of  James  Galloway,  grocei-  of  Aledo.  Miss  Anna 
was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania ;  born  April  16,  1858.  He  went  into 
the  drug  business  in  North  Henderson  in  March,  1881,  and  is  doing  a 
large  business  for  a  country  drug  store.  He  is  a  member  of  North 
Henderson  Lodge,  No.  585,  I.O.O.F.     In  politics  he  is  a  republican. 

The  history  of  North  Henderson  township  could  not  well  be  written 
without  a  notice  of  Edwin  Evans  Kendall,  M.D.,  who  was  born  in 
Worcester  county,  Massachusetts,  October  12,  1826.  His  father,  Paul 
P.,  and  his  mother  Jane  (Nickerson)  Kendall,  were  also  natives  of  that 
state  ;  his  father  was  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits ;  died  when  Edwin 
was  quite  young.  An  extract  from  an  obituary  notice  from  the  pen  of 
J.  P.  McClanahan,  M.D.,  of  Alexis,  Illinois,  published  in  the  "Peoria 
Medical  Monthly,""  will  be  appropriate  here.  The  doctor  says  :  "Dur- 
ing his  early  life,  by  industrj'  and  self-sacrifice,  he  worked  his  way 
through  an  academical  course  of  study,  teaching  during  a  part  of  the 
time,  and  in  like  manner  through  his  prolessional  studies,  graduating 
from  the  medical  department  of  the  University  of  Buffalo,  New  York, 
April  27,  1853,  the  institution  being  at  that  time  under  the  presidency 
of  Millard  Filmore  ;  the  medical  faculty  being  as  follows :  Charles  A. 
Lee,  M.D.,  Jacob  H.  Hamilton,  M.D.,  Austin  Flint,  M.D.,  Edward 
M.  Moore,  M.D.,  George  Iladley,  M.D.,  John  C.  Dalton,  Jr.,  M.D. 
Dr.  Kendall  at  first  decided  to  practice  his  profession  in  the  east,  near 
his  original  home,  but  soon  changed  his  mind  on  account  of  failing 
healtli,  or  an  attack  of  hsemoptisis,  and  resolved  to  try  the  west,  to 
which  he  removed  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year,  1853,  wisely  selecting 
for  himself  a  rural  location  in  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  where  his  health 
seemed  rapidly  to  improve  and  his  business  to  increase  as  the  new 
settlers  flowed  in  to  what  was  then  a  comjjaratively  new  and  sparsely 
settled,  rich,  jjrairie  country.  Among  these  settlers  the  doctor  made 
many  warm  friends  and  confident  patrons,  and  for  years  fair  health 
continued  with  him,   notwithstanding  his  unrelentive  promptness   to 


NORTH    HENDERSON   TOWNSHIP.  815 

attend  calls  regardless  of  heat  or  cold,  inclement  weather,  or  any  dis- 
paraging circumstances."  He  died  at  his  residence  in  North  Hender- 
son January  25,  1882,  of  typhoid  pneumonia.  The  winter  of  1853-1- 
the  doctor  taught  in  the  Illinois  Liberal  Institute  in  Galesburg,  which 
afterward  became  Lombard  University.  He  commenced  the  practice 
of  his  profession  in  the  spring  of  1854,  boarding  at  Reuben  Hellin's, 
in  Knox  county.  In  1857,  while  boarding  at  Lewis  Heflin's,  in  this 
township,  the  doctor  met  with  an  accident,  which,  in  a  measure,  crip- 
pled him  for  life.  His  team  ran  away  in  the  night  and  threw  him  out 
of  the  buggy,  injuring  one  leg  so  that  he  never  entirely  recovered. 
In  1858  he  located  permanently  in  this  township.  July  10,  1862, 
he  married  Mary  E.,  widow  of  William  Button.  Mrs.  Button's  maiden 
name  was  Bruner,  she  being  a  daughter  of  Adam  Bruner,  and  niece  of 
David  Bruner,  mentioned  heretofore  in  this  work.  She  was  born  in 
Lawrence  county,  Indiana,  August  8,  1836,  and  came  to  this  township 
in  May,  1855,  and  married  William  Button  September  5,  1857,  who 
died  November  6,  following,  from  the  shock  of  having  an  arm  torn 
off  in  a  threshing  machine.  The  doctor  and  wife  have  had  eight 
children,  hve  of  whom  survive  him :  Eugene  E.  (born  February  12, 
1867,  has  entered  E.  Crosby's  store  as  clerk),  Nancy  Jane  (born  June 
11,  1871),  Mary  Edna  (March  27,  1873),  Minnie  Belle  (April  6,  1875), 
Abbey  Ellen  (July  12,  1877).  They  moved  from  their  farm  into  the 
village  in  July,  1872. 

Though  not  as  old  a  resident  of  this  township  as  some  others  pre- 
viously mentioned,  Mr.  Alfred  W.  Nelson  occupies  a  very  prominent 
position.  His  father,  Benham  Nelson,  was  a  native  of  Virginia ;  his 
mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Amanda  Brewer,  was  a  native  of 
Wayne  county,  Indiana.  Benham  Nelson  dealt  largely  in  horses,  in 
Indiana.  He  was  sheriff  of  his  county  for  two  years.  Having  a  con- 
struction contract  on  a  canal,  he  exposed  himself  so  nmch  while  labor- 
ing to  fulfill  it  that  he  became  a  cripple  for  life.  He  moved  to  Knox 
county,  Illinois,  in  June  1855.  A.  W.,  and  his  twin  brother  A.  IL, 
were  born  in  Indiana,  February  3,  1810,  and  came  to  this  state  with 
their  father,  living  near  Saluda  in  Knox  county.  A.  W.  was  married 
December  29,  1862,  to  Miss  Eliza  Iniel,  who  was  born  in  Indiana, 
June  24,  1840,  and  came  to  this  state  with  her  father,  Thomas  Imel,  in 
1850.  In  1877  A.  W.  came  to  this  township,  locating  on  the  south- 
west of  section  27,  where  he  owns  forty  acres,  and  forty-one  acres  ad- 
joining in  section  34.  He  has  always  been  engaged  in  farming.  They 
have  three  children:  Benham,  born  October  31,  1866;  Katie,  January 
1,  1869;  Bertha  B.,  March  31,  1878.  He  is  a  member  of  Horeb 
Chapter,  No,  4,  R.A.M.,  of  Eio.     Also  of  North  Henderson  Lodge  of 


816  HISTORY    OF    MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Odd-Fellows.  He  is  now  supervisor  of  tliis  town,  for  The  fourth  con- 
secutive year.  In  politics  he  is  a  democrat.  He  is  a  man  of  more 
tlian  average  native  ability,  a  close  observer,  doing  his  own  thinking, 
examining  his  ground  carefullv  before  taking  a  new  step.  A.  H.,  the 
twin  brother  mentioned  above,  is  known  by  his  friends  as  Harvey 
.Velson.  He  was  married  September  10,  1867,  to  Miss  Adelia  A. 
Kays,  daughter  of  AYilliam  Kays,  of  Saluda,  Knox  county,  Illinois. 
They  came  into  this  township  in  1873,  and  settled  on  the  E.  |-  of  S.W. 
Sec.  34,  where  they  reside  now.  The  farm  comprises  eighty-eight 
acres.  He  built  his  present  residence  in  1875.  They  have  ihree 
children:  Hampton,  born  May  22,  1869;  Ida,  October  18,  1873; 
AVilliam,  eTuly  15,  1881.  Mr.  Nelson  a  member  of  both  the  ISTortii 
Henderson  Lodge  and  Encampment  of  the  I.O.O.F.,  as  well  as  the 
Alexis  Lodge  of  A.F.A.M.  He  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  of  North  Henderson.  He  is  one  of  the 
commissioners  of  highways  of  this  town.  AVi'lliam  Kays,  Mrs.  Nel- 
son's fatlier,  is  one  of  the  old  pioneers  of  Knox  county,  having  settled 
in  that  county  as  early  as  1832  or  1833. 

Peter  W.  Johnston,  though  comparatively  a  recent  settler,  has  been 
a  positive  quantity  during  the  period  of  his  residence  in  this  township. 
He  is  an  excellent  representative  of  the  old  Virginia  and  Kentucky 
country  gentleman.  He  was  a  native  of  Virginia  as  were  also  both  his 
parents  and  grandparents.  His  grandf^ithers,  on  both  his  father  and 
mother's  side,  were  in  the  revolutionary  army.  His  father  and  seven 
uncles  from  both  branches  of  the  family  were  in  the  military  service  of 
the  country  during  the  war  of  1812.  His  father,  whose  given  name 
was  John,  died  in  1826,  when  the  subject  of  this  sketch  was  ten  years 
old.  His  family  consisted  of  four  boys  and  two  girls,  of  whom  P.  W. 
was  the  eldest.  Three  of  these  survive,  one  brother  and  one  sister 
living  in  Virginia.  After  his  father's  death  his  mother  received  from 
the  government  a  land  warrant  for  his  father's  service  in  the  war  of 
1812.  His  mother's  nuiiden  name  was  Nancy  Wyatt.  She  was  a 
woman  of  very  marked  ability,  and  a  sterling  patriot,  being  very  ener- 
getic in  aiding  the  national  cause  to  the  full  extent  of  her  oppor- 
tunities during  the  struggle  from  1812  to  1815.  She  was  about  eighty- 
six  years  old  at  the  time  of  her  death  which  occurred  in  1880.  P.  W. 
was  born  in  Gloucester  county,  Virginia,  August  19,  1816  ;  he  removed 
thence  to  Kentucky  in  1835,  residing  in  Breckenridge  county,  in  that 
state,  until  1862;  he  moved  to  this  state,  settling  in  Hancock  county, 
where  he  lived  one  year,  settling  in  this  township  in  1863,  on  the 
southeast  of  section  19,  which  farm  he  still  (jwns,  though  he  has  lived 
on  the  southwest  of  section  31,  near  the  village  of  Alexis  since  the 


NORTH    HENDERSON   TOWNSHIP.  817 

spring  of  1875, 'where  lie  owns  forty-two  acres.  With  the  exception 
of  three  years  that  lie  was  in  the  mercantile  business  in  Kentucky  Mr. 
Johnston  has  always  been  engaged  in  farming.  He  was  married  Sep- 
tember 23,  1837,  to  Martha  A.  Hayes,  a  native  of  Virginia,  born  in 
that  state  in  March,  1816,  and  emigrated  to  Kentucky  in  1835.  Her 
father's  name  was  William,  and  her  mother's  maiden  name  was  Eliza- 
beth Forster.  Tliey  have  had  eight  children,  only  three  of  whom 
are  living:  Benjamin  F.,  born  February  26,  1839  (deceased);  Nancy, 
May  21,  1811  (deceased);  Mary  E.,  October  12,  1845,  wife  of  Joel 
Hays  living  in  Missouri;  John  W.,  January  27,  1843  (deceased); 
Matilda  E.,  February  8,  1848  (deceased)  ;  Littleton  T.,  May  11,  1850, 
in  the  cattle  business  in  Texas  at  present,  though  he  makes  his  home 
with  his  father;  Ann  M.,  born  March  30,  1853,  wife  of  Newton 
Bruington,  resides  in  the  villiage  of  Alexis;  Martha  A.,  March  3, 
1856  (deceased).  Mrs.  Johnston  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church,  south.  Mr.  Johnston  is  a  member  of  the  masonic  order, 
and  politically  a  democrat. 

Probably  one  of  the  best  known  and  most  highly  respected  pioneers 
of  this  township,  and  the  one  having  the  widest  circle  of  friends  and 
acquaintances,  is  Notley  Scott.  It  would  be  a  long  radius  drawn  from 
his  house  that  would  describe  the  circle  excluding  tliose  who  do  not 
know  "ITncle  Notley,"  as  he  is  familiarly  called.  In  the  days  when 
game  was  plenty  it  was  a  good  huntsman  that  killed  more  deer  than 
he,  and  a  strong  man  that  could  march  home  under  the  weight  of  a 
heavier  buck.  He  excelled  in  all  the  games  in  vogue  in  those  days  re- 
quiring agility,  strength  and  prowess,  Henry  Fleharty  being  the  only 
competitor  for  the  honors  that  had  any  chance  with  him  in  those  days. 
He  also  enjoys  a  reputation  that  he  has  built  for  himself  during  the 
passage  of  the  years  for  the  strictest  honesty  and  probity,  his  word 
being  as  go<Kl  as  a  bond.  To  his  house  still  clings  the  pioneer  quality 
of  hospitality  that  makes  "Uncle  Notley's  such  a  good  place  to  visit." 
Uncle  Notley,  though  seventy-two  years  of  age,  enjoys  his  trips  to 
the  bay,  to  shoot  wild  duck  or  iish  in  their  season,  as  much  as  any 
of  the  young  men,  no  sport  pleasing  him  so  well,  unless  it  be  playing 
croquet,  at  which  game  he  is  an  expert.  Uncle  Notley  was  born  in 
Ohio  July  8,  1810.  His  father,  Joseph  Scott,  was  born  in  Virginia  in 
1773,  and  was  consequently  two  years  old  when  the  war  of  the  revo- 
lution began.  He  removed  with  his  parents  to  Kentucky  when  only 
four  years  old,  and  thence  to  Ohio  in  1 706.  He  married  Miss  Mary 
Gain,  of  Kentuckv,  who  was  born  March  15,  1777.  They  moved  to 
Indiana  in  1823,  and  thence  to  Illinois  in  1835.  He  died  in  Novem- 
ber, 1872,  his  life  having  almost  reached  a  century.     His  wife  died 


818  HISTORY    OF    MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

March  2,  1857.  Notley  was  married  November  3,  1832,  to  Miss  Sallie 
Betts,  who  was  born  in  Kentucky  December  20,  1809,  and  died  April 
23,  1871.  Their  family  consisted  of  twelve  children,  ten  boys  and  two 
girls:  Preston  (deceased),  Fielding,  Joseph,  AVilliam,  M.  D.,  Reiley, 
Nancy,  Xotley  (deceased),  Samuel  (deceased),  Sarah  (deceased),  Lewis, 
and  Nathaniel  Greene.  Uncle  Notley  is  one  of  the  very  few  men,  if 
not  the  only  man,  of  whom  it  can  be  said  that  he  can  open  and  run  a 
masonic  lodge  within  his  own  family,  himself  and  seven  of  his  sons 
being  members  of  the  order.  They  are  all  members  of  Horeb  Chap- 
ter, No.  4,  R.A.M.,  of  Eio,  and  two  (Preston  and  Greene)  K.T.  He 
came  to  this  township  in  1837,  and  bought  the  claim  of  Harison 
Brown  in  sections  18  and  19,  where  he  still  resides,  liis  daughter 
Nancy  having  been  his  housekeeper  since  the  death  of  her  mother. 
The  grove  near  which  he  resides,  and  part  of  which  he  owns,  has 
always  been  known  as  Scott's  Grove  since  he  settled  there.  He  owns 
at  present  485  acres  of  land.  He  was  the  first  supervisor  of  this 
town. 

In  1854,  at  the  time  that  immigration  was  flowing  into  tliis 
county  so  rapidly,  there  came  a  man  from  Mercer  county,  Pennsylva- 
nia, who  began  the  race  of  life  evenly  with  the  state  of  Illinois,  and 
thus  far  the  two  have  kept  even  pace  year  for  year,  but  how  much 
longer  the  score  will  remain  a  tie  time  alone  can  determine.  Money 
staked  on  the  state,  though,  will  most  probably  some  time  win. 
John  T.  Morford  was  born  in  Mercer  county,  Pennsylvania,  Feb- 
ruary 27,  1818.  His  father,  James  Morford,  was  born  in  New  Jersey, 
July  17,  1793,  and  his  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Martha  Titus, 
was  a  native  of  the  same  state,  born  June  8,  1797.  They  were  married 
Sejjtember  28,  1815.  His  lather  died  July  12,  1870,  and  his  mother, 
at  the  age  of  eighty -live,  makes  her  home  with  him.  John  T.  was 
married  February  27,  1840,  to  Miss  Esther  Hazen,  a  native  of  Craw- 
ford county,  Pennsylvania,  born  November  16,  1819.  They  settled 
on  the  northeast  of  section  22,  in  the  spring  of  1855,  when,  to  use  the 
language  of  Mrs.  Morford,  "there  was  not  a  switch  on  the  place  with 
which  to  whip  the  children.'*'  Now  their  house  is  almost  lost  to  view 
by  the  dense  grove  of  trees  that  surrounds  it.  Their  farm  at  present 
comprises  200  acres  of  rich  North  Henderson  soil.  Mr.  Morford  is  a 
carpenter  by  trade,  and  has  worked  at  the  business  most  of  the  time 
until  since  the  close  of  the  war.  The  patriotism  of  this  family  is 
unquestionable.  Mr.  Morford  and  his  two  oldest  sons,  at  that  time  in 
their  nineteenth  and  sixteenth  y^ears,  respectively,  enlisted  in  Co.  C, 
102d  reg.  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  in  1862,  and  served  faithfully  until  the  close 
of  the  war;  the  oldest  son,  Hiram  T.,  being  wounded  during  the  siege 


NORTH    HENDERSON   TOWNSHIP.  819 

of  Atlanta,  and  John  T.  ranking  as  third  sergeant  when  mustered  out. 
Mrs.  Morford  is  also  entitled  to  great  credit  for  her  part  in  the  conflict. 
Left  to  manage  the  farm  and  take  care  of  the  children,  the  oldest  boy 
lelt  at  home  being  but  thirteen  years  old,  her  success  is  ample  proof  of 
lier  ability.  They  have  seven  children:  Diana  (born  in  IS-tl,  wife  of 
H.  Herbert,  lives  in  Iowa),  Hiram  T.  (born  December  10,  1843,  mar- 
ried Miss  Sophie  Crosby,  and  lives  in  Iowa),  William  Henry  (born 
June  3,  1847,  married  Miss  Frances  Shipman,  and  lives  in  Wisconsin), 
Isaac  C.  (born  January  2,  1849,  is  married  and  lives  in  Iowa),  James 
Byron  (born  T^ovmeber  26,  1850,  married  Miss  Christine  Olson,  and 
lives  in  Iowa),  John  Jasper  (born  August  18,  1853,  married  Miss 
Adella  Allen,  and  resides  on  the  old  place,  carrying  on  the  farm), 
and  Martha  M.  (born  March  13,  1859,  wife  of  William  Steele,  lives  in 
Iowa).  John  T.  is  a  member  of  both  North  Henderson  Lodge  and 
Encampment  of  I.O.O.F,  and  in  politics  he  is  republican.  He  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Alexis  Baptist  church. 

Another  jirominent  citizen  of  this  township,  also  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  Josepu  Debts,  was  born  in  Venango  county  of  that 
state,  February  25,  1831.  Came  to  Illinois  in  1855,  settling  in  War- 
ren county,  where  he  resided  four  years  ;  removing  to  this  county  in 
March,  1859,  he  settled  on  tiie  northeast  of  section  28  where  he  still 
resides,  though  he  has  been  steadily  enlarging  his  borders,  by  the 
purchase  of  additional  farms,  until  his  landed  possessions  in  this  town- 
ship now  aggregate  800  acres.  He  was  mari-ied  August  23,  1857,  to 
Miss  Augusta  Chatfiekl,  of  Warren  county,  a  native  of  Ohio.  They 
have  seven  children  living  at  present :  Ethselda  (wife  of  Gilbert  Hig- 
gins),  Ada,  Alvali,  John,  Joseph,  Sarah,  and  Eliza.  Mr.  Deets  was 
raised  on  a  farm  and  has  always  followed  that  occupation,  and  his 
success  is  an  excellent  example  of  what  can  be  accomplished  by  the 
agriculturalist  who  has  energy,  perseverance,  and  uses  a  reasonable 
economy.  His  educational  advantages  were  limited  to  the  common 
school.  In  politics  he  acts  with  the  republican  party,  though  is  not 
what  would  be  termed  a  partisan.  His  ])arents  were  both  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  his  mother  of  Scotch  and  his  father  of  German  descent, 
his  grandfather  cc^ming  from  Germany  to  this  country.  His  father, 
whose  name  was  Joseph,  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  but  after  the  organization  of  the  AVesleyan  Methodist  church 
he  identified  himself  with  that  church,  being  led  thereto  by  the  slavery 
issue  which  was  agitating  the  churches  at  that  time. 

The  "  Old  Dominion "  furnished  another  successful  farmer  for  this 
township,  in  the  person  of  Richard  Garrett,  who  was  born  in  Vir- 
ginia, March  13,  1830,  and  moved  to  Kentucky  with  his  parents  in  1834, 


820  HISTORY    OF   ArERCKR    AXD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

living:  in  Breekenridge  countv  until  two  years  prior  to  leaving  that 
state,  when  he  lived  in  Mead  county,  moving  thence  to  Texas  in  1855, 
where  he  remained  one  year  only,  coming  to -Illinois  in  1856.  He 
settled  on  the  northeast  of  section  30,  in  the  sj^ring  of  1857,  where  he 
still  resides,  having  added  to  his  farm  until  at  present  he  owns  550 
acres.  December  24,  1849,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Juliet  Douglas,  a 
native  of  Kentucky,  lx)rn  October  5,  1832,- daughter  of  Gilson  B. 
Douglas.  They  have  twelve  children :  Adaline  (wife  of  O.  G.  Chap- 
man, postmaster  at  Alexis),  David,  William,  Martha  A.,  Peyton  J., 
Douglas,  Alice,  Robert  L.,  Lucy  A.,  Edna,  Mary  E.,  and  Bichard. 
Mr.  Garrett  is  a  Master  Mason,  but  not  in  active  connection  with  any 
lodge  now. 


ADDITIONAL  MATTER,  CORRECTIONS,  ETC. 

The  matter  that  follows,  much  of  it  of  a  very  important  character, 
was  recieved  too  late  for  insertion  in  the  portion  of  the  book  originally 
designed  for  it.  Some  of  the  sketches  were  held  for  revision  by  friends 
until  the  sheets  containing  the  matter  most  appropriate  for  them  had 
gone  to  press. 

EAKLY  COURTS. 

BY    R.    H.    SPICER. 

The  holding  of  court  was  the  signal  generally  for  the  gathering 
together  of  the  larger  part  of  the  able  bodied  male  inhabitants  of  the 
county,  and  as  the  accommodations  at  the  county  seat  were  rather  prim- 
itive and  scanty,  they  were  at  times  brought  into  close  proximity.  Good 
nature  was  the  ruling  element,  and  what  is  termed  fun  was  largely 
indulged  in  by  old  and  young.  Court  generally  despatched  all  of  the 
business  in  one  and  a  half  or  two  days.  The  members  of  the  bar,  and 
a  goodly  number  they  were,  the  names  of  many  of  whom  the  old  settler 
recalls  with  emotions  not  unmingled  with  pleasure,  followed  the  court 
through  its  peregrinations  of  an  extended  circuit  embracing  nearly  a 
dozen  counties. 

After  Judges  Ralston  and  Lott,  Judge  Brown  became  the  presiding 
genius.  A  large  bodied,  large  headed  and  good  natured  man  of  the 
old  school,  wdiose  early  days  were  probably  spent  south  of  the  great 
dividing  line.  His  make  up  did  not  enable  him  to  master  all  the  Jinesse 
of  law,  and  as  a  consequence  those  lawyers  whe  believed  in  law  as 
a  science,  and  as  such  were  disposed  to  use  it  before  his  court,  were 
very  liable  to  be  snubbed.     Curtis  K.   Harvey,   of  Ivnoxville,  a  man 


ADDITIONAL    MATTER.  8^1 

who  worshiped  law  because  it  was  law,  was  always  very  unfortunate, 
while  such  men  as  Jo.  Knox,  John  Mitchell,  Bill  Kellogg,  and  one  or 
two  others  whose  law,  perhaps,  may  have  been  rather  loose,  as  advo- 
cates always  appeared  to  have  the  ear  of  the  court,  jury  and  populace. 
Joseph  Knox,  of  Rock  Island,  commonly  known  as  Jo.  Knox,  of  the 
hrm  of  Knox  e%  Drury,  probabl}'  had  the  inside  track  of  all  practising 
here  at  an  early  period,  though  among  the  members  of  the  bar  were 
Brown,  of  Quincy;  Manning,  of  Knoxville ;  A.  C.  Harding,  of  Mon- 
mouth, and  others  who  have  since  become  eminent  in  their  profession. 
Knox  was  an  able  advocate,  not  at  all  choice  of  his  words  or  of  his 
epithets  when  a  witness  was  so  unfortunate  as  to  stand  in  his  way.  No 
doubt  but  there  was  jealousy  existing  in  the  hearts  of  other  members  of 
the  bar  at  his  success.  A¥hisperings  first  went  around  that  Drury  made 
up  his  cases  for  him,  finally  that  Drury  furnished  the  brains,  and  as 
Drury  was  alwa^'s  invisible  the  tendency  was,  as  is  usually  the 
case  with  the  uncomatable,  to  magnify  the  powers  of  Drury.  Curi- 
osity became  excited ;  all  were  desirous  of  seeing  the  great  incognito ; 
the  members  of  the  bar  most  of  any.  Finally  on  a  frosty  day  late  in 
the  fall  word  was  conveyed  into  the  filled  court  room  that  a  "ship  was 
in  the  ofting."  It  had  been  pre"saously  announced  that  Drury  was 
expected  on  that  day.  Court  adjourned  without  the  usual  formality, 
whether  to  do  honor  to  the  exj^ected  arrival  oi-  to  take  his  measure,  the 
historian  sayeth  not,  but  as  the  eager  crowd  got  into  the  street  they 
descried  in  the  distance  a  large  bay  horse  approaching,  well  capai-isoned 
with  an  immense  bear  skin  housing  to  the  saddle,  in  which  sat  a  small 
figure  of  what  it  was  difficult  at  the  distance  to  tell,  but  upon  near  ap- 
proach it  proved  to  be  the  ardently  expected  Drury,  ensconsed  in  an 
immense  buftalo  overcoat,  whiskers  of  mammoth  proportion  for  the  man 
(for  be  it  known  Mr.  Drury  is  of  a  very  small  pattern,  physically),  and 
something  on  his  head,  witness  can't  say  whether  hairy  or  not.  Eyes 
were  staring,  mouths  were  agape.  Bill  Kellogg,  afterward  judge  and 
member  of  congress,  was  first  to  break  the  spell  when  he  exclaimed, 
sotto  voce^  "by  G — d,  a  pocket  edition  of  humanity,  bound  in  liar!*" 
He  was  a  Kentuckian.  The  quaintness  and  aptness  of  the  illustration 
excited  a  smile  of  approval.     The  new  comer  was  heartily  welcomed. 

The  following  list  of  graduates  (1882)  from  the  Aledo  high  school 
was  inadvertently  omitted  :  Scientific  course,  Birt  Fargo,  Ned  Aber- 
crombie,  Cora  Pullen,  Ina  Pinkerton,  Zelda  Bell,  Maggie  Thomson, 
Lou  Richmond,  Jennie  Fulton  ;  classical  course,  Robert  McKinney, 
Amos  Cole,  Lew  L.  Walker,  Logan  Stephens,  Alma  Bickett. 


S22  HISTORY    OF    MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

James  M.  Emerson  (deceased),  for  many  years  a  respected  and  suc- 
cessful business  man  of  New  Boston,  was  born  January  22,  1815,  in 
Wayne  county,  Indiana.    His  father,  Edward  Emerson,  was  a  native  of 
Massachusetts,  but  became  an  early  settler  in  the  Hoosier  state,  where  he 
became  owner  of  a  large  tract  of  land  and  died.    The  early  life  of  James 
was  such  as  a  new  country  atibrded  in  his  day.     His  school-room  was 
chiefly  in  the  free  air  without  enclosure,  and  his  teacher  was  nature. 
Although  of  so  limited  an  education  he  became  quite  eflicient  in  busi- 
ness arithmetic,  excelling  many  scholars.     In  1839  he  located  at  New 
Boston,  Mercer  county,  Illinois.     Here  he  labored  at  whatever  head 
and  hand  found  to  do,  the  two  always  employed  to  assist  each  other.   He 
contracted  cutting  cord  wood,  made  several  trips  to  Indiana,  bringing  the 
flrst  traveling  threshing  machine  to  Mercer  county.     He  was  on  a  feriy 
awhile,  also  piloted  on  the  Mississippi  river  for  a  time.     In  1848  he 
establislied  the  first  lumber  yard  in  New  Boston,  although  some  lum- 
ber had  been  sold  here  priorto  this.     He  carried  on  the  lumber  busi- 
ness till  his  death.     He  also  purchased  considerable  land.     In  1876, 
leaving  a  foreman  in  his  lumber  yard,  he  moved  to  his  farm,  about  two 
miles  northeast  of  New  Boston.     Here  he  spent  his  remaining  years 
improving  his  farm,  while  suffering  from  a  stroke  of  paralysis.     His 
career  ended  in  death  April  20,  1881.    He  left  a  family  and  large  circle 
of  friends  to  mourn  their  loss.     Mr.  Emerson  was  a  plain,  unassum- 
ing num,  attentive  to  his  business  and  regardful  of  his  family.     Politic- 
ally he  was  a  wliig,  and  later  a  republican,  but  never  became  politic- 
ally excited.     Mr.  Emerson  was  married  September  30,  1847,  to  Miss 
Harriet  Bridger,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Mary  (Woodham's)  Bridger. 
She  was  born  October  10,  1824,  in  Northiara  Parish,  Sussex  county, 
England.     She  came  with  her  parents  about  1827  to  New  York  state, 
wlio  settled  on  a  fiirm  near  Troy.     In  1838  they  emigrated  to  Mercer 
county,  Illinois,  and  settled  on  Pope  creek,  in  Suez  township,  where 
Mr.  Bridger  died  about  a  year  afterward,  followed  in  nine  days  by  his 
wife.     After  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Emerson  began  housekeeping  in  a 
new  house  erected  in  New  Boston  by  Mr.  Emerson.     There  they  lived 
till  1876,  and  there  eight  children  were  born  to  them,  viz  :  Myra  Y., 
born  August  5,  1848;  Dora  A.,  born  June  7,  1850  ;  Iva,  born  July  8, 
1855  ;  Charles  O.,  born  September  11,  1858,  and  died  July  12,  1865  ; 
Alma  T.,  born  January  18,  1861  ;  Efhe,  born  January  11,  1863,  and 
died  January  27,  1863  ;  Warren  D.,  born  July  13,  1865  ;  Ralph  Waldo, 
born  January  20,   1869,  and  died  February  5,  1880.     The  father  and 
husband  is  fondly  remembered.     His  portrait  is  in  its  special  place. 


ADDITIOXAL    MATTER.  823 

Augustus  B.  Childs,  subject  of  these  memoirs,  is  a  son  of  Horace 
and  Luc  J  M.  (Barker)  Cliilds.  He  was  born  in  Oneida  county,  New 
York,  October  31,  1816.  He  is  a  descendant  of  one  of  three  brothers 
who  came  fi-om  Wales  to  Amenca  before  the  revokition.  Mr.  Qiilds' 
life  has  been  largely  one  of  farm-labor ;  not,  however,  altogether.  His 
youth  till  fifteen  was  spent  on  a  farm  in  Connecticut.  In  1838  Mr. 
Childs  emigrated  to  Mercer  county,  settling  in  Eliza  township.  He 
rode  a  borrowed  horse  to  Mercer  county  when  he  came,  not  being  able 
to  buy.  On  his  return  eastward  he  left  the  horse  with  its  owner,  and 
walked  a  long  distance  to  Indianapolis,  where  he  stopped  to  work 
sufficient  to  pay  for  a  horse.  He  then  rode  to  Sandusky,  Ohio.  Like 
many  poor  boys  he  came  to  be  in  good  circumstances.  He  at  one  time 
owned  1,300  acres  of  land.  Not  only  industry,  but  also  temperance 
and  good  habits  have  aided  him  in  his  financial  success.  Mr.  Childs 
was  a  grand  juryman  of  Mercer  county  at  the  first  settling  of  the  court 
at  Aledo.  He  has  been  married  twice.  His  first  wife,  Catharine 
Reynolds,  he  married  in  Morgan  county,  Indiana,  June  28,  1840;  she 
died  June  5,  1878.  Mr.  Childs'  present  wife,  Lucy  E.  (Willits),  is  a 
daughter  of  Isaiah  "Willits,  of  Keithsburg.  Mr.  Childs  has  traveled 
considerably,  in  his  career  visiting  California.  Late  years  he  visited 
Florida,  where  he  purchased  a  large  estate,  intending  to  plant  an 
orange  grove,  but  soon  sold. 

George  S.  Wolf,  farmer,  Keithsburg,  was  boni  in  Lancaster 
county,  Pennsylvania,  November  7,  1818,  and  is  the  son  of  Christian 
and  Sarah  (Sterner)  Wolf,  and  a  grandson  of  Henry  Wolf,  who  emi- 
grated, when  a  mere  boy,  to  America  near  the  middle  of  the  seven- 
teenth century.  He  was  the  only  one  of  his  father's  family  sufficiently 
actuated  by  a  spirit  of  adventure  to  leave  childhood's  home  and  visit  a 
foreign  land.  During  our  subject's  early  youth  his  time  was  constantly 
employed  in  agricultural  pursuits  on  his  father's  farm.  During  the 
meantime  he  received  about  twenty  months'  schooling,  in  the  veritable 
log-cabin  school-house,  taught  by  an  eccentric  old  school-master,  whose 
proficiency  in  teaching  equaled  only  his  salary.  September  6,  1838. 
Mr.  Wolf  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  C.  Amweg,  daugh- 
ter of  William  and  Hannah  (Spirow)  Amweg,  also  a  native  of  Lancas- 
ter county,  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Wolf  has  devoted  his  life  to  farming, 
up  till  1869,  in  his  native  state  and  since  that  time  on  his  neat,  little 
farm  immediately  adjoining  the  village  of  Keithsburg.  Besides  this 
farm  he  owns  another  of  168  acres  in  Henderson  county.  He  had 
born  to  him  seven  children,  five  of  whom  are  living:  William  B., 
John  H.,  Adam  A.,  Jacob  L.,  Isaiah  S. ;  and  Edward  and  Hannah  E. 
(deceased),  aged  respectively  sixteen  and  twenty-seven  years.    His  son 


824  HISTORY    OF    MERCER    AXD    HENDERSON    COUKTIE^S. 

William  B.  served  four  years  during  the  war  of  1861-5  ;  was  mustered 
into  service  as  an  orderly,  and  honorably  discharged  with  a  captain's 
commission,  and  was  wounded  in  one  of  the  battles  of  the  Wilderness. 
His  son  Adam  A.  is  a  minister  in  the  United  Brethren  church.  Mr. 
Wolf  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  Though  his 
school  advantages  were  very  meager,  he  is  now  one  of  our  best  posted 
men. 

William  B.  Larue,  hotel-keeper,  Keithsburg,  was  born  in  Hardin 
county,  Kentucky,  August  13,  1824.  His  father,  who  was  of  French 
birth,  came  ■  to  America  in  his  early  youth.  He  died  in  Kentucky 
August  27,  1824.  Mr.  Larue,  with  his  mother,  step-father  and  broth- 
ers, emigrated  to  Illinois  in  1832,  landing  at  Oquawka  April  15  and  at 
Monmouth  April  24  of  the  same  year.  September  4,  1851,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Catharine  M.  Eoberts.  She  was  born  Februarv  21, 
1835,  and  died  April  14,  1882.  Mr.  Larue  has  no  cliildren  of  his  own, 
but  has  creditably  raised  seven  orphans. 

JoHx  McKixney,  Sr.,  was  born  I^ovember  2,  1801,  in  Lincoln 
county,  Kentucky;  son  of  George  and  Ann  (Riley)  McKinney;  father 
of  Scotch,  and  mother  of  L'isli,  descent.  In  1803  his  father  removed 
to  Casey  count}^  Kentucky,  where  he  continued  his  business,  farming. 
John's  educational  advantages  were  very  limited,  being  only  those 
aiForded  by  the  common  schools,  which  he  attended  less  than  eighteen 
months,  all  told.  In  December  1821  he  went  to  Hamilton,  Butler 
county,  Ohio,  and  for  the  next  live  years  made  his  home  with  an  uncle, 
John  Riley.  Mr.  Riley  w^as  clerk  of  the  court  of  common  pleas  of 
Bulter  county,  clerk  of  the  supreme  court  of  Ohio,  and  postmaster  at 
Hamilton,  and  Mr.  McKinney  wrote  for  him  in  his  office,  and  had 
charge  of  the  postoffice.  While  thus  employed  he  made  good  use  of 
every  opportunity  to  increase  his  store  of  knowledge,  and  secured  a 
fair  practical,  if  not  theoretical,  business  education.  On  the  death  of 
his  father,  in  1825,  he  was  recalled  to  Kentucky,  to  settle  the  estate,  and 
while  thus  engaged  he  entered  the  office  of  Hon.  John  Pope,  at  Spring- 
Held,  Kentucky,  as  a  law  student.  (Mr.  Pope  had  represented  his  state 
in  the  United  States  senate,  and  was  afterward  appointed  governor 
of  Arkansas  by  General  Jackson.)  Finding  the  bar  already  over- 
crowded with  young  and  brietiess  attorneys,  and  having  no  patrimony 
to  sustain  him,  Mr.  McKinney  abandoned  the  bar,  and  returned  to  active 
labor.  In  November,  1S2T,  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Goode.  While 
in  Ohio,  Mr.  McKinney  had  imbibed  the  political  ideas  of  the  aboli- 
tionists, and  on  his  return  to  Kentucky  he  found  himself  in  a  hopeless 
minority,  politically  and  socially.  This,  coupled  with  the  fact  that  he 
was  poor,  and  there  seemed  no  chance  to  better  his  condition  there, 


;^.?¥f3S  -'X^'T-f -■'"""Vif         '  > ;,  "/i  -  ^T' 


^.    ^- 


wj^^'/i-t^d^i. 


ADDITIONAL    MATTER.  827 

made  it  incumbent  upon  him  to  seek  a  new  home,  where  better  oppor- 
tunities might  present  themselves.  During  his  absence  many  of  his 
associates  had  removed  to  Missouri,  and  his  lirst  impulse  was  to  follow 
them  thither,  but  as  Missouri  was  a  slave  state,  and  as  he  expected  by 
removal  to  better  his  condition,  he  feared  that  the  profits  of  slave  hold- 
ing might  overcome  his  abolition  scruples,  and  rather  than  place  him- 
self in  the  wa}'  of  temjjtation  he  decided  to  settle  in  the  young  and 
promising  State  of  Illinois,  and  in  the  spring  of  1832  he  left  Kentucky 
with  his  wife  and  two  young  children,  and  opened  a  farm  in  what  was 
then  a  part  of  Warren  county,  but  when  that  county  was  divided  he 
found  himself  within  the  limits  of  the  new  county  of  Henderson.  Here 
he  conducted  farming  operations  for  twelve  years,  and  with  such  success 
that  he  was  at  the  end  of  that  time  the  owner  of  800  acres  of  land,  and 
a  fair  competency  in  addition.  In  18-14  he  removed  to  Oquawka,  and 
went  into  business  with  Edward  R.  Adams,  under  the  firm  name  of 
McKinney  &  Adams.  They  conducted  a  large  diy  goods  and  general 
store,  and  bought  and  sold  grain,  pork  and  produce  of  all  kinds.  The 
latter  were  shipped  for  the  most  part  to  St.  Louis,  the  Mississippi  river 
being  the  only  available  public  highway,  although  some  sales  were  made 
in  New  Orleans.  The  dry  goods  were  purchased  in  New  York,  Boston 
and  St.  Louis.  The  firm  also  engaged  largely  in  pork  packing,  in  com- 
pany with  Mr.  Alfred  Knowles,  running  what  was  at  that  time  a  very 
large  establishment  for  this  country,  employing  during  the  packing 
season  from  fifty  to  sixty  hands,  and  handling  daily  from  500  to 
1,000  hogs.  In  1854,  after  ten  years  of  prosperity  and  success,  the 
firm  of  McKinney  &  Adams  dissolved  partnership,  the  latter  retiring, 
his  share  amounting  to  not  less  than  $25,000,  which  had  all,  and 
more,  legitimately  been  made  during  the  decade,  thanks  largely  to 
the  business  tact  of  Mr.  McKinney.  Mr.  McKinney  continued  the 
business,  associating  with  himself  his  oldest  son,  Hiram,  under  the 
firm  name  of  McKinney  &  Son,  until  about  the  beginning  of  the 
war,  when  he  turned  the  entire  merchandising  business  over  to 
his  three  oldest  sons,  Hiram,  John  and  George,  and  devoted  his 
time  to  loaning  money.  The  new  firm,  however,  did  not  long  con- 
tinue in  trade.  Hiram  died  in  December,  1861  ;  John  raised  a  com- 
pany and  went  with  it,  as  captain,  in  the  91st  HI.  Inf. ;  and  George, 
whose  health  rendered  necessary  a  change  of  climate,  sold  the  stock 
back  to  his  father,  and  went  to  California.  Mr.  McKinney  did  not 
restock  the  store  long,  but  gradually  sold  out  as  opportunity  ofiered. 
At  the  time  of  the  great  Chicago  fire  he  boxed  up  and  shipped  a  large 
quantity  of  clothing  and  remnants  to  the  sufferers,  and  again  did  the 
same  for  the  sufferers  from  the  drouth  and  grasshoppers  in  Kansas. 


828  HISTORY    OF   ilERCER    AND    HENDERSON    (jOUNTIES. 

His  wife  died  in  1846,  leavin<>:  him  with  a  family  of  six  children,  and 
in  the  following  year  he  married  Miss  Mai-y  Ann,  daughter  of  Rev. 
Wm.  K.  Stewart,  of  Macomb,  Illinois,  who  is  yet  living.  His  chil- 
dren by  his  first  wife  were  :  Hiram,  died  in  1861 ;.  Ann,  wife  of  Luke 
Strong,  of  Aledo ;  Elizabeth,  widow  of  James  Moir,  now  resides  in 
Paris,  France;  John,  [)resent  postmaster  of  Aledo;  George,  doing 
business  in  Chicago,  and  resides  in  one  of  the  suburbs  ;  Collin,  resides 
near  Hot  Springs,  x\rkansas ;  and  William,  died  in  infancy.  The  two 
first  named  were  born  in  Kentucky,  the  others  on  the  farm  in  Hender- 
son county,  Illinois.  Collin  volunteered  in  1861  in  the  10th  111.  Inf., 
Co.  E. ;  was  commissioned  second  lieutenant,  and  rose  to  the  rank  of 
captain.  With  his  regiment  he  re-entered  as  veteran,  and  served 
throughout  the  war.  Children  by  his  second  wife  were  :  Adelaide, 
still  at  home  ;  Lucretia,  died  in  infancy ;  James,  married,  cashier  of 
Aledo  bank  ;  Archie,  loan  clerk  for  his  father ;  Mary  Isabel,  at  home  ; 
Maggie,  died  in  infancy;  and  Robert  Riley,  still  at  home.  These  were 
all  born  in  Oquawka.  Mr.  McKinney  united  with  the  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  church  in  1833,  but  on  coming  to  Aledo  he  connected 
himself  with  the  First  Presbyterian  church  (known  as  the  Old  School), 
of  this  place.  He  is  an  earnest  christian,  rigid  in  the  observance  of  all 
the  rules  and  religious  customs  of  the  church,  a  regular  attendant  upon 
all  her  ordinances,  and  a  liberal  supporter  of  church  and  Sabbath  school. 
He  has  for  many  years  served  his  church  as  deacon  or  elder,  and  as 
trustee.  He  removed  to  Aledo  in  May,  1873,  and  in  April,  1874,  pur- 
chased an  interest  in  the  Aledo  bank,  where  he  is  still  the  senior 
member  of  the  firm.  He  was  an  old  line  whig,  until  the  organization 
of  the  republican  party,  since  which  time  he  has  acted  with  the  latter. 
During  the  war  he  was  a  strong  union  man,  and  was  appointed  by 
President  Lincoln  commissioner  of  enrollment  for  the  then  sixth  con- 
gressional district,  comprising  the  counties  of  Adams,  Hancock,  Hen- 
derson, Mercer,  Rock  Island,  and  Warren. 

Cornelius  Springer  Richey,  son  of  John  and  Mary  (Douglass) 
Ricliey,  was  born  September  9,  f  828,  in  Salt  Creek  township,  Muskin- 
gum county,  Ohio  ;  father  born  in  Pennsylvania  ;  mother  in  New  Jer- 
sey. His  parents  had  emigrated  from  Fayette  county,  Pennsylvania, 
in  1814.  His  youth  was  spent  on  the  home  farm  until  the  age  of 
twenty.  His  education  he  received  in  the  common  schools  and  in 
Muskingum  college,  New  Concord.  He  taught  school  in  the  vicinity 
of  his  home  until  1854,  when  he  came  to  this  county,  settling  in  Ohio 
Grove  township.  He  was  elected  county  surveyor  in  1855,  and  fol- 
lowed surveying,  teaching  during  the  winter  months,  until  1862,  when 
he  went  into  the  mercantile  business,  first  at  Bridger's  Corners,  Suez 


ADDITIONAL   MATfER.  829 

township,  for  about  a  year,  and  at  Sunbeam,  Ohio  Grove  township, 
until  1868,  wlien  he  removed  to  Aledo,  and  has  ever  since  continued 
the  business  here,  first  as  a  member  of  the  firm  of  C.  S.  &  J.  C. 
Richej,  with  Jiis  brother,  J.  C\;  next  with  Richey  Bros.  &  McGuifin, 
J.  G.  McGufiin  having  purchased  an  interest ;  then  alone  ;  again  with 
Jesse  Markee  and  I.  JS".  Dunlap,  as  Richey,  Markee  &  Co. ;  with  Dun- 
lap,  as  Richey  &  Dunlap,  and  now  as  senior  member  of  the  firm  of 
Richey,  Frew  &  Dunlap,  S.  J.  Frew  having  recently  purchased  an 
interest  in  the  business.  The  firm  deal  in  drj'-goods,  clothing,  millin- 
ery, and  groceries,  and  have  a  good  custom.  January  17,  1865,  he 
married  Miss  Susan  II.,  daughter  of  Joel  Lee,  Esq.,  of  Galesburg, 
Illinois.  They  have  two  children  living,  Arthur,  aged  thirteen,  and 
Olive,  aged  five  years.  He  was  reelected  county  surveyor  in  the  tall 
of  1879  and  still  holds  the  ofiice.  .  He  has  always  voted  the  republican 
ticket. 

Jajmes  MoCormk-k  Wilson.  About  the  close  of  the  last  century 
David  B.  Wilson,  then  only  about  sixteen  years  of  age,  emigrated 
trom  his  native  place  in  the  Shenandoah  Valley,  Virginia,  and  settled 
on  a  partially  opened  farm  near  Fayette  City,  in  the  Rehobath  valley, 
Pennsylvania.  The  location  was  about  thirty  miles  above  Pittsburgh, 
and  ten  miles  below  Brownsville,  the  point  where  the  old  national  road 
crossed  the  Monongahela  river.  Here  he  married  Mary  McCormick, 
raised  a  family,  and  remained  until  his  death  in  1863.  Among  his 
children  was  James  M.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who  was  born 
December  1,  1822.  James  remained  upon  his  father's  farm  until 
twenty-four  years  of  age,  receiving  only  the  educational  facilities  of  the 
public  schools  of  that  day,  which  would  illy  compare  with  those  of  the 
present.  Upon  leaving  the  farm  he  learned  the  carpenter's  trade  and 
followed  it  for  five  years,  and  could  frame  a  barn  or  finish  a  parlor  in 
good  style,  as  occasion  might  require.  November  23,  1853,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Mary  Smith,  of  Flat  Woods,  Pennsylvania,  and  in  the 
following  May  he  came  to  Galesburg,  remaining  during  the  summer 
and  returned  to  Fayette  City  in  the  fall.  In  the  spring  of  1855  he  re- 
moved with  his  family  to  Galesburg,  where,  with  W.  B.  Patterson,  he 
went  into  the  furniture  business,  under  the  firm  name  of  Patterson  & 
Wilson,  continuing  until  July,  1857,  when  Mr.  Wilson  removed  to 
Aledo,  erected,  with  Mr.  D.  V.  Reed,  the  building  on  the  corner  of 
College  avenue  and  Eighth  street,  now  occupied  by  L.  F.  Jobusch,  and 
opened  a  furniture  store  in  one-half  of  the  building,  in  connection  with 
undertaking,  continuing  until  1862.  In  1861  he  wa,s  appoiiited  post- 
master by  President  Lincoln.  In  August,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  K, 
102d  reg.  111.  Vol.  Inf ,  and  in  the  spring  of  1863  was  honorably  dis- 


830  HISTORY    OF    MERGER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

charged  at  Gallatin,  Tennessee,  on  account  of  disability,  and  returned 
to  Aledo.  He  was  elected  supervisor  of  Mercer  township  in  1860,  1863 
and  1864-.  In  the  fall  of  the  latter  year  he  was  elected  circuit  clerk, 
and  resigned  the  offices  of  postmaster  and  supervisor  to  enter  on  his 
duties,  being  succeeded  as  postmaster  by  Horace  Bigelow,  of  the 
"Record."  He  served  as  circuit  clerk  until  December,  1868.  Kot- 
withstanding  his  limited  educational  advantages  in  youth  Mr.  W.  early 
resolved  to  become  a  lawyei-,  and  with  this  end  in  view  he  availed  him- 
self of  all  means  of  improvement  within  his  reach  by  general  reading 
and  persistejit  study.  During  his  last  year  as  circuit  clerk,  upon  appli- 
cation, he  was  admitted  to  the  bar  and  licensed  to  practice  in  the  sev- 
eral courts  of  the  state.  During  the  same  year  he  was  appointed 
master  in  chancery  by  Hon.  A.  A.  Smith,  then  circuit  judge,  and  re- 
appointed in  1870  for  the  succeeding  two  years.  In  May,  1869,  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  John  C  Pepper,  one  of  the  oldest  as  well 
as  ablest  attorneys  of  the  county,  under  the  firm  name  of  Pepper  & 
Wilson,  which  continued  until  April,  1882,  when  it  was  dissolved  by 
mutual  consent,  both  continuing  to  practice,  however,  in  their  own 
names.  During  the  residence  of  himself  and  wife  in  Aledo,  nearly  a 
quarter  of  a  century,  they  have  reared  a  family  of  five  children  : 
Sarah  C.  (wife  of  James  II.  Pamsey,  dealer  in  jewelry  and  silverware, 
Aledo),  Mary  R.  (wife  of  Joseph  Boyd,  firm  of  Boyd  Bros.,  dealers  in 
groceries  and  hardware,  Aledo),  Nannie  M.  (wife  of  Joseph  M.  AVal- 
lace,  M.I).,  of  Coal  Valley,  Rock  Island  county,  Illinois),  Cora  C, 
and  Fannie  L.,  both  at  home  and  attending  the  public  schools  of  Aledo, 
in  which  their  sister  Nannie  once  held  a  position  as  teacher.  While 
Mr.  W.  has  not  attained  great  wealth,  he  has  a  commodious  and  com- 
fortable residence,  occupying  an  entire  block  of  ground  between  Fourth 
and  Fifth  streets,  west  of  College  j^enue,  so  highly  cultivated  and  im- 
proved as  to  make  it  among  the  most  desirable  homes  in  the  village, 
and  in  addition  to  the  complete  furnishing  proper,  in  his  house  may  be 
found  one  of  the  best  and  perhaps  one  of  the  largest  private  libraries  in 
the  county.  Politically  he  is  a  republican.  He  has  for  years  been 
connected  with  the  Presbyterian  church.  He  is  a  Mason  of  high 
degree. 

Benjamin  Coleman  Taliaferro  was  born  October  9,  1821,  in  King 
William  county,  Yirginia,  and  is  the  son  of  Robert  B.  and  Cecelia  H. 
(Ellett)  Taliaferro.  His  youth  was  spent  on  a  farm  in  Virginia  until 
1836,  when,  with  his  parents,  he  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  what 
was  then  a  part  of  Warren,  but  now  Henderson  county.  Here  his 
father  died  hi  1817,  and  his  mother  died  in  1859,  at  Young  America 
(now  Kirkwood),  Warren  county.     His  father  was  a  native  of  King 


ADDITIONAL   MATTER.  831 

William,  and  his  mother  of  Goochland  county,  Virginia.  Mr.  Talia- 
ferro remained  on  the  farm,  working  and  managing  it,  until  the  age  of 
twenty-two,  when,  surrendering  it  to  a  brother,  he  entered  the  law 
office  of  Hon.  Charles  M.  Harris,  of  Oquawka,  as  a  student.  His 
early  education  was  limited  to  the  common  schools  of  Virginia  and 
one  year  in  an  academy,  before  coming  to  Illinois  ;  since  then  to  what 
he  could  "pick  up"  by  judicious  reading  and  practical  business  experi- 
ence. After  being  admitted  to  the  bar  he  removed  to  Keithsburg,  and 
was  for  a  number  of  years  in  partnership  with  John  C.  Pepper ;  then 
alone;  next  with  J.  E.  Griffin,  and  again  with  Benjamin  F.  Brock,  of 
Aledo,  Mr.  Taliaferro  having  his  office  in  Keithsburg,  and  Mr.  Brock 
in  Aledo.  In  1881  Mr.  Taliaferro  removed  to  Aledo,  and  formed  a 
partnership  with  James  H.  Connell  in  law  and  abstract  business, 
which  was  dissolved  upon  Mr.  ConnelFs  removal  to  Pueblo,  Colorado, 
in  the  spring  of  1882  ;  and  Mr.  Taliaferro  associated  his  son,  Kobert  B., 
with  him  *in  the  abstract  department  of  his  business.  In  1848  he  was 
appointed  master  in  chancery  for  the  circuit  court  in  Mercer  county,  a 
position  he  held  for  nine  consecutive  years.  During  his  residence  in 
Keithsburg  he  held  a  number  of  municipal  offices,  and  is  the  present 
village  attorney  for  Aledo.  In  1876  he  was  elected  to  the  state  senate 
from  the  then  twenty-second  senatorial  district,  comprising  Mercer  and 
Knox  counties,  and  served  in  the  thirtieth  and  thirty-first  general 
assemblies.  He  had  the  honor  of  presenting  to  the  latter  the  great 
home-protection  petition  containing  175,000  names,  and  of  being  its 
special  champion  in  the  senate.  He  has  been  prominently  connected 
for  years  with  the  temperance  work,  in  which  he  has  been  ably 
assisted  by  his  wife,  both  having  frequently  lectured  on  the  subject  in 
this  and  adjoining  counties.  He  was  the  author  of  the  farm  drainage 
law  now  in  force  in  this  state,  and  of  several  other  laws,  of  equal 
importance,  now  on  our  statute  books.  He  also  introduced  a  bill  to 
"establish  the  Western  Institution  for  the  Deaf  and  Dumb,"  which 
failed  to  pass  for  want  of  time  for  its  consideration.  He  became  a 
Mason  in  1850,  and  is  still  a  member,  having  attained  the  Royal  x\rch 
degree,  and  frequently  filled  important  offices  in  the  order.  March  15, 
1852,  he  was  married  to  Mary  A.  Pepper,  of  Utica,  New  York,  They 
have  four  children :  Cora  B.  (at  home),  Frank  E.  (married,'  resides  in 
Springfield ;  secretary  State  Board  of  Health),  Ralph  E. ,  and  Robert  B. 
(both  still  at  liome).  Mrs.  Taliaferro  and  daughter  belong  to  the 
Baptist  church,  of  Aledo;  no  others  of  the  family  connected  witli  any 
church.  Mr.  Taliaferro  and  his  sons  are  all  republicans.  Mr.  Talia- 
ferro is  one  of  the  earl}'  settlers ;  has  a  wide  circle  of  acquaintances 
and  .friends;  stands  high  socially,  professionally,  and  politically. 


832  HISTORY   OF    IVTERCER   AND    HEJTDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Isaac  IS^eavton  Bassett  was  born  in  Lewis  county,  Kentucky,  Sep- 
tember 8,  1825..  His  early  life  was  spent  on  his  father's  farm,  where 
he  received  such  educational  advantages  as  were  afforded  by  the  com- 
mon schools  of  that  day.  He  tried  merchandising  for  a  while,  but  not 
finding  it  as  remunerative  as  he  had  hoped,  studied  law,  and  has  practiced 
for  over  thirty-five  years,  attaining  a  name  and  reputation  throughout 
the  state  ;•  one  of  prominence  and  honor  of  which  he  may  well  feel  proud. 
In  1852  he  removed  to  Mercer  county,  settling  in  Keithsburg,  and  as 
a  member  of  the  firm  of  Johnson,  Willits  &  Bassett  commenced  the 
practice  of  law  here.  In  1855  he  was  elected  county  treasurer,  holding 
the  ofiice  for  four  years.  He  removed  to  Aledo  in  1857  when  the 
county  seat  was  removed,  and  has  ever  since  been  a  leading  and 
honored  resident  of  the  village.  In  1847  he  married  Miss  Scienda  T. 
Moore,  by  whom  he  had  six  children,  five  of  whom  are  still  living: 
Fletcher  S.,  lieutenant  United  States  navy;  Thomas  W.,  attorney  at 
law,  Lacqui  Parle,  Minnesota ;  Flora,  wife  of  AVilliam  X.  "Graham, 
cashier  of  Farmers'  Bank,  Aledo ;  jS^ota,  and  Lulu,  both  at  home.  His 
wife  died  in  1861.  In  1862  he  married  Mrs.  Caroline  H.  Yertv,  a 
sister  of  J.  E.  Harroun,  who  had  one  child,  Miss  Clara,  who  is  still  at 
home,  and  who,  with  Miss  Xota  Bassett,  is  conducting  a  book,  station- 
ery and  millinery  business,  under  name  of  Bassett  &  Yerty.  By  his 
second  wife  Mr.  Bassett  has  had  foui-  children,  two  of  whom  have  died; 
Yictor  Hugo,  a  boy  of  eleven  years,  and  Bessie,  a  girl  of  eight  years. 
From  1847  to  187' >,  he  was  connected  with-  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  but  in  the  latter  year  joined  the  Congregationalists,  to  which 
he  still  belongs.  He  has  also  been  a  Mason  for  many  years.  AYliile 
not  what  is  termed  rich,  Mr.  Bassett  has  made  for  himself  a  good  home, 
surrounded  by  the  comforts  and  luxuries  of  life.  His  family  hold  a 
leading  and  enviable  position  in  society,  and  in  the  church  which  is 
honored  by  their  membership.  Mr.  Bassett  is  at  present  the  senior 
member  of  the  firm  of  Bassett  et  Wharton,  the  latter  now  serving  his 
second  term  as  state's  attorney,  and  they  enjoy  a  large  and  lucrative 
practice  in  the  circuit,  appellate,  state,  and  federal  courts. 

Samuel  Marquis  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania, 
October  2,  1834,  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas  and  Sarah  Ann  (Lysle)  Mar- 
quis. His  earh'  life  was  spent  on  a  farm,  where  he  received  a  common 
school  education,  or  so  much  of  one  as  could  be  obtained  during  the 
winter  months.  His  mother  died  about  thirty  years  ago,  and  his 
father  died  in  Galva,  Kansas,  in  1880.  In  1855  he  came  west, 
stopping  for  a  while  in  Davenport,  Iowa,  and  in  1857  he  came  to  this 
county,  locating  on  the  home  farm  in  Mercer  township.  In  1 862  he 
settled  in  Aledo,  and  went  into  the  dairv  business,  in  which  he  has 


ADDITIONAL   MATrER.  833 

€ver  since  been  engaged.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Anna  Signor, 
November  16,  1867.  They  have  had  six  children,  all  of  whom  are 
still  living:  James  Lorell  Dappie,  Sarah  Kate,  Vance,  Carrie,  and 
Maynard  M.  Mr.  Marquis  is  industrious,  honest  and  conscientious, 
and  while  not  wealthy  he  has  acquired  a  comfortable  home  and  his 
business  is  sure  and  safe,  fairly  remunerative  and  free  from  great  risks 
or  temptation  to  speculation.  He  is  a  good  citizen;  one  of  the  kind 
to  honor  the  place  of  his  residence. 

Jajvies  H.  Connell  was  born  in  Toronto,  Canada,  November  5, 
1843.  His  father  s  name  was  William  Council,  his  mother's  Isabella 
Leishman.  They  were  both  born  in  Scotland,  and  moved  to  Canada 
in  1842.  In  1848  they  moved  to  Chicago  and  from  there  to  Sycamore, 
Delvalb  county,  Illinois,  in  1849.  Mr.  Connell's  education  is  such  as 
he  received  at  the  Sycamore  liigh  school  and  a  commercial  college  in 
Chicago.  He  worked  in  the  "True  Kepublican"  office,  in  Sycamore, 
three  years ;  went  to  Chicago  in  1861,  and  kept  books  in  the  whole- 
sale drug  house  of  H.  Scovil.  In  1864  he  enlisted  in  Co.  F,  132d 
reg.  111.  Inf.,  and  served  until  the  war  closed.  He  went  to  Aledo  in 
1865,  at  the  close  of  the  war,  and  studied  law  in  the  office  of  J.  R.  and 
I.  N.  Bassett,  and  was  admitted  to  the  bar  by  the  Supreme  Court  of 
Illinois,  in  March,  1868.  He  then  went  into  partnership  with  I.  IST. 
Bassett,  in  March  of  that  year,  and  continued  until  January,  1874. 
He  was  married  to  Lallie  Arthur  June  8,  1870.  She  is  the  daughter 
of  Mrs.  M.  C.  Geiger,  and  step  daughter  of  John  Geiger,  of  Aledo, 
Illinois.  Mr.  Connell  was  appointed  master  in  chancery,  of  Mercer 
county,  Illinois,  in  November  1879,  and  resigned  the  same  in  May, 
1882.  He  owned  the  abstract  books  of  Mercer  county,  from  1868  to 
1874,  with  I.  N.  Bassett,  and  from  1874  to  May,  1882,  was  sole  pro- 
prietor, when  he  sold  them  to  B.  C.  and  R.  B,  Taliaferro.  He  was 
one  of  the  originators  of  the  Mercer  County  Scientific  and  Historical 
Association,  and  was  elected  secretary  of  the  association  when  it  was 
organized,  and  was  re-elected  from  year  to  year  until  the  spring  session, 
1882,  when  he  declined  further  election  as  he  was  preparing  to  move 
to  Colorado.  He  was  tendered  the  position  of  attorney-general  of 
Montana,  by  President  Garfield,  in  1881,  but  declined  the  office.  In 
August,  1881,  he  formed  a  partnership  with  Senator  B.  C.  Taliaferro, 
and  dissolved  the  same  in  May,  1882,  for  the  purpose  of  removing  to 
another  field  farther  west.  He  left  Aledo  in  May,  1882,  and  moved 
to  Pueblo,  Colorado,  where  he  is  now  engaged  in  the  practice  of  law. 
To  Mr.  Connell,  as.  one  of  the  members  and  secretary  of  the  historical 
society,  the  publishers  are  under  many  obligations,  and  much  of  what 


834  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AITO    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

is  valuable  in  tliis  work  is  due  to  his  kindness.      Mr.  Connell  carries 
with  him  to  his  new  home  the  good  wishes  of  numerous  friends. 

William  H.  Gladman,  New  Windsor,  was  born  in  Fulton  county, 
Illinois,  July  30,  1S43.  His  father,  Washington  B.  Gladman,  was  a 
native  of  Ohio,  and  was  among  the  earlv  pioneers  of  Fulton  county  in 
this  state,  having  come  to  that  county  about  the  year  1820,  where  he 
resided  until  the  spring  of  1853.  He  removed  to  Henry  county, 
Iowa,  where  he  died  in  the  fall  of  the  same  year.  His  mother,  whose 
maiden  name  was  Catherine  Drumm,  was  a  native  of  Virginia,  and 
survived  her  husband  until  1879.  In  1862  William  H.  enlisted  in  Co. 
K,  25tli  reg.  Iowa  Yol.  Inf ,  commanded  by  Col.  Stone,  and  served 
with  that  regiment  in  the  Fifteenth  Army  Corps  until  the  close  of  the 
war.  He  was  in  twenty-three  engagements  and  escaped  without  a 
scratch  until  the  last  one,  which  was  at  Bentonville,  North  Carolina, 
where  he  received  a  slight  wound  in  the  shoulder.  When  mustered 
out  of  the  army  he  returned  to  his  old  home  in  Henry  county,  Iowa, 
remaining  there  until  the  following  year  (1866),  when  he  removed  to 
Oneida,  Illinois,  where,  in  connection  with  his  brother,  he  established 
a  wagon  and  carriage  shop.  In  1869  he  moved  to  New  Windsor, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  same  business,  which  he  has  continued  until 
the  present  time.  Mr.  Gladman  is  a  man  of  excellent  natural  mechan- 
ical ability,  being  able  to  do  what  but  very  few  men  can  accomplish, 
namely:  manufactui-e  a  carriage  complete,  doing  the  work  of  the 
wheelwi-ight,  the  blacksmith,  the  painter,  the  top  builder,  the  trimmer, 
and  upholsterer,  and  when  done  it  will  compare  favorably  in  quality, 
style  and  finish  with  the  workmanship  of  specialists  in  any  of  the 
departments.  He  was  married  April  16,  1868,  in  Oneida,  Illinois,  to 
Miss  Lizzie  T.  Cony ers^  who  was  a  native  of  Bath  county,  Kentucky. 
Her  father,  Thomas  Conyers,  was  a  native  of  the  same  county  and 
state,  and  died  there  when  only  twenty-five  years  old,  shortly  before 
the  birth  of  his  daughter,  which  event  occurred  August  4,  1843.  On 
this  account  her  mother  gave  her  the  name  of  her  father  for  a  second 
name.  Her  mother,  whose  maiden  name  was  Nancy  Kerns,  was  a 
native  of  Bourbon  county,  Kentucky.  She  came  from  Kentucky  to 
Oneida  in  1864,  and  now  resides  with  her  daughter,  Mrs.  Gladman,  in 
New  Windsor.  A  sister  of  Mrs.  Gladman  also  makes  her  home  with 
her.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Gladman  have  four  children  living:  Emma  F.,  born 
January  25,  1870;  William  K.,  born  December  16,  1871;  Lucy  E., 
born  April  29,  1873;  Nellie  A.,  born  January  4,  1876. 

John  C.  Pepper  was  born  in  Cambridgeshire,  England,  September 
21,  1829.  He  came  to  this  country  with  his  parents  when  about  seven 
years  of  age,   the  family  settling  at  Amboy,   Oswego  county,   New 


ADDITIONAL   MATTER.  835 

York,  where  he  passed  his  early  life.  When  sixteen  he  left  home  to 
attend  the  academy  at  Vernon,  New  York,  where  he  remained  two 
years,  after  which  he  entered  the  Wayne  County  Institute,  pursuing 
his  studies  there  three  summers,  and  teaching  school  during  the  winter 
seasons.  In  1848  failing  health  induced  him  to  come  west;  and  after 
staying  a  year  in  Peoria  he  settled  in  Keith sburg,  where  he  was 
admitted  to  the  bar  January  6,  1851.  In  the  same  month  he  celebrated 
his  nuptials  with  Miss  Mary  Ann  Martin,  who  has  borne  him  seven 
children,  three  of  whom  are  deceased.  In  1862  he  raised  Co.  H,  84th 
reg.  111.  Yol. ;  being  elected  captain,  he  commanded  his  company  with 
deserved  credit  at  Stone  river,  and  was  three  times  wounded  in  that 
battle.  Since  1869  he  has  resided  in  Aledo.  In  1880  Capt.  Pepper 
ran  as  an  independent  candidate  for  circuit  judge,  but  failed  of  elec- 
tion. During  the  last  two  years  he  has  been  earnestly  and  promi- 
nently engaged  in  the  temperance  movement  in  this  state.  With  the 
cooperation  of  a  few  friends  he  started  the  Illinois  State  Temperance 
Alliance,  and  was  president  of  the  organization  from  September,  1880, 
till  January,  1882,  when  it  was  consolidated  with  the  Illinois  State 
Christian  Temperance  Union,  under  the  name  of  the  Illinois  State 
Temperance  Union. 

Dr.  Elisha  L.  Marshall  was  born  near  Trenton,  New  Jersey, 
September  24,  1823  ;  was  educated  at  City  University,  of  New  York, 
and  located  at  Keithsburg,  Illinois,  August,  1850,  at  which  place  he 
still  remains  in  practice  of  his  profession  ;  was  connected  with  the  84th 
reg.  111.  Yol.  Inf.,  as  a  medical  officer  in  the  war  of  1861.  As  a  prac- 
titioner of  medicine  and  surgery,  Dr.  Elisha  L.  Marshall  stands  de- 
servedly high  in  the  estimation  of  all,  and  not  the  least  so  in  the  esti- 
mation of  his  professional  brethren.  But  it  is  in  the  department  of 
surgery,  perhaps,  that  the  doctor  has  done  his  best  work,  and  earned 
his  highest  triumphs.  But  few  practitioners  outside  the  larger  cities 
have  done  a  larger  number  of  intricate  and  capital  operations,  or  met 
with  a  more  uniform  success  in  operative  surgical  procedures  than  has 
the  subject  of  this  sketch.  His  close  observations  of  pathological  con- 
ditions, his  success  in  weighing  the  relations  of  cause  and  effect,  and 
his  almost  intuitive  judgment  and  decision  at  the  bed-side,  have 
secured  for  him  a  reputation  as  consulting  physician  and  surgeon 
second  to  none  in  the  county.  Generous  and  hospitable  in  his  home  cir- 
cle, courteous  and  affable  in  every  day  life,  strong  and  enduring  in  his 
personal  friendships,  thorough  in  his  professional  attainments,  earnest 
in  his  warfare  against  disease,  with  an  almost  chivalric  fidelity  to  the 
sick  and  afflicted  consigned  to  his  care,  Dr.  Marshall  has  stamped  the 


836  HISTORY    OF   MERCER    ^^J^D    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

impress  of  his  stalwart  inclividualitj  upon  the  history  and  daily  life  of 
the  large  community  in  which  he  has  lived  and  labored  for  nearly  the 
third  of  a  century. 

As  the  oldest  physician  and  earliest  settler  as  such  now  resident  of 
this  county,  we  offer  the  subjoined  sketch  of  the  professional  life  of 
Dr.  Thoivias  T.  Wii.lits,  who  was  born  in  the  state  of  Ohio  December 
6,  1805  ;  spent  the  early  part  of  his  professional  life  in  the  state  of 
Indiana,  removing  from  that  state  and  establishing  himself  in  the  vicin- 
ity of  his  present  home  in  1837,  his  first  location  being  had  a  few  miJes 
southeast  of  Keithsburg,  at  the  base  of  the  Mississippi  bluffs,  at  which 
place  he  remained  in  the  practice  of  his  profession  up  to  1840,  at  which 
time  he  removed  to  the  town  of  Xew  Boston,  where  he  still  resides. 
Dr.  Willits  has  thus  been  actively  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  pro- 
fession for  a  period  of  about  fifty-four  years,  forty-five  years  of  which 
time  has  been  spent,  practically,  in  the  same  community  of  people, 
thus  actively  in  the  same  avocation  for  nearly  the  half  century  in  which 
he  has  lived  and  labored  with  the  co-workers  of  his  profession,  inaugu- 
rating its  inception,  as  it  were  ;  moving  ever  in  its  front  ranks  ;  stamp- 
ing the  impress  of  his  own  ideas  and  thoughts  upon  others  with  whom 
he  came  in  contact ;  all  of  whom,  as  members  of  the  medical  fraternity, 
having  acknowledged  the  chieftainship  of  their  great  leader  and 
awarded  to  him  the  chief  place  of  teacher,  tutor  and  friend,  delight  to 
honor  him  as  "the  noblest  Roman  of  them  all.'"  Having  attained 
more  than  the  allotted  "three  score  and  ten"  of  years,  we  find  him 
to-day  in  the  fullest  possession  of  a  mind  sturdy,  clear  and  unclouded, 
with  all  of  his  wonderful  power  of  intellection,  without  a  seeming 
shadow  as  reflected  from  the  vast  accumulation  of  hours,  days  and 
years  since  he  first  saw  the  light.  We  have  but  recently  had  the 
pleasure  of  passing  a  few  hours  in  the  society  of  the  subject  of  our 
sketch,  and  although  impressed  with  something  of  a  knowledge  of  the 
grandeur  of  the  old  veteran's  character,  through  the  representations  of 
friends  who  have  known  him  long  and  well,  we  cannot  but  add  our 
own  great  admiration  of  this  venerable  man,  all  of  which  we  will  try 
to  condense  into  the  one  sentence  of  much  meaning  when  we  write 
that  in  the  person  of  Dr.  Willits  we  have  a  fine  specimen  of  an  almost 
extinct  species  of  the  genus  homo^  "  the  typical  old  school  gentleman." 


THE    SOLDIERS     MONUMENT, 


837 


THE  MONI^MENT,  AND  THE  SOLDIERS'  AND  SAILORS' 

ASSOCIATION. 


CONTRIBUTED    BY    L.    B.    DOl'GHTY. 


The  history  of  the  monument  is  so  interwoven  with  that  of  the 
association,  that  it  would  be  incomplete  if  treated  separately ;  but  a 
history  of  the  association  would  necessarily  include  all  that  can  be  told 
of  the  monument.  As  one  who  has  been  intimately  connected  with 
the  movement  looking  to  the  erection  of  the  monument  from  its  incip- 
iency  up  to  the  present  time,  we  will  endeavor  to  give  a  brief  and  con- 
cise history,  albeit,  much  that  we  might  wish  to  say  must  necessarily 
he  omitted. 


THE    .Mu.NL  AlENT. 

About  the  last  of  May,  1875,  some  half  a  dozen  ex-soldiers  casually 
met,  and  one  of  their  number  suggested  that  it  would  be  a  good  thing 
to  have  a  soldiers'  reunion  at  our  next  fair.  After  some  informal  dis- 
cussion it  was  decided  to  call  a  meeting  of  the  ex-soldiers  to  further 
discuss  the  question,  and  the  Aledo  "Record"  of  June  2,  contained  a 
call  for  a  meeting  in  Aledo  on  June  11,  which  call  was  also  published 


838  HISTORY    OF    IVIERCEE   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

in  all  the  county  papers.  The  day  proved  wet  and  disagreeable  and 
the  attendance  was  small.  An  adjournment  was  had  to  July  1,  when 
the  attendance  was  much  larger,  but  mainly  from  the  central  portion 
of  the  county.  Desiring  that  the  entire  county  should  participate  in 
the  arrangements,  it  was  deemed  best  to  call  a  delegate  meeting,  and 
all  the  townships  were  requested  to  choose  delegates  from  among  their 
ex-soldiers  to  represent  them  at  a  meeting  on  August  12,  1875.  At 
this  meeting  nine  of  the  fifteen  townships  were  represented. 

Up  to  this  time  the  object  contemplated  was  only  a  reunion,  and 
possibly  the  formation  of  a  permanent  association,  but  on  August  4: 
the  "Record"  published  a  communication  from  R.  H.  Day,  of  Millers- 
burg  township,  suggesting  that  steps  be  taken  to  erect  a  monument, 
and  the  suggestion  met  at  once  with  popular  favor.  At  the  meeting 
on  the  12th  a  number  of  short  speeches  were  made  in  its  favor,  com- 
mittees appointed  to  solicit  funds,  and  the  amount  fixed,  to  be  asked 
for,  at  $20,000.  A  temporary  organization  was  effected,  with  the  fol- 
lowing officers :  president,  Maj.  D.  W.  Sedwick,  of  Suez ;  vice-presi- 
dent, J.  E.  Harroun :  secretary,  Capt.  E.  B.  David ;  corresponding 
seci-etary,  L.  B.  Doughty ;  treasurer,  J.  E.  Gilmore ;  the  last  four  all 
of  Aledo. 

It  being  deemed  inadvisable  to  hold  a  reunion  during  the  fair, 
October  15  was  chosen  as  the  date,  and  the  necessary  committees  were 
appointed  to  make  proper  arrangements.  It  was  hoped  that  the  money 
could  be  raised  and  the  monument  be  erected  by  July  4,  1876.  The 
work  of  procuring  a  list  of  the  soldiers  from  this  county  who  had  fallen  in 
the  service,  was  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  officers,  who  in  turn  delegated 
it  to  the  writer.  We  procured  a  list  from  the  adjutant  general's  office 
in  Springfield,  but  it  was  necessarily  incomplete,  and  full  of  errors, 
and  in  order  to  secure  its  correction  we  published  it  in  the  "Record'* 
and  "Banner,"  for  a  number  of  weeks,  adding  names  and  making  cor- 
rections as  received.  The  list  first  appeared  in  the  "Record,"  of  Octo- 
ber 13,  1875.  Reports  were  received  from  canvassers  from  time  to 
.time,  and  it  became  evident  that  $20,000  was  too  much  to  ask  for,  and 
at  a  meeting  of  the  executive  committee  on  September  28,  it  was  de- 
cided to  reduce  the  figures  to  $8,000  or  $10,000. 

The  re-union  was  very  largely  attended.  Through  the  courtesy  of 
the  adjutant  general,  we  were  permitted  the  use  of  the  battle  flags  of 
the  different  regiments  represented,  and  the  history  of  the  flags,  given 
briefly  by  those  who  fought  under  them,  was  one  of  the  most  interest- 
ing features  of  the  occasion.  Rev.  S.  Brink  made  the  address,  and 
was  followed  briefly  by  Hon.  A.  J,  Streeter.  Permanent  organization 
was  eflected,  with  the  following  officers :  president,  D.  W.  Sedwick ; 


THE    SOLDIEKS'    MONUMENT.  839 

vice-president,  W.  O.  Dungan ;  secretary,  E.  B.  David  ;  corresponding 
secretary,  Eli  Detwiler  ;  treasurer,  J.  E.  Gilmore.  Books  were  opened, 
and  110  ex-soldiers  registered  their  names  as  members.  Constitution 
was  adopted  and  the  "  Soldiers  and  Sailors  Association  "  was  inaugur- 
ated. "When  the  meeting  adjourned  it  was  to  meet  again  in  reunion 
on  July  4,  1876,  at  the  unveiling  of  the  monument,  if  it  was  ready  to 
nnveil.  Mr.  Detwiler  declined  to  serve  as  corresponding  secretary, 
and  the  writer  was  appointed  by  the  executive  committee  at  their  first 
meeting.  On  March  7,  1876,  Major  K.  W.  McClaughrey,  warden 
Illinois  state  penitentiary,  delivered  an  address  in  the  court-house,  in 
the  interest  of  the  monument,  and  in  the  evening  of  the  same  day 
spoke  in  Viola.  Meetings  were  held  at  different  points  in  the  county, 
but  the  work  of  raising  funds  was  slow,  and  on  April  28  the  executive 
committee  employed  Mr.  Hiram  Parkman  to  make  a  thorough  canvass 
of  the  county  ;  and  local  canvassers  were  employed  from  time  to  time. 
In  order  that  the  association  might  purchase  and  hold  grounds  for  the 
monument,  it  was  incorporated  under  the  general  laws  of  the  state, 
the  charter  being  issued  August  21,  1876.  This  rendered  some 
changes  necessary  in  the  constitution,  which  were  made  accordingly. 
We  give  the  following  sections  relating  to  the  object  and  membership : 

''''Preamhle. — We,  the  undersigned,  desiring  to  perpetuate  the 
memory  of  our  fallen  t  comrades  and  friends,  do  unite  in  forming  a  per- 
manent association  for  that  purpose. 

^''Article  I.  Title.- — This  association  shall  be  known  by  the  name 
and  title  of  "The  Soldiers'  and  Sailors'  Association  of  Mercer  County.'' 

''''Article  II.  Object. — The  object  of  this  association  shall  be  the 
erection  and  keeping  in  repair  of  a  monument  to  the  memory  of  the 
deceased  soldiers  and  sailors  of  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  and  to  buy  and 
hold  land  for  that  purpose. 

^'■Ar'ticle  III.  Ilenihershij}. — Section  1.  All  honorably  discharged 
soldiers  and  sailors  of  the  United  States  army  and  navy,  residing,  within 
the  limits  of  Mercer  county,  and  all  who  have  contributiod,  or  may 
hereafter  contribute  to  the  monument  fund,  shall  be  eligible  to  mem- 
bership in  this  association. 

'"''Sec.  3.  Honorably  discharged  soldiers  and  sailors,  residing  with- 
out the  limits  of  the  association,  may  become  members  of  the  associa- 
tion and  entitled  to  all  the  privileges  of  members  belonging  to  this 
county. " 

On  March  11,  1877,  a  design  was  selected  by  the  committee,  and 
on  the  23d  bids  were  received  and  opened.  W.W.Webster,  of  Musca- 
tine, received  the  award,  his  being  the  lowest  of  nine  bids.  His 
figures  were  $3,110.     The  highest  was  $4,635.     From  the  "Market 


840  HISTORY    OF   MERGER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Road,"  a  little  paper  then  published  bj  W,  C.  Galloway,  we  quote  the 
following  description  and  remarks  : 

THE    PLAN    OF   THE    MONUMENT. 

In  order  to  give  as  correct  a  description  of  the  monument  as  pos- 
sible, we  condense  from  the  contract  with  Mr.  Webster  the  following  : 
The  foundation  shall  be  eleven  feet  square  at  base,  and  ten  feet  six 
inches  square  at  top,  and  seven  feet  deep  from  top  to  base  ;  to  be  built 
of  good  sandstone,  of  suitable  kind  and  dimension,  laid  in  cement 
mortar,  in  a  substantial  manner.  The  lirst  base  proper  of  the  monu- 
ment shall  be  of  the  best  Joliet  limestone,  ten  feet  square  and  eight 
inches  deep  or  thick.  It  may  be  of  four  pieces  or  more,  finely  cut. 
The  second  base  shall  be  of  the  best  Joliet  limestone,  eight  feet  square 
and  ten  inches  thick,  to  be  of  four  pieces  finely  cut.  The  third  base 
shall  be  of  the  best  Joliet  limestone,  six  feet  square  and  one  foot  thick, 
and  to  be  in  one  solid  piece,  finely  cut.  All  of  the  monument  above 
the  third  base  to  be  of  the  best  Italian  marble  for  monuments,  to  be 
finished  with  pumice  finish,  except  the  granite  column,  which  shall 
be  of  red  Missouri  granite,  with  glass  finish,  The  plinth  for  die  shall 
be  four  feet  nine  inches  square  and  one  foot  two  inches  thick.  The  die 
shall  be  three  feet  six  inches  square  and  four  feet  high,  and  after  the 
columns  of  granite  shall  be  put  on  corners,  the  faces  of  die  shall  be  at 
least  two  feet  nine  inches  wide.  The  caps  of  granite  columns  shall  be 
six  inches  in  length  and  eight  inches  in  diameter.  The  granite  col- 
umns shall  be  three  feet  long,  and  six  inches  in  diameter  at  base  and 
five  and  one-half  inches  at  top.  The  plinth  of  granite  columns  shall  be 
nine  inches  in  diameter  and  six  inches  thick.  The  die  cap  shall  be 
four  feet  six  inches  square,  and  one  foot  two  inches  thick.  The  spire 
shall  be  two  feet  six  inches  square  at  base  and  one  foot  eight  inches  at 
top,  and  fifteen  feet  in  length,  exclusive  of  bands  on  cap,  to  be  made 
in  three  sections  of  suitable  length  for  good  taste.  The  two  bands 
between  the  sections  of  the  spire  shall  each  be  of  the  same  size  at 
spire,  and  one  foot  thick  or  high.  The  cap  of  spire  shall  be  two  feet 
six  inches  square,  and  one  foot  three  inches  thick.  The  statue  of 
soldier  shall  be  six  feet  eight  inches  in  length  above  column  cap,  size 
in  proportion.  Position  in  parade  rest.  The  total  height  from  foun- 
dation to  be  tliirty-five  feet  two  inches.  On  the  plinth  of  die  shall  be 
in  raised  letters,  this  motto, 

MERCER    COUNTY 

TO  HER  FALLEN  SONS. 
1861   to  1865. 


THE  soldiers'  monument.  841 

The  names  of  soldiers  on  die  shall  be  by  regiment  and  company. 
Size  of  letters,  three-fourths  of  an  inch  in  length  and  of  suitable  pro- 
portion. On  the  four  squares  of  the  plinth  of  spire  shall  be  carvings 
or  figures  of  sailors  or  mariners,  cavalry,  artillery  and  infantry  in 
raised  figures.  On  the  four  squares  of  the  band  on  spire  shall  be  the 
names  of  the  battles  in  raised  letters.  On  cap  of  spire  shall  be  raised 
stars.  All  the  mouldings,  shapes,  etc.,  shall  be  finished  in  good  taste, 
artistic  skill  and  woi-kmanship.  The  granite  columns  shall  be  dowel- 
pinned  to  cap  and  plinth  of  column,  also  cap  of  column  and  plinth  of 
column  to  cap  of  die  and  ])linth  of  die  by  half-inch  brass  rods  three 
inches  long.  The  foundation  to  be  raised  two  feet  above  the  surface  ; 
to  be  well  banked  up  to  top  and  nicely  swarded  over.  These  shall  be 
enclosed  by  a  circular  iron  fence,  eighteen  feet  in  diameter,  to  be  made 
in  a  plain,  substantial  manjier  of  wrought  iron,  with  cast  points  on 
each  picket,  etc.  The  monument  to  be  completed  by  the  first  day  of 
November,  1877. 

The  foregoing  account  is  complete  as  to  how  it  was  to  be.  The 
executive  committee  met  October  30,  1877,  inspected  the  monument 
and  unanimously  accepted  it,  showing  that  Mr.  Webster  had  fulfilled 
the  contract. 

The  ground  chosen  for  the  location  is  in  the  north  one-half  of  block 
57,  village  of  Aledo,  immediately  south  of  block  owned  by  the  county, 
on  which  are  situated  the  fire-proof  county  offices.  The  price  paid  for 
ground  was  $400.  The  street  running  between  the  blocks  will  be 
vacated  by  the  village  as  soon  as  all  arrangements  can  be  completed, 
and  the  whole  ground  enclosed  and  used  as  a  park.  Trees  will  be 
planted  and  walks  laid  out,  and  in  a  few  years  it  will  look  like  the 
beautiful  hallowed  place  it  should  be. 

After  its  erection  the  executive  committee  had  a  considerable  job  in 
deciding  when  to  have  the  dedication  and  unveiling  exercises.  The 
near  approach  of  winter  and  prospective  bad  weather  helped  them  to 
decide  to  postpone  it  till  July  4,  1878,  and  then  to  make  an  effort  to 
have  such  a  gathering  and  exercises  as  would  long  be  remembered. 

The  directors  this  year  are  D.  W.  Sedwick,  E.  B.  David,  H.  B. 
Frazier,  J.  Y.  Merritt,  and  II.  Parkman,  and  it  is  not  too  much  to  say 
that  they  who  have  taken  so  much  interest  in  the  cause  and  spent  a 
great  deal  of  time  are  among  the  happiest  that  the  work  is  so  near 
done,  and  tliat  soon  every  citizen  of  the  county  can  point  with  equal 
pride  and  say  "'tis  ours.''  But  the  people  cannot  soon  foi-get  that  it 
is  to  the  untiring  energy  of  the  leaders  of  this  movement  that  it 
resulted  in  success  at  all. 
.    xVpril  30,  1878,  the  directors  held  a  meeting  to  take  preliminary 


842  HISTORY   OF   MERGER   AND    HEXDERSON    COOTriES. 

steps  for  the  unveiling  of  the  monument  July  4,  and  it  was  decided  to 
hold  a  grand  reunion,  in  which  all  the  citizens  of  the  county  were  cor- 
dially invited  to  participate,  and  all  soldiers  and  their  friends  from 
adjoining  counties.  The  secretary  announced  that  Maj.-Gen.  John  A. 
Logan  had  been  engaD:ed  to  deliver  the  address. 

In  addition  to  the  publication  of  the  list  for  corrections  in  1875, 
it  was  re-published  during  the  summer  of  1877,  week  after  week,  and 
we  believe  it  to  be  as  nearly  correct  as  it  is  possible  to  make  it. 

The  reunion  and  unveiling  on  July  4,  1878,  was  an  occasion  well 
worth  remembering.  The  citizens  of  Aledo  and  vicinity  joined  with 
the  executive  committee  of  the  association  in  making  the  preparations, 
and  everything  was  perfect.  The  gathering  was  tlie  largest  ever  held 
in  the  county  for  any  purpose  whatever,  the  number  being  estimated 
fairly  at  12,000  to  15,000.  Through  the  com-tesy  of  Col.  W.  D.  Flag- 
ler, commander  at  Rock  Island  arsenal,  and  of  the  secretary  of  war,  a 
section  of  artillery,  manned  by  a  sergeant  and  eight  men,  were  sent 
from  the  arsenal  and  lent  their  aid  in  the  observances  of  the  day. 
Gen.  Logan  made  a  grand  address  ;  the  monument  was  unveiled, 
toasts  given  and  responded  to,  and  the  usual  exercises  followed,  the 
whole  enlivened  by  music  from  one  of  the  many  bands  in  attendance. 
It  was  at  once  a  reunion  and  a  celebration,  and  as  such  was  enjoyed  by 
all  participants. 

It  would  be  a  pleasure  to  give  a  list  of  the  subscribers  to  the  monu- 
ment ftmd,  but  that  is  impossible,  and  we  will  mention  none,  for  many 
who  gave  but  little,  gave,  like  the  widow  with  her  mite,  "more  than 
all  these  "  whose  gifts  were  much  larger.  One  source  of  revenue, 
however,  from  which  nearly  one-fourth  of  the  entire  amount  raised 
was  realized,  will  bear  brief  mention  as  the  "tax-list  fund." 

In  the  fall  of  1875  the  publishers  of  the  "Record  *'  offered,  under 
certain  conditions,  to  donate  the  proceeds  of  the  tax  list  for  the  next 
year  to  the  monument  fund.  A  spirit  of  rivalry  led  O.  P.  Arthur,  of 
the  "Banner,"'  to  offer  the  proceeds  for  two  years,  if  the  list  was  given 
to  him.  His  offer  was  accepted,  and  the  amount  realized  was  over 
$600.  In  the  spring  of  1879  Porter  &  Eigelow,  of  the  "Record," 
published  the  list,  and  gave  $100  of  the  proceeds  to  the  fund,  to  be 
used  in  fencing  the  grounds.  The  same  spring  P.  F.  Warner,  who 
then  owned  tlie  "  Banner, "  proposed  to  give  $100  to  the  fund,  pro- 
viding enough  was  subscribed  within  thirty-four  months  to  pay  off  the 
debt  of  the  association.  The  money  was  raised  ;  he  paid  the  $100,  and 
published  the  tax  list  the  next  spring.  Thus  the  tax-list  fund  amounted 
to  over  $800. 

The  monument  grounds  are  enclosed  -svith  a  neat  fence,  and  have 


^.  7/^. 


THE    SOLDIEES'    MONUMENT.  845 

been  set  to  grass  and  planted  with  evergreens.  They,  with  the  beanti- 
ful  marble  shaft,  will  ever  prove  a  monument  to  the  patriotism  of  our 
citizens,  living  and  dead. 

The  Soldiers  and  Sailors'  Association  has  not  yet  finished  its  mis- 
sion. Now  that  it  can  point  with  pride  to  one  of  the  most  beautiful 
monuments  in  the  state,  its  further  work  is  to  care  for,  protect  and 
beautify  the  grounds  whereon  it  stands. 

The  directors  for  the  present  year  are  the  same  as  those  last  men- 
tioned, aud  the  oflicers  are:  D.  W.  Sedwick,  president;  J.  Y.  Merritt, 
vice-president ;  E.  B.  David,  secretary ;  L.  B.  Doughty,  corresponding 
secretary ;  D.  T.  Hindman,  treasurer.  The  grounds  are  in  charge  of 
the  resident  oihcers :  H.  Parkman,  and  secretary  and  treasurer.  The 
association  is  out  of  debt,  has  a  small  balance  in  the  treasury,  and 
there  is  a  considerable  amount  due  in  unpaid  subscription  notes,  which 
will  be  used,  when  collected,  in  improving  the  grounds. 

We  can  not  more  fittingly  close  this  article  than  by  giving  some 
extracts  from  General  Logan's  dedicatory  address,  at  the  unveiling, 
and  giving  with  it  the  names  upon  the  monument : 

"My  friends,  this  monument  that  we  unveil  to-day  in  commemo- 
ration of  the  virtue  and  patriotism  of  the  357  soldiers  who  fell  in  the 
late  war,  in  defense  of  the  princij)les  sanctified  by  our  revolutionary 
sires,  speaks  to  the  world  in  more  eloquent  strains  than  can  be  uttered 
by  any  living  orator ;  eloquence  is  not  often  prompted  by  depth  of 
feeling,  nor  as  a  rule  do  figures  of  rhetoric  issue  from  sad  and  tender 
recollections.  Perhaps  one  who  had  less  of  the  jpersonal  remembrance 
than  myself,  might  commemorate  this  event  in  more  fitting  language, 
but  none  there  are  whose  tribute  to  the  dead  has  a  seat  nearer  to  the 
heart  than  the  soldier  who  has  felt  the  warm  touch  of  the  comrade's 
elbow  in  the  fight,  and  has  seen  that  comrade  yield  up  his  life  upon 
the  altar  of  their  common  principle.  Were  this  the  appropriate  time, 
nothing  could  afford  me  deeper  satisfaction  than  to  trace  the  career  of 
every  soldier  whose  name  is  written  upon  this  stone ;  and  to  recount 
in  the  fullest  manner  the  personal  history  of  each  one  who  contributed 
his  part  to  the  privations  and  sacrifices  of  a  soldier  to  his  country's 
cause,  and  sealed  the  deed  thereto  by  the  red  drops  of  life's  precious 
current.  You  will  pardon  me,  however,  if  in  refraining  from  the 
detail  which  each  is  entitled  to  in  order  to  prove  the  full  obligation  of 
posterity,  I  trace  a  hasty  sketch  of  the  organization,  progress  and 
achievements  of  the  gallant  band  of  which  the  fallen  dead  of  Mercer 
county,  with  their  brave  comrades  who  are  here  to  honor  their  mem- 
ories to-day,  formed  so  important  a  part.  After  the  general  rendezvous 
at  Cairo,  in  1861,  the  engagement  at  Belmont  found  among  others,  as 

48  r 


846  HISTORY    OF   MERCEK   and    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

participants,  the  twenty-second  Illinois  infantry,  the  twenty-seventh 
and  the  thirtieth,  in  which  regiments  were  some  of  the  soldiers  fur- 
nished by  Mercer  county,  whose  names  are  now  upon  this  column. 

"From  Belmont  to  Forts  Henry  and  Donelson,  where  so  many 
brave  fellows  found  an  untimely  death ;  and  on  to  Shiloh  and  Corinth, 
at  which  latter  place  I  had  the  honor  to  command  a  brigade,  consti- 
tuted partly  of  the  thirtieth  and  forty-fifth  Illinois.  Of  the  thirtieth 
and  forty-fifth  regiments,  many  names  of  the  Mercer  county  boys  are 
engraved  upon  the  memorial  tablets  which  we  unveil  to-day. 

"The  memorable  Mississippi  campaign,  which  iinally  culminated 
in  the  fall  of  Vicksburg,  furnished  more  deaths  to  the  cause  of  the 
union,  and  among  these  more  names  for  future  inscription  upon  the 
monument  which  Mercer  county  now  erects  to  her  sons.  Within  my 
command  during  that  campaign  were,  among  others,  the  thirtieth, 
forty-fifth,  and  one  hundred  and  twenty-fourth  Illinois  infantry. 

"To  the  gallent  men  then  composing  my  command  was  assigned 
the  honor  of  taking  possession  of  Yieksburg,  upon  its  surrender,  just 
fifteen  years  ago  to-day,  an  honor  not  lightly  esteemed  by  those  who, 
at  Champion  Hills,  fought  and  won  one  of  the  sharpest,  fiercest,  and 
most  brilliant  victories  of  the  campaign,  the  importance  of  which,  in 
the  subsequent  fall  of  Yieksburg,  can  only  be  estimated  by  a  demon- 
stration of  tlie  enemy  in  a  precipitate  retreat  to  their  stronghold,  des- 
tined so  soon  to  fall  into  our  hands.  Afterward,  upon  taking  command 
of  the  Ffteenth  Army  Corps,  the  following  regiments  of  Illinois  troops, 
partly  made  uj)  from  Mercer  county,  embraced  a  part  of  my  command : 
The  Twenty-Sixth,  Thirtieth,  Forty-Fifth,  and  Forty-eighth  Illinois 
infantry.  At  a  subsequent  period  I  commanded  the  army  of  the  Ten- 
nessee, made  up  of  regiments  of  infantry,  cavalry,  and  batteries  of 
artillery  from  the  States  of  Indiana,  Illinois,  Iowa,  Missouri,  Michi- 
gan, Minnesota,  Ohio,  Kentucky,  Pennsylvania,  New  York,  Massa- 
chusetts, and  New  Jersey.  Among  the  regiments  from  the  other  states 
mentioned  were  thirty-eight  from  Illinois,  and  among  these,  made  up  in 
part  from  Mercer  county,  were  the  Ninth,  Twenty-Sixth,  Thirtieth, 
Forty-Fifth,  Forty-Eighth,  and  One  Hundred  and  Twenty-Fourth  Illi- 
nois infantry,  and  of  and  from  these  are  many  of  the  names  in  the  roll 
of  lionor  inscribed  on  this  monument,  and  with  these  names  are  many 
from  other  and  different  commands,  who  were  equally  brave  and  patri- 
otic, and  entitled  alike  to  all  honor  and  all  praise.  The  famous  march 
to  Atlanta  and  to  the  sea  has  passed  into  history  as  one  of  the  most 
brilliant  campaigns,  considered  in  detail  and  as  a  whole,  which  has 
ever  been  recorded  in  the  annals  of  war.  The  pen  of  the  historiographer 
has  drawn  the  picture  of  that  campaign  in  outline,  and  has  attempted 


THE    SOLDIEKS'    MONUMKNT.  847 

to  tlirow  in  the  details  of  individual  action.  Its  general  results  were 
soon  felt  and  realized,  when  the  army  which  had  cut  the  confederacy 
in  two  were  advancing  from  the  south  to  meet  their  comrades  under 
the  conquerer  of  the  Potomac,  who  was  driving  everything  before  his- 
invincible  hosts.  The  result  in  general,  I  say,  has  been  outlined,  and 
some  attempt  has  been  made  to  do  justice  in  detail.  So  far  as  the 
officers,  who  justlj'  won  distinction  on  those  memorabkvfields,  are  con- 
cerned, the  attempt  has  been  as  successful,  perhajjs,  as  might  from  the 
nature  of  things  be  expected.  But  the  sufferings,  privations,  hard- 
ships, stubborn  perseverances,  remarkable  and  unexcelled  gallantry  of 
the  heroes  in  the  ranks,  can  never  receive  the  record  to  which  they  are 
entitled,  though  we  may  freely  accord  the  meed  of  praise,  which,, 
regarding  the  residts  of  their  united  efforts,  hails  them  as  the  saviors- 
of  this  country.  From  the  intrepid  conduct  at  Eesacca,  as  also  at 
Dallas,  at  both  })laces  the  command  of  which  the  most  of  your  troops 
were  a  part,  took  the  brunt  of  the  movement ;  through  the  assault  on 
Kenesaw  mountain,  with  its  abattis  and  earthworks,  and  cross  fire  of 
artillery,  bullets,  rocks  and  stones,  to  the  celebration  of  the  Fourth  of 
July,  1864,  by  an  artillery  fight  with  Johnson's  rear  guard  ;  from  this 
to  the  desperate  struggle  before  Atlanta,  which  eventuated  in  the  fall 
of  that  city,  where,  on  July  22,  one  of  the  great  battles  of.  the  war  was 
fought.  No  pen  can  describe  it  in  detail,  and  no  orator's  vivid  imagi- 
nation can  make  the  mind  comprehend  the  scene.  Then  through  the 
campaign  of  the  (Jarolinas  with  increased  hardships,  in  swamps  and 
streams,  through  Columbia,  Goldsboro,  Fayettville,  and  Raleigh,  where 
the  close  of  the  war  occurred,  the  same  lofty  spirit  of  patience  under 
suffering,  of  hope  under  discouragement,  of  increased,  determination 
under  disappointment,  of  invincible  resolution  to  win  or  die,  character- 
ized them  to  a  degree  which  stamped  them  as  })atri()ts  worthy  of  this  great 
country.  In  thus  ]3articularizing  the  patriotism  of  the  Illinois  troops 
which  fell  under  my  more  immediate  charge  and  supervision,  I  have  no 
purpose  to  discriminate  against  the  gallant  soldiers  from  other  states,  who 
also  formed  a  part  of  the  army.  As  'Agamemnon  found  it  an  invidi- 
ous affair  to  give  the  preference  to  any  one  of  the  CTrecian  heroes,"* 
so  should  any  one  of  us  find  it  impossible  to  draw  distinctions  between 
union  soldiers  fighting  for  the  perpetuity  of  their  government. 

•'But,  my  friends,  we  are  here  to-day  not  alone  in  the  acknowledg- 
ment of  the  services  of  those  who  periled  their  lives  for  their  country, 
but  to  dedicate  a  monument  in  testimony  of  the  gratitude  of  the  neigh- 
bors, immediate  friends  and  fellow  soldiers  of  those  who  gave  up  that 
for  which  a  man  will  barter  all  other  things,  A/.s^  life ;  a  monument 
which  we  hope  shall  stand  so  long  as  the  principles  of  free  government, 


848  HISTORY    OF    MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

and  the  patriotism  wliicli  this  shaft  prochiims  is  venerated  by  the 
American  people. 

"The  roll  of  honor  bearing  the  names  of  Mercer  county's  heroes 
who  fell  in  defense  of  their  country  during  the  years  from  1861  to 
1865,  and  which  are  transcribed  in  imperishable  letters  upon  the  beau- 
tiful monument  we  are  about  unveiling,  has  been  placed  in  my  hands 
and  I  now  avail  myself  of  the  privilege  of  having  them  read  to  you." 

The  names  of  the  fallen  soldiers,  inscribed  upon  the  monument, 
were  here  read  by  Mr.  J.  C.  AVharton,  and  were  as  follows : 

JVi/ifh  Reg.^  Company  E. — Joseph  B.  Jones,  Calvin  Martin,  Wm. 
D.  Nevius,  Augustus  B.  Cox,  Geo.  M.  Gilmore,  J.  N.  Shoemaker, 
Jesse  Mock,  A.  T.  Waterbury,  Frank  M.  Moore,  James  Haverheld, 
John  Morehead,  Wm.  P.  Kelley,  John  Beatty. 

Seventeenth  Beg.,  Company  I. — James  Phelps,  John  W.  Nel- 
son, Wm.  Is  oris,  James  M.  Findley,  Thos.  T.  Timmons,  Geo.  W. 
Elliott,  Erastus  M.  Gruell,  Sam.  C.  Willett,  Albert  Beach,  George 
Hardy,  Geo.  W.  Kingen,  Chris.  B.  Simmons,  Nathan  T.  Grifhn,  Thos. 
S.  Robinson,  M.  H.  Anthony,  Jesse  Sumner,  James  A.  Scott,  Chris. 
Middler,  Wm.  II.  Davis,  Henry  France,  Elija  Myers,  John  F.  White, 
Samuel  Boyce,  Henry  Y.  Coeway,  Matthew  S.  McCoy,  John  W.  Miles, 
Wm.  A^oorhees,  W.  Dryden. 

T^venty-second Beg.,  Company  K. — Robert  Scott,  Joseph  Straub. 

Twenty-sixth  Beg.,  Company  C. —  James  W.  Brown,  David  A. 
Bjder,  William  D.  Bonge,  Orson  C.  Follett,  John  C.  Gaston,  John 
U.  Kourt,  James  L.  Reed,  John  B.  Shirder,  Granville  Goodson,  Jacob 
Aull,  William  A.  Blizzard,  William  G.  Fenton,  Obadiah  Goodson, 
Nicholas  Kile,  Isaiah  F.  Pollett,  John  Senn,  Chris.  Marguth. 

Tiiienty-seventh  Beg..^  Company  G. — Joseph  S.  Briner,  William 
Fortner,  Charles  White,  Hugh  M.  Love,  Charles  E.  Thompson,  An- 
drew L.  Smith,  Michael  L.  Sadler,  Mahlon  Boyd,  Calvin  Gibson, 
Joseph  Manual,  James  C.  Sisk,  Amisa  Wood,  Benjamin  Craig,  JeflPer- 
son  Mosby,  J.  Van  Meter,  John  C.  Webber,  Charles  Etherton, 
William  D.  Malaby,  Joseph  Shalich,  Gilbert  Fortner,  Michael  Lalley, 
A.  H.  Ryan,  J.  F.  Thornton,  W.  W.  Wilcox. 

TldrtietJi  Beg.,  Company  A. — Henr}'  Arnett,  Benjamin  Bell, 
James  E.  Brown,  Robert  R.  Crist,  II.  J.  Peters,  John  Gilmore,  Phil. 
R.  Alexander,  Isaac  M.  Home,  J.  P.  Paxton,  N.  R.  Kirkpatrick, 
William  Gardener,  John  P.  Mitchell,  John  Smith,  Samuel  Whithara, 
Perry  Paxton,  William  Lowe,  T.  B.  Moore,  William  Adams,  Henrj^ 
Bistline,  Samuel  Cook,  Robert  H.  Davis,  Phineas  S.  Synder,  George 
W.  Hill,  John  Cannum,  S.  Mclntire,  Charles  N.  Shull,  John  P.  Instead, 
William  P.  Kimel,  Charles  C.  Dennis,  Abner  G.  Titus,  Thomas  Home, 


THE    soldiers'    MONUIMENT.  .S49 

David  A.  Felton,  William  G.  McGaw,  M.  Quinlan.  Company  G. — 
Joseph  R.  Humbert,  Levi  Jackson,  Van  C  Ogle,  Albert  A.  Holland, 
J.  Wesley  Mann,  James  Ogle,  G.  W.  Rice,  John  Garrett,  James 
Burnett,  James  W.  Ditto,  J.  Cook  Brisbine,  Stephen  F.  Moler,  Sam. 
D.  Boden,  William  C.  Kelley,  William  C.  Bickett,  James  W.  Purdum, 
Alvah  Shumway,  William  W.  Humbert,  John  Ogle.  Company  K. — 
Samuel  Ebner. 

Thirty-sh'tJi  Reg.^  Comj^any  G. — Jackson  Caldwell,  Rich.  Godfrey, 
Samuel  jS^.  Wilson,  Nathan  McCutcheon,  Thomas  R.  Pollock,  William 
Shearer,  H.  Buchanan,  Hugh  Shearer,  F.  Ingles.  Company  B. — Bruce 
Brownlee.      Company  A. — Thomas  Moore. 

Thirty-seventh  jReg.,  Company  A. — Francis  Gannon,  Andrew  Wil- 
son, Oran  Cochran,  I.  K.  Williams,  John  Dorrity,  James  Valentine, 
Sylvester  Mizner,  William  T.  Little,  Robert  Armstrong,  John  C. 
Whitsel,  Henry  H.  B.  Clarke,  J.  W.  Catlicart. 

Forty-jiftli  Reg.^  Company  I. — Robert  Da}^,  Levi  Lunn,  Benjamin 
Burleigh,  William  H.  Sheriff,  George  W.  Debord,  William  L.  Green, 
1.  F.  Bridgford,  Ira  G.  Smith,  Benjamin  Bryant,  James  Ebner, 
H.  Wages,  Thomas  J.  Miller,  Samuel  Gorman. 

F'lfty-jifth  Reg.,  Company  K—W.  Carus,  W.  Cozell.  Com- 
pany I. — E.  M.  Bruner. 

Fifty-eighth  Reg.,  Company  G. — Daniel  Knapp,  William  LI. 
Mercer. 

Slxty-Jifth  Reg.,  Company  B. — George  Fortner,  John  Hale,  Lor- 
enzo Wood,  John  M.  Jones,  H.  J.  Hanck,  Robert  Ilampson.  John 
McGaughey,  James  Hiers,  George  W.  Shaunce,  Henry  Hiers. 

Eighty-third  Reg.,  Company  D. — A.  O.  McCreight,  George  N. 
Marquis,  John  C.  Woodham,  James  S.  Stewart,  James  S.  Eveland,  D. 
M.  Nevius,  Erastus  Kenney,  Samuel  G.  McCreight,  Francis  M. 
Shearer,  George  Mitchell,  James  M.  Veach,  Amos  Kenney. 

Eighty-fourth  Reg..,  Comjxiny  H. — Luther  T.  Ball,  Andrew  J. 
Hellings,  James  J.  Kid  well,  Frederick  Kemp,  AVilliam  Lipton,  Peter 
Rotchrock,  Edgar  L.  Spicer,  Daniel  Williams,  Francis  Whan,  Francis 
Brown,  W.  W.  McCandless,  Joseph  Ballien,  Alonzo  Guest,  O.  R.  Per- 
sonius,  Andrew  Jackson,  John  W.  Sterling,  F.  M.  Brown,  H.  E.  Aber- 
crombie,  John  M.  Wiedner,  John  Diech,  Bigalow  Kile,  L.  McManus, 
George  McPherren,  Mack  Tirney,  H.  Welliver,  Robert  Whan,  John 
A.  Preston,  Almon  Wilber,  Michael  Conway,  John  H.  Gilles])ie, 
Marvin  Sullivan,  J.  R.  Eckley,  George  M.  Haney.  Company  C. — 
William  Whiting. 

One  Hundred  and  Second  Reg.,  Company  A. — John  K.  Holmes, 
Albert  P.  Cooper,  Robert  F.  Carl,  Eli  Judd,  William  Miller,  Oliver 


850  HISTORY    OF    MERCER    A^•D    HENDERSON    COUNTIES, 

N.  Tyler.  II.  Butterfield,  William  H.  Augustine,  Alfi-ed  Bovd,  John 
Edwards,  Orlando  Kenney.  Arthur  F.  Sabin,  Jacob  A.  Walton,  J. 
Morann,  Conqximj  ^.— John  liich,  Harvey  Rogers.  Company  C. — 
Francis  Freeman,  George  Huffman,  Henry  Herr,  G.  Bressmer,  Edmund 
Kinsey,  Charles  Anderson,  George  Bahringer,  M.  McMullen.  Com- 
jpany  E.  —  Peter  F.  Cook,  John  R.  Carmichael,  John  McCutcheon, 
Chauncey  M.  Royce,  William  Sevits,  Albert  C.  Bridger,  Seth  Grayatt, 
Michael  Oswalt,  James  C.  Simpson,  Rich.  Brown,  T.  Simpson. 
Company  G. — I.  McManus,  John  C.  Reynolds,  W.  W.  Hibbs,  John 
McHard,  John  S.  Burnett,  John  Gibson,  William  P.  Irwin,  Richai-d 
M.  Hoy,  R.  B.  Seaton,  D.  W.  King,  R.  H.  Cabeen,  Jared  Y.  Harris, 
Isaac  T.  Bridgford,  L.  H.  Casebolt,  Samuel  Harvey,  William  T.  Todd, 
A.  T.  Dopp,  Samuel  Parks,  A.  G.  Henry.  Company  A"— Allen 
Wilson,  Abram  Fuller,  S.  D.  Hutchinson,  J.  T.  Collier,  T.  H.  Hand, 
Peter  O.  Pierce,  I.  X.  Stevenson,  Moses  White,  Jr.,  Marvin  R. 
Wright,  William  Yolk,  George  W.  Bartlett,  James  P.  Hampton, 
Michael  Bryant,  M.  Dagger,  Albert  Kiddoo,  Noah  Spicher,  Jacob 
Shields,  P.  Waters  Willett,  AYilliam  H.  Hampton,  E.  Pierce. 

One  Hundred  and  Twelfth  Reg.,  Company  C. — John  F.  Baraey, 
Ed.  R.  Petrie. 

One  Hundred  and  Twenty-Fourth  Reg.  ^  Company  G. — Lee  James, 
Oliver  G.  Swafford,  Amos  C.  Goddard,  John  Fitzgerald,  George  Mid- 
dleton,  Charles  Shafer.  Joseph  S.  Dungan,  B.  F.  Noble,  Levi  Lan- 
dreth,  Jolin  T.  Bates,  John  D.  Linn,  John  Shaw,  Henry  Sloan,  George 
Sloan. 

One  Hundred  and  Tiventy- Sixth  Reg.,  ('omp>any  B. — Henry 
Debaun,  Isaac  A.  Linn,  Andrew  Landreth,  J.  Martindale,  David  Yan 
Meter,  James  M.  Rodgers,  Jacob  Fender,  George  Lavery,  G.  Lan- 
dreth, James  Swartwout,  George  Yolkal. 

On£  Hundred  and  Fortieth  Reg.,  Covij)any  F. — Edward  B.  Har- 
ris, Jonathan  Mounts,  Joseph  W.  Shawyer,  John  W.  Maury,  Alfred 
F.  Noble,  Z.  P.  Warren. 

Eleventh  Cavalry  Reg.,  Company  C. — F.  T.  Crane,  William  H. 
Gilliam,  B.  F.  Mahaney,  Stephen  Bartan.  C.  E.  Mclntvi'e,  William 
J.  Simpson. 

MixcdlaneouH. — E.  R.  Cooper,  9th  111.  Cav.,  Co.  A;  D.  A.  Moler, 
10th  111.  Cav.,  Co.  C;  Robert  Morgan,  12tli  111.  Cav.,  Co.  G  ;  George 
Edgerly,  8th  111.  Cav.,  Co.  C;  Silas  Yalentine,  Utli  111.  Cav.,  Co.  L; 
W.  D.  Swift,  9th  Iowa  Cav.,  Co.  A;  John  Stevenson,  9th  Iowa,  Co. 
D;  Samuel  Boice,  9th  Iowa,  Co.  D ;  G.  L.  Moore,  2d  Iowa  Cav., 
Co.  A;  H.  M.  Boone,  1st  Col.  Inf.,  Co.  C;  Eli  C.  Crosley,  1st  Miss. 
Marine  Brig.  ;  Cyrus  W.  Trego.  8th  Kan..  Co.  H;  John  A.  Robinson, 


THE    soldiers'    MONUMENT.  851 

8th  Kan.,  Co.  I;  J.  D.  Aslienliurst,  Stli  Kan.,  Co.  II;  F.  M.  Carroll, 
8th  Kan.,  Co.  H;  John  L.  Arnold,  14th  U.  S.  Inf.,  Co.  I;  J.W.War- 
wick, 155th  111.  Inf.,  Co.  H;  Edward  Bruner,  55th  111.  Inf.,  Co.  I; 
W.  Kennedy,  J.  Alberson,  M.  Moroe,  Tth  Iowa  Inf.,  Co.  A;  E.  C. 
Crosley,  1st  Miss.  Marine  Brigade ;  G.  W.  Ne\aiis,  Iowa  Cav. ;  J. 
Keed,  93d  111.  Inf  ;  H.  Billings,  W.  C.  Cathcart,  M.  Hutchinson, 
C.  M.  Clarke,  T.  Campbell,  A.  D.  Streeter,  D.  A.  Felton,  J.  P.  Insted, 
Tth  Mo.  Cav.;  William  S warts,  29th  111.  Inf.,  Co.  I;  Lnther  Water- 
man, 2d  Iowa  Cav.;  D.  C.  Bartlett,  9th  111.  Cav.,  Co.  C;  A.  Cook, 
51st  111.  Inf.,  Co.  K. 

Gen.  Logan  continued;    ''Wliat  a  glorious  roster  to  transmit  to 
posterity !     Well  might  there  have  been  engraved  upon  the  stone  as 
representing  the  united  sentiment  of  Mercer  county,  the  memorable 
words  of  the  Roman  mother:    'These  are  my  jewels.''      Three  hun- 
dred and  fifty-seven  men  who  deliberately  walked  up  to  the  rebel  can- 
non's mouth,  and  swore  upon  their  lives  that  the  union  of  our  fathers 
should  be  preserved !     That  oath  was  registered  on  high,  and  it  has 
been  graven  upon  the  works  of  men.     It  is  here  as  the  indorsement 
of  our  generation.     May  it  stand  for  more  than  a  thousand  years,  to 
re-echo  it  through  the  future  centuries.     Three  hundred  and  iifty-seven 
heroes  about  represent  in  number  the  Spartan  band  under  Leonidas 
who  defended  the  pass  of  Thermopylae,  and  gave  up  their  lives  for 
their  country.     Let  this  monument  speak  to  the  coming  ages,  as  did 
that  of  the  Spartan  heroes,  in  words  which  shall  bid  the  traveler  go 
tell  their  countrymen  that  they  lie  upon  the  held  of  battle  in  obedience 
to  their  country's  welfare.     Such  a  tribute  as  is  conveyed  by  this  beau- 
tiful work  is  an  expression  of  the  patriotism  of  the  living  in  applaud- 
ing the  patriotism  of  the  dead.     It  is   a  shaft  to  commemorate  the 
virtue  of  the  departed,  but  also  signalizes  the  appreciation  of  virtue  by 
the  living.     To  the  dead  it  is  a  token  of  remembrance,  to  the  living  a 
testimony  of  character.     Yaluable  as  is  this  work  of  art,  its  worth  is 
far  greater  to  the  living  than  to  the  dead.     No  panegyric  which  we 
may  make  can  reach  the  body  in  its  narrow  house,  nor  the  spirit  in 
that  land  where  the  clash  of  arms  and  sound  of  strife  mar  not  the  un- 
broken peace.      But  to  the  living  it  stands  as  the  representative  of  a 
sentiment ;  it  is  a  declaration  of  principle,  it  ratifies  a  past  act,  it  pro- 
claims a  future  policy,  it  enunciates  in  words  which  cannot  be  mistaken 
the  patriotism  of  Americans  and  their  determination  to   perpetuate 
their  free  institutions,  and  to  uphold  their  motto  of  "Many  in  One."  It 
is  a  token  of  grief  for  the  departed,  but  it  is  also  a  warning  to  those  who 
remain !     It  is  a  tear  of  sorrow  for  the  slain,  but  the  promise  of  pun- 
ishment to  the  future  slayer.     The  men  whose  names  we  are  here 


852  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

to-day  to  honor  are  forever  hidden  from  onr  \dew  beneath  their  mother 
earth,  but  from  their  sacrificed  bodies  this  coUimn  rises  as  a  tree  from 
the  root,  and  gives  another  illustration  of  the  truth  of  the  aphorism 
sanctioned  by  all  the  ages  of  the  past,  that  'the  blood  of  the  martyr 
is  the  seed  of  the  church.'  Here  we  understand  the  purport  of  this 
monument  and  the  motive  which  prompted  its  creation.  As  fellow- 
citizens  of  our  great  commonwealth,  as  friends,  we  are  here  to  drop  a 
tear  of  sorrow  over  our  loss,  and  to  extend  the  word  of  comfort  to  the 
weeping  relatives,  whose  loss  is  greater  than  our  own.      ... 

*• '  Does  this  mass  of  people  come  here  to-day  in  obedience  to  a 
meaningless  formality,  or  is  their  presence  the  representative  of  a  senti- 
ment? Shall  tliese  names  upon  this  monument  stand  as  the  simple 
enumeration  of  357  unfortunates  who  rashly  rushed  to  their  death?  Or 
shall  they  receive  the  homage  of  that  tribute  so  beautifully  rendered  in 
the  lines  of  the  poet  Collins  : 

"  '  How  sleep  the  brave  who  sink  to  rest, 
By  all  their  country's  wishes  blest ; 
By  fairy  hand  their  knell  is  rung, 
By  forms  unseen  their  dirge  is  sung ; 
Their  honor  comes,  a  pilgrim  gray. 
To  bless  the  turf  that  wraps  their  clay, 
And  freedom  shall  awhile  repair, 
To  dwell  a  weeping  hermit  there.' 

"Fellow-citizens  of  Mercer  county,  you  have  done  a  noble  act ;  you 
have  proven  that  you  worthily  belong  to  that  great  bulwark  of  our 
nation's  safety,  its  citizen  soldiery.  At  the  sound  of  danger  you  left 
the  pursuits  of  peace  and  threw  yourselves  into  the  breach  of  war, 
and  when  you  conquered  a  principle,  you  erected  an  enduring  shaft  of 
honor  to  those  who  have  lost  their  lives  in  maintaining  it.  As  one 
who  stood  upon  the  field  with  those  brave  fellows,  I  am  here  co  re-echo 
your  declaration,  that  their  deaths  have  not  been  in  vain.  I  am  here  to 
mingle  my  sorrow  with  yours,  and  to  say,  come  weal,  come  woe,  I  am 
with  you  to  the  end  in  placing  the  flag  of  our  country  so  high  as  to  be 
beyond  the  reach  of  its  despoilers,  which,  in  proudly  floating  on  the 
breeze,  shall  say  to  all  the  world  :  'Here  dwells  the  undivided  nation 
of  peace. ' " 


SIXTY-FIFTH    REGIMENT,  853 


SIXTY-FIITH  KEGIMENT,  COMPANY  B. 

This  was  called  the  "Scotch  Kegiment,"  from  the  number  of  that 
nationality  who  marched  in  its  ranks.  It  was  organized  at  Camp 
Douglas,  Chicago,  bj  Col.  Daniel  Cameron,  Jr.,  and  mustered  for 
service  May  1,  1862.  In  company  B  were  thirty-eight  soldiers  from 
Mercer  county,  belonging  to  the  townships  of  Greene,  Mercer,  Millers- 
burg,  Preem]3tion,  and  New  Boston.  The  regiment  was  ordered  to 
Martinsburg,  Virginia ;  and  when  Col.  Miles  surrendered  at  Harper's 
Ferry,  September  15,  it  was  among  the  prisoners  taken.  Being  next 
day  paroled,  it  returned  to  Chicago  and  remained  there  till  April,  1863, 
when,  having  been  exchanged,  it  was  ordered  to  tlie  Eastern  Kentucky 
army,  and,  returning  to  Camp  Nelson  via  Cincinnati,  joined  Burnside's 
expedition  into  East  Tennessee  for  the  purpose  of  co-operation  with 
Gen.  Rosecrans,  who  was  at  that  time  moving  on  Chattanooga.  It 
fought  at  Knoxville  November  25tli  and  29th,  in  the  defense  of  that 
stronghold  against  Gen.  Longstreet,  and  repulsed  him  with  slaughter. 
The  following  winter  was  one  of  severe  campaigning  to  this  regiment. 
It."  veteraned,"'  and  went  home  on  furlough  in  March,  1864.  On  its 
return  it  overtook  Sherman's  army  at  Kingston,  Georgia,  and  took  its 
place  in  the  second  brigade,  commanded  by  Col.  Cameron,  and  the 
third  division,  Gen.  J.  D.  Cox  commanding,  of  Gen.  Schofield's 
twenty-third  corps.  The  65th  had  a  sharp  encounter  with  the  enemy 
between  Lost  and  Kenesaw  mountains,  June  15,  and  skirmished  briskly 
every  dav  until  the  20th,  when  fifty  volunteers  from  the  regiment 
charged  across  a  bridge  and  drove  the  enemy's  infantry  and  artillery  in 
handsome  fashion,  and  effected  a  permanent  lodgment  on  the  other 
side.  It  continued  to  fight  with  spirit  until  the  close  of  the  campaign, 
taking  part  in  the  flank  movement  around  Atlanta  and  the  battle  of 
Jonesboro.  It  returned  north  in  pursuit  of  Hood,  and  was  transferred 
from  Dalton  to  Nashville  by  rail.  It  then  advanced  as  far  south  as 
Pulaski,  and  November  25th  and  26th  was  engaged  at  Columbia,  losing 
tliree  ofiicers  and  fifty  men.  On  the  30th  it  received  the  attack  of 
Hood's  army  at  Franklin,  and  when  the  battle  ended  200  of  the  rebel 
dead  and  wounded  lay  stretched  in  its  front.  It  carried  to  Nashville 
that  night  the  colors  of  the  loth  Mississippi  rebel  regiment  as  a  trophy 
of  the  conflict.  An  equal  share  with  other  troops  was  borne  Decem- 
ber 15th  and  16th,  in  the  battle  of  Nashville,  and  it  went  in  pursuit 
of  Hood's  broken  columns,  pausing  only  when  it  had  reached  (^lifton. 
From  thence,  January  15,  ]865,  it  was  transferred  by  boat  and  rail  to 
Wilmington,  North  Carolina,  assisting  in  the  capture  of  that  place. 


854  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

At  Sandtown  creek  it  captured  three  cannon  and  350  rebels.  March  6 
it  went  to  Kingston.  From  there  the  first  five  companies,  except  vet- 
erans, were  oi-dered  to  Chicago,  to  be  mustered  out.  On  the  21st  it 
entered  Goldsboro,  where  Sherman's  cohimns  from  the  south  made 
connection  with  Schofield  on  the  23d.  From  Raleigh  the  non-veterans 
were  sent  home  for  muster-out,  and  the  remainder  of  the  regiment 
went  to  Greensboro.  May  1  four  companies  of  recruits  were  added ; 
and,  in  June,  four  officers  and  250  men  of  the  92d  Illinois,  two  officers 
and  120  men  of  the  112tli  Illinois,  and  twenty-five  men  from  the  107th 
Illinois  were  assigned  to  the  65th,  and  Lieut. -Col.  Stewart  was  mustered 
as  colonel.  The  regiment  was  mustered  out,  and  started,  July  13,  for 
Chicago,  where  it  arrived  July  22,  and  from  whence,  after  final  ]:>ay- 
ment,  the  discharged  men  returned  to  their  homes. 


EIGHTY-THIRD  REGIMENT,  COMPANY  D. 

Company  D  was  enlisted  in  Mercer  county,  one-fourth  of  the  mem- 
bers being  from  the  southwest  corner  of  Henry  county.  It  was  officered 
with  Joshua  M.  Snyder,  of  Yiola,  as  captain ;  Hugh  M.  Robb,  of 
Mercer  township,  as  first  lieutenant ;  and  Francis  M.  Sykes,  of  Oxford, 
second  lieutenant.  The  regiment  was  organized  at  Monmouth,  in 
August,  1862,  by  Col.  Abner  C.  Harding,  and  was  sworn  into  the 
service  on  the  21st.  On  the  25th  it  proceeded  by  Burlington  and 
St.  Louis  to  Cairo,  and  on  September  3d  moved  to  Fort  Henry.  On 
the  5th  one-half  of  the  regiment  marched  to  Fort  Donelson.  three  com- 
panies remaining  at  Fort  Henry,  and  two  at  Fort  Heiman.  These 
subsequently  moved  to  Donelson,  and  the  83d  was  stationed  at  that 
post  until  September  20,  1863,  when  the  right  wing  was  transferred  to 
Clarksville.  Roving  bands  of  guerillas  filled  the  country  and  lurked 
particularly  on  the  Cumberland  and  Tennessee  rivers,  and  skirmishes 
were  of  frequent  occurrence ;  some  of  these  were  especially  severe,  as 
the  one  at  Waverly.  In  October,  1862,  accompanied  by  other  troops 
in  pursuit  of  Gen.  John  H.  Morgan,  it  had  a  sharp  fight  at  Garrets- 
burg,  Kentucky,  and  drove  and  punished  the  enemy  severely.  But  it 
was  on  February  3,  1863,  that  it  achieved  its  fame  as  a  fighting  regi- 
ment. Forrest  was  threatening  the  river  communication  at  Palmyra, 
on  the  2d,  and  Colonel  Harding  telegraphed  to  Paducah  for  re-inforce- 
ments,  his  garrison  consisting  of  the  meager  force  of  nine  companies 
of  the  83d,  a  battalion  of  the  5th  Iowa  cavalry.  Flood's  battery,  and  a 


EIGHTY-THIRD    KK(iIMKNT.  855 

few  wounded  men.  F(nir  rHled  guns  and  a  32-pounder  pivot  siege 
gun,  mounted  on  the  northeast  corner  of  the  fort,  comprised  the 
battery. 

At  two  o'clock  on  the  afternoon  of  the  3d  the  enemy,  coming  down 
the  river,  confronted  the  fort  on  the  east  and  began  the  attack  in  force, 
being  8,000  strong.  The  fort  contained  but  a  small  supply  of  ammu- 
nition, and  the  men,  instructed  by  their  cool  and  calculating  com- 
mander, husbanded  what  they  liad  with  effective  care.  They  were 
directed  to  fire  steadily  and  deliberately,  so  that  every  shot  should 
count ;  while  the  battery  was  handled  with  skill  and  precision,  single 
pieces  being  moved  about  as  circumstances  required.  Col.  Harding- 
displayed  the  finest  spirit  and  best  judgment,  and  was  at  all  points 
overseeing  the  defense  (a  defense  sure  to  be  historic),  animating  and 
encouraging  his  followers.  The  cavalry  was  dismounted  and  fighting 
on  foot.  The  battle  had  raged  with  fury  for  several  hours  ;  in  the 
meantime  the  rebels  had  made  a  number  of  ineffectual  charges,  sup- 
ported by  their  artillery,  which  was  skillfully  used.  At  length  a  shout 
went  up  in  the  rebel  lines,  which  told  that  they  had  completed  the 
investment  on  the  three  sides  undefended  by  the  river.  And  now 
came  a  flag  of  truce  from  Gen.  Wheeler  demanding  a  surrender. 
This  was  promptly  refused.  Then  followed  a  confident  and  furious 
onset  of  the  enemy;  in  charge  after  charge  the  rebels  rolled  up  against 
Harding's  blazing  line,  but  each  time  they  staggered  back  with  bleed- 
ing ranks.  The  artillery  rained  destruction  upon  the  thick-set  columns, 
and  especially  the  32-i)ounder  was  galling  the  foe  with  severity,  when 
he  decided  u])on  its  capture.  Before  the  attempt  was  made  a  second 
flag  was  sent  renewing  the  demand  for  a  surrender,  which  was  met 
with  a  firmer  refusal,  if  that  were  possible,  than  before.  A  storming 
force  advanced  ra])idly  u])on  the  saucy  gun.  The  gunners  double- 
shotted  the  piece  and  waited.  When  the  assailants  were  close  upon 
the  works  they  swung  it  round,  trained  it  full  in  their  faces  and  let  go 
the  savage  charge,  which  made  a  ghastly,  gory  lane  through  the  solid 
formation  of  the  terrified  foe.  They  fled  in  complete  rout,  l^o  further 
attempt  was  directed  against  the  big  gun. 

At  eight  in  the  evening  help  came  at  the  moment  of  extremity, 
when  the  rebels  were  massing  for  a  final  assault.  AVhen  Col.  Lowe  at 
Paducah  received  Harding's  appeal  for  succor  his  forces  were  away  on 
a  scout,  but  knowing  that  Capt.  Fitch  was  going  up  the  river  with  his 
fleet,  he  sent  him  word  to  cooperate  with  Col.  Harding,  and  instructed 
the  latter  to  hold  the  fort  till  dark,  when  assistance  would  reach  him. 
Fitch  divided  his  gunboats,  and  stationing  a  part  above  and  the  rest 
below  the  fort,  while  Harding  ensconced  his  men  in  safe  places  out  of 


856  HISTORY    OF   MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

reach  of  the  naval  missiles,  poured  grape  and  shrapnel  in  enfilading 
and  pitiless  torrents  into  the  writhing  lines  of  rebels.  They  could  not 
stand  it.  In  twenty  minutes  not  one,  except  slain  and  wounded, 
was  left  on  the  field.  Of  the  former  there  were  250,  of  the  latter  600. 
The  besieged  had  taken  105  prisoners.  The  83d  had  13  killed,  51 
wounded,  20  captured.  Not  long  after,  as  a  recognition  of  this  gallant 
defense.  Colonel  Harding  was  wearing  the  single  star  of  a  brigadier. 
Lieutenant-Colonel  A.  A.  Smith  was  immediately  promoted  to  the 
vacant  colonelcy.  The  former  soon  resigned  to  accept  a  seat  in 
congress.  For  nearly  two  years  subsequent  to  the  second  battle  of 
Fort  Donelson  the  83d  was  patroling  and  guarding  communications,  of 
which  it  had  not  less  than  two  hundred  miles  to  protect,  and  at  the 
same  time  was  doing  a  heavy  scouting  service,  which  was  prolific  of 
much  small  fighting.  In  1861-,  when  Forrest  and  Wheeler  were  mak- 
ing daring  efiforts  to  sever  Sherman's  communications,  the  83d  formed 
a  part  of  the  efficient  force  so  energetically  employed  by  General  Rous- 
seau in  driving  those  rebel  leaders,  with  their  commands,  from  Ten- 
nessee. In  the  winter  of  1864-5  the  regiment  went  to  NashvilJe  on 
provost  duty,  and  on  the  26th  of  June  it  was  mustered  out  in  that  city, 
and  on  the  30th  arrived  in  Chicago  where  it  was  finally  paid  and  dis- 
banded. Of  1,050  men  who  went  to  the  field,  610  returned.  The  only 
change  in  the  line  ofiicers  of  Company  D  was  when  second  lieutenant 
Sykes  resigned  in  August,  1864.  Hugh  B.  Frazier,  who  had  been  pro- 
moted from  the  ranks  to  sergeant  and  then  to  first  sergeant,  was  at 
once  commissioned  to  fill  the  vacancy. 


ONE  HUNDRED  AND  TWENTY- FOURTH  REGIMENT, 

COMPANY  G. 

This  was  sworn  into  the  United  States  service  at  Camp  Butler, 
September  10,  1862,  with  Col.  Thomas  J.  Sloan  in  command.  Com- 
pany G  was  raised  at  New  Boston  by  Lyman  H.  Scudder  and  Ezra  S. 
Benedict,  of  that  place,  in  the  last  half  of  July  and  the  first  part'of 
August.  Thji  members  were  principally  frt>m  New  Boston  township  ; 
some  were  residents  of  Eliza  and  Millersburg,  and  a  very  few  of 
adjoining  townships.  The  organization  took  place  August  15,  and  the 
company  was  oflicered  as  follows :  L.  H.  Scudder,  captain  ;  E.  S. 
Benedict,  first  lieutenant ;  and  Benton  Pratt,  second  lieutenant.  On 
the  28th,  taking  wagons,  the  company  drove  to  Oquawka  Junction, 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    TWENTY-FOUKTH    REGIMENT.  857 

then  the  nearest  raib-oad  station,  and  proceeded  from  there  by  way  of 
Galesbiirg  and  Camp  Point  to  Springfield.  There  each  man  received 
forty  dollars  in  cash,  this  being  one-fourth  of  the  $100  bounty,  two 
dollars  premium,  and  one  month's  pay  of  thirteen  dollars,  all  tendered 
by  the  government.  Uniforms  and  amns  were  drawn,  the  latter  Aus- 
trian muskets,  barely  fit  for  practice  in  the  manual  of  arms.  On  Octo- 
ber 6,  the  regiment  started  for  Cincinnati ;  but  on  arriving  at  Decatur 
the  order  was  countermanded,  and  its  destination  was  changed  to  Cairo, 
from  whence  it  went  to  Jackson,  Tennessee,  arriving  on  the  9th.  It 
advanced  to  La  Grange  November  4,  and  on  the  28th,  as  a  part  of  Gen. 
Grant's  expedition  to  the  Yocona  river,  drove  the  rebels  across  the 
Tallahatchie.  The  regiment  had  been  assigned  to  the  first  brigade. 
Col.  John  E.  Smith  ;  third  division.  Gen.  Logan ;  seventeenth  corps, 
Gen.  McPherson.  Returning  from  the  Yocona,  it  reached  the  Talla- 
hatchie December  24,  and  La  Grange  January  T,  1863.  The  same 
month  it  marched  to  Memphis ;  from  there  it  went,  February  22,  to 
Lake  Providence;  and  April  18,  moved  to  Milliken's  Bend.  It  was 
reviewed  on  the  22d  by  Gov.  Yates  and  staff,  and  on  the  25th  started 
on  the  Vicksburg  campaign.  It  was  in  the  engagement  at  Port  Gib- 
son (Thompson's  Hill),  May  1 ;  Raymond,  May  12;  Jackson,  May  14; 
Champion  Hill,  May  16  ;  and  the  siege  of  Yicksburg,  including  the 
fearful  assault  of  May  22,  and  the  still  more  terrible  one  of  June  26, 
when  the  mine  at  Fort  Hill  was  sprung.  Tlie  regiment  went  on  the 
brief  campaign  to  Monroe,  Louisiana,  under  Gen.  Stephenson,  which 
left  Yicksburg  August  21,  and  returned  September  2.  From  October 
14  to  the  20th,  it  was  with  Gen.  McPherson  on  the  Brownville  cam- 
paign, and  participated  in  the  battles  at  that  place  on  the  16th  and 
17th. 

In  January,  1864,  the  124th  competed  for  a  prize  banner  offered  by 
Gen.  Leggett  to  the  regiment  in  his  division  which  should  excel  in 
drill,  and  present  the  most  cleanl}^  appearance  and  soldierly  bearing. 
It  bore  the  legend,  "  Excelsior  Regiment,  Third  Division,  Seventeenth 
Army  Corps,"  and  the  124th  received  it  from  tlie  hands  of  Gen. 
McPherson.  In  February  the  regiment  accompanied  Gen.  Sherman 
on  his  famous  raid  to  Meridian,  and  at  Chunky  Station,  on  the  14th, 
bad  a  severe  fight  with  the  rebels.  It  returned  to  Yicksburg,  and  on 
May  4,  moved  with  the  expedition  under  Gen.  McArthur  to  Yazoo 
city,  returning  the  21st,  having  fought  on  the  7th  and  10th  at  Benton. 
Between  July  1st  and  9th  it  was  operating  on  the  Jackson  campaign 
under  Gen,  Slocum,  and  was  in  brisk  engagements  at  Jackson  Cross 
Roads  on  the  5th  and  7th.  In  October  it  went  on  the  White  river 
campaign,  under  Gen.  Dennis,  and  was  absent  from  Yicksburg  from 


858  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

the  14tli  to  the  26th.  It  did  provost  duty  until  February  25,  1865,  and 
then  was  ordered  to  Xew  Orleans  and  was  assigned  to  the  third 
brigade,  Col.  Geddes  ;  third  division,  Gen.  E.  A.  Carr ;  sixteenth 
corps,  Gen.  A.  J.  Smith.  It  embarked,  March  12tli,  for  Mobile,  and 
on  the  29th  began  the  siege  of  Spanish  Fort,  occupying  the  left  of  the 
investing  line  and  driving  the  enemy  within  his  works.  On  April  8 
the  third  brigade  and  one  other  of  Carr's  division,  stormed  the  fort, 
mounted  the  ]-amparts,  secured  a  lodgment  three  hundred  yards  in  ex- 
tent, and,  darkness  having  come  on,  waited  for  the  morning  light  to 
continue  their  progress,  but  at  one  o'clock  the  rebels  offered  to  capitu- 
late. Awav  off  in  Yiricinia  Lee  followed  suit  a  few  hours  after.  The 
regiment  marched  the  13th  with  the  expedition  to  Montgomery.  There 
it  remained  till  July  IT,  when  it  started  for  Chicago,  where  it  was 
mustered  out  August  15,  1865.  The  124th  fought  ten  battles  and  four- 
teen skirmishes  ;  it  went  through  two  sieges  of  forty-seven  days  and 
nights  and  thirteen  days  and  nights,  respectively,  and  traveled  by  land 
and  water  T,O00  miles.  It  was  drolly  called  by  "the  boys"  in  the 
armv,  "  The  Bully  One  Hundred  and  Two  Dozen.'' 


ONE  HUNDKED  AND  TWENTY-SIXTH  REGIMENT, 

COMPANY  B. 

Company  B  had  thirty-four  enlisted  men,  and  one  commissioned 
officer  from  Mercer  county,  all  except  one  private  belonging  to  Duncan 
and  Perryton  townships.  The  original  officers  were  Henry  D.  Cline, 
captain ;  John  B.  Mitchell,  first  lieutenant,  and  James  H.  Coffman,  of 
Perryton,  second  lieutenant.  The  I'egiment  was  organized  at  Alton  by 
Col.  Jonathan  Richmond,  and  was  mustered  into  service  September  4, 
1862.  It  moved  November  20  to  Columbus,  Kentucky,  and  from 
there  to  Bolivar,  Tennessee,  reporting  at  the  latter  place  to  Gen.  Bray- 
man.  On  December  19  six  companies  were  dispatched  to  Jackson, 
Tennessee,  as  a  reinforcement,  and  afterward  advanced  to  Humboldt, 
skirmishing  some,  being  joined  there  by  the  other  four  companies 
early  in  1863.  On  March  25  the  regiment  returned  to  Jackson,  and 
was  assigned  to  the  second  brigade,  second  division.  Sixteenth  Army 
Corps.  It  was  transported  by  rail  to  Memphis,  where  it  embarked  down 
the  river  to  assist  in  the  siege  of  Yicksburg,  and  landed  at  Haines' 
Bluff  June  2.  It  did  honorable  service  to  the  end  of  the  campaign, 
and  on  July  24  embarked  for  Helena,  Arkansas.      From  thence  it 


ELEVENTH    ILLINOIS    CAVALRY.  859 

moved  with  Gen,  Steele's  army  against  Little  Rock,  ligliting  on  the 
way,  and  occupying  the  place  on  September  10.  The  regiment  went 
next  to  Duvall's  Bluff,  and  remained  there  on  garrison  duty,  with  Col. 
Richmond  as  post  commandant,  until  August  19,  1S6-1.  On  June  26 
it  was  in  action  at  Clarendon.  It  marched  to  Pine  Bluff,  going  by  way 
of  Little  Rock;  on  February  12  it  moved  to  the  mouth  of  White 
river,  and  June  4  returned  to  Pine  Bluff",  where  it  was  mustered  out 
July  12,  1865. 


ONE  HUNDRED  AND   FORTIETH  REGIMENT,  INFANTRY, 

COMPANY  F. 

Company  F  of  this  regiment  was  raised  in  Mercer  county,  in  May, 
1864,  by  Van  R.  Harriott,  of  Viola,  and  George  Boone  and  R.  S.  Os- 
born,  of  Aledo,  and  was  mustered  in  June  18th,  with  eighty  men,  for 
lOO  days.  The  officers  were  :  Osborn,  captain ;  Boone,  first  lieuten- 
ant, and  Harriott,  second  lieutenant.  The  company  rendezvoused  at 
Rock  Island,  May  9th ;  from  there  it  went  to  Dixon,  and  thence  to 
camp  Butler.  The  regiment  was  stationed  at  Lafayette,  Tennessee, 
and  also  did  duty  at  Memphis,  but  was  never  in  action.  Some  mem- 
bers of  company  F  had  a  fight  at  Lafayette,  August  8th,  with  bush- 
whackers, and  Edward  B.  Harris,  of  Perryton,  and  John  W.  Maury, 
of  Aledo,  were  killed,  and  Alfred  F.  Noble,  of  New  Boston,  Robert 
Breakey  and  Milton  M.  Jones  were  wounded,  the  former  mortally. 
The  following  died  of  disease  :  Jonathan  Mounts,  Joseph  M.  Sawyer, 
and  Zachariah  T.  Warren.  The  liOth  was  mustered  out  October  29, 
1864. 


ELEVENTH  ILLINOIS  CAVALRY,  COMPANY  C. 

This  regiment  was  raised  by  the  famous  orator  and  philanthropist 
Col.  Robert  G.  Ingersoll,  and  was  rendezvoused  at  Peoria,  and  mus- 
tered into  service  in  December,  1861.  In  company  C  were  fifteen  or 
more  men  from  Mercer  county,  nearly  all  of  them  from  Suez  township. 
George  W.  Freeman,  then  of  Galesburg,  now  of  Amboy,  Lee  county, 
Illinois,  was  captain ;  Charles  E.  Johnson,  of  Ionia,  first  lieutenant ; 
and  Moses  T.  Lewman,  of  San  Jose,  second  lieutenant.  George  W. 
Greenwood,  of  Pope  Creek,  was  first  sergeant,  and  rose  regularly  to 
the  captaincy. 


860  HISTORY    OF    ATERCER   AND   HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Company  H  had  in  its  ranks  several  men  from  Henderson  county. 
Capt.  John  C.  Knowlton  was  a  Henderson  county  man.  All  the  first 
lieutenants  that  the  comj)any  ever  had  (Francis  Le  Clair,  Henry  M. 
Cornell,  James  G.  Hull,  and  James  K.  Reasoner)  belonged  to  the 
same  county.  Cornell  was  first  sergeant,  and  once  promoted.  Reas- 
oner was  second  duty  sergeant,  and  promoted  first  and  second  lieu- 
tenant. Hull  was  the  last  of  the  three  captains.  Unhappily  no  mem- 
oranda of  the  movements  of  the  Eleventh  have  been  ofiicially  pre- 
served, and  time  is  too  short  for  the  research  that  would  be  necessary 
for  a  sketch,  brief  as  it  would  have  to  be. 


LIEUT.ALVAH    W.PAUL 
(deceiased^ 


HISTORY  OF  HENDERSON  COUNTY. 


CONTRIBUTED    BY    J.    SIMPSON,    ESQ. 


b 


Henderson  connty,  whicli  once  formed  *a  part  of  Warren  county, 
is  situated  upon  the  western  border  of  the  state,  and  is  comprised  of 
eight  full  townships  and  six  fractional  townships,  aggregating  about 
400  square  miles.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Mercer  county,  on 
the  east  by  Warren  county,  on  the  south  by  McDonough  and  Hancock 
counties,  and  on  the  west  by  the  Mississippi  river.  Numerous  streams 
break  the  surface  in  their  passage  from  the  eastern  part  to  their  outlet, 
the  Mississippi  river.  The  largest  of  these  streams  is  Henderson  river, 
which  rises  north  and  east  of  the  county,  and  passes  in  a  southwesterly 
direction,  and  empties  into  the  Mississippi  about  midway  between 
Oquawka,  the  county  seat  of  Henderson  county,  and  Burlington,  Iowa. 
Cedar  creek  rises  in  Knox  county,  and  empties  into  the  Henderson  in 
township  12  N.,  4  W.,  in  the  northeastern  part  of  the  county.  It  is 
a  small  stream,  but  in  times  of  heavy  rains  it  leaves  its  banks  and 
spreads  over  a  large  space,  doing  great  damage.  Fall  creek,  North 
and  South  Smith  creeks  are  small  streams  which  empty  into  Hender- 
son a  little  east  and  north  of  Oquawka.  South  Henderson  rises  in  the 
eastern  part  of  the  county  and  enters  Henderson  a  half  of  a  mile  north 
of  the  town  of  Gladstone.  Farther  to  the  south  Ellison  creek  runs 
from  east  to  west  through  the  county,  and  empties  into  the  Mississippi 
above  the  town  of  Carman.  Still  farther  south  in  the  county  are 
Honey  and  Dugout  creeks,  running  in  a  westerly  direction.  The 
prairies  of  this  county  comprise  something  less  than  half  of  its  area. 
The  soil  of  the  prairie  is  excellent  for  agricultural  purposes,  consisting 
of  a  blackish  loam  underlaid  with  a  brown  clay.  On  the  high  lands 
that  bound  the  streams  the  soil  is  lighter  and  less  productive.  These 
high  lands  were  formerly  covered  with  timber ;  but  improvidence  in  its 
use  and  ravages  of  fire  have,  in  a  great  measure,  denuded  these  ridges, 
and  the  process  of  destruction  still  goes  on.  The  common  growth 
was  the  different  varieties  of  oak,  with  some  hickory,  witli  an  under- 
growth of  hazel  interspersed  with  some  sumac.  On  the  lower  lands, 
and  in  the  bottoms  we  find  the  various  species  of  elm,  linden,  ash, 
49 


864  HISTORY    OF   IVrERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

maple,  box-elder,  cottonwood,  buckeye,  black  walnut,  butternut,  honey 
and  black  locust,  aspen,  wild  cherry,  hackberry,  mulberry,  coffee  tree, 
crab-apple,  redbud,  and  many  other  varieties  of  small  growth  of  tim- 
ber. From  the  north  end  of  the  county  to  near  Camp  creek  on  the 
south  extends  a  belt  of  bottom  land  of  an  average  width  of  about  two 
and  one-half  miles.  A  portion  of  this  belt  is  rich  black  loam,  very 
fertile  and  producing  lieavj^  crops.  However,  .  the  overflow  of  the 
Mississippi  in  spring  time  renders  business  of  farming  these  lands  very 
uncertain.  Along  this  belt  extends  between  the  bluff"  and  river,  for 
nearly  the  entire  length  of  the  county,  elevations  or  sand  ridges, 
embracing  many  square  miles  of  unproductive  land,  although  a  portion 
of  these  sand  lands  are  cultivated  with  success,  producing  remunera- 
tive crops.  This  sandy  soil  is  especially  adapted  to  the  culture  of 
sorghum  or  sugar  cane,  which  is  at  the  present  time  being  quite  exten- 
sively cultivated.  And  in  view  of  the  success  attending  the  use  of 
improved  machinery  in  other  portions  of  the  state,  there  is  every 
reason  t(_)  expect  that  the  future  value  of  these  sand  lands  will  be  greatly 
enhanced. 

This  county  is  favored  with  numerous  springs  of  excellent  water, 
furnishing  a  constant  and  copious  supplv,  sufficient  for  the  necessities 
of  large  herds  of  cattle.  Little  difficulty  is  found  in  obtaining  a  water 
supply  in  wells  at  a  very  moderate  depth,  varying  from  ten  to  fifty 
feet.  There  have  been  found  some  mineral  springs  of  some  value,  but 
few,  il'  any,  have  been  subjected  to  a  chemical  analysis,  so  as  to  deter- 
mine their  medicinal  qualities.  However,  it  is  known  that  copperas  is 
the  mineral  most  commonly  held  in  solution  by  their  waters.  Hender- 
son county  has  an  abundant  sujiply  of  building  stone,  which  may  be 
said  to  be  inexhaustible.  It  is  of  the  species  called  by  geologists  Bur- 
lington limestone,  and  is  found  in  and  along  the  bluffs,  extending  the 
entire  length  of  the  county,  and  to  some  extent  along  the  bluffs  of  the 
creeks  which  find  their  outlet  in  the  Mississippi.  This  rock  is  found  to 
be  light  colored  massive  limestone,  standing  exposure  well  and  the 
effects  of  the  weather.  There  are  many  quarries  of  this  stone  open  and 
worked  along  the  bluffs  of  Ellison  and  Henderson  creeks.  The  most 
extensive  quarry  in  the  county  is  on  South  Henderson,  and  is  worked 
by  August  Wallbaum,  Esq.,  near  the  town  of  (xladstone,  on  the  line  of 
the  Chicago,  Burlington  Sz  Quincy  railroad.  Here'  an  extensive  busi- 
ness is  carried  on  in  quarrying  and  finishing  stone  for  buildings  of  all 
kinds.  Many  of  the  best  buildings  in  the  state  are  furnished  with 
material  from  this  quarry.  The  court-houses  in  Freeport  and  Macomb 
are  built  of  this  stone.  The  government  buildings  at  Omaha  are  like- 
wise built  of  stone  from  this  quarry.     As  many  as  seventy-five  hands 


HENDERSON   COUNTY.  865 

are  constantly  employed  the  greater  portion  of  the  year  in  carrying  on 
this  business.     This  county  is  so  unfortunate  as  to  iind  but  a  very  small 
supply  of  coal  within  her  limits.     On  Sees.  24  and  26,  T.  9  N.,  4  W., 
a  thin  seam  has  been  found,  but  this  supply  is  but  a  scant  amount  and 
that  of  an  inferior  quality.     Many  hope  yet  to  find  coal  in  adequate 
supply,  but  scientific  examination  gives  small  promise  for  the  realiza- 
tion of  their  hopes,  and  this  county  may  expect  to  depend  upon  more 
favored  localities  for  her  supply  of  coal.     The  soil  of  the  county  is  well 
adapted  to  the  production  of  corn,  wheat,  and  other  grains,  and  fruit 
of  all   kinds,    adajjted   to   this   latitude,   is   jiroduced   in  abundance, 
although  along  the  bluft'  lines  orchards  thrive  better  than  on  prairie  or 
bottom  lands,  and   in  the  bottoms  and  upon  the  timbered  portion  of 
the  sand  ridges,  the  wild  grape  grows  luxuriantly,  yielding  a  grape- 
that  produces  an  excellent  wine. 

ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  COUNTY. 

With  this  brief  geographical  view  of  the  territory,  it  is  proper  now 
to  pass  to  the  organization  of  the  county.  As  stated  in  the  beginning, 
this  county  was  formerly  embraced  in,  and  formed  a  part  of,  Warren 
county.  In  the  year  LS41  an  act  was  passed  by  the  general  assembly, 
and  duly  approved,  creating  the  county  of  Henderson,  the  following 
being  a  correct  copy  of  the  act : 

An  Act  to  EstahHsJi.  the  County  of  Henderson : — Section  1.  Be  it 
enacted  by  the  people  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  represented  in  the  gen- 
eral assembly :  that  all  that  part  of  the  now  county  of  Warren  lying 
west  of  range  three  of  the  third  principal  meridian,  be,  and  the  same  is 
hereby  created,  into  a  new  county,  to  be  called  the  county  of  Hen- 
derson. 

Sec.  2.  The  county  seat  of  said  county  of  Henderson  shall  be,  and 
is  hereby  permanently  located  at  the  town  of  Oquawka,  in  said  county 
of  Henderson ;  provided^  the  proprietors  of  said  town  of  Oquawka  shall 
donate  and  convey  to  the  count}''  commissioners  of  Henderson  county, 
(for  the  time  being)  for  the  use  and  benefit  of  said  county  in  fee  simple 
not  less  than  two  hundred  of  the  average  of  the  unsold  or  unimproved 
lots,  in  said  town  of  Oquawka,  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  said  town 
lots,  or  so  much  thereof  as  may  be  required,  shall  be  appropriated 
exclusively  to  the  erection  of  public  buildings. 

Sec.  3.  In  case  of  the  removal  of  the  county  seat  from  said  town 
of  Oquawka,  the  public  buildings  and  the  lots  upon  which  they  may 
stand  shall  revert  and  become  the  property  of  said  proprietors  and 
their  heirs  forever  thereafter,  and  also  all  lots  remaining  unsold  at  the 
the  time  of  removal. 


866  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

Sec.  4.  The  legal  voters  of  the  county  of  Henderson  shall  meet  at 
the  usual  places  of  holding  elections  in  said  county,  on  the  first  Mon- 
day in  April,  1841,  and  proceed  to  elect  all  county  officers,  except  one 
commissioner  and  the  justices  of  the  peace  and  constables  at  present 
residing  therein,  who  shall  continue  to  discharge  the  duties  of  their 
offices,  respectively,  in  and  for  the  county  of  Henderson,  in  the  same 
manner  as  though  Warren  county  had  not  been  divided.  The  officers 
elected  under  the  provisions  of  this  act  shall  hold  their  offices  until 
the  next  regular  election,  and  until  their  successors  are  elected  and 
qualified. 

Sec.  5.  The  county  commissioners  of  said  county  of  Henderson 
shall  meet  in  the  town  of  Oquawka,  on  the  third  Monday  of  April, 
1841,  and  after  being  duly  qualified,  shall  proceed  to  hold  court  and 
perform  such  duties  as  are  required  by  law  of  other  county  commis- 
sioners' courts.  Of  the  commissioners  elected  under  the  provisions  of 
this  act,  the  one  receiving  the  liighest  number  of  votes  shall  hold  his 
office  for  the  term  of  three  years  from  and  after  [the]  first  Monday  in 
August  next ;  the  one  receiving  the  second  highest  number  of  votes 
shall  hold  his  office  for  the  term  of  two  years  from  and  after  that  period. 

Sec  6.  The  county  commissioners  shall,  whenever  in  their  opinion 
the  interests  of  the  county  may  demand  and  require  the  sale  of  the 
whole  or  any  part  of  the  lots  donated  as  aforesaid,  proceed  to  sell  the 
same,  in  such  manner,  and  on  such  terms  they  may  deem  advisable 
for  the  interests  of  the  county. 

Sec.  T.  The  election  returns  for  the  officers  herein  provided  to  be 
elected,  shall  be  made  in  the  same  manner,  and  within  the  same  time 
as  all  other  elections,  except  that  the  returns  shall  be  made  to  John  B. 
Patterson,  an  acting  justice  of  the  peace,  of  said  county,  or  in  case  of 
his  death  or  inability  to  act,  any  other  justice  of  the  peace  of  said 
county,  who  shall  call  to  his  assistance  two  other  justices  of  the  peace 
of  said  county,  and  proceed  to  open  the  returns  of  the  election,  and  in 
all  things  perform  the  duties  required  of  the  county  commissioners' 
court  and  justices  of  the  peace  in  like  cases. 

Sec  8.  The  county  commissioners'  court  at  their  first  term  to  be 
holden  on  the  third  Monday  of  April,  1841,  shall  proceed,  together 
with  the  proprietors  of  the  said  town  of  Oquawka,  to  select  the  num- 
ber of  town  lots  herein  before  provided  to  be  donated,  and  so  soon  as 
the  selection  shall  be  made  and  agreed  upon,  the  proprietors  shall  im- 
mediately thereupon  execute  a  deed  in  fee  simple  for  said  lots  to  the 
county  commissioners  for  the  time  being,  for  the  use  and  benefit  of 
said  county,  which  deed  when  so  made  and  acknowledged  and  received 
shall  be  entered  upon  the  records  of  said  court,  and  also  be  recorded  as 
other  deeds  are  in  tlie  office  of  the  countv  recorder. 


EARLY    SETTLEMENTS.  867 

Sec.  9.  The  school  commissioner  of  Warren  county  shall  pay  over 
to  the  commissioners  of  Henderson  county,  upon  demand  being 
made  by  said  county  commissioners,  or  their  legally  constituted  agent, 
all  moneys,  notes  and  other  papers  which  may  be  in  his  hands  at  the 
time  of  such  demand,  and  which  may  rightfully  belong  to  said  county 
of  Henderson,  by  reason  of  the  sale  of  any  school  lands  located  within 
the  county  of  Henderson,  and  also  its  proportion  of  the  interest  arising 
from  the  college  and  seminary  fund,  the  basis  of  which  payment  shall 
be  made  ujDon  the  late  census  of  Warren  county. 

Sec.  10.  All  officers  elected  under  and  pursuant  to  the  provisions 
of  this  act,  shall  be  required  to  take  such  oath  or  affirmation  and  give 
such  bond  and  security  as  are  or  may  be  required  of  like  officers  in 
other  counties,  and  upon  a  failure  so  to  do,  the  same  penalties  and  for- 
feitures shall  apply  as  in  similar  cases  under  the  laws  of  this  state. 

Sec.  11.  It  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  county  commissioners'  court  of 
Henderson  county,  at  their  iirst  meeting  on  the  first  Monday  of  April 
next,  as  provided  in  the  fifth  section  of  this  act,  to  proceed  to  levy  a 
tax  for  state  and  county  purjDOses,  as  required  by  the  law  in  relation 
to  the  public  revenue,  in  the  same  manner  as  though  they  had  met  on 
the  first  Monday  of  March,  as  now  required,  and  shall  also  do  and  per- 
form all  other  things  necessary  and  lawful  to  insure  the  collection  of 
the  state  and  county  revenue  in  said  county  of  Henderson. 

Approved  January  20,  1841. 

The  general  assembly  of  the  state  also  passed  an  act,  approved 
February  19,  181-1,  entitled,  "An  act  to  authorize  the  election  of  an 
additional  county  commissioner  in  Henderson  county." 

Section  1.  Be  it  enacted  by  the  people  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  repre- 
sented in  the  general  assembly,  that  on  the  first  Monday  in  August 
next,  there  shall  be  elected  in  the  county  of  Henderson,  one  county 
commissioner  for  said  county  in  addition  to  the  members  already  pro- 
vided to  be  elected  by  the  act  entitled  "An  act  creating  the  county  of 
Henderson,  approved  January  20,  1841,"  who  shall  hold  his  office  for 
one  year  from  and  after  said  first  Monday  of  August  next,  as  aforesaid  ; 
and  thereafter  election  for  county  commissioners  shall  be  held,  notice 
given,  and  returns  made  thereof  in  the  same  manner  as  now  re- 
quired by  law.  Approved  February  19,  1841.  Tlie  boundaries  of  the 
county  remain  as  at  first  designated  by  the  general  assembly. 

EARLY   SETTLEMENTS. 

Did  time  and  space,  and  the  limits  of  the  wi'iter  of  this  article 
permit,  a  volume  could  be  written  of  the  early  settlement,  growth  and 
prosperity  of  this  county.     The  struggles  and  privations  of  the  pioneer 


868  HISTORY    OF    MERCER   AJSTD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

are  but  repetitions  of  experiences  of  frontier  life,  which  are  fall  of  inci- 
dents that,  portrayed  in  all  their  minuteness,  would  form  volumes  of 
instructive  and  interesting  history.  The  vast  west,  the  continually  re- 
ceding frontier  demanded  then,  as  now,  daring,  self-sacrificing  men  and 
women,  who  were  willing  to  make  sacrifice  of  the  pleasures  derived 
from  the  society  of  the  older  and  populous  states,  and  seek  in  western 
wilds  to  assist  in  laying  the  foundations  of  new  empires.  It  is  well 
that  it  is  so.  How  else  could  these  almost  limitless  regions  have  ever 
been  settled  'i  That  spirit  of  enter^irise,  that  love  of  adventure,  that 
reckless  braving  of  all  dangers,  seems  to  have  been  an  inheritance  of 
those  men  and  women  peculiarly  raised  up  to  meet  the  demands  of 
the  great  west,  in  filling  her  borders  with  a  vigorous,  intelligent  and 
self-reliant  people.  Looking  back  into  the  past  we  have  seen  genera- 
tion succeed  generation  in  the  older  states,  men  content  to  live  where 
their  fathers  lived,  and  die  where  their  fathers  died,  without  that 
restless  desire  for  roaming  that  has  characterized  our  people  in 
later  days.  With  the  opening  of  new  states  and  territories  we  have 
witnessed  a  new  sj^irit  infusing  itself  into  our  population.  The 
home  of  childhood,  the  graves  of  ancestors,  have  been  but  feeble 
ties  to  bind  the  restless  spirit  whose  vision  was  fixed  in  the  direc- 
tion of  the  setting  sun,  and  saw  spread  out  before  him  the  field 
where  wealth  and  honor  were  to  be  won.  The  w^rld  has  looked  on 
and  wondered,  as  they  have  seen  the  mighty  tide  of  emigration  moving 
westward  with  such  quiet  and  resistless  force,  breaking  down  all  bar- 
riers, overcoming  all  obstacles,  and  organizing  states  as  if  by  magic, 
filled  with  intelligent,  thrifty  and  orderly  people.  Powerful  Indian 
tribes  have  melted  away  and  given  place  to  a  refined  commercial  peo- 
ple. Neighboring  nations  who  seemed  to  stand  in  the  path  of  our  on- 
ward progress,  have,  after  short  conflict,  or  direct  diplomacy,  given 
ground  and  sought  peace  at  the  price  of  dismembered  territory,  which 
was  added  to  our  almost  boundless  empire.  No  wonder  that  the  poet 
sang : 

"  Oh,  vale  of  Rio  Bravo,  let  thy  simple  cliildi^en  weep, 
Close  wateh  about  their  holy  fires,  let  maids  of  Pe/os  keej). 
For  lo,  the  pale  land  seeker  comes  with  eager  eyes  of  gain 
"Wide-spreading  like  the  Bison  herd  on  green  Salada's  plain, 
Full  hot  and  fast  the  Saxon  rides  with  rein  of  travel  slack 
And  bending  o'er  his  saddle  leaves  the  sunrise  at  his  back." 

The  nature  and  character  of  the  country  demanded  such  a  people, 
and  they  sprang  forth;  they  had  a  mission  to  fulfill,  and  they  addressed 
themselves  to  tlie  task  of  fulfilling  it.  That  mission  was  the  peopling 
of  new  states,  establishing  societies  founded  on  law  and  order,  subduing 


EARLY    SETTLEMENTS.  869 

tlie  wilds  of  the  unknown  west,  and  with  capital  and  labor  combined 
preparing  this  vast  region  of  country  as  a  home  for  the  teeming 
millions  of  the  future.  Those  men  by  their  energy  and  bravery,  gave 
us  safety  where  they  found  danger,  gave  us  quiet  and  peace  where  they 
found  savage  warfare.  We  reckon  it  almost  in  days  since  the  time 
when,  where  we  now  sit  surrounded  by  all  comforts  and  luxuries  of 
civilized  life,  the  wild  prairie  grass  waved  in  the  wind,  and  the  pon- 
derous buftalo  galloped  over  the  plain  unmolested  by  the  pale  hunter, 
and  to  quote  an  eloquent  writer,  "Here  lived  and  loved  another 
race  of  people.  Beneath  the  same  sun  that  shines  on  us  the  Indian 
hunter  pursued  the  panting  deer;  gazing  on  the  same  moon  that 
nightly  smiles  on  us,  the  Indian  lover  wooed  his  dusky  mate.  Here, 
too,  they  warred,  and  when  the  tiger  strife  was  over,  here  curled  the 
smoke  of  peace."     This  has  all  passed  away,  and  the  pioneer  has  gone. 

"  .     .     .  ,  .Tciyful  on  liis  way 

To  wed  Penubscot's  water  to  San  Francisco's  bay, 

To  make  the  rugged  places  smooth  and  sow  the  vales  with  grain, 

And  bear  with  liberty  and  law  the  bible  in  his  train." 

It  is  no  easy  task  to  determine  with  certainty  who  was  actually 
the  lirst  to  make  a  permanent  settlement  in  this  count}^,  and  if  a  slight 
error  shall  be  found  in  this  sketch,  it  will  only  show  the  liability  of 
any  one  to  fall  into  an  error,  while  trusting  to  memory  of  others  as  to 
dates  and  events  running  back  for  a  half  of  a  century.  The  writer  has 
sought  what  seemed  to  be  the  most  reliable  source  of  information. 
Little  could  be  found  recorded  to  throw  light  upon  the  questions. 

In  182S  John  Cam])bell  came  to  this  section  of  country  and  made 
his  home  on  Henderson  river,  about  two  miles  east  of  Oquawka  land- 
ing, on  what  has  been  for  many  years  known  as  the  "Devil's  Half 
Acre,"  a  name  given  the  locality  by  Rev.  Peter  Cartwright  in  early 
times  on  account,  as  he  thought,  of  its  apjiropriateness.  Mr.  Campbell 
improved  the  land  now  owned  by  Newton  Wood  on  the  S.  W.  J  of 
Sec.  35,  T.  11  N.,  5  W.,  being  the  field  that  lies  north  of  the  Oquawka 
road  and  east  of  Mr.  Wood's  house.  He  broke  the  ground  in  1828, 
and  raised  a  crop  on  it  in  1829.  In  the  year  1828  James  Ryerson 
settled  in  the  territory  embraced  within  this  county,  on  Sec.  3,  T.  10  N., 
5  W.,  upon  which  he  has  ever  since  resided,  and  broke  the  land  prepara- 
tory to  a  crop  for  the  following  year.  In  the  same  year,  however,  he 
raised  a  crop  on  the  land  then  owned  by  S.  S.  Phelps  on  Henderson 
creek,  about  two  miles  southeast  of  Oquawka,  on  what  is  now  known 
as  the  Capt.  James  Findley  farm.  Mr.  Ryerson  still  maintains  his 
bodily  and  mental  faculties,  although  upward  of  eighty  years  of  age. 
He  is  often  seen  on  the  streets  of  the  town  actively  attending  to  his 


870  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

every-day  business.  Throughout  his  long  life  he  has  ever  maintained 
a  high  character  as  a  citizen,  and  in  all  the  relations  of  life  his  charac- 
ter stands  without  reproach.  Prior  to  1828  Jeremiah  Smith  erected  a 
saw-mill  near  the  place  where  now  stands  the  flour-mill  on  Henderson, 
upon  the  ''Half  Acre."  In  the  year  1828  Smith  and  a  partner  built 
an  addition  to  the  saw-mill  and  placed  two  run  of  stone  in  it  for 
grinding  grain.  Shortly  afterward  Martin  Woods  settled  at  this  mill 
locality  and  became  the  active  miller  at  that  place.  He  and  his  son 
(Newton  Woods)  still  reside  upon  premises  adjoining  the  mill.  This 
mill  property  has  changed  hands  many  times,  and  the  locality  was 
familiarlv  called  "Jack's  Mills,'"  on  account  of  the  name  of  the  owner 
at  one  time  being  Andrew  T.  W.  Jack,  an  eccentric  Scotchman,  who 
for  many  years  carried  on  the  milling  business.  The  mill  property  is 
at  present  owned  and  operated  by  Jacob  Eodmacher,  who  continues  to 
do  considerable  business  in  a  small  way. 

Large  mills  w^ith  all  the  modern  improvements  that  science  has 
brought  to  bear,  together  with  the  aid  of  concentrated  capital,  have 
wrought  out  a  new  order  of  things  in  the  milling  business,  by  pro- 
ducing abetter  article  of  flour,  and  at  a  lower  price  than  can  be  afibrded 
by  small  mills  run  upon  the  old  style  of  doing  business.  These  large 
mills  have  rendered  the  small  ones  comparatively  valueless,  and  no 
longer  in  demand  by  the  people.  So  it  is  in  almost  every  other  branch 
of  business.  In  lumber,  the  large  mill  establishments  have  practically 
destroyed  the  small  manufacturers,  and  compelled  them  to  adopt  like 
systems  of  combination  of  capital  and  labor,  or  see  themselves  under- 
sold until  they  are  forced  to  leave  the  market.  In  the  business  of  pork 
packing,  in  early  time,  every  town  upon  the  Mississippi  river  had  its 
packing  establishments,  where  a  flourishing  business  was  done  during 
the  winter  months,  in  cutting  hogs  and  curing  the  meat,  and  when 
spring  opened  navigation  the  steamers  took  this  meat  and  lard  in 
barrel  and  bulk  to  St.  Louis  or  New  Orleans.  Now  that  is  all  passed 
away,  and  the  business  now  is  only  carried  on  in  the  large  cities,  where 
immense  structures  and  improved  processes  enable  them  to  do  the 
work  more  economically  than  can  be  done  in  small  establishments. 

Among  the  early  settlers  of  the  territory  now  embraced  within  the 
present  limits  of  Henderson  county  was  Judge  John  Pence.  He  was 
born  January  15,  1TY6,  in  Shenandoah  county,  Virginia.  In  early  life  he 
was  a  slave-holder,  but  upon  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  he  freed  all  of 
his  slaves  and  removed  to  Champaign  county,  Ohio,  where  he  again 
married  and  removed  to  Bartholomew  county,  Indiana.  Shortly  after 
he  became  a  citizen  of  the  latter  state  he  was  elected  county  judge  of 
Bartholomew  county,  and  held  the  office  for  a  term  of  six  years.     At 


EAKLY    SETTLEMENTS.  871 

this  time  his  second  wife  died,  and  he  married  for  his  third  wife  a 
widow  lady  by  the  name  of  Record,  whose  maiden  name  was  Elizabeth 
lieaton.  From  Indiana  he  removed  to  Illinois  and  settled  near  Joliet, 
where  he  lived  for  a  short  time,  when  he  again  moved  and  took  up  his 
residence  in  Rock  Island  county,  in  an  old  block  house  built  by  an  In- 
dian chief,  Black  Hawk.  He  raised  one  crop  at  this  point  and  then 
removed  to  a  point  on  Henderson  river,  about  three  miles  northeast  of 
Oquawka,  where  he  made  his  tinal  settlement  and  home.  The  place 
has  ever  since  been  known  by  old  settlers  as  the  "Old  Pence  Farm." 
This  was  in  182U  that  he  made  his  last  settlement.  In  1830 
the  county  of  Warren  was  organized,  and  Judge  Pence  was  elected 
commissioner  with  Adam  (Sandy)  Ritchie,  and  John  B.  Talbott. 
Warren  county  was  then  divided  into  two  election  precincts ;  the 
eastern  being  what  is  now  Warren  county,  and  the  western  being 
composed  of  what  is  now  Her  derson  county,  then  known  as  the  Yellow 
Banks  precinct.  In  the  latter  precinct  Judge  Pence  and  Daniel 
McJN^eil,  Jr.,  were  elected  justices.  In  1830  the  hostilities  were  com- 
menced by  the  Indians  under  the  great  chief,  Black  Hawk,  and  the 
settlers  along  Henderson  river,  near  Judge  Pence's  place,  feeling  inse- 
» cure  and  fearing  the  attack  of  savages,  assembled  and  erected  a  rude 
but  substantial  fort  on  the  farm  of  Judge  Pence,  which  immediately 
became  the  refuge  of  settlers  in  that  neighborhood,  who  gathered  in  to 
be  in  rejidiness  to  repel  anticipated  raids  of  the  savage  foe.  The  site 
of  the  old  fort  is  well  remembered  by  the  old  settlers  of  this  section  of 
country.  At  this  fort,  during  those  stormy  times,  a  son  was  born  to 
the  judge,  who  was  known,  until  he  became  a  young  man,  by  the  name 
of  Black  Hawk.  Judge  Pence  was  one  of  those  noble,  great-hearted 
men,  always  to  be  found  upon  the  frontiers,  ever  ready  to  aid  those 
around  him  in  need.  He  lived  and  died  loved  and  respected  by  all 
who  knew  him.  His  daughter,  Mrs.  Catharine  Shores,  thus  remembers 
and  speaks  of  her  father  :  "Often  he  would  bring  the  sick  and  afflicted 
home  with  him  and  take  care  of  them,  as  though  they  were  members 
of  his  own  family,  free  of  charge.  I  well  remember  the  sides  of  bacon, 
sacks  of  flour  and  potatoes,  the  gallons  of  honey,  that  he  from  time  to 
time,  distributed  among  his  needy  neighbors.  Our  father,  by  industry 
and  economy,  always  managed  to  have  a  good  supply  of  necessaries  of 
life  around  him,  but  he  always  felt  that  he  held  this  world's  goods  only 
in  trust  for  his  suffering  fellow  man,  as  well  as  for  himself  While  he 
resided  in  Ohio  and  Indiana  he  was  an  ordained  Baptist  preacher,  and 
sometimes,  after  he  took  up  his  residence  in  Henderson  county,  he 
occupied  some  unprovided  pulpit  and  preached  to  his  neighbors.  He 
was  a  Christian,  and  at  all  times  endeavored  to  live  up  to  the  teachings 


872  HISTORY    OF   IVIERCER    AJST>    HEXDERSOX    ( OUNTIES. 

of  the  bible.  He  was  the  father  of  sixteen  cliikh*en,  and  raised  six 
orphans  besides.  He  died  in  1841,  at  his  okl  homestead,  and  his  wife 
survived  him  two  vears.'' 

Dr.  Isaac  Garhmd  came  to  the  present  site  of  Oqnawka,  then 
known  as  the  Yellow  Banks,  and  erected  the  first  house  at  that  place 
in  1827.  We  find  in  the  account  compiled  for  the  historv  of  Warren 
county,  that  the  doctor,  in  giving  an  account  of  his  building  of  his 
house,  says:  "There  were  no  white  men  to  help  him,  save  his 
teamster,  and  in  the  emergency  he  hired  six  or  eight  Indians,  who 
were  encamped  at  a  ]ioint  of  timber  below.  He  had  to  pay  for  each 
log  as  it  was  rolled  to  its  place,  and  then  give  them  a  drink  all  around. 
As  they  were  unused  to  such  labor,  and  particularly  after  they  had 
imbibed  two  or  three  drinks  of  liquor,  thereby  becoming  unsteady  in 
their  movements,  they  were  unable  to  perform  heavy  work.  Often  at 
this  stage  of  the  labor,  the  logs,  which  were  unhewn  and  of  black- 
jack variety,  and  coming  down  on  their  bare  arms  and  breasts,  would 
tear  ofl:'  great  flakes  of  skin.  They  would  give  an  ejaculatorv  'ouch,' 
and  at  once  quit  work  for  the  day.  Their  love  of  the  'fire-water'  was 
so  great,  however,  that  they  would  always  return  the  following  day, 
thereby  repeating  the  process  until  the  house  was  completed.*"'  A  few ' 
other  houses  were  built  during  this  year  (1827).  In  1828-9  quite  a 
number,  of  settlers  came  and  located  in  difierent  parts  of  the  county. 
Judge  John  Pence  settled  on  Henderson  creek,  at  what  is  known  as 
the  "old  Pence  place  ;"  Jeremiah  Smith  settled  on  Henderson  creek, 
about  two  miles  east  of  Oquawka,  near  what  was  afterward  known  as 
the  "Devil's  Half  Acre."  James  Ryason  located  a  little  lower  down 
the  creek. 

Stephen  S.  Phelps  in  1828  purchased  the  improved  claim  of  Dr. 
Garland,  at  the  Yellow  Banks,  and  removed  liis  family  to  their  new 
home.  Jeremiah  Smith  and  Beatty  settled  nearly  about  the  same 
time.  At  the  election  held  in  Warren  county  in  the  year  1830, 
Stephen  S.  Phelps  was  duly  elected  sherifi'.  At  that  election  there 
were  cast  in  the  county  of  Warren,  including  the  present  territory  of 
Henderson,  fortv-seven  votes,  and  everv  voter  in  the  county  was 
present,  save  three.  John  Reynolds  received  thirty-four  votes  for 
governor,  and  for  the  same  office,  William  Kinney  received  eleven 
votes.  Mr.  Phelps  was  a  native  of  the  state  of  Xew  York.  As  a  full 
biographical  sketch  will  appear  in  this  volume  from  the  peri  of  Mrs. 
Phebe  Button,  his  daughter,  who  is  in  possession  of  his  journals  and 
papers,  it  is  not  necessary  here  to  speak  more  at  length  of  one  who 
performed  a  ju'ominent  part  in  the  early  settlement  of  the  county. 
William  P.  Jamison  settled  in  Henderson  countv  in  1829.     He 


EARLY    SETTLEMENTS.  873 

was  born  in  Grayson  county,  Kentucky,  January  8,  1808,  and  removed 
to  Perry  countv,  Indiana,  with  his  parents.  Here  he  remained  until 
he  became  a  man.  He  married  in  Perry  county.  In  1829  he  came  to 
Henderson  countv,  hinding  at  the  Yellow  Banks  in  the  summer  of  that 
year,  and  made  a  settlement  on  a  farm  about  seven  miles  southeast  of 
the  latter  place.  He  succeeded,  as  all  enterprising  and  industrious 
settlers  did,  opening  a  large  farm  and  making  tine  improvements  of 
buildings,  orchards  and  nurseries.  In  1847  he  removed  to  Oquawka 
and  engaged  in  mercantile  business  with  Alexander  Moir.  He  closed 
his  business  in  Oquawka  and  in  1865  removed  to  the  state  of  Florida, 
where  he  engaged  in  the  cultivaticm  of  an  orange  plantation,  at  which 
place  he  died  on  the  17th  of  June,  1882.  Two  of  his  sons  still  reside 
in  Illinois,  one  in  Minnesota,  one  in  Xebraska,  and  one  in  Florida. 

In  1838  Messrs.  Robinson  and  Hopper  built  the  first  flour  null  on 
the  South  Henderson  creek,  at  a  point  where  now  Biggsville  is  located, 
Slid  operated  it  as  a  toll  mill  to  accommodate  other  settlers  in  tlie  sur- 
rounding country.  The  property  changed  owners  until  it  became  the 
property  of  John  Biggs,  who,  after  years  of  experience  in  running  a 
mill  in  a  new  country,  disposed  of  his  interest  to  Messrs.  Moirs,  of 
Oquawka,  who  continued  to  operate  it  until  about  1860,  when  it  passed 
into  the  hands  of  others. 

Mr.  Hopper  had,  prior  to  the  year  1836,  built  a  lumber  mill 
at  the  place  now  known  as  "Hopper's  Mills."  Afterward  it  was 
changed  to  a  flour  mill  and  has  continued  as  such  to  the  present  time. 
Lambert  Hopper,  son  of  the  original  pro])rietor,  succeeded  his  father  in 
business  at  "Hopper's  Mill."  He  engaged  extensively  in  mercantile 
business  and  carried  on  his  business  in  all  its  varied  branches  with 
marked  success.  He  established  a  woolen  mill  for  the  manufacture  of 
woolen  cloths,  and  by  his  entei*prise  aided  in  building  up  a  thriving 
village.  He  was  a  man  resj)ected  and  trusted  by  all  his  neighbors, 
and  his  death  was  a  great  misfortune  to  the  community  in  which  he 
resided.  Xo  one  succeeded  him  to  carry  on  the  business  he  had  built 
up,  and  it  gradually  went  to  decay,  and  now  there  is  little  left  to  tell 
of  the  thriving  business  of  which  he  was  the  life. 

In  1836  Isaiah  J.  Brook  came  to  this  section  of  country,  seeking  a 
location  for  a  home.  He  purchased  the  N.  E.  J  of  Sec.  34,  in  T.  10 
N.,  R.  5  W.,  in  the  present  limits  of  Henderson  county,  and  the  fol- 
lowing year  removed  with  his  family  to  his  purchase,  and  made  it  his 
future  home.  The  country  was  new,  and  he  improved  his  lands,  and 
from  time  to  time  added  to  the  same  until  he  could  claim  the  owner- 
ship of  many  broad  acres.  Industry,  economy,  and  a  peculiar  apti- 
tude for  business  soon  ])laced  him  among  the  foremost  business  men 


874  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

of  the  county.  His  family  of  sons  and  daughters  grew  to  maturity 
beneath  the  family  roof,  and  are  now  all  situated  in  homes  of  their 
own.  Only  a  few  weeks  since  his  two  remaining  single  daughters 
wedded  husbands  of  their  choice,  and  Mr.  Brooks,  finding  himself 
and  his  estimable  wife  again  alone,  disposed  of  his  home-farm  and 
now  will  seek  that  repose  and  freedom  from  active  business  cares 
which  his  merited  success  will  enable  him  to  enjoy. 

Another  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  county  was  Matthew  Findley, 
who  settled  near  the  Yellow  Banks.  He  was  of  Irish  parentage  and 
born  in  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  January  11,  1793,  where  he 
resided  with  his  parents  until  he  was  seventeen  years  old,  when  his 
family  removed  to  Muskingum  county,  Ohio.  In  the  latter  place  on 
reaching  manhood  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Blackburn,  and  settled 
down  to  farming. 

In  October,  1835,  he  removed  to  Warren  county,  and  spent  the 
following  winter  on  a  farm  near  the  present  site  of  Kirkwood.  In  the 
spring  of  1836  he  removed  to  and  settled  in  Sec.  36,  T.  11  N.,  R.  5 
W.,  in  then  Warren  county,  where  three  of  his  sons  and  one  unmar- 
ried daughter  still  reside.  He  raised  a  family  of  six  children,  four 
sons  and  two  daughters,  all  of  whom  survive  him:  David  M.,  Alex- 
ander, Matthew  M.,  John  Q.,  Sarah,  and  Eliza  Jane.  David,  one  of 
the  brothers,  resided  near  the  old  homestead,  a  prosperous  and  re- 
spected citizen,  until  1875,  when,  on  account  of  his  liealth,  he  removed 
to  San  Luis  Obispo  county,  California,  where  he  now  resides,  engaged 
extensively  in  farming.  The  other  three  brothers  still  reside  on  or  near 
the  place  upon  which  their  father  first  settled,  engaged  in  extensive 
and  successful  farming.  The  father  died  at  his  home,  surrounded  by 
his  family  and  friends,  April  1-,  1863.  He  had  been  chosen  by  the 
votes  of  his  fellow  citizens  to  county  offices,  the  duties  of  which  he 
discharged  with  signal  fidelity.  He  was  justly  entitled  to  the  reputa- 
tion he  enjoyed  among  his  fellow  citizens  of  an  honest  man.  His 
wife  did  not  long  survive  him,  and  in  her  death  a  tragic  event 
occurred. 

It  was  on  September  25,  1863,  that  Mrs.  Findley,  who  resided  with 
her  son  and  daughter  on  the  old  home  place,  told  her  daughter  that 
she  was  going  out  to  pick  some  wild  gra])es  that  grew  near  the  edge 
'  of  a  corn  field  not  far  from  the  house,  in  a  skirt  of  timber,  as  she  was 
very  fond  of  them.  Her  daughter  sought  to  dissuade  her  from  going, 
as  she  was  old  and  feeble,  although  in  good  health,  but  the  ,old  lady 
replied  that  she  could  go  alone,  as  the  distance  was  short,  and  she 
would  not  be  absent  long.  She  took  her  little  tin  bucket  and  started 
out  at  about  three  o'clock  in   the   afternoon.       Her  daughter  being 


EARLY    SET'lLEMENTS.  875 

engaged  in  work  did  not  fear  any  danger,  although  her  mother  was 
absent  for  a  considerable  length  of  time.     At  last,   her  mother  not 
returning,  the  daughter  grew  anxious,  looked  out  for  her.     She  became 
alarmed  and  sought  her  brother  and  told  him  of  the  mother's  absence. 
They,  together  with  other  members  of  the  family,  went  in  haste  to 
make  search  for  then-  mother.     Night  set  in  and  they  found  her  not. 
They  searched  every  path  and  place  where  she  might  have  wandered, 
the  friends  assisting,  and  with  lanterns  and  torclies  they  still  continued 
their  efforts  until  at  last  some  time  after  darkness  had  set  in  they  came 
upon  the  lifeless  remains  of  their  mother.     She.  lay  near  a  small  tree, 
upon  the  ground  where  she  had  been  picking  grapes,  her  bucket  by 
her   side.     At   first   it   was   supposed  that   she    had   fallen,    perhaps 
with  some  sudden  attack  incident  to  old  age,  and  had  thus  died.    They 
took  her  up  and  mournfully  proceeded  to  carry  her  to  their  home. 
She  was  buried  in  the  family  cemetery.     The  friends  felt  that  a  mys- 
tery was  connected  with  her  death.     On  the  day  following  her  burial 
it  was  learned  that  two  boys  from  Oquawka  had  been  in  the  vicinity 
where  the  bodj-  was  found,  on  the  afternoon  of  her  death,  hunting, 
and  that  they  had  told  that  one  of  them  had  fired  at  something  in  a 
grapevine  or  tree  in  the  thicket,  that  he  thought  was  a  turkey,  and  that 
he  saw  something  like  a  person  fall.     The  boys  were  frightened  and 
fled  without   looking  to  see  what  they  had   shot.      The   body  was 
exhumed,  and  R.  W.  Richey,  county  judge,  acting  as  coroner,  held  an 
inquest  on  the  body.     Upon  surgical  examination  being  made,  it  was 
found  that  a  leaden  shot  had  penetrated  through  the  upper  lid  of  the 
eye  and  entered  the  brain,  causing  death  in  a  short  time.     The  boys, 
Frank  Dallam  and  Greely  Mathews,  aged  res])ectively  fourteen  and 
and  ten  years,  admitted  being  in  the  vicinity  and  shooting  as  above 
described,  but  claimed  that  they  had  no  knowledge  or  intention  of 
doing  anything  wrong.     The  friends  of  Mrs.  Findley  never  charged  or 
believed  that  the  act  was  an  intentional  one,  but  felt  that  it  was  the 
result  of  that  reckless  habit  of  neglect  on  the  part  of  parents  in  permit- 
ing  such  mere  boys  to  have  the  control  of  fire-arms  to  use  at  their 
pleasure.     Many  casualities,  for  we  cannot  call  them  accidents,  have 
occurred  in  this  county  by  allowing  such  reckless,  not  to  say  criminal, 
use  of  fire-arms  by  inexperienced  boys.      This  should  have  been  a 
sufficient  lesson,  teaching  those  who  have  charge  and  care  of  such  boys, 
to  lay  a  more  careful  restraint  upon  them  in  this  direction.     The  coro- 
ner's jury,  in  this  Qase,  found  a  verdict  in  accordance  with  the  facts 
herein  stated. 

John  Curts  came  to  this  county  prior  to  the  year  1836,  and  settled 
on  Sec.  No.  35,  T.   9   N.,  R.    6  W.,  about  three  miles  east  of  Sho- 


876  HISTORY    OF   ]VrERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

kokon,  on  the  Mississipjn  river.  At  first  he  engaged  in  farming 
and  stock  raising  as  it  was  carried  on  in  that  early  day.  He  had  come 
from  the  State  of  Pennsylvania,  and  was  educated  in  early  life  in  those 
habits  of  industry  and  economy,  which  lay  the  sure  foundation  of  com- 
petency and  wealth,  lie  had  three  sons  and  five  daughters  all  of 
whom  reached  the  age  of  majority.  He  rapidly,  by  his  business 
capacity,  acquired  property,  and,  assisted  l>y  his  two  sons,  Horatio  and 
John  Fredericks,  he  managed  a  large  farm  to  which  he  gradually  made 
additions.  To  make  a  better  market  for  the  products  of  his  farm  he 
shipped  his  pork  and  grain  to  the  AVisconsin  pine  regions,  taking  in 
exchange  pine  lumber  which  he  brought  by  river  to  Shokokon  and 
established  a  lumber  trade.  Finding  this  a  profitable  trade  his  son 
Horatio  located  in  Wisconsin,  purchased  largely  of  pine  lands,  and 
thus  with  his  two  sons  Mr.  Curts  carried  on  a  successful  and  ])roti table 
business.  Three  of  his  daughters  married  and  settled  in  Henderson 
county.  One  married  in  Texas,  and  one  in  Iowa.  His  son  Thomas 
lived  and  died  in  Pennsylvania.  Horatio  died  in  Shokokon.  The 
father,  John  Curts,  purchased  a  beautiful  home  in  Burlington,  Iowa, 
just  south  of  the  railroad  bridge,  and  removed  there  to  spend  the  eve- 
ning of  his  days,  leaving  John  Fredericks  Curts,  his  son,  in  possession 
of  the  home  place  known  as  the  ''Bear  Grove"  farm  in  Henderson 
county.  In  187-1  the  old  gentleman  met  with  a  severe  accident  by 
falling  down  the  basement  stairs  of  his  dwelling  which  resulted  in  his 
death  in  a  few  days.  He  died  at  Burlington  March  12,  1874.  Upon 
opening  his  will  it  appeared  that  he  had  left  nearly  all  of  his  property, 
which  consisted  of  lands  in  Illinois,  Iowa,  Missouri,  Wisconsin  and 
Arkansas,  bank  stock,  and  other  personal  property  to  his  son,  John 
Fredericks  Curts.  For  so  doing  he  felt  his  reasons  were  sufficient.  His 
son  thus  favored  had  been  a  true  and  faithful  son,  companion  and 
assistant  to  his  father,  and  his  loyalty  to  his  father  found  this  return. 
The  other  legal  heirs,  feeling  that  they  had  been  dealt  unjustly  with  by 
the  terms  of  the  will,  commenced  in  the  circuit  court  of  Des  Moines, 
Iowa,  legal  proceedings  to  set  aside  the  will  on  grounds  of  undue 
influence,  and  mental  incapacity. 

The  case  was  tried  before  Judge  Drayer  and  a  jury,  in  the  city  of 
Burlington,  in  1875,  and  attracted  much  attention  in  this  county  on 
account  of  the  magnitude  of  the  amount  involved,  the  interest  mani- 
fested by  the  citizens  of  this  county,  the  length  of  time  consumed, 
and  the  an-ay  of  counsel  participating  in  the  trial.  The  trial  lasted 
about  four  weeks,  and  on  account  of  the  engagement  of  attorneys 
in  the  case  belonging  on  this  circuit,  the  Henderson  county  cii'- 
cuit  court  was  compelled  to  adjourn  for  one  week  to  enable  them  to 


k 


ORGANIZATION    OF   THE    COUNTY    GOVERNMENT.  S77 

complete  the  case.  Mr.  John  Curts  had  long  resided  in  this  county, 
and  a  deep  interest  was  felt  in  the  determination  of  the  contest.  For 
the  proponents  of  the  will  there  appeared  Hon.  B.  J.  Hall,  of  Burling- 
ton, Charles  M.  Harris,  Jonathan  Simpson,  James  H.  Stewart,  and 
J.  H.  Jennings,  of  Illinois.  For  the  complainants  there  appeared 
Hon.  P.  H.  Smythe,  Messrs.  Tracy  it  Son,  Thomas  Hedges,  and  Mr. 
Antrobus,  of  Burlington,  and  Hon.  John  J.  Glenn,  of  Illinois.  Aiter 
a  long  contest,  as  above  stated,  the  case  was  finally  submitted  to  a  jury, 
who,  after  a  deliberation  of  two  days,  were  unable  to  agree,  and  were 
discharged  by  the  court.  Then  a  change  of  venue  was  a})plied  for, 
and  the  case  sent  to  Fairfield,  Jefferson  county,  Iowa,  for  trial.  Not 
long  after,  the  attorneys,  with  the  consent  of  all  parties  interested, 
made  an  amicable  adjustment  of  the  matter  by  dividing  the  property. 
By  this  decision  John  Fredericks  Curts  received  two-thirds  of  all  the 
estate  of  his  deceased  father,  and  the  other  heirs  received  the  other 
third,  to  be  divided  among  them.  Thus  ended  a  contest  which  gained 
more  notoriety  than  any  case  that  had  been  tried  in  any  of  onr  courts 
for  many  years.  John  Fredericks  still  lives  on  the  old  home  farm, 
known  as  Bear  Grove  farm,  happy,  prosperous,  and  contented.  On 
an  eminence  near  his  house  he  has  laid  out  and  beautified  a  private 
cemetery.  In  this  spot  repose  the  remains  of  his  father,  mother,  and 
brother  Horatio.  On  their  graves  he  has  erected  three  costly  marble 
monuments,  to  mark  the  spot  where  rests  all  that  remains  of  that 
father,  mother,  and  brother,  whom  in  life  he  loved  so  well.  It  is  his 
constant  care  to  adorn  and  beautify  this  place,  and  thus  keep  green 
the  memories  of  his  departed  ones.  May  he  long  live  to  enjoy  his 
surroundings,  which  he  has  so  justly  earned. 

ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  COUNTY  GOVERNMENT. 

In  accordance  with  said  act  of  the  general  assembly  of  the  state, 
the  first  meeting  of  the  commissioners  met  at  Oquawka,  the  county 
seat,  April  19,  1841,  and  organized  a  term  of  the  county  commis- 
sioners' court  of  Henderson  county,  by  entering  upon  their  records  the 
following  proceedings  : 

"State  of  Illino[s,   I  j^g^oi-ds  of  the  Countv  ( 'onimi.ssioners'  Court,  Vol.  I. 
Henderson   Countv.  J 

"According  to  the  provisions  of  an  act  of  the  general  assembly  of 
the  State  of  Illinois,  passed  at  the  session  commencing  the  first  Mon- 
day in  December,  A.D.  1810,  entitled  ^An  Act  to  Establish  the  County 
of  Henderson,'  an  election  was  held  at  the  different  precincts  of  said 
county  on  the  fifth  day  of  April,  1841,  when  Preston  Martin  and 
Benjamin  C.  Coghill  were  duly  elected  county  commissioners,  who, 


878  HISTORY    OF    MJSRCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

together  with  James  C.  Hutcliinson,  who  had  previously  been  elected 
county  commissioner  of  Warren  county,  and  being  included  in  the  new 
county  of  Henderson  was  retained  in  office  by  said  act,  met  at  the 
town  of  Oquawka,  the  county  seat  of  said  county  of  Henderson,  on 
Monday,  the  nineteenth  day  of  April,  1841,  agreeable  to  a  further 
provision  of  the  above-recited  act,  to  hold  a  term  of  the  county  com- 
missioners' court  therein  provided  for,  and  the  said  Preston  Martin 
and  Benjamin  C.  Coghill,  being  duly  qualified  as  the  law  directs,  pro- 
ceeded to  business." 

Alfred  Knowles,  who  had  at  said  election  been  elected  clerk  of  the 
county  commissioners'  court,  filed  his  bond  and  was  duly  qualified. 
William  D.  Henderson,  who  was  elected  sheriff  of  said  county  at  the 
same  time,  was  duly  qualified  as  sheriff.  John  McKinney,  recorder- 
elect,  was  likewise  duly  qualified  as  recorder  of  the  county. 

Then  after  transacting  some  routine  business  adjourned  until  the 
following  day,  when  it  again  convened  for  the  transaction  of  business. 
On  tTiis  day  an  order  was  entered  of  record  for  a  venire  for  the  first 
grand  jury  that  convened  in  the  county.  As  these  names  are  among 
the  early  settlers  of  the  county,  and  are  composed  of  a  class  that  will 
ever  be  remembered  as  pioneers  of  sterling  worth,  whose  examples  in 
life  are  worthy  of  being  imitated,  we  give  the  list  in  full :  Isaac  Cren- 
shaw, James  Scott,  William  Rliodes,  Edward  R.  Adams,  Sidney 
Owens,  Matthew  Findley,  Michael  Crane,  Daniel  Drew,  Frederick 
Davidson,  George  P.  Rice,  Obadiah  Edmunds,  Joseph  Watson,  Isaiah 
J.  Brook,  S.  S.  Leet,  Jonathan  Perkins,  James  Jamison,  Hugh  Lee, 
John  P.  McQuown,  William  L.  Stockton,  Samuel  W.  Lynn,  Thomas 
D.  Wells,  Ebenezer  Chapin,  Jesse  L.  Ellett.  These  were  men  of  ster- 
ling qualities,  well  qualified  by  nature  to  perform  the  duties  of  pioneers, 
who  would  lay  properly  the  foundations  of  society  in  a  new  country. 
The  most  of  these  men  have  gone,  after  attaining  an  honored  old  age, 
and  left  bright  examples  of  a  well-spent  life  to  be  imitated  by  those 
who  have  succeeded  them.  A  few  of  this  list  still  reside  among  us, 
with  lives  bounteously  lengthened  out  in  order  that  they  might 
behold  the  almost  magicial  prosperous  change  in  the  country  of  their 
adoption.  At  this  first  meeting  of  the  commissioners  of  the  county, 
Stephen  S.  Phelps  and  Alexis  Phelps,  the  proprietors  of  the  town  of 
Oquawka,  in  compliance  with  the  conditions  of  the  location  of  the 
county  seat  at  Oquawka,  as  set  forth  in  the  act  of  the  general  assembly, 
presented  to  the  board  a  deed,  conveying  to  the  county  200  town  lots, 
of  average  value  of  the  lots  in  the  town  of  Oquawka,  for  the  purpose 
of  erecting  public  county  buildings  from  the  proceeds  of  the  sale  of  the 
same. 


yjvf  f"-     ' 


ORGANIZATION  OF  THE  COUNTY  GOVERNMENT.  881 

It  was  at  this  first  meeting  of  the  board,  that  the  first  saloon 
license  was  issued  for  Henderson  county ;  John  A.  Lynn,  thus,  for  the 
sum  of  twenty-live  dollars,  being  authorized  to  vend  at  retail  in 
Oquawka  intoxicating  liquors,  without  having  attached  the  dangers 
that  beset  the  dealers  of  to-day,  by  virtue  of  the  provisions  of  the 
dram-shop  act. 

April  21,  1841,  at  the  same  session  of  the  board,  William  R.  Jami- 
son, who  had  been  elected  treasurer  of  the  county,  filed  his  bond  and 
was  qualified.  The  board  appointed  William  D.  Henderson  collector 
of  taxes  for  the  current  year.  The  board  also  appointed  Samuel 
McDill  assessor  of  the  county  for  the  same  time. 

At  a  regular  meeting  of  the  board  September  5,  1841,  Joseph  B. 
Jamison  filed  his  bond  as  school  commissioner  and  was  duly  qualified. 
William  C  Rice  who  was  elected  county  surveyor  at  the  same  time  as 
other  county  officers  were  elected,  was  duly  qualified.  At  this  meet- 
ing of  the  board  Thomas  McDill,  William  Graham  and  James  Jamison 
were  appointed  trustees  of  school  lands  for  township  No.  10  N.,  5.  West. 
Jeremiah  Baker,  John  Hopkins  and  William  P.  Toler  were  appointed 
to  like  offices  for  township  12  N.,  4  West.  Thomas  M.  Bonham,  Wil- 
burn  Walker  and  Joseph  DeHague  were  appointed  to  like  offices  for 
township  9  N.,  6  West.  Peter  Nichols,  Obadiah  Edmunds  and  John 
A.  Smith  were  appointed  to  like  offices  for  township  8  N.,  5  West. 
Asahel  Johnson,  George  W.  Penney  and  George  Huston  were 
appointed  to  like  offices  for  township  8  N.,  4  West.  Alexander  Rankin, 
Frederick  Davidson  and  John  Pogue  were  appointed  to  like  offices  for 
township  9  N. ,  4  West.  Abner  Drew,  John  Bay  and  T.  Morgan  were 
appointed  to  like  offices  for  township  10  N.,  6  West.  Matthew  Find- 
ley,  Thaddeus  Fames  were  also  appointed  to  like  offices  for  township 
li  N.,  5  West. 

At  this  meeting  the  clerk  of  the  countv  court  and  the  clerk  of  the 
circuit  court  were  authorized  to  procure  seals  for  their  respective  offices, 
the  design  of  the  seal  for  the  county  commissioners  court  to  be  an 
Indian  in  a  canoe,  and  that  for  the  circuit  court  to  be  the  temple  of 
liberty.  At  this  meeting  of  the  board  the  first  action  was  taken  look- 
ing to  the  erection  of  a  court-house,  as  appears  by  the  following  order 
entered  of  record  :  "  Ordered,  that  the  clerk  give  public  notice  that  on 
the  28tli  day  of  October  the  commissioners  will  contract  at  public  sale 
for  the  delivery  of  175,000  of  brick  and  227  perch  of  stone  in  the  town 
of  Oquawka,  on  lot  Nos.  13  and  16  in  block  58  ;  one-half  of  the  brick 
to  be  delivered  the  first  of  July  next,  the  other  half  by  the  twentieth  of 
the  same  month  ;  the  stone  to  be  delivered  by  the  middle  of  April  next. 
Also  twenty-two  window  frames  and  six  door  frames. " 
50 


882  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

At  this  time  tlie  first  ferry  license  was  granted  by  the  board,  to 
keep  and  maintain  a  ferry  across  the  Mississippi  river  at  Burlington, 
Iowa,  to  land  on  the  east  bank  of  said  river  at  any  accessible  point,  to 
William  H,  Maiiro,  not  however  to  trespass  upon  the  established  rights 
of  others  engaged  in  ferrying  at  the  same  point. 

Called  meeting  of  the  board  of  commissioners  August  15,  1842; 
the  following  proceedings  were  had :  the  court  proceeded  to  open  and 
compare  the  proposals  received  for  building  the  court-house,  according 
to  a  notice  previously  given,  and  Alexis  Phelps  oifered  to  do  the  work 
proposed  for  the  sum  of  $1,219,  which  was  the  lowest  oifer ;  it  is  there- 
fore ordered  that  Alexis  Phelps  have  the  sum  of  $1,219  for  laying  the 
walls  and  putting  on  the  roof  of  said  court-house,  and  that  he  receive 
payment  therefor  eight  months  after  the  work  is  done,  and  if  not  then 
paid  to  receive  eight  per  cent  until  paid.  Said  Phelps  filed  his  bond, 
with  James  Ryason  and  Samuel  Darnell  for  sureties,  for  the  completion 
of  the  work.  Ordered  further  that  the  foregoing  contract  is  approved 
by  the  court,  and  filed  by  the  clerk  in  his  oflice. 

James  C.  Hutchinson  continued  to  hold  the  oflice  of  county  com- 
missioner until  the  September  term  of  the  commissioners'  court,  when 
he  was  succeeded  by  Francis  J.  C.  Peasley,  who  held  the  oflice  until 
September,  18-12,  when  he  was  succeeded  by  Michael  Crane,  who,  with 
commissioners  Martin  and  Coghill,  constituted  the  board  until  Septem- 
ber, 1843,  when  Mr.  Coghill  was  succeeded  by  Isaiah  Brook.  The  court 
remained  thus  constituted  until  September,  1844,  when  William  Cous- 
land  succeeded  Preston  Martin  on  the  board.  In  September,  1845, 
Ira  Miller  succeeded  Michael  Crane.  In  September,  1846,  Matthew 
Findley  and  Jeremiah  Rose  succeeded  Brook  and  Cousland.  In 
September,  1849,  Ebenezer  Chapin  succeeded  Matthew  Findley,  and 
Charles  S.  Cowan  having  been  elected  clerk  succeeded  Alfred  Knowles. 
In  September,  1848,  Matthew  Findley  succeeded  Ira  Miller,  and  the 
board  thus  constituded  continued  until  December,  1849,  when  the 
county  government  was  organized  under  the  new  constitution. 

Township  organization  has  not  been  adopted  in  this  county,  but  the 
old  system  of  county  government  is  still  maintained,  the  county  being 
divided  into  precincts  for  election  purposes,  and  the  county  govern- 
ment composed  of  a  board  of  three  commissioners,  manage  the  aftairs 
of  tlie  county.  This  constituted  the  county  government  until  the  adoption 
of  the  constitution  in  1848,  when,  under  a  provision  of  which,  the  general 
assembly  of  the  state  passed  an  act  in  relation  to  the  government  of  coun- 
ties, in  force  A])ril  13, 1849,  by  which  each  county  elected  a  county  judge 
and  two  associate  justices  of  the  peace,  who  were  directed  to  hold  a 
regular  term  of  court  for  the  transaction  of  county  business,  on  the  fij-st 


CIRCUIT   COURT   OF   THE    COUNTY.  883" 

Mondays  of  March,  June,  September,  and  December,  in  each  year ; 
the  county  judge  being  authorized  and  directed  to  hokl  a  probate  term 
of  court  on  the  tliird  Monday  of  each  month  for  the  transaction  of 
business  pertaining  to  the  estates  of  deceased  persons,  and  for  the  pur- 
pose of  attending  to  all  cases  that  might  arise  under  general  probate 
jurisdition.  The  two  associate  justices  of  the  peace  so  elected  by  the 
voters  of  the  county  at  large,  were  county  justices  of  the  peace,  and 
were  vested  with  justices'  jurisdiction  for  the  whole  county.  The 
county  judge  was  likewise  ex-olficio  justice  of  the  peace  for  the  entire 
county.  On  the  third  day  of  December,  1849,  William  C.  Rice,, 
county  jndge,  Daniel  Edmunds,  and  George  W.  Penny,  associate  jus- 
tices of  the  peace,  ancj  Charles  S.  Cowan,  clerk  of  the  county  court,, 
tiled  their  respective  bonds,  and  were  qualified  for  the  offices  to  which 
they  had  been  elected.  The  court  thus  constituted,  organized  and  pro- 
ceeded to  the  transaction  of  business.  Robert  Cronover,  county  treas- 
urer, took  the  oath  of  office,  and  his  bond  was  fixed  at  $2,000.  At 
this  meeting  of  the  court,  Earl  Frizzell,  a  revolutionrry  soldier,  pre- 
sented his  declaration,  as  required  by  the  war  department,  to  secure  a 
pension  from  the  United  States  government,  and  after  complying  with 
the  requirements  prescribed  by  law,  the  court  issued  the  required  cer- 
tificate. At  the  December  term,  1850,  of  the  county  court,  Boothe 
Nettleton,  who  had  been  elected  sheriff,  ffied  his  bond,  took  the  oath 
of  office,  and  entered  upon  the  discharge  of  his  duties. 

A  company  having  been  organized  under  an  act  of  the  general 
assembly,  April  19,  1851,  under  the  name  of  the  "Burlington  and 
Warren  Plank  Road  Company,"  for  the  purpose  of  constructing  a  plank 
road  across  the  Mississippi  river  bottom,  from  Hopper's  mills,  in  Hen- 
derson county,  to  a  point  on  the  river  bank  opposite  the  city  of  Bur- 
lington, Iowa,  the  county  court,  at  its  September  term,  1850,  granted 
said  company  a  license  to  run  a  ferry  across  the  river  from  a  point 
where  their  plank  road  touches  the  river  on  the  east  bank,  to  the  city 
of  Burlington,  u[)on  paying  into  the  county  treasury  the  sum  of  $10. 
At  the  December  term  of  the  county  court,  1852,  Samuel  P.  MaGaw, 
sheriff  elect  of  the  county,  filed  his  bond  and  was  duly  qualified. 

CIRCUIT  COURT  OF  THE  COUNTY. 

Henderson  county  was,  on  its  organization,  in  the  fifth  judicial 
circuit,  and  the  first  term  of  the  circuit  court  was  held  in  Oquawka, 
May  28,  1841,  in  a  store-room  belonging  to  Col.  Patterson,  on  Second 
street,  near  the  present  location  of  the  brick  block  of  Robert  Moir. 
Hon.  Stephen  A.  Douglas  presided  as  judge,  John  S.  Pollock,  clerk, 
William  D.  Henderson,  sheriff,  and  H.  L.  Bryant,  state's  attorney  pro 


884  HISTORY   OF   IVIERCEK    AJfD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

tern.  At  tliis  term  Henry  B.  Harbinson  filed  liis  bond  and  qualified  as 
the  first  coroner  of  the  county.  Of  the  character  of  Judge  Douglas  as 
a  judge,  lawyer,  and  statesman,  it  is  needless  here  to  speak.  His  char- 
acter and  achievements,  both  on  the  bench  and  in  the  national  councils, 
have  passed  into  history ;  and  when  passion  and  prejudice  shall  have 
had  their  day,  and  the  impartial  historian  shall  take  up  his  pen,  the 
record  shall  then  assign  the  name  of  Stephen  A.  Douglas  its  true  place 
in  the  list  of  statesmen  and  jurists  of  our  country.  Judge  Douglas 
continued  to  preside  in  our  circuit  until  the  November  term,  1843, 
when  he  was  succeeded  by  Jesse  B.  Thomas,  who  continued  to  preside 
until  the  November  term,  1845.  Richard  M.  Young  succeeded  Judge 
Thomas  at  the  June  term,  1845,  and  then  Norman  H.  Purple  came  to 
preside  in  this  circuit,  and  continued  until  the 'June  term,  1848,  when 
he  was  succeeded  by  William  Minchell,  who  held  the  same  position 
until  the  September  term,  1851,  when  Onias  C.  Skinner,  of  the  county" 
of  Adams,  who  Jiad  been  elected  by  virtue  of  an  act  of  the  general 
assembly  of  the  state,  passed  in  pursuance  of  a  provision  of  the  consti- 
tution adopted  in  1848,  dividing  the  state  into  judicial  circuits,  and 
providing  for  the  election  of  judges  by  vote  of  the  people,  became 
judge  of  this  circuit,  and  continued  to  preside  with  signal  ability  at 
each  term  of  the  court  in  this  county  until  the  year  1855.  Judge 
Skinner  won  a  deserved  reputation  as  a  learned  and  upright  judge,  and 
soon  after  retiring  from  the  circuit  bench  he  was  elected  to  fill  a  place 
on  the  supreme  bench  from  the  central  grand  division  of  the  state, 
where  he  fulfilled  the  expectations  of  his  legal  friends  and  maintained 
the  high  character  he  had  so  justly  won.  Judge  Skinner  died  at  his 
home  in  Quincy  about  three  years  ago,  his  death  being  caused  by 
having  been  thrown  from  his  carriage  by  a  frightened  team  while  riding 
through  the  street  near  his  residence. 

Hezekiah  M.  Wead,  of  Peoria  county,  next  held  court  in  this  county 
for  one  year,  when  John  S.  Thompson,  of  Mercer  county,  was  elected 
in  his  place,  and  continued  to  preside  as  judge  of  our  circuit  court  until 
1861,  when  he  resigned,  and  Aaron  Tyler,  of  Knox  county,  was 
appointed  by  the  Governor  to  fill  the  unexpired  term  for  which  Judge 
Thompson  had  been  elected.  Judge  Thompson  came  upon  the  bench 
with  but  little  legal  experience  at  the  bar,  but  the  possession  of  a  sound 
legal  mind,  great  industry  and  an  unfaltering  determination  to  deal 
justly  with  all  questions  submitted  to  him  for  adjudication,  enabled 
him  to  discharge  the  arduous  duties  devolving  upon  him  with  credit  to 
himself  and  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  legal  friends  with  whom  he  asso- 
ciated. His  decisions  and  rulings  while  on  the  bench  bore  well  the 
scrutiny  of  the  higher  court,  when  taken  there  for  review. 


CIRCUIT    COtTRT    OF   THE    COUNTY.  885 

In  1861  Charles  B.  Lawrence,  of  Warren  county,  was  elected  judge. 
Of  him  we  need  only  say  that  he  brought  to  the  discharge  of  his  judicial 
duties  that  ripe  scholarship,  that  well  trained  judicial  mind,  that  has 
made  for  him  a  place  in  the  front  ranks  of  the  legal  profession  in  the 
state  and  also  in  the  entire  west.  This  circuit  was  favored  with  his 
able  judicial  administration  until  the  year  1864,  when  he  was  elected 
judge  of  the  supreme  court  from  the  northern  grand  division  of  the 
state.  At  the  election  of  1864  John  S.  Thompson  was  again  elected 
judge  to  fill  the  vacancy  made  by  the  resignation  of  Judge  Lawrence, 
and  continued  to  preside  until  he  was  succeeded  by  Arthur  A.  Smith, 
who  was  elected  in  1868.  Judge  Smith  was  a  resident  of  Knox  county, 
and  had  served  in  the  army  as  a  lieutenant-colonel  of  the  8.3d  reg.  111. 
Vol.,  and  has  been  twice  elected  to  fill  the  position  of  judge  of  the  cir- 
cuit in  which  Henderson  county  is  embraced,  and  still  continues  to 
preside  as  one  of  the  three  judges  who  compose  the  judiciary  of  the 
circuit.  This  long  service  and  repeated  choice  of  the  voters  of  the  cir- 
cuit speaks  louder  in  behalf  of  his  merited  popularity  with  the  people 
of  his  circuit  than  any  eulogy  that  can  be  written  in  this  brief  review. 

In  1877  the  general  assembly  passed  an  act  re-organizing  the  judi- 
cial circuits  throughout  the  state,  and  Henderson  county  with  Warren, 
Knox,  Henry,  Mercer,  and  Eock  Island  counties,  became  the  tenth 
judicial  circuit,  entitled  to  elect  three  judges.  Judge  George  W.  Pleas- 
ants, being  the  judge  of  the  circuit  in  which  Rock  Island  county  was  em- 
braced, and  residing  in  that  county,  became  one  of  the  judges  of  this 
circuit,  and  at  the  election  held  in  August,  1877,  John  J.  Glenn  was 
elected  as  the  associate  of  judges  Pleasants  and  Smith.  Judge  Glenn 
is  a  resident  of  Warren  county,  and  brought  to  the  discharge  of  his 
judicial  duties  large  experience  at  the  bar,  a  clear  analytical  mind,  gi-eat 
industry  and  unquestioned  integrity,  which  has  won  for  him  the  confi- 
dence of  the  people  of  his  circuit,  and  the  warm  esteem  of  his  many 
friends.  Although  an  active  partisan  he  has  never  been  accused  of 
allowing  his  partisan  predilections  to  sway  his  judicial  decisions,  but 
has  sought  to  hold  the  scales  of  justice  in  equal  poise  for  each  and  all 
men  alike.  Judge  Pleasants,  in  1877,  was  designated  as  one  of  the 
judges  of  the  appellate  court  of  the  first  district,  composed  of  Cook 
county,  and  upon  his  re-election  in  1 879,  was  again  designated  as  one 
of  the  judges  of  the  appellate  court  for  the  second  district,  composed 
of  aU  the  counties  of  the  northern  grand  division  except  Cook  county, 
which  position  he  now  fills  with  credit  to  himself  and  to  the  satis- 
faction of  the  members  of  the  bar,  and  the  public  generally. 

I  shall  not  be  accused,  I  know,  of  invidiousness  by  any  who  are 
acquainted  with  Judge  Pleasants,  when  I  speak  of  him  as  an  ornament 


886  HISTORY    OF   MERCEK   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

to  his  profession,  and  a  judge  possessed  of  rare  judicial  ability.  His 
legal  attainments,  his  clear,  discriminating  mind,  are  all  of  the  highest 
order.  Always  self-possessed  upon  the  bench,  patient  with  wearisome 
arguments  that  do  not  instruct,  ever  ready  to  listen  to  any  suggestions 
or  authority  presented  by  counsel,  he  possesses  that  rare  faculty  of 
eliminating  from  a  case  before  him,  almost  by  intuition,  all  extraneous 
matter,  and  coming  at  once  to  the  true  issues  to  be  determined,  and 
when  he  has  reached  a  legal  conclusion  in  a  case  upon  which  to  base  a 
judgment,  his  reasons  are  so  convincing  that  few  suitors  go  from  his 
court  dissatisfied  with  his  adjudications.  It  is  to  be  regretted  that  his 
health  is  impaired,  and  all  join  in  the  hope  that  his  physical  strength 
may  be  renewed,  and  that  he  may  be  spared  yet  for  many  years  to 
grace  the  position  which  he  now  so  ably  and  worthily  fills.  In  1879 
jugdes  Smith,  Pleasants  and  Glenn  were  elected  for  a  full  term,  and 
still  hold  the  courts  of  this  circuit. 

rOLITICAL  PARTIES. 

At  the  formation  of  the  county  the  political  parties  were  divided 
into  whig  and  democratic,  as  understood  in  the  national  divisions, 
the  whig  part}'  having  about  200  majority  in  the  county.  There 
were  during  the  early  history  of  parties  a  small  number  of  radical 
anti-slavery  men  in  the  county,  who  could  not  subscribe  to  the  doctrines 
held  by  either  of  the  other  parties  on  the  slave  question,  and  held 
aloof  from  their  organizations.  Too  feeble  in  numbers  to  effect  the 
object  desired,  having  but  little  countenance  or  support  anywhere 
in  this  state  or  the  west,  they  bore  the  reproach  everywhere  heaped  upon 
the  head  of  a  man  who  dared  declare  that  slavery  was  wrong,  and  that 
the  onward  march  of  events  and  the  light  of  civilization  proclaimed  its 
early  downfall.  To  be  an  abolitionist  in  those  days  was  to  abdicate 
all  hope  of  political  advancement,  and  all  claims  upon  the  suffrages  of 
voters  at  the  polls. 

The  war  with  Mexico  and  the  large  acquisition  of  territory  on  our 
part  as  the  price  of  peace,  the  agitation  consequent  upon  the  passage 
of  the  compromise  measures  of  1850  by  congress,  aroused  the  atten- 
tion of  the  people  of  this  county  as  well  as  those  of  other  sections,  and 
led  to  the  formation  of  a  third  party  in  Henderson  county,  which  for 
the  first  time  entered  the  field  and  contested  at  the  polls  for  public 
favor  in  1852,  under  the  name  of  the  "free  soil"  party.  These  dis- 
tinctive organizations  continued  until  the  formation  of  tlie  republican 
party  in  1856,  which  was  composed  of  the  bulk  of  the  defunct  whig 
party  and  the  anti-slavery  element  combined.  This  new  party  in  the 
presidential  campaign  of  that  year,   under  the  candidacy  of  John  C. 


TOWNS.  .  887 

Fremont,  contested  with  the  democratic  party  for  supremacy.  Since 
that  time  the  republican  party's  majority  in  the  county  upon  all  test 
votes  has  ranged  from  100  to  300. 

It  is  true  that  the  small  anti-slavery  element  cast  a  few  votes  by 
way  of  protest  in  the  year  1848,  and  the  organization  denominated  the 
"know  nothing,"  or  American  party,  made  some  show  of  strength  at 
the  polls  in  the  year  1854,  but  all  these  fragments  became  finally  con- 
solidated with  one  or  the  other  of  the  great  parties  of  the  day  in  1856. 
From  1856  to  the  present  time  the  republican  party,  when  an  issue  has 
been  sharply  made,  has  usually  had  about  350  majority  in  the  county. 

TOWNS. 

The  town  of  Oquawka  was  laid  out  in  1836,  by  Alexis  Phelps  and 
his  brother,  Stephen  S.  Phelps,  who  purchased  a  claim  and  im- 
provement that  had  been  made  upon  the  grounds  now  occupied 
by  the  town.  Oquawka  owes  its  name  to  the  Indians  with  whom 
it  was  a  noted  point  in  their  travels  and  tribal  convocations.  The 
word  is  said  to  signify  the  lower  end  or  termination  of  the  Yellow 
Banks,  the  point  indicated  being  situated  at  the  termination  of  a  series 
of  high  sand  bluffs  along  the  river,  extending  at  intervals  to  a  point 
above  the  town  of  New  Boston,  eighteen  miles  above  Oquawka.  Upon 
the  laying  out  of  the  town  it  at  once  became  a  place  of  commercial  im- 
portance, a  large  trade  centering  upon  its  levees.  It  was  for  many 
years,  and  until  the  opening  of  railroads  revolutionized  trade,  the  ship- 
ping point  for  a  large  country  around,  including  Warren,  Knox  and  a 
part  of  Mercer  counties.  Extensive  warehouses  lined  the  river  landing 
in  which  the  products  of  the  surrounding  country  was  in  the  winter 
stored,  to  await  the  opening  of  navigation  in  the  spring,  when  ship- 
ments would  begin  for  St.  Louis  and  I^ew  Orleans,  about  the  only  two 
market  points  relied  upon  at  early  periods.  Goods  shipped  from  east- 
ern cities  for  this  market  came  generally  by  way  of  Pittsburgh  and  the 
Ohio  river  to  Cairo,  and  thence  up  the  Mississippi  to  our  landing. 
Some  shipments  of  heavy  goods  were  made  by  sea  to  New  Orleans  and 
up  the  river.  Upon  the  opening  of  the  Illinois  and  Michigan  canal  a 
new  route  was  opened  by  Erie  canal,  and  lakes,  thence  to  the  Illinois 
river  and  up  the  Mississippi.  Oquawka  contained,  in  1852,  about 
1,800  population,  but  has  since  fallen  off,  so  that  it  contains  not  more 
at  present  than  1,000.  Like  many  other  towns  and  cities,  she  in  an 
evil  hour,  and  under  the  guidance  of  bad  counsel,  encumbered  herself 
with  burdensome  debts,  beyond  her  ability  to  liquidate,  which  resulted 
in  the  necessity  of  levying  taxes  that  became  burdensome  u|)on  the 
business  of  the  place,  and  capital,  alarmed  at  the  future  prospects,  fled 


888  HISTORY    OF   FIERCER   AJTO    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

the  town  to  avoid  taxation,  while  manufacturing  and  other  enteiprises 
sought  more  favored  localities.  The  debts  thus  incurrad  were  first  the 
issue  of  bonds  to  the  amount  of  $10,000,  to  aid  in  the  construction  of 
the  "Washington  and  Oquawka  Plank  Road,"  an  enterprise  in  the 
state  of  Iowa,  the  projected  plank  road  terminating  at  a  point  on  the 
river  opposite  Oquawka.  The  corporation  and  the*  road  long  ago  were 
counted  among  the  things  of  the  past,  and  remembered  only  as  a  warn- 
ing to  others  to  avoid  like  follies.  The  next  enterprise  in  which  the 
authorities  of  the  town  took  stock,  and  thus  added  burdens  to  those 
already  borfie,  was  in  May,  1857,  when  the  issue  of  $25,000  of  bonds 
was  secured  to  pay  Messrs.  Phelps  and  Jamison  for  work  and  labor 
performed  on  that  part  of  the  Peoria  &  Oquawka  railroad  lying 
between  the  town  of  Sagetown  and  Oquawka.  The  ''work  and  labor" 
consisting  of  partially  grading  the  line  between  these  two  points,  the 
people  being  led  to  believe  that  in  so  doing  they  would  secure  railroad 
facilities  by  connection  with  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  line. 
But  it  proved  a  failure.  The  people  incurred  the  indebtedness  without 
any  guaranty  of  a  return  for  their  money,  and  the  debt  is  to-day  out- 
standing and  will  be  left  as  a  legacy  to  the  next  generation.  These 
debts,  together  with  the  share  of  the  county  indebtedness  which  the 
town  has  to  pay,  makes  the  burden  a  heavy  one. 

Of  the  towns  in  this  county  Oquawka  is  the  oldest.  It  was  laid  out 
July  9,  1836,  by  the  brothers,  Alexis  Phelps  and  Sumner  S.  Phelps. 
Its  territory,  before  any  additions  were  attached,  was  comprised  of 
fractional  Sees.  15  and  22,  T.  11  K,  R.  5,  W.  of  the  4th  P.  M.,  as  shown 
by  the  records  of  Warren  county,  Vol.  II,  p.  344.  William  C.  Butler 
was  the  surveyor  for  the  proprietors.  In  the  deed  of  dedication  the 
proprietors,  in  addition  to  liberal  reservations  of  lots  for  school  pur- 
poses, set  apart  and  dedicated  for  use  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal, 
Baptist  and  Presbyterian  churches,  eligible  and  valuable  lots  for  the 
erection  of  church  edifices.  Some  years  subsequently  Abram  D. 
Swarts  laid  out  two  additions  to  the  town,  upon  the  east  side. 

In  order  of  date,  the  next  town  laid  out  in  the  county  was  the  town 
of  Shokokon,  upon  the  Mississippi  river,  about  five  miles  below  the 
city  of  Burlington,  Iowa.  The  original  proprietor  of  this  town  was 
Robert  McQueen,  who  laid  it  out  July  16,  1836,  on  the  N.  W.  J  of 
Sec.  27,  T.  9  ]^.,  R.  6  AV.,  as  will  be  seen  by  referring  to  the  records 
of  Warren  county,  Yol.  II,  p.  344.  John  B.  Talbott  was  employed 
as  surveyor.  Although  a  fine  and  fertile  country  lay  adjacent  to  this 
town,  it  did  not  prove  a  success.  The  river  at  this  point  proved  to  be 
too  shallow  for  steamers,  except  at  times  of  high  water,  the  channel 
or  deep  water  running  near  the  Iowa  shore,  thus  leaWng  this  town 


TOWNS.  889 

upon  a  slough,  with  but  poor  shipping  facilities.  It,  however,  became 
a  great  point  for  lumber,  annually  rafted  down  from  the  Wisconsin 
pineries,  and  finding  a  market  in  the  country  lying  east  of  Shokokon. 
Its  population  never  exceeded  300. 

The  town  of  Olena  was  laid  out  by  Robert  Kendall  August  14, 
1838,  on  See.  11,  T.  9  N.,  R.  5  W.,  and  the  record  of  the  survey  by 
Benjamin  Thomkins  is  recorded  in  Warren  county,  in  Yol.  II  of 
records,  p.  215.  This  town  is  situated  near  the  geographical  center 
of  the  county,  and  contains  a  population  of  about  300.  It  is  situated 
in  nourishing  farming  country,  and  is  the  center  of  considerable  trade. 
It  has  no  railroad  facilities.  AVolf  creek,  a  small  stream,  flows  west- 
ward near  this  place. 

Warren,  laid  out  March  25,  1840,  by  Lambert  Hopper,  on  the  I^. 
W.  i  and  the  N.  E.  i  of  Sec.  8,  T.  9  N^.,  R.  5  W.  The  plat  of  this 
town  will  be  found  recorded  in  Warren  county,  Vol.  VII,  of  records,  p. 
345.  Benjamin  Thomkins  was  the  surveyor.  Some  years  later  Josiah 
Dunn  laid  out  an  addition  to  this  town. 

At  one  time  during  the  lifetime  of  its  enterprising  proprietor  this 
town  carried  on  quite  an  extensive  trade.  A  good  flouring  mill  and  a 
woolen  factory  drew  trade  and  business  from  a  long  distance.  The 
land  in  the  immediate  vicinity  is  of  a  poor  quality,  the  mills  have  been 
allowed  to  run  down  since  the  death  of  the  proprietor,  and  its  former 
prosperity  has  in  a  measure  disappeared. 

Dallas  City,  lies  partly  in  Henderson  and  partly  in  Hancock  county. 
That  part  in  Henderson  county  lies  in  the  extreme  southwest  of  the 
county,  Sec.  35,  T.  8  N.,  R.  7  W.  It  is  a  flourishing  town  of  about 
500  inhabitants.  The  Carthage  and  Burlington  division  of  the  Chicago, 
Burlington  &  Quincy  railroad  passes  through  this  town.  The  town 
has  a  fine  landing  for  steamers,  which  carry  away  large  shipments  of 
produce  from  the  surrounding  country.  It  is  a  neatly  built  place,  upon 
the  bluff  front,  facing  the  river.  Its  population  are  intelligent  and 
enterprising,  and  carry  on  an  extensive  business  in  general  trade  and 
lumber.  Among  its  enterprising  citizens  we  may  here  make  mention 
of  John  M.  Finch,  who  was  one  of  its  original  proprietors  and  who  still 
continues  to  reside  in  his  early  home,  active  as  in  his  boyhood  days, 
allowing  no  enterprise  to  be  undertaken  for  the  improvement  of  his 
town  without  giving  it  his  active  aid  and  support.  The  town  has  two 
churches  and  its  schools  receive  the  active  and  intelligent  support  of 
its  citizens  and  are  kept  up  to  a  high  standard.  The  town  was  laid 
out  and  sui-veyed  August  11,  1849,  by  William  II.  Rollinson  and  John 
M.  Finch ;  J.  Wilson  Williamson  was  the  surveyor  employed.     The 


890  HISTORY    OF   FIERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

record  of  the  survey  and  deed  will  be  found  in  Yol.  IT,  p.  176  of  record 
of  deeds  in  Henderson  county. 

The  town  of  Terre  Haute  is  situated  in  the  prairie  region  of  the 
county,  on  Sees.  20,  21,  28  and  29,  T.  8  N.,  E.  5  W.  It  was  sur- 
veyed and  platted  bj  William  C.  Rice,  surveyor,  March  27,  1854,  and 
the  plat  recorded  in  Yol.  YHI,  p.  184  of  records  in  Henderson  county. 
It  contains  about  250  inhabitants  and  is  the  center  of  considerable 
trade.  It  has  no  railroad  or  river  facilities  for  shipping,  Lomax  station, 
on  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  railroad,  being  its  principal 
point  of  shipment.  It  is  the  center  of  a  rich  farming  country  and  sur- 
rounded by  lands  of  extraordinary  fertility. 

East  Burlington  lies  upon  the  bank  of  the  Mississippi  opposite  the 
city  of  Burlington,  Iowa.  It  was  laid  out  March  12,  1855.  on  Sec.  33, 
T.  10  N.,  B.  6  AY.,  by  A.  D.  Green,  as  trustee  for  the  proprietors. 
Maj.  A.  X.  Ai'mstrong,  acting  as  surveyor.  Prior  to  the  construction 
of  the  raib'oad  to  that  point,  it  had  a  small  population,  but  after  that 
time,  with  the  erection  of  the  railroad  bridge  leading  to  the  city  of 
Burlington,  the  business  of  the  place  was  transferred  mainly  to  the  op- 
posite side  of  the  river,  and  little  remains  of  the  former  town.  The 
railroad  company  have  erected  large  stock  yards  upon  the  ground,  and 
made  other  extensive  improvements.  Large  sums  of  money  have  been 
expended  in  grading  up  the  river  front  to  a  point  above  high  water 
mark.  At  this  point  the  Carthage  division  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington 
&  Quincy  railroad  forms  a  junction  at  the  east  end  of  the  bridge  with 
the  main  line.  The  land  back  of,  and  eastward  from  the  town,  is 
low  and  cut  up  with  sloughs,  and  nearly  the  whole  is  subject  to  over- 
flow for  miles  inland  during  the  river  floods. 

Biggs^-ille  is  situated  on  Sees.  16,  17,  20,  21,  T.  10  K,  R.  4  W., 
upon  South  Henderson  creek,  and  was  laid  out  by  Andrew  Douglass 
and  Samuel  Douglass,  October  3,  1855,  AYilliam  McChesney,  surveyor. 
It  now  contains  about  550  inhabitants.  The  Chicago,  Burlington  & 
Quincy  i-ailroad  runs  through  this  place.  The  town  is  surrounded  by 
the  flnest  quality  of  farm  lands,  which  are  kept  in  a  high  state  of  culti- 
vation. The  town  contains  three  chui-ches,  one  United  Presbyterian, 
one  Methodist  Episcopal,  and  one  Cumberland  Presbyterian,  all  of 
which  have  a  large  membei-ship  of  highly  intelligent  christian  people. 
The  schools  of  the  town  have  always  been  its  particular  pride,  and 
have  been  of  a  high  order.  The  citizens  have  reason  to  look  with 
pride  upon  their  churches  and  schools.  iS^ear  this  town  resides  a  gen- 
tleman whose  business  success  in  life  deserves  at  least  a  brief  mention. 

David  Rankin  is  a  man  still  on  the  sunny  side  of  three  score  years, 
who  has  his  home  about  four  miles  south  of  Biggsville,  upon  his  farm 


TOWNS.  891 

of  almost  countless  acres.  He  began  life  a  poor  farmer  boy  near  the 
place  where  now  his  fine  residence  stands,  and  by  industry,  persever- 
ance and  an  extraordinary  business  capacity,  he  gained  step  by  step 
until  his  possessions  in  lands  and  herds  seemed  almost  marvelous. 
He  purchased  large  tracts  of  land  along  the  Illinois  Central  railroad, 
in  Illinois,  and  operated  them  successfully ;  then  extending  his  enter- 
prises westward  he  invested  largely  in  lands  in  Atchison  county,  in  the 
State  of  Missouri,  which  he  improved  and  stocked  with  swarming 
herds  of  cattle,  laid  out  the  town  of  Tarkio,  which  has  filled  with  an 
active  population,  and  is  rapidly  rising  in  business  importance.  At 
this  point  he  has  established  a  national  bank  which  has  proved  a  com- 
plete success.  In  addition  to  these  enterj^rises  he  has  purchased  and 
is  operating  a  vast  ranche  in  the  State  of  Colorado,  upon  which  his  im- 
mense herds  of  native  and  Texas  cattle  are  fattened  for  market.  These 
vast  enterprises,  besides  many  smaller  ones,  he  manages  and  super- 
vises himself,  showing  himself  a  veritable  IS^apoleon  in  his  line  of 
business.  In  all  his  various  and  extended  enter2:)rises  and  his  large 
transactions,  he  has  so  conducted  his  business  as  to  gain  the  confidence 
and  esteem  of  all  with  whom  he  has  been  surrounded.  His  integrity 
is  never  called  in  question,  and  his  employes  find  him  a  kind  hearted 
and  just  employer. 

In  this  town  also  resides  Preston  Martin,  an  aged  citizen  of  the 
county,  who  has  been  identified  with  its  history  and  its  development 
from  its  organization.  One  of  the  earlier  commissioners  of  the  county 
and  afterward  associate  justice  of  the  county  court,  he  filled  each  oflice 
with  fidelity  to  the  people  and  with  credit  to  himself.  A  man  of  un- 
swerving integrity,  with  a  high  moral  standard,  he  justly  won  the  esteem 
of  his  fellow  citizens,  and  the  high  regard  of  all.  This  town  at  present 
writing  is  contending  for  the  locating  of  the  seat  of  justice  within  her 
borders.  The  canvassing  of  the  vote  of  the  county  for  the  election  to 
be  held  in  November  goes  on  with  gi*eat  earnestness.  The  advocates 
of  removal  to  Biggsville  claiming  that  their  town  is  nearer  the  geo- 
graphical center  of  the  county,  and  therefore  it  is  for  the  interest  of 
the  county  to  secure  the  county  buildings  at  this  point. 

Gladstone  (formerly  Sagetown),  was  laid  out  by  Gideon  Sage,  May 
16,  1856,  in  Sees.  15  and  16,  T.  10  N.,  R  5  W.,  James  E.  White  sur- 
veyor. The  town  is  situated  on  the  Chicago,  Burlington  tfc  Quincy 
railroad.  The  Galva  branch  of  the  same  road  terminates  at  this  point 
from  the  north.  The  town  contains  about  400  inhabitants.  At  this 
point  is  located  the  Excelsior  sugar  refinery,  a  large  and  costly  estab- 
lishment, owned  principally  by  Amos  T.  Hall,  of  Cliicago.  It  seems 
not  to  liave  been  a  success  so  far,  although  the  works  and  machinery 


892  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

are  of  the  most  elaborate  kind.  Some  glucose  has  been  manufactured, 
but  now  the  owners  of  the  premises  are  preparing  the  works  for  work- 
ing sorghum  cane,  of  which  the  surrounding  country  produces  largely. 

Gideon  Sage,  the  original  proprietor  of  this  town,  although  far  ad- 
vanced in  years,  still  resides  here,  hale  and  hearty,  and  bids  fair  to  yet 
renew  his  lease  of  life  and  outstrip  in  the  race  many  a  younger  com- 
petitor. The  town  has  one  Catholic,  one  Presbyterian,  and  one  Meth- 
odist church,  and  is  well  provided  with  school-buildings. 

Raritan,  a  town  in  the  southeastern  part  of  the  county,  was  laid 
out  by  Isaac  Y.  Kelley  and  James  Hixton  April  16,  1856,  in  Sees.  10, 
11,  1-4  and  15,  T.  8  ]^.,  E.  4  W.,  James  R.  "VYhite  acting  as  surveyor 
for  the  proprietors.  The  record  of  its  plat  and  survey  may  be  found 
recorded  in  Vol.  XII  of  deeds,  p.  255,  Henderson  county.  It  is  a 
beautiful  and  thriving  village.  Situated  in  the  midst  of  an  undulating, 
fertile  prairie,  surrounded  by  finely  improved  farms  in  a  high  state  of 
cultivation,  upon  which  means  have  been  lavishly  expended  in  the 
erection  of  fine  buildings,  this  place  presents  an  attractive  appearance. 
The  houses  of  the  town  are  of  a  neat  and  commodious  structure,  and 
so  neatly  kept  in  all  their  surroundings  that  they  tell  at  once  the  char- 
acter of  its  inhabitants. 

Although  possessing  no  near  railroad  or  river  facilities  for  ship- 
ping, they  yet  carry  on  a  large  trade  in  merchandise  and  stock  and 
agricultural  products.  Roseville  and  Laliarpe  stations  are  their  nearest 
railroad  points.  One  will  hardly  find  in  days  of  travel  anywhere  a 
town  surrounded  by  so  many  natural  advantages,  and  which  exhibits 
such  thrift,  unaided  by  artificial  means. 

Among  the  enterprising  business  men  of  this  place  I  may  mention 
William  Tliarp  and  Robert  Barnes,  but  space  prevents  the  naming  of 
others  equally  enterprising  and  deserving  of  mention.  Mr.  Tharp  has 
an  extensive  store,  filled  with  a  general  stock  of  merchandise,  which 
he  purchases  in  Chicago  and  eastern  cities.  Making  his  own  selections 
and  purchasing  from  first  hands  when  possible,  he  has  been  enabled 
to  offer  his  numerous  customers  their  supplies  at  such  rates  as  to  leave 
no  inducement  on  their  part  to  go  to  larger  places  to  make  their  pur- 
chases. By  energy  and  business  tact,  by  fair  dealing  and  unquestioned 
integrity,  he  established  a  business  of  great  magnitude,  and  won  for 
himself  an  enviable  reputation.  He  is  still  a  young  man,  with  the 
ability  to  grow  and  advance  with  the  enterj^rising  and  thrifty  people 
by  whom  he  is  surrounded. 

Robert  Barnes  began  business  here  a  few  years  ago.  From  small 
transactions  at  first  his  business  has  increased  until  at  the  present  his 
sales  are  very  large.      His  stock  embraces  almost   every   article   of 


TOWNS.  893 

necessity  or  luxury  required  by  the  customers  with  whom  he  deals. 
Besides  a  general  stock  of  merchandise,  a  line  of  agricultural  machin- 
ery suited  to  all  the  wants  of  the  country  is  carried  in  large  stock.  In 
addition  to  his  mercantile  business  he  is  the  proprietor,  publisher  and 
editor  of  the  "Raritan  Bulletin,"  a  weekly  newspaper  of  fair  size, 
which  is  ably  edited  and  constantl}'  gaining  in  circulation.  It  is  inde- 
pendent in  all  things,  and  deserves  the  success  that  has  thus  far 
attended  it. 

The  town  contains  four  churches :  Dutch  Reformed,  Baptist,  Meth- 
odist, and  Roman  Catholic.     It  has  two  hotels. 

The  town  of  Lynn,  on  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  railroad, 
adjoining  Gladstone,  was  laid  out  by  Ezekiel  W.  Lynn  on  Sec.  10,  T, 
10  N.,  5  W.,  June  28,  1858.  It  was  surveyed  by  James  R.  White. 
The  plat  and  record  will  be  found  in  Yol.  XY,  p.  213,  of  deeds,  in 
Henderson  count}". 

The  town  of  Carman  was  laid  out  and  platted  by  Josej)h  Carman, 
September  3,  1870,  in  Sec.  27,  T.  9  N.,  6  W.,  and  recorded  in  Yol. 
XXIY,  of  deeds,  p.  344,  Henderson  county.  It  is  situated  on  the 
line  of  Carthage  Division  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  rail- 
road, about  one  mile  from  the  Mississipjji  river,  and  contains  a  popu- 
lation of  about  300.  Shokokon  lies  between  this  town  and  the  river. 
Carman  is  a  flourishing  town,  and  the  center  of  a  large  grain  trade. 
Large  quantities  of  corn  are  annually  stored  at  this  point  for  distribu- 
tion to  the  different  markets.  It  is  five  miles  by  railroad  to  Burlington, 
Iowa,  and  about  fifteen  miles  to  the  county  seat.  About  two  miles  east 
of  this  place  resides  John  Fredericks  Curts,  on  his  place  known  as  the 
"Bear  Grove"  farm,  of  which  further  mention  will  be  made  in  this 
sketch.  Near  this  place  many  of  the  earlier  settlers  of  the  county 
found  a  home.  Alfred  Knowles  and  Dr.  Freeman  Knowles  came  from 
the  State  of  Maine  soon  after  the  laying  out  of  the  town  of  Shokokon, 
in  1836.  They  remained  for  a  short  time  upon  lands  they  had  entered. 
The  fever  and  ague,  the  pest  of  our  bottom  lands  at  that  time,  was 
more  than  they  could  successfully  contend  with,  and  they  removed  to 
more  healthy  locations.  Dr.  Knowles  going  to  the  town  of  Keokuk, 
Iowa,  which  then  contained  but  a  few  hundred  inhabitants,  where  his 
practice  grew  with  the  growth  of  that  thriving  city.  He  became  one  of 
the  professors  in  the  medical  college  of  that  place.  He  died  in  1880, 
after  a  successful  professional  career.  His  brother,  Alfred,  removed 
to  Oquawka,  where,  upon  the  organization  of  the  county,  he  became 
county  clerk.  In  1855  he  removed  to  the  city  of  Galesburg,  this 
state,  where  he  still  resides. 

The  last  town  laid  out  in  the  county  is  Lomax,  on  the  Chicago,  Bur- 


894  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

lington  &  Quincy  railroad.  It  was  laid  out  by  Robert  Lomax,  May  11, 
1882,  in  Sec.  15,  T.  8  N.,  E.  6  W.,  J.  Wilson  ^Yilliams  acting  as  sur- 
veyor; plat  and  deed  recorded  in  Yol.  I,  of  plats,  p.  64,  Henderson 
county.  At  this  point  there  has  been  a  railroad  station  and  business 
point  for  many  years.  Prior  to  the  opening  of  the  railroad,  William 
Lomax,  the  father  of  the  present  proprietor,  owned  and  cultivated  a 
large  farm,  through  which  the  road  was  located  and  a  station  established 
at  the  point  where  the  town  is  now  laid  out.  The  senior  Lomax 
errected  a  dwelling  and  store,  and  also  other  buildings  at  the  station, 
so  that  in  fact  it  became  quite  a  town  years  before  any  town  was  marked 
out  in  a  regular  way.  The  proprietor  had  resided  on  the  place  for 
many  years ;  in  fact  he  was  among  the  early  settlers  of  the  county,  and 
owned  this  valuable  property  before  railroads  came  to  further  enhance 
its  value. 

Although  the  population  of  the  town  is  small,  it  has  become  an  im- 
portant shipping  point.  Large  shipments  of  cattle,  hogs  and  grain  are 
made  at  this  station,  and  there  is  no  reason  why  this  should  not,  in 
in  the  near  future,  with  such  an  enterprising  business  man  as  its  pres- 
ent proprietor,  become  a  flourishing  town.  The  elder  Lomax  died  in 
the  year  1879,  at  an  advanced  age,  loved  and  respected  by  all  who 
knew  him.  He  had  lived  to  see  the  frontier  upon  which  he  had 
settled  become  a  cultivated,  populous  community.  He  had,  as  a  citi- 
zen, lent  his  aid  to  advance  every  laudible  undertaking  for  the 
advancement  of  the  interest  of  the  county.  He  had  served  four  years 
as  associate  justice  in  our  county  court,  and  well  and  faithfully  did  he 
discharge  the  duties  of  his  ofSce.  With  hands  clear  of  official  corrup- 
tion, with  consciousness  of  having  performed  his  duty,  he  retired  from 
office  and  his  remaining  years  were  made  pleasant  with  the  kindest 
regards  of  his  fellow  citizens.  His  worthy  son  Robert  succeeds  him 
in  the  estate  and  business  established  by  his  father.  The  position  has 
fallen  to  able  hands.  The  father's  wishes  and  plans  will  now  be  car- 
ried out  by  the  son.  Possessing  youth,  vigor  and  fine  business 
capacity,  he  still  retains  that  same  modesty  of  character  and  moral 
conviction  that  endeared  his  father  to  the  people  among  whom  he 
lived.  Mr.  Lomax  is  at  present,  as  will  be  seen  elsewhere  in  this  sketch, 
one  of  the  commissioners  of  the  county.  Just  north  of  this  place  the 
Toledo,  Peoria  &  Warsaw  railroad  forms  a  junction  with  the  Chicago, 
Burlington  &  Quincy  railroad,  and  over  the  track  of  the  latter  runs  on 
to  the  city  of  Burlington. 


NEWSPAPERS.  895 


NEWSPAPERS. 


The  first  newspaper  published  in  the  county  was  the  "Oquawka 
Spectator,"  founded  by  CoL  John  B.  Patterson,  in  the  month  of  Febru- 
ary, 18-48,  at  Oquawka,  who  issued  the  first  number  in  February  of  that 
year.  It  was  neutral  in  pc>litics,  and  issued  weekly  continuously  to 
the  present  time.  Its  founder.  Col.  Patterson,  is  still  its  editor  and 
proprietor,  and  bids  fair  to  continue  its  management  for  many  years  to 
come.  Since  the  foundation  of  the  paper,  E.  H.  N.  Patterson,  a  son 
of  the  present  editor,  was  for  many  years  associated  with  his  father  as 
junior  editor.  The  latter  severed  his  connection  with  tlie  paper  in  the 
year  1859,  and  with  the  great  army  of  gold  seekers  who  set  their  faces 
westward,  left  his  native  state  and  took  up  his  abode  in  the  then 
territory  of  Colorado.  Mining  was  not  to  his  taste.  He  was  pos- 
sessed of  a  fine  intellect  and  was  a  brilliant  writer.  These  qualities 
could  not  long  be  concealed  and  he  was  induced  to  attach  himself  to 
the  editorial  staff  of  the  "Colorado  Miner,"  one  of  the  leading  papers 
of  the  state,  in  which  position  he  gained  high  rank  by  the  ability  he 
displayed  in  his  editorials.  He,  in  a  short  time,  became  one  of  the 
proprietors  of  the  paper  and  its  chief  editor,  in  which  position  he  died 
in  the  month  of  April,  1880,  at  Denver,  Colorado.  He  married,  in 
1851,  Laura  Phelps,  the  daughter  of  Stephen  S.  Phelps,  one  of  the 
founders  of  the  town  of  Oquawka.  His  wife  died  in  the  year  1867, 
leaving  three  children  :  Harry  N. ,  Mattie,  and  Norman. 

Not  only  as  a  newspaper  writer  did  the  subject  of  this  sketch  ex- 
hibit marked  ability,  but  many  of  his  publications  in  verse,  as  well  as 
in  prose,  bore  testimony  of  the  peculiarly  fine  literary  cast  of  his  mind. 
A  specimen  is  here  quoted  as  ilkistrating  the  style  of  his  writings,  and 
the  sentiments  of  its  author.  It  was  written  nineteen  years  ago,  and 
is  now  published  for  the  first  time.  The  original  is  in  the  possession 
of  the  writer : 

"  THE  PATRIOT  MOTHER. 

"  Dead  !  No,  no  !  surely  you  do  but  mock  me !  He's  but  sleeping ;  — 
Why  all  these  tears,  this  agony  of  mourning?    Why  such  weeping? 
Death  has  not  come  to  rob  me  of  the  lad.     'Tis  only  gentle  sleep  — 
Deadlike  perchance,  in  being  dreamless  ;  yet  only  slumber,  wherefore  weep? 
When  first  the  tocsin  rung  the  battle  blast,  Charlie,  brave  boy,  stepped  out, 
Full  panoplied,  in  triple  armor  clad  ;  his  voice  in  the  great  freedom-shout 
Rising  above  all  others  —  louder,  clearer,  filled  with  grandeur  of  the  Cause 
For  which  he  fought :  his  nation's  constitution,  the  supremacy  of  its  laws  ! 
'Twas  but  as  yesterday  I  saw  him  girding  his  loins  for  the  fight, 
Conscious  of  victory,  confident  of  success,  because  the  Right. 
Ne'er  fell  before  the  opposing  hosts  of  Treason's  clan  — 
Ne'er  failed  because  opposed  by  jaundiced  Error's  ban ! 


896  HISTORY    OF    MERCER   AifD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Then  say  not  lie  is  dead  !     He  lives —  his  faith,  example,  deeds, 

■Will  nerve  his  patriot-brothers'  arms !     Away  with  funeral  weeds  ; 

I  will  not  wear  them !     Charlie  lives  — his  spirit  is  aw'ay. 

In  hottest  battle  —  men  will  feel  its  power  ;  death  cannot  mark  him  for  its  prey 

'Till  war  shall  cease  in  all  the  land  —  'till  peace  resume  her  sway  — 

And  Treason's  cloud  obscure  no  more  the  brightness  of  the  Nation's  day." 

It  should  be  stated  that  the  "Spectator,"  which  commenced  its 
career  as  a  neutral,  was,  in  the  year  1863,  transformed  into  a  democratic 
organ  of  its  party  in  the  county,  and  to  this  time  has  been  an  advocate 
of  conservative  democratic  principles,  tlirough  the  long  pilgrimage  of 
defeat  to  which  its  party  has  been  subjected.  Its  venerable  editor 
stands  high  with  his  professional  brethren  and  earns  the  esteem  of  his 
j^olitical  opponents.  "  Few  men  have  wielded  the  editorial  pen  for  so 
many  consecutive  years,  as  editor  and  proprietor  of  one  newspaper.  All 
his  acquaintances  join  in  wishing  him  many  happy  years  of  success  in 
the  path  he  has  so  long  and  successfully  traveled. 

The  "  Oquawka  Plaindealer"  was  the  next  newspaper  enterprise 
started  in  the  county.  This  was  a  weekly  publication,  commenced 
July  24,  1852,  by  Francis  A.  Dallam,  editor  and  proprietor, 
and  so  continued  until  March  6,  1855,  when  Horace  Bigelow,  Esq., 
purchased  a  half  interest  in  the  establishment ;  from  that  time  until 
May  6,  1856,  when  Mr.  Dallam  sold  his  interest  to  James  H.  Reed. 
The  firm  of  Reed  &  Bigelow  continued  the  publication  of  the  paper 
until  May  1,  1857,  when  they  sold  the  whole  concern  to  J.  K.  Magie 
and  David  Mitchell.  It  was  whig  in  politics  at  its  commencement  and 
after  the  defeat  of  Scott,  in  1852,  it  shared  the  fate  of  its  party,  and 
drifting  with  the  wreck  until  the  formation  of  the  republican  party  in 
1856,  when  it  cast  its  fortunes  with  that  organization,  to  which  it  ever 
afterward  adhered.  Magie  &  Mitchell  disposed  of  their  interest  and 
the  paper  was  next  under  the  control  of  Lewis  Leslie  ;  then  of  M,  H. 
Jamison,  when,  under  the  editorial  control  of  a  Mr.  Chamberlain,  it  was 
removed  to  Biggsville,  in  this  county.  Shortly  after  Chamberlain 
retired  from  the  paper  and  Judson  Graves  became  its  editor.  Subse- 
quently Graves  removed  the  paper  to  Kirkwood,  in  Warren  county, 
when,  after  a  brief  period,  he  again  moved,  and  this  time  to  the  city  of 
Galesburg,  in  this  state. 

The  ' '  Clipper"  is  a  small  weekly  paper,  established  in  Biggsville  by 
M.  M.  Rowley,  editor  and  proprietor,  about  the  year  1874.  It  is 
republican  in  politics,  and  still  continues  under  its  first  management, 
and  is  meeting,  as  it  deserves,  with  very  fair  success.  Its  editor  is  an 
excellent  writer  for  such  a  paper  and  earns  the  deserved  success  he  has 
enjoyed. 


COUNTY    OFFICERS.  899 

The  "  Karitan  Bulletin,''  a  weekly  paper,  is  published  in  the  town 
of  Karitan,  in  the  southeast  part  of  the  county,  by  Robert  Barnes,  as 
editor  and  proprietor.  It  was  established  in  the  year  1875.  It  is  inde- 
pendent in  politics  and  is  meeting  with  deserved  success.  Its  editorials 
evince  marked  ability  and  its  circulation  is  rapidly  increasing. 

"•The  Henderson  County  Journal  "  was  established  in  Oquawka  by 
Eugene  A.  Hail,  editor  and  proprietor,  in  the  month  of  May,  1872.  It 
was  a  weekly  ])aper  and  republican  in  politics.  In  June,  1872,  Mr. 
Hail,  its  editor,  removed  the  establishment  to  Macomb,  in  McDonough 
county,  in  this  state,  where  he  continued  its  publication  until  August, 
1878,  when  he  returned  with  his  paper  to  this  county  and  again  com- 
menced its  publication  at  the  county  seat,  under  the  name  of  the 
"Henderson  County  Journal,"  a  weekly  issue,  devoted  to  the  interests 
of  the  republican  party.  The  paper  is  ably  edited  by  Mr.  Hail,  its 
proprietor,  a  gentleman  of  refinement  and  sterling  worth,  and  is  prov- 
ing for  its  owner  a  good  investment. 

All  the  papers  here  named  have  received  not  alone  from  their 
party  friends,  but  from  the  general  public  of  the  county,  a  generous 
support,  which  bears  evidence  of  the  intelligence  of  the  inhabitants. 

COUNTY   OFFICERS. 

The  names  of  the  county  officers  from  the  date  of  the  organization 
of  the  county  is  shown  in  the  following  table,  with  the  date  of  their 
election  or  appointment : 

NAME.  OFFICE.  DATE. 

John  S.  Pollock Clerk  Circuit  Court April    5,  1841. 

Alfred  Knowles Clerk  County  Commissioners'  Court April    5, 1841. 

John  McKinney Recorder April  l7,  1841. 

"William  C.  Rice, Surveyor April  17,  1841. 

"William  Cowden Probate  Justice  of  the  Peace April  22,  1841. 

"William  Elliott. State's  Attorney May  20,  1841. 

Alfred  Knowles Probate  Justice  of  the  Peace June  30,  1841. 

Joseph  B.  Jamison School    Commissioner Aug.     2,  1841. 

"W.  D.  Henderson Sheriff April    5,  1841. 

Francis  J.  C.  Peasley .  . .  .County  Commissioner Aug.     2,  1841. 

Joseph  B.  Jamison School  Commissioner Aug.     2,  1841. 

Preston  Martin County  Commissioner April    5,  1841. 

Benjamin  C.  Coghill County  Commsisioner April    5,  1841. 

"William  D.  Henderson . .  Sheriff Aug.     1,  1842. 

Michael  Crane County  Commissioner Aug.     1,  1842. 

John  F.  Morgan Coroner Aug.     1,  1842. 

Isaiah  J.  Brooks County  Commissioner Aug.     7,  1843. 

Alfred  Knowles County  Commissioner's  Clerk Aug.     7,  1843. 

"Wilson  M.  Graham Recorder Aug.     7,  1843. 

William  C.  Rice Probate  Justice  of  the  Peace Aug.     7,  1843. 

51 


900  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

NAME.  OFFICE.  DATE. 

William  E.  Hopkins Surveyor Aug.  7,  1843. 

Alexander  Marshall School  Commissioner Aug.  7,  1843. 

William  (Jousland County  Commissioner Sept.  12,  1844. 

S.  S.  Leet Sheriff 

D.  B.  Rice Coronor  Feb.  5,  1845, 

J.  B.  Jamison School  Commissioner 

Jer.  Rose County  Commissioner Aug.  1846. 

Matthew  Findley County  Commissioner Aug.  1846. 

Julius  Gifford Sheriff Aug.  1846, 

David  B.  Rice Coroner Aug.  1846. 

Ebenezer  Chapin County  Commissioner Aug.  1847. 

Charles  S.  Cowan County  Commissioners'  Clerk Aug.  1847. 

Harvey  Russell Probate  Justice  of  the  Peace Aug.  1847. 

Samuel  Mitchell Recorder Aug.  1847. 

John  S.  Peasley Treasurer Aug.  1847. 

Joseph  B.  Jamison ......  .School  Commissioner Aug.  1847. 

A.  N.  Armstrong Surveyor Aug.  1847. 

Robert  S.  Blackwell States  Attorney Nov.  1847. 

Matthew  Findley County  Commissioner Aug.  1848. 

William  C.  Rice County  Judge Nov.  6,  1849. 

Daniel  Edmunds County  Justice  of  the  Peace Nov.  6,  1849. 

George  W.  Penny County  Justice  of  the  Peace Nov.  6,  1849. 

Charles  S.  Cowan County   Clerk Nov.  6,  1849. 

Robert  Crownover County  Treasurer Nov.  6,  1849. 

A.  N.  Armstrong Surveyor Nov.  6,  1849. 

William  McMillan School  Commissioner Nov.  6,  1849. 

Booth    Nettleton Coroner Nov.  6,  1849. 

Booth    Nettleton Sheriff Nov.  5,  1850. 

James  A.  Maury Coroner Nov.  5,  1850. 

John  S.  Pollock Clerk  of  the  Circuit  Court Nov.  2,  1852. 

James  H.  Stewart State's  Attorney Nov.  2,  1852. 

Samuel  P.  McGaw Sheriff Nov.  2,  1852. 

James  A.  Maury Coroner Nov.  2,  1852. 

Peter  Downey : .  .County  Judge Nov.  8,  1853. 

Lambert  Hoi^per Associate  Justice Nov.  8,  1853. 

John  Logan Associate  Justice Nov.  8,  1853. 

Charles  S.  Cowan County   Clerk Nov.  8,  1853- 

George  W.  Connelly Treasurer Nov.  8,  1853. 

A.  N.  Arm.strong Surveyor   Nov.  8,  1853. 

Wm.  L.  Stocrkton School  Commissioner Nov.  8,  1853. 

Richard  W.  Richey County  Judge Feb.  18,  1854. 

Jonathan  Simpson School  Commissioner Nov.  1855. 

Richard    W.  Richey County  Judge Nov.  3,  1857. 

Asahel  Johnson Associate  Justice Nov.  3,  1857. 

Melzer  C.  Paul Associate  Justice Nov.  3,  1857. 

Charles  S.  Cowan County  Clerk Nov.  3,  1857. 

George  W.  Connelly County  Treasurer Nov.  3,  1857. 

Garrett  Nevins County  Surveyor Nov.  3,  1857. 

Jonathan  Simpson School  Commissioner Nov.  3,  1857. 

George  W.  Cowden Sheriff Nov.  2,  1858. 


COUNTY    OFFICERS.  901 
NAME.                                                                        OFFICE.                                                                     DATE, 

Wm.  B.  Jamison County  Surveyor Nov.  2,  1858', 

Charles  E.  Birdsall Coroner Nov.  2,  1858. 

J.  Eldridge  Barnes School  Commissioner Nov.  8,  1859. 

Geo.  W.  Connelly Assessor  and  Treasurer Nov.  8,  1859. 

Wm.  B.  Jamison County  Surveyor Nov.  8,  1859. 

James  H.  Stewart State's  Attorney 1860. 

John  M.  Wilson Sheriff 1860. 

Hugh  L.  Thomson Clerk  Circuit  Court 1860. 

Z.  D.  Fanning Coroner 1860. 

Richard  W.  Richey County  Judge Nov.  5,  1861. 

Preston  Martin Associate  Judge Nov.  5,  1861. 

Wm.  Hartford Associate  Judge Nov.  5,  1861. 

Wm.  Hopkins County  Clerk Nov.  5,  1861. 

J.  Eldridge  Barnes School  Commissioner Nov.  5,  1861 

Moses  McElhinney Assessor  and  Treasurer Nov.  5,  1861 

Wm.  H.  MeChesney County  Surveyor Nov.  5,  1861 

R.  S.  McAllister County  Clerk (appointed) Aug.  15,  1863. 

R.  S.  McAllister County  Clerk (elected) Nov.  3,  1863 

Francis  A.  Raper As^sessor  and  Treasurer Nov.  3,  1863 

J.  E.  Barnes School  Commissioner Nov.  3,  1863. 

Isaac  N.  J.  Hartford Surveyor Nov.  3,  1863, 

Hugh  L.  Thomson Clerk  Circuit  Court Nov.  8,  1864, 

James  A.  McKenzie State's  Attorney Nov.  8,  1864, 

Davis  S.  Brainard Sheriff Nov.  8,  1864. 

Samuel  H.  Ruple Coroner Nov.  8,  1864. 

AVm.  Ingerun School  Commissioner Dec.  8,  1864. 

Cornelius  D.  Eltinge. . .  .County  Judge Nov.  7,  1865. 

Wm.  Lomax Associate  Justice Nov.  7,  1865. 

Wm.  H.  Mills Associate  Justice Nov.  7,  1S65. 

Robert  S.  McAllister County   Clerk Nov.  7,  1 865. 

Simeon  Donaldson County   Treasurer Nov.  7,  1865. 

Isaac  N.  J.  Hartford County  Surveyor Nov.  7,  1865. 

Marion  F.  Button County  Superintendent  of  Schools Nov.  7,  1865. 

Simeon  Donaldson County  Assessor Nov.  7,  1865. 

Wm.  Bunger Sheriff  and  Collector Nov.  6,  1866. 

Hinton  Park Coroner  Nov.  6,  1866. 

Matthew  H.  Jamison. . .  .County  Superintendent  of  Schools .Sept.  14,  1867. 

Simeon  Donaldson County  Treasurer Nov.  5,  1867. 

Simeon  Donaldson County  Assessor Nov.  5,  1867. 

Isaac  N.  J.  Hartford County  Surveyor Nov.  5,  1867. 

John  A.  Summers Superintendent  of  Schools Mar.  6,  1868. 

Joseph  Braden Sheriff  and  Collector Nov.  3,  18G8. 

Harry  F.  McAllister Clerk  Circuit  Court Nov.  1868. 

James  A.  Mc^Kenzie State's  Attorney Nov.  1868. 

Joseph  Brader Sheriff Nov.  1868. 

Jonathan  Simpson School   Superintendent Aug.  1869. 

Richard  W.  Richey County  Judge Nov.  2,  1869. 

Preston  Martin County  Justice  of  the  Peace Nov.  2,  1869. 

Robert  W.  Goddis County  Justice  of  the  Peace Nov.  2,  1869. 

Roswell  P.  Randall County  Superintendent  of  Schools Nov.  2,  1869. 


902  HISTOKY    OF   IVIEKCER   Al^fD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

NAME.  OFFICE. 

D.  C.  Hanna County  Clerk Nov, 

Wm.  B.  Jamison County  Surveyor Nov, 

George  Bell Sheriff Nov. 

Daniel  I.  McMillan Coroner Nov. 

Jefferson  H.  Jenings State's  Attorney Nov: 

H.  F.  McAllister Clerk  of  Circuit  Court Nov. 

George  Bell Sheriff Nov. 

W.  K.  Smith Coroner Nov. 

William  C.  Rice County  Judge Nov. 

D.  Caswell  Hanna County  Clerk Nov. 

John  A.  Brook County  Treasurer Nov. 

James  Mc Arthur Superintendent  of  Schools Nov, 

Joseph  Allen County  Commissioner Nov. 

Robert  A.  McKinley County  Commissioner Nov. 

John  B.  Holliday County  Coinmissioner Nov. 

George  Bell Sheriff Nov. 

Francis  M.  Jackson Coroner Nov. 

Isaiah  J.  Brook County  Commissioner Nov. 

W.  A.  M.  Crouch County  Commissioner Nov. 

Joseph  Allen Countj'  Commissioner Nov. 

Eli  W.  Smith County  Ti-easurer Nov. 

William  H.  McChesney .  .County  Surveyor Nov. 

George  Currv County  Commissioner Nov. 

H.  F.  McAllister.. .  .• Clerk  of  Circuit  Court Nov. 

James  O.  Anderson ......  Sherifi' Nov. 

Jefferson  H.  Jenings State's  Attorney Nov. 

Millard  F.  Brown Coroner Nov. 

William  C.  Rice County  Judge Nov. 

G.  F.  Wm.  Froehlich ....  County  Clerk Nov. 

Eli  W.  Smith County  Treasurer Nov. 

J.  M.  Akin Superintendent  of  Schools Nov. 

James  Duke County  Commissioner Nov. 

Elijah  Beal County  Commissioner Nov. 

James  O.  Anderson Sheriff Nov. 

Isaac  P.  Cowdon (broner Nov. 

George  Curry County  Commissioner Nov. 

Adam  B.  Hamill County  Treasurer Nov. 

Pitt  K.  Jagger County  Surveyor Nov. 

Harry  F.  McAllister Clerk  of  Circuit  Court Nov. 

James  O.  Anderson Sheriff Nov. 

Rau.seldon  Cooper State's  Attorney Nov. 

James  A.  Caswell Coroner Nov. 

Samuel  Pickering County  Commissioner Nov. 

Robert  A.  Lomax County  Commissioner Nov. 

Appleton  Park County  Surveyor Nov. 

James  M.  Akin Superintendent  of  Schools Dec. 

Among  the  old  citizens  of  this  county  there  is  one  who  should  not 
be  overlooked  in  these  brief  biographies.  It  is  the  colored  man  com- 
monly called  "Nigger  Dick,"  Kichard  being  his  true  name,  and,  like 


ATE. 

2 

,  1869, 

2 

,  1869, 

8 

,  1870, 

8 

,  1870. 

1872. 

1872. 

1872. 

1872. 

4, 

,  1873. 

4, 

,  1873. 

4, 

, 1873. 

4, 

, 1873. 

4, 

,  1873. 

4, 

1873. 

4, 

1873. 

3, 

1874. 

3, 

1874. 

3, 

1874. 

3, 

1874. 

9 

1875. 

1875. 

9 

1875. 

7, 

1876. 

7, 

1876. 

7, 

1876. 

7, 

1876. 

7, 

1876. 

6, 

1877. 

6, 

1877. 

6, 

1877. 

6, 

1877. 

«, 

1877. 

5, 

1878. 

r>, 

1878. 

5, 

1878. 

4, 

1879. 

4, 

1879. 

4, 

1879. 

9 

1880. 

9 

1880. 

2 

1880. 

9 

1880. 

9 

1880. 

8, 

1881. 

8, 

1881. 

5, 

1881. 

COUNTY    OFFICERS.  90H 

many  others  who  were  the  offspring  of  the  slave  system,  he  had  but 
that  one  name,  for  family  he  had  none.  The  existence  of  slavery  for- 
bid the  cultivation  and  perpetuation  of  family  ties.  The  absence  of  all 
those  sanctified  relations  included  in  the  family  circle  was  essential  to 
the  perpetuation  of  what  was  termed,  in  the  days  of  its  power,  the 
"institution  of  slavery."  liichard  was  born  a  slave  in  Greenville, 
Kentucky,  in  1815,  as  the  property  and  chattel  of  Solomon  Rhodes. 
At  the  age  of  twelve  years  he  was  sold  to  John  Billings.  Mr.  Billings 
took  him  to  the  State  of  Missouri  and  sold  him  to  Capt.  William 
Phelps  for  the  sum  of  $1,000,  which,  Dick  remarked  to  the  writer, 
was  more  than  the  average  white  man  would  sell  for  in  Missouri  at 
that  time.  Capt.  Phelps,  who  is  a  brother  of  the  late  S.  S.  Phelps, 
and  engaged  at  that  time  with  him  in  the  Indian  trade,  brought  Dick 
to  Oquawka  with  him.  Afterward  Dick  became  a  valuable  assistant 
with  the  Phelps  brothers  in  their  Indian  trade  in  Iowa  and  on  the 
frontier.  He  at  one  time  saved  the  family  of  S.  S.  Phelps,  at  their 
trading  station  in  Iowa,  from  death  in  their  burning  home.  In  doing 
so  he  risked  his  life,  and  was  seriously  injured  by  the  explosion  of 
gunpowder  in  the  burning  building.  Ever  afterward  he  was  treated 
with  the  greatest  kindness  by  the  Phelps  brothers.  He  was  always 
welcome  in  the  families  of  the  Phelps  brothers.  In  their  trading 
expeditions  in  the  west  among  the  Indians,  Dick  was  always  their 
valued  aid  and  faithful  companion.  For  many  years  Dick  enjoyed  the 
fruits  of  his  fidelity.  He  may  be  said  to  have  been  put  on  the  retired 
list,  with  pay  and  rations.  Many  are  the  good  stories  that  are  related 
at  Dick's  expense,  growing  out  of  journeyings  among  the  red  men. 
Many  a  thrilling  scene  is  related  of  his  dealings  with  these  natives ; 
whether  in  the  deadly  encounter,  where  personal  bravery  was  a  large 
factor  in  self-preservation,  or  in  the  swift  race  for  life,  where  fleetness 
and  endurance  were  essential  to  success,  Dick  never  found  his  su^^erior. 
He  possesses  rare  natural  abilities.  Although  the  child  of  slavery,  he 
has  gathered  a  rare  stock  of  practical  every-day  education,  and  fur- 
nishes us  evidence  of  the  truth  that  his  race  is  capable  of  receiving  that 
training  that  shall  fit  them  for  those  duties  devolving  upon  men  who 
would  perpetuate  that  system  of  government  where  all  "just  powers 
are.  derived  from  the  consent  of  the  governed. "  Dick  still  lives  among 
us,  and,  although  well  advanced  in  years,  happy  and  cheerful.  With 
his  horse  and  his  gun,  he  is  the  same  good-natured,  jolly,  honest  Dick 
that  he  was  when  first  his  foot  trod  the  free  soil  of  Illinois.  He  was 
never  freed  in  any  formal  manner,  and  he  says  that  he  does  not  know 
but  what  he  would  still  be  in  law  a  slave,  if  had  not  been  for  the 
proclamation  of  President  Lincoln  freeing  the  slave. 


904  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

RAILROADS. 

Tlie  first  railroad  enterprise  in  which  the  citizens  of  Henderson 
county  engaged,  looking  to  the  building  of  a  road  in  the  county,  was 
the  Peoria  &  Oquawka,  a  project  to  build  and  equip  a  road  from 
Peoria,  on  the  Blinois  river,  to  Oquawka.  On  February  12,  1849,  the 
general  assembly  of  this  state  passed  an  act  incorporating  the  com- 
pany, when,  on  December  20,  1849,  the  first  meeting  was  held  to 
organize.  Alexander  Turnbull,  James  W.  Davidson,  Wyatt  B.  Stapp, 
Preston  Martin,  John  McKinney,  Robert  M.  Patterson,  Samuel  B. 
Anderson,  James  Knox,  Daniel  Meek,  William  Moss,  Alfred  G.  Cur- 
tinius,  and  Isaac  Underbill,  the  commissioners,  opened  the  books  for 
subscriptions  to  the  capital  stock.  The  shares  were  fixed  at  $100  each, 
and  five  per  cent  payable  at  the  time  of  subscription.  At  that  time 
the  managers  of  the  enterprise  estimated  the  cost  of  the  road,  includ- 
ing rolling  stock,  at  from  $6,000  to  $10,000  per  mile. 

The  county  commissioners  ordered  an  election  for  the  first  Monday 
in  May,  1851,  of  the  legal  voters  of  the  county,  to  vote  upon  the 
proposition  for  the  county  to  subscribe  $50,000  to  the  capital  stock  of 
said  company.  The  election  was  held  and  resulted  in  the  proposition 
for  such  subscription  being  voted  down  by  a  large  majority. 

Bj  an  act  of  the  general  assembly  the  charter  of  this  railroad  com- 
pany was  amended,  and  by  one  provision  of  the  amendment  it  was 
pro  voided  that  a  branch  road,  extending  from  Sagetown  (now  Gladstone) 
might  be  constructed  to  a  point  on  the  Mississippi  river  opposite  the 
city  of  Burlington,  Iowa.  The  town  of  Oquawka,  under  a  mistaken 
idea  of  the  importance  of  the  completion  of  the  road  to  that  point,  gave 
to  the  enterprise  no  encouragement,  and  Burlington,  seeing  her  oppor- 
tunity, at  once  set  about  raising  the  means  to  secure  the  completion  of 
the  work  to  her  over  the  branch.  In  this  she  succeeded,  and  Burling- 
ton became  what  Oquawka  might  have  been,  a  great  commercial  point 
and  a  railroad  center  for  a  large  portion  of  the  roads  through  Iowa. 

The  Peoria  &  Oquawka  railroad  was  completed  to  Monmouth  in 
1855,  on  the  fii'st  of  January.  The  Chicago  &  Quincy  railroad  was 
completed  to  Galesburg  at  that  time,  and  that  company  leased  the 
Peoria  &  Oquawka  line  and  completed  the  work  to  Burlington,  and 
commenced  running  their  trains  over  the  whole  route,  and  in  a  short 
time  afterward  purchased  the  entire  line,  when  the  name  was  changed 
to  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  railroad,  and  as  soon  as  the 
Quincy  branch  was  completed  to  Galesburg,  110  miles,  this  name 
became  universally  known  as  one  of  the  most  popular  railroads  in  the 
United  States.  That  portion  of  the  road  from  Sagetown  to  Oquawka 
the  company  never  completed.     The  town  of  Oquawka  graded,  tied. 


RAILROADS.  905 

and  bridged  the  five  miles  of  road  between  the  two  last  named  points, 
in  1856,  under  some  kind  of  an  expectation  that  the  road  would  be 
operated  by  the  company,  but  after  tlie  expenditure  of  $25,000  these 
expectations  proved  to  be  without  basis,  and  the  work  remained  use- 
less and  of  no  value  to  the  town. 

In  1849  the  general  assembly  granted  a  charter  for  the  Warsaw  & 
Rockford  Railroad  Company,  for  the  purpose  of  constructing  a  road 
from  the  town  of  Rockford,  Winnebago  county,  Illinois,  to  the  city  of 
Warsaw,  Hancock  county,  Illinois,  near  the  foot  of  the  Des  Moines 
Rapids.  The  route  of  this  proposed  road  passed  from  north  to  south 
through  Henderson  county. 

In  1853,  at  an  election,  the  county  commissioners  were  authorized 
to  subscribe  $100,000  to  the  capital  stock  of  said  company,  to  aid  in 
the  completion  of  the  enterprise.  In  IS^ovember,  1855,  the  commis- 
sioners, in  accordance  with  the  authority  thus  given,  proceeded  to 
make  the  subscription.  The  road  was  never  completed,  nor  indeed 
was  much,  if  any,  valuable  work  done  on  the  line,  but  the  affairs  of 
the  company  fell  into  incompetent  hands,  and  the  subscriptions  were 
frittered  away,  leaving  no  results  of  value  to  those  who  had,  in  an  evil 
hour,  placed  their  means  at  the  disposal  of  these  managers. 

Henderson  county,  however,  succeeded  after  some  years  in  recover- 
ing back  $21,000  of  unexpended  bonds,  and  thus  saved  this  much 
from  the  wreck  of  this  wretched,  bankrupt  concern.  The  county  sub- 
sequently refunded  the  remaining  portion  of  the  indebtedness,  and  at 
this  time  has  paid  a  greater  part  of  the  same,  and  will  in  the  early 
future  be  entirely  free  from  this  debt. 

The  Carthage  &  Burlington  Railroad  Company  was  chartered  in 
1867  by  the  general  assembly,  and  authorized  to  construct  a  road  from 
Burlington,  Iowa,  to  Carthage,  Hancock  county,  Illinois,  a  distance  of 
about  twenty-six  miles.  In  about  1870  the  Chicago,  Burlington  & 
Quincy  Railroad  Company  purchased  this  road,  and  added  it  to  its 
already  lengthening  lines,  and  commenced  operating  it  under  the  title 
of  the  Carthage  &  Burlington  diviision  of  that  road. 

The  Rockford,  Rock  Island  &  St.  Louis  railroad  was  commenced 
by  a  company  organized  under  the  laws  of  this  state  in  1865,  with 
intent  to  build  a  road  from  Rockford  through  the  counties  of  Rock 
Island,  Mercer,  Henderson,  and  so  on  to  St.  Louis,  touching  Keitlis- 
"burg  and  Oquawka  as  river  points.  That  part  of  the  road  between 
Keithsburg  via  Oquawka  to  Sagetown  was  completed  and  put  in  oper- 
ation in  1869,  when  the  company  changed  its  route,  running  south 
from  Rock  Island  through  the  eastern  portion  of  Mercer  county  to 
Monmouth,  Warren  county,  and  thence  to  St.  Louis.     Subsequently, 


906  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Company  purchased  the  entire  line 
of  road  from  the  Rockford  &  St.  Louis  Company,  and  now  operate  the 
whole  line.  The  short  piece  of  road  from  Sagetown  to  Keithsburg 
was  extended  six  miles  farther  north  to  New  Boston,  where  it  connects 
with  the  Galva  branch  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  road. 

That  part  of  the  Toledo,  Peoria  &  Warsaw  railroad  within  the 
limits  of  this  county  crosses  the  county  line  on  leaving  Hancock 
county,  extending  in  a  northwesterly  direction,  and  forms  a  junc- 
tion with  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  road  at  Iowa  station,  be- 
tween the  towns  of  Lomax  and  Carman.  Thus  it  will  be  seen  that 
Henderson  county  has  in  oj)eration  about  fifty  miles  of  railroad,  viz : 
the  east  and  west  main  line  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy,  ex- 
tending from  the  Warren  county  line  to  the  Mississippi  river,  seven- 
teen miles ;  the  Burlington  &  Carthage  branch  of  the  Chicago,  Bur- 
lington &  Quincy  road,  extending  from  Burlington  to  Dallas  City  in 
this  county,  fifteen  miles ;  the  Galva  branch  of  the  last-named  road, 
extending  from  the  south  line  of  Mercer  county  by  way  of  Oquawka 
to  Gladstone,  where  it  forms  a  junction  with  the  main  line,  fourteen 
miles ;  the  Toledo.  Peoria  &  Warsaw  railroad  from  Iowa  Junction  to 
the  south  line  of  the  county,  a  distance  of  four  miles. 

There  are  other  lines  of  projected  railroads,  the  routes  of  which 
touch  the  territory  of  Henderson  county,  none  of  which,  at  the  present 
time,  give  promise  of  an  early  completion.  The  Peoria,  Farmington  & 
Keithsburg  road,  running  by  way  of  Monmouth,  touches  the  northeast- 
ern part  of  the  county.  This  road  is  completed  and  running  cars  from 
Peoria  to  Farmingtom.  Much  grading  has  been  done  in  Mercer 
county,  from  Keithsburg,  eastward,  and  along  the  line  much  money 
has  been  expended,  but  work  has  ceased  on  the  west  portion  of  the 
line,  and  there  seems  at  present  no  indication  of  an  early  completion 
of  the  road.  Two  other  lines  of  railroad  are  projected,  running  through 
the  county  from  east  to  west,  pointing  to  the  Burlington  bridge,  but 
whether  these  paper  enterprises  are  merely  speculative  or  not,  there  is 
no  visible  indications  of  active  work  upon  them  at  the  present  time. 
These  entei'prises  probably  are  only  speculative.* 

SENATOKIAL  AND   REPRESP]NTATIVE   DISTRICTS.      NAMES  OF  SENA- 
TORS AND  REPRESENTATIVES. 

In  1844,  for  the  first  time,  Henderson  county  appears  in  districting* 
the  states  into  senatorial  and  representative  districts.     At  this  appor- 
tionment of  the  general  assembly,  Warren,  McDonough  and  Hender- 
son counties  composed  a  senatorial  district,  and  William  McMillan,  of 

"'■■  See  page  02  for  further  inforiuatioii. 


SENATORIAL   ANT>   REPRESENTATIVE    DISTRICTS.  907 

Henderson  county,  was  elected  senator.  In  the  same  year  Henderson 
and  Warren  counties  composed  a  representative  district,  and  William 
D.  Henderson  was  elected  representative.  In  the  general  assembly  of 
1846-8,  William  McMillam  still  held  the  office  of  senator,  and  John 
Curts,  of  Henderson  county,  was  elected  representative.  The  consti- 
tutional convention  of  1848  made  the  counties  of  Hancock  and  Hen- 
derson a  senatorial  district,  and  Azro  Patterson,  of  Henderson  county, 
was  elected  senator.  At  the  same  time  the  counties  of  Warren,  Mercer 
and  Henderson  became  a  representative  district  and  entitled  to  two 
representatives,  and  Abner  C  Harding,  of  Warren,  and  Gilbert  Turn- 
bull,  of  Henderson,  were  elected  representatives.  In  1850  Jacob  C. 
Davis,  of  Hancock  county,  was  elected  senator,  and  Thomas  Willits,  of 
Mercer  county,  and  Azro  Patterson,  of  Henderson  county,  were  elected 
representatives.  In  1852  J.  C.  Davis  still  held  the  office  of  senator, 
and  Samuel  Darnell,  of  Henderson  county,  asid  Eleazer  A.  Paine,  of 
Warren  county,  were  elected  representatives.  In  1854  J.  C.  Davis 
still  held  the  office  of  senator,  and  William  C.  Rice  was  elected  repre- 
sentative. In  1856  Gren.  Hiram  Rose,  of  Henderson  county,  was 
elected  senator,  and  A.  Y.  T.  Gilbert,  of  AVarren  county,  represented 
the  district  composed  of  Warren  and  Henderson  counties.  In  1858 
John  P.  Richmond,  of  Schuyler  county,  was  elected  senator  of  the  dis- 
trict to  which  Henderson  county  belonged,  and  William  C.  Rice,  of 
Henderson  county,  was  elected  representative.  In  1860  John  P. 
Richmond  still  held  the  office  of  senator,  and  William  C.  Maley,  of 
Warren  county,  was  elected  representative.  In  1862  Henry  K.  Pef- 
fer,  of  Warren  county,  and  Thomas  B.  Cabeen,  of  Mercer  county,  were 
elected  representatives  from  the  Henderson  representative  district.  In 
1864  James  Strain,  of  Warren  county,  was  elected  senator,  and  Jona- 
than Simpson,  of  Henderson  county,  was  elected  representative.  In 
1866  James  Strain  still  held  his  seat  in  the  senate,  and  Francis  M. 
Bruner,  of  Warren  county,  was  elected  representative.  In  1868  Isaac 
McManus,  of  Mercer  county,  was  elected  senator  from  the  Henderson 
senatorial  district,  and  David  M.  Findley,  of  Henderson  county,  was 
elected  representative.  In  1870  Harvey  S.  Senter,  of  Mercer  county, 
was  elected  senator  from  the  same  district,  and  William  A.  M.  Crunch 
was  elected  rejjresentative.  In  1870,  by  the  adoption  of  the  new  con- 
stitution framed  by  the  convention  of  that  year,  the  state  was  divided 
into  fifty-one  senatorial  districts,  each  electing  one  senator,  and  each 
senatorial  district  constituting  a  representative  district,  entitled  to 
three  representatives  to  the  lower  house  of  the  general  assembly. 

The  constitution  also  provided  for  the  cumulative  system  of  voting 
for  members  of  the  lower  house.     In  the  districting  by  the  general 


908  HISTORY    OF    MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

assembly,  in  pursuance  of  this  constitutional  authority,  the  counties  of 
Henderson  and  Hancock  became  one  senatorial  and  representative 
district,  entitled  to  one  senator  and  three  representatives.  In  18T2 
Benjamin  Warren,  of  Hancock  county,  was  elected  senator,  and  David 
Eankin  and  William  Scott,  of  Henderson  county,  and  Edward  E. 
Lane,  of  Hancock  county,  were  elected  representatives.  In  1874 
Benjamin  Warren  still  held  the  office  of  senator,  and  David  Ran- 
kin and  Paul  D.  Salter,  of  Henderson  county,  and  WelHngton 
Jenney,  of  Hancock  county,  were  representatives  in  the  lower  house. 
In  1876  William  Scott,  of  Henderson  county,  was  chosen  senator,  and 
Charles  F.  Gill,  George  F.  Walker,  and  John  J.  Reyburn,  of  Hancock 
county,  were  elected  representatives.  In  1878  William  Scott  held 
over  as  senator,  and  Thomas  B.  Brumbrack,  John  J.  Reyburn  and 
Brooks  R.  Hamilton  were  elected  representatives.  In  1880  John 
Fletcher,  of  Hancock  cojinty,  was  elected  senator,  and  James  Peterson, 
Robert  A.  McKinley  and  Henry  M.  Whiteman,  of  Henderson  county, 
were  chosen  representatives. 

CONSTITUTIONAL  CONVENTIONS  OF  THE  STATE  OF  ILLINOIS. 

The  first  constitutional  convention  that  ever  assembled  in  Illinois, 
was  convened  at  Kaskaskia,  in  July,  1818.  It  remained  in  session 
until  August  30,  1818.  This  convention  was  composed  of  thirty-three 
delegates,  and  adopted  a  constitution  which  the  convention  did  not  see 
fit  to  submit  to  a  vote  of  the  people.  This  constitution  was  ratified  by 
congress  December  3,  1818.  In  1847  a  second  constitutional  conven- 
tion convened  in  this  state.  It  assembled  on  June  7,  1847,  and  ad- 
journed August  31,  1847.  It  was  composed  of  162  delegates.  The 
convention  adopted  and  submitted  a  constitution  to  a  vote  of  the  people, 
who  ratified  it  on  March  6,  1848.  Abner  C.  Harding,  of  Warren 
county,  was  the  delegate  chosen  from  the  district  composed  of  Warren 
and  Henderson  counties.  The  next  constitutional  convention  that 
convened  in  this  state  assembled  at  Springfield,  January  7,  1862,  and 
continued  in  session  until  March  24,  1862.  It  adopted  a  constitution  and 
submitted  it  to  the  people  for  ratification  or  rejection,  on  the  Tuesday 
after  the  third  Monday  in  June,  1862.  The  people,  by  a  decided  major- 
ity, rejected  the  constitution  thus  submitted.  The  rejection  of  this  consti- 
tution did  not  result  so  much  from  any  real  defects  in  the  provisions  of 
the  constitution  thus  submitted,  as  from  other  causes  combined.  It 
will  be  seen  by  the  date  of  the  assembling  of  this  convention,  that  it 
was  during  the  second  year  of  the  war  of  the  rebellion.  Passion  and 
prejudice  held  at  that  time  high  carnival.  A  war  of  gigantic  propor- 
tions confronted  the  northern  states.      The  federal  government  was 


CONSTITUTIONAL    CONVENTIONS.  909 

menaced  as  never  before  had  it  been  menaced.  Many  saw  in  the  dire 
calamity  of  war  only  ruin  to  our  whole  country.  Vast  armies  were 
being  raised  and  concentrated  at  ditierent  points,  preparatary  to  being 
sent  forward  to  meet  the  advancing  foe. 

While  the  heart  of  the  great  mass  of  the  people,  without  regard  to 
party  lines,  beat  true  to  the  lawfully-authorized  government  and  the  old 
flag,  there  was  a  small  number  of  malcontents  to  create  alarm.  They 
made  up  by  their  clamor  in  caucuses,  conventions,  and  secret  organiza- 
tions, what  they  lacked  in  numbers.  No  doubt  the  representations  of 
their  actings  and  doings  in  the  North  to  some  extent  encouraged  the 
rebels  of  the  South.  It  was  at  such  a  time  that  this  convention  assem- 
bled. Some  of  the  early  acts  of  this  body,  although  perhaps  springing 
from  honest  and  patriotic  motives,  caused  alarm  in  the  public  mind, 
already  aroused  and  inclined  to  suspect  danger  in  every  unusual  move- 
ment, and  especially  in  a  body  so  potent  for  evil  as  was  this  convention. 
The  majority  of  the  members  of  the  convention  assumed  that  upon  its 
organization  it  was  no  longer  bound  by  any  legislative  enactments,  but 
was  sovereign  in  the  exercise  of  supreme  power  of  the  state ;  that  it 
was  virtuall}^  an  assemblage  of  the  people,  with  full  and  necessary 
power  for  a  peaceable  revolution  of  the  government  of  the  state.  The 
law  authoi'izing  the  calling  of  the  convention  prescribed  the  oath  for 
members  to  take :  to  support  the  constitution  of  the  state.  This  a 
majority  of  the  convention  refused  to  do,  holding  it  to  be  inconsistent 
to  take  an  oath  to  support  a  constitution  that  they  were  about  to  do 
away  with.  It  was  claimed  that  the  convention  had  the  right  to  declare 
itself  permanent  and  exercise  all  the  power  of  the  people  of  the  state. 
The  debates  upon  these  subjects  created  in  Ijjie  minds  of  a  large  portion 
of  the  people  distrust  and  alarm.  The  convention  lost  the  confidence 
and  moral  support  of  the  people,  and  a  powerful  opposition  was  organ- 
ized to  whatever  the  convention  might  do.  The  final  work  of  this 
body  was  much  superior  to  what  the  people  had  been  led  by  the 
debates  to  believe  it  would  be;  in  fact,  the  constitution  by  them 
adopted,  and  submitted  to  the  people  for  their  ratification,  was  of  high 
character  as  an  organic  law ;  but  such  was  the  prejudice  that  had  been 
engendered  against  the  convention,  and  such  was  the  party  spirit 
which  had  been  aroused,  that  the  people  refused  to  look  at  the  merits 
of  the  instrument,  and  the  constitution  thus  submitted  was  defeated 
by  a  large  majority.  In  this  connection  a  fact  should  be  recorded. 
The  clause  of  the  constitution,  popularly  known  as  the  "black  laws," 
which  forbid  the  settlement  of  negroes  in  this  state,  and  which  was 
submitted  as  a  separate  article,  was  ratified  by  the  people  of  the 
state  by  about  100,000,   although  the  constitution  was  defeated;  but 


910  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

by  a  provision  of  the  schedule  in  sucli  contingency,  the  separate 
article  became  inoperative.  Henderson  county  ratified  the  sepa- 
rate article,  but  rejected  the  constitution.  Public  sentiment  changed 
radically  since  the  vote  upon  that  occasion.  At  the  date  of  the 
election  of  delegates  to  tliis  convention,  Warren  and  Henderson 
counties  composed  one  district,  and  Jonathan  Simpson,  of  Hen- 
derson, was  elected  delegate.  In  1809  another  constitutional  con- 
vention convened  at  Springfield.  It  assembled  December  13,  1869, 
and  closed  its  labors  and  adjourned  May  18,  1870.  It  was  composed 
of  eighty-five  members.  It  adopted  a  constitution  and  submitted  it  to 
the  people  for  ratification  July  2,  1870.  It  was  ratified  by  a  large 
majority.  Mercer  and  Henderson  counties  constituted  one  district,  and 
James  S.  Poage,  of  Mercer  county,  was  elected  delegate. 

EFFORTS  TO  REIMOVE  THE  COUNTY  SEAT. 

Tliere  have  been  in  this  county  several  efforts  made  to  remove 
the  county  seat  from  Oquawka  to  some  more  central  point  in  the 
county.  The  first  of  these  efforts  was  made  in  1859.  At  the  session 
of  the  general  assembly  of  that  year  an  enabling  act  was  passed, 
authorizing  a  vote  to  be  taken  upon  the  question  of  removing  the  seat 
of  justice  to  the  town  of  Warren,  twelve  miles  south  of  Oquawka,  and 
not  far  from  what  was  claimed  to  be  the  geographical  center  of  the 
county.  The  election  was  held  in  November  of  that  year,  and  resulted 
in  a  majority  adverse  to  removal. 

In  1865  the  general  assembly  again  passed  an  act  anthorizing  an 
election  to  be  held  upon  the  question  of  removing  the  seat  of  justice  to 
the  town  of  Sagetown  (no^  Gladstone),  five  miles  south  of  Oquawka. 
The  election  was  held  in  November  of  that  year  and  resulted  in  a 
majority  against  removal  of  114. 

In  1869  an  election  was  again  held  to  vote  upon  the  question  of 
removal  to  the  town  of  Biggsville,  a  town  on  the  Chicago,  Burlington 
&  Quincy  railroad,  about  ten  miles  south  and  east  of  Oquawka.  The 
majority  in  this  case  was  also  against  removal. 

In  1872  the  question  was  again  submitted  to  the  vote  of  the  elec- 
tors of  the  county  of  removal  to  Sagetown,  but  the  people  again 
decided,  by  a  majority  of  170,  against  removal.  At  the  present  time 
the  legal  steps  have  been  taken  to  obtain  again  the  sense  of  the  people 
of  the  county  upon  the  question  of  removal,  but  the  point  to  be  sub- 
mitted for  the  decision  of  the  legal  voters  of  the  county  has  not  yet 
been  fixed  upon.  The  towns  of  Biggsville  and  Gladstone  are  each  cir- 
culating petitions  for  signatures  of  the  voters,  which  will  be  presented 
to  the   county  court   in  September  next,  when   the  question  will  be 


THE    POOR    FAEM.  911 

decided  whicli  of  the  two  towns  thus  petitioning  shall  be  the  one  upon 
which  the  vote  shall  be  taken  in  November  next. 

Many  who  reside  in  the  southern  portion  of  the  county  feel  it  to  be 
a  hardship  to  have  to  travel  so  far  to  the  seat  of  justice.  It  is  true 
that  the  distance  to  be  traveled  would  be  more  in  accordance  with 
equity  if  the  county  seat  was  more  centrall}'  located.  Oquawka,  the 
present  county  seat,  is  situated  within  nine  miles  of  the  northern 
boundary  of  the  county  ;  the  county  being  thirty  miles  in  length  from 
north  to  south.  If  a  geographical  center  was  sought,  it  would  be 
found  to  be  a  little  noi'th  of  the  town  of  Olena,  near  the  residence  of 
Isaiah  J.  Brook  and  the  farm  of  John  IST.  Bruin,  in  township  10  north, 
range  5  west.  The  main  objection  urged  to  the  removal  is  the  bur- 
den of  taxation  that  would  be  laid  upon  the  county  in  the  erection  of 
county  buildings,  court  house,  jail,  etc. 

THE  POOR  FARM. 

In  September,  1855,  the  authorities  of  the  county  purchased  of 
George  Cronover  the  N.  W.  i  of  Sec.  26,  T.  11  N.,  E.  5  W.,  for  the 
purpose  of  providing  a  place  for  all  county  paupers.  It  is  situated 
about  two  miles  from  the  county  seat,  on  Henderson  creek.  Upon 
this  farm  the  county  erected  commodious  buildings  for  the  accommo- 
dation of  the  unfortunates  from  time  to  time  demanding  public  charity. 
The  farm  has  been  well  improved,  and  has  proved  upon  the  whole  an 
economical  plan  for  caring  for  the  poor  of  the  county. 

In  erecting  the  buildings,  the  basement  of  the  larger  building  was 
constructed  into  cells  for  the  safe-keeping  of  such  as  might,  while  there 
sojourning,  need  restraint  or  confinement.  Such  at  least  was  the  pre- 
text at  the  time.  In  1859  we  find,  however,  an  act  passed  by  the  gen- 
eral assembly  authorizing  the  use  of  the  said  basement  as  a  common 
jail  of  the  county.  As  a  jail  the  location  has  been  found  both  insecure 
and  expensive.  Situated  in  a  secluded  spot,  far  away  from  help  in 
case  of  need,  this  jail  has  proved  anything  but  a  safe  deposit  for  per- 
sons charged  with  crime,  while  waiting  trial  or  transportation  to  Joliet 
after  conviction.  Many  have  been  the  escapes  from  this  so-called 
prison,  many  have  been  the  expensive  pursuits,  followed  by  few  cap- 
tures. In  this  jail  the  noted  William  Lee  was  confined  prior  to  his 
trial,  conviction,  and  execution  on  the  gallows  in  1876  for  the  murder 
of  Jessie  McCarty,  which  event  is  described  more  in  detail  further  on 
in  these  pages  under  the  head  of  noted  criminal  trials. 

One  of  these  periodical  jail  deliveries  occurred  in  the  summer  of 
1880,  and  created  for  a  time  a  sensation  in  the  county.  Confined  at 
that  time  in  the  jail  were  some  ten  prisoners,  charged  with  various 


912  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

offenses,  awaiting  trial.  Most  noted  among  these  prisoners  were 
Martin  J.  Hall  and  Frank  Peaslj,  under  several  indictments  charging 
them  with  burglary  and  other  crimes.  Less  than  two  months  before 
the  August  term  of  the  circuit  court,  when  their  cases  would  stand  for 
trial,  Peasley  and  Hall  laid  a  plan  for  escape.  They  succeeded  in 
obtaining  from  some  of  the  paupers,  who  had  access  to  the  outside  of 
the  windows  of  the  prison,  two  table  knives.  With  these  they  con- 
structed hies,  which  they  used  successfully  in  sawing  oft'  the  hinges  of 
the  heavy  iron  doors  which  secure  the  entrance  to  the  cells,  and  on 
one  Sunday,  when  the  guard  was  small  and  unsuspicious  of  danger, 
they  removed  one  of  these  iron  doors,  weighing  500  pounds,  and  by 
the  joint  action  of  all  the  prisoners  they  were  enabled  to  use  it  as  a 
battering  ram,  with  such  success  that  they  broke  down  the  door  of  the 
jail  leading  to  the  house,  and  through  this  escaped,  and  thus  left  the 
jail  vacant. 

Those  on  guard  resisted  to  the  extent  of  their  power,  but  against 
such  force  of  desperate  men  they  were  powerless.  The  prisoners  scat> 
tered  in  different  directions  along  the  timber  that  skirts  the  banks  of 
Henderson  creek.  Alarm  was  not  long  in  reaching  the  county  seat, 
when  a  vigorous  pursuit  was  begun.  Men  on  horseback,  in  wagons, 
on  foot,  armed  with  rifles,  guns  and  revolvers,  scattered  in  every  direc- 
tion, and  continued  the  pursuit  until  night  set  in  and  darkness  and 
storms  precluded  further  search.  Before  night,  however,  a  portion  of 
the  gang  had  been  captured  and  returned  to  their  old  quarters.  The 
ringleaders  in  the  breaking  eluded  pursuit.  The  next  day  one  or  two 
more  were  captured  in  Warren  county  and  sent  back. 

The  sheriff,  J.  Oscar  Anderson,  with  his  deputy,  Truman  G.  Allen, 
showed  themselves  on  this  occasion  to  be  able  and  efficient  officers. 
They  were  in  no  wise  at  fault  on  account  of  the  escape,  but  set  them- 
selves to  the  task  of  capturing  the  fugitives  with  commendable  zeal. 
Three  of  the  prisoners  were  still  at  large,  one  of  whom  was  not  an 
important  one,  but  Hall  and  Peasley  were  the  ones  that  the  people 
were  anxious  should  be  captured  and  brought  to  trial.  They  had 
been  a  source  of  trouble  to  the  people,  who  felt  that  they  could  rest 
more  secm-ely  as  to  their  property  if  Hall  and  Peasley  were  securely 
behind  the  bars.  A  systematic  search  was  kept  up  by  our  sheriff',  who 
was  leaving  no  stone  unturned  in  his  pursuit  of  the  prisoners.  For  a 
long  time  no  clew  to  their  whereabouts  was  obtained,  until  at  last  Mr. 
Anderson,  through  his  correspondents,  learned  that  his  men  were  in 
Nebraska.  He  at  once  started  for  that  state,  found  and  captured  his 
men,  and  returned  them  safely  to  our  county  jail. 


ERRATA. 

Page  185,  line  3,  for  "John"  read  "James." 
Page  203,  line  5,  for  "1832"  read  "1830." 
Page  588,  line  15,  for  "5"  read  "6." 
Page  670,  line  19,  for  "L"  read  "S." 


NOTED    CRIMINAL   TRIALS.  915 

NOTED  CRIMINAL  TRIALS. 

The  first  indictment  for  murder  in  Henderson  county  .was  at  the  May 
term  of  the  circuit  court,  1859.  A  dispute  had  arisen  in  regard  to  the 
possession  of  a  flouring  mill,  and  some  altercations  had  taken  place  be- 
tween one  Joseph  Hollingsworth,  the  owner  of  the  mill,  and  his  son, 
who  was  a  tenant,  and  rented  the  mill.  This  led  to  a  personal  encoun- 
ter between  some  parties  at  the  mill  and  Addison  Hollingsworth,  the 
lessee  of  the  mill.  A  warrant  was  issued  by  a  justice  of  the  peace  in 
Oquawka  for  the  arrest  of  Enoch  Hollingsworth  and  Jacob  Yeider,  an 
employe  of  Joseph  Hollingsworth,  the  owner  of  the  mill.  David  Welch, 
a  constable,  with  his  warrant,  proceeded  in  the  evening  to  the  mill  to 
make  the  arrest.  Arriving  there,  he  accosted  the  parties  whom  he 
found  in  the  mill  with  light  burning,  as  he  entered  the  building,  in  a 
friendly  manner,  and  informed  them  of  his  business.  He  was  within 
a  few  feet  of  the  two  young  men  when  one  of  them,  without  any  provo- 
cation, raised  his  rifle  and  shot  the  officer  through  the  hip.  The 
wound  proved  fatal  and  Welch  died  in  a  short  time.  The  parties  were 
arrested  and  the  grand  jury  at  its  next  term  found  three  bills  of  indict- 
ment against  Enoch  Hollingsworth,  Jacob  Yieder  and  Joseph  Hollings- 
worth. The  defendants  were  brought  into  court,  and  the  case  was 
removed  by  change  of  venue  to  the  county  of  Mercer  for  trial.  In  that 
county  the  case  was  tried  and  Enoch  Hollingsworth  and  Jacob  Yeider 
were  convicted  and  sentenced  to  imprisonment  at  Joliet,  and  Josej)h 
Hollingsworth  was  discharged.  James  H.  Stewart,  state's  attorney, 
assisted  by  Charles  M.  Harris  and  Jonathan  Simpson,  appeared  for 
the  prosecution,  and  Hon.  O.  H.  Browning  and  Eleazer  A.  Paine  were 
for  the  defense.  The  next  case  of  indictment  for  murder  was  that  of 
Dr.  Edward  Lawrence,  who  in  1863  was  arrested  and  charged  with  the 
murder  of  one  Hunt,  at  Hopper's  mills.  The  facts  as  they  appeared  in 
proof  on  trial,  were  that  there  had  been  a  feud  for  some  time  existing 
between  the  parties,  growing  out  of  heated  discussion  of  the  war  ques- 
tion. Hunt  had  made  violent  threats  against  the  doctor  of  doing  him 
bodily  harm.  They  met  in  a  hotel  and  the  altercation  was  renewed, 
and  Hunt  made  demonstrations  as  if  to  carry  his  threats  into  execution, 
when  Lawrence  drew  his  revolver  and  shot  him,  killing  him.  For 
this  he  was  arrested,  indicted  and  put  on  trial.  After  a  protracted 
trial,  Lawrence  was  acquitted  by  the  jury.  James  H.  Stewart,  state's 
attorney,  appeared  on  behalf  of  the  people,  and  the  late  Judge  C}a*us 
Walker  and  Jonathan  Simpson  defended  the  prisoner.  In  August, 
1870,  John  Turner,  alias  Charles  Coburn,  was  indicted  for  the  murder 
of  Frederick  Watson,  at  East  Burlington.  He  was  indicted  and  tried  at 
the  August  term,  18T0,  and  convicted.  His  sentence  was  a  term  of 
52 


916  HISTOKT    OF   MERCER   Al^fD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

ten  years  in  the  prison  at  Joliet.     He  was  prosecuted  by  James  A. 
McKenzie,  state's  attorney,  John  J.  Glenn  appearing  for  the  defense. 

At  the  March  term,  1870,  of  the  circuit  court,  an  indictment  was 
preferred  by  the  grand  jury  of  the  county  against  Daniel  McCue,  John 
De  Hague,  and  Warren  Park,  for  the  killing  of  an  unknown  man,  in 
the  vicinity  of  Ellison  creek.  It  seems  that  some  years  after  the  time 
of  the  alleged  killing,  a  skeleton  was  discovered  in  an  old  cistern  near 
Hopper's  mills,  and  by  some  means  suspicion  fell  upon  the  persons 
above-named.  After  the  arrest  of  the  defendants  McCuewas  arraigned, 
and  plead  not  guilty.  He  was  at  that  term  of  court  ])ut  on  trial,  and 
the  case  submitted  to  the  jury,  who,  after  a  short  consultation,  returned 
a  verdict  of  not  guilty,  and  the  defendant  was  discharged.  On  this 
trial  J.  A.  McKenzie,  state's  attorney,  appeared  for  the  people,  and 
Col.  James  W.  Davidson  for  the  defendant.  The  case  of  Warren  Park 
was  sent  by  change  of  venue  to  W^arren  county,  where  on  trial  he  was 
acquitted.  The  case  of  John  De  Hague,  the  other  defendant,  was  re- 
moved by  change  of  venue  to  Knox  county,  where,  after  a  protracted 
trial,  the  defendant  was  acquitted  by  the  jury.  In  tliis  case,  in  Hen- 
derson county,  J.  A.  McKenzie  and  Jonathan  Simpson  were  for  the 
people,  and  Charles  M.  Harris  for  the  defendant.  That  one  of  the  most 
brutal  murders  that  has  ever  stained  the  history  of  this  state,  was  com- 
mitted in  the  killing  of  this  unknown  man,  none  have  ever  doubted, 
but  the  verdict  of  the  jury  exonorated  the  persons  cliarged  with  the 
foul  deed,  and  the  real  facts  and  particulars  of  the  case  remain  to-day 
unknown,  as  well  as  the  actual  perpetrators  of  the  crime. 

In  1871  a  serious  difficulty  arose  between  Joseph  B.  Johnson  and  a 
man  by  name  of  Ewing,  near  the  town  of  Terre  Haute,  in  township  8, 
range  5  W. ,  which  resulted  in  the  killing  of  Ewing  by  a  shot  from  a 
revolver.  For  this  Joseph  Johnson  was  arrested  and  held  to  bail  in 
the  sum  of  $3,000.  A  few  nights  afterward,  Ewing  having  died,  an 
officer  with  a  warrant  for  the  arrest  of  Joseph  B.  Johnson,  John  T.  John- 
son, his  brother,  and  Thomas  Johnson,  their  father,  on  the  charge  of 
murder  of  Ewing,  proceeded,  assisted  by  a  posse^  to  the  house  of  the 
elder  Johnson,  to  make  the  arrest.  Arriving  there  after  night  set  in, 
the  officer  and  his  assistants  approached  the  house,  as  appeared  fi-om 
the  evidence  afterward,  in  a  boisterous  and  tumultuous  manner,  and 
demanded  entrance.  The  Johnsons  claimed  that  they  feared  it  was  a 
mob,  and  rei\ised  to  open  their  doors.  After  much  parley  and  noisy 
demonstration,  shots  were  fired  both  from  the  outside  and  in  the  house. 
Thomas  Johnson  was  dangerously  wounded  by  a  bullet  through  his 
breast ;  one  of  the  j)osse  was  killed  and  another  badly  wounded.  The 
officer  and  his  men  then  retreated  and  waited  for  daylight.     In  the 


NOTED    CRIMINAL   TRIALS.  917 

morning  the  officer  returned  with  a  great  crowd,  and  all  the  inmates  of 
the  house  were  arrested,  and  the  men  sent  to  the  county  jail,  except 
Thomas  Johnson,  and  the  women  left  under  guard. 

At  the  March  term,  1871,  of  the  circuit  court,  Thomas  Johnson  and 
Joseph  B.  Johnson  were  by  the  grand  jury  indicted  for  the  killing  of 
the  persons  as  above  stated.  They  both  had  their  cases  removed  by 
change  of  venue  to  Warren  county,  when  Jose}>]i  Johnson  was  dis- 
charged. Thomas  Johnson  was  put  on  trial  and  after  ten  days  exam- 
ination of  witnesses  a  juror  was  taken  seriously  sick,  and  the  jury  dis- 
charged. At  the  same  term  of  court  the  case  was  sent  by  another 
change  of  venue  to  McDonough  county,  as  Judge  Smith,  who  presided 
at  the  trial,  became  an  important  witness.  In  1873  the  case  was  tried 
before  Judge  Higbee  and  a  jury  at  Macomb,  and  resulted,  after  a  pro- 
tracted trial,  in  the  acquittal  of  Mr.  Johnson.  In  this  trial  the  people 
were  represented  by  J.  A,  McKinzie,  John  J.  Glenn,  and  Mr.  Wheat, 
and  the  defendant  by  Col.  Robert  G.  Ingersoll,  Jonathan  Simpson,  J. 
H.  Stewart,  and  Col.  J.  W.  Davidson.  William  Lee  was  indicted  at 
the  March  term,  1876,  of  the  circuit  court  for  the  murder  of  Jessie 
McCarty,  the  j^revious  fall,  at  East  Burlington,  by  beating  her  to 
deatli  and  throwing  her  body  into  the  river.  Lee  was  arrested  and 
confined  in  jail  until  his  indictment.  The  court  appointed  a  special 
term  of  court  for  the  month  of  April  following  for  his  trial.  At  the 
time  of  his  arrest  and  indictment  tlie  body  of  his  victim  had  not  been 
found,  but  a  few  weeks  before  the  trial  was  to  take  place  the  body  was 
found  and  fully  identified.  At  the  trial  the  most  intense  interest 
was  manifested,  the  court  room  being  crowded  by  the  excited  people, 
who  seemed  to  fear  that  the  prisoner  would  in  some  numner  escape 
that  justice  they  believed  should  attach  to  his  fearful  crime.  He  was, 
after  a  hotly  contested  trial,  convicted,  the  jury  finding,  as  a  part  of 
their  verdict  under  the  law,  that  the  defendant  should  suft'er  death. 
Judge  Smith  sentenced  him  to  be  hung  on  the  16th  day  of  June  at  the 
county  jail.  The  day  arrived  and  the  town  was  filled  to  overflowing 
with  persons  attracted  hither  by  a  morbid  curiosity  to  witness  the  death 
penalty  inflicted  upon  a  fellow  being.  The  sherifi'  of  the  county, 
George  Bell,  executed  the  order  of  the  court  by  hanging  Lee  at  tlie 
time  appointed  by  the  court.  In  this  case  J.  H.  Jennings,  state's 
attorney,  and  J.  II.  Stewart  appeared  for  the  people,  and  Jonathan 
Simpson  for  the  defense. 

Larry  O'Neil  who  had  been  indicted  with  Lee,  as  accessory  to  the 
murder  of  Jesse  McCarty,  was,  in  August,  1876,  tried  and  acquitted. 
At  the  same  term  Charles  Stiltz,  of  Sagetown,  was  indicted  for  the 
murder  of  his  wife  by  stabbing  her  with  a  table  knife.     Being  put  on 


1)18  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

trial  before  a  juiy,  tliev  by  some  strange  process  of  reasoning  found 
tlie  prisoner  not  guilty.  The  pi-oof,  to  the  minds  of  most  persons  that 
attended,  was  very  strong,  yet  he  was  acquitted,  but  was  constrained  to 
feel  that  Henderson  county  was  not  a  healthy  location  for  him,  mid  he 
left  the  county  for  the  county's  good.  J.  H.  Jennings,  state's  attorney, 
and  Jonathan  Simpson  appeared  for  tlie  people,  and  Kaus.  Cooper  for 
the  defendant. 

July  4,  18 77,  a  young  man  was  killed  at  Carman  by  a  pistol  shot, 
and  Jesse  Asher,  a  young  man  living  in  the  country  near  Carman,  was 
arrested  for  his  murder.  In  M-arch,  1878,  he  was  put  on  trial  on  an 
indictment  charging  him  wath  the  offense.  After  a  warmly  contested 
trial  the  defendant  was  convicted  of  murder  in  the  second  degree, 
and  sentenced  to  continement  in  the  Joliet  penitentiary  for  the  term  of 
ten  years.  He  has  since  been  pardoned  by  the  governor.  J.  H.  Jen- 
nings and  Eaus.  Cooper  appeared  for  the  people,  and  J.  H.  Stewart, 
Jonathan  Sim])Soii  and  I.  M.  Kirkpatrick  for  the  defense. 

On  June  11,  1867,  John  H.  Cooper  was  shot  and  killed  by  one 
Jack  Galligher,  on  the  bank  of  the  river  just  above  the  town  of 
Oquawka.  Galligher,  Kichard  Willitts,  and  William  Cunningham 
were,  at  the  August  term  of  the  circuit  court,  indicted  by  the  grand 
jury  for  the  murder  of  Cooper.  A  change  of  venue  was  had  for  Willitts 
and  Cunningham  to  Mercer  county,  where  their  cases  were  dismissed, 
there  being  no  ^prosecution.  Galligher  obtained  a  continuance  to  the 
following  term,  when  atrial  commenced.  After  nearly  two  days  spent 
in  endeavoring  to  empannel  a  jury,  four  only  w^ere  obtained.  The 
attorneys  for  the  defense  advised  the  defendant  to  withdraw  his  plea 
"not  guilty,"  and  plead  guilty,  as  by  an  oversight  in  the  legislature 
in  amending  the  law  in  relation  to  murder  trials  in  1867,  there  was  no 
provision  empowering  the  court  to  pronounce  the  death  penalty,  in 
cases  of  a  plea  of  "guilty"  by  the  prisoner,  but  could  only  sentence 
him  to  the  penitentiary.  This  the  prisoner  did,  and  Judge  Smith  sent 
the  prisoner  to  Joliet  for  a  term  of  twenty  years.  He  was  pardoned 
by  the  governor  some  years  ago.  In  this  trial  J.  A.  Mclvenzie  prose- 
cuted on  behalf  of  the  people,  and  Jonathan  Simpson  and  John  J. 
Glenn  appeared  for  the  defendant. 

In  March,  1871,  John  Thompson  was  indicted  for  the  murder  of 
James  Huggins,  at  Raritan.  He  was  arraigned  for  trial  in  the  Hender- 
son circuit  court,  and  pleading  not  guilty  the  venue  of  the  case  was 
changed  on.  his  application  to  Warren  county,  where  on  trial  there 
appeared  to  be  no  extenuating  circumstances  in  the  case  and  he  was 
convicted  and  sent  to  Joliet  for  thirty-three  years.     J.  A.  McKenzie, 


OQUAWKA   TOWNSHIP,  919 

■ 

state's   attorney,  appeared   for  the   people,  arid  J.    Simpson   for  the 
defense  in  Henderson  county. 

April  16,  1874,  Emma  J.  Watson  a  beautiful  young  lady  living  in 
the  fornily  of  Judge  R.  W.  Ricliey,  at  Oquawka,  disappeared  mysteri- 
ously in  the  night  time.  Her  friends  sought  for  her  without  avail,  no 
clew  being  found  as  to  her  fate  until  some  two  weeks  afterward  her 
body  was  found  floating  in  the  river  in  front  of  the  town.  An  inquest 
was  held  by  the  coroner  and  a  conclusion  reached  that  she  had  been 
murdered  by  some  one.  The  coroner  caused  the  arrest  of  Dennis 
Welch,  a  drayman  in  Oquawka,  and  another  man,  on  the  charge  of 
murder.  On  a  hearing  before  Judge  Smith  the  latter  was  discharged 
and  Welch  committed  for  trial  without  bail.  He  remained  in  jail  for 
a  year  when  he  was  tried  in  the  Henderson  circuit  cour.t,  and  acquitted. 
The  case  presented  many  singular  features,  and  is  still  shrouded  in 
mystery.  _  That  the  girl  was  murdered  none  can  doubt  wdio  are  cog- 
nizant of  the  facts  as  they  appeared  in  the  trial  of  the  case,  but  the 
crime  as  yet  has  not  been  legally  brought  to  the  door  of  any  one.  On 
the  trial,  J.  H.  Jennings,  state's  attorney,  assisted  by  James  H. 
Stewart,  appeared  for  the  people,  and  Jonathan  Simpson  defended  the 
prisoner. 

July  4,  1880,  Stephen  S.  Phelps,  son  of  S.  S.  Phelps,  of  Oquawka, 
was  shot  and  killed  at  Sagetown,  on  the  railroad  platform,  by  one 
Archibald  Toup,  who  was  arrested  and  tried  in  the  Henderson  circuit 
court,  on  an  indictment  charging  him  with  murder.  He  was  convicted 
and  sentenced  to  imprisonment  at  Joliet  for  a  term  of  ten  years.  On 
this  trial  J.  H.  Jennings,  state's  attorney,  and  Jonathan  Simpson  ap- 
peared for  the  people,  and  Stewart  ife  Phelps  for  the  defendant.  This 
closes  the  list  of  murder  trials  in  Henderson  county.  It  is  a  dark 
picture  for  a  county  of  so  small  a  population.  A  most  remarkable  case 
of  justifiable  killing  occurred  at  the  residence  of  I.  J.  Brook  a  few 
years  ago,  in  which  two  men  lost  their  lives  and  others  were  wounded 
seriously.  As  a  full  accoimt  of  this  aflair  will  appear  in  this  volume, 
under  the  head  of  T.  10  X.,  5  W.,  we  shall  omit  giving  the  account 
here. 


OQUAWKA  TOWNSHIP. 


In  1827  the  Indians  had  not  yet  departed  from  their  hunting 
grounds  eastward  of  tlie  Mississippi.  The  Sac  and  Fox  tribes  had 
iirst  received  the  recognition  of  the  United  States  in  1787,  at  Fort 
Harmer,  by  Gov.  St.  Clair,  wherein  the  government  guaranteed  them 


920  HISTORY    OF    MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

its  protection.  It  will  also  be  remembered  that  President  Jefferson 
instructed  Gov.  "William  H.  Harrison,  in  1804,  to  make  efforts  to 
secure  a  treaty  with  these  tribes.  A  treaty  was  concluded  that  same 
year,  by  which  the  Indians  relinquished  all  their  beautiful  lands  on  the 
Rock  river.  The  seventh  article  of  that  treaty  allowed  the  Indians  to 
remain  and  occupy  this  country  as  long  as  it  remained  the  projjerty  of 
the  United  States.  It  was  not  till  1816  that  the  famous  Black  Hawk 
recognized  that  treaty,  when,  as  he  himself  said,  he  touched  the  goose 
quill  to  the  paper  in  its  confirmation.  The  encroachments  of  the 
whites,  and  their  tricks,  cruelty  and  inhumanity  practiced  on  the 
ignorant  savage,  occasionally  aroused  that  passion  for  vengeance  that 
sleeps  in  the  breasts  of  all  men,  civilized  or  wild,  and  brought  devasta- 
tion to  the  field  and  slaughter  in  the  families  of  the  early  squatter,  as 
well  as  to  the  permanent  and  goodly  inclined  pioneers. 

It  was  not  until  1829  that  these  lands  were  brought  into  market. 
In  1830  a  third  treaty  was  concluded  by  which  the  Indians  agreed  to 
cross  over  the  Mississippi  peaceably  and  amicably,  to  make  their 
future  homes  a  little  nearer  the  setting  sun.  The  reader  can  coiripre- 
hend  from  the  foregoing  what  were  the  attractions,  as  far  as  society  is 
concerned,  on  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi  river  in  1827.  No  one  for 
company  save  now  and  then  the  startling  presence  of  a  red  man  whose 
eye  and  manner  and  picture-tongue  enquired, 

"  And  who  be  j^e  who  rashly  dare 

To  chase  in  woods  the  fore>t  child, 
To  hunt  the  panther  in  his  lair, 
The  Indian  in  his  native  wild?" 

Three  spots  on  the  east  bank  of  the  Mississippi  were  well  known  to 
the  natives ;  that  which  is  now  the  site  of  New  Boston,  named  by 
them  Denison's  Landing,  ur  Upper  Yellow  Banks,  and  the  present 
site  of  Oquawka  (Oquawkiek),  signifying  Lower  Yellow  Banks,  and  a 
third,  south  of  Keithsburg  about  three  miles,  Middle  Yellow  Banks. 
Like  all  Indian  language  the  name  is  the  picture  of  the  object.  The 
river,  in  times  gone  by,  probably  occupied  a  far  more  extensive  bed 
than  at  present.  Its  waters  washed  the  bottoms  now  luxuriant  in 
growing  wealth.  At  the  three  places  mentioned  the  waves  in  their 
anger  and  at  their  play  had  piled  the  yellow  sands,  and,  receding,  left 
them  islands,  as  islands  are  formed  in  these  years  in  the  present  bed  of 
the  river.  As  drainage  has  progressed  the  river  channel  has  lessened 
to  its  present  comparatively  narrow  limits.  All  these  mutations  of 
time  have  wi'ought  in  the  banks  mentioned.  Oquawkiek,  or  Lower 
Yellow  Banks,  must  occupy  the  few  pages  allotted. 

In  1827,  fifty-five  years  ago,  love  of  peace  and  tranquility  (^f  home 


OQUAWKA   TOWNSHIP.  921 

prompted  Dr.  Galland  to  leave  civilized  surroundings  and  seek  a  habi- 
tation free  from  those  crosses  that  are  so  often  curses  to  the  more 
enlightened  family,  concluding,  like  Byron,  that 

"  There  is  a  pleasure  in  the  pathless  wood, 
There  is  a  rapture  on  the  lonely  shore. 
There  is  society  where  none  intrude 

By  the  deep  sea,  and  music  in  its  roar." 

Here,  not  far  from  the  banks  of  the  river,  Dr.  Galland  erected  a  cabin 
and  began  a  little  trade  with  the  Indians  who  were  at  this  time  friendly 
toward  the  whites  if  treated  as  they  supposed  rightly.  How  exten- 
sive his  trade  was  cannot  be  said.  In  the  fall  of  1828  he  sold  his 
interest  to  S.  S.  Phelps,  and  afterward  sought  a  home  elsewhere. 

S.  S.  Phelps,  while  yet  a  youth,  with  a  small  stock  of  goods  fur- 
nished by  his  father,  Stephen  Phelps,  then  of  Lewistown,  Fulton  county, 
Illinois,  began  a  somewhat  limited  traffic  with  the  Indians.  In  his 
journeys  into  their  country,  he  found  Dr.  Galland  at  Lower  Yellow 
Banks  in  the  fall  of  1828.  He  purchased  as  above  stated.  In  the 
spring  of  1828  James  Ryason  came  up  the  Mississippi  river  and  landed 
here.  He  soon  departed  for  Galena,  but  in  the  following  fall  returned 
arri\4ng  four  days  after  Mr.  Phelps'  arrival.  Mr.  Ryason  laid  claim 
as  far  as  possible  to  a  piece  of  land  in  what  is  Sec.  3,  T.  10  N.,  R. 
5  W.  He  remained  chopping  during  the  winter  and  in  the  following 
summer  raised  a  crop.  He  then  went  for  his  family,  returning  with 
them  soon  after.  Mr.  Ryason  belonging  to  a  different  precinct,  will  be 
fully  noticed  there.  Mr.  Phelps  continued  his  operations  with  the 
Indians.  A  stock  of  goods  was  kept  in  the  log  cabin  built  by  Dr.  Gal- 
land. This  became  an  extensive  trading  post  under  the  lirni  name  of 
S.  Phelps  &  Co.,  the  individuals  being  Stephen  Phelps  and  his  sons, 
S.  S.,  Myron,  and  Alexis.  The  parent  and  Myron  remained  in  Lewis- 
ton  in  business  there  ;  Alexis  went  to  Galena,  where  he  became  a  suc- 
cessful miner.  In  1830  he  joined  his  brother  at  Yellow  Banks  and 
the  two  were  associated  for  many  years.  Alexis  spent  most  of  his  time 
in  the  store,  while  Sumner  loved  to  be  with  the  Indians,  with  whom  he 
formed  an  undying  friendship.  We  refrain  from  speaking  of  him  to 
any  extent  here  as  his  history  is  to  be  found  further  on.  The  two 
brothers  were  the  sole  proprietors  of  the  post  under  the  firm  name  of 
A.  &  S.  S.  Phelps.  Their  merchandise  consisted  largely  of  tobacco, 
clay  pipes,  beads  made  of  clay,  trinkets,  whisky,  etc.,  also  prjnts  of  a 
flashy,  high  colored  cliaracter,  as  these  wei'e  most  acceptable  to  red 
men.  A  small  amount  of  goods  would  satisfy  the  Indians  for  valuable 
furs,  which  were  mostly  taken  in  exchange.  To  illustrate  the  confi- 
dence the  Indians  came  to  put  in  Mr.  S.   S.  Phelps,   the  following 


922  HISTORY    OF   MERCEK   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

anecdote  is  told.  A  certain  gentleman  in  quite  an  early  day  noticed  a 
canoe  approaching.  He  found  an  Indian  with  furs  to  sell,  among  which 
was  a  very  tine  otter.  As  he  came  to  the  shore  this  gentleman  offered 
him  some  silver,  but  was  answered,  "Xot  enough,"  or  its  equivalent. 
Half  dollar  after  half  dollar  was  added  to  the  amount  until  $S  was 
oti'ered,  when  the  Indian  positively  refused  to  sell  till  Mr.  Phelps  had 
been  seen.  Soon  Mr.  Plielps  appeared  at  the  river  and  with  a  piece 
of  flashy  print,  etc.,  to  the  amount  of  ninety  cents,  bought  all  the  furs 
and  afterward  sold  the  otter  to  the  former  gentleman  for  $2.50.  It  is 
said  the  natives  became  more  shrewd  in  later  years  in  their  trades  and 
acquired  a  fair  knowledge  of  the  value  of  merchandise.  The  years  of 
1831-2  were  generally  stirring  times  along  the  Mississippi  river,  but 
Mr.  Phelps  was  not  molested.  Black  Hawk  and  his  warriors  were  met 
by  White  Cloud,  who  came  to  strengthen  the  war  feeling,  opposite 
Yellow  Banks.  In  the  latter  part  of  April  Gov.  Reynold's  army 
reached  Oquawka  on  the  way  to  the  scenes  of  Indian  trouble,  known 
as  Black  Hawk's  war.  Arrived  at  Yellow  Banks  the  army  rested 
awaiting  provisions  from  St.  Louis.  Col.  March  not  arriving,  three 
men  were  sent  to  Pock  Island  for  provisions,  as  the  army  supply  was 
exhausted.  In  the  year  1832  a  block  house  was  built  at  Yellow  Banks 
in  anticipation  of  danger,  but  no  trouble  came.  The  scene  of  conflict 
was  far  to  the  north  and  east.  It  is  due  to  Yellow  Banks  also  to  say, 
according  to  Charles  Sargeant's  story,  an  Indian  who  had  married  a 
Kickapoo  maiden  and  was  friendly  to  the  whites  in  war  times,  known 
to  the  settlers  as  ""Red  Blanket,"'  lived  at  Yellow  Banks,  and  that  he 
it  was  who  went  in  the  night  and  apprised  the  settlers  of  Farmington 
of  approaching  danger  from  Black  Hawk. 

In  1831  John  McKinney,  then  of  Kentucky,  made  a  tour  of  inspec- 
tion, voyaging  on  a  steamboat  up  the  Mississippi  to  Yellow  Banks.  In 
the  following  Marcli  (1832)  he  moved  his  family  here.  The  day  lie 
landed  was  gloomy  and  rainy.  The  Phelpses  were  living  in  a  double 
cabin.  Arrangements  were  made  for  lodging  for  the  family.  Mr. 
McKinney's  family  consisted  of  self,  wife,  and  two  small  children. 
The  Phelpses  and  the  McKinneys  lodged  in  one  apartment,  while  in 
the  adjoining  room  were  a  number  of  Indians,  who  kept  punching  the 
fire,  vociferating  and  singing  continually  till  morning ;  so  that  while 
children  could  sleep  in  their  innocence,  Mr.  McKinney  passed  a  wake- 
ful night. .  Mr.  Phelps  is  said  to  have  been  better  satisfied  when 
Indians  were  present  at  his  home.  Mr.  Phelps  owned  a  pony  and 
Mrs.  Phelps  had  a  side-saddle.  These  were  loaned  to  Mr.  McKinney 
as  a  conveyance  for  the  family,  while  he  walked,  and  all  started  for 
Seth  Oaks'  (McKinney's  brother-in-law),  east  of  the  Henderson  river. 


OQUAWKA   TOWNSHIP.  923 

Arriving  at  the  Henderson  river,  it  was  found  to  be  much  swollen. 
The  family  dismounted  ;  the  saddle  was  taken  from  the  horse.  A  tree 
had  fallen  over  the  river,  with  the  top  to  the  east.  Mr.  McKinney 
walking  this  log,  carried  the  children  over  the  river,  led  his  wife  as 
she  walked  over,  and,  walking  himself,  he  led  the  horse,  which  swam 
safely  to  the  other  side ;  then  all  was  made  ready  and  the  journey 
resumed  and  finally  finished.  He  afterward  secured  his  goods  hauled 
to  the  river,  then  had  them  canoed  over  and  conveyed  to  the  proper 
place. 

May  1,  1833,  Charles  Sergeant  landed  at  Yellow  Banks.  He  found 
the  Phelpses  living  in  a  frame  house  of  three  or  four  rooms,  and  keep- 
ing store  yet  in  the  Galland  cabin.  Mr.  Phelps  must  have  tuilt  the 
frame  about  the  fall  of  1832,  or  in  the  spring  of  1833.  He  and  his 
brother  Alexis  were  doing  a  lumber  trade  also  at  that  time.  •  Mr. 
Sergeant  purchased  lumber  of  them,  which  he  hauled  to  the  S.  E.  J  of 
Sec.  34,  T.  11  N.,  R.  4  W.,  which  piece  of  land  he  had  fought  for  in 
the  war  of  1812.  Peter  H.  Cousland  was  here  in  the  early  Indian 
days.  His  brother,  William  Cousland,  was  hired  by  the  Phelpses  and 
had  been  with  them  from  an  early  date.  He  married  S.  S.  Phelps' 
hired  girl  in  1833,  and  in  later  years  (about  1846)  died  and  was  buried 
here.  "jSTegro  Dick,"  as  he  is  known,  was  in  the  service  of  Mr. 
Phelps,  and  still  lives.  The  Indians  being  extremely  averse  to  the 
black  man,  were  about  to  despatch  him.  It  was  with  a  considerable 
effort  that  Mr.  Phelps  convinced  them  to  the  contrary,  and  thereby  to 
save  his  life.  In  1832  J.  B.  Patterson  touched  at  Yellow  Banks,  then 
went  to  Galena.  Liberty  Gilmore,  a  carpenter,  landed  here  about 
1829;  in  1830,  Josiah  Osborn ;  about  1833,  Coquil  S.  AYard,  a  mill- 
wright; in  1834,  Martin  H.  Ward.  I.  S.  Chapin  became  the  first  boot 
and  shoe  merchant ;  he  landed  in  1834 ;  also  A.  T.  AY.  Jack,  who  built 
the  famous  Jack's  mills,  on  the  Henderson,  which  were  patronized  for 
thirty  miles  around,  and  are  still  active.  Their  builder  is  dead.  Trav- 
elers began  to  drop  in  more  frequent.  AY.  C.  Ellet,  a  carpenter; 
D.  M.  Gordon,  a  tailor,  from  Georgia ;  Daniel  Hubbel ;  Julius  Hills ; 
Thomas  Jones,  a  plasterer;  Harry  Jennings,  a  merchant  and  lawyer, 
made  their  appearance  about  1835.  In  1836,  Albert  Hebbard,  of  New 
Hampshire ;  Alfred  Knowles,  who  became  the  first  clerk  of  the  county ; 
quite  a  number  of  carpenters,  as  Kenton  &  Mackey,  Young  &  Russell, 
and  Young  &  Blackburn,  firms  in  the  business ;  Reuben  AY.  Young. 
Harvey  Russel  had  come  to  the  county  about  1830,  and  became  the 
builder  of  many  of  the  early  houses  of  Yellow  Banks. 

Yellow  Banks  began 'to  attract  attention  even  prior  to  this  time. 
Col.  Duncan,  afterward  Governor  Duncan,  had  visited  the  place  with 


924  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   A^D    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

Ke^'Holds'  army  in    1832.      In  1834,    Col.   Patterson   returned   from 
Galena    and    became    a    clerk   for   S.    S.    Phelps.     Mr.  Phelps  had 
erected  a  dwelling  in  1832-3.     Alexis  Phelps  erected  a  handsome 
mansion    for   that    day,    now    occupied    by    Judge    R.    W.    Richey. 
The  house   was  40x36,  two-story;   the  best  house  in   this    part   of 
Warren  county.     He  was  married  at  Lewiston  in  1833,  to  Cornelia 
Day.     While  his  house  was  building,  and  awhile  prior,  he  lived  in  a 
cabin  built  by  S.   S.   Phelps.     It  was  a  period  in  the  history  of  the 
western  country  when  men  run  wild  on  the  probabilities  of  fortune  in 
prospective  gains  from  increased  valuation  of  lands.     A  town  was  laid 
out  and  watered  by  the  dews  of  expectancy,  grew  to  immense  valuations 
(fidse)  in' a  very  short  time.     Towns  were  fi<.)wers  of  an  hour.     It  was 
at  such  a  moment  that  the  site  of  Oquawka  was  discovered  to  be  suit- 
able for  a  great  city,  and  in  the  minds  of  men,  predestined  to  rise  in  a 
very  short  time.     Measurers  were  taken  toward  laying  out  a  formal 
town  plat.     Governor  Duncan  purchased  one-fourth  interest  of  A.  and 
S.  S.  Phelps,  for  which  he  was  to  pay  $50,000.     In  the  spring  of  1836 
the  town  was  laid  out,  Mr.  Dewey,  of  Rock  Island,  doing  the  survey- 
ing.    Reports  of  the  projected  city  had  gone  out.     The  situation  was 
one  of  unsurpassed  beauty.     At  this  point  the  river  was  deep,  and  the 
current  near  the  eastern  shore :    qualities  which  were  favorable  to  a 
jBrst-class  public  landing.     From  what  might  be  the  head  of  this  land- 
ing stretched  a  beautiful  elevated  ridge  at  an  oblique  angle  to  tlie 
course  of  the  river,  terminating  in  an  elevated  and  level  bench  of  table 
land  that  extended  eastward  to  the  valley  of  the  Henderson  river,  a 
large  and  beautiful  mill  stream  that  poured  its  waters  into  the  Missis- 
si}»pi  about  six  miles  below.     This  ridge  would  afford  eligible  sites  for 
private  residences.     Occupying  the   intermediate   space  between  the 
base  of  the  ridge  and  river,  at  a  depression  of  about  thirty  feet,  but 
above  ordinary  high  water  mark,  was  a  flat  bench  where  the  business 
part  of  the  town  was  to  be  situated.     This  flat  was  of  sutficient  extent 
to  afl'ord  a  considerable  extension  of  business.     Still  below  and  to  the 
south  was  a  lower  flat  called  the  bottoms,  which,  as  the  city  would 
grow,  might  be  filled  in  and  gradually  be  occcupied  by  factories  and 
mills,  with  all  water  power  and  shipping  facilities  necessary  to  an  im- 
mense business. 

The  plat  was  laid  out.  Col.  J.  B.  Patterson,  familiar  with  the 
Indian  tongue,  proposed  to  christen  the  town  Oquawkiek,  signifying 
yellow  banks.  The  name  was  tempered  by  S.  S.  Phelps  and  Governor 
Duncan  to  Oquawka.  Notice  went  east  as  far  as  New  York,  and 
south,  that  lots  in  the  new  town  would  be  sold  at  auction  in  July,  1836. 
Men  flocked  hither  at  the  time  in  large  numbers,  eager  for  purchase  at 


OQUAAVKA   TOWNSHIP,  925 

wliatever  cost.  Governor  Dimcan  actually  offered  a  hundred  thousand 
dollars  for  the  town,  parable  immediately  in  Illinois  state  bank  paper, 
which  the  Phelpses  refused.  Major  Hart  Fellows,  of  Hushville,  was 
engaged  as  auctioneer.  Lots  sold  at  an  average  of  about  $900,  some 
running  up  even  into  the  thousands.  In  front  of  the  Alexis  Phelps' 
(now  Judge  Richey)  property,  was  a  row  of  lots  150  feet  deep,  consti- 
tuting block  forty-one.  Lot  eight  of  that  block  was  bid  to  more  than 
$3,300,  then  two  men  claiming  the  bid,  and,  getting  into  a  dispute 
concerning  it,  the  auctioneer  refused,  to  let  either  have  it.  Between 
this  block,  forty-one,  and  Alexis  Phelps'  house,  was  a  street  seventy- 
five  feet  wide.  To-day  the  block  and  the  lai-ger  part  of  the  street  are 
in  the  river,  while  the  railroad  occupies  a  very  small  portion  of  the 
street.  The  measurement  from  Mr.  Phelps'  house  to  the  edge  of  the 
embankment  is  but  about  seventeen  feet.  The  lot  mentioned  was 
never  finally  sold. 

A  Dr.  Milldollar  from  New  York  purchased  a  large  number  of  lots 
for  his  sister.  The  lots  are  still  her  property.  Col.  J.  B.  Patterson 
secured  a  lot  for  which  he  was  to  pay  a  price  equal  to  the  selling  price 
of  similar  lots.  It  cost  him  $600.  He  in  that  year  buit  a  frame  house, 
getting  part  of  his  lumber  and  shingles  from  Pittsburg.  The  old  build- 
ing still  stands  on  the  ridge  a  relic  of  the  olden  time.  It  sheltered  the 
Pattersons  till  1859,  when  it  was  vacated  in  favor  of  the  more  preten- 
tious brick  residence,  now  occupied  by  Colonel  Patterson.  The  land  sale, 
as  it  was  termed,  gave  an  impetus  to  Oquawka.  Carpenters  found 
work  in  building,  but  growth  was  not  so  rapid  as  anticipated.  William 
Oousland  built  a  small  structure  where  he  kept  hotel  and  a  saloon. 
The  panic  of  1837  had  its  inlluence  here  as  it  did  elsewhere.  In  1837 
Phelps  sold  his  merchandise  business  to  Jacob  Rust.  Rust  failing, 
J.  B.  Patterson  bought  the  establishment,  which  he  conducted  1839  till 
1817,  when  he  sold  out  his  stock  of  goods  and  moved  the  store  to 
Keithsburg. 

In  1837  came  Daniel  Blackburn,  a  carpenter.  He  went  to  Cali- 
fornia in  1850.  Also  James  Francis  arrived  about  the  same  time.  He 
became  prominent  in  the  town  in  corporation  times,  serving  on  the 
board  of  trustees  several  times,  Norman  Patterson  was  also  a  carpen- 
ter in  that  day. 

In  this  year  or  the  year  before  William  Mason  came  from  toward 
Monmouth.  He  was  the  first  blacksmith  of  the  j^lace.  He  built  a 
house  and  a  shop,  and  was  a  first  class  workman.  About  1847  he 
went  to  Oregon.  It  was  probably  1831:  or  1835  when  Dr.  Alpheus 
Russel  flung  his  shingle  to  the  breeze  in  "Yellow  Banks."  He  was 
the  first  physician.     On   the  journey  to  Oregon,  about  1816  or  1847, 


926  HISTORY    OF   FIERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

he  died  of  cholera.  In  1837  John  Brown  hmded  in  Oquawka  with  a 
cargo  of  dried  apples,  w^hiskv,  etc.  Here  he  disposed  of  his  stock, 
then  went  to  Monmouth  where  he  found  plenty  of  work  at  plastering. 
After  doing  well  he  returned  to  Oquawka  in  the  fall  of  1838.  He  was 
obliged  to  await  the  arrival  of  the  steamboat  in  the  evening.  Wliile 
waiting  he  plastered  Coh  Patterson's  cellar,  receiving  the  contract  price 
of  $6.  In  the  following  spring  he  returned  from  Ohio  with  a  large 
cargo  of  dried  apples,  peaches,  whiskv,  etc.,  whicli  he  disposed  of. 
He  remained  here  a  short  time  then  resumed  his  trade  at  Monmouth, 
wliere  he  lives  to-day  quite  wealthy. 

In  1838  Oquawka  aspired  to  become  the  county  seat  of  Warren 
county,  as  the  history  will  show,  significant  of  the  fact  that  its  import- 
ance was  considerably  felt.  Levi  Russel  was  a  carpenter  of  some 
note.  He  aided  in  building  the  early  dwellings  and  stores  of 
Oquawka.  In  1838  Robert  Wilson,  a  carpenter,  and  Joseph  Lathrop 
must  have  arrived.  Other  early  comers  to  Oquawka  were  William 
McEwin,  John  Munhart,  John  H.  Monteith,  John  McGaw,  Thomas 
McElrea,  William  McCoy,  John  Mitchell,  Benjamin  Taliaferro, 
lawyer. 

In  1838  D.  S.  Brain  ard  made  his  arrival.  He  became  engaged  by 
the  Phelpses,  his  chief  business  being  trafiic  with  the  Indians,  especi- 
ally in  horses.  He  then  worked  for  J.  B.  Patterson.  He  finally 
became  a  merchant,  but  reverses  came,  crippling  him  financially.  He 
is  one  of  the  very  few  living  who  came  at  that  early  day. 

When  S.  S.  Phelps  built  the  residence  now  occupied  by  his  widow, 
he  and  his  brother,  Alexis,  added  an  addition  to  the  old  house.  It 
was  then  occupied  by  J.  P.  Barnes  as  a  hotel,  known  as  the  "Pioneer 
House." 

It  is  impossible  to  ascertain  the  exact  dates  of  arrival  and  depar- 
ture of  the  men  of  the  past.  A  table  is  given  on  subsequent  pages 
with  dates  as  near  as  memory  of  men  and  the  few  accessible  records 
will  aftbrd.  It  was  in  1840  when  S.  S.  Phelps  built  a  steam  saw-mill 
for  Solomon  Leet.  Hard  lumber  prior  to  this  time  had  been  largely 
supplied  by  Jack's  Mills  on  the  Henderson.  Pine  lumber  was  shipped 
from  St.  Louis  or  Pittsburg.  Leefs  mill  remained  but  a  short  time, 
as  Mr.  J.  P.  Lockwood,  of  Prairie  Du  Cliien,  brought  the  first  raft 
of  lumber  from  Wisconsin  down  the  river  and  left  it  at  Oquawka  in 
1841.  It  was  late  in  the  season,  so  Mr.  Lockwood  left  the  lumber 
for  Col.  Patterson  to  take  from  the  river  and  sell.  Being  the  first 
large  shi}jment  of  pine  lumber  it  was  eagerly  bought  by  the  surround- 
ing farmers,  displacing  their  log-cabins  wdth  small  frame  houses.     It 


OQUAWK.V   TOWNSHIP.  927 

sold  for  an  avera_o:e  of  $25  ])er  thousand  feet.  Clark  and  James 
Blandin  later  built  a  saw-mill.  They  sold  to  B.  F.  Brooks,  and 
became  the  founders  of  Blandinville*.  Mr.  Brooks  in  1856  became  asso- 
ciated with  Luke  Wadleigh  and  his  son  Samuel  Wadleigh.  Samuel 
shortly  withdrew,  and  later  went  to  Burlington,  where  he  is  in  busi- 
ness. The  mill  proved  a  failure.  Mr.  Brooks  finally  in  1859  took 
the  machinery  to  Hannibal,  Missouri,  where  lie  was  killed  by  the 
boiler  exploding. 

Scott  &  Bake's  mills  were  built  about  1854,  sold  to  Scott  &  Hod- 
son  in  1856.     In  1857  Mr.  Robert  Hodson  sold  out. 

The  Oquawka  steam  works  were  erected  in  1854  by  Russel,  McFar- 
land  &  Co.,  giving  employment  to  eighteen  or  twenty  hands.  The 
following  is  a  statement  of  the  amount  of  business  done  by  this  firm 
from  February  1  to  September  5,  1856 :  Built  (completed)  twenty-five 
houses  at  a  cost  to  the  ])ro])rietors  of  $8,643.53,  cheaj^est  building 
$123,  most  expensive  building  $1,100;  under  contract,  nine  houses  to 
cost  $4,110.90,  ranging  from  $100  to  $1,100;  total  for  building  since 
February  1,  $12,745.43  ;  amount  of  orders  for  work  filled,  $2,651,81 ; 
amount  sold  from  shop  not  previously  ordered,  $1,200;  hardware, 
glass,  etc.,  $1,425;  bought  400,000  feet  logs,  $5,600;  amount  of  bills 
for  lumber,  $4,300.  The  above  merely  shows  the  amount  of  business 
done  by  the  mills  in  that  period  of  Oquawka's  history. 

In  1856  was  erected  the  steam  flouring  mills  with  two  run  of  burrs 
by  W.  B.  Hopkins  and  Benjamin  Harrington.  The  building  was  of 
brick  and  of  large  size.  It  was  in  1855-6  that  Turner  c\:  Co  built  the 
foundry  and  machine  shops. 

In  1845  Joseph  Chickering  came  from  Hancock  county  to  escape 
Mormon  odium,  and  to  teach  vocal  music  and  teach  the  district  school. 
In  1846  he  formed  a  ])artnership  with  Abner  Hebbard  and  C.  S. 
Cowan,  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  of  furniture.  Abner  Hebbard 
was  one  of  Lovejoy's  company  when  the  latter  was  killed  while  de- 
fending his  principles.  Mr.  Hebbard  came  to  Oquawka  in  1842.  He 
was  an  architect  by  trade,  and  soon  withdrew  from  the  firm  before 
mentioned.  He  aided  in  building  the  court-house.  He  went  to  Gales- 
burg,  and  was  there  killed  by  a  circular  saw.  C.  S.  Cowan  came  to 
Oquawka  about  1840.  He  withdrew  from  the  firm  also.  He  went  to 
the  war  in  1861,  and  afterward  to  J^ew  York.  Mr.  Chickering  con- 
tinued the  furniture  factory.  In  1851  Z.  D.  Fanning  came  to  Oquawka 
and  purchased  a  half  interest  with  Mr.  Chickering.  In  three  or  four 
years  they  opened  a  store,  finally  divided  the  goods,  and  Mr.  Chicker- 
ing manufactured  bedsteads  alone  for  two  years. 


928  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

In  1857  he  resumed  tlie  manufacture  of  furniture  till  1861,  when  he 
began  merchandising;.  The  poetry  about  tlie  old  mare  that  worked 
the  horse-power  in  the  bedstead  business,  may  be  remembered : 

"  Wunst  upon  a  day  so  dreary,  while  I  pondered  faint  and  weary 
O'er  a  tough  old  cherry  bedstead  I  was  turning, 

That  grew  many  years  before, 
The  old  gray  kept  her  broad  feet  planking 
Around  her  circle,  spank,  spank,  spanking, 
Her  tail  switching,  and  her  feet  stamping, 

This  I  heard  but  nothing  more. 
So,  as  I  kept  on  turning,  nothing  else  my  mind  concerning, 
For  surely  it  was  enough  to  think  of  that  abominable  bedpost  I  was  turning. 

Mentioned  before. 
As  I  turned  on  without  delaj^ 
Sweating,  puffing,  and  gouging  away, 
I  heard  the  old  beast  distinctly  say, 

'I'll  turn  no  more  ! 
I'm  old  and  well  stricken  in  years! 
My  back  is  well  stricken  in  years ! 
My  back  is  all  scabby  and  sore  ! 
Mine  eyeholes  spout  torrents  of  tears  ! 
Oh,  no  !   I'll  ne'er  turn  any  more! 

The  eyes  ran  but  in  days  of  yore  !' 
Then  I  resolved  I'd  quit  this  turning, 
My  bosom  with  compunction  burning, 
My  bowels  with  afl'ecticui  yearning, 

Toward  that  old  mare." 

Here  the  old  beast  came  to  a  dead  halt.  Of  course  the  machine 
stopped,  and  we  have  nothing  to  say,  except  that  the  Oquawka  turn- 
ing works,  with  all  the  appurtenances,  "old  gray"  turned  out  to  grass 
excepted,  are  for  sale.  Tlie  factory  has  gone,  the  mills  are  gone,  with 
the  exception  of  Asa  Smith's  saw  mill.  Mr.  Smith's  mill  remains  the 
sole  representative.  It  was  built  in  1857  by  Joseph  Gray,  from  Iowa. 
Mr.  Asa  Smith  became  its  possessor  the  same  year,  and  Mr.  Gray  de- 
parted for  Kirkwood  about  1858.  Mr.  Smith  came  to  Oquawka  in 
1816.  He  was  first  engaged  in  the  daguerreotype  business,  also  kept  a 
book  store  for  two  years.  He  then  embarked  in  tlie  lumber  business, 
and  in  1857  bought  the  mill.  The  mill  sawed  about  10,000  feet  of 
pine  lumber  per  day.  In  1859  Mr,  Smith  began  the  manufacture  of 
staves,  which  has  been  his  principal  business  since,  although  he  saws 
considerable  lumber.  In  1872  he  added  another  engine  and  planing 
works.     The  mills  are  still  in  operation. 

Alexander  Moir  came  to  Oquawka  in  1847.  He  was  an  extensive 
lumber  dealer.  From  1850  to  1855  he  was  associated  with  S.  S. 
Phelps.     He  died  on  September  21,  1858. 


OQUAWKA    TOWNSHIP.  929 

William  and  James  Moir  were  extensive  dairymen  in  New  York. 
James  made  a  tri})  to  St.  Louis  in  1843  for  the  purpose  of  shipping 
produce  to  New  York.  Learning  of  the  extensive  business  done  at 
Oquawka,  that  same  season  he  arrived  here.  Oquawka  was  then 
shipping  more  than  any  other  point  between  the  rapids.  Llere  Mr, 
Moir  became  associated  with  John  D.  Culver  in  general  merchan- 
dising. In  1846  Mr.  Moir  severed  his  connection  with  Mr.  Culver, 
who  took  Mr.  Coghill  as  partner.  Mr.  Moir,  with  his  brother  William 
yet  in  New  York,  conceived  the  plan  of  manfacturing  highwines  in 
the  west  for  eastern  consumption  instead  of  sliip])ing  the  material  to 
New  York  for  distilling,  thereby  saving  the  expense  of  freight  on  the 
refuse.  Accordingly  a  distillery  of  500  bushels  capacity  was  built  in 
1846  at  Oquawka.  In  the  spring  of  1847  AVilliam  and  Robert  Moir 
became  residents  of  Oquawka.  A  copartnership  was  formed  by 
William  and  James  Moir  and  David  E.  Roberts,  a  practical  distiller, 
under  the  firm  name  of  W.  &  J.  Moir  &  Co.  This  was  the  most 
northerly  distillery  on  the  Mississippi.  In  1847  it  was  completely 
destroyed  by  tire.  It  was  immediately  rebuilt ;  completed  in  1848. 
In  1851  David  E.  Roberts  retired  from  the  firm  and  Robert  Moir 
became  associated  with  his  brotliers,  the  firm  becoming  Moir  Bi'others. 
The  firm  became  engaged  extensively  in  lumber,  general  merchandise, 
banking,  at  one  time  the  logging  business  on  the  Black  river,  and 
various  milling  interests.  November  21,  1856,  death  deprived  the 
firm  of  William  Moii-.  The  firm  continued  as  Moir  Brothers.  Janu- 
ary 14,  1863,  James  Moir  died. 

Robert  Moir  then  reorganized  the  firm,  taking  his  nephew  James 
Peterson,  and  brother-in-law  John  C.  Nicol,  as  partners,  under  the 
firm  name  of  Robert  Moir  &  Co.  In  1872  J.  C.  Nicol  retired,  followed 
by  James  Peterson  in  LS75.  Mr.  Moir  then  associated  his  son  John 
Moir  with  him,  under  same  firm  name  as  before.  John  died  October 
13,  1876.  There  has  been  no  change  at  this  time  (May  26,  1882)  in 
the  firm  name.  In  1867  the  wine  house  of  R.  Moir  <fe  Co.,  stored  with 
highwines  and  bonded  spirits,  burned,  resulting  in  a  loss  of  about 
$10,000. 

Besides  the  distillery,  the  Moirs  have  built  the  warehouse  44x75, 
storage  8,000  bushels;  also  brick  block,  50x68,  three  stories.  James 
Moir  finished  the  Blandin  property,  now  owned  by  Mrs.  Wilson  M. 
Graham.  Robert  Moir  erected  his  present  residence  in  1861  and  1862. 
The  business  of  the  Moirs  has  been  more  extensive  than  that  of  any 
other  firm  in  Oquawka.  It  is  well  to  add  that  but  two  consignments 
of  highwines  were  sent  east  till  the  war  broke  out  to  unsettle  markets. 
Home  demand  for  their  products  was  equal  to  their  supply.     To-day 


930  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

the  business  of  the  firm  is  general  merchandising  and  banking.  So 
long  as  the  three  brothers  lived  thev  were  bound  to  one  another  by  the 
closest  ties.  Nothing  was  owned  separate.  The  interest  of  one  was 
the  concern  of  all.  To  this  union  of  effort  may  be  attributed  to  some 
extent  at  least  the  success  that  attended  their  efforts. 

It  was  in  1844  that  John  McKinney  moved  from  the  country  and 
became  an  Oquawka  merchant.  He  built  a  heavy  frame  storehonse,  in 
which  he,  in  connection  with  Ed.  E.  Adams,  sold  goods.  The  house 
is  now  the  dining;  room  of  the  Smith  hotel.  McKinnev  and  Adams 
subsequently  erected  a  large  brick  business  house  with  public  hall.  In 
1854,  after  a  successful  career  here,  Mr,  Adams  sold  and  moved  to 
Galesburg.     In,  1873  Mr.  McKinney  located  in  Aledo. 

W.  E.  Jamison,  one  of  the  very  first  settlers  of  Henderson  county; 
early  he  became  a  merchant.  In  1854  he  erected  a  brick  business 
house  with  stone  front  and  a  public  hall.  He  was  a  leading  spirit  in 
the  town  in  business  and  as  an  ofiicial.  His  public  hall  was  38x48, 
ventilated  on  three  sides,  fourteen  large  windows,  and  seating  capacity 
for  300  to  350  persons.  It  was  destroyed  by  tornado  in  1876.  It  was 
1848  when  S.  S.  Phelps  erected  the  first  and  largest  brick  store  build- 
ing in  Oquawka.  It  became  the  seat  of  an  immense  business  on  the 
corner  of  Hancock  and  First  streets.  In  1849  the  new  hotel,  the 
American  House,  was  started,  E.  W.  Young,  proprietor.  In  1848  the 
Oquawka  hotel,  Enoch  Conger,  proprietor,  came  into  the  hands  of 
C.  Catlin,  and  was  afterward  "rudely  termed  "Catfish  House."  In 
1856  Da^^d  Welsh  changed  the  name  of  the  Pioneer  house  to  Pennsyl- 
vania house.  The  American  house  became  the  Eagle  house.  To-day 
there'  is  but  one  hotel,  the  Smith  House,  opened  in  1869,  built  by 
Alfred  Knowles  for  a  residence,  at  considerable  expense.  From 
1840  to  1860  Oquawka  fiourished,  reached  her  zenith  and  began 
to  wane  as  early  as  1858.  "The  Spectator"  declared  the  town  had 
taken  a  stand  as  one  of  the  most  important,  in  a  commercial  point  of 
view,  on  the  upper  Mississippi.  Oquawka  was  the  outlet  for  the  pro- 
duce of  the  surrounding  counties  of  Warren  and  Knox,  as  well  as  Hen- 
derson. It  became  proverbial  among  river  men  that  Oquawka  was 
one  of  the  best  shipping  points  on  the  upper  Mississippi.  In  1848  the 
prices  current  in  Oquawka  were  as  follows  :  wheat  (winter),  55c.  to  57c. ; 
wheat  (spring),  40c.  to  50c.;  corn,  15c.  to  ISc. ;  oats,  15c.;  Barley, 
30c. ;  flax  seed,  60c. ;  white  beans,  38c. ;  potatoes,  20c. ;  lard,  4c. ;  tal- 
low, 9c.  In  the  winter  of  1847-8  there  were  shipped  from  Oquawka 
5,200  hogs;  wheat,  130,148  bushels;  corn,  43,316  bushels;  oats,  8,086 
bushels;  barley,  1,130  bushels;  beans,  304  bushels;  flax  seed,  44 
bushels ;  mustard  seed,  798  bushels ;  hemp  seed,  36  bushels ;  potatoes, 


=^,; 


■% 


^', 


a^n^^^     J)^Rji^^ 


0<3UAWKA   TOWNSHIP.  933 

175  bushels;  grass  seed,  16  casks;  cheese,  20  casks  ;  flour,  7,084  bar- 
rels; pork,  2,250  barrels;  lard,  1,031- barrels;  beef,  9  barrels;  corn 
meal,  440  barrels ;  whisky,  790  barrels;  bulk  pork,  359,776  pounds; 
butter,  12,555  pounds;  hides,  21,580  pounds  ;•  bees  wax,  1,866 
pounds;  bacon,  4,880  pounds;  ginseng,  27  pounds;  wool,  3,630 
pounds;  rags,  21  sacks;  peat,  3  sacks;  eggs,  3,880  dozen; 
tobacco,  2  hlids. ;  hay  90  tons  ;  three  flat  boats  of  pork  ;  two  flat 
boats  of  corn  ;  one  flat  boat  of  hay  ;  furs  amounting  to  $1,151.20  ; 
all  of  which  indicates  the  business  done  in  that  early  day.  In 
prosperous  days  the  town  street  would  be  lined  with  loaded  wagons, 
also  the  flat  would  be  crowded.  In  the  country  farmers  would  run 
their  teams  in  order  to  get  their  loads  to  market  early,  while  many 
started  one  day  and  camped  out  all  night  so  as  to  be  able  to  unload 
early  next  day,  before  the  rush  of  business.  Says  James  Peterson  : 
"I  have  taken  in  as  many  as  361  loads  of  grain  in  a  day  for  Moir 
Brothers.'"  Says  Col.  Patterson  :  "I  have  a  number  of  times  received 
a  hundred  loads  of  grain  after  sundown." 

Every  successive  year  brought  increased  trade.  In  1852  the  ex- 
ports exceeded  the  lead  exports  of  Galena  by  $51,873.  The  total  valu- 
ation of  shipments  for  that  year  was  $441,746,  and  imports  $412,880. 
Along  the  river  were  a  number  of  mammoth  warehouses,  crowded  to 
their  uttermost  with  grain  and  provisions,  and  no  room  for  thousands 
of  bushels  needing  storage.  Stretching  along  the  river  was  2,730  feet 
of  graded  rock  wharflng,  averaging  thirty-flve  or  forty  feet  in  width. 
As  early  as  1854  great  steamboats  anchored  and  weighed  anchor, 
bringing  goods  and  carrying  away  produce.  All  was  active  and  pro- 
gressive, and  people  declared  there  was  no  probability  of  Oquawka's 
declining ;  that  here  were  all  the  elements  of  prosperity  as  indestruc- 
tible as  the  flood  that  rolled  by  the  shore. 

As  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  railroad  was  built,  Oquawka 
having  been  wi'onged  of  its  interest,  towns  sprang  up  to  the  east  and 
south ;  trade  waned  in  Oquawka.  Then  came  the  liegira  of  many  of 
Oquawka's  best  business  men,  who  saw  their  interests  would  be  served 
in  other  places,  and  who  have  largely  built  the  smaller  towns,  and 
many  of  whom  have  added  to  the  wealth  and  solidity  of  Aledo,  Gales- 
burg,  Monmouth,  Burlington  and  other  places. 

The  following  list  contains  the  names  of  many  of  those  who  aided  in 
the  town's  business  in  the  past,  showing  about  when  they  came.  The 
dates  are  not  supposed  to  be  correct,  but  merely  approximate.  Some 
dates  cannot  be  given  at  all.  Those  heretofore  mentioned  are  omitted 
here  : 

C.  M.   Harris,  lawyer,  came  1833  ;  W.  D.  Henderson,  dry-goods, 

53 


934  HISTORY    OF   ]MERCER   AND    HENDEKSON   COUNTIES. 

1837  ;  S.  N.  Snook,  groceries  and  liquors,  1S3S  ;  K.  W.  Young,  1840, 
Enoch  Conger,  1840,  C.  Callin,  184T,  J.  K.  Barnes,  1841,  Fred  Ray, 
1850,  Hiram  Rose,  1850,  John  P.  Barnes,  1841,  W.  P.  Litten,  1859, 
D.  Welsh,  1853,  hotels  ;  J.  B.  Simpson,  dry  goods,  1843  ;  H.  Ram- 
mers, cabinet  and  chair  factory,  1840  ;  McDill  &  Mauiy,  drugs  ;  J.  H. 
McDill,  physician,  1848  ;  J.  A.  Mauiy,  physician,  1847  ;  J.  Perkins, 
hotel,  1842  ;  A.  Wittman,  shoemaker,  early ;  J.  Prugh,  tin  shop,  1851; 
W.  M.  Graham,  dry  goods,  1844  ;  George  Muck,  wagon  maker  ;  E. 
Benner,  dry  goods,  very  early  ;  S.  P.  McGaw,  tailor,  when  young ;  S. 
T.  Records,  grocer,  when  young;  James  Gary,  wagons,  buggies,  etc., 
1850  ;  Abram  Rife,  grocer,  wholesale  and  retail,  early  ;  Fred.  Oden- 
dahl,  grocer,  1850  ;  F.  Fames,  saw  mill,  early  ;  David  Lysle,  meat 
market,  1852;  George  Shores,  meat  market,  when  young;  John 
Kelley,  tailor,  1851  ;  J.  H.  Struck,  wagon  shop,  1851  ;  Stephen  Beck- 
man,  wagon  shop,  1851  ;  W.  L.  Powers,  tailor,  very  early  ;  John  Ed- 
wards, dry  goods,  1850  ;  J.  C.  Cabeen  &  Co.,  tinners,  1855  ;  P.  S. 
Linell,  harness  maker,  1852  ;  J.  A.  Caswell,  drugs,  1854  ;  O.  S. 
Bearce,  drugs,  1852  ;  C.  Park,  physician,  1850  ;  N.  A.  Chapin,  raised 
here  ;  John  L.  Wilson,  merchant,  1851  ;  Wilson  Thomson,  merchant, 
1852  ;  I.  I^.  Morris,  merchant,  1850  ;  A.  D.  Frazel,  Thomas  W. 
Kinsloe,  1850  ;  John  E.  Bosler,  1853  ;  J.  C.  McDill,  raised  here  ; 
Samuel  Marsden,  1844;  Reynolds  *  Brothers,  drugs,  1856;  Thomas 
McDill,  drugs,  raised  here  ;  Collins  S::  McLinn,  books ;  C.  B.  Mat- 
thews, jeweler,  early  ;  Charles  Matthews,  gunsmith  ;  J.  IT.  Zeigler, 
boss  carpenter,  1852  ;  George  Cunningham,  cooper,  1853 ;  H.  F. 
Patau,  cabinet  maker,  1850  ;  James  Cunningham,  blacksmith,  1853  ; 
W.  Weigand,  blacksmith,  1851  ;  Bissell  &  Waterhouse,  tinning,  1858; 
George  Adair,  harness,  1850  ;  Frank  Ramage,  boots  and  shoes  ;  John 
McFarland,  saw   mill,   1841  ;  T.  Carl,  mason  ;  Carl  Schultz,  mason, 

1850  ;  Jacob  Spangler,  stone  mason  ;  Christopher  Bruce,  stone  mason, 
1849  ;   Benjamin   Harrington,   carpenter,  early  ;    J.   Yerger,    cooper, 

1851  ;  James  Scott,  saw  mill,  1857  ;  Robert  Hodson,  merchandise, 
1856  ;  D.  Morgan,  hotel ;  W.  C.  Rice,  judge,  1853  ;  Jonathan  Simp- 
son, lawyer,  1848  ;  James  H.  Stewart,  lawyer ;  Harry  Jennings,  law- 
yer, very  early  ;  J.  R.  Snelling,  physician,  1850  ;  J.  O.  Patterson, 
physician,  1856  ;  A.  P.  Nelson,  physician,  1848  ;  Try  on  &  Day,  dry 
goods,  very  early  ;  Jonathan  Turner,  foundry,  1855  ;  W.  B.  Hopkins, 
steam  flouring  mills,  1856  ;  B.  Harrington,  steam  flouring  mills,  1856; 
Blandin  Bros.,  lumber,  1855  ;  — .  Pearce,  physician,  1853  ;  — .  Burkleo, 
physician,  1852 ;  P.  A.  Lock,  physician,  1879  ;  J.  A.  Postlewait, 
physician,  1879 ;  Codoogan  &  Richey,  hotel,  1853  ;  ■ — .  Hibbard, 
hotel ;  Bernard  Struck,  William  Bradbury,  R.   M.  Patterson,  J.   P.; 


OQUAWKA   TOWNSHIP.  »     935 

Capt.  William  R.  VanPelt,  merchant  ;  Joseph  C.  Graham,  Norman 
Patterson,  Ebenezer  Chapin,  very  early  ;  James  R.  Moffett,  Hiram 
Bigelow,  carpenter  ;  John  Lour,  grocer,  1875  ;  John  Pollock,  physic- 
ian ;  Joseph  Eames,  John  Gumming,  millwright,  1856 ;  Joseph 
Linell,  harness,  1852  ;  William  Odendahl,  confectioner,  1850  ;  John 
W.  Pence,  dry  goods,  1877;  John  W.  Brown,  hardware,  1872  ;  Justice 
Schlotzhaur,  wagon  maker,  1857  ;  Gharles  Schlotzhaur,  livery,  1857  ;, 
J.  G.  Peterman,  mechanic,  1857  ;  Gharles  Haifner  &  Son,  furniture, 
1852  :  T.  G  Smith,  hotel,  1851. 

A  LITERARY  RELIC. 

The  following  scrap  in  relation  to  Warren  county  from  Mitchell's 
Pambles  in  Illinois,  published  in  1837,  will  doubtless  prove  interesting 
to  many  readers:  "■Oquawka,  or  Yellow  Banks,  is  a  town  recently 
settled.  It  is  situated  on  the  Mississippi  river,  about  midway 
between  the  Des  Moines  river  and  Rock  Island  rapids,  and  is  the 
principal  depot  for  freight  between  those  points.  The  town  is  laid  in 
two  sections  on  an  extensive  scale.  There  are  two  large  warehouses 
in  the  town,  one  store,  one  grocery,  two  taverns,  and  several  dwell- 
ing-houses. There  is  a  good  flouring  and  saw  mill  about  two  miles 
distant,  and  a  steam  mill  is  about  to  be  erected. 

"The  site  of  this  town  was  sold  by  the  original  to  the  present  pro- 
prietor for  $200,  by  whom  a  fourth  part  was  transferred  last  autumn 
to  an  enterprising  land  dealer  for  $24,000,  who  has  since  realized  from 
the  sale  of  individual  lots  the  full  amount  paid  for  the  whole,  and 
j^et  has  parted  with  only  a  small  part  of  his  purchase.  The  lots  sold 
a  year  ago  have,  in  many  cases,  changed  hands  at  an  advance  of  100 
per  cent.  The  proprietors  of  the  town  purpose  making  a  railroad  from 
hence  to  Peoria,  on  the  Illinois  river." 

POSTOFFICE. 

Conveniences  for  carrying  mail  fifty  years  ago  were  somewhat  dif- 
ferent from  those  of  the  present.  Wlien  Mr.  S.  S.  Phelps  was  ap- 
pointed the  first  postmaster  in  1834,  he  kept  the  office  in  his  cabin 
store.  No  mail  came  four  rimes  a  day  at  stated  hours,  but  as  oppor- 
tunity offered  he  sent  the  mail  across  the  country  to  Monmouth,  and 
in  like  manner  sent  after  it.  In  time  the  mail  routes  were  established, 
which  facilitated  conveyance.  Mr.  McNeil,  postmaster  of  Monmouth, 
who  carried  the  mail  in  his  hat,  came  over  to  do  the  carpenter  work  on 
the  new  jjostoffice.  Mr.  Phelps  concluded  to  have  a  nice  office. 
Slabs  were  split  and  shaved  for  weather  boards,  walnut  lumber  was 
bought  at  Jack's  Mills  for  trimming,  and  the  office  made  neat.    Part  of 


936    ^  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND   HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

the  weather-boarding  is  now  on  a  Sagetown  buikling.     In  1837  Mr. 
Phelps  sokl  his  store. 

About  1838  CoL  J.  B.  Patterson  received  the  appointment  of  post- 
master. He  performed  the  duties  of  the  office  till  1855  (March  14), 
when  he  was  dis])laced  by  James  A.  Caswell,  It  was  but  a  short  time 
till  Col.  J.  B.  Patterson  was  again  possessor  of  the  office.  The  colonel 
subsequently  resigning  was  succeeded  by  F.  A.  Dallam,  of  the  "Plain- 
dealer,"  who  in  turn  was  followed  by  Lewis  Leslie,  also  editor  of  the 
"Plaindealer." 

November  5,  1864,  Charles  W.  Green,  a  brave  and  honored 
soldier,  was  sworn  tlie  recipient  of  the  official  honors.  Since  that  date 
he  has  efficiently  performed  the  duties  of  postmaster.  In  Phelps'  and 
Patterson's  day  a  letter  stamp  cost  twenty-five  cents.  The  postmaster 
credited  his  friends,  and  some  accounts  might  be  shown  to-day  yet 
unpaid. 

TOWN  T'LAT. 

The  town  })lat  of  Oquawka  is  best  understood  by  quoting"from  the 
records  of  1836.  It  is  quite  full,  except  in  stating  the  number  of  lots 
for  public  purposes.  It  is  well  to  state,  as  the  county  history  shows, 
that  200  lots  were  donated  to  the  county  by  the  Phelpses  that  Oquawka 
might  be  a  permanent  seat  of  justice.  The  county  history  treats  this 
question  fully. 

"Oquawka,  State  of  Illinois,  (^ 
Warrkn  Couxty.  -* 

"Oquawka  is  situated  in  Warren  county,  on  the  fi-actional  sections 

numbered  fifteen  and  twenty-two,  in  township  numbered  eleven  north, 

of  range  numbered  five  west  of  the  fourth  principal  meridian.     Each 

street  in  Oquawka  is  seventy-five  feet  in  width,  and  each  alley  twenty 

feet;  lots  fifty  feet  front  by   one   hundred    and  fifty   feet   in   depth, 

excepting  the  lots  in  fractional  blocks  on  and  near  the  river  and  those 

fronting  on  North  and  South  Market,  which  have  the  depth  indicated 

on  the  lines  of  lots.     Survey  made  from  a  stone  for  a  corner  at  the 

intersection  of  Knox  street  with  the  center  landing  at  the  corner  of 

block  No.  55,  and  all  the  corners  established  as  required  by  the  laws 

of  the  State  of  Illinois.     All  of  which  is  hereby  certified  at  Oquawka, 

in  the  county  of  Warren,  and  State  of  Illinois,  this  ninth  day  of  July, 

A.D.  1836,  by  Alexis  Phelps,  deputy  for 

William  C.  Butler,  County  Surveyor. 

"Know  all  men  by  these  presents  that  the  undersigned,  owners 
and  proprietors  of  Oquawka,  do  hereby  give  and  set  apart  for  public 
use  all  streets,  alleys  and  public  grounds  as  marked  on  the  plat  of  said 


OQUAWKA   TOWNSHIP.  937 

town,  excepting  iifty  feet  square  between  the  west  end  of  Knox  street 
and  the  river,  on  which  is  situated  the  store  and  warehouse  of 
S.  Phelps  &  Co.,  which  they  are  to  continue  to  use  and  occupy  until 
required  to  remove  their  buildings  by  the  corporation  of  said  town, 
which  is  not  to  be  done  until  the  expiration  of  two  years  from  the  first 
of  May  next,  after  which  said  fifty  feet  square  to  be  appropriated  for 
public  use. 

"Lot  twelve  in  blocks  seventy-live  and  thirty-seven,  and  lots  ten  in 
block  forty -eight  and  eight  in  block  seventy-live,  appropriated  and  set 
a]3art  for  a  Protestant  Episcopal  church,  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
Presbyterian  church,  and  Baptist  church,  each  of  said  denominations 
of  Christians  to  have  their  choice  of  said  lots  as  they  may  first  be  pre- 
pared to  build  thereon.  Lot  No.  9  in  blocks  No.  5,  37  and  75,  and 
lot  No.  7  in  block  No.  48,  appropriated  for  the  use  of  schools. 

"In  testimony  whereof  we  have  hereunto  subscribed  our  names 
and  afSxed  our  seals  at  Oquawka,  this  nineteenth  day  of  July, 
A.D.  1830. 

"Stephen  S.  Phelps.         [seal] 
"Alexis  Phelps.  [seal] 

"Joseph  Duncan.  [seal] 

"Cornelia  Phelps.  [seal] 

"Phebe  Phelps.  [seal]" 

State  of  Illinois,  "I 
W  ARREN    County.  J 

Personally  appeared  before  me  this  ninteenth  day  of  July,  1836, 
the  above  named  Stephen  S.  Phelps  and  Phebe,  his  wife,  Alexis 
Phelps  and  Cornelia,  his  wife,  and  Joseph  Duncan,  all  personally 
known  to  me,  and  severally  acknowledged  the  foregoing  deed  by  tliem 
made  to  be  their  act  and  deed  for  the  purpose  therein  expressed,  and 
the  said  Phebe  Phelps  and  Cornelia  Phelps,  wives  of  the  said  Stephen 
S.  Phelps  and  Alexis  Phelps,  having  been  examined  by  me  separately 
and  apart  from  their  said  husbands,  acknowledge  that  they  signed  the 
same,  knowing  the  contents  thereof,  freely  and  voluntarily  without 
fear  or  coercion  of  their  said  husbands,  for  the  purposes  therein 
expressed.     Given  under  my  hand  and  seal  the  date  above  written. 

J.  B.  Patterson,  J.  P.  [seal] 
Filed  and  recorded  July  20,  1836,  Warren  county  records. 

certificates  of  swarts'  first  addition. 

State  of  Illinois,  "I 
AVarren  County.    -* 

Swarts'  addition  to  the  town  of  Oquawka  is  situated  on  the  S.E.  22, 
11  N.,  5  W.    Each  street  in  this  addition  is  seventy-five  feet  wide,  and 


938  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

each  alle}^  twentj  feet,  and  each  lot  fifty  feet  in  front  by  one  hundred 
and  fifty  feet  in  depth.  Survey  made  from  a  stone  at  the  northeast 
corner  of  this  addition  and  all  the  corners  established  as  required  by 
the  laws  of  the  State  of  Illinois.  All  of  which  is  hereby  certified  at 
Monmouth,  in  county  of  Warren,  State  of  Illinois,  this  fifteenth  day  of 
October,  A.  D.  1836.  William  C.  Butler,  Surveyor. 

Acknowledged  by  Abraham  D.  Swarts,  before  Gilbert  Turnbull,  J.  P. 

A.  D.  Swarts'  second  addition  was  made  in  1853,  including  blocks 
10  and  11.  His  third  addition,  including  blocks  12,  13,  14  and  15, 
was  made  in  1854.  Both  additions  were  surveyed  by  A.  N.  Arm- 
strong. In  1854  Moffit  made  an  addition  of  blocks  1  and  2  from  the 
]^.  E.  i  of  Sec.  22.  In  1857  William  S.  Chenoweth  added  one  and  a 
half  blocks  of  the  S.  E.  J  of  Sec.  22.     James  R.  White,  surveyor. 

OQUAWKA  IXCORPORATED. 

As  the  population  of  Oquawka  increased,  as  its  business  enlarged, 
the  importance  of  internal  improvements  became  manifest.  Private 
subscription  for  public  benefits  were  not  always  successful.  It  became 
necessary  to  improve  the  river  landing  by  building  wharfage.  Prior 
to  1842  Oquawka  had  no  town  organization,  hence  no  ]3ublic  moneys 
for  expenditure.  Necessity  is  the  mother  of  invention,  and  so  proved 
in  this  case.  Oquawka  was  incorporated  by  vote  of  the  citizens  July 
9,  1842,  under  the  village  laws  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  electing  for  its 
first  board  of  trustees  John  Harris,  who  received  twenty-eight  votes ; 
W.  E.  Ellet,  twenty-seven  votes ;  J.  U.  Monhart,  twenty-three  votes ; 
J.  B.  Patterson,  twenty-two  votes ;  Daniel  Hubbel,  twenty-one  votes ; 
also  Alexis  Phelps  received  nineteen  votes;  Dr.  Alpheus  Russell, 
fourteen  votes.  Says  the  meager  record,  Alexis  Phelps  was  made 
president,  and  John  S.  Pollock,  clerk  of  the  board. 

How  long  the  corporation  may  have  continued,  what  measures  it 
may  have  passed,  and  what  improvements  made,  neither  records  nor 
memory  of  men  are  able  to  disclose.  All  records  seem  to  have  been  lost. 
Circumstantial  evidence,  and,  in  fact,  recollections  of  some  two  or  three 
men,  plainly  indicate  the  abandonment  of  town  corporation  at  a  date 
not  many  years  after  organization.  In  1849,  when  cholera  threatened, 
the  question  of  incorporation  was  discussed  as  a  means  of  quarantine 
if  necessary.  It  is  known  that  some  dispute  arose  as  to  money  bor- 
rowed by  the  corporation  for  wharfage  improvements,  which  money  is 
denied  having  been  paid  by  the  then  existing  corporation. 

In  1850  many  citizens  made  a  call  for  a  ballot,  wherein  they  might 
determine  whether  or  not  Oquawka  should  be  incor[)orated  agreeably 


OQUAWKA   TOWNSHIP.  939 

to  the  general  incorporation  law  of  the  state,  said  ballot  to  be  taken 
November  16,  1850.  Whether  or  not  such  action  was  carried  out  does 
not  appear,  but  if  the  trial  was  made  it  failed.  It  was  about  this  time 
that  county  and  town  donations  to  perfected  railroads  were  the  order 
of  the  da)',  and  Oquawka  was  deeply  desirous  of  securing  the' Peoria  & 
Oquawka  road ;  any  appropriation  having  been  voted  down  by  the 
county ;  also  plank-road  im})rovements  calling  for  money  necessitated 
an  incorporation  that  the  town  might  herself  make  appropriations  to 
her  own  interests.  April  12,  1851,  a  ballot  was  taken,  and  incorpora- 
tion voted.  April  22,  same  year,  election  for  trustees  resulted,  as  the 
otHcial  tables  indicate.  In  1852  the  town  voted  f$10,000  to  the  plank- 
road  project.  Sixty-one  votes  for,  and  but  one  against.  In  1853 
Oquawka  voted  $25,000  toward  the  Peoria  *k  Oquawka  railroad,  and 
finally  secured  the  charter,  but  through  legislative  chicanery  lost  road 
and  money.  Bonds  are  discussed  in  county  histor3\  In  1854  Oquawka 
voted  to  extend  the  town  limits  one  mile  each  way  from  the  court 
house,  except  on  the  river  side.  Election  was  contirmed  by  the  board 
January  9,  1855.  Dr.  John  S.  Pollock  prepared  the  extension  act.  It 
was  the  topic  of  considerable  amusement  at  the  time,  as  the  wording- 
would  indicate,  around  town,  but  the  further  and  particular  description 
make  the  intention  of  the  act  clear,  to-wit : 

Commencing  at  the  center  of  the  court  house  in  said  town,  thence 
running  due  south  one  mile  (set  a  stake),  thence  east  one  mile  (set  a 
stake),  making  the  distance  on  the  south  line  from  the  river  one  mile 
and  168  rods ;  thence  north  two  miles  (set  a  stake),  thence  west  to  the 
Mississippi  river. 

■  In  1856  a  suit  was  pending  and  was  carried  to  the  supreme  court 
in  which  the  validity  of  the  incorporation  of  Oquawka  was  in  question. 
Plaintiffs  setting  forth  that  the  president  and  trustees  of  the  town  of 
Oquawka  were  exercising  the  powers  and  franchises  of  a  corporation 
without  authority,  and  sought  to  raise  the  question  of  existence  of  such 
a  corporation.  At  the  vote  for  incorporation  the  result  was  determined 
by  ballot  instead  of  viva  voce/  an  error  considered  by  some  to  be  inex- 
cusable in  the  eyes  of  the  law,  and  upon  this  error  raised  their  ques- 
tion. 

The  supreme  court  held  that  ''municipal  corporations  are  created 
for  the  public  good ;  are  demanded  by  the  wants  of  community,  and 
the  law,  after  long  continued  use  of  corporate  powers  and  the  public 
acquiescence,  will  indulge  in  presumptions  in  favor  of  their  legal 
existence.'''  Further:  "It  is  unnecessary  to  decide  upon  the  materiality 
of  the  mode  of  voting  under  the  statute  and  constitution  of  1848.  The 
acts  of  the  legislature  referred  to  are  ])ublic  acts,  and  authorized  the 


940  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

president  and  ti*nstees  of  the  town  of  Oquawka,  as  a  coi-paration,  to 
subscribe  stock  in  a  certain  railroad  company,  and  also  to  subscribe 
stock  in  a  certain  plank-road  company,  upon  conditions  in  said  acts 
mentioned."  In  brief,  tlie  incorporation  was  sustained,  and  Oquawka 
continued  as  before.  In  time  the  citizens  became  aware  their  town 
would  be  benefited  under  city  government.  Accordingly,  February 
21,  1871,  there  were  but  four  opposing  votes  to  the  scheme.  At  the 
next  meeting  of  the  board,  February  25,  1871,  an  ordinance  was  passed 
dividing  the  city  of  Oquawka  into  three  wards  as  follows,  to-wit :  All 
that  portion  lying  north  of  a  line  drawn  from  the  Mississippi  river 
eastward  along  the  center  of  Warren  street  to  the  eastern  boundary  of 
said  city,  to  constitute  the  first  ward.  All  that  portion  bounded  on 
the  west  by  the  Mississippi  river,  on  the  north  by  the  south  line  of  the 
first  ward,  on  the  east  by  the  eastern  boundary  of  the  city,  and  on  the 
south  by  a  line  running  from  the  Mississippi  eastward  along  the  center 
of  Pike  street  to  the  east  boundary  of  said  city,  to  constitute  the  second 
ward.  All  that  portion  lying  south  of  the  second  ward,  to  constitute 
the  third  ward.  The  city  election,  March  3,  1871,  for  mayor,  marshal, 
and  two  aldermen  from  each  ward,  resulted  as  indicated  in  the  official 
table.  The  six  aldermen  were  divided  by  lot  into  two  classes.  One 
class  for  one  year's  service,  William  Boden,  Robert  Hodson,  and 
Joseph  Linell,  and  second  class  for  two  years'  service,  J.  A.  Caswell, 
James  F.  Francis,  and  Samuel  A¥adleigh.  City  government  continued 
for  nearly  ten  3"ears,  when  the  citizens  voted,  August  2,  1880,  to  re- 
sume village  organization,  and  September  4,  1880,  elected  a  board  of 
trustees.  The  last  meeting  of  the  city  council  was  held  September  9  ; 
the  13th,  following,  the  village  board  met.  They  divided  themselves 
into  classes  as  before,  Robert  Hodson,  Josej)li  Linell,  and  Leonard 
Schell  for  one  year,  and  S.  S.  Phelps,  J.  A.  Caswell,  and  J.  A.  Pence 
for  two  years.     The  town  continues  under  village  laws. 

The  following  list  includes  all  the  officers  of  importance  since  1851, 
the  date  of  permanent  incorporation.     The  records  are  not  complete : 

1851. — Ebenezer  Chapin,  president;  John  S.  Pollock,  William  D. 
Henderson,  John  Mclvinney,  Julius  Giffbrd,  trustees;  R.  M.  Patter- 
son, clerk ;  William  C.  Rice,  treasurer ;  James  Mitchell,  constable. 

1852. — William  D.  Henderson,  president;  Julius  Gifibrd,  John  S. 
Pollock,  Ebenezer  Chapin,  Benjamin  Harrington,  trustees ;  Charles  S. 
Cowen,  clerk ;  William  C.  Rice,  treasurer ;  H.  N.  Ives,  constable. 

1853. — Julius  Gifibrd,  ])resident ;  Paul  Birdsall,  Asa  Smith,  G.  A. 
Russell,  E.  G.  Allen,  trustees;  J.  S.  Pollock,  clerk;  W.  C.  Rice, 
treasurer. 

1854. — W.  R.  Jamison,   president;    E.  Benner,   John  M.  Fuller, 


OQUAWKA   TOWNSHIP.  941 

David  McFarland,  E.  Chapin,  trustees ;  C-  S.  Cowen,  clerk ;  W.  C, 
Kice,  treasurer ;  Jacob  Spangler  (resigned),  James  Mitchell,  constable. 

1855. — W.  R.  Jamison,  president ;  S.  S.  Phelps,  William  Moir, 
Frederick  Raj,  B.  F.  Brooks,  trustees  ;  C.  S.  Cowan,  clerk  ;  W.  C. 
Rice,  treasurer  ;  James  Mitchell,  constable. 

1856. — William  Moir,  president  ;  William  H.  Phelps,  Frederick 
Ray,  Josiah  Ziegler,  Joseph  Hand,  B.  F.  Brooks  (appointed  vice 
William  Moir,  deceased),  trustees  ;  C.  S.  Cowan,  clerk  ;  S.  S.  Phelps, 
treasurer  ;  William  Foster,  constable. 

1857. — B.  F.  Brooks,  president;  Joseph  S.  Hand,  Joseph  Ziegler, 
W.  H.  Phelps,  Frederick  Ray,  trustees  ;  C.  S.  Cowan,  clerk  ;  S.  S. 
Phelps,  treasurer  ;  William  Foster  (succeeded  by  David  Welsh),  con- 
stable. 

1858. — J.  S.  Hand,  president ;  W.  II.  Phelps,  J.  H.  Ziegler, 
George  Shores,  Julius  Gittbrd,  trustees  ;  E.  H.  N.  Patterson,  clerk  ; 
S.  S.  Phelps,  treasurer ;  J.  R.  White,  constable. 

1859. — B.  F.  Brooks,  president;  S.  S.  Phelps,  George  Shores, 
David  McFarland,  Samuel  Mickey,  trustees  ;  W.  W.  Collins,  clerk ; 
S.  S.  Phelps,  treasurer  ;  James  Craig,  constable. 

I860.— R.  W.  Richey,  president ;  B.  F.  Brooks,  John  M.  Wilson, 
David  McFarland,  J.  A.  Caswell,  trustees  ;  C.  S.  Cowan,  clerk  ;  S.  S. 
Phelps,  treasurer ;  C.  E.  Crandall,  constable. 

1861. — Frederick  Ra}',  president ;  George  Shores,  Joseph  S.  Hand, 
J.  H.  Ziegler,  Samuel  Mickey,  trustees  ;  C.  S.  Cowan  (succeeded  by 
M.  F.  Button),  clerk  ;  S.  S.  Phelps,  treasurer  ;  D.  P.  Kimerer  (suc- 
ceeded by  Elislia  Hinds),  constable. 

1862. — William  Wiegand,  president ;  Hiram  Rose,  Sr.,  C.  B. 
Mathews,  William  Montgomery,  S.  Meguire,  trustees  ;  E.  H.  N.  Pat- 
terson, clerk  ;  E.  H.  N.  Patterson,  treasurer  ;  Elisha  Hinds,  constable. 

1863. — James  F.  Francis,  president  ;  James  Cunningham,  David 
McFarland,  Leonard  Schell,  John  M.  Fuller,  trustees  ;  H.  L.  Thom- 
son, clerk ;  George  N.  Connelly,  treasurer ;  C.  E.  Crandall  (succeeded 
by  James  Mitchell),  constable. 

1864. — James  F.  Francis,  president;  John  M.  Fuller,  James  Cun- 
ningham, Lewis  Rapp,  Lewis  Schell  (Francis  resigned,  and  John 
McKinney,  Jr.,  appointed),  trustees;  H.  L.  Thomson,  clerk;  Elisha 
Hinds  (succeeded  by  N.  D.  Parks),  constable. 

1865. — W.  H.  Montgomery,  president ;  A.  W.  Lehew,  John  McFar- 
land, George  Cunningham,  Christopher  Stripe,  trustees ;  E.  II.  N. 
Patterson,  clerk ;  W.  S.  Sterling,  constable. 

1866. — W.  H.  Montgomery,  president;  A.  W.  Lehew,  M.  A. 
Mulliner,  P.  H.  Chapin,  C.  Stripe,  trustees ;  E.  H.  N.  Patterson,  clerk ; 
John  Wilson,  treasurer ;  Jacob  Spangler,  constable. 


942  HISTORY   OF   IMERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

1867. — Luke  Strong,  Jr.,  jjresident;  Kobert  Hodson,  A.  W.  Leliew, 
M.  A.  Mulliner,  C.  Stripe,  trustees;  E.  H.  N.  Patterson,  clerk;  John 
Wilson  (succeeded  by  Robert  Hodson),  treasurer ;  Rufus  Scott  (succeeded 
by  L.  H.  Fullerton),  constable. 

1868. — J.  F.  Francis,  president;  Thad.  A.  Kinsloe,  J.  H.  Zeigler 
Julius  Poershman,  W.  H.  Montgomery,  trustees ;  E.  II.  N.  Patterson, 
clerk ;  Robert  Hodson,  treasurer ;  Thomas  Hickman,  constable. 

1869. — John  McKinney,  Jr.,  president ;  W.  H.  Montgomery,  vice- 
president;  James  Cunningham,  Christopher  Stripe,  T.  A.  Kinsloe, 
W.  H.  Montgomery,  trustees ;  E.  II.  K.  Patterson,  clerk ;  Robert 
Hodson,  ti-easurer ;  Thomas  Hickman,  constable. 

1870. — J.  H.  Ziegler,  president;  T.  A.  Kinsloe,  vice-president; 
James  Cunningham,  C.  Stripe,  Julius  Poershman,  trustees ;  E.  H.  J*i. 
Patterson,  clerk ;  Robert  Hodson,  treasurer ;  E.  I.  Jempson,  constable. 

1871.— S.  S.  Phelps,  mayor;  aldermen:  J.  A.  Caswell,  ^Y.  M. 
Boden,  1st  ward ;  Robert  Hodson,  J.  Francis,  2d  ward ;  Samuel  Wad- 
leigh,  J.  S.  Linell,  3d  ward;  E.  H.  N.  Patterson,  clerk;  Robert 
Hodson,  treasurer;  E.  I.  Jempson  (succeeded  by  P.  F.  Cauldwell), 
marshal. 

1872. — S.  S.  Phelps,  ma^-or;  aldermen:  J.  Spangler,  1st  ward; 
Robert  Hodson,  2d  ward ;  J.  S.  Linell,  3d  ward ;  E.  H.  N.  Patterson, 
clerk ;  Robert  Hodson,  treasurer ;  P.  F.  Cauldwell,  marshal. 

1873. — S.  S.  Phelps,  mayor;  aldermen:  J.  Poershman,  1st  ward; 
W.  H.  Montgomery,  2d  ward ;  Samuel  Wadleigh,  3d  ward ;  E.  H.  N. 
Patterson,  clerk ;  Robert  Hodson,  treasurer ;  Jeremiah  Loucks,  mar- 
shal. 

1871. — Robert  Hodson,  mayor;  aldermen:  J.  Kissel,  1st  ward  ; 
James  Cunningham,  2d  ward;  S.  S.  Phelps,  third  ward;  J.  B.  Pat- 
terson, clerk  ;  Robert  Hodson  treasurer ;  J.  Loucks,  marshal. 

1875. — Robert  Hodson,  mayor;  aldermen:  J.  Loucks,  1st  ward; 
W.  H.  Montgomery,  2d  ward  ;  Samuel  Wadleigh,  3d  ward  ;  J.  B.  Pat- 
terson, clerk ;  Robert  Hodson,  treasurer ;  Thomas  Hickman,  marshal. 

1876. — Robert  Hodson,  mayor  ;  aklermen  :  John  Kessel,  1st  ward ; 
James  Cunningham,  2d  ward ;  S.  S.  Phelps,  3d  ward ;  J.  B.  Patter- 
son, clerk ;  Robert  Hodson,  treasurer ;  Thomas  Hickman,  marshal. 

1877. — Robert  Hodson,  mayor;  aldermen:  Patrick  Purcell,  1st 
ward ;  James  Montgomery,  2d  ward  ;  S.  S.  Phelps,  3d  ward ;  J.  B. 
Patterson,  clerk ;  Robert  Hodson,  treasurer ;  H.  Watson,  marshal. 

1878. — S.  S.  Phelps,  mayor;  aldermen:  Asa  Smith,  1st  ward; 
Robert  Hodson,  2d  ward ;  J.  S.  Linell,  third  ward ;  J.  B.  Patterson, 
clerk ;  Robert  Hodson,  treasurer ;  E.  I.  Jempson,  marshal. 

1879. — D.    C.   Ilanna,   Mayor ;    aldermen :    James  Peterson,    1st 


OQUAWKA   TOWNSHIP.  943 

ward  ;  James  Cnnningliam,  2d  ward ;  R.  Cooper,  3d  ward  ;  G.  F,  W. 
Proelilicli,  clerk ;  Robert  Hodson,  treasurer  ;  E.  I.  Jempson,  marshal. 

1880. — S.  S.  Phelps,  ma3'or ;  aldermen:  Asa  Smith,  1st  ward;  J. 
A.  Pence,  2d  ward  ;  J.  McFarland,  3d  ward ;  L.  H.  Hand,  clerk ; 
Robert  Hodson,  treasurer ;  E.  I.  Jempson,  marshal. 

1880. — Robert  Hodson,  president ;  S.  S.  Pliel])S,  J.  S.  Linell,  J.  A. 
Pence,  J.  A.  Caswell,  L.  Schell,  trustees;  G.  F.  W.  Froehlich,  clerk. 

1881. — Robert  Hodson,  president;  John  Kessel,  J.  B.  Linell,  L. 
Schell  (to  fill  vacancy),  trustees ;  G.  F.  W.  Froehlich,  clerk ;  J.  B. 
Linell,  treasurer ;  Martin  Walters,  constable. 

1882.^ — Robert  Hods(m,  president;  J.  A.  Pence,  L.  Schell,  D.  C. 
Hanna,  trustees;  G.  F.  W.  Froehlich,  clerk;  J.  B.  Linell,  treasurer ; 
J,  Loucks,  constable. 

Other  officers,  the  dates  of  whose  service  cannot  be  ascertained, 
and  tables  of  whom  cannot  be  made  anything  like  complete,  are  town 
or  city  attorney,  filled  mostly  by  J.  Simpson,  Esq.,  and  town  sexton, 
filled  altogether  by  Joseph  Nealy.  Other  offices  are  of  minor  impor- 
tance. 

JUSTICES  OF  THE  PEACE  OF  OQUAWKA  PIIECINCT. 

Li  1836,  J.  B.  Patterson;  1839,  J.  B.Patterson;  1843,  Harry 
Jennings,  R.  W.  Young,  Samuel  Darnell ;  1846,  Tlios.  D.  Jones;  1847, 
R.  M.  Patterson  and  James  H.  Stewart;  1849,  Peleg  Gilford,  R.  M. 
Patterson,  J.  Rust,  James  Scott,  and  Jno.  M.  Fuller;  1850,  Paul  D. 
Birdsall ;  1854,  James  Scott,  Jno.  M.  Fuller,  Wm.  H.  Jenkins  ;  1857, 
John  Geddis,  Julius  Gilford;  1858,  A.  S.  Waterhouse ;  1861,  James 
Scott,  Jno.  JVI.  Fuller,  D.  P.  Kimerer;  1865,  James  Scott,  Jno.  M. 
Fuller ;  1869,  Ira  Putney,  Joseph  Froehlich,  Luke  Wadleigh  ;  1873, 
Wm.  H.  Montgomery;  1874,  Richard  W.  Richey;  1877,  Ranseldon 
Cooper,  W.  H.  Montgomery;  1880,  Joshua  F.  Powers;  1881,  Joshua 
F.  Powers  and  W.  H.  Montgomery. 

OQUAWKA  AND  WASHINGTON  PLANK  KOAD. 

Across  the  Mississippi  river  was  a  large  scope  of  Iowa  territory 
whose  trade  Oquawka  desired  to  secure.  To  do  so  it  was  necessary  to 
construct  a  passable  liighway  over  the  low  flats  on  that  side  of  the  river, 
and  also  to  institute  a  ferry.  The  question  of  a  plank  road  was  agitated 
in  1850  or  1851,  but  nothing  was  accomplished  till  July  12,  1852,  when 
the  corporation  of  Oquawka  voted  $10,000  toward  the  enterprise,  sixty- 
one  votes  being  cast  in  favor,  and  but  one  against  the  project ;  highly 
significant  of  the  interest  manifested.  Prior  to  this,  stock  had  been 
subscribed,  and  at  a  meeting  of  the  stockholders  July  21,  1852,  held 


944  HISTORY   OF   ]MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

at  the  house  of  Mr.  A.  Banta,  of  Des  Moines  county,  Iowa,  John 
Salladay  presided,  and  E.  H.  N.  Patterson  was  secretary.  Judge 
Wm.  C.  Kice  stated  the  object  of  the  meeting ;  articles  of  incoporation 
were  adopted,  and  officers  elected  preparatory  to  legal  organization. 
The  officers  elected  were  Wm.  D.  Henderson,  president ;  Charles  S. 
Cowan,  secretary;  E.  Beniier,  treasurer,  all  of  Oquawka ;  and  E.  R.. 
Adams  and  Judge  Wm.  C.  Rice,  of  Oquawka,  and  W.  W.  King  and 
James  Welcli,  of  Iowa,  directors. 

After  considerable  efforts,  defeats  and  successes,  the  bonds  of  the 
road  were  taken  by  private  parties;  S.  S.  Phelps,  $3,000;  W.  and  J. 
Moir  &  Co.,  $2,000;  McKinney  &' Adams,  $2,000;  John  Edwards, 
$500;  E.  Benner,  $500;  AVilliam  C.  Rice,  $500;  B.  Is^ettleton,  $500. 
It  was  not  until  April  6,  1853,  that  all  difficulties  were  removed  and 
the  contract  was  let  to  W.  W.  King,  witli  William  C.  Rice  as  engineer. 
The  length  of  the  road  was  to  be  a  little  more  than  four  and  a  quarter 
miles.  The  eastern  terminus  opposite  the  urpermost  house  in 
Oquawka,  and  the  western  terminus  near  the  house  of  Mr.  Salladay. 
A.  Banta  contracted  to  furnish  the  piles  and  Mr.  King  erected  a  saw- 
mill and  furnished  the  lumber  from  his  own  timber.  Work  was  begun 
and  Oquawka  watched  its  progress  with  satisfaction.  In  1855  all  was 
ready  for  the  ferry  boat.  A  ferry  company  was  organized,  and  James 
Moir,  James  Findley  and  William  Van  Pelt  went  to  Pittsburgh,  the 
third  week  in  June,  1855,  to  bring  the  steam  ferry  boat,  via  St,  Louis. 
AVilliam  Van  Pelt  was  made  captain,  and  James  Findley  pilot.  The 
boat,  built  at  Wellsville,  Ohio,  at  a  cost  of  $5,700,  was  christened 
"Oquawka,"  and  was  the  subject  of  universal  conversation.  Septem- 
ber 29,  1855,  an  immense  crowd  thronged  the  banks  of  the  Mississippi 
to  greet  Captain  Van  Pelt  and  behold  the  Oquawka.  The  boat  was 
large  and  roomy,  combined  with  strength  and  speed,  and  supplied  with 
two  engines.  Transportation  was  soon  begun ;  emigrants  westward 
crossed  the  river  at  Oquawka;  in  the  streets  of  the  town  strangers 
were  numerous;  trade  from  Iowa  became  good,  and  all  Oquawka 
needed  to  consummate  her  provisions  for  a  great  destiny  was  the 
Peoria  &  Oquawka  railroad,  the  history  of  which  may  be  found  in 
general  history.  (We  may  add  in  this  parenthesis  that  instead  of 
bringing  corn  from  Iowa  to  Oquawka,  as  was  expected,  the  first  fall  it 
carried  corn  from  Oquawka  for  Iowa  consumption).  The  boat  was 
operated  by  the  company  about  two  years  when  Robert  Moir  ])ur- 
chased  it.  In  1859,  probably,  it  was  sold  to  Zach.  Morgan,  of  Bur- 
lington. It  finally  sunk  near  Fort  Madison.  The  plank  road  was 
finally  abandoned,  as  the  Iowa  territory,  of  wdiicli  it  was  the  outlet  to 
Oquawka,  failed  to  prove  of  much  advantage.     The  bonded  indebted- 


OQUAWKA   TOWNSHIP.  945 

ness  of  Oquawka,  for  tliis  road  and  the  railroad  graded  from  Sagetown 
to  Oquawka,  amounts  to  about  $31,000.  The  faihire  in  the  plank-road 
investment  was  probably  due  largely  to  the  failure  to  secure  the 
expected  Peoria  &  Oquawka  railroad. 

STORMS. 

Limited  space  will  not  allow  the  recording  of  all  storms,  but 
perhaps  the  severest  may  find  room.  The  Oquawka  ''Spectator,"  of 
1850,  says:  "May,  27,  the  town  was  visited  by  one  of  the  severest 
storms  that  we  have  ever  experienced.  During  the  middle  of  the  day 
dark  clouds  of  threatening  appearance  lay  along  the  horizon  to  tlie 
northwest.  At  four  o'clock  the  gathering  storm  came  rolling  up, 
accompanied  by  heavy  peals  of  thunder,  and  soon  broke  upon  us, 
forcing  man  and  beast  to  seek  shelter  from  its  merciless  peltings.  The 
air  was  filled  with  the  falling  hailstones,  from  smallest  size  to  those 
larger  than  lien's  eggs.  Xearly  every  pane  of  glass  on  the  north  side 
of  the  buildings  in  town  was  broken.  From  our  office  (Spectator  office) 
and  dwelling  167  panes  were  broken,  and  others  were  scarcely  more 
fortunate.  All  the  glass  on  the  exposed  side  of  the  court-house  and 
church  (Presbyterian  church)  were  broken.  To  the  growing  crops  the 
damage  cannot  be  great,  as  they  are  not  as  yet  sufficiently  far  ad- 
vanced. The  storm  was  far  worse  in  the  southern  part  of  Warren 
county,  destroying  the  young  fruit,  etc.  In  some  parts  of  the  state 
timber  trees  were  blown  down,  fences  prostrated  for  miles,  houses 
unroofed,  hogs,  large  and  small,  killed  in  great  numbers,  fruit  trees 
broken  and  bruised.  It  was  death  and  general  desolation  to  the 
fowls,  cranes,  plovers,  and  prairie  chickens."  The  writer  might  recajl 
the  tornadoes  of  1872  that  demolislied  the  Metliodist  church,  and 
that  of  1876  that  despoiled  the  Moir  brick  block,  but  others  must  be 

passed  by. 

FLOODS. 

Few  there  are,  even  in  the  state,  who  remember  the  exceeding  high 
waters  of  the  Mississippi  and  its  tributaries  in  1828.  The  waters  w^ere 
again  flooding  in  18-14,  and  again  in  1849,  spreading  over  the  bottom 
lands  and  lower  pa,rts  of  the  town,  but  not  to  an  extent  to  destroy  as 
did  the  flood  of  1851.  This  can  not  be  better  described  than  by  quot- 
ing directly  from  the  "Spectator's"  special  issue  of  June  3  of  that 
year,  which  is  given  in  full,  with  head  lines.  It  was  issued  from  the 
second  story  of  the  brick  building  used  as  an  office.  The  little  biick 
still  stands  in  defiance  of  even  the  father  of  waters.    The  special  reads: 

"  Tremendous  overflow!  The  Hse  of  1828  surpassed !  Immense 
destT\vction  of  jprojyerty  !     Dwellings  deserted  !     Disastrous  effects  of 


946  HISTORY   OF   MEECEK   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

ihefioods  ah<yve  and  helow  !  The  channel  of  the  Mlmls8ij>pi  j^i'obMy 
changed  !  The  waters  are  iqxm  us  I — We  write  amid  a  scene  of  con- 
fusion and  excitement  seldom  witnessed.  All  the  business  portion  of 
our  town,  except  one  or  two  houses,  is  covered  with  water  deep  enough 
to  aifcn-d  passage  for  steamboats.  The  condition  of  affairs  is  beyond 
description,  and  can  only  be  realized  by  being  seen.  The  flood  of 
1844  was  nothing  in  comparison  with  the  present,  and  as  nearly  as  it 
can  now  be  ascertained,  the  memorable  rise  of  1828  failed  of  reaching 
the  present  mark.  On  Tlmrsdaj  last  the  water  commenced  flooding^ 
the  lowest  portions  of  the  flats  and  the  report  was  brought  us  by  Capt. 
Harris,  of  the  Dr.  Franklin,  of  a  very  heavy  rise  coming  down.  By 
Friday  morning  tlie  water  had  risen  several  inches  and  every  exertion 
was  made  to  secure  the  grain  and  other  property  from  any  injury  that 
might  result  from  the  continuation  of  the  rise.  The  water,  however, 
rose  so  rapidly  as  to  cause  the  destruction  of  large  quantities  of  pro- 
duce. Many  of  those  suflering  from  the  effects  of  the  flood  are  farmers 
who  had  grain  stored  here  in  sheds  and  who,  in  spite  of  every  exertion, 
have  sustained  heavy  losses.  Throughout  the  whole  of  Saturday  the 
work  of  salvage  was  carried  on  with  renewed  activity.  During  the 
evening  and  night  the  river  commenced  rising  more  raj^idly  than  ever, 
while  a  heavy  thunder  storm,  roaring  and  crashing  around,  added  to 
the  already  gloomy  prospects.  On  Sunday  the  town  presented  a 
scene  of  bustle  and  activity.  Families,  driven  from  their  tenements  by 
the  encroaching  waters,  were  deserting  their  homes  and  seeking  refuge 
in  the  upper  part  of  town,  for  in  this  c^ise  the  homestead  exemption 
law  failed  to  secure  them  in  the  undisturbed  possession  of  their  property. 
On  Monday  the  water  was  still  coming  up  and  it  was  found  necessary 
to  remove  all  the  household  goods  and  considerable  quantities  of  mer- 
chandise to  higher  ground.  Wagons,  skiffs,  and  rafts  were  occupied  all 
day  in  conveying  men  and  merchandise  from  point  to  point. 

"At  this  moment  (Monday  evening),  the  entire  bottom  presents  a 
spectacle  of  devastation.  From  the  bank  of  where  the  river  used  to 
be,  to  the  foot  of  the  sand  ridge,  the  water  is  from  four  to  Ave  feet 
deep,  and  is  standing  from  ten  to  fifty  inches  deep  in  the  houses  west 
of  the  east  side  of  Second  street,  south  of  and  including  "Spectator 
row,"  and  the  whole  of  the  flat  south  of  the  postotfice.  In  our  press 
room  the  water  is  over  twenty-five  inches  deep.  The  farms  along  the 
bottom  of  the  i-idge  are  completely  inundated,  and  many  of  the  fences 
have  disappeared.  Several  hundred  cords  of  wood  have  been  washed 
down  stream.  The  distilling  premises  are  under  water  and  operations 
suspended.     Messrs.  Moir  will  sustain  quite  a  loss  by  damaged  corn. 

"Just  as  we  are  putting  uj)  this  hurrygraph  a  flat  boat  is  passing  up 


OQUAWKA   TOWNSHIP.  947 

First  street,  lad  an  with  several  liimdred  sacks  of  grain,  and  others  are 
loading  at  different  warehouses.  Lumber  ^^ards  are  being  Hoated 
inland,  or  staked  down  to  hold  tliem  fast ;  rafts  and  boats  are  plying 
everywhere,  and  men  are  wading,  shoulder  deep,  from  house  to  house. 
(Tuesday  morning).  The  river  is  still  rising,  though  more  slowly, 
having  risen  only.three  inches  durins:  the  last  three  hours,  while  for 
the  twenty-four  hours  ending  at  eight  o'clock  yesterday  morning,  it 
rose  over  sixteen  inclies.  The  Oswego  is  loading  from  the  second 
story  window  of  the  warehouse  of  S.  S.  Phelps  &  Co.  Large  quanti- 
ties of  lumber  and  shingles  have  been  noticed  floating  by  since  day- 
light. Water  hip  deep  around  our  press  ;  and  we  are  compelled  to 
issue  this  by  hand.  Ho])e  the  water  will  go  down  soon.  Rejjorts 
from  above  and  below  report  a  similar  condition  of  affairs."  A  week 
afterward  the  river  was  only  four  inches  lower. 

The  "  Burglington  Telegraph,"  commenting  on  his  neighbor,  says: 
"  Our  near  neighbor  appears  to  be  a  severe  sufferer  by  the  floods.  Our 
friend.  Col.  Patterson,  of  the  'Spectator,'  is  said  to  enter  his  office 
through  the  roof.  His  press  is  entirely  under  water."  Of  course  the 
"Telegraph"  spoke  with  the  liberty  of  the  press. 

The  losses  of  Oquawka  were  estimated  at  about  17,000  bushels  of 
corn,  several  hundred  bushels  "of  oats,  considerable  salt,  sugar  and 
merchandise,  together  with  loss  from  total  suspension  of  business  for  a 
long  period.  The  highest  point  reached  by  the  Mississippi  river  since 
was  in  the  tall  of  1881  and  spring  of  1882,  flooding  the  flats.  The 
town  did  not  suffer,  partly  from  the  fact  that  the  lower  portion  of  it  has 
filled  to  such  an  extent  that  the  sidewalk  in  front  of  the  door  of  the 
Phelps  brick  store  building,  once  so  high  that  the  wheel  hub  of  wagons- 
would  touch  it,  is  now  on  a  level  with  the  ground.  The  high  water 
mark  is  chiseled  on  the  stone  door  casing  of  the  Phelps  bi'ick  store. 

OQUAWKA  HISTORICAL  AND  GEOLOGICAL  SOCIETY. 

Oquawka  had  long  felt  the  need  of  some  literary  institution  higher 
than  the  school,  where  men  of  study  and  thought  might  meet  and  dis- 
cuss science  and  study  literature.  Accordingly  an  informal  meeting 
was  held  at  the  office  of  J.  Simpson  January  2,  1860,  for  the  purj^ose 
of  taking  steps  toward  the  organization  of  a  society  having  for  its 
object  the  collection  of  a  cabinet  of  geological  specimens  and  curiosi- 
ties, the  purchase  of  a  library  of  books  embracing  standard  instruct- 
ive literature,  and  the  securement  of  lecturers  of  talent.  J.  Simpson 
was  appointed  chairman  of  a  committee  to  draft  a  constitution, 
etc.  January  9,  1860,  at  a  meeting,  R.  W.  Richey,  Esq.,  pre- 
siding, the  report  of  the  committee  was  received  and  a  constitution 


948  HISTORY   OF    IMEROER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

adopted  cliristening  tlie  society  "The  Henderson  County  Historical 
and  Geological  Society,"  setting  forth  the  objects  of  the  society  as 
above  indicated,  and  providing  the  offices  of  president,  vice-president, 
recording  secretary,  corresponding  secretary,  treasurer,  librarian,  and 
three  regents.  The  following  persons  signed  the  constitution :  Dr. 
Ce])has  Park,  J.  A.  Caswell,  W.  M.  Graham,  E.  -H.  N.  Patterson, 
Luke  Strong,  Jr.,  James  Cunningham,  Sylvester  Meguire,  Samuel 
Wadleigh,  Kobert  Moir,  H,  Hanson,  R.  W.  Eichey,  John  Edwards, 
Hugh  L.  Thomson,  James  Peterson,  Jonathan  Simpson.  Others  be- 
came members  and  the  promise  was  good.  Soon,  however,  war  rent 
the  nation  and  absorbed  the  attention  of  the  public  mind.  All  institu- 
tions trembled  and  all  felt  the  shock.  The  association  felt  this  more 
because  of  its  infancy.  The  doors  were  closed  .for  years.  In  1864 
and  1865  some  meetings  were  held,  but  the  war  virtually  proved  the 
death  of  the  society. 

The  ladies  of  Oquawka,  desirous  of  entertainment  and  improve- 
ment, organized  a  reading  club,  meeting  in  different  parlors  for  the 
enjoyment  of  literary  study.  This  was  effected  in  1873.  The  officers 
of  the  body  were  :  Mrs.  H.  N.  Chapin,  president  ;  Mrs.  J.  A. 
Pence,  secretary;  Mrs.  Mary  Barton,  treasurer.  Other  members 
were  Mrs.  J.  A.  Caswell,  Mrs.  Willidm  Stockton,  Misses  Cora  and 
Ada  Caswell,  and  Miss  Cora  Simpson.  A  room  was  soon  procured 
and  furnished.  The  use  of  the  books  belonging  to  the  Historical  and 
Geological  Society  was  procured.  Interest  increased  in  this  direction. 
Entertainments  and  sociables  were  had.  As  funds  allowed,  books 
were  purchased. 

In  1881  it  was  decided  to  consolidate  the  Library  Association  and 
the  Historical  and  Geological  Society,  which  was  done  July  9,  1881. 
The  officers  elected  were  :  Mrs.  J.  A.  Pence,  president  ;  Mrs.  J.  A. 
Caswell,  vice-president ;  Mrs.  W.  N.  Boden,  secretary  ;  Mrs.  Mary 
Barton,  treasurer,  and  Miss  Mary  Caswell,  librarian.  Three  directors 
were  also  provided. 

The  Oquawka  Library  Association,  as  consolidated,  now  has  a 
pleasant  room  and  about  532  volumns  of  the  best  literature.  There 
are  about  forty  members  of  the  society  proper  and  quite  a  number  of 
reading  members.  About  1,000  books  are  read  each  year.  One  dol- 
lar initiation  to  the  society  and  fifty  cents  yearl}^  dues.  Those  who 
read  the  books  are  charged  $1.50  per  year  for  their  use.  Thus  a  good 
library  is  at  hand  for  a  small  amount  of  money.  The  growth  of  such 
an  institution  ought  to  be  permanent  and  substantial. 


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OQUAWKA   TOWNSHIP.  951 

ODD-FELLOWS. 

The  princii)les  of  brotherly  love,  relief  and  truth  are  as  eternal  as 
the  Supreme  Master  himself  Out  of  their  depths  have  sprung  the 
societies  having  for  their  object  the  love  and  care  of  the  great  human 
family.  No  nobler  theme  can  occupy  us,  no  nobler  object  prompt  us 
to  our  duties  as  a  common  brotherhood. 

It  was  for  this  purpose  that  Odd-Fellowship  was  instituted.  Born 
under  an  American  sky,  nourished  by  American  succor,  the  Inde- 
pendent Order  of  Odd-Fellows  has  grown  to  such  proportions  that 
wherever  a  few  are  gathered  together  the  order  is  represented.  Its 
birth-place  was  Baltimore,  its  birthday  April  26,  1819.  Its  founders 
were  Thomas  Wildey,  John  Welsh,  John  Duncan,  John  Cheatham, 
and  Richard  Rush  worth.  They  declared  their  object  to  be  "the  aid 
and  protection  of  brothers  in  sickness  and  on  travel,  and  for  the  pur- 
pose of  benevolence  and  charity,"'"'  and  the  motto  they  adopted  was: 
"We  command  you  to  visit  the  sick,  relieve  the  distressed,  bury  the 
dead,  and  educate  the  orphans." 

The  only  creed  it  requires  of  its  candidates  is  a  belief  in  the  one 
living  and  true  God.  All  men  of  good  moral  character,  of  whatever 
party,  sect  or  creed,  are  alike  open  to  its  responsibility  and  entitled  to 
its  benefits.  All  brothers,  whatever  their  rank,  social,  political  or 
financial,  in  the  world  at  large,  meet  each  other  as  equals,  feel  safe  in 
each  other's  care,  free  to  ask  aid  and  ready  to  grant  it,  sympathize, 
console  and  enjoy  all  without  fear  of  exposure  and  ridicule. 

Such  motives  and  objects  prompted  the  few  who  instituted  and  the 
many  who  have  perpetuated  Tranquil  Lodge,  No.  193,  Oquawka, 
Illinois.  This  lodge  was  instituted  under  a  dispensation  from  the 
grand  lodge  December  19,  1855,  Warren  Lodge,  No.  160,  assisting. 
The  charter  members,  who  were  elected  to  the  principal  offices,  were : 
W.  B.  Linell,  Noble  Grand ;  Z.  D-.  Fanning,  Vice-Grand ;  G.  S.  Hig- 
gins.  Right  Supporter;  N.  A.  Chapin,  Permanent  Secretary;  and 
B.  F.  Ramage,  Treasurer ;  and  — .  Libbey.  This  meeting  occurred  in 
the  day  time  in  the  masonic  hall  of  that  day.  Another  session  was 
held  in  the  evening,  when  the  following  parties  were  initiated :  F.  A, 
Dallam,  P.  S.  Linell,  F.  Garternicht,  J.  McFarland,  O.  S.  Bearce, 
W.  W.  Collins,  Dr.  J.  R.  Snelling,  N.  A.  Cliapin.  After  an  hour's 
interim  the  session  was  resumed,  when  O.  S.  Bearce  was  appointed 
Warden;  F.  Garternicht,  Outside  Guard;  J.  McFarland,  Inside  Guard  ; 
— .  Libbey,  Right  Supporter  to  the  Noble  Grand  ;  W.  W.  Collins,  Left 
Supporter  to  the  Noble  Grand ;  P.  S.  Linell,  Right  Scene  Supporter ; 
Dr.  J.  R.  Snelling,  Left  Scene  Supporter.  The  lodge  set  apart  Friday 
54 


952  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

evenings  for  its  sessions  It  expended  immediately  for  incidentals 
and  regalia  $282.31. 

The  lodge  enjoyed  a  prosperous   career.      To  January  1,    1860, 
seventy-two  had  united  with  the  order,  including  the  charter  members. 
Where  are  the  seventy-two  now?     But  seven  of  them  are  now  con- 
nected with  Tranquil  Lodge,  joining  in  the  order  in  which  they  occur 
in  this  series:    F.  Garternicht,  J.  McFarland,  E.  I.  Jempson,  M.  A, 
Frasell,  James  Cunningham,  Samuel  Mickey,  and  Capt.  J.  R.  White. 

When  Sumter's  cannonry  called  for  brave  men  to  crush  rebellion. 
Tranquil  Lodge  became  participant  in  the  Union's  battles,  in  her 
blood,  and  in  her  victory.  George  Boyer  died  December  25,  1863, 
from  a  wound  received  from  a  shot  from  the  shore  while  he  was  pass- 
ing down  the  Mississippi  river  on  business.  James  M.  Phelps  was 
killed  at  the  battle  of  Fort  Donelson ;  George  W.  Collins  was  killed 
at  Chickamauga;  Fred  Kaiser  died  in  1864;  Rev.  David  Pershen  died 
18 — ;  Charles  M.  Ammerman  died  November  3,  1871 ;  and  J.  M.  Best 
died  in  ISTtt.  George  D.  Carpenter  wa^  killed  in  Kansas  by  a  runa- 
way team  in  1879.  Some  others  have  died,  but  not  while  in  this 
lodge.  Many  have  united  with  other  lodges,  and  are  doing  their 
good  work. 

After  the  war  Tranquil  Lodge  rallied  from  her  struggles.  Till  the 
spring  of  1867  the  room  had  been  occupied  by  both  Odd-Fellows  and 
Masons.  At  that  time  the  Masons  withdrew.  Nothing  was  left 
(rightly)  but  bare  walls  and  floor.  Tranquil  Lodge  immediately  re- 
paired the  hall  in  good  style  and  substantially,  expending  for  the  pur- 
pose $594.16.  The  hall  is  30x60  feet,  neatly  and  well  furnished. 
During  the  existence  of  the  lodge  167  have  been  members.  The 
present  number  in  good  standing  is  forty-three.  The  society  has 
cash  in  the  treasury  $900,  and  hall  fixtures  and  regalia  worth  about 
$500.  The  past  grand  oflicers  at  present  connected  with  this  society 
are:  F.  Garternicht,  Capt.  J.  R.  White,  E.  I.  Jempson,  J.  M.  Akin, 

B.  Alleman,  S.  Allen,  George  Bell,  James  Cunningham,  M.  A.  Fra- 
zell,  J.  H.  Frazell,  J.  Kessel,  S.  Mickey,  C.  Stripe,  W.  F.  C.  Schell, 
U.  Stephenson,  A.  A.  Goempler,  W.  Odendahl,  J.  W.  Pence,  H.  N. 
Patterson,  R.  Cooper. 

The   oflicers   of  the  present  (May,  1882),  are:  S.   Collins,   N.G.'^ 

C.  Stripe,  Y.G.;  J.  M.  Akin,  Sec.;'  C.  F.  W.  Schell,  Treas.;  E.  L 
Jempson,  W. ;  J.  W.  Brock,  Con.;  A.  A.  Goempler,  I.G. ;  T.  C. 
Allen,  O.G.;  J.  R.  White,  R.S.N. G.;  C.  Radmacher,  L.S.KG.; 
James  Cunningham,  R.S.V.G.;  W.  P.  Herbertz,  L.S.Y.G.;  Martin 
Walters,  R.S.S. ;  James  Thomas,  L.S.S. 

The  old  war-horses  of  twenty  years  ago  are  still  faithful  to  the  ship. 


OQUAWKA    TOWNSHIP.  953 

The  Rebecca  members  of  this  lodge  have  numbered  about  forty-three, 
of  whom  but  sixteen  remain.  It  is  needless  to  speak  of  the  charities 
bestowed  on  deserving  brothers  and  their  families,  and  of  the  special 
cares  sustained  by  mutual  labor. 

MASONIC. 

OqiiavJi-a  Lodge,  No.  123,  A.F.A.M. — The  society  of  Masons  is 
probably  the  most  ancient  social  institution  in  the  world,  though  the 
old  myth  that  masonry  was  coeval  with  creation,  or  that  its  birth  was 
as  far  back  as  the  age  of  Xoah,  has  long  since  been  exploded,  and 
^11  such  superstition  is  repudiated  by  intelligent  Masons.  No  order  is 
so  universally  represented  in  the  world  as  that  in  consideration. 
Oquawka  Lodge  was  organized  in  the  old  brick  school-house,  in  1851, 
in  August,  in  pursuance  of  a  dispensation  from  the  Grand  Lodge, 
C.  G.  T.  Taylor,  M.W.G.M.,  present;  John  Curts,  W.M.;  James 
Scott,  S.W.;  II.  Stewart,  i.W.  The  first  meeting  under  the  dispensa- 
tion was  held  October  7,  1851.  Besides  the  above-named  persons, 
W.  K.  Talbot,  J.  R.  Davis,  A.  D.  Frazell,  Gen.  Hiram  Rose,  and 
E.  H.  N.  Patterson  were  elected  members  under  dispensation.  The 
worshipful  master  appointed  Hiram  Rose,  S.D. ;  AV.  K.  Talbot,  J.D. ; 
A.  D.  Frazell,  Treas. ;  E.  H.  N.  Patterson,  Sec;  and  J.  R.  Davis, 
Tyler,  October  7,  1851,  John  S.  Peaseley  and  E.  P.  Mason  became 
identified  with  the  lodge.  Xovember  4  following,  a  constitution  and 
by-laws  were  adopted.  John  S.  Pollock,  I.  N.  Smith,  C.  C.  French, 
and  James  N.  Smith  became  very  early  members ;  also  J.  Simpson, 
R.  W,  Crane,  and  Israel  L.  Stocton.  The  lodge  continued  to  hold 
session  in  the  school-house  till  some  time  in  1853,  when  they  rented  the 
hall  now  used  by  the  Odd-Fellows,  both  lodges  meeting  in  the  same 
hall  till  1867.  In  1867  the  Masons  rented  their  present  hall.  It  is 
neatly  furnished.  The  lodge  has  an  active  membership  of  thirty-eight. 
A  few  times  the  lodge  has  performed  the  sad  duty  of  burying  the  dead. 
War  deprived  the  lodge  of  some  noble  lives.  The  lodge  has  been 
honored  in  the  state  senate  by  Gen.  Hiram  Rose ;  in  the  legislature  by 
J.  Simpson  and  James  Peterson ;  on  the  bench  by  J.  H.  Stewart.  The 
worshipful  masters  of  the  lodge  have  been  John  Curts,  A.  D.  Frazell, 
J.  H.  Stewart,  John  M.  Wilson,  J.  Simpson,  R.  C.  Cabeen,  J.  A. 
Caswell,  James  Scott,  John  E.  Bosler,  H.  J^.  Patterson.  The  present 
worshipful  master  is  James  Peterson,  who  has  filled  that  position  ten 
non-consecutive  terms.  Other  present  officers  are:  M.  H.  Mills,  S.W. ; 
J.  R.  Wliite,  J.W. ;  James  Cunningham,  Treas.;  J.  W.  Tolman,  Sec; 
A.  M.  Smith,  S.D.;  John  Kessel,  J.D.;  H,  F.  Patau,  Tyler. 


054  HISTORY    OF   MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

CHURCHES. 

COXTKIBUTED    75V    REV.    HEZEKI.MI    IIANSOX. 

The  First  Presbyterian  cliurcli  of  ( )qiiawka,  (old  scliool),  was  organ- 
ized June  13,  1840,  by  a  committee  of  the  Schuyler  Presbytery,  con- 
sisting of  Revs.  Samuel  Wilson  and  George  Stebbins.  The  record  of 
the  organization  is  as  follows  :  According  to  an  order  of  the  Presbytery 
of  Schuyler  at  their  sessions  held  in  Monmouth,  in  April,  1840,  a  com- 
mittee appointed  to  organize  a  church  at  ( )quawka,  consisting  of  Revs. 
Sanniel  Wilson  and  George  Stebbins,  proceeded  to  the  duty  assigned 
them  on  June  13,  1840.  James  Jameison,  and  Mary,  his  wife,  Mrs. 
Ann  McKinney,  (widow),  Esther  W.  Stebbins,  Thankful  Day,  Saral^ 
Jameison,  wife  of  Josei)li  Jameison,  Daniel  Linn,  and  Daniel  Richey, 
having  presented  certificates  of  good  and  regular  standing  in  other 
churches,  and  having  expressed  a  desire  to  be  constituted  as  a  church 
of  Jesus  Christ,  were  accordingly  organized  as  a  church  in  connection 
with  the  Presbytery  of.  Schuyler.  James  Jameison,  formerly  a  ruling 
elder  in  the  Fall  creek  Presbyterian  church,  in  Warren  county,  Illinois, 
was  elected  and  installed  the  first  elder  of  this  church  on  the  day  of 
its  organization.  On  the  same  day,  Orinda  Fames,  Hannah  Lancaster, 
Elvira  A.  Francis,  and  Charles  A.  Furin,  were  received  into  the 
church.  Of  those  who  were  organized  as  a  church,  all  are  dead  ex- 
cepting Mrs.  Abner  Short  (then  Sarah  Jameison),  who  now  resides  in 
Biggsville,  in  this  county,  and  is  at  present  a  member  of  the  Cumber- 
land Presbyterian  church  of  that  place.  On  November  7,  of  the  same 
year,  Mrs.  Mary  Cousland  was  received  into  the  church.  On  July  17, 
1841,  two  persons  were  received  :  David  B.  Rice,  from  the  church  of 
Macomb,  Illinois,  on  certificate,,  and  Miss  Isabella  H,.  Phelps,  of 
Oquawka,  on  profession  of  her  faith,  December  4,  1841.  In  1843 
seven  were  received  :  six  by  certificate,  and  one.  Miss  Caroline  Woods, 
February,  1843,  on  profession  of  her  faith.  On  March  11,  1843,  David 
B.  Rice  and  Marvin  Tyron  were  elected  elders.  Mr.  Tyron  declined 
to  accept,  and  D.  B.  Rice  accepting,  was  then  set  apart  as  a  ruling 
elder,  and  installed  as  an  elder  of  this  church.  The  tirst  dismission 
from  tliis  church  to  another  church  was  on  July  16,  1843,  given  to 
Mrs.  Mary  Cousland  to  the  Fall  creek  church,  belonging  to  the  Salem 
Association  of  United  Baptists. 

May  25,  1844,  Marvin  Tyron  was  again  elected  as  an  elder,  and- 
then  accepting  was  set  apart  to  that  office  and  installed  as  such.     Rev. 
George  Stebbins  was  the  first  stated  supply  of  this  church,  beginning 
with  the  organization.     The  last  record  of  his  presence  with  this  church 
is  that  of  July  16,  1843.     The  sessional  records  show  that  on  May  25, 


OQUAWKA    TOWNSHIP.  955 

1844,  Rev.  Samuel  Wilson  was  present  as  moderator.  In  1844  there 
were  four  persons  received  into  the  church.  The  iirst  record  of  any 
deaths  in  the  church  is  as  follows:  '^Departed  this  life,  at  Jack's  Mills, 
July  24,  1844,  Miss  Caroline  M.  Woods,  aged  about  twenty  years. 
She  was  esteemed  and  beloved  bv  all  who  knew  her,  and  loved  as  a 
christian  while  alive,  and  lamented  in  death.  Mrs.  Arabella  Smiley, 
died  March  20,  1845.  Mrs.  Isabella  H.  Rice  (daughter  of  S.  S.  Phelps), 
April  5,  1845.  These  were  all  three  regular  teachers  in  the  Sunday 
school,  and  the  only  members  of  our  church  that  were  teachers.  They 
were  likewise  regular  attendants  upon  the  different  ordinances  of  God's 
house.  Thus  in  a  small  church  like  ours,  we  deeply  feel  their  loss." 
The  Rev.  W.  K.  Stewart,  of  Macomb,  supplied  this  church  at  times. 
Tlie  Iirst  record  of  his  presence  is  March  22,  1845.  October  1,  1845, 
W.  Perkins  (then  a  licentiate),  was  engaged  as  a  stated  supply  for  two- 
thirds  of  his  time,  the  other  part  was  given  to  the  Congregational 
church  at  La  Harpe,  in  Hancock  county,  Illinois.  Mr.  Perkins  was 
ordained  to  the  gospel  ministry  in  October,  1846,  and  remained  as  the 
supply  of  this  church  until  May,  1847.  In  1845  eight  persons  were 
received  into  the  church  by  certificate.  May  3,  1846,  Samuel  Gordon 
was  elected,  ordained  and  installed  as  a  ruling  elder.  For  several 
years  the  supplies  of  this  church  held  monthly  services  at  White  Oak 
Springs.  The  Rev.  Samuel  Wilson  supplied  frequently,  and  in  1847 
he  preached  the  last  two  sermons  of  his  life.  He  was  taken  ill  while 
supplying  this  church,  and  on  returning  to  his  home  in  Monmouth 
died.  Rev.  Mr.  Ferguson,  of  Macomb,  supplied  this  church  at  inter- 
vals from  May  27,  1847,  to  June  24,  1849.  May  31,  1849,  Robert  M. 
Patterson  and  Dr.  J.  A.  Maury  were  elected,  ordained  and  installed 
as  ruling  elders  in  this  church.  During  the  year  1847,  the  session  of 
the  church  discussed  the  propriety  of  receiving  Mr.  D.  E.  Roberts  as  a 
member  of  this  church  on  account  of  his  being  engaged  in  the  distill- 
ing business,  and  after  referring  the  case  to  Presbytery,  who  refused 
to  advise,  they  permitted  him  to  withdraw  his  letter.  In  1849  he  was, 
however,  received  on  his  letter,  but  no  record  is  made  of  how  the 
matter  was  settled. 

The  next  minister  who  statedly  supplied  this  church  was  the  Rev. 
W.  K.  Talbot,  who  began  his  service  April  7,  1850,  and  finished  his 
labors  March  1,  1854.  On  November  14,  1851,  Mark  Graham,  Thos. 
W.  Kinsloe,  Jno.  Welch,  R.  Mathews,  and  Thomas  Lowther,  were 
elected  as  ruling  elders.  During  the  latter  part  of  the  ministry  of 
Rev.  W.  K.  Talbot  difficulties  arose  which  greatly  weakened  the 
church,  and  was  the  occasion  of  several  troublesome  cases  of  discipline. 
The  Rev.  Obediah  J.  King  was  the  next  stated  supply.     He  began  his 


956  HISTORY   OF   MEECEK   A2fD    HENDERSOJST    COUNTIES. 

labors  September  30,  1854,  and  continued  them  up  to  August  1856. 
On  October  5,  1856,  the  Rev.  Hezekiah  Hanson,  a  member  then  of 
Carlisle  Presbvterv  of  Pennsylvania,  preached  liis  first  sermon  in  this 
church,  and  was  at  once  engaged  to  supply  for  three  months.  During 
this  time  the  congregation  issued  a  call  for  him  as  pastor  of  the  church, 
which  was  presented  to  him  through  the  Prebvterj  of  Schuvler,  at  a 
meeting  held  in  Oquawka  on  Mav  5,  1857,  at  which  time  he  was 
installed  as  the  first  pastor,  and  has  continued  to  be  the  pastor  ever 
since.  On  May  T,  1882,  he  preached  his  twenty-fifth  anniversary 
sermon  of  his  installation,  and  at  that  date  was  the  second  oldest 
installed  pastor  in  the  Presbyterian  church  in  Illinois. 

The  Sunday  school  in  connection  with  this  church,  was  organized 
as  it  now  is  in  1811,  through  the  special  efi:brts  of  Rev.  W.  Perkins. 
Mrs.  Salome  Phelps  and  Mrs.  Osborne  secured  the  first  contribution 
for  purchasing  books  for  the  school,  amounting  to  8:25,  and  for  years 
Mrs.  Phelps  continued  to  see  that  the  school  was  supplied  with  the 
necessary  books.  Previous  to  the  erection  of  the  church  building  the 
Sunday  school  was  held  in  the  old  school-house,  as  was  all  the  religious 
services  of  the  place,  now  standing  near  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  and  used  as  a  wagonmaker's  shop.  On  June  3,  1842,AVilliam 
Phel^is  and  wife,  and  Myron  Phelps  and  wife  deeded  the  lot  on  which 
the  church  building  stands,  to  the  church.  The  first  trustees  were 
J.B.  Patterson,  Alexis  Phelps,  and  James  Jamison.  The  church  building 
was  erected  during  the  years  1812-3.  In  July  and  August,  1857,  the 
church  was  repaired,  the  gallery  in  the  church  was  taken  down,  the 
vestibule  removed,  the  very  high  pulpit  and  high  backed  pews  were 
lowered,  and  the  church  furnished  by  the  ladies  with  a  chandelier  and 
carpet.  The  organ  now  in  use  was  substituted  for  the  melodeon,  which 
had  been  in  use  for  some  years.  AYatt's  psalms  and  hymns  were  laid 
aside,  and  ''The  Hymnal"  was  introduced  in  their  stead  JS^ovember  3, 
1867.  In  May,  1869,  the  church  was  repainted  and  refurnished  by  the 
ladies,  with  carpet,  sofa,  and  communion  table.  In  June  and  July, 
1876,  the  church  was  again  repainted  and  other  repairs  made  at  a  cost 
of  over  $200.  In  March,  1876,  the  church  received  a  legacy  of  $500 
from  Mrs.  Jane  Don-,  of  Springfield,  Illinois,  who  had  been  at  one 
time  a  member  of  this  church.  On  Mav  13,  1876,  The  Presbyterian 
Hymnal  was  introduced  instead  of  The  Hymnal.  In  1878  the  church 
had  a  new  roof  put  on  at  a  cost  of  $85.  During  the  months  of 
September  and  October,  1881,  the  church  building  was  completely 
overhauled,  taking  out  the  windows  and  replacing  them  with  new 
gotliic  windows  and  blinds,  plastering  the  ceiling,  repapering  the 
church,  carpeting  the  entire  church,  and  furnishing  it  with  new  pulpit, 


OQUAWKA   TOWNSHIP.  957 

and  heater,  and  otlier  repairs  were  made ;  the  whole  cost  of  which  was 
$929.78.  The  whole  amount  was  paid  at  once,  not  leaving  a  dollar  to 
be  provided  for.  The  congregation  is  greatly  indebted  to  the  commit- 
tee appointed  bv  them,  consisting  of  H.  F.  McAllister  and  W.  B.  Rice, 
for  planning  and  superintending  the  work,  as  they  have  now  one  of  the 
neatest  and  most  comfortable  church  buildings  (though  small)  in  the 
county. 

The  church  has  never  been  strong  in  membership,  owing  to  the 
number  of  denominations  in  this  small  community,  and  the  Presby- 
terian element  being  for  a  long  time  divided  between  three  Presbyter- 
ian churches,  namely,  the  Associate  Reformed,  the  Cumberland  Pres- 
byterian, and  the  Presbyterian  Old  School.  But  it  has  always  had  the 
cordial  support  of  many  of  the  most  liberal  givers  in  the  community. 
The  present  officers  of  the  church  are  :  Rev.  Hezekiah  Planson,  pastor; 
members  of  session,  R.  W.  Richey,  Joseph  Chickering,  Eleazer  Pogue, 
Asa  Smith,  H.  F.  Pattan  ;  trustees,  R.  AV.  Richey,  Joseph  Chickering, 
W.  C.  Rise. 

The  record  of  this  church,  as  given  by  the  pastor  in  his  twenty- 
fifth  anniversary  sermon,  is  certainly  a  good  one.  In  it  he  says : 
"During  the  early  history  of  this  church,  and  that,  too,  in  the  time  of 
the  town's  highest  prospei'ity,  this  congregation  did  not  contribute  as 
much  for  the  work  of  the  church  as  it  has  done  during  the  past  ten  or 
fifteen  years,  and  to-day  it  stands  in  the  front  rank  of  the  churches  of 
Schuyler  Presbytery  for  its  contributions  to  the  general  and  special 
work  of  the  church,  its  average  per  member  being  equal  to  that  given 
by  any  of  the  churches.  And  it  has  never  resorted  to  any  of  the 
questionable  means  for  raising  nxoney  for  any  ])urpose.  It  is  a  great 
pleasure  to  be  able  to  say  that  during  a  period  of  over  twenty -five 
years  this  congregation  has  liberally  responded  to  every  appeal  in  the 
church,  oftentimes  giving  more  than  was  asked  for,  never  less.  Few 
churches  have  a  better  record  for  peace  ;  for  this  over  a  quarter  of  a 
century  we  have  had  but  four  cases  of  discipline,  and  during  the  ter- 
rible war  of  the  rebellion,  when  excitement  ran  high  everywhere, 
and  while  many  of  the  churches  were  distracted  and  toi-n  to  pieces, 
we  passed  safely  through  without  the  least  trouble." 

In  1856  there  were  both  "Cumberland''  and  "Associate  Re- 
fomied  "  Presbyterian  congregations  in  Oquawka,  worshiping  in  the 
halls.     No  church  has  been  erected  by  them. 

The  following  notes  in  honor  to  Hezekiah  Hanson,  so  long  the 
faithful  pastor  of  the  Presbyterian  church,  are  furnished  by  E.  Mathews : 
Hezekiah  Hanson  was  bom  in  Mercersburg,  Pennsylvania,  December 
20,  1824.     His  early  life  was  passed  in  Mercersburg.     He  was  atten- 


958  HISTOEY    OF   ]VIERCEK   AXD    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

tive  to  his  books,  graduating  from  Marshall  College  in  1845,  being 
then  but  about  twentv-one  years  of  age.  He  became  interested  in 
theology,  studying  with  Dr.  Thomas  Ci'eigh.  He  then  entered  West- 
ern Theological  Seminary,  at  Allegheny  City,  Pennsylyania.  October 
tt.  1848,  he  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Carlisle  Presbytery  and  or- 
dained August  22,  1849.  Mr.  Hanson  devoted  himself  to  the  pastor- 
ate in  his  native  state  till  1856,  when  he  became  pastor  of  the  Presby- 
terian church  of  Oquawka.  Of  his  labors  here  as  pastor  the  church 
history  speaks  louder  than  the  wi'iter  can  speak.  It  seldom  occurs  that 
a  minister  remains  in  chai'ge  of  one  flock  a  quarter  of  a  century. 
There  is  but  one  other  instance  in  the  state  of  Illinois.  Mr.  Hanson, 
during  his  ministry,  has  to  this  date.  May  23,  1882,  delivered  5,644 
sermons  and  lectures,  attended  346  fnnerals,  performed  the  marriage 
ceremony  256  times,  received  into  the  church  325  persons,  213  of 
whom  he  baptized.  His  labors  have  not  been  confined  to  the  church  ; 
he  has  taken  an  active  part  in  educational  affairs,  having  served  on  the 
school  board  in  an  important  era.  He  has  mastered  the  mysteries  of 
both  Odd-Fellows  and  Freemasons.  Mr.  Hanson  was  married  at  his 
native  place  April  17,  1849,  to  Miss  Xaney  T.  Dick,  who  died  Decem- 
ber 25th  following.  He  was  next  wedded  February  10,  1852,  to  Miss 
Elizabeth  B.  Eoney,  of  Duncannon,  Pennsylvania.  Three  children 
are  dead.     Three  are  living  :  Mary,  Frank  and  Elizabeth. 

Flr^t  Bajytist  Ckurch. — The  pioneer  preacher  of  this  faith  was 
Father  Hovey.  He  was  a  native  of  West  Virginia.  Here  he  labored 
and  here  he  died,  and  was  buried  six  miles  southeast  of  Oquawka. 
He  was  venerable  and  honored.  Meetings  of  the  Baptist  church  were 
held  at  different  places.  When  Dr.  S.  H.  Puple  came  to  Oquawka  in 
1 859,  he  found  them  holding  meetings  in  the  court-house.  Up  to  that 
date  fifty-seven  members  had  been  connected  with  the  Baptist  church. 
Elder  S.  F.  Ives  was  the  court-house  pastor.  In  1862  Allen's  hall 
was  secured,  and  in  1863  McKinney's  hall  was  used,  and  continued  to 
be  the  place  of  worship  till  1870,  when  the  present  large  edifice  was 
constructed  at  a  cost  of  §5,550.  The  building  is  well  furnished,  has 
stained  glass  windows,  the  largest  bell  in  the  town,  and  is  supplied  with 
an  organ.  The  leading  subscribers  to  its  erection  were  J.  E.  Bosler, 
Mrs.  Robert  Moir,  Benjamin  Harrington,  Frisbie  Sloan,  John  Nicol, 
Robert  Moir,  James  Musgove,  Lewis  Duke,  James  Duke,  Lewis  Duke, 
Jr.,  J.  H.  Zeigler,  James  A.  Caswell,  Hiram  Rose,  R.  T.  Pence,  Drs. 
S.  H.  Ruple,  C.  Park,  and  Milligan.  Services  have  been  held  up  to 
March  1880.  Some  members  having  died  and  many  having  moved  away, 
the  church  is  weak,  yet  will  not  be  long  without  services.  The  minis- 
ters who  have  been  in  charge  since  Elder  Ives,  are  Rev.   Xorman 


OQUAWKA   TOWNSHIP.  959 

Parks,  called  November  29,  1862 ;  Father  John  Warren,  called  July 
1866  ;  Eev.  E.  N.  Elton,  April  30,  1869  ;  Elder  Walter  L.  Wood,  called 
in  the  spring  of  1877;  and  E.  G.  Cheverton,  who  was  o)'dained  here 
June  3,  1879.  His  labors  were  closed  in  1880.  March  30,  1880,  Mrs. 
Moir  reported  the  church  entirely  free  from  debt.  Since  its  organiza- 
tion 163  have  been  members.  The  present  membership  is  twenty- 
eight.  The  officers  are  Frisbie  Sloan,  deacon  ;  Dr.  S.  H.  Ruple,  clerk. 
Trustees,  Dr.  S.  PL  Ruple,  Frisbie  Sloan,  and  Isaac  Thomas.  The 
Sabbath  school  was  organized  in  the  court-house  in  1859,  through  the 
instrumentality  of  Dr.  S.  II.  Ruple.  General  Hiram  Rose  was  the 
first  superintendent,  J.  E.  Rosier,  librarian,  and  O.  S.  Bearce,  secre- 
tary. A  good  library  and  plenty  of  papers  were  furnished.  No  school 
has  been  lately  sustained. 

Metliodlst  Church. — After  some  years  of  worship  at  private  dwell- 
ings, and  in  the  school-house  in  the  town,  the  Methodist  society  of 
Oquawka  numbered  about  fifty  members  in  1856.  Services  were  at 
that  period,  and  had  been  for  some  time,  held  at  the  court-house. 
Revs.  Frank  Chafey,  Urial  Giddings,  Wm.  llaney,  and  John  P.  Brooks 
labored  with  the  church  during  those  years  of  inconvenience.  In  1856 
efforts,  which  were  successful,  were  made  to  build.  A  large  brick  edifice 
44x64  was  erected  at  an  expense  of  $4,462.54.  The  church  was 
dedicated  September  21,  1856,  by  Bishop  James,  in  an  eloquent  dis- 
course. There  had  been  subscribed  $2,242.54.  During  the  service  of 
dedication  $1,478.18  was  contributed,  leaving  $741.82  as  an  indebted- 
ness. Rev.  J.  S.  Cummings  became  pastor,  and  the  church  prospered. 
At  one  time  the  society  numbered  about  180.  The  church  subse- 
quently suffered  damage  by  storm  to  the  amount  of  $60.  Again  in 
1872  by  a  terrific  storm  the  church  was  almost  demolished,  having  the 
rear  blown  in,  crushing  the  pulpit  and  despoiling  the  furniture  gener- 
ally. The  cost  of  these  repairs  amounted  to  about  $1,200.  The 
church  was  rededicated  by  Rev.  Stephen  Brink,  the  pastor.  The 
church  is  now  out  of  debt.  Its  class  leaders  have  been  D.  S.  Brainard, 
James  Ryason,  W.  S.  Sterling,  Henry  Camp,  Edward  Morgan,  and 
others.  The  trustees  at  the  building  of  the  church  were  James  Rya- 
son, Lambert  Hopper,  John  Reed  and  D.  S.  Brainard.  The  present 
trustees  are  Luke  Wadleigh,  J.  O.  Anderson,  James  Thomas,  and  W. 
S.  Sterling.     The  pastor  in  charge  is  Rev.  David  McLeish. 

SCHOOLS. 

Wlierever  a  few  pioneers  settled  together,  mind  as  well  as  wealth 
received  early  attention.  There  were  not  very  many  school  children  in 
Oquawka  when  the  first  school  was  kept  by  Rhoda  Greeno,  about  1838. 


960  HISTORY    OF   IMERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

She  tauglit  for  a  number  of  years  at  different  periods.  She  came  from 
Ashtabula  county,  Ohio.  The  school-house,  not  very  pretentious, 
stooi  on  the  southwest  corner  of  block  43.  The  first  winter  school- 
master was  Thomas  McElrea,  who  had  previously  taught  in  the  coun- 
try. In  ISJrO  Rev.  George  Stebbins,  a  Presbyterian  minister,  became 
a  laborer  both  in  the  church  and  school,  the  one  branch  of  the  educa- 
tional business  being  at  that  time  insufiicient  for  a  livelihood.  He 
taught  the  \'illage  school.  He  also  conducted  a  private  advanced  class 
in  Latin  at  his  home.  The  members  of  the  class  were  E.  H.  X.  Pat- 
terson, Xealy  A.  Chapin.  William  H.  Phelps,  and  D.  S.  Brainard. 
They  were  preparing  for  college,  but  only  one,  E.  H.  N.  Patterson, 
finished  the  contemplated  course,  graduating  at  Jubilee  College.  Will- 
iam H.  Phelps  attended  college  a  short  time,  became  a  merchant,  and 
later  a  farmer.  Xealy  A.  Chapin  became  a  successful  merchant  of 
Kirkwood.  D.  S.  Brainard  became  a  merchant  but  met  with  reverses 
in  foitime.  Rev.  Stebbins  was  a  scholar  of  considerable  attainments. 
Another  early  teacher  was  Thomas  Hutchison.  Schools  continued  in 
the  old  school-house  in  the  north  of  town.  The  court-house  became  a 
school-house,  especially  for  summer  normals,  etc.  In  1848  Jonathan 
Simpson  made  his  home  in  Oquawka.  In  that  year  appeared  in  the 
"  Spectator"  the  following:  The  undersigned  intends  to  open  a  school 
at  the  court-house  in  Oquawka,  on  Monday,  December  IS,  for  the  in- 
struction of  youth  in  all  branches  of  English  education  usually  taught 
in  our  common  schools.  Terms,  $2.50  per  term  of  twelve  weeks. — 
J.  Sempson. 

The  school  proved  a  success,  lasting  about  two  years,  with  an 
attendance  of  about  100  pupils.  Miss  Bigelow  (now  the  widow  of  the 
late  Capt.  O.  Eames,  and  now  of  Minneapolis),  was  assistant  teacher. 
A  new  school-building  became  imperative.  Accordingly,  about  1848, 
a  tax  of  $1,200  was  levied  for  school-building  purposes.  Prior  to  this 
it  was  also  intended  to  build  a  school-house  in  the  north  part  of  the 
town,  and  about  $400  collected  for  that  purpose.  The  $1,200  proving 
too  little  for  the  former  enteqirise,  the  $400  was  added  to  the  $1,200, 
and  in  1850  the  new  brick  school  edifice  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  about 
$1,800.  Luke  Strong,  John  Gillis,  and  others  whose  names  do  not 
appear,  were  early  instructors  in  this  building.  About  1857  it  became 
necessary  to  secure  additional  room.  The  basement  of  the  Methodist 
church  was  rented  for  two  or  three  years  for  school  purposes.  For 
several  years  subsequent,  Moir's  hall  was  fitted  into  a  school-room. 
About  1858  some  people  and  directors  called  for  an  additional  school- 
building  in  the  north  part  of  town.  After  a  defeat  at  the  polls  a  second 
trial  allowed  what  is  known  as  the  Oak  Grove  edifice  to  be  erected. 


OQUAWKA    TOWNSHIP.  961 

Asa  Smith  performed  the  labor  and  furnished  the  material  for  $824. 
This  was  utilized  till  about  1878. 

An  effort  was  at  one  time  made  to  establish  a  seminar}-,  by  George 
and  Charles  E.  Birdsall.  A  building  was  erected,  but  soon  sold  for  a 
German  Lutheran  church.  In  1873,  at  an  expense  of  about  $3,000, 
an  addition  was  built  to  the  brick  school-building.  The  education  of 
the  town  is  now  confined  to  the  enlarged  building.  In  1880  the  rooms 
were  refurnished  at  an  expense  of  $625.  Since  1860  the  principals  of 
the  schools  have  been:  George  Birdsall,  C.  C.  Button,  J.  A.  Summers, 
John  E.  Chapin,  Cyrus  Chapin,  S.  II.  Peterman,  E.  G.  Stiles,  J.  M. 
Akin,  George  L.  Guy,  elohn  S.  Muir,  J.  E.  Logue,  E.  G.  Glenn,  and 
John  Brock. 

HEALTH. 

Perhaps  no  place  along  the  Mississippi  river  has  enjoyed  exemption 
from  disease  to  a  greater  degree  during  fifty  years  than  has  Oquawka, 
situated  as  it  is  on  the  sand,  where  no  water  lingers  to  become  stag- 
nant and  foul,  and  the  Mississippi  river  hurrying  its  waters  by,  carry- 
ing whatever  obnoxious  debris  may  settle  into  its  vicinity. 

In  1819,  when  the  cholera  attacked  various  places  with  so  much 
virulence  and  fatality,  Oquawka  suffered  some,  losing  three  persons 
one  week  and  two  the  next  week.  This  was  nearly  the  limit  of  the 
death  list,  although  quite  a  number  were  sick.  In  1851  and  1852 
cholera  claimed  some  ten  or  twelve  victims,  but  the  number  is  far 
below  the  results  of  its  deadly  work  in  other  places.  Since  that  time 
cholera  has  left  Oquawka  unmolested. 

But  in  1854  and  1855  small-pox  made  its  appearance.  For  some 
time  the  doctors  differed  in  their  diagnoses,  the  usual  similarity  be- 
tween it  and  other  eruptive  diseases  bathing  the  medical  skill  of  some. 
However,  it  was  soon  verified  and  announced  by  the  doctors  in  con- 
vention. The  board  of  town  trustees  in  February,  1855,  appointed 
Drs.  C.  Park,  J.  A.  Maury,  H.  Burkleo,  J.  K.  Snelling,  George  C. 
Pearce,  a  sanitary  committee,  with  authority  to  impose  such  restric- 
tions, where  disease  existed  and  upon  persons  having  been  exposed, 
as  they  deemed  pi'oper.  The  board  proceeded  to  vaccinate  all  within 
the  corpoi'ation  limits.  Each  committeeman  received  $10  for  his  labor. 
In  1871  the  small-pox  rumors  again  took  wing,  but  proved  only  a  case 
of  varioloid.  It  is  said  that  the  fish  diet  so  largely  indulged  in  is 
highly  favorable  to  health.  Life  of  fifty  years  here  confirms  the  gen- 
eral health  statements. 


962  HISTORY   OF   ]VIERCEK   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

LAWYERS. 

Harrv  Jenings  was  the  first  attorney  that  settled  in  the  county- 
after  its  organization.  He  was  a  native  of  Kentucky.  He  died  in 
Oquawka  in  184-5.  James  C.  Hutchinson  practiced  some  at  an  early 
day.  Then  AVilliam  C.  Rice,  Charles  M.  Harris,  — .  Flemming,  and 
James  H.  Stewart  appear  upon  the  docket  as  residents  of  the  county. 
M.  Brocklebank,  John  W.  Jones  and  John  Mitchell  come  next  in  order 
of  date ;  R.  Swift,  who  practiced  a  yeai'  or  two  before  his  death,  also 
resided  here.  James  T.  Sanders,  Jonathan  Simpson,  Marion  William- 
son, Williard  B.  Sjjaulding,  Marion  F.  Button,  James  D.  Wolf,  C.  C. 
Secrist,  J.  H.  Jenings,  J.  F.  Dufl',  Rauselden  Cooper,  Simeon  Darnell, 
David  R.  Waters,  Daniel  M.  Hammack,  complete  the  list  of  attorneys 
who  have  resided  and  practiced  in  this  county.  Of  this  number  Harry 
Jenings,  Swift,  Mitchell,  Spaulding,  Hutchinson,  Flemming,  Button, 
and  Williamson  are  dead,  and  Rice,  Simpson  and  Cooper  alone  re- 
main as  resident  attorneys. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

John  B.  Patterson,  of  Oquawka,  Illinois,  was  born  in  Virginia, 
January  11,  1806.  His  •  father,  Thomas  Patterson,  was  a  native  of 
Londonderry,  Ireland,  a  finely  educated  gentleman,  who  was  ardently 
devoted  to  the  cause  of  education,  and  spent  the  greater  portion 
of  his  life  as  a  professor  in  different  educational  institutions  in  the 
State  of  Virginia.  The  subject  of  this  sketch  removed  to  Win- 
chester when  quite  a  boy.  After  receiving  such  education  as  he  was 
able  to  acquire  in  the  schools  of  the  county  of  his  residence,  and 
undergoing  the  usual  vicissitudes  that  fall  to  the  lot  of  bo^'s  similarly 
situated,  he  at  the  age  of  eighteen  entered  a  printing  otiice  to  learn  the 
art  of  printing.  After  two  years  of  experience,  he  took  charge  of  the 
mechanical  department  ot  the  "Winchester  Virginian,"  a  new  demo- 
cractic  paper,  and  remained  in  this  employ  for  one  year.  On  January 
11,  1827,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Mahala  Jane  Norton,  of 
Loudon  county,  Virginia.  In  April  of  the  following  year  he  started  a 
new  democi'atic  paper,  the  ' '  Leesburg  Observer, "  advocating  the 
claims  of  Andrew  Jackson  to  the  presidency.  This  enterprise  proved 
not  to  be  a  pecuniary  success,  and  the  paper  was  discontinued.  In 
May,  1829,  he  went  to  the  city  of  Washington  and  commenced  the  pub- 
lication of  the  "American  Argus,""  which,  after  the  issue  of  a  few  num- 
bers, was  discontinued  for  want  of  paying  support.  In  March,  1832, 
he  joined  the  advance  guard  of  the  grand  army  that  was  soon  to  follow, 
and  set  his  face  toward  the  great  west,  and  arrived  in  Rock  Island  the 
following  month.     From  this  place,  he  was  invited  to  Galena  to  take 


OQUAWKA   TOWNSHIP.  963 

charge  of  the  "Galenian,"  a  paper  published  at  the  time  in  the  far 
famed  lead  mines  of  Illinois.  His  engagement  was  to  continue  for  a 
few  weeks  or  until  the  close  of  the  Black  Hawk  war,  then  just  begun. 
At  Galena  he  joined  Capt.  Milton  Waugh's  conn)any  of  Col.  James 
Sti'ode's  regiment,  and  was  by  the  colonel  detailed  as  regimental 
printer  (a  new  office)  and  served  as  a  statl"  officer  until  the  close  of  the 
war,  and  continued  on  the  paper  until  October  of  that  year.  After 
closing  his  connection  with  this  paper  he  returned  to  Rock  Island,  and 
entered  the  employment  of  Col.  Davenport  in  his  large  mercantile 
establishment,  who  was  also  a  member  of  the  American  Fur  Company. 
He  remained  thus  employed,  and  in  keeping  books  for  the  Indian 
agent.  Major  Davenport.  On  the  return  of  that  renowned  warrior  and 
chief,  Bhick  Hawk  and  his  party,  from  their  celebrated  tour  of  the 
great  cities  of  the  east,  Mr.  P.,  at  the  solicitation  of  Black  Hawk,  pre- 
pared, wrote  and  jjublished  his  autobiograjdiy.  He  came  to  the  Yel- 
low Banks  in  the  summer  of  1834,  and  made  arrangements  to  spend 
the  fall  and  winter  trading  with  the  Indians  in  the  country  west  of  the 
Mississippi.  Going  to  Keokuk,  Iowa,  he  was  detained  some  six  weeks, 
and  while  thus  waiting  he  opened  a  school  and  taught  ten  scholars.  This 
was  the  first  school  ever  taught  in  Keokuk.  In  September  he  came  up 
to  the  Yellow  Banks,  loaded  a  boat  and  started  for  the  Forks  of  Skunk 
river,  Iowa.  Arriving  there,  he  built  a  storehouse  and  remained  trading 
with  the  Indians  until  April,  1835,  when  he  came  down  the  Skunk 
river  on  a  rudely  constructed  raft,  upon  which  he  freighted  his  furs 
that  he  had  collected  in  trade  with  the  Indians.  Arriving  at  the  Mis- 
sissippi river  he  found  the  ice  solid,  nor  did  it  break  up  until  the  7th 
of  April.  In  1836  the  town  of  Oquawka  was  laid  out,  and  Mr.  Patter- 
son opened  in  that  town  a  general  retail  store  and  continued  the  busi- 
ness for  many  years.  In  February,  1848,  he  commenced  the  publica- 
tion of  the  "  Spectator,'-  a  weekly  newspaper  which  he  continues  to 
.manage  and  edit  at  the  present  time.  In  1849  he  admitted  his  son, 
E.  H.  N.  Patterson,  as  associate  editor  and  proprietor,  the  hrm  con- 
tinuing until  1875,  when  his  son  went  to  Colorado  and  became  editor 
of  the  "Georgetown  Colorado  Miner.'"  The  press  on  which  the 
"  Spectator"  has  been  printed  since  its  tirst  advent,  was  the  first  press 
brought  into  Iowa,  on  which  the  Burlington  ''Gazette"  was  printed 
for  some  years,  and  is  still  a  good  press.  Mr.  Patterson  held  the 
ofiSce  of  justice  of  the  peace  while  he  resided  in  Rock  Island  in  1833. 
He  also  held  a  like  office  at  the  Yellow  Banks,  then  in  Warren  county, 
in  1835 ;  in  1838,  postmaster  at  Oquawka ;  in  1837,  was  appointed 
brigade  inspector  and  commissioned  colonel.  Col.  Patterson  is  one  of 
the  oldest  editors  in  the  state,  and  few,  if  any,  have  had  continuously 


964  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

unbroken  editorial  charge  ot  one  paper  for  so  many  consecutive  years. 
He  is  now  past  his  allotted  three-score-and-ten  years,  and  feels  that  he 
is  now  living  on  borrowed  time.  Still  mentally  and  physically  vigor- 
ous, he  bids  fair  yet  for  a  long  time  to  remain  to  cheer  his  friends,  with 
whom  he  has  been  so  long  and  favorably  known. 

Abner  Davis  was  a  native  of  Vermont.  He  was  born  September 
21,  179S.  Lucy  Oaks  Davis,  his  wife,  was  born  October  27,  1797,  in 
the  same  state.  After  their  marriage  they  removed  to  Saratoga  county, 
New  Xork.  In  1885  they  removed  to  Illinois,  landing  at  Monmouth, 
Illinois,  November  25  of  that  year.  They  made  a  temporary  home 
that  winter  at  Center  Grove.  On  August  6,  1836,  Mr.  Davis  sought 
out  and  found  the  land  which  he  subsequently  settled  on  and  made  his 
homestead.  He  held  a  patent  for  the  N.  W.  J  of  Sec.  36,  T.  9  N., 
R.  5  W.,  and  this  was  the  land  that  he  came  to  find.  He  was  a  soldier 
in  the  war  of  1812,  and  had  passed  through  the  bloody  battle  of 
Lundy's  Lane,  under  Gen.  "VVinfield  Scott,  when  he  encountered  on 
that  sanguinarv  field  the  British  armv  under  Sir  John  Harvv.  For 
his  services  Mr.  Davis  had  drawn  a  patent  for  the  land  above  described, 
where  he  resided  until  his  death.  He  died  December  10, '1871,  aged 
eighty  years,  nine  months  and  eleven  days.  A  curious  incident 
occurred  a  few  years  ago,  which  shows  the  unscrupulous  character 
of  a  class  of  "land-sharks,"  or  pirates,  that  fattened  and  grew  rich  in 
warring  upon  the  titles  of  farmers  to  the  lands  they  had  honestly  pur- 
chased and  owned  in  this  county.  These  sharks  would  manufacture 
pretended  genuine  patent  titles  to  a  farmer's  land,  and,  with  the 
audacity  of  a  highwayman,  present  it  to  him,  coolly  informing  the 
owner  that  the  title  by  which  he  claimed  to  hold  his  lands  was  worth- 
less, and  demanding  of  him  large  sums  for  their  pretended  titles ;  as  a 
last  resort,  threatening  the  farmer  with  a  suit  in  ejectment  in  the 
United  States  court  at  Chicago.  Rather  than  risk  a  ruinous  litigation 
in  a  distant  court,  many  a  deluded  citizen  parted  with  his  money  to 
fill  the  pockets  of  those  rascally  sharks,  receiving  in  return  a  pretended 
title  not  worth  the  paper  upon  which  it  was  written.  One  of  these 
sharks  had  in  his  possession  a  bogus  patent  title  upon  the  home  farm 
of  Mr.  Davis.  Going  out  from  a  neighboring  town  in  his  fine  buggy 
to  view  the  premises  from  which  he  expected  to  realize  a  small  fortune 
by  frightening  the  occupant  into  a  so-called  compromise,  by  which  he 
would  be  able  to  dispose  of  his  bogus  title  for  a  large  sum,  he  encoun- 
tered Mr.  Davis  at  work  in  his  farm-yard,  pitchfork  in  hand,  stacking 
grain.  The  shark  at  once  made  known  his  business,  informing  Mr. 
Davis  of  his  lack  of  genuine  title,  and  ofiering  him  his  forged  title  for 
a  large  sum.     Mr.   Davis  parleyed  with  him  for  awhile,   when  the 


OQUAWKaV   TOWNSHIP.  965 

speculator  threatened  liim  witli  a  suit  in  ejectment.  At  this  Mr.  Davis 
boiled  over,  and  leaping  from  the  stack,  and  in  language  not  to  be 
misunderstood,  and  that,  too,  made  still  more  pointed  by  the  sharp 
points  of  his  fork,  he  informed  his  would-be  persecutor  that  on  the 
battle-field  he  had  earned  that  land,  and  received  the  title  from  his 
government ;  that  he  had  fought  for  his  title  ;  was  ready  to  fight  again. 
About  that  time  a  land-shark  was  seen  beating  a  retreat  from  the 
premises, .  followed  by  a  pair  of  shai-p  fork-tines,  j^ever  did  a  swindler 
make  better  time  than  did  this  one  make  until  he  had  placed  many 
miles  between  himself  and  his  intended  victim. 

Jonathan  Simpson,  who  has  been  at  the  head  of  the  bar  of  Hender- 
son county  for  more  than  a  score  of  years,  and  is  one  of  the  leading 
practitioners  of  western  Illinois,  is  a  native  of  New  England.     His 
ancestors  were  of  those  who  left  England  and  went  to  Amsterdam, 
Holland,  that  they  might  acquire  the  privilege  of  worshiping  according 
to  their  own  beliefs.     From  here  they,  with  the  other  persecuted  ones, 
drifted  to  America,  and  finally  to  Penobscot  county,  in  the  State  of 
Maine,  where  Jonathan  was  born  August  28,  1825.     His  father,  Jona- 
than Simpson,  was  a  ship  captain,  engaged  in  European-China  trade. 
He  died  at  Point  Aupetro,  Guadalupe,  while  Jonathan  was  yet  quite 
young.     His  mother's  name  was  Abigail  Knowles.     He  grew^  up  as 
most  boys  under  similar  circumstances  would.     At  the  proper  age  he 
was  sent  to  Professor  Wooster's  institution,  at  Bangor,  Maine,  for  the 
preparation  of  young  men  to  enter  college.     Having  finished  the  cur- 
riculum of  studies,  he  prepared  to  enter  AValterville  college,  where  he 
might  receive  more  liberal  instruction.     Ill  health  compelled  him  to 
lay  aside  his  studies,  and  after  traveling  for  some  time  in  the  south  he 
returned  to  his  native  district  and  commenced  life  as  an  instructor. 
The  year  1846  was  spent  in  travel,  mostly  on  the  West  India  Islands, 
to  recuperate  his  wasted  energies.     His  health  being  much  improved 
he  went  to  Louisiana  where  he  remained  a  short  time.     During  the 
year  1847  he  came  to  Oquawka,  Illinois,  where  he   has   ever   since 
resided.     Soon  after  his  arrival  he  embarked  in  merchandizing,  in 
companv  with  his  brother,  Jason  B.  Simpson.     Being  unsuccessful  at 
this,  and  consequently  acquiring  a  dislike  for  the  business,  at  the  end 
of  four  years  they  closed  out  their  business.     Having  read  law  for  a 
while  prior  to  his  advent  at  Oquawka,  he  concluded  to  finish  his  legal 
studies.     He  entered  the  office  of  Charles  M.  Harris,  afterward  a  mem- 
ber of  congress  from  the  fifth  district,  was  admitted  and  commenced 
practice  in  1853.     At  the  election  in  1854  he  was  chosen  to  fill  the 
office  of  school  commissioner,   for  Henderson  county,   and  was  re- 
elected in  1856.     His  official  duties  were  conscienciously  fulfilled,  to 


966  HISTORY    OF   MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

the  satisfaction  of  his  constituency.  Although  he  had  been  a  life-long 
democrat,  when  Fort  Sumter  was  tired  on  he  declared  for  the  vigor- 
ous prosecution  of  the  war.  In  1862  he  was  chosen  as  the  union 
candidate  of  Warren  and  Henderson  counties,  to  represent  them  in  the 
convention  called  to  revise  the  constitution.  He  was  elected  by  an 
overwhelming  majority,  defeating  Judge  Ivory  Quinby,  of  Monmouth, 
Illinois.  When  the  convention  assembled  Mr.  Simpson  was  ap- 
pointed on  the  Committee  on  Bill  of  Eights,  on  the  Committee  on 
Schedule,  and  on  the  Committee  on  Law  Keform.  Mr.  Simpson  was 
an  active  worker  during  the  season,  and  introduced  several  important 
propositions.  He  proved  himself  to  be  of  no  mean  ability  as  a  funda- 
mental legislator.  In  1864  he  was  chosen  as  the  union  candidate  to 
represent  Henderson  and  Mercer  counties  in  the  general  assembly, 
against  editor  Birdsall,  of  Aledo,  Mercer  county,  defeating  him  by  a 
large  majority.  Here,  as  in  every  other  public  caj^acity  in  which  he 
served  the  people,  he  proved  to  be  a  valuable  functionary.  Besides 
these  official  positions  he  has  filled  two  unexpired  county  offices,  with 
gi'eat  credit  to  himself  and  those  he  represented.  Mr.  Simpson  is  a 
married  man  and  has  three  children  living:  Cora  Frances  (now  in 
Colorado),  Donald  (in  the  employ  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  & 
Quincy  railroad),  and  Frederick  (printer  and  student  in  school,  aged 
eighteen  j^ears). 

Stephen  Sumner  Phelps  was  born  in  Palmyra,  Ontario  county, 
New  York,  August  1,  1805.  His  father  and  mother,  Stephen  and 
Lois  Phelps,  were  natives  of  Wetherstield,  Connecticut.  The  parents 
of  both  removed  to  Palmyra  at  an  early  day,  and  there  the  young  peo- 
ple were  married  and  remained  until  after  the  birth  of  their  children. 
From  thence  they  mqved  to  Canandaigua,  where  they  opened  a  hotel, 
which,  as  late  as  1860,  was  known  as  the  "Phelps'  House."  Yery 
recently  the  tire  tiend  destroyed  the  building,  but  the  old  well  remains 
to  mark  the  spot.  Although  they  did  not  formally  unite  with  the 
Quakers,  yet  the  elderly  people  attended  the  meetings  and  held  some 
of  the  tenets  of  the  Friends,  and  their  children  were  instructed  in  many 
of  the  principles  of  that  freedom  loving  people.  Stephen  Sumner  was 
the  fifth  child  in  a  family  of  seven,  having  two  brothers  and  two  sisters 
older,  and  two  brothers  younger  than  himself.  In  Canandaigua  he 
attended  such  schools  as  the  place  afforded,  and  succeeded  in  master- 
ing the  arithmetic  as  far  as  the  celebrated  ' '  rule  of  three. "  Emigration 
commencing  to  wend  its  way  westward,  the  Phelps  boys,  among  others, 
turned  their  eyes  toward  the  undeveloped  west.  Alexis,  the  oldest 
boy,  starting  out  to  find  a  home  for  the  family,  walked  from  Canan- 
daigua to  Kentucky,  where  he  taught  school  for  several  months,  after 


Ir^^^^^ff^^f^'^'  -C 


i 


OQUAWIvA   TOWNSHIP.  969 

which  he  returned  to  New  York  via  Illinois,  performing  the  return  trip 
also  on  foot.  In  1820  Alexis,  accompanied  by  a  younger  brother,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch,  came  to  Illinois,  and  selected  a  residence  for  the 
family,  near  the  present  sight  of  Springfield,  Sangamon  county.  Here 
they  broke  eighty  acres  of  land  the  next  spring  and  built  a  log  house. 
In  the  fall  of  1821  they  were  joined  by  the  remainder  of  the  family. 
They  remained  in  Sangamon  county  four  years,  and  then  removed  to 
Lewiston,  Fulton  county.  S.  S.  Phelps  engaged  in  the  Indian  trade 
for  his  father  and  traded  through  all  the  country  north  and  east  of 
Peoria.  In  the  fall  of  1826  he  built  a  trading  house  at  Starved  Rock 
on  the  Illinois  river,  and  not  far  from  where  Ottawa  now  stands.  It 
was  at  this  place  that  he  met  Shabbona,  who  was  then  a  diguilied  chief 
of  sixty-live,  and  took  great  delight  in  narrating  many  reminiscences 
of  his  life. 

In  1828  S.  S.  Phelps  was  married  to  Miss  Phebe  Chase,  of  Fulton 
county.  Leaving  his  young  wife  at  her  home,  he  went  to  join  his  brother 
Alexis,  who  had  in  the  mean  time  gone  to  Galena,  and  engaged  ex- 
tensively in  lead  mining,  and  who  now  wrote,  that  if  Sumner  would  come 
and  assist  him,  he  would  give  him  one-third  of  the  profits  and  assume 
all  risk.  He  accepted  the  offer  of  Alexis  and  arrived  at  Galena  on  the 
first  of  March,  1828.  Alexis  sent  him  on  to  Dodgeville,  on  the  Wis- 
consin river,  where  he  put  up  a  furnace,  as  the  brothers  proposed  to 
extend  their  business  by  engaging  in  smelting.  Mr.  Phelps  also  put 
up  a  log  house  at  Dodgeville  for  his  home.  Everything  being  now 
ready,  he  started  to  Fulton  county  for  his  wife.  On  his  slow  and  toil- 
some journey  through  a  wild  and  unsettled  country,  he  was  taken  sick 
from  mineral  poison,  caused  by  working  with  the  lead,  and  was  obliged 
to  abandon  mining. 

About  this  time  Jeremiah  Smith,  who  afterward  built  the  mill  com- 
monly known  as  Jack's  Mill,  landed  at  Yellow  Banks  and  proceeded 
to  Lewiston  on  foot.  He  brought  the  news  that  Gall  and,  who  had  set- 
tled at  Oquawka,  was  discouraged  and  wished  to  sell  his  claim.  The 
father  of  Mr.  Phelps  sent  Smith  back  to  buy  the  claim  for  his  son,  and 
paid  $400  for  it.  As  soon  us  he  had  sufficiently  recovered  his  health 
he  and  his  wife  took  possession  of  the  purchase,  and  September  10, 
1828,  set  up  their  household  gods  in  the  rude  log  house  previously 
occupied  by  Dr.  Galland.  One  wagon  held  all  their  earthly  wealth. 
Their  table  was  a  box  that  had  contained  their  goods,  their  couch  was 
formed  by  rough  poles  fixed  in  the  side  of  the  house,  called  in  old  set- 
tler parlance,  "the  stake  and  rider  bedstead."  S.  S.  Phelps  was 
accompanied  by  a  younger  brother,  William,  and  for  many  years  the 
lives  of  the  brothers  were  inseparable.  They  had  expected  supplies  to 
55 


970  HISTORY   OF   MERGER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

be  brou.crlit  up  the  river  to  them  on  a  boat,  bat  an  early  and  severe 
winter  prevented  navigation,  and  the  little  family  snftered  much  from 
the  cold  and  from  the  scarcity  of  provisions.  Their  bread  was  made 
from  corn  pounded  in  a  vessel  formed  from  a  piece  of  a  hollow  trunk 
of  a  tree,  their  meat  was  the  wild  game  killed  by  the  brothers,  who 
were  good  marksmen  with  both  rifle  and  shot  gun. 

The  brothers  soon  established  quite  an  extensive  trade  with  the 
Sac  and  Fox  Indians.  William  went  to  New  Boston,  or  Upper  Yel- 
low Banks,  as  it  was  then  called,  and,  notwithstanding  the  ojiposition 
of  other  traders,  succeeded  in  holding  his  position  opposite  the  mouth 
of  the  Iowa  river,  for  the  purpose  of  trading  with  Keokuk's  people, 
who  had  a  village  on  the  Iowa  about  ten  miles  above,  where  it 
emptied  into  the  Mississippi.  After  remaining  there  until  their  trade 
with  those  Indians  was  secured,  William  returned  to  Oquawka.  Dr. 
Galland  had  retired  to  the  head  of  the  lower  rapids  of  the  Mississippi, 
and  again  becoming  discouraged,  sent  word  to  the  Phelps  brothers  that 
if  they  could  hold  his  claim  they  were  welcome  to  it.  William  moved 
down,  and  after  several  severe  skirmishes  with  both  red  and  white 
men,  maintained  his  position,  and  the}^  thus  had  access  to  the  Indian 
villages  of  a  large  scope  of  country. 

In  1830  the  trade  with  the  Indians  on  the  Des  Moines  presented  a 
good  opening  for  adventurous  men  ;  the  brothers  procured  a  United 
States  license,  and  AYilliam  moved  to  Iowa,  and  established  a  trading 
post  near  Farmington.  S.  S.  Phelps  remained  to  hold  possession  of 
Yellow  Banks.  The  American  Fur  Company,  with  John  Jacob  Astor, 
of  New  York,  at  its  head,  and  Pratt,  Shonteau  &  Co.,  of  St.  Louis,  as 
assistants,  opened  a  determined  resistance  to  what  they  considered  an 
infringement  of  their  rights.  They  made  many  threats  of  robbing  and 
destining  tlie  pack  trains  of  S.  S.  Phelps,  who  passed  from  trading 
post  to  trading  post,  as  circumstances  required,  often  carrying  hirge 
packs  upon  his  own  shoulders.  He  hesitated  at  no  danger,  but  ever 
dauntless  and  alert,  he  conquered  where  defeat  appeared  certain.  He 
was  so  successful  in  overcoming  all  obstacles,  and  met  danger  with 
such  bravery  of  action  and  flashing  eye,  that  he  acquired  great  popu- 
larity with  both  Sac  and  Fox  Indians,  who  united  in  giving  him  the 
name  of  Wah-wash-e-ne-qua-IIawkeye,  because  they  said  his  eye  flashed 
in  anger  or  in  danger  like  that  of  an  angry  hawk. 

Amid  these  struggles  and  trials,  difiiculties  between  the  Indians 
and  the  agents  of  the  government  were  increasing,  which  Anally  culmi- 
nated in  1832  in  the  Black  Hawk  war.  S.  S.  Phelps  was  offered  the 
office  of  commisary,  and  ranked  as  major,  but  remained  at  the  trading 
house  at  Yellow  Banks,  as  it  was  thought  that  he  could  exert  more 


OQUAWKA    TOWNSHIP.  971 

influence  so  near  tlie  villages  of  the  dissatisfied  savages,  than  in  more 
active  service.  The  settlement  at  Oquawka  now  consisted  of  the  log 
dwelling,  and  a  rude  structure,  which  was  called  by  courtesy  a  store, 
and  rejoiced  in  the  honor  of  being  the  fii'st  frame  house  in  Warren 
county.  The  mill,  situated  about  a  mile  and  a  half  from  town,  on  what 
had  been  termed  the  Devil's  Half  Acre,  by  Peter  Cartwright,  had  been 
built,  and  the  Jamison  settlement  had  also  been  made.  The  Indians, 
at  this  time,  were  divided  into  two  bands,  one  under  Keokuk,  and  the 
other  under  Black  Ilawk.  Trusting  to  his  friends  among  the  Indians, 
to  warn  him  in  case  of  danger,  Mr.  Phelps  did  not  build  a  fort,  and 
promised  to  warn  the  neighboring  settlements,  also,  if  any  difficulty 
with  the  red  men  should  arise.  Their  only  safeguard  against  an  attack 
was  the  huge  logs,  which  formed  the  walls  of  their  dwellings,  in  which 
were  formed  loop-holes,  through  which  the  inmates  could  fire  upon  an 
attacking  enemy.  The  wave  of  battle  swept  to  the  north.  Stillman 
had  been  defeated.  Many  hearts  beat  anxiously  for  fear  the  victorious 
savages  would  descend  the  river,  and  massacre  the  settlers  in  the  Mis- 
sissippi valley.  Gov.  Reynolds,  of  Illinois,  passed  up  to  Rock  river 
to  meet  the  conquering  chief,  Black  Hawk,  and  on  his  route  stopped  at 
Yellow  Banks,  and  left  a  case  of  twenty-six  guns,  and  the  requisite 
ammunition,  with  Mr.  Phelps,  that,  they  might  be  prepared  for  an 
attack  by  the  Indians.  Things  were  in  this  unsettled  state  when  one 
night  Tama,  an  aged  Fox  chief,  arrived  at  the  trading  house  to  inquire 
if  his  white  brother  had  heard  any  news  from  the  seat  of  war.  He 
was  accompanied  by  his  wife  and  son.  Tama  had  a  town  about  three 
miles  below  the  town  on  the  Iowa  side.  He  had  been  a  great  chief 
and  noted  scout.  In  the  war  of  1812  he  had  given  valuable  assistance 
to  Edwards,  then  Governor  of  Illinois  territory,  and  carried  papers 
from  the  Governor,  certifying  to  the  fact,  and  recommending  Tama  as 
the  friend  of  the  white  man.  He  was  kindly  welcomed,  and  soon  the 
silence  of  night  brooded  over  the  little  settlement. 

At  early  dawn  the  household  was  awakened  by  the  trampling  of 
many  hoofs.  All  sprang  from  their  beds  with  visions  of  the  torch  and 
tomahawk  of  the  red  man  before  their  eyes.  Oaths  and  demands  for 
admittance  in  the  unmistakable  English  tongue  somewhat  reassured 
them.  Passing  from  the  house,  Mr.  Phelps  found  it  surrounded  by 
more  than  fifty  drunken  soldiers,  led  by  a  Capt.  AVhite,  who  was  as 
much  under  the  influence  of  drink  as  his  men.  Capt.  AVhite  approached 
Mr.  Phelps  and  angrily  addressed  him:  "You  are  accused  of  harbor- 
ing Indians,  our  natural  enemies,  and  I  demand  that  you  surrender 
them  to  us."  Mr.  Phelps  replied:  "Tama,  his  wife,  and  son  are  the 
only  Indians  here.     Tama  you  know  as  well  as  I  do,  and  tliat  he  has 


972  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

always  been  the  friend  of  the  white  man,  and  has  rendered  vahiable 
assistance  as  a  scont  in  our  army.  Xow^  he  is  aged  and  in  the  last 
stages  of  consumption.  If  I  should  give  him  up,  the  blood  of  every 
white  settler  for  miles  around  would  be  the  forfeit.  I  will  not  give  him 
up.''  Capt.  Wliite  then  said  he  would  give  him  time  to  reconsider  the 
matter,  and,  leaving  half  his  men  to  guard  the  house,  he  withdrew  the 
remainder  to  a  short  distance,  breakfasted,  cleaned  and  reloaded  the 
guns.  Mr.  Phelps  and  men  did  the  same.  At  the  expiration  of  an 
hour  the  captain  returned  and  again  demanded  the  surrender  of  the 
Indians.  He  received  a  negative  answer,  and  then  ordered  Mr.  Phelps 
to  accompany  him  to  the  store.  Xot  wishing  to  appear  afraid,  he 
replied  that  lie  would  in  fifteen  minutes.  Mr.  Phelps  re-entered  the 
house,  and  not  pausing  to  count  his  men,  wdiich  should  have  consisted 
of  Joe  Smart,  William  Cousland,  and  two  other  hands,  he  called  Smart 
and  told  him  to  station  the  men  at  the  loop-holes,  and  defend  the  family 
and  Indians  till  the  last,  and  to  avenge  him  if  he  fell.  The  young 
chief  glowed  with  anger,  like  the  war-horse  that  smells  the  battle  from 
afar ;  and  Tama,  tottering  on  the  verge  of  the  grave,  announced  him- 
self willing  to  reload,  all  that  his  feeble  hands  could  now  do.  Grasp- 
ing his  faithful  gun,  Mr.  Phelps  announced  himself  ready  and  proceeded 
to  the  store.  He  entered  and  sprang  over  the  rude  counter,  which  thus 
formed  a  partial  breastwork,  and  resolved  to  sell  his  life  as  dearly  as 
possible.  The  soldiers  crowded  into  the  little  building  and  thus  formed 
one  sr)lid  taro;et  of  humanity,  for  the  ball  from  the  man  at  bay  could 
not  fail  to  cut  down  many  in  its  flight.  Capt.  White  again  demanded : 
"Are  you  ready  to  give  up  the  Indians i'  If  in  three  minutes  you  do 
not  promise  to  surrendei"  them  to  us,  we  will  shoot  you,  throw  your 
body  into  the  river,  burn  your  house,  and  kill  your  men."    Eegardless 

of  consequences,  Mr.  Phelps  exclaimed:   ''Shoot,  and  be  d d!     I 

will  never  yield  the  Indians  to  you.  The  safety  of  all  the  W'liites  in 
Illinois  forbids  it.  If  you  take  them  by  force,  upon  your  heads  will 
rest  the  murder  of  many  innocent  families  ;  and  upon  you  will  fall  the 
displeasure  of  your  superior  officer,  who  never  intended  that  the  aged 
and  the  true  should  fall,  to  satisfy  the  vengeance  of  a  defeated  soldiery." 
As  he  gazed  into  the  muzzles  of  the  leveled  muskets  of  the  soldiers, 
visions  of  his  family  (which  consisted  of  his  wife  and  two  children, 
Isabella  and  Alexis)  at  the  mercy  of  the  red  men  flitted  through  his 
mind.  Capt.  White  clearly  counted,  one,  two,  and  just  as  Mr.  Phelps 
was  about  to  pull  the  trigger,  determined  to  have  the  first  shot,  shouts 
of  "Shoot  the  drunken  dogs;  give  no  quarter  to  cowards!"  were 
heard,  and  the  men  rushed  from  the  house  and  threw  down  their  arms 
before  they  saw  their  foes.     These  proved  to  be  the  hands  from  the 


OQUAWKA    TOWNSHIP.  973 

mil]  and  tlie  farmers  of  tlie  Jamison  settlement,  led  by  Judge  Pence, 
and  accompanied  by  Jeremiah  Smith  and  Thomas  AVells.  Some  were 
without  coats,  some  without  hats,  and  mounted  on  horses  with  the  plow- 
harness  yet  upon  them.  William  Cousland  had  slipped  from  the  house 
at  the  beginning  of  the  trouble,  and,  protected  by  the  scrubby  "black 
jack  "  trees,  which  grew  nearly  to  the  door,  had  succeeded  in  warning 
the  friends  who  hastened  to  the  rescue.  Judge  Pence  assumed  com- 
mand and  ordered  the  soldiers  under  arrest.  Although  they  were  six 
to  one,  they  submitted  without  any  resistance.  Capt.  AVhite  made 
profuse  apologies,  and  wished  to  shake  hands  with  Tama.  This  Judge 
Pence  refused,  saying:  "Such  as  you  are  not  worthy  to  grasp  the 
hand  of  the  noble  Tama."  He  then  guarded  the  Indians  to  their 
canoe,  and  watched  them  out  of  danger.  When  the  Indians  were 
safe,  Mr.  Phelps  thanked  his  friends  and  said:  "I  told  you  I  would 
warn  you  when  it  was  time  to  fortify.  The  time  has  come  when  we 
must  protect  ourselves ;  not  from  Indians,  but  from  white  men."  When 
the  crestfallen  soldiers  were  released,  they  marched  to  Rock  river,  to 
join  the  army  there.  The  settlers  now  proceeded  to  arrange  for  pi'otec- 
tion  in  case  of  more  trouble.  A  fort  was  built  on  the  Pence  farm,  and 
one  at  Oquawka.  Several  kegs  of  powder  were  placed  under  the  store, 
in  order  that  it  might  be  blown  up  in  case  of  an  attack.  A  train  was 
laid  underground  from  these  to  the  fort,  by  sewing  up  strips  of  linen 
and  filling  them  with  powder.  These  were  jokingly  called  "sausage 
bags,"  but  there  was  never  any  necessity  for  using  them. 

Not  long  after  this  Mr.  Phelps  visited  Keokuk's  village  on  the  Iowa 
in  hopes  of  hearing  more  definite  news  concerning  the  progress  of  the 
war.  He  was  accom})anied  by  one  hand,  and  took  the  precaution  to 
carry  a  pack  of  goods  as  if  on  a  trading  expedition.  He  found  his 
friends  absent  on  a  hunt,  and  the  town  in  the  possession  of  a  band  of 
braves  from  Black  Hawk's  army.  Angry  from  defeat,  for  the  tide  of 
war  was  now  turning,  and  inflamed  by  drink,  they  shook  the  gory 
scalps  of  innocent  women  and  cliildren  in  the  faces  of  the  white  men, 
and  threatened  to  serve  them  in  the  same  way.  By  appearing  uncon- 
cerned, and  bent  on  trading  with  thp  squaws  and  the  aged  men  in  the 
village,  and  giving  where  he  could  not  sell,  Mr.  Phelps  was  enabled  to 
dispose  of  all  his  goods.  Then,  as  if  that  was  his  only  object  in  com- 
ing, he  quietly  got  into  his  boat  and  leisurely  paddled  down  the  stream, 
until  a  bend  in  the  river  hid  the  boat  from  the  view  of  the  savages, 
when  he  bent  to  the  oars  and  hurried  down  the  river  momentarily  ex- 
pecting to  hear  the  war-whooj)  of  the  pursuing  enemy.  On  the  way 
he  passed  the  floating  body  of  a  murdered  man,  which  did  not  tend  to 
allay  his  fears.     Black  Hawk  was  conquered  and  taken  to  St.  Louis  a 


974  HISTORY    OF    MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

prisoner.  Gen.  Scott  passed  down  the  river  with  a  portion  of  his 
army,  and  en  route,  stopped  at  Yellow  Banks.  He  was  in  the  prime 
of  life,  and  as  he  bent  his  tall  form  to  enter  the  doorway  of  the  hum- 
ble log  house,  he  grasped  the  hand  of  Mr.  Phelps  and  thanked  him  in 
heartfelt  words  for  his  services.  Drawing  up  his  magnificent  propor- 
tions until  his  head  reached  nearly  to  the  ceiling,  he  utter  curses,  not 
loud  but  deep,  against  the  miscreant  captain  who  dared  to  risk  the 
murder  of  so  many  innocent  victims.  After  the  close  of  the  war,  Will- 
iam Phelps,  who  had  been  in  active  service  on  the  Rock  river,  re- 
turned, and  the  brothers  bent  all  their  energies  to  establish  their  trade 
with  the  Indians  in  Iowa.  In  the  meantime,  the  members  of  the 
Amerijan  Fur  Company  had  used  every  means  in  their  power  to  drive 
out  the  intruders,  as  they  considered  them,  and  had  succeeded  in  get- 
ting the  governor  of  Iowa  enlisted  on  their  side.  Many  were  the 
charges  brought  to  the  governor's  ears  against  Sumner  and  William 
Phelps  for  selling  whisky  to  the  Indians.  At  last  they  resolved  to  put 
a  stop  to  the  false  charges  by  stratagem,  as  all  fair  means  had  failed. 
They  sent  a  man  to  Burlington  who  innocently  tlirew  himself  in  the 
way  of  the  secretary  of  Governor  Lucas.  After  many  hints  of  know- 
ing something  about  Mr.  Phelps  that  the  governor  would  like  to  know, 
he  said  the  hands  had  buried  some  kegs  near  the  trading  house  on  the 
Des  Moines.  He  also  gave  the  secretary  a  drawing  of  the  place,  and 
indicated  the  precise  spot  where  the  kegs  could  be  found.  As  soon  as 
the  governor  heard  the  news,  he  sent  the  secretary  and  a  United  States 
marshal  with  orders  to  search  the  premises.  The  party  arrived  at  the 
government  agency  at  night,  but  did  not  make  their  presence  known 
to  Major  Beach,  who  was  then  government  agent,  and  a  staunch  friend 
of  Mr.  Phelps,  until  morning.  They  then  demanded  that  the  agent 
should  accompany  them  and  assist  in  the  search.  This  he  willingly 
did  as  he  knew  the  charge  to  be  false.  They  arrived  at  the  trading 
house  while  the  inmates  were  at  breakfast,  and  proceeded  at  once  to 
business.  They  preferred  the  charge  and  demanded  tools  to  work  with, 
but  were  refused  on  the  plea  of  not  believing  in  furnishing  the  means 
of  condemning  themselves.  Major  Beach  began  to  suspect  some  joke 
and  offered  to  pay  the  hands,  if  Mr.  Phelps  would  lend  them  to  him  as 
a  friend.  This  was  done,  and  two  colored  men,  Dick  and  John,  were 
soon  at  work,  and  after  a  few  minutes  digging,  the  spades  struck  a  keg, 
and  Dick,  rolling  up  his  eyes,  said:  "■Here  he  am,  Marsa.''  The  ex- 
cavation showed  the  heads  of  other  kegs  and  the  secretary  eagerly 
called  for  an  auger,  which  was  lent  to  Major  Beach,  after  much  demur- 
ring. The  secretary  commenced  boring  for  whisky,  while  all  awaited 
the  result  in  breathless  silence.    After  energetically  working  for  a  short 


OQUAWKA    TOWNSHII'.  975 

time  he  triumiDliantly  drew  out  tlie  anger  to  iind  it  covered  with  lard. 
Amid  the  audible  smiles  of  the  spectators,  the  secretary  turned  silently 
away  only  to  meet  his  wiley  informant  leisurely  riding  past,  and  thus 
addressed  him:  "See  here,  sir!  have  I  not  met  you  somewhere?" 
The  man  calmly  replied  :  "Very  likely ;  I  have  been  there  frequently." 
Like  the  last  straw  that  broke  tlie  camel's  back,  this  was  the  last  of  the 
oj)position  of  the  fur  company.  They  proposed  to  S.  S.  Phelps  that 
he  should  join  their  company  and  take  personal  charge  of  the  entire 
business,  which  he  did  in  1834,  and  remained  in  it  until  after  the 
larger  portion  of  the  Sacs  and  Foxes  removed  to  Kansas,  having  a 
trading  post  between  Fort  Scott  and  Topeka. 

In  1833,  S.  S.  Phelps  had  been  joined  by  his  brother,  Alexis,  who 
made  Oquawka  his  home  until  his  death.  After  the  close  of  the  war 
they  interested  themselves  in  improving  the  town.  The  little  log-house 
had  given  place  to  the  building  long  known  as  the  pioneer,  and  S.  S. 
Phelps  had  the  large  columns  which  supported  the  front,  hewn  of  solid 
logs  and  ornamented  by  hand  in  St.  Louis  and  brought  up  the  river  on 
a  boat.  In  1836  the  town  of  Oquawka  was  laid  out  and  made  the 
county  seat  of  Warren  county,  and  S.  S.  Phelps  was  the  lirst  sheriff  of 
the  county. 

Pioneer  life  made  such  inroads  on  the  naturally  delicate  constitu- 
tion of  the  wife  of  Mr.  Phelps,  that  after  ten  years  of  wedded  life  she 
left  him  with  six  small  children,  in  a  comparatively  new  country.  In 
1838  he  was  married  to  Miss  Salome  Patterson,  who  still  (1882)  sur- 
vives him.  Salome  Phelps  was  born  in  Stowe,  Vermont,  in  1814, 
moved  to  Mentor,  Ohio,  in  1824,  afterward  removing  to  Saybrook, 
Ashtabula  county,  and  from  thence  to  Monmouth,  Illinois,  in  1835. 
Three  children  were  the  fruits  of  this  marriage.  In  1840  j\[r.  Phelps 
finished  and  moved  into  the  house  in  the  southern  suburbs  of  the  town, 
and  where  he  resided  during  the  remainder  of  his  life.  Death  entered 
the  family  circle  April,  1845,  and  claimed  as  his  victim  Isabella,  the 
oldest  child,  a  bride  of  a  few  months,  she  having  been  married  to 
David  B.  Rice,  in  the  January  previous.  In  September  <^f  the  same 
year  Mr.  Phelps  was  called  upon  to  lay  his  oldest  son,  Alexis,  by  her 
side.  Alexis,  accompanied  by  Norman  Patterson,  a  brother-in-law  of 
Mr.  Phelps,  and  for  years  an  inmate  of  the  family,  had  taken  a  drove 
of  horses  to  .the  Indian  country,  and  on  the  return  ti-ip,  under  the 
scorching  August  sun,  they  were  obliged  to  drink  of  the  impure  waters 
by  the  I'oadside,  wells  being  unknown  in  that  unsettled  country.  They 
thus  contracted  a  malarial  fever  which  terminated  fatally  to  both. 
They  died  within  forty-eight  hours  of  each  other.  Mr.  Phelps  remained 
in  the  Indian  trade  until  1849.     He  retired  with  the  respect  and  firm 


976  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

friendsliip  of  the  members  of  the  company  and  the  love  of  the  rude 
men  with  whom  he  had  spent  so  much  of  his  life.  For  many  years 
some  of  the  tribe  visited  him  annually  and  were  ever  welcome  guests. 
Mr.  Phelps  frequently  made  pilgrimages  to  visit  them  in  their  homes, 
and  their  white  brother,  as  they  delighted  to  call  him,  was  greeted 
with  all  the  manifestations  of  joy  that  an  Indian  can  give.  He  thor- 
oughly understood  their  nature.  He  had  eaten  with  them,  and  smoked 
the  ];)ipe  of  peace  in  their  wigwams.  Never  did  he  fail  in  his  promise, 
nor  in  bringing  to  them  the  quality  of  goods  for  which  they  contracted, 
knowing  that  an  Indian  is  like  a  child,  if  they  are  once  deceived  their 
confidence  is  gone  forever.  He  frequently  trusted  tliem  with  large 
amounts  and  seldom  lost  by  the  uncivilized  savage.  But  their  inter- 
course with  the  whites  was  so  corrupting  that  he  made  it  an  invariable 
rule  to  refuse  to  credit  them  when  they  could  ask  for  it  in  English. 
He  could  speak  and  understand  their  language  as  well  as  he  could  his 
own.  While  he  contended  that  the  red  men  should  be  thoroughly 
conquered  when  in  rebellion,  he  as  firmly  believed  that  if  the 
white  men  were  honest  in  their  dealings,  the  Indians  would  never 
rebel,  for  as  they  never  forget  an  injury,  so  also  do  they  ever  remem- 
ber a  favor.  Mr.  Phelps  was  ever  first  in  forwarding  the  interests  of 
the  town,  nor  was  his  aid  confined  to  his  own  state.  It  was  he  who 
furnished  Edwards  with  funds  to  start  a  paper  in  our  neighboring  state 
of  Iowa,  and  which  he  named  Hawk-Eye,  in  honor  of  his  friend  and 
benefactor.  He  and  his  brother  Alexis  built  the  first  school-house 
and  supported  the  first  teacher.  When  Henderson  county  was  separ- 
ated from  Wai'ren,  in  1841,  the  brothers  donated  100  lots  to  the  county, 
thus  securing  the  permanent  location  of  the  county  seat  at  Oquawka. 
They  largely  assisted  in  building  the  Presbyterian  church,  donating 
the  bell,  which  was  rang  for  the  first  time  at  the  funeral  of  Alexis, 
men  working  all  night  in  order  to  get  it  in  position  for  that  purpose. 
They  also  built  the  court-house.  S.  S.  Phelps  was  "^xo,  president  of  the 
first  board  of  ofiicers,  was  the  first  merchant,  the  first  banker,  the  first 
and  last  mayor  of  Oquawka.  He  also  at  one  time  was  owner  of  the 
steamer  Pavilion,  and  frequently  acted  as  pilot,  as  he  was  perfectly 
familiar  with  the  river.  At  an  early  day  he  piloted  the  Pavilion  up 
the  Iowa,  being  the  first  pilot  who  had  ever  taken  a  boat  up  that  river. 
In  1852  while  on  his  trip  to  the  east  to  buy  goods,  Mr.  Phelps  nar- 
rowly escaped  death  by  the  burning  of  the  steamer  Henry  Clay,  on  the 
Hudson  river.  The  providence  which  had  watched  over  him  through 
the  struggles  of  his  early  life,  preserved  him  from  the  death  which 
overtook  so  many  who  were  passengers  on  that  ill-fated  boat.  Many 
sorrows  and  troubles  attended  his  declining  years,  yet  he  ever  met 


OQUAWKA   TOWNSHIP.  977 

them  witli  the  same  courageous  spirit  with  which  he  encountered  the 
dangers  of  his  pioneer  life.  He  retained,  amid  all  his  trials,  that 
jovial  nature  which  rendered  him  a  favorite  with  young  and  old,  and 
delighted  in  relating  reminiscences  of  his  early  life.  In  1861  he  lost 
his  hard  earned  wealth,  and  retired  permanently  from  business,  but 
always  felt  a  lively  interest  in  the  welfare  of  the  town  of  which  he  was 
founder,  and  was  president  of  its  board  of  officers  at  the  time  of  his 
death. 

In  1866  he  was  called  to  mourn  the  loss  of  his  daughter,  Emily, 
and  in  1867  another,  Laura,  the  wife  of  E.  H.  M.  Patterson  was  laid 
by  the  side  of  the  loved  ones  gone  befoi-e.  The  youngest  child,  S.  S. 
Phelps.  Jr.,  was  cut  down  by  the  murderer's  hand  only  a  few  months 
previous  to  his  father's  death,  making  the  fifth  tliat  preceded  the 
father  to  the  spirit  land.  From  this  blow  Mr.  Phelps  never  fully  re- 
covered. After  many  escapes  by  land  and  by  water,  from  the  ax  of 
the  red  man,  and  the  malice  of  the  white,  he  met  with  the  accident 
which  caused  his  death,  in  the  door  yard  of  his  own  home.  On  the 
morning  of  the  -Ith  of  November,  1880,  he  left  his  house  with  a  step 
remarkably  elastic  for  one  in  his  seventy-sixth  year.  He  slipped  upon 
the  sidewalk,  falling  with  such  force  as  to  break  the  shoulder  bone  and 
also  fracturing  the  large  bone  in  the  right  arm.  Whether  the  fall  also 
injured  his  lungs  is  not  known,  but  certain  it  is,  that  from  that  hour  he 
steadily  declined,  evincing  every  symptom  of  that  fatal  disease,  con- 
sumption, until  December  23,  just  eight  weeks  from  his  fall,  he  "went 
home,'"  From  the  first  he  said  it  was  impossible  for  him  to  recover, 
and  he  earnestly  set  about  jnitting  his  house  in  order.  Owing  to  the 
paroxysms  of  coughing  he  was  unable  to  converse  with  his  friends,  yet 
he  delighted  in  their  visits,  and  no  one  was  refused  admittance  if  he 
knew  of  their  call.  A  word  of  greeting  and  a  kindly  grasp  of  the  hand 
was  all  that  was  in  his  power  to  give,  but  those  he  gave  with  the  earn- 
estness of  a  heart  filled  with  love  toward  all.  No  fears  entered  into 
his  contemplation  of  death,  but  calmly  he  prepai-ed  for  it,  as  if  he  were 
indeed  going  home.  Although  he  never  united  with  any  church,  he 
firmly  believed  in  the  power  of  Christ  to  save  and  felt  that  he  was  his 
savior.  Mr.  Phelps  was  always  identified  with  the  whig  and  repub- 
lican party.  The  love  of  liberty  instilled  into  his  mind  by  the  Quaker 
parents  made  him  the  enemy  of  oppression  in  any  form,  and  that  of 
slavery  was  particularly  obnoxious  to  his  principles.  Ever  generous, 
many  owe  to  him  their  start  in  life,  and  if  in  the  days  of  his  adversity 
a  few,  like  the  adder,  turned  and  stung  the  bosom  that  warmed  them, 
the  majority  remained  his  friends  through  life.  The  troubled  heart  is 
at  peace,  the  weary  brain  at  rest.     In  the  beautiful  grounds  which  his 


978  HISTORY   OF   IVrERCER   ASD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

generosity  furnished  for  a  cemetery  to  the  people  of  Oquawka,  lies  all 
that  is  mortal  of  S.  S.  Phelps,  awaiting  the  call  of  the  resurrection 
morn.     After  life's  fitful  fever  he  rests  well. 

[The  foregoing,  a  labor  oif  love,  is  by  Mr.  Phelps'  daughter,  Phebe 
E.  Button.— Ed.] 

William  IIanna,  savs :  "I  was  born  June  19,  1827,  in  Favette 
county,  Indiana.  My  mother's  name,  prior  to  her  marriage,  was 
Ci"awford.  She  had  one  brother  and  ten  sisters,  ten  of  whom,  includ- 
ing my  mother,  lived  to  be  married,  raising  families  amounting  in  the 
aggregate  to  eighty-seven  children :  forty-four  boys,  and  forty-three 
girls.  Each  of  the  ten  sisters  was  an  honor  and  a  blessing  to  the  man 
who  married  her.  My  lather  showed  his  good  sense  by  marrying  a 
Crawford,  although  three  of  his  brothers  had  married  into  the  same 
family  before  he  did.  It  was  a  trait  of  my  father's  family,  when  they 
had  found  a  nest  of  good  eggs  to  take  them  all.  If  there  had  been  ten 
Hanna  men,  I  have  no  doubt  but  that  all  would  have  wedded  Craw- 
fords  ;  true,  the  girls  would  have  had  something  to  say  about  it,  too, 
but  as  my  father  and  his  brothers  never  asked  for  anything  but  what 
was  right,  they  usually  got  it.  Had  this  been  the  case,  L  have  no 
doubt  but  that  they  would  have  succeeded,  and  the  last  one  would  have 
got  just  as  good  a  wife  as  the  first  one.  Mrs.  Jeremiah  Bake,  my 
mother's  voun^est  sister,  who  settled  in  Henderson  countv  in  1836, 
will  be  remembered  by  all  the  old  settlers  as  one  of  the  best  women 
who  ever  lived  in  the  countv.  My  father  settled  in  Warren  county  in 
1835,  which  then  included  Henderson  county,  near  where  Little  York 
now  is.  Our  family  at  that  time  consisted  of  father,  mother,  six  chil- 
dren, and  one  hired  man.  We  wintered  the  first  winter  in  a  log  cabih 
16x16  feet  square,  cooked,  ate,  and  slept  all  in  the  same  r(^om,  and 
had  plenty  of  space  left  to  keep  everybody  who  came  to  see  us.  My 
m()tlier  was  noted  for  being  a  good  cook,  and  having  a  faculty  of  mak- 
ing a  stranger  feel  at  home ;  people  used  to  go  out  of  their  way  to  get 
to  stay  over  night  w4th  us  ;  of  course,  we  used  short  bedsteads.  This 
reminds  me  of  an  incident,  though  a  small  matter  itself,  still  it  shows 
in  a  strong  light  the  accommodating  disposition  of  my  father.  We  used 
the  short  bedsteads  for  some  years  after  we  had  plenty  of  house  room. 
On  one  occasion,  when  there  was  a  long,  lank  fellow,  by  the  name  of 
Robert  Hutchison,  whom  the  old  settlers  will  remember  as  being  about 
eight  feet  high,  had  come  to  see  my  sister ;  they  called  it  sparking  in 
those  days.  My  father  showed  him  to  bed,  and  as  he  did  so,  remarked  : 
'Mr.  Hutchison,  I  am  sorry  that  we  haven't  a  bedstead  about  the 
house  long  enough  to  accommodate  you,  but  I  will  shove  a  table  up  to 
the  foot  of  the  bed,  and  when  you  are  tired  of  lying  doubled  up  just 


OQUAM'KA   TOWNSHIP.  979 

run  your  legs  out  on  tlie  table  and  rest  them.''  Whether  Mr.  Ilutchi-  ' 
son  took  this  provision  for  his  comfort  as  kinclh^  as  my  father  meant 
it,  I  never  knew.  Init  I  do  know  that  he  did  not  marry  my  sister;  how- 
ever, he  did  as  well,  perhaps,  by  marrrying  my  cousin,  Elizabeth 
Hanna.  My  father  gave  his  children  as  good  an  education  as  the 
county  afforded  at  tliat  time.  In  the  winter  of  1835-6,  the  people  of 
our  neighborhood  built  a  school-house  of  round  logs,  with  greased 
paper  for  windows,  instead  of  glass,  hewed  puncheons  for  seats,  and  a 
door  hnng  with  leather  hinges.  I  commenced  my  education  in  that 
house,  with  a  diit  floor  nnder  me,  in  1835,  and  finished  at  Pleasant 
Green  in  a  frame  school-liouse  twelve  years  later,  having  learned  about 
all  the  teachers  of  those  days  were  capable  of  teaching  in  a  district 
school  at  tluit  time.  In  fact,  the  teachers  had  to  study  of  nights  and 
Sundays  to  keep  ahead  of  the  scholars.  The  worst  of  it  all  is,  I  have 
had  to  unlearn  a  great  portion  of  what  little  I  had  learned  at  school. 
For  instance,  geography  taught  me  there  were  twenty-seven  states  in 
the  union,  and  that  the  'great  American  desert'  commenced  at  the 
Missouri  river,  and  extended  to  tlie  Kocky  Mountains.  A  glance  at  a 
map  of  to-day  stamps  the  atlas  that  I  studied  as  an  unmitigated  fraud. 
I  drove  an  ox  team  across  the  plains  to  California  in  1849 ;  made  a  few 
thousand  dollars  at  mining  aiul  keeping  'ranch,'  returning  in  1851. 

"I  married  Miss  Sarah  Findlay,  daughter  of  James  Findlay,  who 
settled  in  Warren  county  in  1832.  We  have  two  children  living  and  one 
dead.  Our  s(m  is  known  as  J.  Ross  Ilanna.  I  settled  on  a  farm  of 
my  own  in  Henderson  county  in  1851,  and  followed  farming  on  w^hat 
is  known  as  Cedar  farm  until  the  fall  of  1864,  when,  being  somewhat 
disgusted  with  the  kind  of  im])lements  farmers  had  to  work  with, 
especially  ])lows  and  cultivators,  I  resolved  to  go  into  the  manufactur- 
ing business.  In  that  year,  Messrs.  W.  S.  Weir,  Dr.  W.  B.  Boyd, 
and  myself,  formed  a  joint  stock  company  for  the  purpose  of  manufac- 
turing farm  implements,  with  a  capital  stock  of  $25,000.  At  the  end 
of  fourteen  years  we  found  our  ca})ital  had  increased  to  $1,000,000, 
after  having  paid  dividends  to  the  amount  of  $163,000.  In  order  to 
do  this  we  have  had  to  make  good  goods  and  lots  of  them,  and  inasmuch 
as  we  warranted  our  goods  to  give  perfect  satisfaction  or  no  sale,  I  flat- 
ter myself  that  we  have  been  doing  some  good,  not  only  to  ourselves, 
but  to  our  fellow-men.  We  have  a  shop  capacity  for  about  six  hundred 
men,  and  still  we  have  a  demand  for  all  we  can  make.  I  am  now 
president  of  the  Monmouth  Mining  and  Manufacturing  Company,  and 
have  been  for  some  years.  Since  my  connection  with  it  we  have  grad- 
ually been  paying  off  the  indebtedness,  and  we  are  now,  although 
about  $19,000  in  debt,  increasing  our  capacity  about  flfty  per  cent, 


980  HISTOKY    OF   MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

by  yearly  enlarging  our  buildings  and  putting  up  more  kilns.     AVe 
have  learned,  by  seven  or  eight  years'  experience,  how  to  make  good 
goods.     This  gives  us  a  demand  for  all  we  can  make,  and  more  too. 
There  is  no  investment  that  a  farmer  can  make  which  will  bring  a 
better  return  than  to  buy  tiling  and  under  drain  his  wet  land.     I  am, 
and  have  been,  president  of  the  Monmouth  National  Bank  for  seven  or 
eight  years  past.     While  I  can  com])liment  our  patrons  on  the  fact 
that  we  have  lost  less  than  $500  by  them  in  all  this  time,  I  am  proud 
to  be  able  to  say  that  they  have  not  lost  anything  by  us,  and  I  trust 
they  never  will.    I  am  now  engaged  in  building  a  railroad  from  Peoria, 
Illinios,  to  Keithsburg,  on  the  Mississippi.     We  commenced  this  en- 
terprise in  1875.     I  was  elected  president  at  our  lirst  meeting,  which 
position  I  still  hold.     We  commenced  with  an  empty  treasury,  and 
have  held  our  own  pretty  well  ever  since.     I  speak  advisedly  on  this 
point,  as  I  am  treasurer  as  well  as  president.     We  now  have  twenty- 
five 'miles  of  road  completed  and  are  running  two  trains  daily  each  way 
from  Peoria  to  Farmington.     We  have  most  of  the  grading  done  on 
the  entire  line,   ties  paid  for,   and  the  bridging  completed  for  fifty 
miles,  costing  us  so  far  about  $4:50,000,  and  no  bonded  debt,  except 
$13,000.     To  every  man  who  subscribes  a  dollar  or  more,  we  issue  cer- 
tificates entitling  the  holder  to  a  credit  of  twenty-five  per  cent  on  each 
bill  for  freight,  or  in  payment  for  one-thousand-mile  tickets,  so  that 
all  subscribers  will  lose  will  be  the  interest  on  their  subscription  from 
the  time  they  pay  it  until  they  can  ride  or  ship  it  out.     When  this  is 
done,  who  will  own  the  road  ?  do  you  ask.     I  answer  that  the  men 
who  had  the  nerve  to  advance  the  necessary  money,  until  such  time 
and  to  such  a  point  as  will  enable  them  to  realize  on  their  bonds.     I 
have  been  twice  mayor  of  the  city  of  Monmouth.     In  matters  of  relig- 
ion, I  believe  that  the  grace  of  God  will  finally  restore  to  happiness 
the  whole  family  of  mankind.     I  believe  that  holiness  and  happiness 
are  inseparabh^  connected,  and  that  the  onlv  way  to  be  happy  is  to  be 
good.     I  have  never  connected  myself  with  any  church  or  religious 
society,  neither  with  a  secret  organization  of  any  kind.     I  was  born  a 
democrat,  raised  a  democrat,  and  expect  to  die  a  democrat,  if  the  old 
party  does  not  die  before  I  do.     I  would  like  to  say  a  few  words  to 
those  who  are  finding  fault  with  railroad,  banking,  and  manufacturing 
corporations,  and  middle-men  generally.     I  have  been  on  both  sides  of 
the  counter,  and  know  of  a  truth  how  it  is  by  experience,  the  best  of 
teachers.     I  have  plowed  corn  from  early  morn  till  dewy  eve,  row  by 
row,  three  times  in  row  with  an  old  rusty  iron  shovel,  bought  directly 
from  the  country  blacksmith,  which  I  had  stocked  myself,  without  the 
intervention  of  a  middle-man,  and  fed  the  corn  thus  raised  to  hogs, 


.  OQUAWKA   TOWNSHIP.  981 

and  sold  them  in  tlie  metropolis  of  Henderson  county  for  $1.50  per 
hundred,  net.  I  have  swung  the  cradle  to  cut  our  wheat,  bound  it 
with  bloody  lingers,  threshed  it  out  by  driving  horses  over  it,  with  an 
ox  team  hauled  it  to  market  to  Chicago,  200  miles  away,  and  sold  it 
for  forty-six  cents  a  bushel.  I  know  by  experience  that  we  had  not 
one-tenth  of  the  luxuries  we  now  have.  The  fact  is,  railroads  have 
made  this  country,  and  a  combination  of  capital  has  enabled  manufac- 
turers to  put  in  improved  machinery  and  manufacture  goods  of  a 
quality  and  at  a  price  never  dreamed  of  by  a  cross-roads  mechanic. 
The  true  policy,  in  my  opinion,  and  I  charge  nothing  for  it,  is  for  every 
man  to  follow  the  vocation  for  which  he  is  best  fitted  by  nature,  if  it  is 
nothing  but  raising  pop-corn,  and  exchange  his  products  with  some  one 
who  is  better  fitted  to  supply  his  other  wants.  Every  article  should  be 
raised  or  manufactured  where  it  can  be  the  best  and  cheapest,  and  sold 
where  it  will  bring  the  greatest  net  results,  without  restriction  in  any 
way,  or,  in  other  words,  free  trade  between  man  and  man,  this  wide 
world  over." 

Hon.  Hiram  Rose,  the  subject  of  these  memoirs  is  another  exam- 
ple of  success  as  a  crown  for  self  efifort  and  an  upright  life.  His  notes 
would  be  incomplete  without  brief  reference  to  his  parents.  His  father, 
Jeremiah  Rose,  was  born  in  Charlestown,  Maine,  and  there  spent  most 
of  his  life.  When  yet  a  youth  he  enlisted  in  the  revolutionary  war. 
He  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Snow,  daughter  of  the  well  known  Dr. 
Snow,  of  Maine.  Four  sons  and  four  daughters  were  born  to  them 
and  raised  in  Charlestown.  The  sons  became  vigorous,  useful  men. 
Moses  became  a  member  of  the  legistature  and  state  senator.  He  also 
occupied  other  positions  of  trust.  He  died  December  31,  1880. 
Hirnm  was  the  second  son.  Joseph  was  a  successful  farmer.  He  was 
killed  by  a  falling  tree.  Elbridge  filled  several  local  positions  of  pub- 
lic trust.  The  daughters  were  intelligent,  industrious  educators.  They 
were  Polly,  Abigail,  Patliia,  and  Abigail  dying,  the  name  was  given 
to  the  youngest  daughter,  who  is  now  Mrs.  Rev.  Calvin  Millet.  Mrs. 
(Snow)  Rose,  was  a  woman  of  noble  character.  She  died  in  1812,  of 
cancer.  When  her  husband  and  hojs  were  drafted  into  the  Aroostock 
war,  Hiram  said  to  his  mother,  "-Mother,  how  will  you  get  along  with- 
out us  ?  "  She  replied,  "Clod  bless  you,  go  and  do  your  duty  to  your 
country  and  come  home  like  men."  No  tears  were  shed.  Jeremiah 
Rose  continued  at  Charlestown.  About  twentj^  miles  fi-om  Charlestown, 
and  three  miles  east  of  Bangor,  is  the  old  Rose  Place,  so  named  from 
the  fact  that  the  father  and  two  brothers  of  Jeremiah  were  there  drowned 
in  the  Penobscot  river.  In  October,  1854,  Mr.  Rose  thought  to  visit 
his  son  Hiram,  at  Oquawka,  Illinois.     Although  about  ninety  years  of 


982  HISTORY    OF   FIERCER    AND    HEISTDERSON    COUNTIES. 

age,  he  made  the  trip.  He  renuiiiied  with  liis  son  in  Oqiiawka  till  his 
death,  January  23,  1S56.  He  was  buried  in  Oquawka  cemetery. 
Hiram  Kose,  to  whose  memory  these  notes  are  prepared,  and  whose 
portrait  is  in  this  work,  was  born  in  Charlestown,  Maine,  January  6, 1807. 
At  the  age  of  fourteen  years  he  was  apprenticed  to  learn  the  trade  of 
blacksmithing.  Possessing  but  a  frail  constitution,  he  was  obliged  to 
abandon  his  trade  at  the  age  of  nineteen.  His  father  being  a  poor 
man,  Pliram's  education  was  limited  to  that  gained  at  home.  But  un- 
der this  disadvantage  he  and  his  brothers  jnished  on  to  success.  At 
the  age  of  twenty-four  he  engaged  in  mercantile  pursuits.  One  year 
later  he  located  at  Newport,  Maine,  where,  in  company  with  the  Hon. 
Fred.  Kay,  he  carried  on  merchandising  and  lumbering.  In  1850  Mi*. 
Eose  made  a  trip  west,  coming  by  stage  from  Chicago  to  Galesburg. 
The  railroad  question  was  at  that  time  incubating  and  Mr.  Rose  was 
requested  to  speak  in  its  favor.  He  delivered  railroad  speeches  at 
Galesburg  and  other  places.  In  1851  he  settled  in  Oquawka,  Illinois, 
where,  in  company  with  his  old  partner,  Mr.  Fred.  Ray,  he  engaged 
in  the  lumber  business.  They  also  became  proprietors  of  the  Pioneer 
Hotel.  After  embarking  in  business  here,  he  was  tendered  a  promis- 
ing position  in  the  railroad  company,  but  declined.  He  continued  his 
business.  At  the  end  of  three  years  Mr.  Rose  closed  his  hotel  busi- 
ness and  became  engaged  in  the  land  business,  which  proved  a  success- 
ful undertaking.  After  several  years  he  devoted  his  time  to  the  im- 
provement of  a  290  acre  farm,  which  was  left  as  a  support  for  those  who 
had  aided  him  in  his  labors.  Mr.  Rose  never  devoted  himself  alto- 
gether to  himself,  but  lived  also  for  others.  July  23,  1841,  he  was 
commissioned  by  the  governor  of  Maine,  colonel  of  the  4th  reg.,  1st 
Brig.,  8tli  Div.,  Maine  militia.  September  IT,  1842,  was  promoted  to 
Brigadier  General,  1st.  Brig.,  8th  Div.  March  29,  1844,  again  pro- 
moted Major  General  of  the  8tli  Div.  In  1843-4  he  represented  the* 
10th  district  in  the  Maine  state  senate.  November  22,  1845,  he  was 
appointed  postmaster  of  Newport,  Penobscot  county,  Maine.  After 
his  removal  to  Illinois  he  was  appointed  by  Maine  as  commissioner  for 
Illinois'.  In  Henderson  county  he  made  many  friends,  who  chose  him 
in  1857,  to  represent  them  in  the  state  senate  in  the  twentieth  general 
assembly.  There  he  labored  to  secure  the  charter  for  the  proposed 
railroad  to  Oquawka.  At  home  he  was  connected  with  the  city  gov- 
ernment. But  active  lives  must  cease  as  well  as  those  more  plodding. 
Mr.  Rose  succumbed  to  death's  call  February  1,  1879.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years  he  was  converted  and  united  with  the  Baptist 
church.  A  year  afterward  he  became  a  member  of  the  masonic  fra- 
ternity.    In  Oquawka  he  was  a  charter  member  of  the  masonic  lodge. 


OQUAWKA   TOWNSHIP.  983 

He  died  leaving  many  friends  and  a  loving  wife  and  five  adopted 
cliildren.  He  was  laid  to  rest  by  the  side  of  his  father,  in  Oquawka 
cemetery.  His  marriage  took  ])lace  iirst  in  Newport,  when  twenty-two 
years  old,  to  Miss  Parthena  Miles,  of  Newport.  She  died  in  1S54,  of 
cholera,  in  Oquawka.  Mr.  Kose  was  married  May  6,  1855,  to  Miss 
Hannah  Main,  of  Newport,  Maine.  She  is  a  daughter  of  William  and 
Betsy  (Snow)  Main.,  William  Main  was  a  native  of  Rochester,  New 
Hampshire,  and  his  wife,  Betsy  Snow,  was  a  daughter  of  Dr.  Stephen 
Snow,  of  Maine.  Both  died  in  Maine.  Dr.  Snow,  the  grandfather  of 
Mrs.  Rose,  lived  to  be  102  years  old,  dying  on  the  evening  of  his 
birthday.  He  was  very  widely  known.  Mrs.  Rose  was  born  April 
8,  1829,  in  New})ort.  No  children  have  been  born,  but  five  children 
have  been  adopted  and  raised  by  Mr.  Rose :  Hiram  Rowell,  or  Hiram 
Rose,  as  he  was  known,  who  died  in  Henderson  county,  September 
23,  1877,  aged  forty-eight  years  ;  Frances  Merrill,  now  Mrs.  James 
Staples,  of  St.  Cloud,  Minnesota ;  Mary  Rise,  who  died  November  29, 
1868  ;  Lizzie  Rise,  now  Mrs.  Winfield  McCullom,  of  Burlington, 
Iowa  ;  and  Agnes  M.  Hart,  now  living  with  Mrs.  Rose.  All  the 
children  adopted  Mr.  Rose's  name. 

Eugene  A.  Hail,  editor  and  proprietor  of  the  Henderson  county 
"Journal,"  was  born  December  26,  1850.  His  father,  William  S. 
Hail,  is  a  native  of  Franklin,  Kentucky,  and  his  mother,  Margaret 
(Chapman)  Hail,  of  Kentucky,  near  the  Tennesse  line.  William  S. 
Hail  followed  saddlery  for  a  time  in  Kentucky,  then  moved,  about 
1832,  to  Macomb,  Illinois,  where  he  yet  lives.  In  Macomb  he  en- 
gaged at  his  trade,  also  speculated  in  lands,  loaned  money,  etc.  But 
security  for  others  proved  his  failure  in  business.  He  then  engaged  in 
the  drug  business.  For  several  years  he  was  deputy  county  clerk. 
During  the  war  he  was  one  year  in  the  quartermaster's  department. 
Eugene  A.  Hail  is  one  of  a  family  of  eight  children.  He  was  educated 
in  the  common  schools.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  years  he  entered  the 
office  of  the  Macomb  "Journal,"  on  which  paper  he  worked  about  four 
years.  He  has  since  been  continuously  in  the  publishing  business.  In 
1872  he  became  proprietor  of  the  Henderson  county  "Journal,"  con- 
tinuing little  more  than  a  year.  In  1878,  in  August,  he  resumed  con- 
trol of  the  "Journal."  Since  that  time  the  "Journal"  has  prospered 
till  to-day.  Although  so  young  it  enjoys  a  circulation  equal  to  any 
paper  in  the  county.  It  is  devoted  to  the  furtherance  of  republican 
principles  and  the  interests  of  the  county  and  surrounding  territory. 
It  is  a  folio,  seven  column  paper,  and  does  credit  to  its  editor.  April 
25,  1875,  Mr.  Hail  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Lena  Iseminger, 
daughter  of  J.  M.  Iseminger,  of  Macomb,  and  a  native  of  Illinois. 


984  HISTORY   OF   MERCEK   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

John  W.  Brock  is  a  native  of  what  is  now  Otterville,  Jersey 
county,  Illinois.  He  was  born  May  16,  1837.  His  father  was  from 
Virginia,  and  his  mother  from  Georgia.  Both  emigrated  west  about 
1818.  In  1819  his  father  accompanied  his  (the  father's)  brother-in-law 
from  St.  Louis  to  Council  Bluffs,  where  the  latter  had  contracted  to 
supply  the  post  of  that  place  with  suj)plies.  The  trip  consumed  the 
summer.  The  journey  was  made  in  keel  boat^  propelled  by  oars, 
sail  or  cordell,  as  circumstances  necessitated  or  permitted.  The  parents 
of  Mr.  Brock  were  married  in  1827  and  settled  the  farm  on  which 
John  W.  was  born  two  years  later.  Until  eighteen  years  of  age  John's 
summers  were  passed  in  farm  labor,  while  the  winters  afforded  him 
opportunities  for  school  and  home  study.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he 
entered  McKendree  college,  from  which  he  graduated  in  June,  1858, 
with  the  degree  Bachelor  of  Science.  From  1859  to  1861  he  taught 
school  at  Elsah,  Illinois.  In  August,  1861,  he  enlisted  at  Camp  Butler 
as  second  lieutenant  in  Co.  D,  27th  111.  Inf.,  serving  his  country  till 
November,  1863,  when  he  resigned  on  account  of  disability.  He  was 
engaged  in  the  battles  of  Belmont,  Farmington,  Stone  River,  Chicka- 
mauga  and  several  minor  engagements.  In  the  fall  of  1865  he  en- 
gaged in  the  general  merchandise  business  in  Madisonville,  East  Ten- 
nessee, which  he  continued  about  two  years.  Decline  of  prices  from 
those  of  war  times  to  those  of  peace  proved  injurious  to  his  interest, 
causing  failure  in  this  project.  Madisonville  is  the  county  seat  of  Mon- 
roe county.  While  in  the  goods  business  he  was  city  postmaster.  In 
1867  he  was  elected  county  superintendent  of  schools  in  that  county, 
and  immediately  became  engaged  in  j)utting  into  successftil  operation 
the  "free  school  system."  In  1868  Mr.  Brock  went  to  Florida,  where 
he  was  in  the  saw  milling  business  at  Live  Oak.  While  there  he 
acted  as  one  of  the  county  boai-d  of  education.  He  was  also  appointed 
colonel  of  the  13th  regiment  of  state  militia  by  the  governor.  Soon 
after  going  to  Florida  he  was  married  to  Miss  Maria  Parshley,  who,  in 
1866,  had  removed  from  Ohio  to  Florida  with  her  parents.  In  the 
spring  of  1873  Mr.  Brock  moved  to  Missouri  ;  in  the  fall  of  1874  to 
Mount  Vernon,  Illinois  ;  then  to  Quincy.  In  July,  1875,  he  was 
ordered  to  Sagetown,  now  Gladstone,  Henderson  county,  Blinois,  by 
Gen.  John  Tillson,  United  States  internal  revenue  collector  at  Quincy, 
to  take  charge  of  the  distillery  at  that  place,  seized  by  the  government 
on  account  of  some  crookedness.  He  remained  its  custodian  about  a 
year.  In  the  fall  of  1876  he  took  charge  of  the  school  at  Gladstone, 
remaining  its  principal  for  five  consecutive  years.  In  1881  he  was 
principal  of  the  Oquawka  public  schools.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brock's  chil- 
dren have  numbered  three,  two  boys  that  died  in  infancy,  and  one  girl, 
Georgia,  now  about  eleven  years  old. 


p.    D .  S  A  L  T  E:  R 


OQUAWKA   TOWNSHIP.  987 

Alexander  Andersox  (deceased)  was  born  in  York  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, June  5,  1817.  His  parents,  Thomas  and  Elizabeth  Anderson, 
were  natives  of  Scotland,  emigrating  to  America  when  children. 
Thomas  Anderson  was  a  farmer  and  stock-drover.  He  was  murdered 
near  Lancaster,  Pennsylvania,  at  a  tavern.  He  had  considerable 
money  with  him.  Nothing  but  his  coat  was  ever  found.  His  wife  died 
March  6,  1816,  aged  sixty-seven  years,  eight  months  and  twenty-four 
days.  In  their  family  were  five  sons  and  one  daughter.  Alexander 
Anderson  was  raised  on  the  farm  in  Pennsylvania.  When  a  young 
man  he  came  to  Henderson  county  (1841),  and  purchased  the  S.  E.  |- 
of  Sec.  32,  T.  \)  N.,  R.  5  W.  This  farm  he  improved.  He  was  mar- 
ried February  22,  1844,  to  Harriet  C.  Davis,  daughter  of  Abner  and 
Lucy  (Oaks)  Davis,  noticed  in  the  county  history.  Mrs.  Anderson  was 
born  in  1824.  Mr.  Anderson  died  February  12,  1854,  aged  thirty-six 
years,  eight  months  and  seven  days.  He  left  a  wife  and  four  children  : 
James  O.,  Lauretta  (who  died  June  13,  1854,  aged  six  years,  five 
months  and  twenty-six  days),  Ada  Ella  (who  died  June  13,  1854, 
aged  three  years,  six  months  and  twenty-five  days),  and  Charles  A. 
James  O.  is  noticed  elsewhere. 

Dr.  Samuel  LL  Ruple,  the  fifth  child  in  a  family  of  twelve  chil- 
dren, was  born  in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania,  July  19,  1818. 
His  father,  James  Ruple,  was  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  and  when  four 
years  old  was  brought  by  his  parents  to  the  keystone  state.  He  was  a 
carpenter  and  machinist  by  trade.  He  was  of  some  political  promi- 
nence, receiving  tlie  appointment  of  clerk  of  the  courts  from  Gov. 
Shultz,  of  Pennsylvania.  He  served  in  this  capacity  fourteen  years. 
He  married  Diana  Goodrich  in  Washington,  Pennsylvania,  and  there 
their  children  were  born  and  their  own  deaths  occurred.  Both  were 
members  of  the  Baptist  church,  he  having  been  church  clerk  over  forty 
years.  He  was  first  lieutenant  in  the  war  of  1812.  Gen.  Jackson 
frequently  passed  through  Washington.  At  such  times  Mr.  Ruple  was 
chairman  of  committee  on  reception.  Samuel  H,  Ruple  busied  his 
early  years  in  the  common  schools,  as  much  as  a  weakly  constitution 
would  permit.  He  entered  Washington  College  in  1840.  Part  of  his 
time  was  occupied  in  teaching.  His  course  of  study  at  college  was 
irregular  on  account  of  poor  health.  He,  however,  pursued  the  study 
of  the  languages  and  science.  September  24,  1851,  the  honorary 
degree  of  master  of  arts  was  conferred  upon  him  by  Washington  Col- 
lege. He  already  had  received  a  call  to  the  professorship  of  languages 
in  a  new  military  college  at  Tulip,  Dallas  county,  Arkansas.  Sickness, 
liowever,  prevented  the  acceptance.  He  spent  three  years  as  principal 
of  the  public  schools  of  Washington ;  also  held  similar  positions  in 
56 


988  HISTORY    OF   MERCEK   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

• 

other  towTis.  In  1856  he  traveled  in  Pennsylvcinia  and  Kentucky  as 
lecturing  and  iinancial  agent  of  the  American  Bibie  Union.  His  own 
poor  health  induced  liim  to  study  medicine  for  his  own  benefit.  He 
read  with  several  different  j^hvsicians,  the  principal  of  whom  was 
Dr.  AValter,  who  died  at  Monmouth,  Illinois,  a  short  time  since.  He 
also  attended  lectures  irregularly  at  the  Jefferson,  and  the  Pennsyl- 
vania, also  a  short  time  at  the  Ohio  Medical  College,  of  Cincinnati. 
For  awhile  he  ]:)racticed  medicine  in  his  native  state.  In  1859  he 
located  in  Oquawka,  where  he  has  followed  his  profession  with  suc- 
cess. He  has  always  been  an  active  member  of  the  Baptist  cliurch ; 
was  ordained  a  Baptist  muiister  by  the  Washington  (Pennsylvania) 
congregation.  Here  his  services  were  very  valuable  in  church  and 
Sunday-school.  Politically  Dr.  Ruple  was  raised  a  democrat,  but  the 
firing  on  Fort  Sumter  caused  him  to  reflect  and  change  his  poHcy ;  he 
has  since  been  a  strong  republican.  Dr.  Puple  was  married  in  1847  to 
Sarah  J.  Parkinson,  a  native  of  AYest  Yirginia.  Five  children  have 
been  born  to  them.  W.  C.  Euple,  M.D.,  son  of  the  above,  was  born 
May  8,  1849,  in  Washington,  Pennsylvania.  He  received  a  common 
school  education  and  graduated  in  medicine  from  the  Keokuk  Medical 
College  in  1878.  He  also  studied  dentistry  in  Oquawka.  He  practiced 
medicine  for  a  short  time,  but,  preferring  dentistry,  gives  most  of  his 
time  to  that  department  of  practice.  He  was  married  October  3,  1877, 
to  Etta  Ziegler,  daughter  of  J.  H.  Ziegler,  of  Oquawka.  She  was 
born  in  Oquawka  in  1858.     Her  people  settled  in  Oquawka  in  1854. 

William  and  Agnes  (Petrie)  Moir,  natives  of  Forres,  Scotland,  emi- 
grated to  America  in  1833.  Their  oldest  son,  Alexander,  went  to 
Demarara,  in  1828,  and  came  to  New  York  city  in  1844.  He  returned 
to  Scotland,  but  came  back  to  America,  and  in  1847  to  Oquawka,  Illi- 
nois, where  he  died  September  21,  1858.  Their  sons  William  and 
James  emigrated  in  1831  and  1832,  respectively,  followed  by  their 
parents,  as  stated,  in  1833,  accompanied  by  the  other  brothers  and 
sister,  John,  Robert,  and  Agnes.  Their  residence  was  made  in  Xew 
York  city,  where  they  became  engaged  in  mercantile  business.  James 
came  to  Oquawka  in  1843,  William  and  Robert  in  1847.  For  fin-ther 
notes  on  the  Moirs  we  refer  the  reader  to  the  history  of  Oquawka. 

To  a  soldier  who  fought  and  bled  for  his  country,  these  lines  are 
dedicated.  Charles  W.  Green  was  born  June  17,  1834,  in  Herkimer 
county,  iSTew  York,  and  is  a  son  of  William  R.  and  Avis  (Burliugham) 
Green.  AYhen  Charles  was  very  small  his  parents  moved  to  Indiana, 
and  settled  in  the  woods  to  make  a  farm.  He,  Charles,  received  his 
schooling  more  in  hard  work  than  books.  In  184S  his  people  came  to 
Oquawka,  Illinois ;  Charles  hired  to  work  on  a  farm,  which  business 


OQUAWKA    TOWNSHIP.  989 

lie  followed  several  years.  January  1,  1857,  lie  was  married  to  Miss 
Florence  Armstrong,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Sarah  Armstrong,  of 
Oquawka.  She  was  born  in  Boston  August  11,  1840.  Mr.  Green 
continued  farming  till  his  ser\dces  were  needed  in  putting  down  the 
rebellion.  He  enlisted,  July  21,  1862,  in  Co.  G,  81th  111.  Inf.  At 
the  memorable  battle  of  Stone  river,  December  31,  1862,  he  was  pres- 
ent. Many  remember  the  snow  and  rain  that  fell.  Mr.  Green,  to 
protect  him  as  much  as  possible  during  the  night,  lay  on  some  rails 
and  under  a  stretcher.  The  terrible  day  of  carnage  dawned  on  hostile 
armie*.  In  battle  the  boys  in  blue  were  lying  low  that  the  enemy's 
fire  might  pass  above  them.  Soldier  Green  was  leaning  his  elbow  on 
a  rock,  aiming  and  firing  accurately.  He  was  shot  while  in  this  posi- 
tion, the  ball  grazing  his  nose,  passing  through  the  left  eye  completely 
destroj'ing  it.  He  reeled  and  fell.  His  comrade  at  once  called  him 
to  get  up  or  he  would  be  taken.  The  enemy  was  then  almost  upon  them. 
Green  replied  to  his  comrade  "Leave  me  alone."  then  again  he 
exclaimed  "Give  'em  h — 1,  Drummond!'''  He  kiiovv  nothing  more. 
Drummond  was  taken  prisoner.  The  rebels  rode  thick  and  close  to 
Green's  body,  whose  life  was  thought  to  have  gone  out.  He  lay  three 
days,  declared  dead  on  the  field  of  battle.  But  signs  of  life  were  at 
last  recognized.  It  was  Sunday  morning  a  week  after  the  battle  when 
he  distinguished  Surgeon  McDilFs  voice,  and  called  him.  The  snow 
and  rain  was  a  dream  to  him,  and  it  was  said  that  he  first  pronounced 
the  last  words  of  the  exclamation  he  addressed  to  his  comrade,  Drum- 
mond, when  shot.  Mr.  Green  was  discharged  February  9,  1863.  His 
eye  has  given  him  much  trouble,  it  having  been  necessary  to  probe  it  to 
remove  pieces  of  bone.  After  he  so  far  recovered  that  he  could  labor, 
he  was  em]:)lo_yed  by  John  McKinney,  of  Oquawka,  to  do  what  he  was 
able  in  the  store.  In  March,  186-1:,  he  undertook  to  learn  photography 
and  went  to  Kirkwood,  but  the  business  disagreeing  with  him  he 
returned  to  Oquawka.  He  became  assistant  postmaster.  November 
5,  1864,  he  was  sworn  postmaster,  and  has  deservingly  held  the  office 
since.  In  politics  Mr.  Green  was  a  democrat  at  the  opening  of  the 
war,  but  the  rebellion  made  him  a  republican.  He  has  a  family  of 
two  children,  George  R.,  and  Raymond. 

John  Biggs  was  born  in  Manchester,  England,  in  1802.  His  father 
was  crushed  to  death  by  an  engine  when  John  was  about  fourteen  years 
of  age,  necessitating  many  se.vere  experiences  in  the  career  of  the  boy. 
He  became  ship-boy  on  the  Queen  Charlotte,  in  the  British  navy,  and 
took  part  in  the  battle  of  Algiers.  He  ^dsited  many  parts  of  the  world. 
About  1820,  at  the  age  of  eighteen  years,  he  landed  in  New  England. 
He  subsequently  secured  a  situation  in  a  factory  in  Philadelphia.     He 


990  HISTORY    OF    MERCER    AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

next  spent  about  ten  rears  in  building  mills  and  cotton  factories  in 
Texas.  In  1S43,  Mr.  Biggs  came  to  Oquawka,  but  soon  purchased 
the  Eobinson  and  Birdsall  Houring  mills  near  what  is  now  Biggsville. 
The  floods  soon  washed  the  mill  awav,  and  Mr.  Biggs  erected  the 
present  flouring  mills  of  Biggsville.  He  was  an  excellent  workman, 
and  highly  respected.  His  death  occurred  December  30,  1852. 
Biggsville  is  so  named  in  his  honor.  His  oldest  son,  AVilliam,  was 
killed  about  two  week  previous,  crushed  by  the  burrs.  Of  his  children, 
one  is  buried  in  Texas,  one  in  Philadelphia,  and  one  in  Soutli  Hen- 
derson. Three  daughters  living,  are  Mrs.  Mary  Barton,  Mrs.  Margaret 
Jempson,  and  Caroline.  Of  his  sons,  Thomas  enlisted  in  Co.  G,  84th 
111.  Vol.,  and  died  in  the  hospital  near  Nashville.  Iram  is  one  of  the 
proprietors  of  the  "Galesburg  Plaindealer.''  John  is  foreman  in  the 
''Madisonian"' printing  office.  Mrs.  Biggs  (Charlotte  Ord way),  widow 
of  the  deceased,  John  Biggs,  resides  with  the  son,  Kobert,  in  Oquawka. 
Robert  was  born  July  2-i,  1839.  In  August,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  Co. 
C,  91st  111.  He  was  captured  by  Morgan  in  1862.  He  afterward  was 
engaged  at  Mobile,  Blakely,  and  Spanish  Fort.  Since  the  war  closed 
Robert  Biggs  has  been  a' faithful  clerk  of  the  Moirs. 

James  O.  Anderson,  sheriff  of  Henderson  county,  is  a  son  of  Alex- 
ander and  Harriet  (Davis)  Anderson.  He  was  born  August  1,  1845, 
in  Henderson  county,  Illinois.  His  youth  was  spent  on  the  farm. 
His  education  was  largely  derived  from  public  schools,  yet  he  was  a 
student  at  Monmouth  College  during  the  early  part  of  the  war.  He 
was  too  young  for  service  at  the  outbreak,  but  as  soon  as  age  would 
allow,  he  could  not  restrain  the  desire  to  do  what  he  could  toward  put- 
ting down  the  cruel  slaughter,  so  enlisted  May  6,  1864,  in  Co.  A,  138th 
111.  He  was  discharged  after  about  four  months'  service.  He  then 
re-enlisted  in  Co.  H,  28th  111.,  and  served  till  1866.  In  his  last  term  of 
service  he  aided  in  the  capture  of  Mobile.  He  enlisted  a  private  each 
time,  but  in  his  second  service  was  promoted  to  sergeant,  then  orderly 
sergeant.  Was  commissioned  second  lieutenant,  but  the  company  be- 
ing below  the  number  required  in  order  to  claim  commissioned  officers, 
he  could  not  muster  as  such.  The  war  over,  he  returned  to  his  home  and 
engaged  in  farming  till  1876,  when  he  was  elected  sheriff"  of  Henderson 
county,  and  re-elected  in  1878  and  1880.  Mr.  Anderson  was  married 
March  6,  1867,  to  Rhoda  B.  Paul,  daughter  of  Judge  M.  C.  Paul,  of 
Terre  Haute,  Illinois.  She  was  born  in  New  York,  Jefferson  county, 
October  28,  1844.  Three  children  have  been  born  to  them :  Francis 
M.,  Edwin  A.,  and  EvaM.  Mr.  Anderson  is  prominent  in  both  odd- 
fellowship  and  masonry,  and  a  leading  member  of  the  Methodist 
church. 


OQDAWKA   TOWNSHIP.  901 

Asa  Smith,  dealer  iu  lumber  and  staves,  has  been  a  resident  oi' 
Oquawka  about  tliirty-six  years,  actively  engaged  in  business,  or  at 
trade.  His  parents,  Ezra  and  Lydia  (Brooks)  Smith,  were  natives  of 
Connecticut.  They  moved  to  Ohio  in  1818,  and  there  died.  He  was 
a  house  joiner  and  miller  by  trade.  Mrs.  Smith  had  been  married 
before,  having  a  family  of  two  children  by  her  first  husband.  In  the 
second  family  were  three  children,  of  whom  Asa  Smith  is  the  oldest. 
He  was  born  January  13,  1812,  in  Saybrook,  Middlesex  county,  Con- 
necticut. His  early  life  was  mostly  rustic.  When  he  was  six  years 
old  his  parents  moved  to  Ohio.  The  youth  enjoyed  fair  educational 
advantages,  which  he  improved.  He  early  worked  with  his  father  at 
house-joining,  also  on  a  farm.  He  followed  the  trade  at  Cleveland 
awhile,  also  farmed.  Mr.  Smith  was  married  January  1,  1840,  to  Miss 
Esther  Patterson,  daughter  of  Lewis  and  Lucy  Patterson.  She  was 
born  in  Vermont  in  1817.  After  marriage  Mr.  Smith  farmed  till  1846, 
when  he  came  to  Oquawka,  bringing  his  wife  and  one  child,  Angeline. 
Mr.  Smith  engaged  in  the  daguerreotype  business,  also  kept  a  book- 
store in  connection  with  the  gallery  for  a  couple  of  years.  In  1857  he 
engaged  exclusively  in  lumber  and  stoves,  which  he  continues.  He 
and  wife  are  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  Mr.  Smith  was 
born  a  whig,  and  with  the  budding  of  republicanism  he  has  been  true 
to  that  party.     He  has  served  a  number  of  times  as  town  trustee. 

Rauseldon  Cooper,  the  present  state's  attorney  'for  Llenderson 
county,  was  born  December  24,  1845,  neai*  Milton,  Wayne  county, 
Indiana.  His  parents  were  John  and  Martha  Cooper.  At  the  age  of 
two  years  his  mother  died,  and  he  was  sent  to  live  with  his  grand- 
motlier,  Elizabeth  Cooper,  and  his  uncle  Moses  Cooper,  who  lived  in 
the  vicinity  where  he  was  born.  In  1852  his  uncle  Moses  came  to 
Henderson  County,  bringing  young  Rauseldon  with  him,  and  settled 
in  Greenville  precinct.  He  attended  school  in  Aurora  district.  In 
1863  he  entered  Lombard  college,  at  Galesburg,  Illinois,  as  a  student, 
graduating  in  1869  with  the  degree  of  B.  S.  From  here  he  went  to 
his  father's,  who  had  married  again  and  was  living  in  Bald  Bluff  pre- 
cinct, where  he  engaged  in  farming.  Growing  weary  of  agricultural 
pursuits,  in  1873  he  entered  Michigan  University,  at  Ann  Arbor,  as  a 
student  of  law,  graduating  in  1875.  He  returned  to  Henderson  county 
and  selected  it  as  a  field  in  which  to  engage  in  practice,  and  located  at 
Oquawka.  He  was  elected  a  justice  of  the  peace  in  1877,  and  secretary 
of  the  Oquawka  school  board  in  1879.  In  1880  he  was  elected  to  his 
present  position.  September  14,  1875,  he  married  Miss  Susie  E., 
daughter  of  Opdike  Cummins,  Esq.,  of  Ann  Arbor,  Michigan,  by 
whom  he  has  three  children. 


992  HISTORY   OF    FIERCER   AXD    HEXDERSOX    COUJTTIES. 

Luke  Wadleigh.  It  is  supposed  that  all  the  Wadleighs  of  the 
United  States  are  descended  from  three  brothers  who  emigrated  from 
Scotland  to  America  some  240  years  ago.  Ephraim  Wadleigh  was 
born  in  Xew  Hampshire.  His  three  brothers  were  in  the  revolution, 
and  he  heard  the  guns  at  Lexington.  He  married  Miss  Little,  also  a 
native  of  New  Hampshire.  They  became  well-to-do.  In  ISOO  they 
sought  a  home  in  Canada  East,  settling  in  the  dense  forest  sixty  miles 
irom  any  place  where  provisions  could  be  had.  Their  experience  was 
at  times  bitter,  but  contentment  recompensed.  Mr.  Wadleigh  placed 
$•400  in  the  hands  of  the  man  of  whom  he  bought  his  tract  of  land,  for 
the  purpose  of  securing  a  charter  to  the  land.'  The  money  was 
squandered ;  the  man  returned  for  more  money ;  Mr.  AVadleigh  pre- 
vailed upon  him  to  appoint  him  to  go  to  Quebac  to  secure  the  charter. 
Leaving  his  family  in  the  dense  forest  alone,  he  started  for  Quebec 
on  foot  through  forest  and  over  stream.  He  was  detained  eighteen 
days  in  Quebec.  Finally,  the  charter  secured,  and  anxious  to  return  to 
his  family,  he  left  Quebec  at  two  o'clock  in  the  atternoon,  walking  at 
an  almost  incredible  speed  till  late  into  the  night,  then  sleeping  on  the 
floor  of  a  cabin  into  which  he  was  admitted  by  two  men  who  declared 
he  had  never  walked  from  Quebec  that  afternoon.  But  he  proved  his 
story  by  the  date  of  his  charter.  Early  morning  found  him  on  his 
journey.  In  little  more  than  three  days  he  arrived  home,  having 
walked  the  distance  of  about  180  miles,  through  the  wildest  country, 
sometimes  swimming  streams  with  his  clothes  on  his  back.  He  be- 
came wealthy  and  a  prominent  man,  taking  part  in  all  progressive 
measures.  He  died  June  12,  1852,  aged  eighty-two  years,  his  wife 
surviving  him  till  the  following  February.  Both  are  buried  in  Canada. 
Luke,  son  of  the  above,  was  the  youngest  of  eight  children.  He  was 
born  August  10,  1810,  in  Hatley,  Stanstead  county,  Canada  East. 
His  youth  was  spent  in  the  school  of  toil,  whose  book  was  nature  and 
whose  pencil  was  an  ax.  Many  a  hard  day''s  work  was  done  in  erasing 
the  old  forest  figures  from  the  old  blackboard,  earth.  His  father  gave 
him  a  year  and  a  half  of  his  time  and  settled  him  on  a  farm  of  160 
acres,  in  Sherbrook  county.  It  was  partly  improved.  Young  Wad- 
leigh went  to  work  clearing,  grubbing  and  tilling.  He  added  land 
until  he  owned  about  1,150  acres.  He  furnished  great  quantities  of 
timbers  for  railroads.  He  raised  cattle  and  fine  horses,  and  in  every 
way  became  successful.  He  was  made  school  commissioner  three 
years,  township  counselor  three  years,  then  county  counselor,  serving 
the  public  about  twelve  years.  Mr.  Wadleigh  was  married  October 
30,  1830,  to  Miss  Phebe  Howell,  a  native  of  Canada.  Four  children 
were  born  to  them :  Samuel  (now  of  Burlington,  Iowa),  Mary  (now 


oqua-v\t<:a  township.  993 

Mrs.  P.  H.  Chapin,  of  Kansas),  Ljdia  (now  Mrs.  Charles  Blandin,  of 
Blandinsville),  and  Jennie.  In  1856  Mr.  Wadleigh  made  his  home  in 
Oqiiawka,  Illinois,  where  he  engaged  in  the  hmiber  business.  He 
continued  this  imsuccessfull}'  for  a  time.  Since  that  he  has  superin- 
tended his  farms  near  Oquawka.  His  son  Samuel  resided  in  Oquawka 
some  time.  He  was  active  in  city  affairs.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wadleigh 
have  been  manv  years  members  of  the  Methodist  church.  Their  lives 
have  been  active  ones,  such  as  the  world  needs. 

Robert  Hodson,  perhaps,  does  a  business  more  extensive  than*  any 
other  firm  in  Oquawka  at  this  time.  Mr.  Hodson's  parents,  Thomas 
and  Sarah  (Atkinson)  Hodson,  were  natives  of  England.  In.  1836 
Thomas  Hodson  sent  his  wife  and  children  to  America,  where  his  wnfe's 
people  were  already  settled.  He  remained  to  settle  his  business  in 
England.  The  family  arrived  safely  at  Lancaster,  Pennsj'lvania. 
Word  was  received  by  the  family  that  Mr.  Hodson  would  sail  at  a  cer- 
tain date.  This  was  the  last  word  ever  received.  The  vessel  that  was 
to  start  at  that  time  was  lost  and  it  is  supposed  on  good  grounds  that 
he  was  lost  with  the  crew.  After  residing  a  year  in  Lancaster,  Penn- 
sylvania, the  family  moved,  with  Mrs.  Hodson's  brother,  to  Wellsville, 
Ohio,  remaining  there  about  ten  years.  Mrs.  Hodson  then  married 
and  came  with  her  husl)and  to  Indiana  ;  then  to  live  near  Peoria, 
where  she  died.  In  the  family  were  live  children,  one  of  whom  is 
dead:  John  A.,  in  the  grocer}^  business  at  Peoria;  James,  a  machinist 
in  Pennsylvania  ;  Thomas,  a  farmer  in  Missouri ;  and  Pobert.  Pobert 
Hodson,  the  third  child,  was  born  in  Yorkshire,  England,  April  11, 
1832,  hence  was  young  when  he  emigrated  and  when  deprived  of  his 
father's  guardian  care.  His  school  advantages  were  very  meager.  At 
twelve  vears  of  aa-e  he  left  home  to  learn  the  tinner's  trade  with  his 
brother  at  Pittsburg,  remaining  with  him  one  year.  Disliking  the 
business  he  went  to  live  with  a  farmer  Quaker,  Thomas  James,  with 
whom  he  lived  and  for  whom  he  worked  for  three  years,  receiving  his 
board  and  clothes  and  three  months  schooling  each  year  as  recompense. 
He  then  lived  with  his  mother  and  step-father  in  Indiana,  working  one 
summer  in  a  brick-yard,  then  on  a  farm,  when  he  again  made  his  home 
with  the  Quaker  flirmer  in  Ohio  and  attended  school  one  winter. 
Early  the  following  spring  he  started  to  Texas.  He  journeyed  as  far 
as  New  Orleans,  then  up  the  Mississippi  i-iver  to  Henderson  county, 
Illinois,  in  1846.  He  worked  nine  months  for  O.  Edmunds,  then  went 
to  the  pineries  on  Black  river.  There  he  remained  three  years  lumber- 
ing. In  the  fall  of  1851  he  returned  and  opened  a  small  store  in  Sho- 
kogan.  He  was  then  a  merchant.  In  the  spiing  of  1852  he  went  to 
California,  starting  April  20,  crossing  the  plains  with  ox  teams,  arriving 


994  HISTORY   OF   arERCER  AJSTD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

in  California  August  20th.  He  engaged  in  mining  with  consider- 
able success  until  1856,  when  he  returned  and  bought  the  Bake  inter- 
est in  the  Scott  &  Bake  saw-mill  at  Oquawka.  In  1857  he  sold.  He 
soon  engaged  in  the  drug  and  grocery  business  with  Caswell  and 
Bearce,  continuing  for  eight  years,  when  he  purchased  the  interests  of 
his  partners.  He  has  enlarged  his  business  since.  He  has  also  ship- 
ped considerable  stock  for  the  last  four  years.  He  also  superintends 
his  farming  interests.  The  official  tables  of  Oquawka  indicate  a  long 
local"  public  life,  significant  of  the  trust  the  people  repose  in  him.  Mr. 
Hodson  was  married  January  6,  1859,  to  Adaline  Phelps,  daughter  of 
Stephen  and  Phebe  (Chase)  Phelps.  She  was  born  in  Oquawka, 
November  29,  1838.  Her  early  playmates  were  tlie  little  Indians. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hodson's  children  have  nnmbered  three.  One  died  in 
infancy,  Arthur  when  a  little  boy,  and  Hattie  died  at  the  age  of 
sixteen. 

Judge  Richard  W.  Richey,  the  first  child  of  Andrew  and  Polly 
(West)  Richey,  was  born  in  Charlton,  Saratoga  county,  New  York, 
November  22,  1802.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Cambridge,  New 
York,  and  his  mother  of  Connecticut.  His  father  dying  when  he, 
Richard,  was  quite  young,  the  lad  received  but  little  schooling.  How- 
ever, his  spare  time  at  home  was  well  occupied  in  reading  good  books. 
He  early  worked  at  tanning  and  carpentering.  When  eighteen  years 
old  he  went  to  Cambridge,  where  he  engaged  in  tanning  and  currying 
business.  In  1823  he  married  Miss  Nellie  Green,  at  Cambridge,  and 
about  the  year  following  moved  to  Lake  village.  East  Greenwich, 
New  York,  where  lie  became  foreman  in  a  manufacturing  estab- 
lishment. There  his  wife  died.  She  was  the  mother  of  five  chil- 
dren. In  1840  Mr.  Richey  married  Agnes  Green  in  Ohio  and  that 
same  year  emigrated  to  Henderson  county  (then  Warren  county),  Illi- 
nois, and  settled  at  Walnut  Grove.  He  bought  eighty  acres  of  land 
on  which  he  built  a  log  cabin  18x50,  three  apartments  and  a  story 
and  a  half  high.  It  still  stands.  He  added  to  his  farm  and  also  to  his 
dwelling.  It  was  during  the  Mormon  disturbances  at  Nauvoo  that 
Mr.  Richey  was  summoned  by  Gov.  Ford,  of  Illinois,  to  raise  a  com- 
pany to  assist  in  preserving  peace.  He  had  already  raised  and  partly 
drilled  a  company  of  militia  at  Olena.  But  leaving  all,  he  visited  the 
governor  at  Nauvoo,  who  requested  him  to  take  command  of  the 
militia  there,  as  the  otticer  then  commanding  wished  to  be  relieved. 
However,  this  officer  concluding  to  remain  at  his  duty,  Mr.  Richey, 
after  witnessing  the  Mormon  atrocities,  returned  home.  In  1854  he 
was  elected  county  judge.  He  then  made  his  home  in  Oquawka,  that 
he  might  better  attend  to  legal  duty.     With  the  exception  of  four 


OQUAWKA   TOWNSHIP.  995 

years,  lie  held  this  responsible  position  till  1875.  He  was  elected 
squire  at  his  country  home  and  also  in  Oquawka.  He  has  served  on 
the  board  of  trustees  of  Oquawka.  In  1856  he  buried  his  companion. 
In  185Y  he  married  Mrs.  Cornelia  (Day)  Moir.  Mrs.  Richey  is  a  very 
early  resident  of  Oquawka,  having  made  her  home  here  in  1833,  as  the 
wife  of  Alexis  Phelps.  Late  years  Mr.  liichey  has  superintended  his 
farm,  but  is  retired  from  other  business.  In  politics  has  been  a  life 
long  democrat.  He  has  been  an  elder  in  the  Presbyterian  church  for 
many  years.  His  life  has  been  an  active  one  worthy  of  emulation. 
His  former  wives,  the  Greens,  were  cousins  to  the  Beveridges,  of  whom 
ex- Gov.  Beveridge  is  one. 

Dr.  Cephas  Park,  the  oldest  physician  of  Henderson  county  was 
born  in  Rutland  county,  Vermont,  November  8,  1819.  His  parents, 
John  and  Sophia  (Broughton)  Park,  were  natives  of  Vermont,  but 
finally  emigrated  to  Essex  county.  New  York  ;  then  to  Trumbull  county, 
Ohio.  John  Park  fought  in  the  war.  of  1812.  He  yet  survives  at  the 
age  of  eighty-six  years.  His  wife  died  in  1854  and  he  was  again  mar- 
ried. There  were  five  children  in  his  first  family  and  three  in  his 
second.  His  father  was  an  Englishman.  Cephas  Park,  the  second 
child  of  the  first  famih',  was  raised  on  the  farm  till  nineteen  years  old. 
To  that  time  he  had  attended  the  common  schools.  He  then  attended 
the  high  school  at  Warren,  Ohio,  about  two  years.  He  spent 
three  years  as  assistant  in  a  postofilce.  In  1846  he  began  reading 
medicine  with  Dr.  E.  Blachley,  of  Niles,  Ohio,  but  finished  reading 
with  Dr.  T.  B.  Wood,  of  Warren,  Ohio.  The  winter  of  1848-9 
he  attended  a  course  of  lectures  at  Cleveland,  Ohio,  in  the  medical 
department  of  Western  Reserve  College,  and  received  a  recommenda- 
tion as  a  practitioner.  He  started  west,  and  April  1,  1850,  arrived  in 
Oquawka.  Not  being  desirous  of  practicing  to  any  extent  till  having 
completed  his  course  of  study,  and  being  limited  in  means,  he  opened 
a  small  drug  store.  In  the  winter  of  1853-4  he  again  attended  college 
at  Cleveland,  graduating.  He  returned  to  Oquawka,  disposed  of  his 
drug  business,  and  gave  all  his  time  to  practice,  which  soon  became 
lucrative  and  successful.  In  1852  he  was  associated  with  Dr.  Snelling, 
and  in  1879  with  Dr.  Postlewait,  but  neither  partnership  continued 
very  long.  The  doctor  is  a  man  schooled  by  his  own  efi'orts  and  is 
what  is  known  as  a  "self-made  man."  He  has  accumulated  a  large 
farm.  Dr.  Park  was  married  in  Ashtabula  county,  to  Minerva  Patter- 
son, daughter  of  Lewis  and  Lucy  Patterson,  and  a  native  of  Ohio. 
Tliey  have  one  child.  Ida. 

Harry  F.  McAllister,  the  present  efficient  circuit  clerk,  was  born 
in  Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania,  April  27,  1840.  His  father  was 


996  HISTORY    OF   MERCER    AXD    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

born  near  Philadelphia.  He  was  of  Scotch  descent.  For  some  time 
prior  to  and  up  to  his  death  he  was  prothonotary  of  Westmoreland 
county.  Pennsylvania.  He  died  in  1S49.  His  wife  survives.  She  is 
also  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  H.  F.  McAllister  received  but  a 
limited  education,  as  his  father  died  when  Harry  was  yet  young,  leav- 
ing the  family  in  meager  circumstances.  At  the  age  of  fourteen  Harry 
began  clerking  in  Rock  Island,  Illinois.  He  next  spent  three  3^ears  in 
Milwaukee  and  vicinity,  in  making  abstracts  of  titles,  eminently  fitted  for 
such  work  by  his  etticiency  in  penmanship.  In  the  spring  of  1861  he 
came  to  Oquawka,  but  soon  went  to  Geneseo,  Illinois.  He  returned 
in  the  fall  to  Oquawka,  and  became  engaged  in  the  circuit  clerk's  office. 
He  continued  Mr.  Hugh  L.  Thomson's  deputy  circuit  clerk  until  1868, 
when  he  was  promoted  to  the  circuit  clerkship  by  the  ballot  of  the  peo- 
ple, and  has  been  re-elected  in  1872,  1876,  and  1880.  In  1866  he  was 
appointed  notary  public;  in  1872  master  in  chancery  for  Henderson 
county,  by  Judge  A.  A.  Smith.  In  1871  he  was  elected  township  treas- 
urer, all  of  which  offices  he  still  tills  with  credit.  For  the  past  six  years 
he  has  been  a  member  of  the  republican  state  central  committee.  He 
is  a  member  of  the  masonic  fraternity.  Mr.  McAllister  was  married 
August  30,  1866,  to  Miss  Esther,  daughter  of  Christian  and  Sarah 
(Nye)  Root,  a  native  of  New  York  State. 

Ct.  F.  William  Froehlich,  the  present  efficient  county  clerk,  was 
born  March  21,  1835,  in  Rheinisch,  Prussia,  and  is  the  seventh  child 
in  a  family  of  thirteen.  His  parents,  Peter  and  Johanna  Froehlich, 
were  natives  of  Rheinisch,  and  there  died.  Peter  Froehlich  was  a 
tanner  by  trade,  and  was  a  soldier  under  Napoleon  Bonaparte.  G.  F. 
Wm,  Froehlich,  the  subject  of  these  memoirs,  was  schooled  in  Prussia, 
graduating  from  the  higli  schc)ol  of  Bonn,  in  ]3reparation  for  college. 
He  relinquished  the  projected  college  course,  and  became  a  clerk  in  a 
chemical  factory  for  one  year.  In  1852,  in  May,  he  set  sail  at  Liver- 
pool, England,  on  the  vessel  AVarbler,  for  America.  After  fifty-two 
days''  sailing  the  vessel  reached  New  Orleans.  Mr.  Froehlich  came 
np  the  Mississippi  to  Warsaw,  Illinois,  but  very  soon  came  to  Oquawka, 
and  became  clerk  for  Frederick  Odendahl.  In  the  spring  of  1853  he 
went  to  W^arsaw  where  he  became  an  apprentice  to  the  harness  trade, 
working  two  and  a  half  years.  He  then  followed  the  trade  at  different 
places.  In  1859,  and  part  of  1860,  he  taught  a  German  American 
school.  W^hen  war's  cruel  tongue  called  for  brave  men  to  put  down 
rebellion  and  slavery,  Mr.  Froehlicli  thought  of  duty  to  country,  foi^ 
although  he  was  not  American  born,  he  was  an  American  citizen.  He 
enlisted  April  22,  1861,  in  Co.  D,  10th  111.  Inf.  from  Oquawka  for  the 
three  months'  service.     When  discharo;ed  he  re-enlisted  in  Co.  G,  10th 


OQUAWKA   TOWNSHIP,  997 

Mo.  Inf.,  of  wliicli  was  made  orderly  sergeant,  and  so  continued  till 
near  the  close  of  the  war.  The  principal  battles  in  w^hich  he  was 
engaged  were  :  Corintli,  luka,  second  Corinth,  Jackson,  Champion 
Hills,  siege  of  Vicksburg ;  was  in  the  Yazoo  Pass  expedition,  at  Mis- 
sionary Ridge,  and  much  skirmishing.  At  the  battle  of  Corinth,  Octo- 
ber 4,  1862,  he  was  wounded  in  the  forehead,  and  at  Champion  Hills 
May  16,  1863,  was  wounded  in  the  right  leg.  He  was  discharged  Sep- 
tember 11,  1864,  at.  Carterville,  (xecM'gia.  He  served  from  1864  to 
1865  in  the  ordnance  department  of  the  service.  In  1865  he  returned 
to  Oquawka  for  a  permanent  home.  He  engaged  as  clerk,  and  served 
as  constable  a  year.  He  then  became  dei)uty  sheriff.  In  1866  was 
made  deputy  assessor,  also.  In  1868  he  became  deputy  county,  and 
deputy  circuit,  clerk.  In  18T7  he  was  elected  county  clerk,  which 
office  he  still  holds  with  ability.  Since  1879  he  has  been  town  clerk, 
and  has  been  notary  public  for  a  number  of  years.  Mr.  Froehlich  was 
married  in  1865,  to  Mrs.  Margaret  Herbertz,  a  native  of  Prussia,  and 
whose  family  at  that  time  numbered  four  children.  Mr.  Froehlich  is 
deeply  interested  in  compiling  a  soldiers'  record,  and  deserves  aid  in 
gathering  biogra])liical  matter  pertaining  to  those  who  have  fought  the 
battles  of  the  union. 

Hon.  James  Peterson,  member  of  the  state  legislature,  was  born 
]N"ovember  19,  1838,  in  New  York  City,  His  education  was  such  as 
good  public  schools  afford.  The  larger  part  of  his  knowledge  is  of  that 
practical  sort  acquired  by  actual  experience  in  business.  His  youth 
was  mostly  spent  behind  his  father's  counter.  His  father  dying, 
James,  at  the  age  of  fourteen  years,  in  1 852,  came  to  Oquawka  and 
became  a  clerk  in  the  store  of  the  M<nr  Brothers,  his  uncles.  After 
the  death  of  James  and  William  Moir,  Mr.  Peterson  became  a  partner 
in  the  firm  of  Robert  Moir  ^  Co.  He  was  for  a  number  of  years 
cashier  of  the  Moir  Bank.  In  1875  he  retired.  His  chief  business 
since  has  been  in  loaning  funds.  Mr.  Peterson  has  devoted  a  part  of 
his  life  to  public  business.  He  was  an  alderman  when  Oquawka  was 
under  city  government.  He  has  taken  an  active  part  in  educational 
affairs.  In  1882  he  was  elected  to  the  state  legislature.  Among  his 
eff'orts  in  that  honorable  body  was  a  bill  to  compel  the  Chicago,  Bur- 
lingt(m  &  Quincy  Raili-oad  Company  to  pay  taxes  on  their  bridge  at 
Burlington.  The  bill  passed  the  house  but  was  defeated  in  the  senate, 
Mr,  Peterson  also  directed  the  apportionment  constituting  his  own 
senatorial  as  well  as  congressional  district,  Mr.  Peterson  is  a  staunch 
republican.  He  is  also  a  prominent  Mason,  having  been  worshipful 
master  ten  terms.  He  was  married  in  1874  to  Sadie,  daughter  of  Dr. 
S.  H.  Ruple,  of  Oquawka,  and  a  native  of  Washington,  Pennsylvania. 


998  HISTORY   OF   AMERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

Their  children  are  Genevieve,  James,  and  Sadie.  Mr.  Peterson's 
parents,  John  P.  and  Agnes  (Moir)  Peterson,  were  both  natives  of 
Forres,  Scothmd,  and  emigrated  in  earh^  life  to  i^ew  York  Citj. 
John  P.  Peterson  had  studied  medicine  ten  vears  in  the  colleges  of 
Edinburgh  and  Glasgow.  He  also  spent  one  year  as  surgeon  on 
a  fleet  to  Greenland.  He  graduated  an  M.D.  Upon  coming  to 
America  he  was  so  disgusted  in  finding  that  a  drug  clerk  was 
allowed  to  practice  medicine,  or  that  so  little  attainment  was  required 
by  the  profession,  that  he  abandoned  his  profession  and  embarked  in 
the  hardware  merchandising  in  New  York  Citv.  In  about  18^3  he 
located  in  Berlin,  Wisconsin,  in  business,  where  he  died  in  1854,  aged 
little  more  than  fifty  years.  His  wife  survived,  and  came  to  Oquawka 
in  April,  1852  ;  but  when  visiting  New  York  she  succumbed  to  death, 
and  was  buried  in  Greenwood  cemetery.  In  the  family  were  five  girls 
and  one  boy :  Amelia,  Agnes,  Emma,  Elizabeth,  Georgiana,  and 
James. 

James  M.  Akin,  superintendent  of  schools  of  Henderson  county, 
is  the  oldest  in  a  family  of  ten  children.  His  parents,  John  G.  and 
Eliza  (Connell)  Akin,  are  natives  of  Columbiana,  but  reside  in  Mus- 
kingum count3^  The  Akin  family,  four  generations  ago,  came  from 
Ireland,  but  were  more  remotely  Scotch.  They  are  a  long  lived 
people,  the  mother  of  John  G.,  and  grandmother  of  James  M., 
yet  living  and  active,  at  nearly  a  hundred  years  of  age.  James  M., 
the  principal  subject  of  these  memoirs,  was  born  in  Tuscarawas  county, 
Ohio,  February  14,  1845.  His  educational  training  was  acquired 
in  the  common  schools  near  his  home,  and  in  the  academv  of  Cam- 
bridge,  Guernsey  county,  Ohio.  Before  seventeen  years  of  age  he 
began  teaching  in  the  common  schools  of  the  country.  He  was  a  pupil 
when  the  directors,  for  cause,  dismissed  the  teacher,  and  requested 
James  to  finish  the  term  of  school.  James  hesitated,  and  sent  them 
to  his  father,  who  allowed  the  youth  to  choose  for  himself  The  school 
was  taught  successfully  five  months.  He  continued  his  school  work, 
and  in  1866  came  to  Warren  county,  Illinois,  where  he  taught  till 
1870.  He  then  became  principal  of  the  Biggsville  schools,  retaining 
the  position  for  three  years.  He  then  taught  at  Olena,  and  in  1875 
was  elected  principal  of  the  Oquawka  public  schools.  In  1877  Mr. 
Akin  was  elected  to  the  count}-  superintendency,  foi-  the  duties  of  which 
he  is  eminentl}'  fitted.  Mr.  Akin  was  married  August  3,  1871,  to 
Miss  Lizzie,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Ortha  (Callahan)  Arthurs,  and  a 
native  of  Pennsylvania.  They  have  one  child,  Orlando  H.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Akin  are  connected  with  the  Presbyterian  church.  He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  the  order  of  Odd-Fellows. 


OQUAWKA   TOWNSHIP.  999 

William  C.  Rice  was  born  July  9,  1S15,  in  Greenup  county,  Ken- 
tucky, whither  his  parents  had  moved  from  their  native  count}'  of  Eock- 
ingham,  Virginia,  about  tlie  year  1807.  On  the  banks  of  the  Ohio  and 
Big  Sandy  rivers,  his  earliest  childhood  was  spent,  until  the  spring  of 
1820,  when  (his  father  having  been  drowned  in  the  Ohio,  in  March, 
1815)  his  mother  removed  with  her  six  children  to  Christian  county, 
Kentucky,  by  fiat-boat  on  the  Ohio,  that  being  the  usual  and  almost 
the  only  mode  of  traveling  at  that  time.  Here  in  Christian  county  he 
spent  his  youth,  working  on  his  mother's  farm  during  the  summer 
months,  and  in  the  winter  attending  one  of  the  traditional  log-cabin 
school-houses,  for  which  kind  of  educational  institution  Kentucky  and 
other  southwesterr  states  have  become  famous.  Having  attended 
these  schools  several  years,  he  entered  the  Hopkinsville,  Kentucky, 
Seminary,  at  that  time  under  the  principalship  of  James  D.  Rumsey, 
where  he  acquired  a  knowledge  of  the  Latin  language  and  of  some  of 
the  branches  of  higher  mathematics,  trigonometry,  surveying,  etc. 
About  this  time  the  so-called  ''Illinois  fever"  struck  Kentucky  with 
its  full  force,  and  in  company  witli  several  others  he  left  his  native 
state  for  the  then  new  country  of  Illinois,  arriving  in  Warren  county 
(now  Henderson)  in  the  spring  of  1835,  being  at  that  time  nineteen 
years  old.  After  living  here  about  a  year,  during  which  time  he  re- 
visited Kentucky,  he  spent  two  years  in  southern  Iowa,  (at  that  time  a 
part  of  the  territory  of  Wisconsin  and  known  as  Yan  Buren  county), 
occupied  in  surveying,  having  obtained  from  Gen.  Henry  Dodge,  the 
territorial  governor  of  Wisconsin,  an  appointment  as  district  surveyor 
of  Van  Buren  county  in  December,  1837.  Iowa,  at  that  time,  was 
mostly  in  the  possession  of  the  Indians,  there  being  few  settlements  of 
white  men  except  those  along  the  river,  at  Dubuque,  Fort  Madison, 
etc.,  and  at  Burlington,  then  the  territorial  capital  of  Wisconsin  and 
known  as  the  "Flint  Hills."  While  thus  engaged  in  surveying  he 
became  acquainted  with  the  chiefs  Black  Hawk,  Keokuk,  and  Wapello, 
the  last  two  of  whom  lived  near  the  sites  of  the  towns  which  now  bear 
their  names.  In  1838  he  returned  to  Henderson  county  (then  a  jiart 
of  Warren),  Illinois,  and  has  lived  here  ever  since.  Being  elected  iirst 
county  surveyor  of  Henderson  county  at  its  sepai-ation  from  Warren, 
in  April,  1841,  he  discharged  the  duties  of  this  (office  until  the  winter 
of  the  same  year,  when  he  went  to  Macomb,  Illinois,  where,  for  the 
two  following  winters,  he  read  law  in  the  office  of  Cyrus  Walker,  then 
one  of  the  prominent  lawyers  of  the  Illinois  and  Iowa  bars.  Having 
obtained  license  to  practice  law  in  1843,  he  returned  to  Henderson 
county,  and  in  August  of  the  same  year  was  elected  probate  justice, 
and  in  November,  1849,  county  judge.     Elected  by  whigs,  or  "anti- 


1000  HISTORY   OF   MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Nebraska"  party,  he  went,  in  1854,  as  the  rejiresentative  of  the 
fortieth  district  (lienderson  and  Warren  counties)  to  the  legislature,  at 
which  Trumbull  was  elected  to  the  United  States  senate,  over  Lincoln 
and  Shields,  although  Lincoln  was  really  the  first  choice  of  the  major- 
ity of  the  anti-Kebraska  party.  Being  returned  to  the  legislature 
in  1858,  on  the  same  ticket,  he  was  present  at  the  election  of  Stephen 
A.  Douglas,  over  Lincoln,  to  the  senate  of  the  United  States.  L^pon 
the  expiration  of  this  office  he  returned  to  Henderson  county  and  re- 
sumed the  practice  of  law,  and  in  1873  was  elected  county  judge,  which 
office  he  now  (1882)  holds,  being  re-elected  in  1877.  Politically  Judge 
Rice  was  always  a  whig  until  the  practical  dissolution  of  this  old 
party,  when  he  became  an  anti-Xebraska  man,  and  when  the 
necessities  of  the  times  gave  bii-tli  to  the  republican  party,  he,  in  com- 
mon with  most  of  the  old  anti-Xebraska  men,  joined  the  new  political 
organization,  in  which  he  has  always  remained  constant.  In  May, 
1841:,  he  married  Mary  M.,  daughter  of  Cyrus  AValker,  of  Macomb, 
by  whom  he  had  four  children,  the  oldest  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy, 
and  in  1872,  his  first  wife  haWng  died  in  1871,  he  nuirried  Mrs.  Salina 
Hopkins. 

Thadeus  Eames,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  came  to  Henderson 
countv  an  old  man  and  is  now  ninety-four  years  of  age,  being  the  oldest 
man  but  one  in  the  county.  He  is  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Mary  (Rice) 
Eames,  and  was  born  in  1790,  in  Worcester  county,  Massachusetts. 
His  ancestry  was  English,  having  come  over  before  the  revolutionary 
war,  in  which  his  father  fought  as  a  private  soldier.  When  he  was 
about  one  year  old  his  parents  removed  to  Oneida  county,  New  York, 
where  he  received  his  education  in  the  common  school.  In  1835  he 
emigrated  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois.  Mr.  Eames  was  married  on 
January  4,  1814,  to  Miss  Orinda  Cooper.  To  them  were  born  five 
sons,  of  whom  but  one,  Albert,  is  living.  The  eldest,  Franklin,  died 
of  consumption  in  1848  ;  the  second,  Joseph,  a  grocei*  of  Oquawka, 
died  of  cholera  on  a  boat  on  the  Mississippi  coming  home  from  St. 
Louis,  where  he  had  been  buying  goods  ;  the  fourth  son,  Obadiah,  of 
Red  Wing,  Minnesota,  died  in  1880,  leaving  to  his  family  a  very  large 
estate  ;  the  youngest  son,  O.  H.  Perry,  was  also  a  victim  of  consump- 
tion. In  1853,  five  years  after  the  death  of  his  first  wife,  Mr.  Eames 
was  married  again  to  Mary  Elizabeth  Sumner.  Mr.  Eames  began  life 
with  nothing ;  he  has  now  two  beautiful  farms  of  320  acres  each,  on 
one  of  which  he  resides. 

Eleazei^  Pogue,  son  of  John  and  Jane  (Welch)  Pogue,  was  born  in 
Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  on  December  7,  1813.  On  his  mother's 
side  his  ancestry  was  Scotch,  while  his  father  was  a  native  of  Ireland. 


OQUAWKA   TOWNSlIir.  1001 

While  on  the  passage  over  to  America  he  was  taken  ill  and  was  so 
near  death  that  a  shroud  was  prepared  for  him,  ready  for  his  death. 
Mr.  Fogue  passed  his  early  life  in  the  county  of  his  birth,  receiving  a 
good  practical  education   in  the   common    schools.      He  was  greatly- 
blessed   in  the  fact  that  his  were  thoroughly,  christian   parents,    his 
father  havini;;  been  an  elder  in  the  church  of  Seceders  for  manv  years, 
while  all  his  mother's  folks  were  Presbyterians  in  faith  and  practice. 
His  father  died  in  1872  and  his  mother  in  1874.     The  loving  hands  of 
his  children  have  erected  over  his  remains  a  beautiful  monument,  cost^- 
ing  over  $600.     Mr.  Pogue  emigrated  to  Warren  county,  Illinois,  in 
1838,  and  then  to  Henderson   county.     He  was   married  to   Amelia 
Paden  in  May,   1836,   in  Franklin  county,  Pennsylvania.       Of  this 
marriage  seven  children  were  born,    two   of  whom  are    still   living. 
John  W.  is  now  married  and  resides  at  Fed  Oak,  Iowa,  where  he  is 
now  engaged  in  farming  ;  Elizabeth,   the  younger  of  the  two  living 
children  of  this  marriage,  is  the  wife  of  John  Terrill,  a  farmer  of  Keo- 
kuk county,  Iowa.     In  January  of  1849  Mr.  Pogue  was  bereaved  of 
his  wife,  and  in  the  following  May  he  married  Miss  Ann  McDermit. 
To  them  have  been  born  seven  boys  and  three  girls.     Four  of  the  sons 
and  all  of  the  daughters  are  now  (1882)  living.  George  W.  and  James 
B.  are  now  engaged  in  farming  near  Red  Oak,  Iowa ;  Smiley  E.  is  now 
farming  near  Gladstone  ;  Leander  W.  is  at  home  with  his   parents  ; 
two  of  his  daughters,  Jennie  S.  and  Mary  A.,  are  engaged  in  teaching 
school,   the  former  in  Red  Oak,   Iowa,  and  the  latter  in  Gladstone, 
Illinois  ;  the  youngest,  Emily  M.,  is  now  at  home  with  her  parents. 
In  his  family  relations  Mr.  Pogue  has  been  greatly  blessed.     Tliough 
he  began  life  with  nothing  and  has  met  with  some  severe  misfortunes, 
yet  he  has  now  some  400  acres  of  land,  part  lying  in  townshij)  10, 
range  5,  and  part  in  township  11,  range  5. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  Mitchell  M.  Findley,  son  of  Matthew 
and  Elizabeth  (Blackburn)  Findley,  was  born  in  Muskingum  county, 
Ohio,  August  27,  1823.  His  father,  who  was  a  native  of  Allegheny 
county,  Pennsylvania,  in  which  state  he  passed  his  early  youth,  emi- 
grated to  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  when  about  twenty  years  of  age, 
and  there  married.  In  1835  he  removed  with  his  family  of  six  chil- 
dren to  Warren  county,  Illinois,  near  where  Kirkwood  now  stands. 
At  this  time  there  were  but  four  houses  in  the  town  of  Monmouth. 
Our  subject  received  his  education  in  the  schools  of  Oquawka  and 
vicinity.  He  has  been  engaged  for  many  years  in  tilling  tlie  soil  on 
his  farm  of  240  acres,  which  lies  in  Sec.  26,  T.  11,  R.  5.  Mr.  Findley 
has  been,  from  the  beginning  of  its  organization,  a  firm  believer  in 
the  principles  of  the  republican  party,  though  he  has  never  gone  into 


1002  HISTORY    OF   MERCER    AND   HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

politics.  His  political  preference  may  probably  be  traced  to  the  fact 
that  his  father  before  him  was  a  whig,  and  voted  with  the  republicans 
at  the  first  chance. 

Davis  S.  Bkainard  was  born  in  the  state  of  Connecticut,  March 
26,  1821.  When  about  four  years  of  age  his  father  died,  leaving  him 
to  the  care  of  a  cold  and  indifferent  world.  In  1838  he  came  to 
Oquawka  and  here  soon  became  engaged  to  Mr.  S.  S.  Phelps,  accom- 
panying him  on  his  trading  expeditions  among  the  Indians.  He  also 
worked  for  Col.  J.  B.  Patterson  a  number  of  years,  and  for  a  short 
time  was  a  student  in  one  of  the  early  schools  here,  taught  by  Rev. 
Mr.  Stebbins.  Mr.  Brainard  took  an  active  part  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  in  its  early  history,  having  come  here  as  a  licensed 
exhorter.  He  filled  that  position  for  many  years,  as  well  as  class 
leader  and  superintendent  of  Sabbath  school. 

Justice  Schlotz,  Oquawka,  was  born  in  the  Province  of  Hesse, 
Germany,  in  1832.  In  1852  he  was  married  to  Eleonore  Wiegand, 
who  was  also  a  native  of  the  same  province.  In  1857  they  left  the 
home  of  their  birth  and  sailed  for  America.  Soon  after  their  arrival 
they  came  to  this  place  and  permanently  located,  and  here  Mr.  Schlotz 
engaged  in  the  wagon  and  carriage  manufacture.  He  has  now  ten 
children,  whose  names  in  the  order  of  their  birth  are  :  Charles  (born 
in  Germany,  December,  1852,  is  now  in  the  livery  business  in  Oquaw- 
ka), Sophia  (wife  of  Fredrick  Harbus,  now  of  Peoria,  Illinois),  Cassie, 
Mary  (wife  of  Charles  Linsenmier,  of  Burlington),  Annie,  Christena, 
Emma,  Plenry,  William,  and  August. 

Thomas  C.  Smith,  proprietor  of  the  Smith  House,  Oquawka,  was 
born  at  Lebanon,  Ohio,  June  1,  1829.  He  was  principally  brought 
up  on  a  farm,  and  at  the  age  of  twenty  years  engaged  at  learning  the 
trade  of  coach  maker.  In  1851  he  came  to  Illinois,  spent  some  time 
in  Oquawka  and  Chicago,  and  in  1854  made  a  trip  to  California, 
returning  lioine  again  the  same  year.  December  31,  1857,  he  married 
Miss  Cordelia  F.  Richards.  She  was  born  in  Henderson  county,  Illi- 
nois, September  25,  1838,  and  is  a  daughter  of  Jonas  and  Eliza  (Fonts) 
Richards,  who  came  from  Pennsylvania  to  this  county  at  an  early  day, 
being  among  the  very  earliest  pioneers.  In  1858  Mr.  Smith  perma- 
nently located  in  Oquawka,  and  to  some  considerable  extent  engaged 
in  the  manufacture  of  carriages  and  wagons.  In  1871  Mr.  Smith 
turned  all  his  attention  to  the  business  of  running  hotel,  making  it  a 
success.     He  has  two  children,  Arthur  H.,  and  Etfie  A. 

Herman  Schirmer,  merchant,  Oquawka,  was  born  May  22,  1827, 
in  Saxony,  Germany.  Early  in  life  he  learned  the  trade  of  basket 
maker,  and  followed  the  business  in  the  land  of  his  birth  till  1854, 


^      /Ul4/U/My4^1^ 


OQUAWKA   TOWNSHIP.  1005 

when  he  emigrated  to  America,  saiHng  in  the  ship  H.  von  Gagern. 
He  located  in  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and  there  followed  his  trade  till 
1861  when  he  nobly  responded  to  the  call  of  his  adopted  country  for 
soldiers.  He  enlisted  in  Co.  F,  2d  Mo.  Inf.,  and  for  nearh'  four  years 
suffered  all  the  horrors  of  border  warfare,  incident  to  the  western  part 
of  the  great  struggle.  After  being  honorably  dischai'ged,  he  came  to 
Oquawka,  where  he  settled  and  engaged  in  the  mercantile  trade,  at  the 
same  time  carrying  on  his  old  business,  that  of  basket  making.  Mr. 
Schirmer  has  been  twice  married,  but  has  no  childi'en.  His  present 
wife  was  Mrs.  Fredricka  Kom,  a  daughter  of  George  Altrenther.  She 
is  a  native  of  the  kingdom  of  Bavaria,  in  Germany. 

Fredrick  Odendahl,  deceased,  was  born  in  Cologne,  Prussia, 
February  11,  1822.  In  the  summer  of  1847  he  left  his  native  home, 
sailing  for  America,  and  landing  in  August  of  the  same  year.  On 
April  14,  1840,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Ernestine  Froeh- 
licli,  at  Nauvoo,  Illinois.  Here  their  first  son  was  born  July  16,  1850, 
and  they  called  his  name  AVilliam.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  they 
came  to  Oquawka  and  engaged  in  merchandising  in  the  grocery  and 
provision  line,  following  the  business  until  the  outbreak  of  the  rebel- 
lion. At  that  time  he  at  once  resj)onded  to  the  call  of  his  adopted 
country  for  troops,  and  enlisted  in  Co.  D,  10th  111.  Yol.  Inf.,  April  23, 
1861.  to  serve  three  months.  He  was  discharged  at  the  close  of  the 
time  for  which  he  enlisted  and  joined  the  17th  reg.  Mo.  Inf  as  a  mem- 
ber of  company  D,  where  he  faithfully  served  his  country  till  dis- 
charo:ed  on  account  of  disability  caused  by  inflammatory  rheumatism. 
He  participated  in  the  battles  of  AVilson's  Creek,  Pea  Ridge,  and  many 
others  during  that  stirring  campaing  under  Gen.  Austerhaus.  He  died 
August  24,  1877,  and  his  venerable  widow  is  still  living,  with  her  son 
"William,  who  is  now  in  the  mercantile  trade  in  Oquawka.  They  have 
one  other  son,  Carl  Julius,  born  in  Oquawka  September  16,  1853,  and 
married  to  Miss  Viola  Rossiter.  He  is  now  in  Loup  City,  Nebraska, 
in  the  drug  business,  and  has  one  child,  Fredrick  E. 

Prominent  among  the  business  men  of  Oquawka,  since  1854,  may 
be  mentioned  Mr.  Jaivies  A.  Caswell.  About  that  time  he  bought 
out  the  store  of  Dr.  Park  &  Co.,  and  under  the  firm  name  of  Caswell 
&  Pearce  engaged  in  the  drug  business.  In  1858  they  associated  with 
them  Mr.  R.  Ilodson,  and  added  a  full  line  of  groceries.  In  1868  he 
vdthdrew  from  the  above  mentioned  firm.  He  has  ever  since  been  in 
business  here,  with  the  exception  of  two.  years  that  he  was  a  drug 
dealer  in  Burlington,  Iowa.  He  is  now  doing  a  di-ug  and  grocery 
business,  between  Third  and  Fourth  streets  on  Schuyler.  Mr.  Caswell 
was  born  in  Saratoga  county,  New  York,  Febniary  13,  1824.  His 
57 


1006  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AUT)    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

father's  name  was  Ezra  H.  Caswell,  a  merchant.  Mr.  Caswell  was 
was  brought  up  to  the  business  of  his  father,  and  received  a  common 
school  education.  Pie  was  married  July  21,  1850,  to  Miss  Arminda 
Decker,  the  daughter  of  Seymour  Decker,  Esq.  Mrs.  Caswell  is  a 
native  of  Oneida  county,  New  York.  They  are  the  parents  of  iive 
children :  Ada  (wife  of  C.  H.  Rew,  of  Wilmington,  Will  county,  Illi- 
nois), Mary  R.,  Martha  M.,  Blanche  E.,  and  James  AV.  Mr.  Caswell 
is  a  member  of  the  masonic  fraternit}',  and  of  the  Knights  Templar. 
Mr.  Caswell  has  ever  been  straightforward  in  business,  and  has  the 
conlidence  of  all,  in  business  and  social  circles. 

Charles  Haffner,  cabinet  maker  and  dealer  in  furniture  was  bom 
in  Ulm,  Germany,  January  22,  3  826.  His  early  life,  until  the  age  of 
fourteen,  was  spent  mostly  in  school.  He  was  then  sent  to  learn  the 
trade  of  cabinet  maker,  which  he  completed  in  three  years,  and  for  the 
four  years  following  he  worked  at  the  trade  as  journejanan.  In  Octo- 
ber, 1851,  he  left  his  native  home  for  America,  in  the  sailing  ship 
Saint  Dennis.  After  an  uneventful  voyage  he  reached  jSTew  York, 
and  at  once  moved  westward,  reaching  Oquawka  in  1852,  and  here  he 
permanently  located  and  engaged  in  the  manufacture  and  sale  of  furni- 
ture. In  1854  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Goempler,  a  native  of 
Germany,  by  whom  he  has  nine  children,  whose  names  in  the  order 
of  their  birth  are  as  follows  :  Joseph,  William,  Charles,  Rickley,  Caro- 
line, Paul,  Mollie,  Christena,  and  John.  They  are  members  of  the 
German  Lutheran  church. 

James  Cunningham  was  born  in  1816,  in  the  county  of  Monaghan, 
Ii'eland,  but  when  he  was  only  four  years  old  his  parents  emigrated  to 
the  United  States.  They  settled  in  New  Jersey,  where  they  made 
their  home  for  many  years.  During  his  early  life  James,  by  industry, 
obtained  a  fair  common  school  education,  and  while  yet  a  young  man, 
had  learned  the  trade  of  a  blacksmith.  In  1840  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Mary  S.  AVatson,  of  Washington  county,  New  York. 
In  1841  their  lirst  child  was  born,  and  in  1842  Mrs.  Cunningham  was 
prostrated  by  a  stroke  of  paralysis,  entirely  losing  the  use  of  one  side, 
eye,  ear,  and  limbs,  and  from  which  she  has  never  recovered.  In 
1845  Mr.  Cunningham  emigrated  to  Illinois  and  settled  at  Oquawka, 
where  he  remained  till  1850,  when  he  left  his  family  provided  for,  and 
went  to  California  in  search  of  gold.  Not  being  as  successful  as  he 
had  hoped,  in  the  fall  of  1851  he  went  to  Australia,  where  he  prosper- 
ously engaged  in  gold  mining  till  February  2,  1853,  when  he  determined 
to  return  with  what  he  had  to  his  familv,  and  at  once  left  for  home  via 
London,  England,  arriving  at  the  latter  place  May  1.  From  there  he 
sailed  for  Philadelphia,  where  he  landed  early  in  the  summer.    There  he 


OQUAWKA   TOWNSHIP.  1007 

had  liis  gold  minted  and  came  on  to  Oquawka,  and  at  once  prepared  a 
home  and  completed  arrangements  and  went  back  east  for  his  parents, 
whom  he  brought  out  to  this  place.  Here  they  lived  till  the  time  of 
their  death.  Mr.  Cunninscham  is  a  member  of  the  masonic  and  odd- 
fellow  fraternities.  He  is  one  of  Oquawka's  old  and  respected 
citizens. 

John  Cu>eming,  manufacturer  and  dealer  in  boots  and  shoes, 
Oquawka,  was  born  in  Glasgow,  Scotland,  in  October,  1S30.  His 
youth,  up  to  the  age  of  about  nineteen,  was  spent  attending  school 
and  learning  the  shoemaker's  trade. '  In  1849  he  and  his  parents, 
John  and  Mary  (Harkins)  Gumming,  emigrated  to  the  United  States, 
sailing  in  the  siiip  Brooklyn.  Our  subject  followed  his  trade  in  the 
state  of  New  York  until  1856,  when  he  came  to  Illinois  and  perma- 
nently located  at  Oquawka,  and  here  has  since  devoted  his  time  to  the 
manufacture  and  sale  of  boots  and  shoes.  In  18.56  he  built  his  brick 
store,  which  does  credit  to  the  south  side  of  Schuyler  street.  In  1853 
at  Troy,  New  York,  Mr.  Gumming  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Jane  King,  a  native  of  Ireland.  His  father  died  in  New  York  in 
1873,  and  his  mother  is  still  living  and  is  a  resident  of  Hamilton,  On- 
tario, Ganada. 

James  R.  White,  one  of  Oquawka's  esteemed  citizens,  was  born  in 
Franklin  county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1818.  His  early  life  was  spent  on 
a  farm  and  he  obtained  what  in  those  davs  was  called  a  good  common 
school  education.  In  his  younger  years  he  had  given  some  little  atten- 
tion to  the  study  of  civil  engineering,  and  after  coming  to  Henderson 
county,  ill  1853,  he  was  employed  as  deputy  county  surveyor,  and 
soon  after  was  elected  as  surveyor  of  Henderson  county.  This,  how- 
ever, he  abandoned  in  1859  and  went  to  the  Colorado  mountains,  where 
he  engaged  in  mining.  It  was  while  there  that  the  war  of  1861-5 
broke  out,  and  he  enlisted  in  Go.  C,  2d  Golo.  Cav.,  and  went  south  in 
defense  of  his  country's  flag.  After  following  the  fortunes  of  war  over 
three  years,  making  many  tedious  marches  and  running  many  narrow 
escapes,  he  was  honorably  discharged  and  returned  to  Oquawka,  and 
has  since  been  constantly  engaged  as  salesman  and  book-keeper  for 
R.  Hodson,  Esq.  His  flrst  wife  Lydia  (Jacoby)  White,  died  in  1868. 
She  was  the  mother  of  his  only  child,  a  son,  Albert  B.,  now  of  Kan- 
sas City,  Missouri.  His  second  mamage  was  with  Mrs.  Mary  J.  Bige- 
low,  whose  companionship  he  still  enjoys. 

Jedediah  E.  Barnes,  Kirkwood,  Illinois,  who  was  for  many  years 
a  prominent  citizen  and  able  educator  of  Henderson  county,  Illinois, 
was  born  in  Rensselaer  county,  New  York,  in  1829.  His  youth  was 
spent  on  the  farm  engaged  in  agricultural  pursuits.     He  was  also,  dur- 


1008  HISTORY    OF   aCERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

in^  bovliood's  years,  an  attentive  student  in  the  common  schools,  Hn- 
ishing  his  education,  howevei',  in  East  Hampton,  Massachusetts.  The 
seven  years  previous  to  1853  was  spent  in  teaching  school  in  the  State 
of  New  Jersey.  In  that  year  he  emigrated  to  Henderson  county,  Illi- 
nois, and  for  the  next  twelve  years  devoted  his  time  largely  to  teach- 
ing. In  1858  he  was  elected  county  superintendent  of  schools.  In 
1865  he  removed  to  Kirkwood,  Warren  county,  Illinois,  where  he  is 
now  engaged  in  the  nursery  business.  December  26,  1856,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth  A.  Ewing,  a  native  of  Indiana, 
by  whom  he  has  two  children.  The  elder,  William,  is  now  in  the 
railroad  office,  at  Galesburg,  and  a  daughtei"  Olive  is  a  student  at 
Knox  College.  Mr.  Barnes'  parents  were  Jedediah  P.  and  Elizabeth 
(Eldridge)  Barnes ;  the  former  a  native  of  Connecticut,  and  the  latter 
of  Massachusetts.  They  both  died  at  Troy,  New  York.  Mr.  Barnes 
enjoys  the  esteem  and  respect  of  the  best  citizens  of  Henderson  county. 

William  A.  Findley,  farmer,  Oquawka,  was  born  in  Muskingum 
county,  near  Zanesville,  Ohio,  September  1,  ]819.  In  the  fall  of  1835 
his  parents,  Matthew  and  Elizabeth  (Blackburn)  Findley,  with  a  family 
of  six  children,  emigrated  to  Warren  county,  Illinois,  and  remained 
the  first  winter  near  Kirkwood.  The  following  spring  they  perma- 
nently located  in  what  was  since  organized  as  Henderson  county,  on 
Sec.  36,  T.  11  N.,  5  R.  W.,  where  they  lived  till  the  time  of  his  death 
in  the  spring  of  1863.  He  was  born  in  Allegheny  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, January  11,  1703.  He  was  a  son  of  David  Findley,  who 
emigrated  with  his  father,  David  Findley,  Sr.,  and  family,  from  the 
north  of  Ireland  to  America,  about  1770.  The  sons  of  David  Findley, 
Sr.,  took  an  active  part  in  the  revolutionary  war,  and  one  of  them  was 
for  many  years  a  member  of  congress.  William  A.,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  early  identified  with  the  interests  of  the  first  settling  of 
this  county,  and  struggled  hard  against  disadvantages  to  get  a  start, 
and  honest  labor  has  finally  been  rewarded  with  success.  October  25, 
1819,  he  was  married  in  Perry  county,  Indiana,  to  Miss  Sarah  J.  Law- 
rence, a  daughter  of  James  and  Esther  (Jamison)  Lawrence,  born  in 
Perry  county,  Indiana,  November  20,  1824.  Their  children  are: 
William  II.,  Isabel  (wife  of  W.  C.  Sloan),  Caroline,  Ida  J.  (now  Mrs. 
Sanniel  R.  Jamison),  Elizabeth,  and  Hettie  May.  They  are  members 
of  the  United  Presbyterian  church.  Mr.  Findley's  membership  dates 
back  to  1837,  and  he  has  been  an  elder  since  1866.  He  has  ever  been 
very  liberal  in  supporting  and  building  up  the  church. 

Lewis  H.  Hand  was  born  at  Mt.  Gilead,  Ohio,  May  21,  1848,  and 
came  with  his  parents  to  Oquawka  in  1851.  He  was  for  many  years 
connected   with   the   Presbyterian    Sunday   school,    and   is   the   only 


OQUAWKA   TOWNSHIP.  1009 

one  of  liis  class  now  liere.  September  -30,  IST-t,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  Lnlu  Big:elow,  a  daughter  of  Solomon  Bigelow.  She  was  born 
in  Oqiiawka,  October  26,  1854.  Tliey  have  two  children,  Helen  H.  and 
Hattie  B.  Mr.  Hand  is  a  member  of  the  masonic  fraternity.  His 
father  was  for  a  number  of  years  identified  with  the  interests  of 
Oquawka,  having  served  here  as  postmaster  during  President  Bucha- 
nan's administration.  In  1864  he  went  west  to  the  mountains,  and 
never  since  being  heard  from  it  is  supposed  he  met  with  some  tragic 
death. 

Charles  F.  W.  Schell  was  born  in  Ulm,  Germany,  February  18, 
1845,  and  came  with  his  parents  to  America  in  1851.  While  in  Wis- 
consin he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Brooks,  August  15,  1867. 
She  was  born  March  27,  1844.  They  have  five  children,  whose  names 
are  Unice  A.,  Lida  E.,  Charles,  Caroline  B.,  and  William  A.  Early 
in  life  he  learned  the  trade  of  blacksmith  at  Burlington,  Iowa.  Decem- 
ber 18,  1863,  he  enlisted  as  a  soldier  for  the  union,  in  Co.  G,  25tli  la. 
Inf.,  and  in  May,  1865,  was  transferred  to  the  9tli  la.  Inf.,  from  which 
he  was  honorably  discharged  late  in  the  summer  of  1865.  His  father, 
Leonard  Schell,  settled  in  Oquawka  in  September,  1852,  and  has  since 
been  one  of  its  honored  citizens.  He  has  been  engaged  in  carriage 
and  wagon  manufacture  for  fifty-two  years.  He  was  born  in  Ulm, 
Germany,  January  31.  1818.  His  wife,  Anne  Bielhald,  died  in  1862. 
His  childi-en  are  Charles  F.  W.  (the  subject  of  this  sketch),  William 
Henry,  and  Rudolph. 

Peter  Goempler,  stone  cutter  and  mason,  was  born  in  Philippsthal, 
Province  of  Hesse,  Germany,  January  12,  1822,  and  was  reared  to 
the  trade  of  his  father  and  grandfather  (stone  cutter  and  mason).  July 
19,  1846,  he  married  Amelia  Bonn,  a  native  of  the  same  place.  Octo- 
ber 7,  1853,  he  left  the  land  of  his  birth,  and,  with  his  wife  and  little 
family,  set  sail  for  the  new  world,  landing  at  jS^ew  Yoi-k  January  4, 
1854,  and  on  March  18,  of  the  same  year,  permanently  located  in 
Oquawka,  wliere  he  has  since  followed  his  trade,  in  connection  with 
which  he  has  for  a  number  of  years  paid  some  attention  to  farming  on 
land  he  now  owns  near  town.  He  has  seven  children  living,  whose 
names  are :  Adam  A. ,  Louisa  E. ,  (wife  of  Jacob  Guyer,  of  Keokuk), 
Emma,  (wife  of  George  Rodmaker),  Mary,  Christena,  Paulina,  and 
Karoline.  Mr.  Goempler  is  a  constant  member  of  the  German  Reformed 
church. 

William  N.  Bodex,  blacksmith  and  dealer  in  agricultural  imple- 
ments, was  born  in  Philadelphia,  Pennsylvania,  December  27,  1836, 
and  reared  in  Beaver  county,  Pennsylvania.  He. received  a  fair  com- 
mon school  education,  and  early  in  life  learned  the  trade  of  blacksmith. 


1010  HISTOET   OF    MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTRIES. 

In  May,  1858,  lie  came  to  Oquawka,  and  at  once  engaged  in  black- 
smith business,  and  some  later  formed  a  partnership  with  Kiner  Schell 
&  Co.,  and  is  now  the  company  part  of  that  active  tirm.  April  20, 
1872,  he  was  married  to  Mrs.  Florence  Gould,  a  daughter  of  JAoyd 
Cunningham,  Esq.  She  is  a  native  of  Warren  county,  Illinois.  Their 
only  child,  Frank,  was  born  in  Oquawka. 

John  Kessel,  son  of  Joseph  and  Charlott  (Wessbecher)  Kessel, 
was  born  in  Baden,  Germany,  August  25,  1839.  The  parents  of  Mr. 
Kessel,  in  1854,  emigrated  to  the  United  States,  tirst  locating  in  Bur- 
lington, Iowa,  where  John  learned  the  trade  of  barber.  In  1861  he  came 
to  this  place  and  opened  a  barber  shop,  soon  after  adding  to  the  busi- 
ness the  sale  of  tobacco  and  cigars,  and  in  1868  added  also  the  manu- 
facture of  cigars.  July  10,  1862,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Rotana  Frazell,  who  died  August  28,  1878.  His  next  marriage  was 
on  ISTovember  25,  1880,  to  Miss  Louisa  B.  Grass,  a  native  of  Beaver 
county,  Pennsylvania.  Mr.  Kessel's  tirst  wife  was  a  native  of  Licking 
county,  Ohio.  By  her  he  had  three  children,  living,  whose  names  are 
AYilliam  G.,  Lottie,  and  Addie  H.  Mr.  Kessel  is  a  member  of  the 
masonic  and  odd-fellows'  fraternities. 

Jacob  C.  Peterjian,  wagon  and  carriage  maker,  Oquawka,  is  the 
son  of  John  and  Catherine  (Olewine)  Peterman,  and  is  a  native  of 
Washington  county,  Maryland.  When  he  was  about  one  year  old  his 
parents  removed  to  Richland  county,  Ohio,  where  he  grew  to  manhood 
and  during  his  early  life  learned  the  trade  he  now  follows.  In  1850  he 
went  with  a  company  over  the  plains  to  California,  and  while  there 
engaged  in  mining  and  working  at  his  trade.  He  was  also  for  a  time 
employed  as  deputy  sheriif  in  the  collection  of  foreign  tax.  In  1856  he 
returned  home,  having  made  the  enterprise  a  success.  On  June  30, 
1857,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth  Mickey,  a  native 
of  Ohio.  The  next  day,  July  1,  they  started  for  Illinois,  arriving  at 
Oquawka,  July  7.  Here  he  permanently  located  and  began  the  busi- 
ness of  his  trade.  They  have  six  children  living,  John  P.,  Charles  M., 
Carrie  G.,  Burton,  George,  and  Jennie  B.  He  and  wife  and  eldest 
daughter  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopel  church. 

Alexander  M.  Smith,  the  present  manager  of  the  Henderson 
county  poor  farm  and  jail,  was  born  in  Kentucky,  February  16,  1846. 
His  fatliei-,  Ralph  Smith,  died  in  Kentucky  in  1846,  and  our  subject 
came  to  Illinois  with  his  motlier  and  brother  Charles,  in  1849.  They 
settled  and  lived  for  a  number  of  years  on  a  farm  about  four  miles 
southeast  of  Oquawka.  At  that  time  the  county  was  new  and  but 
sparsely  settled,  and  consequently  Alexander  enjoyed  but  few  school 
advantages.     In  January,  1864,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  F,   16th  111.  Vol. 


OQUAWKA   TOWNSHIP.  1011 

Inf.,  when  the  regiment  was  home  on  veteran  furlough,  leaving  home 
tiie  dav  after  his  eighteenth  birthday,  and  was  honorably  discharged 
at  Springlield  in  the  summer  of  1865,  having  been  with  Sherman  on 
his  memorable  march  to  the  sea.  After  his  return  home  he  engaged 
in  farming.  March  9,  1876,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Eliza  M.  Jackson, 
the  daughter  of  Mr.  Asa  Jackson,  of  Greenville,  Henderson  county, 
Illinois.  She  is  a  native  of  Indiana.  They  have  one  child,  Ralph, 
born  April  12,  1881.  In  March,  1879,  he  took  charge  of  the  Hender- 
son county  poor  farm  and  jail,  and  is  making  the  farm  a  decided  suc- 
cess. His  mother  has  been  three  times  married.  Her  second  husband 
was  Thadeus  Bird,  now  deceased.  Her  present  husband  is  Mr.  S.  H. 
Crow.  They  ai-e  now  residents  of  Greenville  precinct.  By  each  of 
her  three  husbands  she  has  reared  two  children. 

John  A.  Pence  is  a  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Heaton)  Pence, 
founder  and  builder  of  Pence's  Fort,  of  historic  note  in  Henderson 
county.  He  was  born  nearOquawka  August  12,  1830,  and  is  believed 
to  be  the  first  white  child  born  within  what  are  now  the  bounds  of  Hen- 
derson county.  His  earliest  years  were  spent  without  the  advantages 
and  surroundings  of  the  children  of  the  present  day.  His  playmates 
were  the  children  of  the  Indians,  who  shared  with  him  their  rude 
playthings  as  well  as  their  mother's  breasts.  His  educational  advan- 
tages were  extremely  meager.  In  March,  1850,  he  went  to  California, 
where  he  remained  till  June,  1859,  when  he  returned  to  his  home  in 
Oquawka.  In  1861,  when  red  handed  treason  and  rebellion  threatened 
his  country,  tie  volunteered  his  services  in  defense  of  the  national  fiag, 
as  a  member  of  Co.  D,  7th  Mo.  Cavalry.  After  eighteen  months  war- 
fare, he  was  wounded  and  taken  prisoner  by  QuantrelFs  band  of 
guerillas,  and  was  soon  after  paroled,  first  being  sworn  never  to  again 
take  up  arms  against  the  confederate  states.  During  his  short  term  of 
service  he  filled  the  positions  of  acting  adjutant,  post-quartermaster, 
and  lieutenant.  December  19,  1862,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary 
A.  Chapen,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Ebenezer  and  Catharine  (Daggett) 
Chapen,  who  came  to  Henderson  in  1839.  They  were  formerly  from 
Indiana  and  emigrated  to  Knox  county,  Illinois,  in  an  early  day.  Mr. 
Pence  has  given  much  attention  to  the  gathering  and  preserving  of 
geological  specimens,  and  has  now  in  his  possession  one  of  the  finest 
cabinets  in  the  county. 

John  McFarlaxd  may  be  mentioned  as  among  the  early  settlers 
now  li\ang  and  doing  business  in  Oquawka,  having  come  here  in  1841. 
He  was  born  at  Mt.  Vernon,  Knox  county,  Ohio,  March  20,  1828,  and 
came  with  his  parents,  William  and  Xancy  (Stelley)  McFarland,  to 
Oquawka,  as  above  stated.     His  father  was  by  trade  a  carpenter,  and 


1012  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

followed  the  business  many  years  after  his  settlement  here.  John  was 
married  in  August,  1855,  to  Miss  Ella  King,  a  daughter  of  Robert  and 
Nancy  (Hensley)  King,  of  Oquawka.  She  was  born  in  Milton,  Trim- 
ble county,  Kentucky,  February  28,  1838,  and  was  brought  by  her 
parents  to  Burlington,  Iowa,  the  same  year.  In  1856  Mr.  McFarland 
embarked  in  the  lumber  trade  in  this  place,  successfully  following  the 
business  till  the  present.  He  has  lately,  to  some  extent,  been  turning 
his  attention  to  farming,  liaving  bought  a  farm  a  short  distance  out  of 
towm.  Mr.  McFarland  and  wife  are  the  parents  of  six  children,  four 
of  whom  are  now  living,  as  follows :  Frank  E. ,  Harvey,  Walter,  and 
Maud.  Mrs.  McFarland  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.     Mr.  McFarland's  parents  are  both  dead  and  buried  here. 

Joseph  S.  Linell,  harness  and  saddle  manufacturer  and  dealer,  was 
born  in  Champaign  county,  Ohio,  March  23,  1839.  In  1849  his 
parents,  William  B.  and  Selecta  (Stoddard)  Linell,  emigrated  to  Peoria, 
Illinois,  where  they  remained  until  1852,  when  they  removed  to 
Oquawka.  Here  our  subject  attended  school  during  the  next  live 
years.  Having  at  this  time  arrived  at  a  sufficient  age  he  turned  his 
attention  to  learning  a  trade  and  began  an  apprenticeship  with  his 
brother,  Philip  S.  Linell,  then  engaged  in  the  harness  and  saddlery 
manufacture  at  Oquawka.  After  completing  his  trade  in  1858  he  went 
to  Mount  Pleasant,  Iowa,  and  there  engaged  in  business  for  himself. 
While  here  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Francis  A.  Pixley, 
October  6,  1859,  and  the  same  year  returned  to  Oquawka  and  formed 
a  partnership  with  his  brother,  but  one  year  later  sold  out  and  went  to 
work  for  M.  E.  Chapen,  at  his  trade,  till  1864,  when  he  enlisted  in  Co. 
D,  138th  111.  Yol.  Inf  After  his  return  home  in  1865  he  bought  out 
Mr.  Chapen,  and  in  company  with  G.  W.  Adair,  embarked  again  in 
the  business  of  his  trade.  In  1870  he  bought  out  his  partner  and  has 
since  been  the  sole  owner  of  his  present  prosperous  business.  His 
children,  named  in  the  order  of  their  birtli,  are  :  Annetta,  Jessie 
B.,  Frank,  Philip  P.,  Charles,  Fannie,  Fred,  and  two  deceased.  Mr. 
LinelFs  lather  was  a  native  of  Birmingham,  England,  born  in  1804. 
Early  in  youth  he  came  to  the  United  States  and  was  through  life  a 
minister  in  the  Universalist  church.  During  the  late  war  he  enlisted 
in  the  10th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  was  commissioned  chaplain.  He  died 
September  6,  1867.  His  wife  was  a  native  of  Vermont,  and  died  at 
Vevay,  Indiana,  May  13,  186^ 

Benjamin  F.  Brooks  (deceased),  was  born  in  Genesee  county,  New 
York,  June  27,  1818.  In  the  very  early  settlement  of  this  county,  his 
parents  entered  land  and  settled  near  Carman,  where  our  subject  early 
received  that  culture  and  education  in   the  art  of  pioneer  life  and 


TENTH   ILLINOIS    INFANTRY.  1013 

industry  that  characterized  his  movements  tln-oiigh  all  subsequent  life, 
September  24,  1846,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Eliza  Curts, 
the  daughter  of  John  and  Temperance  (Fredricks)  Curts,  who  was 
born  in  Clinton  county,  Pennsylvania,  November  23,  1823,  and  came 
with  her  parents  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  in  1836.  After  his 
marriage  Mr.  Brooks  engaged  in  farming  till  1853,  when  he  removed 
to  Oquawka  and  embarked  in  the  lumber  trade,  which  he  followed  till 
the  time  of  his  death,  which  sad  and  untimely  event  occurred  Novem- 
ber 28,  1862,  at  Hannibal,  Missouri.  He  had  gone  there  with  a  view 
of  entering  into  the  lumber  trade  at  that  place,  and  was  busily  engaged 
in  starting  a  steam  saw-mill  when,  on  the  day  above  stated,  at  a  few 
minutes  after  11  o'clock  a.m.,  the  boiler  exploded  with  terrific  force. 
He  was  struck  with  a  piece  of  flying  timber,  from  the  eU'ects  of  which 
he  died  a  few  minutes  after  six  the  same  day.  His  wife  and  friends 
were  at  once  notified  by  telegraph,  and  his  body  was  brought  back  to 
Oquawka  for  burial.  He  left,  besides  his  wife,  six  children.  Two  have 
since  died,  and  William  F.,  Charles,  Henry,  and  Edward,  are  still  liv- 
ing. The  two  deceased  are  Annetta  and  Ella  M.  Col.  J.  B.  Patterson 
thus  spoke  of  him  in  the  ''  Spectator""  at  the  time  of  his  death  :  ''Mr. 
Brooks  was  one  of  the  successful  business  men  of  this  city,  and  always 
forward  in  his  efforts  to  bring  out  the  best  development  of  his  town. 
He  was  loved  and  respected  in  life,  and  in  death  lamented  by  all  who 
knew  him  while  here  in  Oquawka." 


TENTH  ILLINOIS  INFANTRY. 

The  attack  on  Fort  Sumter  precipitated  in  the  north  such  a  whirl- 
wind of  patriotic  wrath  and  gathering  of  men  for  war  as  no  nation  had 
ever  seen.  Events  crowded  in  swift  succession.  Sumter  fell  on  the 
14th  of  April,  1861  ;  on  the  15tli  President  Lincoln  called  on  the 
states  for  75,000  volunteers  for  ninety  days,  and  the  same  day  Governor 
Yates  issued  his  proclamation  convening  the  legislature  on  the  23d. 
On  the  16th  he  issued  general  order  No.  2,  providing  for  the  imme- 
diate organization  of  six  regiments. 

Benjamin  M.  Prentiss,  of  Quincy,  was  raising  a  company,  and  sent 
to  Francis  A.  Dallum,  of  Oquawka,  to  bring  38  men,  and  a  meeting 
was  called  at  the  court-house  for  the  afternoon  of  the  17th.  As  soon 
as  it  was  organized  J.  F.  Powers,  Esq.,  rose,  and  after  making  a  few 
remarks,  stepped  forward  and  signed  the  enlistment  roll,  thus  becom- 
ing the  first  volunteer  from  Henderson  county.  Then  there  was  a  per- 
fect rush  ;  no  question  then  as  to  who  would  go,  but  who  could  get  a 


1014  HISTTRY    OF   SLERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

chance  to  go.  The  enlistment  of  these  men  was  reported  as  having 
occurred  on  the  23d,  about  the  time  they  arrived  at  (|uincy.  On  reach- 
ing there  it  was  found  that  Prentiss  had  left  for  Cairo.  Going  on  to 
Springfield,  Gov.  Yates  furnished  transportation,  and  Dallum  and  his 
men  followed  to  the  same  place.  The  trip  from  Oquawka  was  a  con- 
tinual ovation.  At  every  station  enthusiastic  crowds  greeted  and 
cheered  them,  and  along  the  route  men  in  the  fields,  and  women  and 
children  at  the  doors  and  windows,  waved  hats,  fiags,  and  handker- 
chiefs, showing  to  what  mighty  depth  the  popular  heart  was  moved 
for  the  Union.  But  this  fiery,  glorious  spirit  waned  to  a  chilling  de- 
gree on  approacliing  within  forty  or  fifty  miles  of  their  destination, 
and  soon  it  seemed  that  they  were  in  the  enemy's  country.  Sympathy 
with  secession  was  greater  there,  in  "lower  tlgypt,''  than  love  for  the 
old  fiag.  No  false  ideas  should  be  allowed  to  conceal  this  sad  truth  in 
euphemism.  The  lightning  had  hardly  yet  flashed  the  thrilling  sentir 
ments  of  Douglas,  and  Logan  and  McClernand  had  not  thrown  their 
influence  into  the  scales.  At  Cairo,  Dallum's  little  party  was  the 
nucleus  for  company  D.  Around  it  gathered  the  surplus  numbers  from 
over-full  companies,  and  it  was  regularly  formed,  with  Dallum  for  cap- 
tain ;  Benjamin  Edson,  first  lieutenant  ;  and  Samuel  J.  Wilson,  second 
lieutenant.  All  these  ofiicers  belonged  to  Oquawka.  B.  M.  Prentiss, 
captain  of  company  E,  from  Quincy,  became  colonel  when  the  regi- 
ment was  organized.  It  was  mustered  into  service  on  the  29th  by 
Capt.  (afterwards  General)  Pope. 

When  the  six  regiments  had  reported  at  Cairo,  Col.  Prentiss  was 
elected  and  commissioned  brigadier-general,  and  took  command  of 
this,  the  first  brigade  of  Illinois  volunteers,  with  headquarters  at  Cairo. 
The  10th  regiment  was  composed  of  seven  companies  of  infantry  and 
three  of  artillery.  The  term  was  taken  up  with  guard  duty,  drilling, 
and  forays  into  Kentucky  and  Missouri  to  break  up  rebel  camps.  News 
of  the  battle  of  Bull  Run  was  received  just  at  the  expiration  of  service, 
and  that  beloved  officer,  Lieut. -Col.  James  D.  Morgan,  (afterward 
General)  asked  the  lOtli  if  they  would  remain  and  go  to  Washington 
if  needed.  They  gave  unanimous  and  enthusiastic  consent.  The  regi- 
ment was  mustered  out  July  25th. 

Gen.  Prentiss  obtained  authority  from  Washington  to  reorganize 
the  six  regiments,  and  this  was  mustered  in  on  the  29th  for  three 
3'ears,  with  Morgan  for  colonel,  and  during  several  months  was  re- 
cruiting its  ranks.  Charles  S.  Cowan,  of  Oquawka,  at  once  began  to 
raise  a  company,  which  was  nearly  full  by  the  last  of  August.  The 
organization  took  place  there,  and  Cowan  was  selected  for  captain, 
Samuel  J.  Wilson  for  first  lieutenant,  and  Collin  McKenney  for  second 


TENTH   ILLINOIS    INFANTRY.  1015 

lieutenant.  Taking  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quiiicj  railroad  at 
Sagetown,  the  79  enlisted  soldiers  went  to  Mendota,  and  from  there 
Idj  tlie  Illinois  Central  to  Cairo,  where  they  were  sworn  into  the  United. 
States  service  August  80th  by  Col.  R.  J.  Oglesby.  In  a  few  weeks 
company  E  was  raised  to  the  minimum  standard.  Company  G,  in  the 
reorganized  regiment,  was  made  up  of  men  from  Clark,  I^ee  and  Ilen- 
dei'son  counties,  the  latter  sending  30,  who  were  enlisted  between  Xo- 
vember  20,  isni,  and  March  1,  1863.  The  recruiting  was  done  by 
David  R.  Waters,  of  Oquawka.  The  men  were  taken  to  Mound  City, 
where  they  found  a  part  of  the  company  in  camp  with  the  regiment, 
which  had  been  removed  from  Cairo.  On  January  19th  the  company 
organized  by  electing  John  D.  Mitchell,  of  Clark  county,  first  lieuten- 
ant, and  D.  R.  Waters  second  lieutenant.  The  sergeants  were  :  E.  A. 
Wilson,  John  Ferguson,  G.  W.  Blanchard,  and  Thomas  C.  Boyer. 
When  the  company  was  full  the  line  officers  were  promoted  one  grade, 
and  Sergeant  Blanchard  was  commissioned  second  lieutenant.  The 
■company  was  armed  at  Mound  City  with  smooth-bore  muskets.  The 
regiment  lay  there  till  December,  th^n  moved  to  Bird's  Point  and 
wintered.  ^ 

In  conjunction  with  the  Ttli  cavalry,  on  March  1,  it  dispersed  Jeff 
Thompson's  guerillas,  and  took  two  guns  hnd  some  -provisions.  It 
joined  Pope's  army,  and  on  the  night  of  the  12th,  in  company  with 
the  16th  Illinois,  advanced  on  ISTew  Madrid  to  within  800  yards  of  the 
rebel  intrenchments,  and  100  yards  of  the  picket  line,  threw  up  works, 
planted  four  guns,  and  in  the  morning  opened  fire.  They  lay  in  the 
trenches  all  day,  receiving  tlie  combined  fire  of  two  gunboats,  and 
Forts  Thompson  and  Pillow.  The  rebels  evacuated  Xew  Madrid  that 
night,  and  A])ril  7  Gen.  Pope  embarked  the  10th  and  16th  on  trans- 
ports, and  huri'ied  them  down  to  Tiptonville,  where  they  inter- 
cepted the  rebels  i-etreating  from  Island  No.  10,  and  captured  Gen- 
eral Mackall  and  2,500  of  his  men.  Company  E,  while  on  picket 
at  night,  took  800  prisoners.  Pope's  success  resulted  in  the  taking 
of  6,000  prisoners,  and  a  large  quantity  of  stores  and  munitions, 
besides  several  gunboats.  The  regiment  soon  after  moved  with 
Pope's  army  to  the  siege  of  Corinth,  and  was  in  all  the  engagements 
he  had  with  the  enemy,  and  on  May  3d  and  8tli  was  under  the  tire  of  the 
rebel  batteries.  After  the  evacuation  of  Corinth  it  was  foremost  in  the 
pursuit  of  the  enemy  to  Booneville.  Through  June  and  a  part  of  July 
it  was  lying  in  camp  at  Big  Springs,  then  it  moved  to  Tuscumbia,  and 
from  thence,  under  Gen.  Palmer  as  division  commander,  to  JSTashville, 
where  it  remained  during  the  blockade  caused  by  Bragg's  invasion,  on 
half,  then  quarter  rations,  and  at  last  on  something  less,  meantime 


1016  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

building  Fort  Neglev  and  doing  some  fighting,  until  relieved  by  Eose- 
crans.     July  20,  1863,  it  moved  from  that  city  to  New  Fost'erville ; 
August  24  reached  Bridgeport,  and  October  1,  Sequatchie  Valley,  from 
which  it  assisted  McCook's  cavalry  to  drive  out  Wheeler's.     It  sup- 
ported Sherman  in  his  attack  on  Missionary  Ridge,  and  pursued  the 
flying  rebels,  to  Ringgold.     It  marched  to  the  relief  of  Knoxville,  and 
returned  to  Chattanooga  and  went  into  winter  qua)-ters  in  rear  of  Ross- 
ville,  Georgia,  where  it  veteraned  on  the  first  day  of  January,  1864. 
The  campaign  against  Atlanta  next  commanded  its  energies  and  cour- 
age, and  it  was  in  action  at  Tunnel  Hill,  Rocky  Face,  Resacca,  Rome, 
Dallas,   New  Hope  church.   Lost  and    Kenesaw    mountains,   Chatta- 
hoochee river,  Atlanta,  and  Jonesboro.     It  followed  Hood  back  to  the 
Tennessee,  then    returned  with    Sherman   to    Atlanta,   and  marched 
through  Georgia.     From  Savannah  it  went  by  water  to  Beaufort,  and 
thence  moved  to  Pocotaligo.     These  last  movewents  were  in  January, 
1865.     On  February  3  the  third  brigade  of  Mower's  (first)  division. 
Seventeenth  Corps,  crossed  the  Salkehatchie  at  River's  bridge.     The 
swamp  at  this  point  was  a  mile  wide,  and  cut  up  with  numerous  chan- 
nels.    The  water  varied  from  one  to  five  feet  in  depth,  and  was  cold. 
The  men  crossed  under  heavy  fire,  and  routed  the  rebel  brigade,  which 
defended  the  passage,  the  10th  losing  forty  men.     It  is  said  that  Gen. 
Howard,  who  witnessed  the  proformance,  declared  it  was  "the  best 
thing  of  the  war."     On  the  9th  the   regiment  pontooned  the  South 
Edisto,  at  Binicker's  bridge,  in  face  of  the  enemy,  and  after  night 
waded  nearly  half  a  mile  through  a  lake,  struck  the  rebels  in  fiank, 
drove  them  from  their  trenches,  and  made  several  captures.     It  went 
through  South  Carolina  like  a  destroying  angel,  passing  Orangeburg, 
Columbia,  Winnsboro,  and   Cheraw.      Reaching  Fayetteville,  North 
Carolina,  March  11,  it  pontooned  the  Cape  Fear  river,  made  a  lodg- 
ment on  the  farther  side,  killing  one  lieutenant  and  five  men.     It  bore 
a  chief  part  in  the  battle  of  Bentonville,  and  on  the  last  day,  with  the 
rest  of  the  division,  pierced  the  enemy's  line,  and  captured  a  part  of 
Johnson's  headquarter  material.     The  regiment  participated  in  all  that 
followed  in  connection  with    Sherman's  army,  until  the  close  of  the 
grand  review  in  Washington.     On  June  4  it  moved  to  Louisville,  Ken- 
tucky, where  it  was  mustered  out  July  4.     On  the  11th  it  received  final 
payment  and  discharge  at  Chicago. 


SIXTEENTH    ILLINOIS    INFANTRY.  1017 


SIXTEENTH  ILLINOIS  INFANTRY. 

Having  provided  for  the  six  regiments  under  the  president's  call, 
the  legislature  passed  the  Ten-Eegiment  bill,  which  took  effect  May  2d, 
authorizing  ten  regiments  of  infantry,  one  of  cavalry,  and  one  battalion 
of  liglrt  artillery,  to  be  raised  for  the  state  service.  All  persons  enlist- 
ing under  this  act  were  required  to  go  into  the  service  of  the  general 
government,  if  called  for.  One  regiment  was  to  be  raised  from  volun- 
teer companies  then  at  Springfield,  and  one  in  each  of  the  nine  con- 
gressional districts.  On  the  3d  the  president  called  for  82,714  addi- 
tional troops-  for  three  years,  and  requisition  was  made  on  Gov.  Yates 
for  six  more  regiments.  Meantime  the  people  in  fervid  patriotism 
were  crowding  the  recruiting  places  and  clamoiing  for  acceptance  by 
the  government.  The  state  government  exhausted  all  powers  of  soli- 
citation on  their  behalf.  Finally,  when  the  disaster  at  Bull  Run  had 
brought  the  war  department  at  Washington  to  its  senses.  Secretary 
Cameron  notified  Gov.  Yates,  July  28.  that  he  would  "accept  the  thir- 
teen additional  infantry  regiments,  three  additional  cavalry  regiments, 
and  an  additional  light  artillery  battalion.  The  light  of  stern  facts  had 
so  relieved  the  obfuscated  vision  of  the  war  secretary  that  on  the  11th 
of  August  he  telegraphed  Gov.  Yates  :  "You  are  authorized  to  accept 
all  companies  of  troops  willing  to  enter  the  service."  Henceforth  the 
military  spirit  had  free  course.  Co.  F,  KJth  111.  Inf.,  was  mostly  raised 
in  Henderson  county.  Like  others  of  the  earliest  companies,  this  was 
not  raised  by  special  efibrt  of  any  person,  but  was  a  spontaneous  for- 
mation. Two  young  men  in  the  north  part -of  the  county  returning 
from  church  on  Sunday,  sat  down  under  a  tree,  with  Saturday's 
"Hawkeye,"  full  of  war  news,  and  the  fall  of  Sumter.  They  dis- 
cussed the  situation,  deliberated  on  leaving  behind  aged  parents  who 
needed  their  care,  and  the  result  was  they  resolved  to  go  to  Oquawka 
on  Monday  and  enlist.  This  is  a  sample  of  the  patriotism  which  im- 
pelled men  with  the  force  of  a  religious  conviction.  It  was  thus  that 
this  company  was  raised.  It  was  organized  at  Oquawka  May  9th. 
James  Fritz,  of  Terre  Haute,  was  chosen  captain,  John  W.  Herbert,  of 
same  place,  first  lieutenant,  and  James  G.  Stewart,  of  Biggsville, 
second  lieutenant.  The  com|)any  went  with  teams  to  Sagetown,  and 
from  there  on  the  cars  to  Galesburg,  where  the  men  stayed  over  night 
in  a  livery  stable,  and  next  morning  proceeded  to  Quincy.  There  the 
regiment  was  sworn  into  service  on  the  21th.  Co.  F  had  about  60  men 
from  Henderson  county  ;  the  remainder  were  gathered  up  in  various 
places.     The  regiment  went  into  active  service  at  Hannibal,  Missouri, 


1018  HISTORY   OF   MERCER    AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

June  9,  1S61,  under  Col.  Kobert  F.  Smith,  and  on  the  12th  it  moved 
to  Grand  river  and  was  posted  along  the  railroad  to  guard  it.  July  10th 
the  force  at  Monroe  station  was  attacked  by  1,600  mounted  rebels,  but 
Col.  Smith  defended  his  position  until  the  arrival  of  reinforcements, 
when  the  assailants  hastily  departed.  On  the  16th  two  were  killed  and 
two  wounded  at  Caldwell  Station.  The  regiment  moved  to  St.  Joseph 
September  10,  and  on  the  llth  skii-mished  at  Platte  City,  it  was. 
ordered  to  Bird's  Point  January  2Tth,  and  to  New  Madrid,  Mai-ch  3d, 
1862.  In  com]:)any  with  the  lOtli  Illinois  it  was  thrown  forward 
to  within  800  yards  of  the  rebel  main  line,  threw  up  works,  planted 
four  heavy  guns,  and  in  the  morning  startled  the  enemy  with  their  un- 
expected fire.  They  received  the  concentrated  cannonade  of  the 
rebel  gunboats  and  forts  throughout  the  day,  and  that  night  the  place 
was  evacuated  by  the  enemy.  In  his  re])ort,  Gen.  Pope  made  the  fol- 
lowing special  mention  of  tlie  10th  and  16th  :  "The  10th  and  16tli 
Illinois,  commanded  respective!}'  by  Colonels  Morgan  and  J.  P.  Smith, 
were  detailed  as  guards  to  the  proposed  trenches  and  to  aid  in  con- 
structing them.  They  marched  from  camp  at  sunset  on  the  12th  inst., 
and  drove  in  the  pickets  and  grand  guards  of  the  enemy  as  they  were 
ordered,  at  shoulder  arms,  without  returning  a  shot  ;  covered  the  front 
of  the  intrenching  parties,  and  occupied  the  trenches  and  rifle  pits  dur- 
ing the  whole  day  and  night  of  the  13th,  under  furious  and  incessant 
cannonading  from  sixty  pieces  of  heavy  artillery.  At  the  earnest  re- 
quest of  their  colonels  their  regimental  flags  were  kept  flying  over  our 
trenches,  though  they  oflered  a  conspicuous  mark  to  the  enemy.  The 
coolness,  courage  and  cheerfulness  of  these  troops,  exposed  for  twO' 
nights  and  a  day  to  the  furious  fire  of  the  enemy  at  short  range,  and  to- 
the  severe  storm  which  raged  during  the  whole  night  of  the  13th,  are 
beyond  all  praise,  and  delighted  and  astcmished  every  oflicer  who  wit- 
nessed it."  On  April  7th  these  two  regiments  were  sent  down  the 
river  and  across  to  Tiptonville,  and  ca})tured  6,000  retreating  rebels. 
The  16tli  took  ])art  in  the  siege  of  Corinth,  and  joined  the  rest  of  Hal- 
leck's  army  in  the  pursuit  of  Beauregard  to  Booneville.  July  29th  it 
crossed  the  Tennessee  river  at  Florence,  and  September  15th  reached 
Nashville,  after  a  march  of  seventeen  days,  beset  with  no  little  gue- 
rilla fighting.  It  remained  there  during  the  rebel  blockade,  and 
November  5tli  aided  in  repelling  the  attack  of  John  Morgan  on  Edge- 
field, where  it  was  encamped.  It  continued  in  the  vicinity  of  Nash- 
ville until  July  19,  1863,  when  it  commenced  the  march  to  Chat- 
tanooga. It  marched  to  the  relief  of  Knoxville.  It  re-enlisted  in  the 
winter  of  1S63-4,  and  after  its  return  from  veteran  furlough  was  organ- 
ized with  the  10th  and  60tli  Illinois  and  lOtli  Michigan  infantry  into- 


TWENTY-EIGHTH    ILLINOIS    INFANTRY.  1019 

Morgan's  Veteran  Brigade.  The  regiment  entered  on  the  Atlanta 
campaign  June  1st,  and  fought  in  most  of  the  battles.  It  served  con- 
tiiuiously  with  Sherman,  marched  to  the  sea,  campaigned  through  the 
Carolinas,  went  on  to  Washington,  participated  in  the  grand  review, 
and  then  was  transferred  to  Louisville,  Kentucky,  where  it  was 
mustered  out  of  service  July  8,  1865.  It  reached  Camp  Butler  the  10th 
and  received  final  payment  and  discharge. 


TWENTY-EIGHTH  (CONSOLIDATED)  ILLINOIS  INFANTRY. 

The  original  28th  Illinois  was  raised  in  that  region  lying  between" 
Springfield  and  the  Mississippi  river,  and  was  partly  formed  at  Camp 
Butler  in  August,  1861,  by  Lieut.-Col.  L.  II.  Waters,  afterward 
colonel  of  the  84tli,  and  while  yet  an  inchoate  regiment  was  ordered 
to  Thebes,  Illinois,  on  dutv.  It  greatlv  distinguished  itself  at  Fort 
Heiman,  Little  Bethel,  Shiloli,  Yicksburg,  and  Jackson,  Mississippi. 
At  the  latter  place  on  July  12,  1863,  in  a  hopeless  and  bloody  charge, 
out  of  128  men  engaged  it  lost  73  killed  and  wounded  and  16  taken 
prisoners,  more  than  two-thirds.  It  re-enlisted  in  the  veteran  service 
at  Natchez,  January  tt,  186-1:.  In  October  it  was  so  reduced  in  num- 
bers that  it  was  found  advisable  to  consolidate  it  into  four  companies, 
and  in  November  it  received  200  recruits,  who  were  organized  into 
two  companies.  In  January,  1865,  the  substitutes  and  drafted  men 
assigned  to  it  were  formed  into  two  more  companies.  While  in  the 
trenches  before  Spanish  Fort,  in  Mobile  bay,  the  regiment  was  joined 
April  7th  by  companies  G  and  H  from  Camp  Butler.  Company  H  was 
raised  chiefly  in  Henderson  and  Macoupin  counties,  the  former  fur- 
nishing about  thirty,  mostly  from  around  Olena,  Terre  Haute,  Warren, 
and  Dallas.  This  number  consisted  largely  of  veteran  discharged  sol- 
diers, and  was  recruited  in  February  and  March,  1865,  by  Capt.  James 
Fritz,  formerly  of  Co.  F,  16th  111.  Inf ,  assisted  by  James  O.  Ander- 
son, present  sheriff  of  Henderson  county,  and  others.  Early  in  March 
this  squad  was  taken  to  Quincy,  thence  to  Springfield,  where  it  was 
joined  by  the  men  from  Macoupin  county,  and  the  company  organized 
with  Benjamin  F.  Cowell,  of  Macoupin,  for  captain ;  John  E.  Hendry, 
of  Terre  Haute,  first  lieutenant ;  and  Pliilij)  F.  Wagner,  of  Macoupin, 
second  lieutenant.  The  company  proceeded  immediately  by  rail  to 
Cairo ;  thence  by  river  transport  to  New  Orleans  ;  from  there  b}-  gulf 
steamer  to  Fort  Gaines,  at'  the  mouth  of  Mobile  bay,  and  disembarking 
there,  marched  to  the  regiment,  which  belonged  to  the  third  brigade, 


1020  HISTORY    OF   MERCER    AXD    HEXDERSOX    COUNTIES. 

third  division.  Thirteenth  Army  Corps.  Next  day  the  fort  was  evacu- 
ated. On  the  10th  the  regiment  moved  up  to  Fort  Blakely ;  on  the 
12th  entered  Mobile ;  on  the  13th  marched  to  Whistlers  station  and 
skirmished  with  the  enemy.  Chief  Justice  Chase  reviewed  the  regi- 
ment at  Mobile,  June  3d.  In  the  beginning  of  July  it  was  embarked 
for  Brazos  Santiago,  Texas,  to  join  the  army  of  observation  under 
Gen.  AYeitzel,  and  marched  to  Clarksville ;  thence  in  August  it  went 
to  Brownsville,  where  it  was  mustered  out  March  16,  1866.  It  was 
disbanded  at  Xew  Orleans. 


OLENA  TOWNSHIP. 

To  be  a  pioneer  in  any  enterprise  required  a  great  deal  of  courage, 
and,  especially  if  successful,  entitles  one  to  be  enrolled  among  the 
benefactors  of  the  race.  The  broad  prairies  of  Illinois  were  opened 
up  by  just  such  a  race ;  and  royally  have  these  prairies  responded  to 
the  pioneer's  courageous  and  intelligent  enterprise,  with  harvests  so 
unfailingly  abundant  that  to-day  Illinois  ranks  first  among  the  agricul- 
tural states.  Henderson  county  is  a  good  illustration  of  this  truth. 
Settled  by  a  good  class  of  pioneers,  possessed  of  soil  unusually  well 
adapted  to  agricultural  pursuits,  she  contains  to-day  a  class  of  success- 
ful farmers,  less  easily  discouraged  than  is  ordinarily  the  case.  In 
the  most  unfavorable  years  the  crops  have  been  sufficiently  abundant 
to  be  profitable,  and  taking  it  years  together,  scarcely  any  one  has 
failed  to  make  money.  Of  the  general  characteristics  of  the  country, 
the  township  of  which  we  write  is  an  excellent  illustration.  Not  so 
rich  as  some  townships,  not  so  poor  as  others,  it  is  still  characterized 
by  such  constantly  assured  abundance  as  guarantees  steady  prosperity 
and  steadily  increasing  wealth.  One  cannot  but  remark  the  number 
of  prosperous  farmers  about  its  only  considerable  village,  Olena,  and 
the  absence  of  the  poor  and  shiftless.  The  lack  of  an  easily  accessible 
railway  makes  this  peculiarity  the  more  noticable ;  or  does  the  railway 
bring  the  willingly  dependent  class  with  it?  At  all  events  the  com- 
munity is  a  desirable  one  to  locate  in,  and  awaits  only  a  railroad  to 
give  it  business  importance.  It  is  able  to  maintain  both,  by  its  central 
location  in  the  county  and  by  the  wealth  it  possesses. 

The  settlement  of  this  township  dates  back  to  the  arrival  of  John 
Gibson  and  famil}-  in  the  year  1833.  His  dwelling  for  the  first  sum- 
mer, was  a  rail  ])en.  In  the  fall,  after  getting  his  land  broken  and 
seeded,  he  built  a  log  hut.  Until  the  next  spring  his  was  the  only 
family  in  township  9,  range  5.     He  was  originally  from  Tennessee, 


OLENA   TOWNSHIP.  102.^ 

whence  lie  had  removed  to  Greene  countv,  Ohio.  He  buried  his  first 
wife,  and  married  Ann  McNary,  May  21,  1829.  In  1831  lie  came  to 
Illinois,  and  settled  successively  in  Sangamon  and  Warren  counties, 
remaining  in  each  county  one  year.  He  then  came  to  Henderson 
county,  and  located  on  the  S.  E.  ^  of  Sec.  11,  T.  9  N.,  5  W.,  in  the 
midst  of  an  unbroken  wilderness,  inhabited  by  Indians  and  wolves, 
both,  however,  veiy  neighborly.  Moreover  the  necessities  of  life  were 
not  easily  obtainable.  Mills  were  so  distant  and  difficult  to  reach  that 
gi'ain  pounded  up  in  a  mortar  constructed  of  a  hollow  stump,  was  their 
only  meal.  As  in  ancient  temples,  so  in  this  rail  pen  the  fire  was 
never  allowed  to  go  out,  but  once,  and  the  penalty  paid  was  a  ride  to 
Biggsville  to  borrow  fire.  Mr.  Gibson  died  September  30,  1858.  His 
son,  Andrew,  the  first  white  child  born  in  this  township,  still  occupies 
the  home  farm. 

During  the  spring  and  summer  of  1834  there  came  into  this  sec- 
tion John  H.  Dunn,  Jacob  Mendenhall,  Robert  Kendall,  John  Shull, 
T.  J.  Fort,  J.  B.  Fort,  John  Houchin,  and  James  and  David  Laswell. 
John  H.  Dunn  settled  on  the  S.  W.  J  of  Sec.  10,  and  lived  there 
until  his  death  in  1840.  His  was  the  first  burial  in  the  Watson  ceme- 
tery. Jacob  Mendenhall  settled  on  the  S.  W.  ^  of  Sec.  3.  He  came 
from  North  Carolina,  stopping  for  a  short  time  in  Indiana,  and  at 
Peoria,  Illinois.  In  1835  he  returned  to  his  native  home,  accom- 
panied by  his  wife,  to  obtain  a  legacy  left  him  by  his  father*,  making 
the  entire  trip  in  a  buggy.  The  following  year  he  removed  to  Dallas 
City,  Illinois.  Here  he  died,  and  here  his  sons  still  reside.  John 
Houchin  built  a  mill  on  the  east  side  of  Ellison  creek,  opposite  the 
present  mill  at  Warren.  This  he  sold  to  Hopper  and  Watson,  and 
removed  to  Texas  in  1836.  He  died  there  prior  to  1860.  Thomas 
Jefierson  Fort  came  from  Warren  county,  Kentucky,  where  he  was 
born  January  20,  1809.  At  the  age  of  nineteen  he  left  home,  and, 
after  a  few  years  spent  in  farming  near  his  native  place,  came  to 
Illinois,  settling  successively  in  Warren,  Fulton,  and  Henderson  coun- 
ties. He  had  been  married  before  leaving  Kentu'^ky  to  Sarah  Brown, 
daughter  of  Andrew  Brown,  a  soldier  in  the  British  army  at  the  time 
of  its  capture  at  Yorktown.  Principally  self-taught,  Mr.  Fort  has  been 
a  friend  of  education,  and  to  his  intelligent  observations  and  clear 
memory,  we  owe  most  of  the  early  history  of  the  county,  here  pre- 
sented. 

Of  the  Laswells  and  John  Shull  nothing  was  learned.  The  other 
first  settlers  will  be  mentioned  elsewhere. 

From  this  time  on  the  township  filled  up  steadily,  but  not  very 
rapidly  until  after  1855.    It  is  noticeable  that  up  to  this  year  the  immi- 
58 


102J:  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

gration  was  into  Iowa,  but  from  1855  to  1860  there  came  a  reaction; 
the  tide  turned  and  this  section  rapidly  filled.  The  township  contains 
two  villages,  Olena  and  Warren.  The  former  was  laid  out  by  Robert 
Kendall.  It  was  located  at  first  somewhat  south  ot'  its  present  site, 
and  was  moved  wliere  it  now  stands  to  adapt  itself  to  the  road  when 
it  was  tinallv  located.  Julius  Porter  laid  out  an  addition  on  the  north 
side  of  the  road,  which  bears  his  name.  Robert  Kendall  opened  the 
first  store  in  the  village,  and,  indeed,  was  foremost  in  developing  it. 
He  was  from  near  Xenia,  Ohio.  He  came  to  Henderson  county  in  1835, 
bringing  with  him  considerable  capital.  He  entered  the  land  on  which 
Olena  stands,  and  built  a  double  log  cabin  on  the  site  of  Mr.  George 
Curry's  present  residence.  The  town  laid  out,  he  set  about  building 
cabins  and  getting  settlers  into  them.  His  store  was  opened  where 
the  store  of  Mr.  J.  A.  Stevens  now  stands.  In  18-43  he  put  up  a  two- 
story  brick  building,  which  was  used  alternately  as  a  dwelling  and  as  a 
store  until  it  came  into  the  possession  of  Ira  Putney,  Sr.  It  was  then 
taken  down  and  the  brick  put  into  the  foundation  of  Mr.  Stevens'  store, 
then  owned  by  Putney  &  Curry.  Mr.  Kendall  died  February  5,  1848, 
and  his  family  removed  to  Washington,  Iowa.  There  is  little  of 
general  interest  in  the  history  of  this  village  aside  from  the  men  who 
at  different  times  have  lived  here,  and  plied  their  various  trades. 
Among  these  men,  not  mentioned  elsewhere,  is  Ira  Putney,  Sr.  He 
was  born  in  Vermont  in  1802.  Here  he  married  Sarah,  daughter  of 
Moses  Copp,  and  afterward  removed  to  Canada.  In  1842  he  again 
removed  to  Bloomington,  McLean  county,  Illinois,  where  for  a  number 
of  years  he  pursued  his  trade  as  a  hatter.  In  1^51  he  removed  to 
Burlington,  Iowa,  and.  opened  a  provision  store.  Thence,  in  1856,  he 
came  to  Olena,  and  bought  the  general  store  of  Marks  &  Porter.  He 
continued  in  business  until  his  son,  Ira  Putney,  Jr.,  returned  from  the 
army,  when  he  retired,  retaining  only  the  office  of  postmaster,  which 
position  he  still  filled  at  the  time  of  his  death,  April  25,  1872.  His 
early  advantages  were  very  small,  but  he  possessed  such  force  and 
worth  as  made  him  successful  in  business,  and  gave  him  a  positive 
influence  in  the  community  and  in  the  church  (Methodist  Episcopal)  of 
which  he  was  a  member. 

Julius  Porter  came  from  near  Chillicothe,  Ohio,  in  the  fall  of  1847. 
He  followed  a  variety  of  occupations  in  Olena,  until  his  removal  to 
DesMoines,  Iowa,  about  1859.  Since  1880  his  residence  has  been  in 
Kansas. 

William  Marks,  business  partner  of  the  above,  left  Olena  about  the 
same  time  as  Porter.  Since  leaving  he  has  been  engaged  in  the  min- 
istry of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 


OLENA   TOWNSHIP.  1025 

Barton  Davids  came  to  Olena  fi-om  Burlington,  Iowa,  in  ISoO  or 
1851.  and  returned  thither  a  year  later.  He  built  a  large  frame  store 
and  dwelling,  on  the  site  of  Dr.  I.  P.  Cowden's  residence.  The  build- 
ing passed  into  various  hands,  and  in  1877  was  burned  to  the  ground. 

Among  the  oddities  of  the  village  for  many  years  was  an  eccentric 
but  well  educated  Frenchman,  Felix  Longchampt,  general  merchant. 
He  is  chiefly  remembered  for  his  political  prejudices.  His  distaste  for 
the  sable  hue  of  anti-slavery  politics  was  so  great  that  black  pigs  and 
black  kittens  falling  to  his  estate  paid  the  penalty  of  their  criminal 
color  by  immediate  drowning,  ''not  shriving  time  allowed,"  on  the 
ground  that  they  were  '■'•da(h)mned  bla(li)ck  repooblicans."  Long- 
champt died  near  Kirkwood,  Blinois,  in  1873. 

Other  merchants,  Messrs.  Bandall,  Putney,  Curry,  and  Stevens, 
have  full  biographies  in  their  appropriate  places.  For  churches, 
schools,  societies,  etc.,  see  the  appropriate  headings.  Though  small, 
its  central  position  and  the  wealthy  farming  community  about  it,  give 
Olena  good  hope  that  the  advent  of  a  railroad  is  not  in  the  distant 
future,  and  with  that  it  will  be  the  important  place  of  first  town  in  the 
county.  It  was  for  a  number  of  years  the  political  center  of  the  county. 
Its  ambition  is  revived  by  the  proposed  change  of  the  county  seat,  and 
it  hopes  yet  to  secure  the  prize. 

Warren  is  a  somewhat  older  village  than  Olena,  and  was  at  one 
time  more  important.  The  first  store  was  opened  there  by  George 
Kelly,  of  Burlington,  Iowa,  the  first  in  this  township,  anticipating 
Kendall's  store  at  Olena  by  a  year  or  more.  The  principal  store, 
however,  was  opened  by  Lambert  Hopper,  in  the  building  erected  by 
Adams  &  McKinney,  in  1837  or  1838,  as  a  packing  house.  Mr. 
Hopper  also  laid  out  the  town,  inducing  settling  by  giving  lots  to  such 
parties  as  erected  cabins  upon  them.  In  the  village,  as  in  all  his  busi- 
ness relations,  Mr.  Hopper  was  a  very  enterprising,  generous,  public 
spirited  man.  He  gave  unstinted  support  to  religion  and  education. 
We  regret  that  inability  to  obtain  sufficient  information  prevents  giving 
a  suitable  sketch  of  this  most  worthy  man. 

Township  9,  i-ange  5,  is,  however,  chiefly  given  over  for  farmers 
and  farming,  and  for  this  occupation  it  is  admirably  adapted.  The 
surfiice  is  rolling  and  well  drained  by  Ellison  creek  and  its  tributaries. 
This  creek  takes  its  name  from  a  stranger  named  Ellison  found  dead 
upon  its  banks.  Its  ])rincipal  tributary  in  this  township  is  Wolf  creek, 
so  called  from  the  great  number  of  wolves  that  frequented  the  timber 
through  which  this  stream  flows.  There  are,  however,  various  otlier 
important  streams  flowing  into  the  Ellison,  fed  by  living  springs. 

About  one-fifth  of  township  9,  range  5,  is  covered  by  timber.     For- 


1026  IILS'JORV    (»F   MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

merly  there  was  a  large  quantity  of  walnut,  of  burr,  wliite  and  Spanish 
oak,  and  of  hard  maple  timber.  Little  but  oak  remains,  so  completely 
liaye  the  mills  worked  \\\)  the  large  timber.  The  soil  is  for  the  chief 
part  a  sandy  loam,  with  a  porous  clay  subsoil,  equally  adapted  to  en- 
dure either  a  wet  or  a  dry  season.  The  exception  to  tliis  nature  of  soil 
is  found  in  the  western  tier  of  townships.  Through  these  run  a  chain 
of  sandy  bluffs  about  one-quarter  of  a  mile  wide,  covered  with  a  scant 
growth  of  scrub-oak.  At  the  foot  of  these  bluffs,  on  the  western  side, 
is  a  narrow  strip  of  black  sand  very  fertile,  but  beyond  this  the  soil  is 
not  productive.  The  land  in  this  township  came  into  the  market  in 
1835.  No  trouble  was  experienced  from  claim-jumpiug  and  specula- 
tors. Land  increased  in  value  but  slowly,  the  best  selling  for  $10  to 
$15  per  acre  up  to  about  1860,  while  the  present  value  of  improved 
land  is  from  $40  to  $65  per  acre  ;  of  timber  from  $20  to  $30  per  acre. 

The  chief  products  here  as  elsewhere  in  Illinois  are  hogs  and  corn. 
Considerable  attention  is  given  to  iine  cattle  and  horses.  Mr.  J.  W. 
Brook  has  a  herd  of  eighty  shorthorn  Durhams  and  some  fine  Clydes- 
dale horses.  Mr.  George  Curry  also  has  shorthorn  cattle  and  an  ex- 
cellent fiock  of  sheep.  Mr.  Curry  has  also  given  attention  to  the  intro- 
duction of  a  better  grade  of  roadster  horses.  Not  much  care  is  given 
to  fruit  since  the  death  of  Mr.  Jose]')h  Watson  closed  his  nursery.  Mr. 
W.  had  been  very  active  and  successful  in  introducing  various  sorts  of 
fruits,  especially  apples.  Mr,  William  Ingerson  is  at  present  cultivat- 
ing Snyder  blackberries  and  liopes  to  establish  a  quite  extensive  gar- 
den and  fruit  farm. 

As  has  been  remarked,  the  course  of  farming  in  this  township  has 
run  very  smoothly,  and  only  at  long  intervals  have  the  crops  suffered 
seriously  from  storms  and  floods.  The  years  1851  and  1882  are  the 
especially  exceptional  years.  Both  years  were  marked  by  constant 
and  very  heavy  rainfalls  and  by  frequent  disastrous  floods.  Two  of 
these  storms  will  serve  as  illustrations.  On  June  2,  1882,  there  was  a 
tremendous  rainfall,  lasting  nearly  all  day  ;  the  creeks  overflowed 
their  banks,  covered  the  roads  and  undermined  the  bridges  ;  the  fields 
were  fairly  inundated  and  crops  seriously  injured.  Eight  days  later 
the  heavens  were  again  opened,  the  rain  descended  and  the  floods 
came,  higher  and  more  destructive  than  before  known.  The  rain  fell 
for  an  hour  with  the  greatest  violence.  Two  hours  after  the  rain 
ceased  the  creeks  had  risen  above  all  previous  marks.  Again  fields 
were  deluged,  and  many  bridges  were  washed  out  or  carried  away 
bodily. 

Milling  in  a  community  such  as  we  have  described  could  hardly 
fail  to  be  a  profitable  business.     Very  early  in  the  history  of  this  town- 


OLENA    TOWNSHIP.  l027 

ship,  in  the  year  1835,  John  Houcliin  put  n]:»  what  was  intended  for 
both  a  saw-mill  and  a  grist-mill  on  section  8,  opposite  Hopper's  mill. 
He  sold  the  year  following  to  Lambert  Hopper  and  Joseph  Watson,, 
who  ran  the  mill  only  for  sawing  purposes.  Mr.  Watson  retired  a  3'ear 
later,  leaving  the  entire  business  to  Mr.  Hopper.  It  was  not  until 
1840  that  a  good  grist-mill  was  put  up  by  Mr.  Hopper.  Pi-ior  to  this 
time  settlers  had  been  obliged  to  go  to  various  points.  The_y  went 
principally  to  Ellisville,  a  distance  of  forty  miles.  The  trip  took  from 
five  to  eight  days,  and  not  infrequently  two  weeks.  By  sending  to- 
gether the  task  of  going  to  mill  was  greatly  lessened.  Mr.  Hopper 
continued  to  run  the  mill  up  to  the  time  of  his  death.  His  widow 
bought  the  mill  of  the  heirs  and  immediately  sold  it  to  Charles  Rogers 
and  Daniel  Sweeney.  In  1878  they  in  turn  sold  to  Mr,  J.  H.  Shrae- 
der,  who  still  owns  it. 

Woolen  manufacturing  has  been  attempted  at  Warren,  but  unsuc- 
cessfully. In  1843  Lambert  Hopper  established  a  carding  machine  on 
Ellison  creek,  a  little  down  the  stream  from  the  mill,  and  ran  it  up  to 
the  year  1859.  In  this  year  he  entered  into  partnership  with  William 
Baldwin  to  build  a  woolen  factory,  Mr.  Hopper  to  furnish  the  site  and 
the  building,  and  Mr.  Baldwin  the  macliinery.  The  mill  was  located 
yet  farther  down  the  stream  than  the  carding  machine,  and  the  latter 
was  removed  to  the  mill.  The  machinery  for  the  woolen  factory  came 
on,  but  Mr.  Baldwin  proved  unable  to  set  it  up  properly.  Mr.  J.  M. 
Frill  becoming  interested,  bought  a  half  interest  in  the  macliinery, 
Wesley  Hopper,  son  of  Lambert,  at  the  same  time  taking  part  of  his 
father's  share.  Mr.  Frill's  experience  enabled  him  to  promptly  get  the 
factory  into  running  order,  but  the  work  was  not  completed  until  July, 
too  late  to  secure  that  year's  clip.  The  following  year,  1861,  the  mill 
was  very  successful,  clearing  several  thousand  dollars.  But  a  dispute 
arose  as  to  the  relative  value  of  Mr.  Frill's  labor  as  compared  wdth 
that  of  the  other  partners.  Unable  to  reach  an  agreement,  Mr.  Frill 
withdrew  after  about  eighteen  months'  connection  with  the  firm.  Mr. 
Lambert  Hopper  had  died  prior  to  this  disruption,  and  the  business 
fell  into  tlie  hands  of  Wesley  Hopper  and  William  Baldwin.  They 
continued  together  but  a  year,  when  Baldwin  withdrew  and  removed 
from  the  village.  The  fectory  was  rented  for  a  time  to  J.  M.  &  G.W. 
Davis,  now  of  Carman,  but  for  several  years  has  not  been  run  at  all. 
These  mills  had  been  the  life  of  Warren ;  consequently,  with  their 
decadence,  the  village  has  also  sunk  to  a  low  point. 

Of  saw-mills  there  have  been  several,  which  have  naturally  fallen 
into  decay  as  the  timber  has  been  used  up.  The  lirst  one  established 
was  built  by  John  Houchin  in  1835,  as  has  been  remarked  heretofore. 


1028  HISTORY    OF   MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

"Wilson  Kendall,  brother  to  Robert,  built  a  saw-mill  on  the  Ellison,  in 
section  14  ;  it  went  into  disuse  about  1848.  The  last  saw-mill  in  oper- 
ation in  township  9,  range  5,  was  a  steam  mill,  located  on  the  west  edge 
of  Olena,  on  the  farm  of  Cyrus  W.  Steele,  Esq.  Mr.  Steele  sold  the  pro- 
prietors, Nichols  &  Hurst,  four  acres  of  land  to  secure  the  mill,  and, 
though  he  never  owned  it,  he  ran  it  most  of  the  time.  The  mill  passed 
successively  into  the  hands  of  John  F.  Woodsides,  George  W.  Cowden, 
John  Oglesby,  J.  L.  Green,  Abraham  Carress,  John  Long,  and  Curtis 
Motfoi'd,  and  last,  Robert  Martin.  He  removed  the  mill  to  Gladstone, 
ten  years  after  its  iirst  establishment.  For  eight  years,  until  timber 
became  scant,  the  mill  did  a  profitable  business. 

A  less  commendable  enterprise  was  started  in  1842  or  1843  by 
Alexander  and  Samuel  Stralian,  namely,  a  distillery.  They  built  a 
log  building,  covering  it  with  split  clapboards.  Their  still  continued 
in  successful  operation  for  about  three  years,  when  both  brothers 
removed  to  Iowa. 

The  early  mails  were  much  the  same  here  as  elsewhere,  the  route 
extending  from  Monmouth  to  Appanoose.  The  first  office  opened  in 
this  township  was  established  at  the  house  of  Wm.  Cowden.  After 
the  laying  out  of  Olena,  Robert  Kendall  became  postmaster,  and 
removed  the  office  to  his  store.  The  office  has  changed  hands  as  stores 
have  changed  owners ;  at  present  it  is  under  the  charge  of  Ira 
Putney,  Jr. 

The  Honey  creek  postoffice  was  opened  at  the  residence  of  Mr. 
Abner  Davis,  about  1842  or  1843,  on  the  route  from  Burlington  to 
Macomb.  It  was  discontinued  after  a  few  years,  and  the  mail  taken 
to  Warren. 

The  first  hotel  was  opened  by  Wm.  W.  Kendall,  only  son  of  Robert 
Kendall.  He  also  built  the  first  frame  buildings,  a  store  and  a  dwell- 
ing, in  Olena.  These  in  1841  were  considered  extraordinarily  fine. 
The  store  is  still  standing,  but  long  since  fallen  into  disuse.  The 
dwelling  was  used  as  a  hotel ;  it  was  about  16x24  feet,  one  and  a  half 
stories  high.  It  was  owned  by  various  parties  until  in  1857  it  came 
into  the  hands  of  Mr.  Geo.  Curry.  He  remodeled  the  house,  and  kept 
it  till  1862,  when  he  exchanged  residences  with  his  father.  The  latter 
occupied  it  until  his  death,  in  1878.  Mr.  Lukins  then  kept  hotel  for  a 
time,  when  the  building  passed  into  the  hands  of  its  present  occupant, 
Mrs.  Clark,  who  for  several  years  before  this  had  kept  hotel  in  various 
buildings  in  the  village. 

Churches  date  their  organization  back  to  the  earliest  years  of  the 
settlement  of  this  region.  They  have  grown  and  strengthened  as  the 
country  has  filled  up,  and  wealth  and  culture  have  increased.    Material 


OLENA   TOWNSHIP.  1029 

growth  is  referred  to  here,  of  course.  The  fii'st  church  organization 
was  the  Associate  (Seceder)  Presbyterian  Congregation  of  Betheh  It 
was  organized  on  the  second  day  of  August,  1836,  by  Rev.  James  C 
Bruce,  then  under  the  care  of  the  Presbytery  of  Miami.  Joseph  W. 
Kendall  and  Josejih  Rankin  were  installed  as  ruling  elders  of  the  con- 
gregation. Among  the  constituent  members  of  this  church  were  the 
Rankins,  Kendalls,  Whites,  Andrews,  Gibsons,  Bests,  Lauts,  and  others. 
The  first  pastor  was  the  Rev.  Wm.  Bruce,  who  was  settled  over  the 
church  about  a  year  after  its  organization,  or  in  1837. 

The  first  house  of  worship  was  erected  in  the  same  year  that  the 
church  was  organized.  It  was  a  log  building,  located  near  the 
Ellison  creek,  opposite  the  residence  of  John  Gibson.  The  congrega- 
tion worshiped  in  this  house  about  1850  or  1851,  when  they  built  a 
fi'ame  church  on  the  noi-theast  corner  of  Mr.  Gibson's  farm. 

In  the  meantime  a  second  pastor  had  been  installed  in  the  person 
of  Rev.  N.  McDowal,  settled  in  1848.  He  presided  over  the  congre- 
gation for  eight  years,  and  then  resigned.  He  was  succeeded  by  Rev. 
Elijah  McCoy.  He  continued  as  pastor  until  the  union  of  the  Asso- 
ciate and  Associate  Reformed  churches,  in  1858.  That  he  might 
leave  the  way  o])en  for  the  union  of  the  Associate  Reformed  con- 
gregation of  Ellison  with  the  Associate  congregation  of  Bethel,  he 
resigned.  The  fusion  of  these  congregations  was  consummated 
October  18,  1858,  at  the  Bethel  church.  Rev.  James  McArthur 
officiating.  The  elders  at  the  time  of  the  union  were  Alexander 
Spears,  Stephen  White,  Robert  Kirkpatrick,  and  Joseph  Rankin. 
The  church  thus  constituted  enrolled  seventy  members,  and  was  desig- 
nated as  the  United  Presbyterian  congregation  of  Ellison.  About  a 
year  later  a  number  of  this  congregation  separated  themselves  from 
this  organization,  and,  uniting  with  others  at  Olena,  were  organized 
into  the  United  Presbyterian  congregation  of  Olena,  September  8, 
1859,  by  Rev.  David  McDill,  D.D.,  and  Rev.  J.  C.  McKnight.  The 
original  membei'ship  numbered  thirty.  Since  the  organization  of  the 
congregation  209  persons  have  been  admitted  by  profession  and  certifi- 
cate to  its  membership.  It  numbers  ninety-one  at  the  present.  Six 
pastors  have  been  installed  over  this  people,  three  of  whom  were 
removed  by  death.  Rev.  Charles  Thompson  was  installed  June  17, 
1862,  and  died  December  31,  1865,  at  the  age  of  thirty-four  years. 
Rev.  Andrew  McMillen  succeeded  to  the  place  thus  made  vacant.  He 
was  installed  in  June,  1869,  and  was  released  August  28,  1871,  and  is 
now  pastor  of  the  Oelwein  and  Putnam  congregations,  Fayette  county, 
Iowa:  Rev.  William  Lorimer  followed,  his  instalhition  taking  place 
July  1,  1872.     After  a  brief  but  successful  pastorate,  he  met  a  painful 


1030  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AKD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

death  by  a  railway  train,  January  30,  IS 73.  For  more  than  a  year  the 
church  was  pastorless ;  but  April  1,  1874,  Rev.  William  R.  Erskine 
wa§  settled.  His  death  occurring  the  5th  of  the  next  February,  in  the 
fifty-seventh  year  of  his  age,  and  the  twenty-fifth  of  his  ministry,  the 
congregation  was  for  another  year  without  a  pastor.  May  26,  1876, 
Rev.  John  K.  Martin  was  settled  and  continued  in  this  office  until 
November  1,  1878,  at  which  time  he  was  released.  He  is  at  present 
over  the  congregation  of  Lexington,  Ohio.  The  present  pastor  is 
Rev.  Robert  W.  McBride.  He  is  of  Irish  descent.  He  was  born  ip 
the  city  of  Philadelphia,  October  22,  1848,  but  was  brought  to  Illinois 
in  1849  by  his  parents.  He  received  his  general  education  at  Mon- 
mouth College,  graduating  June  17,  1875.  He  pursued  his  theological 
studies  at  the  United  Presbyterian  Seminary,  at  Xenia,  Ohio,  com- 
pleting the  course  with  the  class  of  1879.  He  was  ordained  and 
installed  over  the  Olena  congregation  on  the  5tli  of  the  following  Sep- 
tember. March  15,  1882,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Kate  E.  Wilkin, 
daughter  of  William  Wilkin  (now  deceased)  and  Jane  McKitrick  (still 
living  at  Keota,  Keokuk,  Iowa).  For  some  time  after  its  organiza- 
tion this  congregation  worshiped  in  the  barn  of  Mr.  John  Andrews, 
a  little  south  of  Olena,  at  the  school-house,  and  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  house  of  worship,  the  Bethel  church  having  been  sold  and 
torn  down  shortly  after  the  formation  of  the  Ellison  United  Presby- 
terian congregation.  In  1862  they  erected  a  church  building  in  the 
northern  part  of  the  village  of  Olena,  at  a  cost  of  $1,500.  This 
congregation  includes  many  of  the  leading  men  of  the  community,  and 
is  an  intelligent,  progressive  people.  No  better  word  can  be  spoken 
for  it  than  to  mention  the  beautiful  monuments  erected  by  the  congre- 
gation to  the  memory  of  its  deceased  pastors. 

,  The  Methodist"  Episcopal  church,  of  Olena,  was  organized  in  the 
year  1836  or  1837.  Prominent  among  the  first  members  were  Joseph 
Watson,  Nathaniel  Marston,  and  William  Cowden.  Elder  Jesse 
Woodruft'  was  tlie  first  pastor.  He  was  followed  by  Rev.  Arrington, 
and  he  by  Father  West.  All  of  these  pioneer  preachers  have  gone  to 
their  reward,  the  first  and  last-mentioned  having  died  in  Warren 
county  ;  Elder  Arrington  in  the  West.  At  first  the  services  were  held 
from  house  to  house ;  afterward  the  church  purchased  the  building 
now. occupied  as  a  dwelling  b}'  Mrs.  Jos.  Nebergall,  in  Olena,  and  held 
their  meetings  in  it  until  1855.  Tliey  then  built  their  present  building, 
a  substantial  edifice,  30x40,  at  a  cost  of  $2,200.  This  building  was 
dedicated  by  Rev.  Joseph  S.  Gumming,  now  of  Abingdon  College. 
The  church  has  at  present  a  membership  of  twenty-five.  Rev.  David 
McLisli  is  pastor.    They  hold  an  interesting  Sabbath  school  during  the 


OLENA    TOWNSHIP.  1031 

summer,   with   an   average   attendance    of  thirty-five.      Mr.    George 
Detrick  is  superintendent. 

The  Evangelical  Orthodox  church  is  the  outgrowth  of  a  long-felt 
want  of  religious  service,  in  a  large  community  of  wealthy  farmers  in  the 
southern  part  of  this  township.  The  plan  originated  with  Messrs.  A. 
J.  Davis,  J.  H.  Strodtman,  John  Evans,  Jr.,  and  Herman  Annegers, 
Jr.  They  are  just  completing  an  elegant  and  commodious  clmrch, 
which  will  cost  when  finished  about  $1,500.  The  building  will  be  in 
size  28x42,  with  sixteen  foot  ceiling,  and  will  be  dedicated  fi-ee  of 
debt.  The  church  organization  is  undenominational  and  independent. 
Several  of  the  leading  denominations  are  represented  in  its  member- 
ship :  Presbyterians,  Lutherans,  Methodists,  and  Baptists.  They  have 
preaching  every  Sabbath,  alternately  by  a  Methodist  Episcopal  and  a 
United  Presbyterian  minister. 

SCHOOLS. 

The  first  school  in  T.  9  N.,  5  W.,  was  opened  in  a  log  cabin,  twelve 
feet  square,  erected  on  the  northwest  corner  of  the  southwest  quarter 
of  section  twelve,  opposite  the  Watson  cemetery,  east  of  Olena.  It 
was  after  the  usual  primitive  pattern :  slab  floor,  slab  benches,  no 
desks  but  one  used  for  writing.  This  was  a  broad  board  fastened  by 
braces  to  the  wall.  Over  this  institution  the  first  to  preside  was  Mr. 
James  H.  Beveridge,  brother  of  the  ex-governor  of  Blinois.  Mr. 
Beveridge  is  now  an  extensive  dairy  farmer  near  Somonauk,  Illinois. 
This  early  school  numbered  twenty  pupils,  some  of  whom  came  several 
miles.  This  building  was  abandoned,  and  fell  to  pieces.  It  was  fol- 
lowed by  a  frame  building,  since  removed  to  Olena,  and  occupied  now 
by  the  store  of  Ira  Putney,  Jr.  The  readjustment  of  the  district 
caused  the  next  building  to  be  located  in  Olena,  the  same  first  used  by 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  The  present  house  was  erected  in 
1857.  The  average  attendance  is  about  forty :  the  wages  from  thirty- 
five  to  forty-five  dollars. 

The  next  building  for  school  purposes  was  put  up  on  section  9, 
a  year  or  two  later  than  the  preceding.  It  was  used  about  four  years, 
when  Messrs.  T.  J.  Fort  and  J.  G.  Harbison  built  a  frame  school-house 
on  Mr.  Fort's  farm.  This  was  occupied  until  about  1860,  and  then  sold, 
the  district  at  the  same  time  putting  up  a  new  house  on  section  4. 

The   first  school  in  district  No.  4  was  held  at  the   residence  of 
Hiram  Brooks,  on  the  farm   now  owned  by  A.  J.  Davis,  Esq.     A 
building  w^as  erected  on  the  southwest  quarter  of  section  twenty-nine. 
This  building  took  fire  from  a  defective  flue  and  burned  to  the  ground, 
December  28,   1870.     Another  house  was  erected  on  the  same  site, 


1032  HISTORY   OF   MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

but  was  subsequently  removed  to  its  jjreseut  location  bv  vote  of  the 
district. 

The  South  Prairie  school  opened  first  in  1843.  in  a  log  cabin,  situ- 
ated on  section  thirty-two.  It  was  mainly  through  the  efforts  of  Thos. 
Nichols.  Excellent  teachers  were  procured  in  young  men  from  the 
East.  In  1850  the  efforts  of  Judge  K.  W.  Goddis  and  Wm.  Turner 
secured  a  better  building  on  the  present  site.  The  school  outgrowing 
its  domicile,  a  new  building  was  determined  upon.  Through  the  in- 
fluence of  the  teacher  at  that  time,  Mr.  J.  H.  Stevens,  a  plan  was 
adopted  that  gave  the  district  the  finest  building  the  writer  has  ever 
seen  in  a  rural  district.  The  dimensions  are  28x36,  with  12-foot 
ceiling.  Eight  feet  is  taken  oft"  the  south  end  for  a  hall,  the  entrance 
to  which  is  protected  by  a  covered  entrance  way.  At  either  end  of  the 
hall  is  a  cloak  room.  The  main  room  is  twenty-eight  feet  square, 
wainscoted  and  grained,  with  excellent  furniture  and  blackboard. 
The  neat  cupola  on  the  south  end  of  the  building  contains  a  300-pound 
bell,  secured  by  a  subscription  headed  and  pushed  by  Mr.  Stevens,  the 
teacher.  Mr.  Stevens  was  very  properly  installed  as  teacher  over  the 
new  building,  and  has  the  reputation  of  having  made  the  school  do 
credit  to  the  generosity  of  the  patrons. 

District  No.  8  was  organized  in  1860,  but  there  had  been  a  school 
there  for  three  years  preceding,  held  in  a  board  shanty,  built  for  the 
purpose.  This  shanty  was  a  novelty  in  the  way  of  school  buildings. 
It  was  built  of  rough  boards,  covered  with  matcherl  flooring,  bent  over 
the  top  after  the  fashion  of  a  railway  car.  It  was  furnished  with 
benches,  and  the  customary  writing  desk  along  the  wall.  It  was  after- 
ward plastered,  and  made  comfortable  for  winter  occupancy.  This 
building  was  used  until  the  summer  of  1862.  During  the  winter  of 
1862-3  Mr.  John  Marshall  taught  the  school  in  his  own  house.  The 
following  summer  the  present  building  was  erected,  at  a  cost  of  about 
$600.  The  first  teacher  in  the  shanty  was  Daniel  McMillen,  now 
a  practicing  physician  near  Aledo,  Mercer  county,  Illinois. 

The  first  school  building  at  "Warren  was  a  small  brick,  erected  in 
1845.  Mr.  Wm.  Ingerson  was  the  teacher  for  the  first  seven  years, 
and,  indeed,  has  taught  the  school  the  greater  part  of  the  time  since  its 
organization.  The  giving  of  its  sandy  foundation  caused  the  ruin  of 
the  building.  It  was  followed,  in  1860,  by  a  large  frame  house,  built 
conjointly  by  the  old  school  Presbyterian  church,  and  the  school  dis- 
trict, the  lower  part  being  a  school  room,  and  the  upper  adapted  for 
church  services. 

A  subscription  library  is  a  promising  movement  just  successfully 
started.      A  temporary  organization  has   been    eftected,   %vith  J.    S. 


OLKNA    TOWNSHIP.  1033 

Bennington  as  president ;  George  Curry,  vieeTpresident ;  W.  S.  Lukins, 
secretary ;  Miss  Annie  Watson,  treasurer ;  R.  P.  Randall,  librarian. 
They  have  now  on  hand  100  volumes  of  well  selected  works,  including 
standard  works  in  all  the  principal  departments  of  literature. 

Of  secret  fraternities  only  the  I.O.O.F.  is  represented  by  lodges  in 
this  townshiji.  The  Warren  Lodge,  No.  554,  I.O.O.F.,  was  organized 
in  1874,  with  the  following  charter  members :  Miles  Sells,  B.  G. 
Phillips,  Geo.  W.  Davis,  Willis  Anderson,  John  M.  Davis,  and  J.  S. 
Bennington.  The  iirst  officers  were:  N.G.,  John  M.  Davis;  Y.G., 
Willis  Anderson ;  treasurer,  B.  G.  Phillips  ;  secretary,  J.  S.  Bennington. 
The  present  officers  (June,  1882),  are:  N.G.,  Wm.  Shull ;  V.G.,  J. 
H.  Schroeder ;  treasurer.  Miles  Sells ;  secretary,  William  Ingerson. 
Since  the  establishment  of  the  lodge  over  sixty  have  been  enrolled  as 
members. 

The  Olena  Lodge,  No.  662,  LO.O.F.,  was  instituted  July  1,  1879. 
The  charter  members  were :  Robert  Rodman,  T.  J.  Fort,  John  Harbin- 
son,  John  H.  Stevens,  I.  P.  Cowden,  J.  S.  Bennington,  W.  J. 
McElhiney,  and  Geo.  W.  Fort.  The  Iirst  officers  were:  N.G.,  J.  H. 
Stevens;  V.G.,  LP.  Cowden;  secretary,  W.  J.  McElhiney ;  treasurer, 
T.  J.  Fort ;  deputy  and  representative,  J.  S.  Bennington.  The  present 
officers  are:  K.G.,  H.  G.  King;  Y.G.,  M.  G.  McKinley;  secretary, 
W.  J.  McElhiney  ;  treasurer,  Robert  Rodman  ;  deputy  and  representa- 
tive, W.  J.  McElhiney. 

It  would  be  unjust  not  to  make,  in  closing,  some  mention  of  men 
who  have  come  to  this  section,  and  for  the  most  part  gone  again,  some 
to  their  eternal  resting  place,  some  to  homes  farther  west,  or  to  the 
homes  of  their  early  life. 

Jos.  Watson,  a  man  of  much  force  and  enterprise,  was  born  in 
Rensselaer  county.  New  York;  was  a  blacksmith  by  trade;  came 
to  Illinois  in  1835,  bought  a  mill  of  Houchin,  at  Warren,  in  company 
with  Hopper;  sold  the  mill,  and  bought  the  N.W.  J  of  Sec.  12,  and 
opened  a  successful  nursery;  was  an  active  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  ;  died  May  9,  1874,  of  typhoid  pneumonia. 

Jason  Lee  Watson,  son  of  preceding,  born  March  9,  1839;  enlisted 
in  1861  in  the  7th  111.  Yol.  Inf ,  for  three  months  ;  re-enlisted  in  Co. 
E,  33d  111.  Inf.,  Col.  Hovey ;  killed  in  an  unsuccessful  charge  at 
Yicksburg,  March  22,  1863r  " 

William  Turner  caine  to  T.  9,  R.  5,  about  1850,  and  farmed  a  part 
of  the  N.W.  J  of  Sec.  23;  in  1854,  bought  a  store  in  Olena;  sold  a 
year  after,  and  bought  the  S.  E.  ^  of  Sec.  23  ;  removed  to  Kansas 
about  1870. 


1034  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

Elias  Plumb  came  fi-om  Xew  York  about  1838  ;  settled  on  the 
S.  E.  I  of  Sec.  25 ;  removed  to  Michigan  to  engage  in  the  fruit  busi- 
ness. 

Hugh  Lee  came  from  Ohio  about  1839,  and  settled  on  the  W.  ^  of 
the  N.W.  ^  of  Sec.  25,  and  the  S.W.  J  of  Sec.  24;  sold  to  Samuel 
and  Geo.  Curry,  in  1852 ;  removed  first  to  Warren  county,  afterward 
to  Oregon. 

James  Harbison  came  from  Indiana  about  1836,  or  1837;  bought  in 
Sec.  26  ;  died  there. 

Wm.  Cowden  came  from  Trumbull  county,  Ohio ;  settled  on  S.  E. 
and  S.W.  ^  of  Sec.  12,  in  1835  ;  was  killed  at  Biggsville,  by  the  caving 
of  a  bank  which  he  was  undermining  at  the  mill  at  that  place,  Decem- 
ber 24,  1874,  aged  forty-seven  years.  He  was  active  and  prominent 
in  public  aifairs. 

Geo.  W.  Cowden  was  county  sheriff  previous  to  the  war ;  enlisted 
in  1862  ;  came  home  wounded  ;  recovered ;  re-enlisted  in  Co.  K,  84tli 
111.  Inf.;  died  August  20,  1864. 

Hiram  Brooks  came  from  Michigan  about  1838  ;  settled  on  N.  E.  J 
of  Sec.  32;  died  there  October  1,  1846,  aged  sixty-two;  the  family  re- 
moved to  Colorado  about  1850;  his  widow  went  with  Mr.  McFee  to 
Kansas,  and  died  there. 

John  Andrew  was  from  Ohio;  settled  in  1835,  on  the  Mendenhall 
place;  afterward  bought  the  S.W.  J  of  Sec.  14,  and  the  N.W.  J  of 
Sec.  23 ;  died  in  February,  1865 ;  his  wife  survived  him  but  a  few 
weeks. 

William  Ingerson  was  born  October  31,  1817,  in  Jefferson  county, 
New  York  ;  settled,  after  protracted  wandering,  in  Henderson  county. 
Taught  the  Warren  school  for  several  years,  also  various  other  schools. 
During  the  war  he  acted  as  enrolling  ofiicer  for  two  drafts.  Served  a 
term  as  county  superintendent  of  schools  by  appointment.  Bought  his 
farm  in  1878,  which  he  is  conducting  as  a  garden  and  fruit  farm. 

Ira  Miller,  born  February  24,  1805,  in  Washington  county,  Penn- 
sylvania. Removed  to  Ohio  in  1814,  where  he  was  equally  well 
known  as  a  teacher  and  cooper.  Pemoved  to  Illinois  in  1839,  and 
settled  near  Warren.     Died  March  3,  1881. 

Benjamin  Franklin  Foote,  born  in  1821,  in  Chenango  county, 
New  York.  Was  bound  out  at  the  age  of  eleven  to  a  farmer ;  after  his 
majority  he  worked  out  for  two  years.  Came  west  in  1844 ;  Bought 
the  N.  i  of  the  S.  E.  ^  of  Sec.  34,  in  connection  with  his  brother. 
After  six  years  he  bought  his  brother's  interest.  At  his  death  he 
owned  2,300  acres  in  Henderson  county,  and  several  hundred  acres  in 
other  states. 


OLENA    TOWNSHIP.  1035 

Kev.  James  McArthur,  United  Presbyterian  minister,  born  Jan- 
uary 8,  1815,  at  Cambridge,  Washington  county,  New  York.  Grad- 
uated at  Franklin  college.  New  Athens,  Ohio,  in  1811.  Studied 
theology  at  Canon sburg,  Ohio.  Licensed  July  3,  1815,  by  the  Mus- 
kingum Presbytery ;  ordained  by  Cambridge  Presbytery  October  1 1, 
1816.  Was  pastor  at  Ryegate,  Vermont,  from  October,  1846,  to 
December,  1857.  Was  settled  over  the  Ellison  congregation,  Hender- 
son county,  July,  1859,  and  continued  until  he  was  retired  as  infirm, 
August,  1872.  Has  published  a  sermon  on  faith  and  a  farewell  ser- 
mon at  Ryegate. 

Stephen  White  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  June  23,  1802.  Came 
to  Henderson  county  in  the  spring  of  1838,  and  entered  400  acres  of 
section  2.     Died  January  23,  1872. 

Casparus  Laut,  born  in  Washington  county,  New  York,  in  1795 ; 
removed  to  Henderson  county  in  1839.  He  lived  for  fifteen  years  in 
T.  9,  R.  4,  and  in  1854  removed  to  T.  9,  R.  5.  He  is  now  infirm 
under  his  weight  of  years,  but  his  wife  is  still  hale  at  the  age  of  eighty- 
three. 

John  Ginter  came  from  Pennsylvania  about  1837,  and  settled  on 
section  26.  After  wrestling  for  several  years  with  the  lusts  of  the 
stomach,  he  returned  to  Pennsylvania  ' '  to  eat  one  more  huckleberry 
pie. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

John  S.  Peasley  was  born  near  Montreal,  Canada,  July  8,  1813. 
He  was  married  March  20,  1844,  to  Lucretia  Crownover,  of  Lomax, 
Illinois.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peasley  have  had  six  children,  four  of  whom 
are  still  living:  Cliarles,  on  the  home  farm;  George  and  Frank,  in 
Colorado;  Mrs.  Nathaniel  Bruen,  in  T.  10,  R.  5.  Mr.  Peasley  came 
to  Illinois  early,  although  the  precise  year  was  not  ascertained.  He 
built  the  mill  at  Warren  for  Mr.  Lambert  Hopper,  in  1842.  He  was 
very  widely  and  favorably  known. 

Hamilton  Evans,  a  son  of  John  and  Nancy  (McDonald)  Evans, 
was  born  January  19,  1828,  in  Monroe  county,  Ohio.  His  father  is  a 
native  of  Maryland,  and  his  mother  of  Pennsylvania.  They  were 
married  in  Pennsylvania,  moved  to  Virginia,  Ohio,  and  Indiana,  re- 
spectively, and  finally  in  1836  came  to  Illinois  and  secured  eighty 
acres  of  land  on  Sec.  3,  T.  9  N.,  R.  5  W.,  Henderson  courity.  They 
wintered  one-fourth  mile  south  of  the  present  site  of  Olena,  in  a  log 
house  already  built.  In  the  following  year  a  log  cabin  16x18  was 
erected  and  occupied.  About  1847  Mrs.  Evans  died,  and  was  buried 
in  (Jlena  cemetery.     She  was  the  mother  of  twelve  children.     Mr. 


1036  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AXD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Evans  next  married  Mrs.  Sarah  (Waggy)  Mills.  In  1S53  lie  sold  his 
farm  to  his  sons  J(jhn  and  Hamilton.  After  a  journey  to  Indiana  and 
Ohio,  he  bought  property  in  Oquawka,  where  he  lived  some  years. 
Later  he  located  at  Gladstone,  where  he  now  resides.  There  are  two 
children  in  the  last  family.  Hamilton  Evans  was  raised  to  all  the 
rustic  duties  incident  to  a  farmer's  life.  He  was  married  August  31, 
1853,  to  Ann  B.  White,  a  native  of  Greene  county,  ( )liio,  and  who  came 
with  her  father,  Stephen  White,  to  Henderson  county  about  1835. 
Mr.  Evans  settled  one-fourth  mile  west  of  his  present  residence.  In 
1862  he  occupied  his  present  place,  comprising  now  about  400  acres. 
The  farm  is  largely  the  result  of  liis  own  efforts  and  economy.  In 
1850  Mr.  Evans,  with  his  family,  crossed  the  plains  to  California,  and 
returned  two  years  later. 

John  Curts  (deceased),  one  of  Henderson  county's  oldest  and  most 
prominent  citizens,  was  born  January  21,  1786,  in  Pennsylvania,  near 
the  west  branch  of  the  Susquehanna  river.  He  was  a  son  of  Thomas 
Curts.  His  youth  was  spent  largely  on  the  water  as  a  boatman.  His 
schooling  was  limited.  When  eighteen  years  old  he  aided  jST.  Harvey 
quarry  the  stone  for  a  mill,  dress  it,  and  build  the  mill.  The  old  mill 
still  operates.  He  was  for  a  number  of  years  a  tide  pilot.  March  22, 
1808,  he  was  married  to  Temj^erance  Fredericks,  who  was  born  Novem- 
ber 26,  1789,  in  Pennsylvania.  After  marriage  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Curts 
kept  tavern  for  some  time.  Mr.  Curts  also  became  interested  in  agri- 
culture and  owned  a  good  farm.  He  became  engaged  in  iron  smelting, 
but  this  departure  proved  a  fiiilure.  In  the  fall  of  1835,  he  made  a 
trip  to  Warren  county,  Illinois.  He  remained  the  first  winter  with  his 
cousin,  Michael  Crane,  near  what  is  now  Lomax.  He  entered  seven 
eighties  of  land  in  T.  9  N..  R.  5  W.  In  the  following  spring  of  1836, 
his  family  of 'wife  and  children  joined  him  and  resided  on  a  small  piece 
of  broken  land  on  the  Big,  or  Getting's,  mound.  In  1836  he  broke  the 
first  furrow  on  his  new  farm,  erected  a  cabin,  but  did  not  occupy  the 
farm  permanently  till  the  spring  of  1837.  His  time  was  henceforward 
occupied  in  the  improvement  of  liis  home.  His  log  cabin  is  now  used 
as  a  stable.  About  1816-7,  he  w^as  a  member  of  the  state  legislature, 
elected  on  the  whig  ticket.  In  religion  he  was  a  Presbyterian.  He 
became  one  of  the  most  successful  men  of  the  county.  At  his  death, 
March  12,  1871:,  he  was  owner  of  about  1,800  acres  of  land.  He  was 
buried  on  the  summit  of  the  high  bluff  near  his  residence.  His  wife 
survived  him  till  August  22,  1875.  She  sleeps  near  him.  She  was  the 
mother  of  eight  children,  all  born  in  Pennsylvania  :  Horatio  became 
a  lumberman  at  Shokokon,  and  the  pineries  of  Wisconsin,  and  died 
October  2,  1868,  aged  fifty-nine  years  and  twenty-six  days  ;    Thomas 


OLENA   TOWNSHIP.  1037 

remained  in  Pennsj^lvania  ;  Susan,  Amelia,  Eliza,  Temperance,  Anna 
B.,  and  John  F.  John  F.  was  born  September  26,  1821.  His  life  has 
been  largely  spent  where  he  now  lives.  He  owns  the  homestead  and 
has  largely  improved  it.  His  father  was  a  man  of  many  friends.  The 
portrait  of  the  Hon.  John  Curts  is  a  tribute  to  his  memory. 

Among  the  men  who  have  done  most  toward  making  Henderson 
county  in  general,  and  the  township  in  which  he  resides  in  particular, 
is  George  Curry,  third  child  of  Samuel  Curry  and  Emma  Whitting, 
both  of  Somersetsliire,  England.  Samuel  Curry  removed  to  America 
in  1838,  whither  his  son  folloved  him  in  18-11.  The  lather  settled  lirst 
in  Henderson ville,  going  from  this  place  successively  to  Oquawka  and 
Jack's  Mills,  in  pursuit  of  the  trade  to  which  he  was  trained,  brick 
making.  In  1841  he  settled  at  Biggsville,  where  George,  the  subject 
of  this  sketch,  just  from  England,  joined  him.  In  1852,  Samuel  Curry, 
in  company  with  his  son,  George,  purchased  of  Hugh  Lee  the  S.  W.  ^ 
of  Sec.  24,  and  the  W.  ^  of  N.  W.  J  of  Sec.  25,  T.  9  X.,  R.  5  W., 
npon  which  the  father  settled,  afterward  removing  to  Olena,  where  he 
died  in  1878.  His  widow  returned  to  Biggsville  in  1880,  and  still  re- 
sides there  with  her  daughter.  Mr.  George  Curry  is  a  carpenter  by 
trade,  and  Olena  owes  most  of  its  dwellings  to  his  mechanical  skill. 
After  coming  to  America,  he  followed  his  trade  for  many  years  at 
Biggsville,  at  Olena,  and  in  the  surrounding  country.  But  he  had 
always  a  strong  tendency  toward  farming,  and  although  actively  en- 
gaged in  carpentering  for  eight  years  after  his  removal  to  Olena  in 
1852,  he  found  much  time,  also,  to  look  after  the  interests  of  the  farm 
which  he  had  purchased  in  conjunction  with  his  father.  In  1854  he 
married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Samuel  and  Elizabeth  Ward,  of  Fitch- 
ville,  Huron  county,  Ohio,  and  widow  of  Simon  Nichols.  Tliey  began 
their  married  life  in  Olena,  for  several  jesLi's  keeping  a  liotel  in  a  house 
built  by  Mr.  Curry's  own  hands.  In  1862  he  exchanged  residences 
with  his  father.  He  remained  on  the  farm  for  five  years,  at  the  expira- 
tion of  which  time  he  bought  an  interest  in  the  store  of  Ira  Putney,  Jr. 
He  continued  in  mercantile  business  with  Mr.  Putney,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  about  three  years,  until  1876,  when  he  retired  to  the  farm  which 
he  had  i^urchased  of  Thomas  Kitchen,  upon  which  he  had  built  the  line 
residence  he  now  occupies.  Mr.  Curry  has  long  been  greatly  interested 
in  fine  stock,  and  to-day  has  the  only  considerable  flock  of  sheep  in  the 
township,  together  with  some  fine  shorthorn  Durham  cattle.  His  farm 
sliows  the  thrift  which  is  to  be  expected  of  the  man  who  quietly,  intel- 
ligently, and  persistently  attends  to  his  own  matters.  Ever  an  ardent 
rei)ublican,  and  unable  to  see  it  any  more  right  for  whites  to  own 
blacks  than  for  blacks  to  own  whites,  Mr.  Curry  is  still  no  politician. 


1038  HISTORY   OF   >tERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Nevertheless  he  is  now  serving  his  second  term  as  eoimtj  commis- 
sioner, and  is  looked  upon  as  the  most  suitable  man  to  be  his  own  suc- 
cessor. He  himself  makes  no  profession  of  religion,  but  his  wife  is 
a  consistent  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church,  of  Olena. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Curi-v  have  had  three  children,  two  of  whom  died  in 
infancy.  The  remaining  child,  Charles  H.,  married  Viola  Steele, 
daughter  of  Squire  Cyrus  W.  Steele,  and  is  now  connected  with  his 
father  in  working  the  home  farm. 

In  Otsego  county.  New  York,  in  the  town  of  Jackson^alle,  was  born 
RoswELL  Page  Randall,  December  1,  1837,  the  ninth  of  the  eleven 
children  of  Roswell  Randall  and  Charlotte  Page,  both  of  New  Eng- 
land. In  1849  the  entire  family  removed  to  Kirkwood,  AVarren 
county,  Illinois.  The  father  was  by  trade  a  manufacturer  of  cloths, 
and  for  thirty  years  previous  to  his  leaving  New  York  was  engaged  in 
makina:  the  finest  cassimeres.  After  coming  to  Kirkwood  he  followed 
farming.  In  December,  1877,  he  buried  his  aged  wife,  and  in  the  fol- 
lowing July  himself  departed  this  life  at  a  ripe  old  age.  At  the  age  of 
sixteen  Roswell  Page  Randall,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  left  home, 
and  for  two  years  was  engaged  in  clerking  in  stores  at  Monmouth, 
Illinois.  In  the  fall  of  1855  he  came  to  Henderson  county,  li^'ing  with 
his  brother-in-law,  Mr.  Richey,  and  attending  school.  The  next  fall 
he  returned  to  Warren  county,  and  for  three  years  taught  school  near 
Roseville.  The  community  in  which  he  taught  was  very  rough,  so 
rough  that  he  dated  his  letters  home  "  Heathen  Land."  For  instruct- 
ing the  fifty  rude  children  of  this  rude  district  he  received  $27  per 
month,  boarding  himself,  building  his  own  fires,  and  wielding  his  own 
rod.  In  the  fall  of  1859  he  came  to  Olena,  and  was  for  another  space 
of  three  years  engaged  in  teaching,  most  of  this  time  at  the  Gaddes 
school  house.  The  spring  of  1862  found  him  in  Oregon.  Here,  in  the 
woods  along  the  banks  of  the  Columbia  river,  he  taught  until  the  fol- 
lowing spring,  when  he  left  for  California.  His  services  here  as  "brisk 
wielder  of  the  birch  and  rule,"  were  better  paid,  he  receiving  as  much 
as  $75  in  gold  per  month.  Returning  in  1866  to  Henderson  county, 
he  "kept school"  in  the  David  Rankin  district  until,  in  the  fall  of  1869, 
he  was  elected  •  county  superintendent  of  schools,  to  succeed  John 
Simpson.  Just  before  the  expiration  of  his  term  of  ofiice,  in  the 
spring  of  1873,  he  bought  of  Dr.  T.  J.  Maxwell  the  business  he  now 
owns,  drugs  and  groceries.  Mr.  Randall's  preparation  for  teaching 
was  received  in  the  district  schools  of  New  York  and  Illinois,  his  last 
year  as  a  pupil  being  spent  in  the  high  school  at  Galva,  Illinois,  when 
he  was  twenty-one  years  of  age.  He  had,  moreover,  excellent  train- 
ing at  home,  six  of  his  family  having  been  teachers.     He  was  married 


.  -^ 


OLENA    TOWNSHIP.  1041 

in  1867  to  Eliza,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Lavina  Nichols.  He  finds 
himself  to-daj'  the  father  of  three  children  :  Frederick  Page,  born  in 
1871  ;  Roy  Oscai',  born  in  1876  ;  and  Metta  Gertrude,  born  in  1880. 
Mrs.  Randall  is  an  active  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church 
of  Olena.  Mr.  Randall  is  an  earnest,  hard-working  republican  in 
politics,  but  has  held  no  office  but  that  of  county  superintendent  of 
schools,  referred  to  above. 

Cykus  W.  Steele,  the  eldest  child  of  James  Steele  and  Elizabeth 
Peck,  was  born  at  AVaynesborough,  Augusta  county,  Virginia,  in  the 
year  1818.  Both  his  parents  were  born  and  reared  in  the  same  county, 
where  they  were  married  and  where  their  son  was  born.  The  father 
was  of  Irish,  the  mother  of  German  extraction.  His  grandj)arents  on 
both  his  father's  and  mother's  side  were  activel}'  engaged  in  the  war  of 
the  revolution.  James  Steele,  but  a  lad  during  the  revolution,  found 
opportunity  to  show  his  patriotism  in  the  war  of  1812.  He  was  sta- 
tioned at  Norfolk,  Virginia,  where  the  tedium  of  camp  life  was  relieved 
by  occasional  encounters  with  the  enemy.  A  rather  ludicrous  incident 
of  this  service  was  specially  relished  by  the  old  man.  One  evening  a 
certain  Capt.  Boyer  saw,  through  the  woods,  the  blazing  camp-fires  of 
some  British  soldiers.  At  once  detailing  a  sufficient  number  of  men, 
the  doughty  captain  set  forth  to  bring  the  enemy  into  camp.  The  party 
approached  with  stealthy  step  and  circuitous  route  the  hostile  encamp- 
ment ;  but,  lo  !  when  they  enter  the  clearing,  there,  bland  and  smiling, 
was  the  i-uddy  face  of  the  rising  full  moon.  The  captain  left  his  prize 
on  the  field.  In  1818,  when  Cyrus  was  but  two  years  of  age,  James 
Steele  removed  from  his  farm  in  Virginia  to  Greene  county,  Ohio. 
Here  he  buried  his  wife  in  1827.  He  himself  was  laid  beside  her  five 
years  later,  in  the  year  1832.  Cyrus,  thus  thrown  upon  his  own  re- 
sources, remained  in  Ohio  until  the  year  1840.  During  this  time  he 
learned  the  carpenter's  trade  and  worked  at  it  for  several  years.  In 
1840,  his  health  failing,  he  went  to  Louisa  county,  Iowa.  Leaving 
there,  he  came  to  Henderson  county  in  1841.  Here  he  divided  his 
time  between  carpentering  and  the  saw-mill  until  1856,  when  he  pur- 
chased 120  acres  in  the  S.W.  J  of  Sec.  10,  T.  9  N.,  R.  5  W.,  where  he 
still  lives.  He  afterward  sold  four  acres  of  this  to  obtain  a  saw-mill, 
which  he  ran  for  some  time.  The  mill  has  since  been  removed.  In 
1851  he  married  Mrs.  Susan  Downs.  They  have  had  five  children,  the 
three  youngest  of  whom  are  living:  Elizabeth,  Viola,  and  Franklin. 
Mr.  Steele  has  two  sisters  living,  Julia,  in  Greene  county,  Ohio,  and 
Emily,  near  Indianapolis,  Indiana.  For  a  long  series  of  years  Mr. 
Steele  has  held  ])ublic  office,  first  as  constable,  afterward,  as  at  present, 
59 


1042  HISTORY    OF   iSfERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

justice  of  the  peace.     He  has  had  a  liard  task  to  subdue  the  wilderness 
ill  which  he  settled,  but  lives  to  enjoy  his  labors  in  his  old  age. 

William  Stltart  Bailey,  M.D.,  was  born  at  Richmond,  Jefferson 
County,  Ohio,  November  24,  1849,  the  first  of  the  hve  children  of 
Benjamin  S.  Bailey  and  Dorothy  Patterson,  the  former  of  Scotch, 
the  latter  of  Irish  lineage.  Both  parents  are  now  dead,  and  are 
buried  at  Wayland  (formerly  Marshall),  Henry  county,  Iowa,  whither 
they  had  removed  some  years  before.  The  father  died  September 
20,  1873  ;  the  mother,  November  13,  1861.  William  S.  Bailey  was 
reared  to  his  father's  occupation,  farming,  but  received  tlie  best  educa- 
tion the  public  schools  at  Washington,  Iowa,  could  give.  About  1866 
or  1867  he  came  to  Olena  to  read  medicine  under  Dr.  Maxwell. 
February  18,  1873,  he  completed  the  prescribed  course  at  the  College 
of  Physicians  and  Surgeons  (allopathic),  Keokuk,  Iowa.  After  his 
marriage,  June  8,  1876,  to  Anna,  daughter  of  G.  H.  and  Mary 
Mosher,  he  settled  first  at  Wayland,  Iowa,  his  father's  home  ;  but  in 
1878,  returned  to  (31ena,  where  he  has  succeeded  in  building  up  a 
lucrative  practice.  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Bailey  have  one  child,  Gideon 
Stuart,  born  April  16,  1877. 

Ira  Putney,  Jr.,  adopted  son  of  Ira  Putney,  Sr.,  and  Sarah  Copp, 
was  born  at  Steansted,  Province  of  Quebec,  June  16,  1840.  When  he 
was  four  years  of  age  his  father  removed  to  Bloomington,  McLean 
county,  Illinois.  During  the  residence  of  the  family  at  this  place  and 
at  Burlington,  Iowa,  whither  they  had  moved,  Ira  passed  his  time  at 
school,  completing  the  high  school  course  of  the  Burlington  school  at 
the  age  of  thirteen.  A  year  later  the  family  removed  to  Olena,  Hen- 
derson county,  where  the  father  bought  the  business  of  Marks  &  Por- 
ter, general  merchants.  Father  and  son  continued  together  until  Octo- 
ber, 1861,  when  the  son  enlisted  at  Cairo,  in  Co.  E,  10th  111.  Inf., 
Capt.  C.  F.  Cowan.  He  was  assigned  duty  in  the  quartermaster's  de- 
partment, under  Quartermaster  J.  Pyatt,  now  of  Jacksonville,  Illinois. 
He  followed  the  fortunes  of  the  army  in  its  course  through  Kentucky, 
Missouri,  Tennessee,  and  Alabama,  until  after  the  capture  of  Atlanta. 
He  was  mustered  out,  October,  1864,  at  East  Point,  Georgia. 
Although  in  the  quartermaster's  department,  Mr.  Putney  did  not 
escape  hard  service,  remembering  very  vividly  serving  rations  under 
severe  fire  before  Atlanta.  Returning  to  Olena,  he  re-entered  business 
with  his  father.  In  1865  the  firm  of  Putney  &  Son  was  followed  by 
Putney  &  Curry,  the  elder  Putney  retiring  and  giving  place  to  George 
Curry.  Mr.  Putney  and  Mr.  Curry  were  associated  in  business  most 
of  the  time  until  1876,  when  Mr,  Curry  retired,  leaving  the  entire 
business  in  Mr.  Putney's  hands.     In  1877  an  unfortunate  investment 


OLENA   TOWNSHIP.  1043 

forced  Mr.  Putney  to  the  wall,  being  followed  by  Mr.  J.  H.  Stevens. 
After  farming  for  five  years  lie  again  opened  a  store,  where  he  still 
offers  for  sale  a  general  stock  of  groceries,  dry  goods,  and  boots  and 
shoes.  Two  years  previous  to  entering  the  army,  in  June,  1859,  Mr, 
Putney  was  united  in  marriage  to  Azubah  A.  Haislett.  Of  their  six 
children,  they  have  buried  one,  the  eldest.  Mr.  Putney  belongs  to 
the  Freemasons  fraternity.  He  is  a  zealous  republican,  and  has  done 
his  party  yeoman's  service  in  the  community  where  he  lives.  He 
has  at  vaiious  times  been  postmaster,  which  position  he  now  holds. 

Isaac  B.  Cowden,  M.D.,  bom  in  1879,  is  the  son  of  Alexander 
Cowden  and  Margaret  Magaughy.  His  parents  were  among  the  early 
settlers  of  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  and  the  first  couple  married  there. 
A  few  years  after  their  marriage  they  removed  to  Louisa  county,  Iowa, 
where  their  son  Isaac  was  born.  The  father  died  in  this  county  in 
1856  ;  the  mother  still  lives,  residing  at  Crawfordsville,  Iowa.  The 
public  schools  of  this  place  gave  the  subject  of  this  sketch  his  general 
education.  He  began  the  study  of  medicine  under  Dr.  J.  D.  Miles,  state 
senator,  residing  now  at  Washington,  Iowa.  Mr.  Cowden  attended 
his  first  course  of  lectures  at  Iowa  City,  in  the  winter  of  1872-3  ;  a 
year  later  he  received  a  diploma  from  the  College  of  Physicians  and 
Surgeons,  Keokuk,  Iowa.  He  settled  first  in  Henry  county,  but  re- 
moved soon  after  to  Olena,  Henderson  county.  During  his  eight  years' 
residence  here  since  his  settlement  in  1874,  his  practice  has  constantly 
increased.  December  1,  1876,  he  married  Lilian  M.,  daughter  of 
Thomas  J.  Richey,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  this  county.  Of  the 
four  children  born  to  them  the  eldest  two  are  dead.  The  remaining 
two  were  born  :  Nellie  Grant,  in  1879,  and  Thomas  Pussel,  in  1881. 

James  Pollock,  son  of  John  Pollock  and  Elizabeth  Stewart,  was 
born  in  Harrison  county,  Kentucky,  March  22,  1816.  His  mother 
died  while  he  was  a  babe,  leaving  a  family  of  eight  children,  of  whom 
James  was  the  youngest.  In  1837  his  father  fell  a  victim  to  cholera, 
and  was  buried  at  his  old  home.  When  but  fifteen  years  old  James 
was  apprenticed  to  a  blacksmith,  near  his  home ;  but  he  became  dis- 
satisfied here,  and  a  year  later  went  to  Clermont  county,  Ohio,  where 
he  finished  his  apprenticeship  and  wrought  at  his  trade.  In  1836  he 
married  Hettie  Smith,  daughter  of  John  Smith  and  Ellen  Mcintosh. 
Hettie  Smith  was  born  in  the  year  1818,  in  Clermont  county,  Ohio, 
but  was  reared  by  her  grandparents  in  Brown  county.  Here  she  was 
the  schoolmate  a'nd  playmate  of  Gen.  U,  S.  Grant,  and  spent  many 
hours  playing  with  the  embryo  president  about  his  father's  tanyard. 
By  her  grandparents  she  was  instructed  in  the  old-time  duties  of  card- 
ing,   spinning   and  weaving,    and   still   recalls   those   as   among  her 


1044  HISTORY    OF    IVIERCER    AJ^D    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

happiest  days.  In  1837  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Pollock  came  to  Henderson 
county,  Illinois,  settling  at  the  village  of  Torre  Haute.  The}-  afterward 
went  to  Indiana,  and  lived  in  Jefferson  county  until  1856.  Again 
coming  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  Mr.  Pollock  worked  at  his 
trade,  first  at  Terre  liaute  six  years ;  then  one  year  at  Olena.  In  1862 
his  eldest  son  (William)  had  enHsted  in  the  91st  reg.  111.  Yol.  Inf ,  and 
the  next  spring  the  two  remaining  sons  in  the  84th.  Then  his  heroic 
wife  sent  him,  also,  "to  look  after  the  boys."  Enlisting  in  Co.  K, 
84th  reg.  111.  Yol.  Inf,  he  joined  the  main  army  at  Xashville.  He 
saw  almost  continuous  lighting,  until,  at  Jonesboro,  a  ball  shattered  his 
leg.  A  surgeon  with  a  rude  bandage  stayed  the  flow  of  blood  ;  but  he 
lay  there  on  the  field,  faint  and  feverish,  his  limb,  now  greatly  swollen 
on  account  of  the  tightly-drawn  ligature,  giving  unutterable  pain,  from 
three  p.m.  of  September  2  until  nine  a.m.  of  the  3d,  twelve  weary 
hours  of  constant  agony.  AVhen  finally  he  was  taken  to  the  hospital, 
so  extensi^'ely  had  mortification  set  in,  that  the  leg,  shot  off  below  the 
knee,  had  to  be  amputated  half  way  from  the  knee  to  the  hip.  After 
several  months  spent  in  liospital,  he  was  discharged.  May,  1864,  at 
Quincy,  where  he  had  spent  the  days  of  his  convalescence.  His  sons 
passed  unscathed  through  many  of  the  severest  battles  of  the  war,  and, 
lionorably  discharged,  now  live,  William  and  Ilenton  in  Kinggold 
county,  Iowa,  and  John  in  the  Far  West.  After  his  discharge  from 
the  army  Mr.  Pollock  again  engaged  in  blacksraithing ;  but  an  unlucky 
stroke  of  the  hammer  broke  a  finger  of  his  left  hand,  and  rendered  the 
hand  stiff'  and  useless  for  work.  Through  the  beneficence  of  the  govern- 
ment to  which  he  so  nearly  gave  his  life,  Mr.  Pollock  is  spending  his 
last  years  in  modest,  but  assured  comfort — comfort  richly  earned, 
both  by  him  and  his  worthy  wife,  now  no  less  heroic  and  honorable, 
though  less  honored  than  the  highly  exalted  playmate  of  her  youth. 

Jaivies  Henry  Dean  was  born  in  Greene  county,  Ohio,  April  28, 
1831.  His  father,  Robert  Dean,  was  originally  from  Kentucky ;  his 
mother,  Elizabeth  Campbell,  from  Tennessee.  Robert  Dean  was  twice 
nuirried.  By  his  first  wife  he  had  eleven  children,  of  whom  James  H. 
is  the  eighth.  At  the  age  of  twenty-five  the  last-named  left  home, 
sliortl)!;  after  his  father's  death  in  1854.  He  came  to  Olena,  Hender- 
son county,  and  in  1856  bought  the  farm  upon  which  he  now  resides, 
a  part  of  the  N.  W.  J  of  Sec.  11.  In  November  of  the  same  year  he 
married  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  John  Gibson,  the  first  settler  of  this 
township,  and  Ann  McNary.  Mrs.  Dean  has  given  birth  to  five  chil- 
dren. Of  these  the  first-born,  William  Harvey,  was  buried  at  the  age 
of  seventeen,  and  the  third  died  in  infancy.  There  remain  to  them 
John  Albert  (born  June  16,   1861),  Willis  Elmer  (born  October  15, 


OLENA   TOWNSHIP.  1045 

1868),  and  Mattie  Florence  (born  August  21,  1874).  Mr.  Dean  enlisted 
in  Co.  A,  30tli  reg.  111.  Yol.  Inf.,  October,  1864.  He  joined  Sher- 
man's army  at  Pochetaligo,  South  Carolina,  and  continued  .in  active 
duty  until  March  80,  1865,  when  he  was  sent  to  the  hospital  sick.  .  He 
was  honorably  discharged  May  26,  1865,  at  Madison,  Indiana. 

John  H.  Stevens  came  to  Henderson  county  in  1863,  as  a  teacher 
at  the  South  Prairie  school.  The  following  S]3ring  he  entered  the  army 
at  Mattoon,  and  was  sent  into  Missouri.  Here  he  was  engaged  chiefly 
in  garrison  duty  along  the  line  of  the  Iron  Mountain  railroad,  especially 
at  Pilot  Knob  and  Ironton.  By  a  singular  train  of  circumstances,  Mr. 
Stevens  was  absent  from  all  the  severe  engagements  in  which  his  com- 
mand were  concerned;  for  instance:  he  was  one  of  the  force  detailed 
to  convey  arms  to  Pilot  Knob,  but  was  sent  back  just  before  the  battle. 
Hardly  had  he  turned  over  his  arms  at  the  expiration  of  his  term  of 
service,  when  Price  made  his  so  nearly  successful  invasion.  He  was  a 
member  of  Co.  A,  135th  reg.  111.  Vol.  Inf.  Returning  from  the 
army,  he  taught  in  Henderson  and  Warren  counties  till  1868,  when  he 
returned  to  his  native  state  (Ohio),  to  teach  in  the  graded  schools  there. 
After  some  years  he  again  came  to  Henderson  count}-,  taught  for  a 
time,  and  then,  in  1878,  bought  his  present  business  (dry  goods  and 
groceries),  a  business  which  he  is  now  closing  out  in  order  to  remove 
to  Dakota  Territory.  His  parents,  Lewis  A.  Stevens  and  Sarah  A. 
Sperry,  were,  respectively,  of  Scotch  and  German  descent.  The 
family  was  large,  consisting  of  fourteen  children,  of  whom  twelve 
came  to  adult  age.  The  family  is  one  of  rather  remarkable  longevity, 
several  of  Mr.  Stevens'  ancestors  lacking  but  little  of  reaching  four 
score  and  ten.  Born  October  31,  1841,  he  spent  his  early  years  in  the 
county  and  normal  schools  of  Muskingum  and  Licking  counties,  Ohio. 
The  profession  of  his  choice  was  the  law ;  his  prospects  for  pursuing 
his  studies  successfully  were  very  bright,  but  his  entrance  into  the 
army  changed  his  whole  course  of  life.  In  1865  he  married  Isabel, 
daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth  Black.  They  have  five  children 
living,  and  buried  one  in  infancy.  Successful  in  his  teaching  and  in 
his  business,  Mr.  Stevens  goes  to  his  new  home  with  good  reason  to 
expect  success. 

Nathaniel  Maeston,  born  at  Enfield,  Grafton  county,  New  Hamp- 
shire, May  2,  1810,  is  the  son  of  Nathaniel  Marston  and  Rhoda  Saw- 
yer, and  of  pure  New  England  stock.  His  father  died  before  the  sub- 
ject of  this  sketch  was  a  year  old.  His  mother  was  married  again  to 
David  Clioate,  but  continued  to  live  on  the  old  homestead  until  her 
death,  January  14,  1869,  at  the  advanced  age  of  eighty-five.  Of  the 
elder  Marston's   four   children,  but  two  grew  to  mature  yeai- 


1046  HISTORY   OF   IVIERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

buried  in  1859,  and  Natlianiel,  of  whom  we  now  write.  The  hitter  left 
home  at  the  age  of  sixteen  and  went  to  Lebanon,  New  Hampshire,  to 
learn  cabinet-making.  Here  he  worked  until  1831,  when  he  removed 
to  Kingsville,  Ashtabula  county,  Ohio.  At  this  place  he  continued  at 
his  trade  till  1837,  when  the  wonderful  reports  of  the  success  of  the 
Illinois  farmers  drew  him  hither.  Coming  directly  to  Henderson 
county,  he  entered  the  N.  W.  i  of  Sec.  12,  T.  9  N.,  R.  5  W.  Here 
he  built  his  log  cabin,  and  installed  therein  his  wife,  whom  he  had 
married  in  Ohio,  Lois  Barton,  daughter  of  Nathan  Barton  and  Sarah 
Burroughs.  Mrs.  Marston  was  born  and  reared  at  Plainfield,  Massa- 
chusetts, the  eleventh  of  thirteen  children.  All  grew  to  manhood  and 
womanhood,  but  eight  have  since  been  buried.  Of  the  live  now  living 
Mrs.  Watson  is  the  youngest.  Of  her  own  ten  children,  thi-ee  are 
dead,  and  the  others  scattered  through  this  state,  Iowa,  and  Missouri. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Marston  are  persons  of  intense  moral  and  religious  con- 
victions, and  consistent  lives.  They  have  ever  been  among  the  most 
earnest  workers  and  generous  givers  toward  the  support  oi'  a  church 
here  in  the  community.  Tliey  have  been  connected  witli  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church,  of  Olena,  since  its  first  organization.  Mr.  M. 
has  been  an  uncompromising  opponent  of  slavery  and  intemperance, 
fearless  in  his  opposition  to  what  he  considered  wholly  at  variance  with 
principles  of  right.  He  lives  to  enjoy  the  fruits  of  his  sacrifices  and 
labors,  and  to  rejoice  in  the  triumph  of  the  right  as  he  saw  the  right. 

Andrew  Carothers,  Sr.,  came  to  Illinois  from  Cumberland  county, 
Pennsylvania,  where,  with  his  brotlier  John,  he  had  been  reared  under 
guardians.  He  bought,  in  1810.  the  N.  E.  J  of  Sec.  2,  T.  9,  R.  5,  Hen- 
derson county,  and  afterward  the  S.  E.  J  also.  He  built  his  residence 
on  the  former,  and  lived  there  until  his  death,  in  1848.  He  was  twice 
married,  first  to  Mary  Hays,  afterward  to  Mary  Eobison.  He  entered 
the  army  in  the  war  of  1812.  In  religion  he  held  to  the  creed  of  the 
Seceder  church. 

Andrew  Carothers,  Jr..  elder  son  of  the  preceding  by  his  first 
wife,  was  born  in  Cumberland  county,  Pennsylvania.  After  his 
father's  removal  to  Illinois,  he  occupied  the  home  farm,  ha^'ing  been 
married  the  preceding  year  (1840)  to  Lydia  Fickes,  daughter  of  Jacob 
and  Lydia  Fickes,  of  his  native  county.  In  1851  he  came  to  Olena, 
and  settled  on  the  farm  held  by  him  at  his  death. 

Jacob  Carothers,  son  of  the  preceding,  was  born  in  Cumberland 
county,  Pennsylvania,  in  1842.  He  remained  with  his  fiither  during 
the  hitter's  life.  He  now  owns  a  splendid  prairie  farm,  well  improved. 
He  was  married  first  in  1S71,  to  a  daughter  of  Thomas  Ricliey,  from 
whom  he  was  divorced.     In    1877   he   married   Angle,   daughter   of 


OLENA    TOWNSHIP.  1047 

Tobias  and  Plia^be  Carter,  of  Henderson  county.  Tliey  have  two  chil- 
dren, Jimia  Myrtle,  born  January  1,  1878,  and  Izetia,  born  June  1, 
1880. 

Alexander  Marshall  was  born  in  Fairfield  District,  near  Winns- 
boro.  South  Carolina,  in  the  year  1787.  He  entered  the  army  in  the 
war  of  1812,  and  was  stationed  at  Charleston.  In  1816  he  married 
Mary  McMillan,  of  Kershaw,  South  Carolina.  In  1836  he  visited  the 
west,  and  purchased  the  S.  E.  ^  of  Sec.  16,  T.  9,  R.  5,  Henderson  county, 
whither  he  brought  his  family  the  next  year,  and  where  he  departed 
this  life  April  22,  1864.  He  was  a  man  of  much  worth, 'and  was 
almost  continuously  in  offices  of  trust.  Both  he  and  his  wife  were 
members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church. 

Robert  Marshall,  eldest  son  of  the  preceding,  was  born  March  1, 
1817.  He  came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents,  and  in  1841  bought  the 
' '  eighty "  on  which  his  residence  stands.  He  first  married  Susan, 
daughter  of  John  Andrew,  in  1842.  Five  years  after  her  death  he  was 
again  mamed  (in  1 852)  to  Rebecca  Graham. 

John  Marshall,  brother  of  the  preceding,  was  born  in  South  Caro- 
lina, October  23,  1822.  After  he  became  of  age,  he  worked  for  him- 
self, farming  and  teaching,  alternately.  October  26,  1848,  he  was 
married  to  Ann  Maria,  dauo;hter  of  R.  W.  and  Ann  Maria  Richev,  of 
Washington  county,  New  York,  and  settled  where  he  now  lives.  Both 
he  and  his  wife  are  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church  of 
Olena.  They  have  had  nine  children,  of  whom  they  buried  the  sixth, 
John  W.,  at  the  age  of  four,  and  the  Seventh,  Charles,  in  infancy.  Of 
the  living,  William  Thomas,  resides  in  Montgomery  county,  Iowa  ; 
Helen  Mary,  now  Mrs.  A.  W.  Co])page,  at  Emerson  county,  Iowa ; 
Richard  W.,  and  Alexander  are  at  home  ;  Ann  Maria,  now  Mrs.  Ed- 
ward Fort,  in  Henderson  county  ;  Jane  Eliza,  and  Emma  Rozella,  at 
home. 

James  A.  Marshall,  born  June  8,  1825.  In  1850  he  bought  his 
home,  and  in  1851  brought  thither  Jennette  H.,  daughter  of  R.  W. 
and  Ellen  Richey,  of  Washington  county,  New  York.  He  and  his 
wife  and  daughter  are  all  members  of  the  Olena  United  Presbyterian 
church. 

WiLLiAjvi  Marshall,  youngest  son  of  Alexander  Marshall,  was  born 
in  South  Carolina,  July  19,  1828.  At  the  age  of  nine  he  came  to  Illi- 
nois with  his  parents.  He  remembered  vividly  the  two  months'  over- 
land journey  to  his  prairie  home.  He  became  independent  at  the  age 
of  eighteen,  but  worked  with  his  father  until  he  purchased  his  present 
home  in  1857.  In  1860  he  built  his  residence,  and  two  years  later 
brought  into  it  his  wife,  Josephine  B.,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Jane 


1048  HISTORY    OF    MEKCEK   AXD    HENDERSON    (^OUNTIES. 

Hopkins,  tlien  living  near  Biggsville,  but  both  since  deceased.  Mrs. 
M.  is  the  last  of  a  family  of  twelve  children.  Mr.  Marshall  was 
brought  lip  a  democrat  in  [tolitics,  and  is  earnest  in  behalf  of  the  doc- 
trines of  this  party. 

John  Henry  Hugenschutz  was  born  in  Hanover,  Germany,  Jan- 
uary 29,  1821.  His  father  died  when  he  was  but  seven  years  of  age. 
At  fifteen  he  left  home  and  for  three  years  worked  on  a  farm.  He 
then  went  to  learn  the  carpenters'  trade,  at  which  he  worked  in  the  old 
country  an(_l  in  IS^ew  York  State  until  1855.  The  winter  of  1855-6  he 
spent  in  iiis  native  land.  Eeturning  to  America  in  the  spring  of  1856, 
he  came  to  Henderson  county.  Here  he  resumed  his  trade  and  con- 
tinued at  it  until  his  brother's  death,  in  1860,  when  he  turned  to  farm- 
ing. After  renting  land  for  two  years  he  purchased  the  eighty  on 
which  he  now  lives.  Starting  with  a  very  meager  outfit  of  stock,  and 
$800  in  debt,  he  has  increased  his  farm  to  234  acres,  well  stocked,  and 
has  a  comfortable  balance  on  the  credit  side  of  the  account.  Has  been 
twice  married.  His  first  wife  was  Margaret,  daughter  of  H.  G.  Anne- 
gers,  Sr.  She  died  in  September,  1854,  leaving  no  issue.  In  1857  he 
married  Margaret  Gurgens.  Her  death  occurred  in  1864.  By  her  he 
had  one  daugliter,  Mary,  the  wife  of  Isaac  F.  Harter,  M.D.,  of  Carman, 
Illinois. 

William  Black  was  born  in  Virginia,  near  Lexington,  April  28, 
1798.  From  Virginia  he  removed  to  Greene  county,  Ohio,  and  thence 
in  1839  to  "Warren  county,  Illinois.  After  two  years'  residence  here 
he  removed  to  Henderson  county,  settling  on  the  N.E.  J  of  Sec.  3,  T. 
9  N.,  R.  5  W.,  but  the  next  year  removed  again  to  the  farm  now 
occupied  by  John  Marshall.  He  lived  here  till  1849  when  he  bought 
the  S.  E.  J  of  Sec.  ]  5,  which  place  he  held  till  his  death,  December  15, 
1859.  His  wife,  Eliza  George,  whom  he  married  in  Ohio  in  1820,  was 
born  October  23,  1800,  of  Irish  parents.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Black  have 
had  nine  children,  all  of  whom  grew  to  adult  age ;  five  are  still^living. 
Both  were  originally  members  of  the  Seceder  church,  and  became 
connected  with  the  United  Presbyterian  church  upon  its  formation. 

Samuel  Wilson  Black,  born  in  Greene  county,  Ohio,  ]^ovember, 
8,  1835,  was  but  a  babe  when  his  parents  came  to  Henderson  county. 
He  continued  with  his  father  during  the  latter's  life,  and  then  came 
into  possession  of  the  homestead.  In  1862,  September  4,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Catharine  Z.,  daughter  of  Eli  and  Ann  Hinman, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Black  have  had  nine  children,  two  of  whom  they  have 
buried.    Mr.  B.  is  a  member  of  the  masonic  fraternity.  Carman  lodge. 

Albert  Black,  older  brother  of  the  preceding,  was  born  in  Greene 
county,  Ohio,  November  8,1833.       He  remained  at  home   until   the 


OLENA   TOWNSHIP.  1049 

spring  of  1859,  wlien  he  went  to  California  and  Oregon.  After  five 
years  in  these  states  he  returned  to  Henderson  county  and  went  to 
farming.  This  he  followed  until  1870,  from  which  year  to  1877  he 
removed  successively  to  Licking  connty,  Ohio,  Jo  Daviss  county,  and 
Fulton  county,  Illinois,  Keokuk,  Iowa,  and  to  his  present  home  in 
Henderson  county.  He  was  married  May  25,  1865,  to  Mary  E., 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Ann  Forquer,  of  T.  9,  E.  6  W.,  Henderson 
county.  They  have  one  child,  Anna  M.,  born  March  16,  1866.  Mr, 
Black  is  a  member  of  the  Eagle  Lodge  (masonic),  No.  12,  Keokuk, 
Iowa.  His  wife  is  connected  with  the  Olena  United  Presbyterian 
church. 

Herman  G.  Ajs'negers,  Sr.,  was  formerly  a  citizen  of  Hanover, 
Germany,  a  substantial  farmer  and  a  man  of  influence  in  his  village. 
In  1855,  however,  against  the  urgent  advice  of  his  neighbors,  he  emi- 
grated to  the  United  States,  to  give  his  children  the  advantages  of  its 
institutions.  He  came  directly  to  Henderson  county,  and  purchased 
the  S.  E.  1  of  Sec.  29,  T.  9  K,  K.  5  W.,. paying  therefor  $1,405  in 
gold.  He  buried  his  wife  not  long  afterward,  in  the  fall  of  1857.  He 
himself  is  still  living  at  the  age  of  seventy-eight.  He  has  three  chil- 
dren living,  two  sons,  whose  biographies  follow,  and  one  daughter,  the 
wife  of  H.  H.  D.  Thesing,  York  county,  Nebraska. 

Herman  G.  Annegers,  Jr..  born  in  Hanover,  June  1,  1834,  came 
to  America  four  years  earlier  than  his  father's  family,  landing  in  New 
York  city  in  the  spring  of  1851.  He  found  work  in  the  city  as  a  clerk 
and  for  five  months  worked  steadily  from  four  \.^i.  until  ten  p.m.,  and 
at  the  end  of  his  time  found  his  wealth  increased  by  one  pair  of  boots 
and  two  ca]3S  worth  fifty  cents  each.  He  did  better  after  this,  his 
wages  ranging  from  $5  to  $12  a  month  and  his  board.  In  1855  he 
removed  to  Henderson  county,  in  company  with  his  father.  With  the 
exception  of  the  first  winter,  spent  in  Burlington,  he  has  lived  on  a 
farm,  assisting  his  father,  renting  of  his  father  and  others,  and  after- 
ward buying  the  fine  farms  he  now  owns.  September  4,  1875,  he 
married  Julia  II.  Taylor,  of  Burlington,  Iowa.  They  have  two  children : 
Mary  Jennette,  born  October  24,  1876,  and  Dora  Elimina,  December 
2,  1881. 

G.  Henry  Annegers,  younger  brother  of  Herman  G.,  was  born 
September  22,  1840.  He  came  to  America  with  his  parents  and  a 
year  or  two  later  began  farming  for  himself,  and  in  1864  purchased  a 
part  interest  in  his  father's  estate  in  company  with  his  brother.  He 
afterward  sold  his  interest  here,  and  in  1873  bought  the  S.  E.  J  of  Sec. 
22,  T.  9  N.,  E.  5.  W.  To  this  he  has  since  added  the  S.W.  f  of  the 
same  section,   buying  the  west  half  in    1875,  and   the  east  half  in 


1050  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

1878.  His  wife,  Anna  H.  M.  Pahlmann,  wliom  lie  married  in  1867, 
came  to  Henderson  county  from  Hanover,  Germany,  in  company  with 
her  sister  in  1866.  They  have  five  chiklren  :  Emma  Mary,  George  H., 
Fannie  Bertha,  Ida  Amelia,  and  William.  Both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Anne- 
gers  were  brought  up  in  the  Lutheran  faith,  to  which  they  still  adhere. 

John  Evans,  Jr.,  was  born  in  Crawford  county,  Ohio,  June  13, 
1830.  His  father,  John  Evans,  Sr.,  is  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of 
the  county,  and  will  be  spoken  of  fiilly  under  the  township  in  which  he 
resides.  John  Evans,  Jr.,  early  left  home,  and  his  nineteenth  birthday 
was  spent  on  the  plains  while  he  was  en  route  for  California.  Here  he 
was  fairly  successful,  and  returned  three  years  later,  in  1852,  and 
bought  the  place  now  owned  by  his  brother,  Mr.  Hamilton  Evans. 
April  23,  1857,  he  married  Sarah  Y.,  daughter  of  Abner  and  Lucy 
Davis.  Mrs.  Evans  was  born  at  Balston  Spa,  Saratoga  county,  Xew 
York,  March  13,  1829.  AYith  the  exception  of  the  first  six  years  of 
her  life  spent  in  her  native  town,  she  has  lived  in  Henderson  county. 
After  her  marriage  to  Mr.  Evans  they  lived  one  year  on  the  farm 
mentioned  above,  and  then  removed  to  the  place  now  occupied  by 
them.  Their  present  residence,  one  of  the  very  finest  in  the  county, 
was  completed  in  April,  1870.  Their  onl}-  child,  Marion  L.,  now  liv- 
ing in  Mills  county,  Iowa,  was  born  June  30,  1858.  Mr.  Evans  is  a 
member  of  the  Baptist  church,  at  Malvern,  Iowa,  while  his  wife  main- 
tains her  adherence  to  the  teachings  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church. 

William  H.  Rodman  was  born  and  reared  in  Lexington  county, 
Kentucky.  From  tliis  place  he  removed  successively  to  Shelby  and 
Jefterson  counties,  Kentucky,  and,  in  1833,  to  Peoria  county,  Illinois, 
stopping  on  the  way  with  Abraham  Lincoln,  whom  he  had  known  well 
in  Kentucky.  Four  years  later,  in  1837,  he  removed  to  Henderson 
county,  and  lived  two  years  in  township  9,  range  1.  Thence  he  re- 
moved to  the  S.  W.  i  of  Sec.  13,  T.  9  N.,  5  W.,  his  home  till  his 
death  in  May,  1861.  He  was  married,  ]irior  to  leaving  Kentucky,  to 
Sarah  Saulter,  by  whom  he  liad  twelve  children,  eight  of  whom  are 
living. 

Robert  R(^D:^L^N,  second  child  of  the  preceding,  was  born  in  Jef- 
ferson county,  Kentucky,  March  2.  1823.  Leaving  home  at  the  age  of 
nineteen  he  worked  on  a  farm  and  at  Ward's  mill,  near  Biggsville,  for 
two  years.  In  August,  1813,  he  married  Rachel,  daughter  of  IS^athan 
and  Mary  Powell,  then  of  Dearborn  county,  Indiana.  He  then  turned 
his  eftbrts  to  farming,  renting  various  farms,  for  about  ten  years  ;  he 
then  bought  of  Mr.  J.  B.  Fort,  but  soon  sold  again  and  rented  one 
season  ;  then  bought  in  township  9,  range  4.  Here  he  remained 
another  space  of  ten  years,  and  in  1864  removed  to  Lucas  county. 


OLENA   TOWNSHIP.  1051 

Iowa.  Returning  to  Henderson  county  after  five  years,  he  bought  his 
present  property,  and  in  1881  began  the  erection  upon  it  of  an  excel- 
lent residence  now  in  c(nirse  of  completion.  He  is  one  of  the  charter 
members  of  the  Olena  Lodge,  Xo.  662,  I.O.O.F.,  and  is  a  sincere 
believer  in  the  democratic  party  principles. 

JoHx  Carothers,  Jr.,  son  of  Andrew  Carothers,  Jr.,  and  Lydia 
Fickes,  was  born  August  31,  1844.  in  Cumberland  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania. He  grew  up  on  his  father's  farm  in  the  same  way  as  the  average 
farmer's  boy.  The  years  from  September,  1864,  to  September,  1868, 
he  spent  variously,  in  attendance  at  Monmouth  College,  farming  sum- 
mers and  teacliing  winters.  In  September,  1868,  he  bought  the  N.  ^ 
of  X.  W.  ^,  Sec.  27,  T.  0  N.,  5  W.,  his  present  home.  He  still  made 
his  home  at  his  father's,  however,  until  March  23,  1871,  at  which  time 
he  was  married  to  Mary  C,  daughter  of  Judge  R.  W.  Gaddis.  Up  to 
1874  he  continued  to  teach  winters ;  since  then  he  has  given  himself 
exclusively  to  farming.  Mrs.  Carothers  is  also  a  school-teacher  of 
several  years'  experience.  Both  are  connected  with  the  United  Presby- 
terian church,  holding  their  membership  at.  Olena.  They  have  four 
children:  Merle  Robert,  born  January  18,  1872;  Mary  Eva,  Decem- 
ber 3,  1873;  Laura  Ethel,  November  23,  1877;  and  a  babe,  born 
March  14,  1882. 

Robert  W.  Marshall  was  born  in  Granger  county,  Ohio,  February 
15,  1832.  His  parents,  Robert  Marshall,  Sr.,  and  P(^lly  Reasoner, 
were  originally  from  Pennsylvania.  His  father  was  born  in  West- 
moreland county,  Julv4,  1792.  He  was  twice  married  and  had  eleven 
children,  of  whom  Robert  AY.  was  the  seventh.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  remained  with  his  father  until  his  marriage,  December  23,  1856, 
to  Hannah  Jane  Galliher.  The  following  year  he  came  to  Illinois  and 
settled  on  his  present  farm.  His  wife  died  November  10,  1870,  leav- 
ing to  him  the  care  of  three  children.  Two  years  later  he  married 
Anna,  oldest  daughter  of  George  Retzer  and  Cathei'ine  King.  Mrs. 
Marshall's  father  was  born  in  Maryland  January  3,  1808.  When  he 
was  twelve  years  of  age  his  father  removed  to  Lancaster  county,  Penn- 
sylvania. Here  he  came  to  manhood,  married  March  9,  1837,  and 
settled  on  a  farm.  June,  1855,  found  hitn  in  Henderson  county,  liv- 
ing near  La  Ilarpe.  But  the  next  February  he  purchased  the  home 
which  he  held  till  his  death,  the  S.  W.  i  of  Sec.  29,  T.  9  K,  5  W. 
He  was  the  father  of  nine  children,  five  of  whom  are  living.  Of  the 
four  buried,  three  died  of  cholera  during  Mr.  R.'s  first  summer  in 
Illinois.  He  died  December  21,  1881,  and  on  March  17,  next,  his 
wife  followed  him.*  Mr.  Marshall  is  in  politics  an  ardent  republican  ; 
in  religion  an  adherent  to  the  creed  of  the  United  Presbytei-ian  church. 


1052  HISTORY    OF    MERCER    AXD    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

He  keeps  all  his  children  about  him,  live  in  number,  the  youngest  two 
the  children  of  his  present  wife. 

John  B.  Fort,  was  born  July  25,  1811,  in  Warren  county,  Ken- 
tucky. His  parents,  Frederick  Fort  and  Lucy  Moore,  were  the  first 
couple  married  in  the  territory  of  Kentucky.  They  removed  to  Illi- 
nois some  years  later  than  their  sons,  in  1840,  settling  on  the  Menden- 
hall  ])lace.  Here  they  both  died,  Mr.  Fort  September  15,  18-15,  his 
wife  August  20,  1816.  At  the  age  of  twenty-three,  Mr.  J.  B.  Fort 
left  home,  the  last  to  leave  the  parental  roof,  and  came  to  Henderson 
county.  For  some  time  he  worked  out  by  the  month  in  saw-mills,  at 
Warren,  and  at  other  points.  Later  he  bought  the  W.  ^  of  the  jST.W. 
J  of  Sec.  3,  and  lived  here  till  1868,  when  he  removed  to  his  place  on 
Sec.  26.  He  now  owns,  in  all,  several  hundred  acres,  comprising 
some  of  the  choicest  land  in  Henderson  county.  Mr.  Fort  has  paid 
intelligent  attention  to  stock.  Formerly  he  kept  some  sheep,  but  he 
has  given  more  particular  time  and  thought  to  fine  cattle.  At  present 
he  is  interested  in  introducing  the  Holstein  breed.  In  1848  he  married 
Sarah  J.,  daughter  of  Andrew  Carothers  and  Mary  Hays.  They  have 
seven  children,  all  of  whom  are  living  in  Henderson  county :  John 
Marion  (married  to  Anna  Gaddis),  Caroline  V.,  Mira,  Charles  Edward 
(married  to  Anna  Marshall),  Mary  E.,  Florence,  and  Anna  B.  Mr. 
Fort  is  an  active  democract,  the  faith  in  which  he  was  raised.  He 
holds  a  membership  in  the  masonic  lodge  at  Gladstone.  Coming  to 
Henderson  county  among  the  very  first  with  no  capital  but  a  clear 
head  and  a  pair  of  willing  hands,  Mr,  Fort  finds  himself  the  possessor 
of  broad,  fertile  farms,  and  a  home  whose  elegance  and  comfort  con- 
trast no  less  significantly  than  pleasantly  with  the  rude  wilderness  he 
found  here  a  half  century  ago. 

Thomas  jSTichols  was  born  near  Lexington,  Rockbridge  county, 
Virginia,  January  10,  1799.  He  is  the  oldest  of  the  children  of  Thos. 
Nichols,  Sr.,  and  Martha  Carty,  both  of  southern  descent.  After 
marriage  his  father  removed  to  Ross  county,  Ohio;  thence,  in  1812,  to 
Highland  county,  where  he  buried  his  wife  ;  thence,  in  1833,  to  Allen 
county,  where  two  years  later  he  also  died.  While  still  but  a  youth 
the  care  of  the  home  farm  fell  on  the  eldest  son,  Thomas,  of  whom  we 
write.  After  his  father's  death  he  remained  for  a  few  vears  in  Allen 
county,  whence  he  removed  in  1840  to  Abingdon,  Illinois.  After  re- 
maining here  a  year  and  a  half  he  bought  his  present  home  in  Hender- 
son county,  and  built  him  a  small  frame  house,  which  he  replaced 
about  1845  with  a  more  commodious  dwelling.  This  he  had  the  mis- 
fortune to  lose  by  fire  in  1859,  losing  with  it  nearly  all  its  contents. 
He  then  erected  his  present  residence,  the  frame  of  which  he  brought 


OLENA    TOWNSHIP.  1053 

from  Oquawka.  In  1829  he  was  married  to  Lavina,  daughter  of 
James  and  Mary  Milligan.  After  a  lingei-ing  iUness,  his  wife  died 
April  T,  1872,  aged  seventy-two.  Mr.  Nichols  has  always  been  inter- 
ested in  politics,  working  first  with  tlie  whig,  afterward  with  the 
republican  party.  In  youth  he  united  with  the  Methodist  Ej)iscopal 
church,  but  later  transferred  his  membershi])  to  the  United  Presby- 
terian church,  with  which  his  wife  was  also  connected.  His  children 
are  six  in  number,  four  of  whom  are  living.  Of  tlie  two  whom  he  has 
buried,  one  was  an  honored  soldier  during  the  rebellion.  Thomas 
Vance  Nichols  enlisted  in  1862,  and  served  until  the  close  of  the  war, 
passing  through  some  of  the  severest  battles  unhurt.  He  received 
promotion  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant  and  adjutant.  Returning  from  the 
army  he  settled  on  a  farm,  marrying  Miss  Barbara  Thompson.  After 
successfully  seeking  health  by  medical  treatment  and  travel,  he  died 
April  2,  1882,  of  a  tumor  in  his  right  side,  leaving  his  wife  and  two 
children.  His  worth  was  recognized  by  several  successful  appointments 
to  the  office  of  township  treasurer,  and  his  election  to  be  deacon  of  the 
Olena  United  Presbyterian  church. 

Robert  W.  Ctaddis,  seventh  child  of  Adam  Gaddis  and  Catharine 
Mclvee,  was  born  in  Delaware  county,  New  York,  December  23,  1817. 
His  parents  were  originally  from  county  Down,  Ireland,  They  landed 
in  New  York  in  1800,  and  the  following  year  settled  in  Delaware 
county.  New  York.  In  1836  they  removed  to  Morgan  county,  Illinois, 
where  they  died,  the  mother  in  1840,  the  father  two  years  later.  About 
1838  or  1839,  Robert  W.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  left  home,  and 
began  to  do  for  himself,  giving  his  energies  to  carpentering,  black- 
smithing,  farming,  and  surveying,  in  turn.  In  18-17  he  came  to  Hen- 
derson county,  and  settled  on  the  S.W.  J  of  Sec.  23,  T.  9  N.,  5  W., 
upon  which  he  has  since  continuously  resided.  March  10,  1842,  he 
was  married  to  Ann  L.  McGoy,  daughter  of  David  McCoy  and  Mary 
McClellan,  the  former  originally  of  Virginia,  the  latter  of  Pennsyl- 
vania. They  have  had  six  children,  of  whom  they  buried  the  youngest 
when  it  was  but  seven  years  of  age.  The  others  are  still  living: 
Minerva,  now  Mrs.  Wm.  Pollock,  in  Ringgold  county,  Iowa ;  Mary 
C. ,  wife  of  John  Carothers,  Jr. ,  in  Henderson  county ;  Annie,  wife  of 
John  M.  Fort,  in  Henderson  county;  Clara  M.,  wife  of  John  Reasoner, 
also  in  Henderson  county ;  John  N. ,  married  to  Elizabeth  Brook,  in 
Fulton  county,  Illinois.  Mr.  Gaddis  has  been  quite  active  in  the 
interests  of  the  democratic  party.  He  has  been  in  public  office  for 
a  number  of  years,  having  officiated  as  justice  of  the  peace  for  fourteen 
years,  and  as  county  judge  four  years.  Both  he  and  his  wife  are  con- 
nected with  the  United  Presbyterian  church. 


1054  HISTORY    OF   IVIERCER   AND    HENDERSO;S'    COUJSmES. 

James  William  Brook,  born  August  29,  1843,  is  the  son  of  Isaiah 
J.  Brook  and  Jane  T.  Marsliall.  His  father  came  from  Licking  county, 
Ohio,  in  1837,  setthng  on  Sec.  34,  T.  10  N.,  R.  5  W.  William  Brook 
grew  up  on  the  home  farm,  and  at  the  age  of  seventeen  set  out 
for  Monmouth,  to  enter  the  college  at  that  place.  He  continued  here 
until  the  spring  of  1864,  when  he  left  the  classic  college  halls  for  the 
rude  life  of  the  camp.  He  enHsted  in  Co.  A,  138tli  reg.  111.  Inf.,  hav- 
ing previously  completed  his  college  course  and  earned  his  degree  of 
B.S.,  and  was  appointed  corporal.  His  company  did  garrison  duty  in 
Kansas  and  Missouri  and  were  mustered  out  October  IT,  1864,  at 
Springfield.  In  deciding  upon  a  career,  Mr.  Brook  seriously  thought 
of  the  law  and  of  medicine.  After  returning  from  the  army  he  taught 
for  two  years,  giving  his  extra  time  to  reading  law  under  Hon.  C.  M. 
Harris,  now  of  Chicago.  In  1867,  however,  he  turned  himself  to 
farming  and  bought  the  W.  ^  of  the  KW.  i  of  Sec.  1,  T.  9  K.,  R.  5 
W.  To  this  eighty  he  has  kept  adding  until  he  now  owns  340  acres  of 
excellent  land.  During  the  past  ten  years  he  has  given  much  atten- 
tion to  line  cattle,  and  at  present  has  a  herd  of  eighty  shorthoi-n  Dur- 
hams.  Clydesdale  horses  have  also  received  his  attention.  On  Feb- 
ruary 24,  1867,  he  was  married  to  Mary  C,  daughter  of  A.  G.  and 
.  Eliza  Pearce,  of  Berwick,  Illinois,  the  Rev.  Dr.  Wallace,  lately  of 
Monmouth  College,  officiating.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brook  five  children 
were  born :  Frances  Luella,  December  16,  1867  ;  William  Marshall, 
February  11,  1870 ;  Andrew  Renwick,  October  2,  1872  ;  Charles 
Alfred,  May  8,  1875;  Ina  Amelia,  June  6,  1877.  Mrs.  Brook  was 
buried  in  July,  1881,  lamented  by  all  for  her  consistent  life  and  her 
helpful  ministries  to  the  sick,  the  unfortunate  and  the  erring,  a  service 
for  which  her  devout  nature,  refined  by  literai'v  and  musical  culture  re- 
ceived at  Abingdon  especially  fitted  her.  Reai-ed  in  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  Mrs.  Brook  afterward  found  a  liome  with  her  hus- 
band in  the  United  Presbyterian  church  of  Olena.  Mr.  Brook  holds 
a  membership  in  the  masonic  order  and  also  in  the  G.A.R. 

Abner  Davis,  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  in  T.  9  N.,  R.  5  W.,  was 
born  in  Windom  county,  Vermont,  September  21,  1794.  Hardly  six- 
teen years  of  age,  he  entered  the  army  in  the  war  of  1812,  enlisting  in 
Capt.  Goodriclrs  company,  10th  United  States  Infantry.  He  partici- 
pated in  the  battles  of  Chippewa  Plains,  Lundy's  Lane  and  other 
bloody  engagements.  At  Lundy's  Lane  he  had  a  very  narrow  escape. 
His  company  went  into  the  battle  with  110  men  and  came  out  with 
only  six.  In  1821  he  married  Lucy  Oaks,  daughter  of  John  and  Lydia 
Oaks,  of  his  native  county.  Soon  after  marriage  he  removed  to  Sara- 
toga county,  New  York.     Thence  he  removed  to  Kirkwood,  Warren 


OLENA    TOVVNSHIl'.  1055 

county,  Illinois,  in  1835,  again  removing  the  next  year  to  the  N.  W.  ^ 
of  Sec.  33,  T.  0  N.,  R.  5  W.,  the  first  to  settle  on  the  prairie.  Here 
he  built  his  cabin  and  raised  his  family.  The  land  was  claimed  by  him 
under  a  soldier's  warrant.  Not  long  after  he  settled  here  an  incident 
occurred  that  will  illustrate  the  prominent  traits  of  his  character, 
promptness  and  decision.  One  evening  a  gentleman  came  to  his  door 
and  said  to  Mr.  Davis:  "I  have  a  claim  on  this  land.''''  Mr.  Davis 
told  him  he  must  be  mistaken.  Still  the  stranger  insisted  on  his  claim. 
"Well,  then,  sir,"  said  Mr.  D.,  "I  fought  for  this  land  once,  and  ex- 
cept you  leave  I''ll  fight  for  it  again."  [Exit  stranger.]  Events  proved 
that  he  had  mistaken  the  township,  his  claim  being  located  in  T.  9  N., 
R.  4  W.  He  extended  his  farm  and  built  a  commodious  dwelling  upon 
it  in  course  of  years,  and  was  well  known  as  a  prospei'ous  farmer.  In 
the  morning  of  December  10,  1871,  he  went  to  the  residence  of  his 
daughter,  Mrs.  John  Evans,  Jr.,  and  assisted  at  some  work  there. 
Later  in  the  day  he  complained  of  feeling  ill  and  went  to  the  house, 
and  soon  after  was  in  convulsions.  He  survived  but  a  few  hours,  dying 
before  medical  aid  could  reach  him.  October  9,  1876,  his  wife  was 
laid  beside  him  in  the  cemetery  on  the  home  farm,  aged  seventy-nine. 

Andrew  J.  Davis,  only  son  of  the  preceding,  was  born  October 
28,  1826,  in  Saratoga  county,  N.Y.  He  remained  with  his  father  unti. 
in  1850  he  was  carried  with  the  tide  of  gold  seekers  to  California.  He 
returned  to  Illinois  in  the  winter  of  1851,  and  bought  the  Hiram 
Brooks  farm  the  next  year,  on  which  he  still  resides.  December  8, 
1853,  he  married  Clarissa,  daughter  of  Ira  and  Priscilla  Miller.  They 
began  their  housekeei)ing  in  the  house  built  on  the  place  by  its  former 
owner.  Here  Mrs.  Miller  died  January  7,  1870,  and  was  buried  in 
the  homestead  cemetery.  She  left  five  children,  and  one  sleeps  beside 
her:  Ella  Rosette,  born  July  8,  1856,  and  deceased  September  29, 
1865.  The  other  children  are:  Charles  II.,  born  March  13,  1855; 
Francis  Miller,  August  18,  1858  ;  Elmer  A.,  April  22,  1862  ;  Bertha 
Celia,  October  10,  1863.  Mr.  Davis  was  married  a  second  time  Feb- 
ruary 28,  1872,  to  Mrs.  Allen  Hendryx,  daughter  of  Allen  and  Mar- 
garet Taylor,  of  Burlington,  Iowa.  In  1876  he  built  his  present  resi- 
dence, one  of  the  evidences  of  his  general  thrift  and  ])rosperity. 

Charles  E.  Drew  was  born  in  Steansted,  P.  Q.,  September  27, 
1821,  the  eldest  of  six  children  of  Abel  Drew  and  Abigail  Blake. 
His  father  was  born  in  New  Hampshire;  removed  to  Canada  in  1812, 
on  account  of  excessive  taxation,  and  there  died  July  1,  1878.  His 
mother,  of  Irish  descent,  is  still  living  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years. 
Of  their  children,  four  are  living:  one  son  and  two  daughters  in 
Canada,    and    the   eldest,    the  subject  of   this   sketch,    in   Henderson 


1056  HISTORY    OF   jrERCER   AJ^D    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

county,  Illinois.  The  last-named  left  home  in  1837,  and  entered  the 
army,  enlisting  in  the  heavy  horse  dragoons.  Upon  receiving  his 
discharge  he  went  to  Boston,  and  remained  there  a  year.  Returning 
to  Canada,  he  continued  there  until  his  removal  to  Burlington,  Iowa, 
in  1848.  Here  he  spent  three  years,  clerking  for  Parsons,  Copp  & 
Parsons  (succeeded  by  C.  B.  Parsons).  Since  1851  he  has  been 
engaged  in  farming,  with  the  exception  of  one  year.  For  several 
years  he  rented,  occupying  the  F.  J.  C.  Peasley  and  various  other 
farms;  then,  in  1858,  he  bought  a  half  interest  in  the  Copp  farm,  and 
lived  upon  it  until  he  purchased  his  present  ^^roperty  in  1868,  then 
unimproved,  now  one  of  the  finest  farms  in  this  section.  October  7, 
1851,  he  married  Harriet  E.  Brown,  daughter  of  James  H.  Brown  and 
Betsey  A.  Copp,  both  born  in  Canada.  Mrs.  Drew  was  born  in  Hatley, 
Steansted,  P.  Q. ,  March  4,  1835.  Her  parents  lived  in  T.  9  ]S". ,  E.  5  W. , 
until  1858,  in  which  year  they  removed  to  their  present  home  in  Bur- 
lington, Iowa.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Drew  have  had  nine  children,  the  fifth 
of  whom,  Dalum  LTlysses,  they  buried  November  5,  1876.  Of  the 
other  children,  Charles  E.  lives  at  Ottumwa,  Iowa;  Hattie  M.  (now 
Mrs.  Benj.  Johnson)  in  Macedonia  county,  Iowa ;  the  remaining  chil- 
dren, Addie  E.,  Frank  P.,  Lewis  H.,  Willie  W.,  Annis  C,  and 
Nettie  Y.,  are  still  under  the  parental  roof.  Mrs.  Drew  holds  a  mem- 
bership in  the  Olena  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Mr.  Drew  is  a 
Freemason,  belonging  to  the  Carman  lodge.  He  is  a  staunch  repub- 
lican, who  believes  in  letting  his  light  shine.  At  present  he  holds  the 
office  of  assessor  for  his  township. 

Abraham  Wagy  was  born  in  Rockingham  county,  Virginia,  in 
1805,  the  son  of  Jacob  and  Barbara  Wagy.  Tlie  same  year,  the  family 
removed  to  Pike  county,  Ohio  ;  thence,  after  a  brief  sojourn,  to  Ross 
county.  Here  they  resided  until  1849,  when  they  removed  to  Adams 
county,  Illinois.  In  May,  1855,  the  father  died  at  the  great  age  of 
ninety-seven  years,  at  the  time  the  oldest  man  in  the  county.  His  wife 
had  been  buried  in  Ohio  twenty-five  years  before  him.  At  the  age  of 
twent}^  Abraham  left  home  and  married.  His  wife  is  Louisa,  daughter 
of  Jeremiah  and  Elizabeth  Cooper.  They  settled  first  in  Ross  county, 
Ohio,  but  removed  to  IlHnois  with  Jacob  Wagy  in  1849.  Abraham 
Wagy,  however,  came  to  Henderson  county,  and  bought  near  the  vil- 
lage of  Olena.  At  this  village  he  worked  at  wagon-making  and  coop- 
ering until,  in  the  year  1854,  he  purchased  his  present  home.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Wagy  have  had  eight  children,  two  of  whom  died  at  an  early 
age.  Of  the  other  six,  Sarah,  wife  of  John  Evans,  Sr.,  is  living  at 
Gladstone,  Illinois  ;  Mary  Ann,  now  Mrs.  Albert  Mark,  at  Ottumwa, 
Iowa  ;    Philip,   in  -Bourbon  county,  Kansas  ;   Jeremiah,  in  Oregon  ; 


OLENA    TOWNSHIP.  1059 

Lemuel,  in  Warren  county  ;  Abraham,  near  Raritan,  Illinois.  For 
nearly  tifty  years  Mr.  Wagy  has  been  a  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  He  and  his  wife  are  now  connected  with  the  church 
at  Olena.  In  politics  he  was  originally  a  democrat,  but  except  liis 
voting  for  Andrew  Jackson  and  Martin  Yan  Buren,  he  has  acted  with 
the  whig  and  republican  parties. 

Lemuel  Wagy,  son  of  the  preceding,  lived  with  his  parents  until 
1SH9,  when,  on  the  29th  day  of  March  he  married  Sarah  A., 
daughter  of  Kinzey  and  Eliza  Hill,  of  Terre  Haute,  and  made  his  home 
in  Mt.  Pleasant  township,  Warren  county,  Illinois.  His  wife  departed 
this  life  in  February,  1879,  shortly  after  the  birth  of  her  youngest 
child,  and  is  buried  at  Raritan.  She  left  six  children:  William  Sher- 
man, born  in  1870  ;  Lemuel  F.,  in  1872  ;  Elzey,  in  1874  ;  Grace,  in 
1876  ;  Lovisa,  in  1878  ;  and  Sarah  A.,  in  1879.  Mr.  Wagy  is  con- 
nected with  the  masonic  lodge  at  Raritan  ;  also  with  the  order  of 
United  Workmen. 

Peter  Nichols  was  born  in  Forquer  county,  Virginia.  In  the  year 
1795,  while  still  but  a  lad,  he  removed  to  Ross  county,  Ohio,  with  his 
parents,  Samuel  and  Mary  Nichols.  Here  his  parents  died,  and  here 
he  was  married,  in  1812,  to  Elizabeth,  daughter  of  Maj.  Isaac  Dawson 
and  Sicha  Williams.  He  lived  in  Ross  county  and  various  localities 
in  Ohio  until  1830,  when  he  removed  to  Vego  county,  Indiana.  Six 
years  later  he  again  removed  his  family,  this  time  to  Henderson 
county,  Illinois.  He  enlisted  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  was  stationed  at 
Sandusky,  Ohio.  In  1857  he  died  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven,  having 
buried  his  wife  six  years  previously,  at  the  age  of  fifty-seven.  Mr. 
Nichols  was  by  trade  a  miller  and  distiller,  and  followed  his  trade  till 
he  left  Ohio  ;  after  that  he  farmed  until  his  death. 

Isaac  Nichols,  eldest  son  of  the  preceding,  was  born  in  Hocking 
county,  Ohio,  October  30,  1805.  The  first  thirty  years  of  his  life  he 
spent  at  his  lather's.  At  about  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  purchased  the 
N.  E.  1  of  Sec.  8,  T.  8  N.,  5  W.  This  he  improved  and  afterward 
sold  to  Dr.  Shaw,  and  in  1816  bought,  under  mortgage  to  the  school 
district,  of  Wilson  Kendall,  the  N.  E.  i  and  the  E.  ^  of  the  N.W.  i  of 
Sec.  25,  T.  9  N.,  5  W.  The  previous  year  he  married  Nancy, 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Bethenia  Carter,  then  of  Warren  county.  Have 
had  four  children,  two  of  whom  were  buried  at  the  age  of  four 
years.  Of  the  two  living,  Mary,  the  eldest,  is  the  wife  of  William 
Wilsher,  residing  in  township  9  nortli,  5  west,  Henderson  county  ; 
Amanda,  the  younger,  with  her  husband,  Henry  King,  resides  with 
her  parents.  Mr.  N.  belongs  to  the  fraternity  of  Freemasons,  lodge 
No.  732,  Carman,  Illinois. 
60 


1060  HISTORY    OF    MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 


FOKTY-FIFTIl  ILLINOIS  INFANTRY. 

Company  I  was  recruited  at  Millersburg  from  Mercer  and  adjoining 
counties,  by  Oliver  A.  Bridgford.  On  October  20,  1861,  the  citizens 
turned  out  witli  tlieir  teams  and  took  the  men  to  Camp  Blackhawk, 
near  Rock  Island.  They  remained  there  until  November  20,  when 
they  were  taken  to  Camp  Douglas,  Chicago,  and  there,  on  December 
24,  mustered  into  service  in  the  1:5th  Illinois,  known  as  the  Wash- 
burn Lead  Mine  regiment.  Col.  John  E.  Smith,  of  Galena,  command- 
ing. The  company  was  organized  with  95  men  and  the  election  of  the 
following  officers :  ().  A.  Bridgford,  captain ;  James  Balfour,  lirst 
lieutenant ;  and  H.  H.  Boyce,  second  lieutenant.  These  officers  were 
commissioned  by  Gov.  Yates  December  24,  1861.  The  regiment  was 
ordered  south  January  17,  1862,  and  was  conveyed  by  rail  to  Cairo, 
where  it  remained  in  camp  till  February  3,  and  having  been  assigned, 
to  tlie  brigade  of  Col.  W.  H.  L.  Wallace,  and  Gen.  McClernand's 
division,  moved  and  landed  at  Camp  Ilalleck,  below  Fort  Henry,  on 
the  4tli.  The  following  day  all  able-bodied  men  were  ordered  to  march 
with  three  days'  rations,  and  the  same  evening  they  arrived  at  Fort 
Henry,  just  in  time  to  see  the  rebels  fleeing  toward  Fort  Donelson. 
On  the  12th  it  marched  to  Donelson  and  took  a  conspicuous  part  in  the 
siege  and  capture  of  tliat  stronghold.  The  flag  of  the  45tli  was  the 
lirst  on  the  rebel  works.  The  regiment  had  several  killed  and  26 
wounded.  Among  the  latter  was  Lieut.  Boyce,  of  Co.  I.  On 
March  4  it  moved  to  the  Tennessee  river  and  embarked  on  the  trans- 
port Silver  Moon  for  Savannah,  Tennessee,  where  it  encamped  a  few 
da3's. 

While  there  Oscar  J.  Duncan,  of  Co.  I,  mysteriously  disap- 
peared. He  was  not  feeling  well  and  one  night  about  twelve  o'clock 
said  lie  would  go  to  get  a  drink.  He  left  the  tent  and  was  never  after- 
ward heard  of.  The  Pinhook  raid,  lasting  two  days,  was  one  of  the 
diversions  of  the  regiment  while  lying  at  Savannah.  On  the  25th  it 
went  to  Pittsburg  landing  and  camped  near  Shiloh  church,  and  on  the 
6tli  and  7th  of  April  fought  on  that  ground,  losing  26  killed  and  199 
wounded  and  missing,  nearly  one-half  of  the  regiment.  Compam^  I 
lost  54,  including  the  captain  and  first  lieutenant,  who  were  wounded, 
the  latter  mortally.  The  remaining  13  were  commanded  by  the  third 
corporal.  The  regiment  remained  on  the  battlefield  until  May  30  ; 
then  it  took  u])  the  line  of  march  for  Corinth  and  was  present  through- 
out the  siege.  It  next  marched  to  Jackson,  Tennessee,  and  a  part  of 
the    regiment,    including   Co.    I,  was    stationed   on   the    railroad   to 


FORTY-FIFTH    ILLINOIS    INFANTRY.  1061 

guard  bridges.  On  the  31st  of  August  tlie  rebels,  4.000  strong,  made 
an  attack  on  Medan,  where  Co.  I  was  encamped,  but  after  four 
hours'  liard  iigliting  were  forced  to  retire.  The  loss  in  the  regiment 
was  3  killed,  13  wounded  and  43  prisoners.  Second  Lieut.  William  L. 
Green,  Co.  I,  was  killed.  Immediately  afterward  the  regiment 
marched  to  JMemphis  and  embarked  for  Vista  plantation,  where  it  re- 
mained until  the  movement  was  begun  against  Yicksburg  from  the 
rear. 

Between  the  1st  and  15th  of  May  it  fought  live  memorable  battles, 
and  with  distinguished  bravery  sustained  the  honor  of  our  Hag.  These 
were  Thompson's  Hill  (Port  Hudson)  on  the  1st,  Bayou  Pierre  the  3d, 
Raymond  the  12th,  Jackson  the  l-lth,  and  Champion  Hill  the  loth. 
On  the  30th  of  June  McPherson's  corps  made  an  assault  on  the  rebel 
works.  Fort  Hill  had  been  mined,  and  the  45th  was  selected  to  charge 
into  the  breach  when  it  should  be  blown  up.  A  wide  opening  was  rent 
in  the  massive  earthworks,  and  into  it  the  regiment  went  like  an  ava- 
lanche. A  desolating  storm  of  missiles  thinned  its  ranks,  but  without 
taltering  for  a  moment  it  planted  its  flag  in  the  fort  and  held  the  posi- 
tion. This  has  been  pronounced  one  of  the  grandest  acts  of  the  war. 
Three  were  killed  and  54  wounded.  The  23d,  25th,  31st,  56th  and 
124th  Illinois  regiments  also  took  part  in  the  action  and  shared  the 
gloiT.  In  honor  of  its  splendid  conduct  Gen.  McPherson  ap^Dointed 
the  45th  to  head  the  army  on  its  entrance  into  Yicksburg,  and  ordered 
that  its  regimental  flag  be  hoisted  over  the  court-house  of  the  city.  It 
was  sent  in  a  few  days  to  Black  river,*where  it  remained  till  the  winter 
of  1863-4,  when,  having  re-enlisted,  it  went  home  on  veteran  furlough 
of  thirty  days.  Meantime  it  had  been  on  the  famous  Meridian  raid, 
and  done  lighter  service,  with  some  skirmishing. 

On  the  expiration  of  furlough  the  regiment  reassembled  at  Free- 
port,  Illinois,  where  it  received  a  large  number  of  recruits.  Co.  I 
was  increased  to  about  SO.  In  the  month  of  April  the  command 
went  by  rail  to  Cairo,  thence  by  steamer  to  C'lifton,  Tennessee,  and 
from  there  it  marched  across  the  country  and  joined  Sherman's  army 
at  Cartersville,  Georgia.  It  remained  there  about  two  months,  guard- 
ing the  bridge  across  the  Etowah  and  jjatroling  the  railroad,  and  then 
took  its  place  with  the  army  in  front  of  Atlanta.  After  the  fall  of  the 
city  the  regiment  followed  Hood  back  nearly  to  the  Tennessee  river ; 
then  returning  to  Atlanta,  went  on  the  march  to  the  sea.  About  the 
middle  of  January  it  was  transferred  by  water  from  Savannah  to  Beau- 
fort, whence  it  started,  about  the  1st  of  February,  on  the  campaign  of 
the  CaroKnas.  At  the  crossing  of  the  Salkahatchie,  at  River's  bridge, 
the  regiment  was  engaged  a  whole  day.     Again  at  Orangeburg  it  met 


1062  inSTORY    OF    MERCER    AXD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

tlie  enemy,  and  also  at  Bentonville.  It  proceeded  with  tlie  rest  of  the 
army  to  Washington  and  took  ])art  in  tlie  grand  re^dew.  Then  it  went 
by  rail  to  Lonisville,  Kentucky,  where  it  was  mnstered  out  July  12. 
1865,  and  arrived  in  Chicago  the  15th  for  final  payment  and  discharge. 
The  45th  achieved  a  high  reputation  for  gallant  service.  When  first 
mustered  in  it  had  960,  rank  and  file  ;  when  it  returned  on  veteran  fur- 
lough its  ranks  had  been  thinned  by  disease  and  battle  to  231.  They 
were  recruited  to  705,  of  whom  393  men  and  17  officers  w^ere  all  who 
returned  on  the  final  muster-out. 


FIFTY-NINTH  ILLINOIS  INFANTRY. 

In  Co.  B  of  this  regiment  were  twenty  or  more  soldiers  from 
Henderson  county.  It  was  designated  during  the  first  six  months  of 
its  service  as  the  9tli  Missouri.  In  the  early  stage  of  the  war  the  gen- 
eral government  checked  enlistments  by  refusing  to  accept  the  eager 
volunteers  who  were  determined  to  render  service.  The  companies 
composing  this  regiment  showed  their  ardent  patriotism  by  crossing 
over  to  St.  Louis,  where  the  organization  w^as  finally  completed  as  a 
Missouri  regiment.  In  February,  1862,  the  designation  was  changed 
by  order  of  the  war  department.  Jolin  C.  Felton,  formerly  a  captain 
in  the  regular  army,  but  lately  first  assistant  adjutant  general  on  Gen. 
Fremont's  staft",  was  commissioned  colonel.  The  regiment  was  mus- 
tered for  United  States  service  on  Sejjtember  18,  1861.  For  some 
time  prior  to  this  the  various  companies  had  been  working  on  fortifica- 
tions and  tloing  guard  and  picket  duty  at  St.  Louis  and  Cape  Girardeau. 
September  21  the  regiment  was  ordered  to  JefiPerson  City,  and  was  in 
constant  activity  until  March  7  and  8,  1862,  when  it  fought  gloriously 
at  Pea  Ridge.  Lieut. -Col.  Frederick  and  Major  P.  Sidney  Post  were 
severely  wounded.  The  latter,  on  the  resignation  of  Col.  Ivelton  three 
weeks  afterward,  was  commissioned  colonel.  May  22,  the  regiment 
embarked  from  Cape  Girardeau  for  Hamburg  Landing,  and  participated 
in  the  siege  of  Corinth.  It  marched  to  various  places,  skirmished 
some,  and  on  August  IS  crossed  the  Tennessee  river  at  Eastjjort.  Col. 
Post  took  command  of  the  brigade  at  this  time,  and  continued  to  act  in 
this  enlarged  sphere  until  again  seriously  wounded  at  the  battle  of  Nash- 
ville, just  anterior  to  the  close  of  the  war.  The  59th  reached  Florence, 
Alabama,  the  21-th,  and  marching  thence  via  Lawrenceburg,  Columbia 
and  Franklin,  arrived  at  Murfreesboro  September  1.  It  moved  north 
with  Buell's  army  on  the  3d,  and  reached  Louisville  on  the  26th.  Out 
of  361  men  who  went  into  action  at  Perrysville  October  8,  113  were 


SEVEXTY-EIGHTH    ILLINOIS    lATAjSfTEV.  1063 

either  killed  or  wounded.  It  was  in  a  severe  skirmish  at  Lancaster, 
Kentucky,  on  the  14th.  On  Xovember  7  it  arrived  at  Xashville,  and 
went  into  camp  at  Edgefield.  It  belonged  to  Gen.  Jefferson  C.  Davis' 
division  and  Gen.  A.  McC.  McCook's  corps.  It  fought  with  its  old- 
time  gallantry  at  Stone  Kiver,  and  lost  heavily.  When  retiring  with 
the  shattered  right  wing  on  that  terrible  Wednesday,  it  brought  oft 
safely  by  hand  a  battery  whose  horses  had  all  been  killed.  It  served 
continuously  with  Gen.  Rosecrans  until  he  was  relieved  of  his  com- 
mand in  October,  1863.  On  the  Chattanooga  campaign  it  was  away 
up  the  Lookout  range  so  far  to  the  right,  under  McCook,  as  to  excite  a 
trembling  uneasiness  for  the  safety  of  the  army.  During  the  battle  of 
Chickamauga,  Post's  brigade  had  charge  of  the  wagon  train,  and 
was  not  in  the  engagement.  In  the  assault  on  Missionar}^  Ridge, 
JSTovember  25,  the  oUtli  led  the  brigade.  Pursuing  to  Ringgold,  it 
attacked  the  enemy  in  position  and  drove  him  successfully.  Novem- 
ber 30  it  was  sent  to  aid  in  burying  the  dead  at  Chickamauga.  Jan- 
uary 12,  1864,  it  was  mustered  as  a  veteran  organization.  It  returned 
from  its  furlough  reorganized,  and  went  on  the  Atlanta  campaign, 
fouglit  at  Tunnel  Hill,  Rocky  Face  Ridge,  Resaca,  Adairsville,  King- 
ston, Ackworth,  Pine  Mountain,  Kenesaw  Mountain,  Smyrna  Camp 
Ground,  Rough  and  Ready,  and  Lovejoy.  It  followed  Hood  back  to 
Tennessee,  skirmished  at  Columbia,  on  jS^ovember  29  attacked  the. 
rebel  army  in  flank  as  it  was  marching  on  Spring  Hill,  and  fought  all 
day ;  it  marched  that  night  and  the  following  day  without  rest,  and 
reached  Franklin  in  time  to  take  part  in  that  bloody  battle.  It  was  in 
the  thickest  of  the  fight  at  Xashville,  December  15  and  16  ;  on  the  first 
day  opening  the  engagement  and  planting  the  first  colors  on  the  rebel 
works,  and  on  the  second  day  leading  the  successful  assault  on  Over- 
ton's Hill.  In  March,  1865,  the  regiment  went  to  East  Tennessee,  and 
in  April  into  IS^orth  Carolina.  Returning  to  Nashville  the  last  of  the 
month,  in  June  it  went  to  New  Orleans,  and  in  July  arrived  at  India- 
nola,  Texas.  It  marched  to  San  Antonio,  and  was  stationed  at  New 
Braunfels  till  December  8,  when  it  was  mustered  out  and  sent  to 
Springfield,  Illinois,  for  final  jjayment  and  discharge. 


SEVENTY-EIGHTH  ILLINOIS  INFANTRY. 

This  regiment  was  organized  at  Quincy  by  Col.  Wm.  H.  Benneson, 
in  August,  1862,  and  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  Septem- 
ber 1.  In  Co.  II  were  thirty -three  enlisted  soldiers,  and  at  least  one 
officer,  second  lieutenant,  Samuel  Simmons,  from  the  southwest  c<  rner 


1064  HISTORY    OF    MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES, 

of  Henderson  connty,  about  Dallas,  besides  a  few  men  who  were 
scattered  through  other  companies.  The  regiment  left  Quincr  for 
Louisvnlle  September  20,  934  strong.  October  5  it  was  ordered  to 
Shepardsville  to  guard  the  railroad  bridge  across  the  Rolling  Fork, 
and  on  the  14tli  was  stationed  on  the  Lebanon  branch  railroad,  for  its 
protection.  Remaining  there  till  January,  it  ascended  the  Cumber- 
land river  to  xsashville,  and  joined  Rosecrans'  army  at  Franklin, 
whence  it  moved  forward  on  the  Tullahoma  campaign  as  far  as  Shelby- 
ville,  where  it  stayed  till  September  6.  Meantime  it  had  been  assigned 
to  Gorden  Granger's  corps,  and  moved  on  Chattanooga,  crossing  the 
Tennessee  river  and  reaching  Rossville,  Georgia,  the  14tli.  At  Ring- 
gold it  skirmished  on  the  17th.  On  the  20th  it  did  heavy  lighting  at 
Chickamauga  and  lost  fiftv-eiglit,  killed  and  wounded,  and  fifty-six 
prisoners.  It  w\as  confined  in  Chattanooga  during  the  two  months'* 
siege,  and  assisted  in  carrying  Missionary  Ridge,  November  25,  with 
slight  loss.  Having  marched  to  the  relief  of  Burnside  at  Knoxville, 
it  returned  and  went  into  winter  quarters  at  Rossville,  from  whence  it 
started  on  the  Atlanta  campaign  May  2,  1864.  Besides  almost  constant 
skirmishing,  it  fought  heavily  at  Resaca,  Rome,  Peach  Tree  creek 
and  Jonesboro.  At  the  latter  place  its  loss  of  eighty-three  was  the 
result  of  charging  a  six-gun  battery,  which  it  captured.  On  September 
28  it  moved  with  the  rest  of  the  division  into  northern  Alabama,  in 
chase  of  Forrest's  forces,  and  at  Gaylesville  rejoined  the  army  which 
had  followed  Hood,  and  returned  to  Atlanta.  From  there  it  marched 
through  the  heart  of  Georgia  to  Savannah,  and  turning  northward 
swept  through  the  Carolinas,  continuing  its  destruction  of  property  in 
its  course,  and  fought  at  Bentonville  March  19,  rei^elling  tlie  successive 
and  fierce  charges  of  the  enemy,  and  sustaining  a  loss  of  forty- four.  It 
was  with  Sherman's  grand  army  until  its  disbandment  at  AYashing- 
ton  after  the  national  review.  It  brought  to  Chicago,  where  it  arrived 
June  10,  1865,  and  was  discharged,  373  men  and  twenty  otficers. 


GREEIS^YILLE  TOW^^SIIIP. 

Greenville  precinct  comprises  all  of  T.  11,  R.  4,  which  lies  north  of 
Smith  creek,  and  that  portion  of  T.  12,  R.  4,  w^hich  is  south  of  Hender- 
son river  and  (Jedar  creek,  which  is  near  thirty-nine  sections  or  about 
25,000  acres.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Henderson  river  and 
Cedar  creek,  on  the  east  by  Warren  county,  on  the  south  by  Biggsville 
precinct  and  Smith  creek,  and  on  the  west  by  T.  11,  R.  5.  Its  princi- 
pal streams  are  those  which  bound  it  on  the  north  and  south  with  Fall 


GREENVILLE    TOWNSHIP.  1065 

creek  and  Rust  creek,  all  of  which  trend  in  a  southwesterly  direction. 
Its  general  surface  is  gently  rolling  w^ith  a  border  of  abrupt  hills  around 
the  north,  west  and  a  portion  of  the  southern  boundary.  The  streams 
and  the  broken  portions  of  the  precinct  are  skirted  with  a  line  growth 
of  timber,  which  is  utilized  for  many  practical  purposes.  It  consists 
of  shag  bark  hickory,  red  hickory,  red  and  white  elm,  white,  blue  and 
prickly  ash,  box  elder,  sycamore,  basswood,  white  and  black  walnut, 
sugar  and  soft  maple,  red,  white  and  burr  oak,  cottonwood,  honey  locust, 
American  aspen,  mulberry,  red  bud,  and  wild  plum.  The  soil  of  the 
uplands  is  a  deep  black  loam,  the  subsoil  being  of  brown  clay.  Bitumi- 
nous coal  has  been  found  in  very  small  quantities,  but  not  sufficient  to  be 
of  any  utility.  A  calcareous  deposit  is  found  along  Fall  creek,  which 
would  make  an  excellent  body  for  painting  purposes.  Along  the  hill- 
sides of  Rust  creek  and  Fall  creek  are  found  outcroppings  of  Burlington 
limestone,  that  of  Rust  creek  having  a  brownish  cast  caused  by  its 
being  tinctured  largely  with  oxide  of  iron,  that  of  Fall  creek  being  of  a 
lighter  cast,  containing  more  calcareous  matter.  Here  many  kinds  of 
crinoidea  are  found,  all  of* which  are  identified  with  the  upper  Burling- 
ton period ;  and  nowhere,  perhaps,  have  the  stone-lilys  been  found  in 
greater  abundance  and  in  a  better  state  of  preservation.  Other  fossils  are 
abundant,  especially  brachiopods.  Bryozoa  is  also  found,  mostly  in 
the  Keokuk  strata. 

EARLY  SETTLEMENT. 

The  first  man  who,  with  his  family,  found  a  home  in  Greenville  pre- 
cinct was  Capt.  William  Beaty,  who  came  from  Bartholomew  county, 
Indiana.  He  settled  on  the  S.  W.  I  of  Sec.  IT,  T.  11,  R.  4,  in 
May,  1830,  and  made  the  first  crop  of  any  kind  in  the  precinct.  Here 
he  built  a  cabin  of  hewn  logs,  a  remnant  of  which  still  remains.  At 
this  time  there  were  many  Indians  in  the  vicinity  who  paid  almost 
daily  visits  to  the  Beatys.  For  four  years  there  was  not  another  white 
person  in  the  precinct,  the  nearest  neighbors  were  the.  Fences,  li\ing 
in  T.  11,  Sec.  5.  During  the  hostilities  with  the  Indians,  which  began 
in  1831,  Mr.  Beaty  moved  his  family  to  Pence's  Fort,  which  stood  on 
the  west  bank  of  Henderson  river,  in  T.  11,  Sec.  5.  They  remained 
here  until  the  close  of  the  Bla-ik  Hawk  war,  with  the  exception  of  a 
few  months  in  the  fall  and  winter  of  1831.  September  9,  1831,  Ezra 
Beaty,  the  first  white  child,  was  born  in  the  precinct,  and  first  saw  the 
light  on  the  14th  of  the  same  month  Mrs.  Beat}^  died.  Then  there 
were  but  twenty-five  persons  within  reach  to  attend  the  funeral. 
Sadly  they  lowered  the  mortal  remains  of  this  pioneer  woman  into  the 
first  grave  ever  made  for  a  white  person  in  the  township.     Mr.  Beaty 


1066  HISTORY    OF    MERCEK    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

married  Miss  Jane  T.  Kussell,  of  the  Jemison  settlement,  on  South 
Henderson,  June  27,  1833.  The  marriage  occurred  in  what  is  now 
Biggsville  precinct,  but  this  was  the  first  union  in  which  any  one  from 
the  precinct  was  a  contracting  party. 

The  Indian  troubles  had  come  to  an  end  and  Black  Hawk  with  his 
warriors  had  bid  a  sad  farewell  to  Illinois,  and  gone  beyond  the 
Mississippi  to  return  no  more  forever.  People  became  fully  assured 
of  quiet  possession  of  tlieir  lands  and  homes,  and  emigration  headed 
toward  the  military  tract,  and  Greenville  received  her  portion. 

In  1834  Hercules  N.  Roney  came  from  Ohio  and  settled  on  the 
same  section  with  Mr.  Beaty.  He  did  some  blacksmithing,  which  was 
the  first  done  in  the  precinct,  but  soon  tiring  of  the  outlook  for  the 
future  he  returned  to  his  former  home  at  Davton,  Ohio.  The  same 
year  came  Jacob  Rust,  and  settled  on  section  9,  where  B.  F.  Frysear 
now  lives.  The  next  year,  in  company  with  S.  S.  Phelps,  he  com- 
menced the  erection  of  a  grist-mill,  near  his  residence,  but  on  account 
of  a  misconstruction  of  some  of  its  parts  it  was  a  failure,  involving 
Mr.  Rust  iinanciall}' .  He  is  still  living  and  has  his  home  in  Potta- 
wattamie county,  Iowa. 

In  the  spring  of  1836  the  Rice  brothers,  James  F.,  Thomas  H., 
George  P.  and  William  C.  came.  James  H.  has  long  since  been 
dead ;  Thomas  H.  and  George  P.  now  live  in  Monmouth ;  William  C. 
is  now,  and  has  been  for  many  years,  county  judge  of  Henderson 
county.  In  the  same  year  John  Hopkins  settled  on  Sec.  35,  T.  12, 
R.  4.  In  the  autumn  of  this  year  occurred  the  lirst  marriage  in  the 
precinct,  that  of  James  Scott  and  Anna  Hopkins,  sister  of  John.  They 
lived  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  John  Holliday.  In  the  spring  B.  C. 
Coghill,  AVilliam  P.  Toler  and  Thomas  EUett  came  from  near  Rich- 
mond, Virginia,  on  a  tour  of  inspection.  The  next  year  they  came 
and  located  permanently.  Mr.  Ooghill,  who  had  been  a  large  slave 
owner,  manumitted  them,  bringing  two  with  him,  who,  under  contract, 
were  to  work  for  a  certain  time  and  gain  their  absolute  freedom 
thereby.  They  bred  trouble  for  him  and  were  sent  back.  He  com- 
menced the  erection  of  a  mill,  on  a  site  which  is  still  used  for  that 
purpose,  on  the  south  side  of  Henderson  river.  Thomas  Ellett,  the 
friend  of  Coghill,  who  had  come  with  him  on  the  weary  tramp  from 
Yirginia,  settled  on  section  9.  July  4,  1836,  he  raised  his  cabin  and 
named  the  grove  in  which  it  stood  Independence  Grove.  Mrs,  M,  H. 
Mills  has  in  her  possession  a  piece  of  moss-grown  shingle  which  was  a 
part  of  the  original  roof  of  this  house. 

William  H.  Mills  wended  his  weary  way  from  Dearborn  county, 
Indiana,  and  settled  near  the  bluff  on  section  18.     He  now  lives  on 


GREE]S^^^LLE   TOWNSHIP.  1067 

section  16,  and  altliough  old  can  tell  a  story  of  the  hardships  of  those 
pioneer  days  with  the  zest  of  a  boy.  Prior  to  Mr.  Mills'  coming, 
Anderson  Davis  and  W.  H.  Davis,  his  brother,  came  from  Virginia. 
This  was  in  1S36.  Tliey  were  both  moral,  upright  gentlemen,  and  did 
much  for  the  material  and  social  upbuilding  of  the  community.  Mr. 
W.  II.  Dav-is  taught  perhaps  the  Urst  scho(jl  in  the  county,  in  the 
winter  of  1836-7. 

The  same  year  came  Robert  Taliaferro  and  his  four  sons,  Robert, 
Benjamin  C,  J.  Brooke,  and  C.  Walker.  The  father  and  mother 
have  long  since  been  dead.  Robert  and  J.  Brooke  have  found  homes 
in  the  west.  Benjamin  C.  is  a  prominent  attorney  and  politician  at 
Aledo,  Mercer  county.  C.  AValker  runs  and  operates  the  Fall  creek 
mills,  near  where  they  first  settled. 

Texas  Grove,  the  name  of  a  farm  not  far  from  here,  was  settled  by 
a  man  named  Rhodes  who  afterward  went  to  Texas,  hence  the  name. 
This  is  on  section  9. 

At  the  south  end  of  the  precinct  the  first  settler  was  Maj.  James  C. 
Hutchison,  with  his  wife  and  four  sons,  Samuel,  Robert  M.,  Ben- 
jamin, Thomas  TI.,  and  Elizabeth  and  Sarali,  his  daughters.  They 
came  from  Ohio,  journeyed  down  the  Ohio  and  up  the  Mississippi  by 
steamboat.  They  hmded  at  Oquawka  at  sunrise,  on  the  morning  of 
June  2,  1833,  when  there  were  but  four  resident  families  in  the  town. 
They  settled  on  section  36.  This  was  just  north  of  the  Jemison  settle- 
ment, on  South  Henderson.  Samuel  now  lives  in  Monmouth  ;  Robert 
lives  at  Walla  Walla,  Oregon  ;  Thomas  H.  died  in  Polk  county,  Ore- 
gon, in  1850  ;  John  W.,  who  was  born  soon  after  their  arrival  here, 
was  killed  by  the  cars  at  Hornellsville,  J^ew  York,  in  1863  ;  Benjamin 
lives  at  the  old  homestead.  The  subsequent  year  John  Glass,  with 
his  family,  settled  near  the  Hutchisons,  on  section  34,  and  Charles  Sar- 
geant,  a  soldier  of  the  war  of  1812,  came  in  1835,  and  settled  on  the 
same  section  with  Glass.  The  next  persons  who  came  were  Joel 
Haines  and  family,  in  1837,  settling  on  ti.j  south  side  of  what  is  now 
the  Oquawka  and  Monmouth  road.  Amos  Haines  came  in  18-10  and 
settled  near.  John  Reed  came  in  1841  and  opened  a  farm  on  section 
24,  and  Isaac  Woods  settled  near  in  the  same  year.  These  people 
nearly  all  came  from  Ohio,  and  were  industrious  and  frugal  and  have 
made  life  a  success  by  the  accumulaticm  of  plenty.  John  Welsh,  who 
now  lives  in  the  same  vicinity,  came  in  1835  from  Buftalo,  New  York, 
and  looked  into  and  saw  the  advantages  of  the  country.  He  returned 
to  New  York,  and  in  1840  came  with  his  family  and  tirst  had  his 
home  on  section  17.  Just  east  ol  Mr.  Welche's  the  first  permanent 
blacksmith-shop  was  erected  in  1843  by  J.  B.  Wheeling. 


1068  HISTORY    OF   MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Among  those  who  came  at  a  later  date  to  the  iiortli  part  of  the 
precinct  were  Amos  Morris,  in  1840,  Israel  Stockton  and  his  sons, 
Edwin  and  James  B.,  in  18il.  In  1846  J.  J.  Hulbm-t,  M.D.,  the 
first  disciple  of  ^seulapius  in  the  vicinity,  purchased  B.  C.  Coghill's 
interest  in  section  3  and  commenced  the  practice  of  medicine.  William 
C.  Toler  settled,  in  1838,  at  CoghilFs  mills.  William  L.  Stockton, 
who  for  many  years  followed  school  teaching,  came  the  same  year. 
Greenup  Stillwell  came  from  Indiana  in  1839,  and  settled  in  the  north 
end  of  the  precinct.  He  was  one  of  the  millwrights  who  rebuilt  the 
Rust  mill.  He  is  still  living  on  his  farm  where  he  first  settled. 
Among  those  who  came  at  a  later  date  are  the  Matthewses  and  Ilolli- 
days,  the  Campbells  and  the  Fairs,  all  of  whom,  themselves  or  some 
of  their  descendants,  are  living  in  the  vicinity. 

IMPROVEMENTS. 

The  first  mill  built  in  the  precinct  was  the  one  by  Jacob  Rust  and 
others  in  1834,  which  was  a  failure.  In  1835  Benjamin  C.  Coghill 
commenced  the  erection  of  a  mill  on  Henderson  river  for  the  purpose 
of  cutting  lumber.  To  this,  in  1839,  he  added  a  flouring  mill,  which 
went  into  successful  operation.  This  mill  site  is  now  owned  and  oper- 
ated by  Richard  Foulkes,  Esq.,  a  man  of  ripe  experience  in  the  busi- 
ness. The  original  building  has  been  replaced  by  one  more  substantial, 
fitted  with  all  modern  improvements.  The  machinery  of  the  mill, 
built  by  Jacob  Rust,  was  bought  by  Joseph  Ilollingsworth  and 
removed  to  its  present  site,  on  Fall  creek,  in  1846.  He  built  a  large 
four-story  frame  structure,  putting  in  first  class  complements  for  those 
days.  It  is  now  owned  and  operated  by  Mr.  C.  Walker  Taliaferro. 
This  is  the  mill  where,  on  that  fatal  night  of  January,  1859,  officer 
David  Welsh  was  smitten  by  the  hand  of  a  murderer.  The  dark  stains 
of  gore  yet  remain  to  show  the  spot  where  he  met  his  fate. 

CKIME. 

The  precinct  of  Greenville  is  as  free  from  the  imputation  of  crime 
as  any  other  in  the  county.  In  its  fifty  years  of  history  only  one  life 
has  been  lost  bv  violence,  that  of  oflicer  David  Welsh,  murdered  bv 
Enoch  Hollingsworth  and  Jacob  Yeider  on  the  cold  and  bleak  morning 
of  January  11,  1859.  The  shooting,  the  death,  and  subsequent  arrest 
of  Elnoch  Hollingsworth  and  Yeider,  as  principals,  and  Joseph  Hol- 
lingsworth as  accessory,  perhaps  created  more  excitement  than  any 
other  event  of  a  similar  or  any  other  nature  which  ever  occurred  in 
the  county.  The  facts  of  the  case  are,  in  the  light  which  time  sheds 
on  such  occurrences,  about  as  follows :     Joseph  Hollingsworth  was  at 


GREENVILLE    TOWNSHIP.  1069 

that  time  the  owner  of  the  Holliiigsworth  Honring  mills,  situated  on 
Fall  creek.  He  rented  the  mill  to  his  son,  Addison,  for  the  year  185!), 
the  lessee  talcing  possession  at  the  beginning  of  the  year.  Some  diffi- 
culty occurred  soon  after,  and  the  father,  with  his  agents,  forcibly  and 
without  due  process  of  law,  ejected  the  son.  Enoch  and  his  femily 
moved  into  the  mill,  and  Yeider  with  them,  determined  to  keep  pos- 
session. In  putting  Addison  out  of  the  mill  they  had  made  an  infrac- 
tion of  the  law  by  committing  an  assault  and  battery.  This  was 
Addison's  hope  to  get  possession,  and  smarting  under  the  indignity, 
he  went  to  Oquawka  and  Hied  an  affidavit  based  on  this.  A  warrant 
was  issued  for  the  arrest  of  Enoch  and  Yeider,  and  placed  in  the  hands 
of  David  Welsh.  In  the  meantime  the  elder  Hollingsworth,  owner 
of  the  mill,  had  gone  away  and  left  orders  with  Enoch  and  Yeider  to 
allow  no  one  to  enter  the  mill.  Mr.  Welsh,  in  company  with  Addison 
Hollingsworth,  Orrin  Burr,  James  Fryrear,  N.  S.  and  E.  F.  Barnum, 
proceeded  to  the  mill,  which  is  about  five  miles  northeast  of  Oquawka 
in  a  gloomy  ravine,  surrounded  by  the  high  bluffis  which  border  on 
Henderson  river  and  P^all  creek.  Arriving  there  about  two  o'clock  in 
the  morning  of  January  11,  he  summoned  the  occupants  to  open  the 
doors  and  allow  him  ingress,  at  the  same  time  telling  them  he  had  suffi- 
cient authority  for  commanding  them  to  do  so.  He  was  refused,  with 
the  remark  that  "the  first  man  wlio  put  his  head  in  at  the  door  would 
get  a  hole  through  it."  He  saw  that  further  pai'l eying  was  useless, 
and  sent  one  of  the  posse  to  get  an  axe,  with  which  he  forced  the  door 
and  fearlessly  walked  in  to  do  his  duty  as  an  official,  followed  by  the 
others.  Those  within  were  on  an  upper  floor,  which  was  reached  by 
ascending  a  stairway.  He  calmly  climbed  this  and  walked  into  the 
face  of  death.  The  moment  he  reached  the  landing  Yeider  fired  on 
liim  with  a  rifle.  He  fell  to  the  floor,  his  thigh  horribly  shattered  by 
the  force  of  the  ball.  Surgeons  were  immediately  called,  and  decided 
that  amputation  was  necessary  to  life.  He  died  the  next  day  between 
the  hours  of  two  and  four  o'clock.  Enoch  Hollingsworth  and  Yeider 
were  immediately  arrested  and  brought  before  justices  Richey  and 
Waterhouse  on  a  charge  of  wilful  murder.  Johnathan  Simpson,  James 
H.  Stewart,  and  D.  B.  AYaters  for  the  prosecution,  and  B.  C.  Talia- 
ferro, James  D.  Wolfe,  and  Eleizar  Paine  for  the  defense.  The  exami- 
nation was  long,  tedious,  and  hotly  contested.  The  charge  was  sus- 
tained, and  the  defendants  sent  to  jail  to  await  the  action  of  the  grand 
jury.  Tuesday,  February  1,  Joseph  Hollingsworth  was  arrested  on  a 
charge  as  accessory,  had  his  preliminary  hearing,  and  went  to  jail. 
March  7,  a  writ  of  habeas  corpus  was  sued  out  befoi*e  Judge  Tliom])Son, 
who  decided  that  Enoch  and  Yeider  could  not  be  admitted  to  bail. 


1070  HISTORY    OF    MEECER    AXl)    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Josepli  Hollingswortli  was  recognized  in  the  penal  sum  of  $3,000.  At 
the  meeting  of  the  grand  jury  in  May  a  true  bill  was  returned  against 
Enoch  and  Yeider  for  murder,  and  against  the  elder  HoUingsworth  as 
an  accessory.  The  matter  came  iijj  for  hearing  at  the  current  term. 
A  motion  for  a  change  of  venue  was  made,  and  the  case  was  sent  to 
Mercer  county  for  trial.  It  came  on  for  liearing  at  the  September  term 
of  the  same  year.  A  nolle  prosequi  was  entered  in  the  case  of  Joseph 
Hollingswortli.  Enoch  and  Yeider  were  found  guilty  of  manslaughter 
imd  sentenced  to  the  penitentiary  for  two  years. 

During  the  autumn  and  winter  of  1878  the  people  of  Greenville 
and  adjacent  country  began  to  miss  various  articles  from  among  their 
chattels.  During  the  hours  of  night  they  would  disappear,  and  whither 
they  went  and  where  they  were  was  not  a  problem  of  easy  solution. 
But  there  were  those  within  the  burglarized  district  whose  bosoms  held 
the  secret.  Silently,  mysteriously,  at  the  dead,  dark  hours  of  night  rode 
a  secret  clan  who  pillaged  the  country  of  anything  of  value  which 
came  in  their  way.  To  the  uninitiated  the  mystery  grew  more  and 
more  incomprehensible.  A  vigilance  committee  was  organized,  but 
they  were  not  successful  in  bringing  the  midnight  plunderers  to  the 
bar  of  justice.  Silently,  enveloped  in  an  insoluble  mystery,  which 
vailed  them  from  detection,  they  continued  to  })lunder.  But  a  silent 
agency  was  at  work,  and  the  unerring  hand  of  justice  was  weaving  for 
the  seemingly  chimerical  clan  a  robe  of  retribution.  John  Lunney, 
Jacob  Henderson,  Wm.  Yan  Pelt,  David  Mitchell,  and  Charles  Hen- 
derson, were  arrested  on  a  charge  of  burglary  and  larceny  in  January, 
1879.  This  fell  like  a  thunderclap  amid  sunshine  on  the  people  of  the 
vicinity,  as  most  of  them  belonged  to  the  best  families  of  the  neighbor- 
hood, but  the  mystery  was  solved.  The  grand  jury  indicted  them  at 
the  March  term.  Lunney,  Jacob  Henderson  and  Van  Pelt  went  to 
the  penitentiary  for  two  years  each.  Some  one  connected  with  the 
aifair  turned  state's  evidence,  and  during  the  summer,  while  l,ying  sick 
abed  at  night,  three  disguised  men  entered  his  room  with  bludgeons 
in  hand  to  repay  him  for  his  inconstancy.  Tliey  beat  him  severely. 
Eugene  Hunt,  Timothy  Page  and  Jasper  Jones  were  indicted  at  the 
August  term  for  burglary  with  intent  to  murder,  were  tried,  Hunt  being 
found  guilty,  and  the  others  acquitted. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

The  first  school-house  in  the  precinct  was  built  in  the  autumn  of 
1886,  on  Sec.  18.  Here  the  first  school  in  the  precinct  was  taught 
during  the  winter  following,  by  JN".  H.  Davis.  Mr.  Davis  relates  an 
amusing  incident  that  (occurred  during  the  term.     One  evening  near 


GREENVILLE    TOWNSHIP.  1071 

the  hour  of  closing,  he  was  disturbed  by  some  one  imitating  the  call  of 
turkeys,  but  he  did  not  succeed  in  discovering  the  culprit.  On  looking 
out,  however,  he  saw  the  house  surrounded  by  a  flock  of  these  birds. 
A  young  man  by  the  name  of  Pence  the  master's  rifle,  which  in  those 
pioneer  days  was  not  infrequently  a  part  of  the  school  furniture,  and 
succeeded  in  bringing  down  a  fine  turkey,  which  he  presented  to  the 
master. 

The  people  in  building  tlie  school-house  had  done  it  vohmtarily,  ■ 
cutting  the  timber  from  their  land  and  bringing  in  common.  They 
concluded  to  locate  the  house  on  a  piece  of  land  belonging  to  one  Wein, 
a  non-resident,  and  in  consideration  of  this  cut  none  of  his  timber. 
Wein  visiting  the  neighborhood,  and  seeing  the  school-house,  concluded 
to  move  in,  and  commenced  preparations  to  do  so.  The  people  hear- 
ing of  this  concluded  that  it  might  not  be  best  to  allow  him  to  get  into 
possession.  They  soon  hit  upon  a  ]»lan  to  thw^art  his  calculations. 
There  was  a  mustering  of  the  clans,  and  in  Mr.  Wein's  absence  they 
in  a  few  hours  tore  down  the  building,  and  raised  it  on  another  man's 
land  ;  this  being  easily  done  as  it  was  constructed  of  logs.  Wein  re- 
turned, saw  what  had  been  done,  and  made  up  his  mind  to  have 
recourse  to  law.  He  accordingly  brought  suit  ibr  trespass.  Archie 
Williams  and  John  H.  Mitchell  appearing  for  the  complainant.  Judge 
Ivory  Quinby,  and  0.  H.  Browning,  afterward  a  United  States  senator, 
appearing  for  the  defense.  The  matter  was  tried  before  Stephen  A. 
Douglas,  at  that  time  district  judge.  Mr.  Wein  lost  his  case,  and  was 
mulcted  for  the  costs  of  the  action.  This  school  was  kept  up  for  some 
time,  but  was  finally  succeeded  by  the  Liberty  school.  This  old 
building  is  now  a  ]3art  of  a  dwelling,  which  may  be  seen  about  a  half 
mile  west  of  Kosetta  jjostofiice.  The  first  school-house  at  number  one 
was  built  of  logs,  some  distanse  from  where  the  present  house  stands, 
which  was  erected  in  1858.  This  was  the  first  district  organized  in  the 
jjrecinct. 

The  second  school  was  near  where  the  Science  Hill  school-house 
now  stands.  The  present  building  was  built  in  1854  and  remodeled  in 
1880.  This  is  district  No.  5.  The  next  school-house  in  point  of  time 
is  Hazel  Dell,  built  in  1842.  The  building  now  in  use  was  built  in 
1856.  The  next  is  the  Liberty  school-house,  first  erected  in  1845. 
The  brick  structure  now  in  use  was  built  in  1858.  This  is  near  where 
the  old  subscription  house  was  built  in  1836.  The  Aurora  school-house 
was  first  built  in  1849,  about  a  half  mile  from  where  it  now  stands. 
Three  or  four  years  afterward  it  was  removed  to  the  present  site.  Reed's 
school-house  was  first  built  in  1858.  The  present  structure  was  erected 
in  1874.     The  Maple  Grove  school-house  was  built  in  1863. 


1072  HISTORY    OF    MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

The  schools  of  tliis  precinct,  which  had  their  inception  in  the  old 
log  building  erected  of  logs  in  1836,  by  the  people  in  common,  have 
grown  to  a  systematic  system.  The  old  log  houses  have  passed  away. 
The  subscription  school,  kept  up  perhaps  for  three  months  during  the 
year,  have  been  succeeded  by  the  present  fine  structures,  witli  all  the 
modern  appliances  and  conveniences,  and  the  doors  are  open  to  all  for 
nine  months  in  the  year.  For  schools  in  the  year  ending  June  30,  1881. 
there  was  a  total  outlay  of  $2,901.1:3. 

SMITH  CHEEK  CHRISTIAN  CHURCH 

Is  the  only  church  of  the  denomination  in  Greenville  precinct.  A  few 
pioneers  of  this  fiiith  met  June  0,  1853,  at  Liberty  school-house  and 
organized  by  electing  M.  M.  Koberts  and  N.  H.  Davis,  elders ;  Amos 
Haimes  and  E.  D.  Jackson,  deacons,  with  the  following  members  :  E.  D. 
Jackson,  M.  M.  Koberts,  J.  K.  Eust,  Charles  E.  Brown,  E.  T.  Davis, 
N.  H.  Davis,  Phoebe  Darnell,  Sarah  W.  Davis,  Jane  D.  Eust,  Fanny  C. 
Davis,  Isabella  C.  Jackson,  Abigail  Beaty,  Anne  Brown,  Susan  Lane, 
Sarah  A.  Haines,  Elizabeth  A.  Eoberts,  Sarah  J.  Morris,  Sarah  J. 
Brown  and  Mary  Peterson. 

The  organization  was  due  greatly  to  the  untiring  eftbrts  of  Elder 
Alexander  Davidson,  of  Monmouth,.  Illinois.  Mr.  Davidson  was  the 
first  elder  in  charge.  Having  a  society  well  organized,  the  next  object 
was  the  erection  of  a  suitable  church  edifice.  Mr.  iVmos  Haines  and 
N.  H.  Davis  set  to  work  with  a  will  and  the  necessary  funds  were  soon 
subscribed,  and  a  neat  frame  structure  was  built  on  Sec.  21,  T.  11,  E.  4, 
near  what  is  now  Eosetta  postofiice,  during  the  autumn  of  1853,  at  a 
cost  of  something  near  $1,000. 

The  following  are  the  elders  who  have  been  in  charge  of  the  work 
there  :  Alexander  Davidson,  Bedford  Murphy,  Smith  Wallace,  James 
E.  Gaston,  Eli  Fisher,  Joseph  B.  Eoyal,  L.  O.  McPherson,  James 
Butler,  and  others  -whose  names  do  not  appear.  For  the  space  of 
eight  or  ten  years  the  church  increased  in  numbers  and  was  highly 
prosperous,  but  during  the  war  it  began  to  decline  and  to  disintegrate, 
and  finally  was  given  up.  The  last  record  appears  during  the  year 
1873.  The  church  building  still  stands,  a  sad  monument  to  the  un- 
stability  of  human  determination  and  human  mind. 

The  family  of  Coghill  trace  their  ancestry  back  to  1377.  Benjamin 
C.  Coghill  traced  the  maternal  line  back  to  the  Slingsbys  of  Scriven- 
liall,  in  1135.  Benjamin  C.  Coghill  was  born  near  Eichmond,  Vir- 
ginia, March  9,  1804.  Here  he  grew  to  manhood  and  was  given  a 
classical  education  in  a  college  in  his  native  state.  At  his  majority  he 
came  into  an  estate  sufiicient  for  his  maintenance  among  the  Virginia 


GREEXVILLE    TOWNSHIP.  1073 

gentry  of  that  day.  February,  1833,  lie  was  married  to  Miss  Millicent 
Ellett,  a  native  of  llicbmond,  who  died  September  24,  of  the  subse- 
quent year.  In  1835  lie  was  married  to  Miss  Mar}-  A.  Ellett,  a  cousin 
of  his  first  wife.  In  1834  he  purchased  and  owned  for  some  time  the 
farm  on  which  Patrick  Henry  was  born.  For  years  he  had  entertained 
a  growing  aversion  to  the  institution  of  slavery.  In  1835  he  deter- 
mined to  leave  slave  territory  forever  and  find  a  home  on  free  soil.  In 
September  of  that  year  he  traveled  on  horseback  through  the  states  of 
Ohio,  Indiana  and  Illinois.  Keturning  in  jN^ovember  he  began  arrange- 
ments for  his  removal  to  Henderson  county.  As  to  the  sincerity  of 
his  views  in  opposition  to  the  institution  of  slavery,  let  the  following 
extract  from  a  letter  to  a  relative  attest:  ''Being  deeply  impressed 
with  the  conviction  that  war,  terrible  in  its  consequences,  would  come 
sooner  or  later,  and  feeling  earnestly  desirous  that  neither  I  nor  any  of 
my  children  should  engage  in  such  a  strife,  and  further,  not  wishing  to 
raise  my  children  among  the  negroes,  my  thoughts  were  turned  to  the 
west  as  the  place  wherein  these  evils  might  be  avoided.''  As  soon  as 
I  had  fnlly  determined  to  remove  to  a  free  state,  the  question  arose  in 
my  mind,  what  shall  I  do  with  my  negroes  (  I  gave  the  matter  much 
careful  consideration  and  made  it  the  subject  of  much  earnest  prayer. 
The  temptation  to  sell  and  get  the  money  for  them  was  strong.  The 
conflict  between  the  devil  and  the  man  was  fierce  and  bitter,  but  thanks 
be  to  God  who  giveth  strength,  my  sense  of  duty  was  the  stronger.  I 
procured  good  homes  for  the  aged  and  sent  all  the  younger  ones  to 
Liberia.  June  1836,  Mr.  Coghill,  in  company  with  several  of  his  neigh- 
bors, removed  to  Henderson  county  and  settled  in  (ji-reenville  precinct, 
and  has  been  identified  with  almost  ever}'  prominent  measure  pertinent 
to  the  county's  interest  while  he  was  a  citizen  of  it.  He  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  first  board  of  county  commissioners.  lie  was  married  a 
third  time  to  Loucie  LeFevre,  of  Hannibal,  Missouri.  Mr.  Coghill  died 
at  Ennis,  Texas,  whither  he  had  removed  some  time  previous  for  the 
benefit  of  his  health.  The  great  work  of  his  life  was  the  upbuilding  of 
the  Rozetta  Baptist  church,  and  as  its  history  is  so  insejjarably  con- 
nected with  his,  the  one  would  not  be  complete  without  the  other. 

On  May  10,  1837,  the  following  named  persons  met  at  the  residence 
of  Benjamin  C.  Coghill,  and  after  choosing Clark  moderator,  pro- 
ceeded to  organize  themselves  into  an  independent  religious  society  : 

William  E.  Ellett,  Benjamin  C.  Coghill,  William  P.  Toler,  Clark, 

Mary  A.  ('oghill,  Kezia  Coghill,  Susan  Ellett,  Mary  Ellett.  For  many 
years  the  progress  of  the  church  was  slow.  But  in  time  their  earnest- 
ness of  purpose  and  firm  determination  had  its  efiect,  and  in  1849,  their 
numbers  having  been  greatly  increased,  they  were  enabled  to  build  a 


1074  HISTORY    OF   ]\[ERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

comfortable  house  of  worship.  The  building  was  finished  and  accepted 
by  the  trustees  on  the  fourth  Saturday  in  December,  1849,  and  on  Sun- 
day, January  25,  1850,  was  solemnly  dedicated  by  elder  Monroe.  The 
church  has  now  a  membership  of  about  seyenty-fiye  in  good  stand- 
ing. Its  iinancial  condition  is  good.  In  Greenville  precinct  there  are 
at  present  three  other  churches  of  different  denominations,  but  of 
which  no  records  can  be  found. 

HISTORIC'AL    SKETCH    OF    SMITH    CREEK    CONGREGATION    (UNITED 

PRESBYTERIAN). 

BY    REV.    R.    E.    WILKIN. 

This  congregation  dates  the  beginning  of  its  history  from  the  year 
1847.  In  March  of  this  year  an  organization  was  effected  through  the 
agency  of  Eev.  K.  W.  French  as  commissioner.  The  following-named 
persons  were  received  as  members  at  that  time :  Ritchey  Campbell, 
Mary  Campbell,  John  W.  Woods,  ISTancy  Woods,  David  Irwin,  Jane 
Irwin,  Susanna  Davis,  James  Gibson,  Sarah  Gibson,  Mary  Hogue, 
Isaac  Woods,  and  Elisabeth  Woods,  twelve  in  all.  The  session  was 
formed  by  the  election  and  ordination  of  Messrs.  Ritchey  Campbell 
and  John  W.  Woods  as  ruling  elders.  In  1849  their  first  pastor. 
Rev.  Nathaniel  McDowell,  was  settled,  preaching  in  connection  with 
Olena  in  Henderson  county  and  North  Henderson  in  Mercer  county. 
This  relation  existed  fi^-e  years,  or  until  April,  1854.  For  the  two 
years  following  the  congregation  was  supplied  occasioually  with  preach- 
ing by  traveling  missionaries.  Afterward,  from  1856  until  the  summer 
of  1858,  Rev.  Elijah  McCoy  labored  acceptably  as  stated  supply  for  the 
congregation.  In  1858  occurred  the  union  of  the  two  denominations 
(Associate  and  Associate  Reformed)  which  now  constitute  the  United 
Presbyterian  church.  In  that  year  the  Associate  congregation  of 
Smith  Creek  united  with  the  Associate  Reformed  congregation  of 
Smyrna,  which  had  been  organized  in  the  same  vicinity  April  6,  1855, 
thus  constituting  the  United  Presbyterian  congregation  of  Smith  Creek. 
The  united  congregation  received  as  its  pastor  the  Rev.  Samuel  Millen, 
who  had  previously  been  settled  as  pastor  over  the  Smyrna  congrega- 
tion in  1856.  The  pastorate  of  Mr.  Millen  lasted  for  nearly  fifteen 
years,  closing  April,  1870.  For  a  number  of  years  following  the  con- 
gregation was  without  a  pastor.  However,  in  the  S])ring  of  1875  a 
call  was  addressed  to  Rev.  R.  E.  Wilkin  to  become  their  pastor.  This 
call  was  accepted,  and  he  began  his  labors  in  this  field  May  1,  1875. 
He  continued  his  work  here  regularly  for  seven  years,  when,  on  the 
first  of  May  last  (1882)  he  felt  constrained,  on  account  of  failing  health 
of  his  family,  to  resign  the  charge  of  his  congregation.     During  its 


T.   G.  F^ICH  Er. 


greenvillp:  township.  1077 

history  this  church  lias  biiih  and  occupied  three  different  houses  of 
worship :  the  first  in  1849,  the  second  in  1857,  and  the  present  buikl- 
ing,  a  small  but  neat  and  substantial  frame  structure,  capable  of  seating 
200  persons,  erected  in  1881,  at  a  cost  of  about  $2,000.,  The  present 
officers  of  the  congregation  are :  ruling  elders,  A.  B.  Hamill,  A.  H. 
Drennen,  and  Robert  Hays;  board  of  directors,  Peny  Beal,  Hemy 
Galloway,  and  James  H.  Woods.  Present  membership  of  the  congre- 
gation, seventy. 

Greenville  precinct  was  a  part  of  Oquawka  precinct  until  its  sepa- 
rate organization,  June  8,  1855.  It  comprises  all  of  T.  11  IST.,  P.  tt  W. 
(except  sections  31  and  32,  and  so  much  of  sections  28,  29,  31  and  33 
as  lies  south  of  the  south  fork  of  Smith  creek) ;  election  to  be  held  at 
Liberty  school-house.  All  of  that  part  of  T.  12  l!^.,  R.  4  W.,  lying 
south  of  Henderson  river  to  be  attached  to  Greenville  precinct ;  election 
to  be  held  at  the  postoffice  in  Rozetta.  The  west  half  of  section  33, 
and  all  of  sections  31  and  32  lying  south  and  east  of  Henderson  river, 
all  in  T.  12  N.,  R.  4,  to  remain  in  Greenville  precinct;  the  remainder 
of  T.  12  N.,  R.  4  W.,  formerly  in  Greenville  precinct,  to  be  added  to 
Bald  Bluff  precinct.  Change  made  September  10,  1874,  by  order  of 
the  county  board. 

Fifty  years  ago  the  total  population  of  Greenville  precinct  did  not 
exceed  five.     In  1880  its  population  was  1,108. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  names  of  the  justices  of  the  precinct, 
with  the  date  of  qualification  annexed,  since  its  separate  organization : 
George  C.  Watson,  June  26,  1855 ;  William  H.  Mills,  November  10, 
1857;  Thomas  Y.  C.  Rice,  November  16,  1857;  William  H.  Mills, 
November  11,  1861;  Geo.  W.  Loftus,  November  11,  1861;  Geo.  W. 
Loftus,  November  21,  1864 ;  William  H.  Turnbull,  November  27,  1864  ; 
William  H.  Mills,  November  16,  1869  ;  Geo.  W.  Lofftus,  November  19, 
1869 ;  Geo.  W.  Lofftus,  November  18,  1873 ;  Henry  Rice,  November 
19,  1877 ;  David  Bryan,  November  16,  1876 ;  John  M.  Lukens,  June 
11,  1881 ;  John  M.  Lukens,  November  25,  1881 ;  Andrew  H.  Drennen, 
November  28,  1881. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  names  of  constables,  with  the  dates  of 
their  qualification,  from  the  separate  organization  of  the  precinct: 
John  Creswell,  June  18,  1855;  B.  D.  Curtiss,  November  12,  1856; 
Matthew^  S.  Green,  November  23,  1857;  A.  L.  Morris,  November  21, 
1857;  A.  L.  Morris,  November  21,  1861;  S.  M.  Reed,  November  21, 
1861 ;  Samuel  B.  Fair,  November  16,  1863  ;  William  Woods,  January 
5,  1867;  John  T.  Morse,  November  16,  1869;  Charles  H.  Morris, 
November  19,  1869 ;  William  R.  R.  Hurlbuit,  November  16,  1878 ; 

61 


1078  HISTORY    OF   ]\rERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

William  McDill,  November  23,  1878 ;  Amaziali  B.  Persliin,  November 
26,  1881. 

Greenville  now  has  seven  schools  and  five  churches.  She  has  a 
population  of  near  1,500  persons,  and  wealth  counted  by  the  hundred 
thousand.  She  is  dotted  over  with  good,  comfortable  dwellings,  which 
are  the  homes  of  a  happy  and  prosperous  people.  The  morals  of  the 
populace  are  as  good  as  that  of  any  other  place  in  the  world.  'Tis  won- 
derful to  look  at  the  advance  of  half  a  century.  Fifty  years  ago  this  was 
virgin  soil  whose  bosom  had  never  been  tickled  by  the  hand  of  man. 
Fifty  years  ago  the  woodlands  w^ere  in  their  primitive  state ;  the  axe  of 
the  pioneer  had  never  sent  its  ringing  noise  through  these  primeval 
glades.  But  at  last  he  came,  and  the  change  he  has  wrought  is  mighty. 
Instead  of  the  quiet  lethargy  of  the  anti-pioneer  days,  the  noise  and 
bustle  of  industiT  is  heard  from  early  morn  till  dewy  eve. 

The  greatest  individual  industry  in  the  precinct  is  undoubtedly  that 
done  by  the  firm  of  Musgove  &  Mills,  nurserymen  and  fruit  growers. 
Sitting  by  their  fires  during  the  one  cold  evening  of  the  winter  of  1869- 
70,  these  men  conceived  the  idea  of  planting  an  apple  orchard,  and  in 
the  early  part  of  the  year  commenced  to  make  arrangements  for  it. 
The  original  intention  was  to  put  out  110  acres.  They  only  could 
secure  enough  stock  to  put  out  five  acres.  This  was  done,  and  200 
cherry  ti-ees  planted.  Commencing  in  time  they  succeeded  in  securing 
enough  trees  to  finish  planting  the  110  acres  the  next  year,  making  in 
all  of  both  years  setting  11,000  trees.  The  winters  being  very  severe 
and  killing  quite  a  number  of  the  trees,  they  made  arrangements  to 
raise  their  own  trees  for  resettii^g. 

In  the  winter  of  1872  they  put  out  100,000  apple  grafts,  300,000 
evergreens,  and  near  Lenox,  Iowa,  sowed  twenty  acres  in  Osage 
orange  seed,  which  would  produce  about  2,000,000  plants.  The  winter 
of  1872-3  killed  nearly  all  the  apple  grafts,  but  not  daunted  or  dis- 
couraged the}^  reset  them.  The  winter  of  1873-4  killed  near  5,000 
apple  trees  for  them  which  were  reset  in  the  spring.  Since  the  nursery 
stock  became  old  enough  they  have  been  doing  a  general  nursery  busi- 
ness, buying  at  wholesale  the  stock  they  did  not  grow.  They  have 
shipped  trees  and  plants  to  all  points  in  Illinois,  Iowa,  Missouri, 
Kansas  and  Nebraska. 

They  are  now  closing  out  their  nursery  stock,  and  will  engage 
exclusively  in  fruit  growing.  In  this  business  they  give  employment 
to  from  five  to  forty  men,  which  varies  with  the  seasons.  On  a  farm 
opened  by  one  Conger  in  1837,  in  1850  R.  T.  Pence  set  an  orchard  of 
thirty  acres.  This  Mr.  Musgove  bought  some  years  ago,  and  put  the 
entire  eighty  acres  in  apple  trees.     In  this  and  the  partnership  orchard 


GREENVILLE   TOWNSHIP.  1079 

they  have  about  18,000  trees,  three-fourths  of  which  are  in  bearing. 

Since  1877  they  liave  been  shipping  fruit  to  different  points  in  the 

West. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

William  H.  and  Lucretia  (Morris)  Mills,  lived  in  Dearborn 
county,  Indiana,  at  the  time  of  Myron  Harding  Mills'  birth,  which 
took  place  on  the  anniversary  of  the  battle  of  New  Orleans,  January 
8,  1839.  The  Millses  are  of  English  descent.  His  paternal  great- 
grandfather, Lemas  Mills,  served  under  Washington  during  the  war 
of  the  revolution,  and  endured  all  the  hardships  of  the  pestilence  and 
starvation  at  Valley  Forge.  His  wife,  Mary  Heddin  Mills,  visited  him 
in  camp  there,  and  ministered  to  the  wants  of  the  sick  and  perishing. 
Mr.  Mills  has  in  his  possession  some  relics  of  those  days,  among  them 
a  pair  of  silver  knee-buckles,  which  his  great-grandfather  wore  through 
the  war,  and  sk  mortar  and  pestle,  made  from  beech-wood,  which  were 
used  for  pulverizing  grain.  His  maternal  grandfather,  Amos  Morris, 
was  in  the  war  of  1812.  The  father  of  Mr.  Mills  came  to  Henderson 
county  in  1840,  and  settled  on  the  bluff  west  of  Rozetta,  living  in  a 
hastily  constructed  cabin  the  first  year.  Young  Myron  attended  school 
in  a  house  near  where  Liberty  school-house  now  is,  and  grew  up  to 
manhood  with  about  such  an  uneventful  life  as  other  boys  who  are 
raised  on  a  fjirm  ;  was  married  September  14,  1859,  to  Miss  Sophia, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Ellet,  Esq.,  who  settled  in  Greenville  precinct  in 
1836.  They  have  one  child,  a  son,  Charles,  born  January  13,  1836. 
Mr.  Mills  was  in  Co.  K,  84th  111.  Vols.,  and  won  the  rank  of  a  lieu- 
tenant ;  was  wounded  in  the  head  at  Shiloh  by  a  ball  from  the  rifle  of 
a  sharp-shooter.  He  is  the  junior  member  of  the  firm  of  Musgove  & 
Mills,  nurserymen  and  fruit  growers,  who  do  an  extensive  business ; 
is  a  member  of  Kirkwood  Post,  G.A.R.,  No.  81,  of  I.O.O.F.,  and 
Masons. 

William  M.  Maley,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  has,  by  his  bearing 
throughout  his  life,  set  an  example  worthy  to  be  followed  by  persons 
in  any  station,  and  as  a  result  he  has  the  confidence  of  all  who  know 
him,  and  a  competency  of  this  world's  goods.  This  is  the  outgrowth 
of  his  unflinching  integrity.  Mr.  Maley  was  born  in  Greene  county, 
Ohio,  December  29,  1820.  His  parents  were  Thomas  and  Elizabeth 
Star  Maley;  his  grandfather,  Lawrence  Maley,  was  of  Irish  birth. 
Being  pressed  into  the  British  service  and  transmitted  to  America  to 
assist  in  subjugating  the  rebellious  colonists  of  1776,  he  deserted  what 
he  believed  to  be  an  unholy  cause,  and  settled  in  Pennsylvania.  When 
Mr.  Maley  was  a  lad  of  thirteen  years,  his  parents  left  their  Ohio 
home  for  a  new  one  on  the  virgin  prairies  of  Illinois.     They  selected 


1080  HISTORY    OF   MERCEK   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

as  a  place  on  which  to  settle  a  i^art  of  Sec.  30,  T.  12  K.,  E.  -1  W.,  in 
Warren  county.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  went  to  Keokuk  countj, 
Iowa,  where,  on  August  30,  1841,  at  the  age  of  twenty,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Elizabeth  Steyens,  daughter  of  Haryey  and  Oliye  Steyens. 
They  are  the  parents  of  three  children,  all  sons.  The  eldest,  Henrj, 
seryed  three  years  during  the  ciyil  war  in  Co.  K,  81th  111.  Inf ,  and  is 
now  a  successful  farmer.  The  second,  Charles,  iS  engaged  in  black- 
smithing  and  wagon-making  at  Little  Fork,  Illinois.  Thomas,  tlie 
youngest,  remains  at  home,  assisting  his  parents  down  the  declining 
side  of  life.  In  1816  Mr.  Maley  remoyed  to  Henderson  county  and 
settled  on  Sec.  5,  T.  11  N.,  K.  4  W.  Although  Mr.  Maley^s  oppor- 
tunity for  an  education  in  early  life  was  yery  meager,  he  is  now,  on 
general  topics,  a  well  inibrmed  man,  haying  quite  a  library  of  well 
selected  books. 

The  grandfather  of  Jacob  Spangler  emigrated  to  America  from 
Germany  in  1759  and  settled  in  Maryland.  He  seryed  through  the 
war  of  the  reyolution  and  was  with  Washington  at  Trenton,  German- 
town  and  Brandywine.  The  parents  of  Jacob  were  Samuel  and 
Barbara  Spangler,  who  resided  at  Gettysburg,  Pennsylyania,  at  which 
place  he  was  born  July  25,  1828.  Mr.  Spangler  seryed  an  apprentice- 
ship as  a  stone-mason.  At  the  age  of  twenty-two  he  bade  goodbye  to 
the  place  of  his  biilh  and  found  a  home  at  Oquawka,  Illinois.  In 
1851  he  led  Lucy  R.,  daughter  of  William  and  Rebecca  Gray,  to  the 
hymeneal  altar,  and  they  became  man  and  wife.  The  fruits  of  this 
marriage  are  seven  children,  as  follows :  J  oseph  A, ,  Lucy,  Ilulbertine 
(who  died  at  an  early  age),  Alice  Carey,  Jacob  S.,  Hulbertine  (named 
for  the  dead  one),  and  Florence  De  Fontenay.  Mr.  Spangler  was 
deputy  sheriff  of  the  county  from  1859  to  1861,  and  was  constable  of 
his  precinct  for  many  years.  Mr.  Spangler,  in  connection  with  one 
of  his  sons,  still  works  at  the  business  to  which  he  was  brought  up. 
He  has  always  been  a  Jacksonian  democrat  and  still  clings  tenaciously 
to  that  creed.  He  is  yery  well  informed,  and  has  succeeded  in  giving 
his  children  good  educations.     Some  of  them  are  in  professional  life. 

RiCHARi)  FouLKES  was  born  of  respectable  parents  in  Montgomery- 
shire, Wales,  April  T,  1825,  and  commenced  for  himself  at  the  age 
of  eleven  as  a  farm  hand,  his  wages  being  $10  per  year  with  board. 
At  the  age  of  fifteen  he  went  to  the  north  of  England  to  learn  the 
miller's  trade.  In  1843  he  came  to  America  and  commenced  work  at 
his  trade  in  Utica,  New  York.  From  there  he  went  to  Akron,  Ohio, 
and  from  there  to  Cleveland,  where,  on  March  11,  1850,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Mary  Evans,  a  native  of  Cardiganshire,  South  Wales. 
They  are  the  j^arents  of  eight  children:  George  R.,  Cyrus  (now  dead), 


(tReenville  township.  lOSl 

Mamie  J.,  Charles  J., Minnie,  Da\ad  G.,  Chester  (deceased),  Perry  L., 
and  one  that  died  in  infancy.  In  1855  he  moved  to  Burlington,  Iowa, 
where  he  built  a  mill  of  his  own  and  was  soon  in  alttuent  circum- 
stances. A  few  years  later  the  building  with  its  storage,  uninsured, 
burned  to  the  ground,  and  left  him  only  with  a  few  hundred  dollars 
which  he  had  in  bank.  He  again  went  to  work  with  a  will,  and  is 
now  the  owner  of  Henderson  River  Mills,  Henderson  county,  and  is 
doing  a  successful  and  remunerative  business.  Mr.  Foulkes  had  no 
opportunity  for  an  education,  but  by  pei'severance  he  has  accumulated 
considerable  knowledge  of  books. 

Christopher  W.  Taliaferro's  parentage  was  of  Italian  stock  who 
came  to  this  country  prior  to,  took  part  in  the  revolution,  and  settled 
in  Virginia.  Mr.  Taliaferro  was  born  near  Richmond,  Virginia,  March 
2,  1830;  came  with  his  father  to  Henderson  county  in  the  spring  of 
1836,  and  settled  on  Sec.  5,  T.  11  N.,  R.  4  W.  In  1S50  Mr.  Taliaferro 
went  to  California  by  the  overland  route  and  mined  for  fifteen  months. 
He  was  sucjessful,  and  returned  bv  wav  of  the  Isthmus  of  Panama  and 
ISTew  Orleans  in  1852.  September  12,  1852,  he  married  Margaret, 
daughter  of  "William  and  Eunice  (Barnum)  Greene.  Mrs.  Greene  is  a 
cousin  of  P.  T.  Barnum.  They  have  one  child,  Z.  Mazzam,  who  is 
now  in  the  employ  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  Railroad 
Company.  Mr.  Taliaferro  is  the  inventor  of  the  Champion  corn 
cultivator  and  several  other  plows.  Between  1864  and  1873  he  was 
proprietor  of  the  Keithsburg  agricultural  works.  He  is  now  owner 
and  operator  of  Tall  Creek  flouring  mills.  Mr.  Taliaferro  came  here 
when  there  were  but  few  settlers  and  saw  all  the  incidents  connected 
with  a  pioneer  life. 

David  Bryans  is  a  son  of  the  Emerald  Isle,  having  been  born  in 
Armagh  county,  Ireland.  June  13,  183<).  His  father,  Robert  Bryans, 
was  of  Scotch  descent ;  his  mother,  Margaret  Stewart,  was  a  cousin  of 
the  merchant  prince  A.  T^  Stewart.  Mr.  Bryans,  when  quite  young, 
was  apprenticed  to  learn  the  trade  of  a  linen  weaver.  At  the  age  of 
twenty-one,  from  earnings  saved  from  his  scanty  wages,  he  paid  his 
way  to  New  York  city,  and  wandered  from  there  to  Pennsylvania, 
where  he  worked  for  a  few  vears.  From  here  he  went  to  Indiana,  and 
finally  settled  in  Henderson  county,  Illinois.  In  1861  he  went  to  Penn- 
sylvania and  married  Miss  Catherine,  daughter  of  Lewis  and  Letetia 
(Watson)  Cassey,  February  11.  They  are  the  parents  of  eleven  chil- 
dren, all  of  whom  are  living:  Horace  E.,  Robert  L.,  John  C,  Mary  M., 
AVilliam  A.,  Fannie  B.,  Lucy  and  Jane  (twins),  James  H.,  Lizzie,  Ida  E. 
and  Birdie  Irene.  Although  Mr.  Bryans  commenced  with  nothing  in 
capital  but  his  iron  will  and  strong  nerve,  he  is  now  the  owner  of  a 


1082  HISTORY    OF   MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

fine  farm  on  Sec.  36,  T.  12  N.,  R.  1  W.,  and  also  another  in  Iowa. 
He  has  filled  several  public  positions  perfectly  satisfactory  to  his 
constituency. 

James  Duke  was  born  in  Devonshire  county,  England,  October  23, 
1828.  His  parents  were  Lewis  and  Elizabeth  (Holloway)  Duke.  Tiring 
of  English  tyranny  and  English  farm  life,  in  1848  they  took  passage 
and  were  wafted  by  the  winds  of  heaven  to  the  land  and  home  of 
liberty,  America,  and  settled  on  the  then  virgin  prairies  of  Illinois. 
James,  young  and  robust,  was  put  to  work  and  helped  to  make  a  farm, 
in  consequence  of  which  his  advantages  for  schooling  were  limited. 
He  grew  up  thoroughly  inured  to  the  laborious  life  of  a  pioneer  farmer. 
January  6,  1853,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Millicent  E.,  daugh- 
ter of  B.  C.  Coghill,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  county.  They  are  the 
parents  of  two  children :  Mary  E.  (born  January  15,  1857,)  and  Alpheus 
Wellington  (born  April  28,  1861). 

Lewis  Duke,  son  of  Lewis  and  Elizabeth  (Holloway)  Duke,  was 
born  in  Devonshire  county,  England,  December  31,  1831.  His  parents, 
who  had  always  followed  the  vocation  of  farm  labors,  thought  they 
might  better  themselves  by  going  to  America.  In  1813,  by  dint  of 
strict  economy,  they  had  saved  enough,  and  in  March  of  that  year 
they  started  for  the  land  of  the  free.  They  settled  for  a  few  months 
in  Pennsylvania,  but  being  unfavorably  impressed  with  the  Keystone 
State  they  resolved  to  go  to  Illinois.  They  arrived  in  Henderson  county 
late  in  the  autumn  of  the  same  year  they  left  England.  Lewis,  being 
a  rugged  boy  of  twelve  summers,  set  to  work  with  his  father  to  help 
make  a  farm.  He  was  married  March  1,  1860,  to  Fannie  K.,  daughter 
of  B.  C.  and  Mary  (Ellett)  Coghill.  They  are  the  parents  of  nine 
children:  the  eldest,  Clyde,  born  May  18,  1862;  Mollie  K.,  June  1, 
1861;  George  L.,  March  15,  18(>7;  Grace  C,  January  17,  1869; 
Benjamin  K.,  October  23,  1870;  Annie,  July  8,  1872;  Victor  L.,  Feb- 
ruary 11,  1861 ;  Blanche  M.,  September  21,  1876  ;  Cleo  C,  September 
6,  1881.  Mr.  Duke  received  his  education  principally  in  the  common 
schools  of  the  county.  He  has  quite  a  selection  of  good  books,  and  is 
withal  intelligent  and  a  pleasant  conversationalist. 

James  Musgove,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  has  long  been  one  o^ 
the  leading  men  of  the  vicinity  in  which  he  lives.  His  parents,  Hiram 
arid  Sarah  Musgove,  were  residents  of  Louisa  county,  Virginia,  where 
James  was  born  May  11,  1825.  The  family  is  of  Scotch  origin.  His 
father  dying  while  he  was  quite  young,  in  company  with  his  mother  he 
moved  to  Ross  county,  Ohio,  at  the  age  of  seven  years,  where  he  went 
to  learn  the  trade  of  a  hatter.  Not  liking  this  business  he  soon  quit  it 
and  went  back  to  workiniJ:  on  a  farm.     In  181(;>  thev  removed  to  Peoria 


GREENVILLE    TOWNSHIP.  1083 

county,  Illinois,  where  lie  worked  as  a  farm  band  and  farmed  for  him- 
self. March  6,  1849,  he  was  married  to  Susan  M.  Ewalt,  daughter  of 
John  and  Lucy  Ewalt.  They  immediately  moved  to  Henderson  county, 
where  he  soon  engaged  in  growing  osage  orange  ])lants,  which  was  the 
beginning  of  his  prosperity.  Mr.  Musgove  is  the  owner  of  several 
very  fine  farms,  ninety  acres  of  which  is  in  apple  orchard.  He  is  also 
the  senior  member  of  the  firm  of  Musgove  &  Mills,  nurserymen  and 
fruit  growers.  They  have  a  splendid  orchard  of  110  acres  of  apple  trees 
of  all  varieties,  the  fruit  of  wliich  find  a  ready  market  all  over  the  west. 
They  are  closing  out  their  nursery,  and  will  engage  exclusively  in  fruit 
growing.  Mr.  Musgove  was  for  several  years  associated  with  Mr.  James 
Rice  in  the  nursery  business  at  Ivirkwood,  Illinois.  He  has  engaged 
extensively  in  stock  raising  and  stock  dealing  in  times  past,  and  yet 
does  considerable  at  it.  Mr.  Musgove  is  the  father  of  nine  children, 
two  boys  and  seven  girls.  The  eldest,  Aurora  Annette,  born  February 
24,  1850;  Lucy  Paralee,  February  1,  1852;  Charles  Edward,  October 
11,  1854,  died  in  infancy;  Susan  Mary,  August  19,  1856,  died  in 
childhood  ;  Martha  Rebecca,  March  14,  1858 ;  Fannie  Duke,  September 
11,  1861;  Carrie,  February  15,  1863;  Spurgeon,  August  31,  1864; 
Cora  Maud,  September  17,  1868.  Mr.  Musgove  is  now  well-to-do, 
well  informed,  and  can  go  down  the  shady  side  of  life  with  all  to 
commend,  nothing  to  regret. 

Hon.  W.  A.  M.  Cronch,  of  Rozetta,  Illinois,  was  born  in  Wash- 
ington county,  Pennsylvania,  September  19,  1841.  He  attended  the 
common  schools  of  the  vicinity  and  finished  his  education  at  Jefferson 
College,  Cannonsburg,  in  his  native  state.  In  April,  1860,  he  came 
to  Henderson  county  and  the  following  autumn  took  charge  of  the 
Aurora  school  in  T.  11,  R.  4,  which  he  taught  for  two  years,  and  has 
ever  since  resided  in  the  district.  He  is  now  engaged  in  farming  and 
stock  raising.  He  represented  his  district  in  the  twenty-seventh  gen- 
eral assembly  ;  has  since  been  county  commissioner,  and  is  now  a 
member  of  the  state  board  of  equalization.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
masonic  fraternity  and  is  a  Master  Mason.  He  is  a  republican,  and 
has  been  since  the  birth  of  the  party.  He  married  Sarah  G.  Leebrick, 
daughter  of  Samuel  and  Rachel  Leebrick,  of  Burlington,  Iowa.  They 
are  the  parents  of  seven  children. 

Ely  Beaty,  son  of  William  and  Jane  T.  (Russell)  Beat}^,  was  born 
May  16,  1838,  on  the  Beaty  homestead  in  Greenville  precinct.  He 
grew  up  on  the  farm  and  received  such  an  education  as  the  schools 
of  the  vicinity  afforded.  He  remained  at  home  until  he  was  twenty-four 
years  old,  when  he  began  farming  for  himself  on  a  part  of  the  home 
place.     Being  physically  unfit  for  service  he  cared  for  the  old  people 


1084  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

and  the  farm  while  his  brothers  were  away  fighting  for  their  couutry. 
He  was  married  December  25,  1861,  to  Miss  Emily  A.  Jackson.  She 
was  born  in  Indiana,  and  came  with  her  father,  Asa  Jackson,  to 
Illinois  when  t6n  or  eleven  years  old.  In  1864  he  purchased  sixty 
acres  in  Oqnawka  precinct,  which  he  occupied  in  the  following  year, 
living  there  for  eight  years.  In  1872  he  crossed  the  plains  to  Cali- 
fornia, remaining  one  year,  then  returned  and  bought  eighty  acres 
near  the  old  homestead,  where  he  now  lives.  He  has  two  children, 
Ella  May  and  Clara  B.     Mr.  B.  is  a  republican  in  politics. 

Jefferson  H.  Jennings  was  born  at  Oquawjva,  Illinois,  January 
30,  1843.  His  youth  was  spent  in  the  town  of  his  birth,  where  he 
attended  the  common  school.  At  the  proper  age  he  was  sent  to 
Jubilee  College  at  Peoria.  From  there  he  went  to  Jonathan  Jones' 
commercial  school  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri.  He  next  went  to  Hardins- 
burg,  Kentucky,  where  he  entered  the  office  of  his  uncle.  Judge  Jeffer- 
son Jennings,  as  a  student.  Soon  after  this  the  war  broke  out  and  he 
went  into  the  seventh  Kentucky  militia,  recruited  for  state  service. 
September  17,  1861,  he  was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service 
as  sergeant  of  Co.  I,  17th  Kentucky  Inf.,  and  by  promotion  soon  after 
rose  to  the  rank  of  lieutenant.  He  was  wounded  by  a  musket  ball  at 
Fort  Donelson;  resigned  his  commission  in  February,  1864,  and 
returned  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois.  He  was  soon  after  appointed 
to  a  lieutenantcy  in  the  regular  service,  which  was  not  accepted.  April 
11,  1867,  he  went'  into  the  civil  service  of  the  general  government  as 
an  examiner  in  the  pension  department,  but  resigned  July  8,  1872. 
During  his  residence  at  "Washington  he  had  graduated  at  Columbia 
College  in  the  law  department.  He  returned  to  Oquawka,  Illinois, 
and  commenced  the  practice  of  his  chosen  profession  ;  was  elected 
prosecutor  at  the  November  election  in  1872,  which  office  he  held  for 
eight  years.  He  moved  to  Carman,  Henderson  county,  some  years 
ago,  and  is  yet  practicing.  He  was  married  September  30,  1872,  to 
Miss  Altona  Forster,  daughter  of  Thomas  G.  and  Laura  Forster,  of  New 
York  city.     They  have  two  children,  both  of  whom  are  boys. 

Robert  Thompson  McMillan  was  born  in  Morgan  county,  Illinois, 
November  9,  1834.  His  parents,  James  and  Mary  McMillan,  came  to 
Henderson  county  in  1835,  and  settled  three  miles  south  of  Oquawka, 
where  he  grew  u]j  much  as  other  boys  do  on  farms.  He  received  a 
common  school  education.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in  Co.  K,  84th  111. 
Vols.,  went  through  the  war  and  was  mustered  out  with  the  regiment. 
May  20,  1870,  he  was  married  to  Martha  J.,  daughter  of  Andrew  and 
Rachel  Graham.  They  have  five  children  :  Mary,  Jessie  Belle,  Laura, 
Edward  and  Guy  Graham.  Mr.  M.  owns  a  fine  farm  of  160  acres  in 
Sec.  7,  T.  10,  R.  4. 


GREEMVILLE    TOWNSHIP.  1085 

John  ScHMrrr  is  a  Prussian  by  birth.  He  was  born  in  the  kingdom 
of  Prussia,  September  21,  1821.  Herman  and  Anna  Mary  (Lisch) 
Schmitt  were  his  parents.  His  parents  were  farmers  and  John  received 
such  an  education  as  the  public  schools  of  his  native  country  atforded. 
In  November,  1852,  he  turned  his  face  toward  the  land  of  liberty, 
landing  at  New  Orleans  in  ffanuary  of  the  next  year,  with  a  shilling  in 
his  pocket.  He  worked  at  such  work  as  he  could  get  in  New  Orleans 
and  St.  Louis  until  he  came  to  Henderson  county  in  1856.  June, 
1858,  he  espoused  Anna  Gluta  to  wife,  and  by  her  became  the  father 
of  eight  children,  as  follows  :  Mary,  John,  Lena  (who  died  in  infancy), 
Nicholas,  Katy,  Lizzie,  Frank  and  Peter.  He  now  owns  a  line  farm  of 
200  acres  in  Sec.  17,  T.  11,  R  4. 

Joseph  Hartley  was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania,  June 
11,  1809.  His  parents  were  Joseph  and  Phoebe  Hartley.  On  July 
10,  1883,  Mr.  Hartley  was  married  to^  Miss  Mary  K.  Pickering, 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Rebecca  Pickering.  The  same  year  he  emi- 
grated to  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  and  settled  where  Milton  now  is. 
Mr.  Hartley  learned  and  pursued  a  trade  at  mechanics,  but  for  many 
years  has  followed  farming.  He  came  to  Henderson  county  in  1852 
and  settled  in  T.  12,  E.  4,  on  Sec.  26.  They  have  five  children  :  Will- 
iam B.,  born  February  14,  1835,  is  a  farmer  and  lives  near  his  father  ; 
Kirk  P.,  born  August  14,  1839,  soldiered  in  Co.  E,  10th  111.  Vols.,  is 
now  in  California;  Anna  P.,  born  August  9,  1843,  is  the  wife  of  Mr. 
W.  H.  Pussell  and  lives  near  Chariton,  Iowa  ;  George  P.,  born  No- 
vember 20,  1845,  died  in  infancy;  Walter  S.,  born  February  12,  1855, 
lives  near  his  parents. 

Jacob  C,  son  of  John  and  Catherine  Filler,  was  born  in  London 
county,  Virginia,  October  2,  1813.  His  parents  were  German  people 
and  followed  farming  as  a  means  of  livelihood.  In  1829  they  moved 
to  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  where  Jacob  was  apprenticed  to  William 
Leslie,  a  blacksmith,  for  tln'ee  years,  which  time  was  faithfully  served. 
He  worked  for  some  years  as  a  journeyman  at  Columbus,  Zanesville, 
and  other  towns  in  Ohio,  among  them  the  village  of  Linville,  where 
he  became  acquainted  and  infatuated  with  Catherine  Baltzell,  whom  he 
man-ied  February  21,  1839.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Elizabeth  Baltzell.  They  have  eight  children,  living  and  dead  : 
Walter  B.,  died  in  infancy  ;  Joseph  W.,  who  was  a  member  of  Co.  F, 
11th  Ohio  Vols.,  and  lost  his  life  in  the  service  of  his  countrv  ;  Francis 
M.,  a  soldier  in  the  19th  Ohio  Vols.;  Mary  E.,  Addison,  Annie  E., 
and  Levina  B.,  who  died  in  infancy.  Came  to  Henderson  county  in 
1871,  and  now  lives  on  Sec.  36,  T.  12,  R.  4. 

November  26,  1808,  Hugh  McDonald's  eyes  first  saw  the  light  in 


1086  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

Hardin  count  v.  Kentuckv.  His  parents  were  farmers  and  pioneers  of 
Kentucky.  His  father's  name  was  John  and  that  of  liis  mother  Mary. 
In  youth  Mr.  McDonald  receiyed  sucli  an  education  as  the  meager 
facilities  of  early  days  in  Kentucky  proyided  for.  October  2,  1830,  he 
married  Miss  Elizabeth  Shehi,  daughter  of  John  and  Rachel  Shehi,  of 
Hardin  county,  Kentucky,  and  in  1832  moyed  to  Illinois,  settling  near 
Monmouth,  came  to  Henderson  county  in  1856.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mc- 
Donald have  eleyen  children  :  John,  Nancy,  Mary  (deceased),  Jacob, 
Hugh,  James,  Isaac  (deceased),  Melyina,  Festus,  William  (deceased), 
Margaret,  and  Isaiah  (deceased).  Mr.  McDonald  now  lives  on  Sec. 
9,  T.  11,  E.  4. 

Maetha  Arthue,  daughter  of  George  and  Margaret  Arthur,  was 
born  July  19,  1842,  in  Harrison  county,  Ohio.  While  she  was  yet  a 
child  her  parents  removed  to  Perry  county,  Ohio,  where  she  grew  to 
womanhood.  April  22,  186;^,  she  became  the  wife  of  David  T.  Hick- 
man, Esq.,  of  Perry  county.  Soon  after  their  marriage  Mr.  Hickman 
enlisted  in  Co.  G,  114th  Ohio  Yols.  During  his  term  of  service  his 
health  was  seriously  impaired  and  was  never  fully  recovered.  January 
8,  1878,  he  passed  to  meet  his  comrades  on  the  other  shore,  where 
there  are  no  more  wars,  and  was  buried  in  the  Monmouth  cemetery. 
They  have  three  children  :  John  Arthur,  born  June  24,  1866  ;  George 
Anson,  born  August  30,  1868  ;  and  Thomas  Ellsworth,  August  14, 
1870. 

Perry  Beal,  born  July  3,  1834,  in  Guernsey  county,  Ohio,  son  of 
Isaac  and  Jane  Beal.  He  was  raised  on  a  farm  and  received  a  com- 
mon school  education.  Married  February  9,  1860,  to  Anna  Adams, 
daughter  of  John  and  Jane  Adams,  of  Guernsey  county,  Ohio.  Mr. 
Beal  came  to  Henderson  in  1857  and  settled  on  Sec.  26,  T.  11,  E..  4. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beal  are  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church. 
They  are  the  parents  of  nine  children  :  William  M. ,  Luella  J.  died  at 
the  age  of  twelve  years,  Lawrence  M.,  Elmer  A.  (deceased),  Xancy 
L.  (an  infant),  Mary  Linda  (deceased),  Isaac  R.,  and  Perry  Lee.  Mr. 
Beal  owns  a  splendid  farm  of  150  acres,  well  improved. 

Adam  B.  Hamill,  the  present  county  treasurer  and  assessor  of 
Llenderson  county,  is  a  native,  having  been  born  near  Xenia  in  June 
1826.  Llis  parents  were  Robert  and  Elizabeth  Hamil.  His  parents 
were  poor,  but  by  his  own  perseverance  he  succeeded  in  getting  an 
academic  education,  and  with  capital  alone  he  came  to  Illinois  in  1852 
and  located  at  Monmouth,  were  he  taught  school  for  two  years.  Came 
to  Henderson  county  in  1854  and  opened  a  farm  on  Sec.  23,  T.  11,  R.  4. 
Was  a  school  director  in  his  district  for  fourteen  years,  and  is  at  this 
time  treasurer  of  Greenville  ])recinct.     He  was  deputy  county  assessor 


GREENVILLE   TOWNSHIP.  1087 

from  1874  to  1880.  In  the  latter  year  he  was  elected  county  treasurer 
and  assessor.  Was  married  March  15,  1851,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Turn- 
bull,  daughter  of  Gilbert  and  Annie  Turnbull.  They  have  four  chil- 
dren :  Kobert,  Gilbert,  Annie  and  Elizabeth. 

Benjamin  Hutchison,  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Henderson 
county,  was  born  in  Harrison  county,  Ohio,  November  10,  1821.  His 
parents,  James  C.  and  Sarah  Hutchison,  tiring  of  their  Ohio  surround- 
ings, turned  their  faces  toward  the  setting  sun  and  landed  at  Oquawka, 
Illinois,  at  daybreak,  June  2,  1833,  when  there  were  but  four  families 
in  the  place.  After  viewing  the  adjacent  country,  Mr.  Hutchison 
selected  as  a  homestead  a  part  of  Sec.  36,  T.  11,  R.  4,  which  was  then 
unbroken,  and  with  the  aid  of  Benjamin  and  three  other  sons  he  soon 
turned  it  into  a  blooming  farm.  In  the  year  1 850  Samuel,  in  company 
with  his  brother  Thomas,  crossed  the  plains  into  California  and  Ore- 
gon, returning  by  water  the  following  year.  August  29,  1854,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Anna  Moore,  of  Johnson  county,  Iowa,  by  whom  he 
had  six  children  :  John  M.,  Jane  G.,  Robert  M.,  Sarah  E.,  George  W. 
(killed  by  accident  May  27,  1881),  and  Thomas  H.  Mrs.  H.  died 
April  14,  1869.  Married  March  31,  1870,  to  Mrs.  Anna  E.  Grant. 
They  have  two  children  :  Ralph  B.  and  Anna  Mariali. 

RicHAED  H.  Woods  was  born  near  Shawneetown,  Morgan  county, 
Illinois,  March,  8,  1837.  His  father,  John  Woods,  and  Mary  Woods, 
his  mother,  were  farmers,  and  as  a  natural  sequence  Richard  grew  up 
on  a  farm,  and  received  his  education  in  a  district  school.  In  1840, 
thinking  to  better  his  fortunes,  the  paternal  A¥oods,  with  his  family, 
removed  to  Henderson  county,  settling  in  the  southern  part.  In  1862. 
"•Dick,"  as  he  was  familiarly  called,  enlisted  in  Co.  K,  84tli  111.  Vols., 
and  served  through  to  the  end  of  the  war.  On  account  of  his  excellent 
marksmanship  he  was  frequently  employed  as  a  sharpshooter,  and 
many  are  the  deeds  of  daring  and  hair-breadth  escapes  which  he  and 
his  comi-ades  relate.  Returning  from  the  field  of  battle  scenes  of  car- 
nage, he  laid  aside  his  weapons  of  war  for  cupid's  bow  and  arrows. 
He  wooed  and  won  Calista  A.,  daughter  of  John  and  Charity  Reed. 
They  were  made  one  September  19,  1867,  and  are  the  parents  of  four 
children  :  George  W.,  born  July  4,  1868  ;  Ada  L.,  September  7,  1872  ; 
Ida  Lenora.  September  23,  1877 ;  and  Loyd,  March  12,  1880. 

Samuel  H.  Smith,  born  in  Preble  county,  Ohio,  December  30, 
1830,  of  Scotch-Irish  parents,  who  we)-e  Samuel  and  Martlia  Smith, 
farmers.  Young  Samuel  was  sent  t<^>  the  district  school  until  he  had 
completed  tlie  curriculum  of  studies  taught  there,  when  he  was  sent  to 
the  Ohio  Agricultural  College,  at  College  Hill,  near  Cincinnati,  where 
he  received  a  scientific  training.     In  1857  he  concluded  to  try  his  hand 


1088  HISTORY    OF   MERCER    AND   HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

at  farming  in  Illinois,  and  pursuant  to  tliis  conclusion  lie  came  to  Hen- 
derson county  and  entered  a  farm  on  Sec.  25,  T.  11,  R.  4.  August  18, 
1867,  Mr,  Smith  was  united  in  marriage  with  Kancy  B.,  daughter  of 
Francis  and  Jane  Pace.  They  have  six  children :  Ella,  Cora,  Mabel, 
Walter,  Homer,  Bertha,  and  Jennie  Merle.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Smith  are 
both  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church. 

John  Campbell,  a  native  of  the  Emerald  Isle,  came  into  this  world 
IS'overaber  27,  1845.  His  parents  are  James  and  Jane  Campbell,  who 
emigrated  to  America  in  1850,  and  settled  in  Henderson  county, 
Illinois,  gladly  exchanging  the  yoke  of  British  tyranny  for  the  freedom 
of  the  home  of  liberty.  Young  Cam])bell  grew  to  manhood  on  a  farm, 
and  attended  the  district  schools  of  the  neighborhood.  He  became 
smitten  with  the  charms  of  Miss  Ellen  Welch,  and  after  the  usual  ex- 
change of  vows  they  became  man  and  wife,  January  5,  1871.  They 
have  two  children,  Joseph  Wesley  and  Flora  Jane,  and  are  consistent 
devotees  at  the  altar  of  the  Methodist  church. 

Hugh  A.  Reynolds  was  born  in  Jackson  coiintv,  Indiana,  October 
5,  1832.  His  parents,  John  G.  and  Anne  (McClannahan)  Reynolds, 
were  natives  of  North  Carolina.  His  grandfather,  Alex.  McClannahan, 
was  a  soldier  in  the  revolution.  Mr.  Reynolds'  father  came  to  AVari-en 
county,  Illinois,  October,  1835,  when  young  Hugh  helped  to  make 
a  tarm  and  attended  such  schools  as  were  then  in  vogue.  October  29, 
1862,  he  and  Miss  Ameha  Pollock,  daughter  of  J.  F.  and  Rebecca 
Pollock,  joined  hearts  and  hands  in  holy  wedlock.  They  are  the  parents 
of  seven  chihh-en,  five  girls  and  two  boys  :  Anne  R.,  Lucy  Belle,  John 
F.  (died  in  infancy),  Lena  O.,  Maggie  E.,  and  Hugh  (died  in  infancy). 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Reynolds  are  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian 
church. 

William,  son  of  William  and  Jane  Fair,  first  looked  upon  the 
light  in  county  Fermanagh,  Ireland,  August  10,  1844.  In  1850  his 
parents  bid  farewell  to  the  "holy  sod"  and  journeyed  for  the  land  of 
liberty,  finding  a  home  in  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  where  young 
William  went  through  all  the  hardships  incident  to  pioneer  life, 
working  on  farm  in  summer  and  attending  the  district  school 
in  winter.  Miss  Jane  A.,  daughter  of  James  and  Jane  Campbell, 
became  his  wife  March  2,  1872,  by  whom  he  has  six  children  :  Cora 
(died  in  infancy),  Harry,  Andrew  (died  in  childhood),  Charley,  Clara, 
and  Ida  (who  left  this  world  while  yet  a  babe).  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Fair 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  church. 

William  and  Letitia  Darrah  lived  in  Belmont  county,  Ohio,  where 
their  son  Charles  Boston  was  born,  March  8,  1838.  They  were 
Scotch-Irish  people.     Charley  was  educated  in  the  common  schools, 


NINETY-FIRST   ILLINOIS    INFANTRY,  1089 

and  learned  the  trade  of  a  butcher.  April  3,  1863,  he  enlisted  in  Co. 
H,  49th  Ohio  Vols.  Was  honorably  discharged  October  28  of  the 
following  year.  February  3,  1867,  was  married  to  Miss  Menada  A., 
daughter  of  W.  W.  and  Nancy  Palmer.  They  have  six  children : 
Charley  B.,  Henry  H,  Wm.  Wilkinson,  Harry  Alexis,  Sarah  A.,  and 
Grace  O. 

WiLLiA]vi  Cochran  was  born  in  Abbey ville  county,  South  Carolina, 
January  22,  1846.  His  parents  were  Matthew  R.  and  Martha  A. 
Cochran.  Disliking  slavery  and  disloyalty,  in  the  spring  of  1861  Mr, 
Cochran  came  to  Illinois,  where  he  might  find  associates  who  held  more 
congenial  opinions.  Married  October  20,  1870,  to  Miss  Mary  M. 
Boyd,  daughter  of  Harrison  Boyd,  Esq.  They  have  five  children  : 
Norman,  Ollie  May  (died  in  infancy).  Myrtle  L.,  Virgil  N.,  and 
Rosamcmd  Araminta.     Mr.  Cochran  is  a  farmer. 


NINETY-FIKST  ILLINOIS  INFANTRY. 

Col.  Henry  M.  Day,  of  Morris,  organized  the  91st  at  Camp  Butler, 
where  it  was  sworn  in  September  8,  1862,  Company  B  was  raised  in 
the  south  part  of  Henderson  county,  Di-.  Joseph  A.  James  and  Alvah 
W.  Paul  receiving  enlistments  at  Terre  Haute,  and  Dr.  William  T.  Day 

and Harrow  at  Raritan,  late  in  July  and  early  in  August.     On  the 

4tli  there  was  a  gathering  of  thirty-six  of  the  company  in  Raritan,  and 
the  good  peo})le  of  the  place  got  up  for  the  occasion  "a  splendid  free 
dinner."  When  the  time  for  their  departure  had  arrived,  some  of  the 
men  took  the  cars  at  Sagetown,  while  others  went  to  Colchester. 
They  rendezvoused  at  Camp  Butl'er,  where  the  comj^any  was  organized 
August  14,  The  officers  were :  J,  A,  James,  captain  ;  John  M.  Marrah, 
first  lieutenant ;  Matliew  Shaw,  second  lieutenant ;  Andrew  Graham, 
Alvah  W,  Paul,  Edward  W.  Davis,  George  W.  Cox,  and  Charles  S. 
Edwards,  sergeants. 

Company  C  was  enlisted  at  Oquawka  by  Capt.  John  McKinney, 
J.  F.  Powers,  D.  C.  Hanna  and  about  ten  others  came  down  from 
Pleasant  Green,  and  Jonathan  P.  Long  with  a  considerable  squad  from 
Olena ;  all  uniting  with  McKinney,  formed  a  company  of  90,  rank  and 
file.  On  Monday  night,  August  18,  Capt.  McKinney  embarked  his 
company  on  board  the  Kate  Caswell  for  Quincy.  The  "Spectator" 
said :  "Our  citizens  turned  out  almost  en  masse  to  bid  them  good-bye. 
The  boat  arrived  after  dark,  having  on  board  a  company  fi-om  Louisa 
county,  Iowa.  Capt.  McKinney  mustered  his  company  in  line  by 
torchlight,  and  then,  amidst  the  wildest  hurrahs,  preceded  by  the  music, 


1090  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AJSTD    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

marched  on  board,  the  boys  shaking  hands  right  and  left  as  they  went. 
The  staging  was  hauled  in,  the  line  cast  olf,  the  torch  extinguished,  and, 
amid  three  tremendous  cheers  for  'the  volunteers,'  the  boat  proceeded 
on  her  way ;  and  hundreds,  with  sad  hearts  and  moist  eyes,  returned 
to  their  homes  whence  some  loved  one  had  departed."  Next  morning, 
at  11  o'clock,  the  company  was  on  the  public  square  in  Quincy,  and 
the  captain  reported  to  Col.  Waters,  of  the  Sttth,  commandant  of  the 
post,  who  at  once  assigned  quarters  in  the  city.  The  84th  was  full,  as 
was  also  Col.  Benneson's,  the  78th.  These  were  the  only  regiments 
rendezvoused  in  the  place  ;  and  learning  that  the  91st,  at  Camp  Butler, 
into  which  Capt.  James'  company  had  been  received,  yet  lacked  one  of 
the  required  number,  Capt.  McKinney  started  with  his  men  Wednes- 
day evening  for  Springlield.  At  Quincy  an  election  was  held  for 
captain,  and  no  one  offered  himself  as  a  candidate  against  McKinney. 
After  arriving  at  Camp  Butler,  Hanna  was  elected  first  lieutenant  and 
Long  second  lieutenant.  The  sergeants  were :  James  L.  Smiley, 
Clement  F.  Briery,  Thomas  W.  McDill,  William  P.  Barnes,  and 
iS^athan  Crutchlield. 

The  regiment  was  armed  with  Harper's  Ferry  muskets,  which  were 
exchanged  for  Springfield  rifles  on  arrival  at  St.  Louis,  en  route  to 
Louisville,  to  which  city  it  was  ordered  October  1.  It  was  attached  to 
Gen.  Gilbert's  division,  and  put  to  guarding  on  the  Louis%'ille  &  JS^asli- 
ville  railroad ;  and  the  companies  being  necessarily  scattered,  the 
command  fell  an  easy  prey  to  the  partisan  Gen.  John  H.  Morgan. 
December  27  they  were  attacked,  and  after  a  stout  defense  were  forced 
to  surrender,  eight  comjjanies  being  taken  at  Elizabethtown,  Co.  B  at 
Bacon  Creek,  and  Co.  C  at  J^olin.  The  regiment  was  paroled  and  sent 
to  Benton  Barracks,  remaining  there  until  July  14,  1863,  when,  having 
been  exchanged,  it  was  sent  to  Yicksburg.  It  moved  to  Port  Hudson 
the  26tli,  and  marched  to  Carrollton,  Louisiana,  August  13.  Early  in 
September  it  embarked  for  Morganzia,  and  arriving  on  the  9th,  moved 
toward  the  Atchafalaya  river,  and  encountering  the  rebels  under  Gen. 
Green,  defeated  them  in  a  sharp  skirmish,  losing  six  or  seven  wounded. 
The  91st  belonged  to  the  second  brigade.  Col.  Day  commanding; 
second  division.  Gen.  IST.  J.  T.  Dana  commanding,  of  the  thirteenth 
corps.  October  10  the  regiment  returned  to  Morganzia  and  was 
transferred  by  boat  to  ISTew  Orleans,  arriving  the  12th.  It  was  now 
transferred  to  the  first  brigade,  and,  with  the  rest  of  the  division,  on 
the  22d  started  across  the  Gulf  and  landed  at  Brazos,  Santiago,  Novem- 
ber 3.  The  command  marched  directly  upon  Brownsville,  Texas, 
captured  the  fort  and  city,  and  drove  the  rebels  under  Gen.  Bee  from 
that  part  of  the  state.     In  July,  1864,  the  division  was  ordered  away 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    EIGHTEENTH    ILLINOIS   INFANTRY.  1091 

from  Texas,  and  tlie  91  st,  with  two  regiments  of  colored  troops,  gar- 
risoned Brazos,  Santiago.  Col.  Day  commanded  the  post.  Xear  the 
end  of  the  year  the  regiment  was  relieved  and  ordered  to  jS^ew  Orleans 
for  provost  duty,  and  was  then  transferred  to  the  second  brigade,  third 
division.  In  February  it  was  ordered  to  join  the  corps  at  Fort  Morgan, 
preparatory  to  the  attack  on  Mobile.  Col.  Day  took  command  of  the 
brigade.  The  regiment  bore  an  active  part  in  the  capture  of  Spanish 
Fort  and  Fort  Blakely,  on  which  the  defense  of  Mobile  depended.  The 
city  surrendered,  and  then  the  division  chased  the  enemy  up  the  Tom- 
bigbee  river  some  sixty  miles,  and  overtaking  his  rear-guard  at  Eight- 
Mile  Creek,  the  91st  in  advance,  drove  it,  after  sharp  fighting,  at  the 
point  of  the  bayonet,  losing  a  few  wounded.  This  and  the  engagement 
of  Gen.  Wilson  at  Columbus,  Georgia,  both  occurring  about  the  same 
time,  were  the  last  conflicts  east  of  the  Mississippi.  The  regiment  was 
mustered  out  at  Mobile,  July  12.  1865,  and  on  the  22d  reached  Camp 
Butler,  where  it  was  paid  oif  and  discharged. 


ONE  HUNDRED  AND  EIGHTEENTH   ILLINOIS  INFANTRY. 

One-half  of  this  regiment  was  from  Hancock  county,  three  com- 
panies were  raised  in  Adams,  one  in  Gallatin,  and  Co.  G  in  Henderson. 
This  was  recruited  at  Terre  Haute  by  Joseph  Shaw  and  others,  and 
was  organized  in  that  place  August  14,  1862,  with  ninety-eight  officers 
and  men.  About  a  dozen  were  from  Hancock  county.  Shaw  was 
chosen  captain,  James  H.  Butler  first  lieutenant,  and  Charles  T.  Painter 
second  lieutenant.  On  September  1  the  company  was  conveyed  by 
four-horse  teams  to  Colchester,  and  there  it  took  second  class  hog  cars 
and  flats  for  Camp  Butler.  It  was  at  once  put  to  guarding  rebel 
prisoners  of  war,  with  the  rest  of  the  regiment,  which  was  not  mustered 
in  until  November  7.  The  command  left  December  1  for  the  field,  and 
arrived  at  Memphis  the  11th.  It  was  incorporated  with  the  fij'st 
brigade,  third  division,  right  w4ng,  thrirteenth  corps,  and  on  the  20th 
moved  with  Sherman  toward  Vicksburg.  Arriving  at  the  Yazoo  river, 
it  was  engaged  from  the  26th  to  the  30th,  in  action  at  Chickasaw  Blufis. 
It  was  emplo3'ed  next  against  Arkansas  Post,  and  participated  actively 
in  the  brilliant  success  there  January  10  and  11,  1863.  Returning 
to  Young's  Point,  Louisiana,  the  regiment  lay  there  in  a  foul  and  half- 
submerged  camp,  after  having  been  for  nearly  forty  days  and  forty 
nights  cooped  upon  transports,  part  of  the  men  crowded  below  with 
the  horses  and  mules,  and  the  remainder  exposed  on  the  hurricane 
decks  and  guards,  without  shelter,  to  the  daily  storms  of  that  latitude. 


1092  HISTORY    OF    MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

The  sufferings  endured  by  the  troops  during  that  ' '  middle  passage, " 
from  the  Yazoo  to  Arkansas  Post  and  back  again  to  Young's  Point,  are 
indescribable,  and  the  fact  that  they  were  endured  almost  without  com- 
jjlaint  goes  further  than  marches  and  battles  to  prove  that  their  hearts 
were  in  the  right  place.  Tents  were  lacking  ;  the  men  were  crowded 
in  the  poor  ones  they  had  almost  to  suffocation  ;  it  rained  constantly, 
and  often  the  soldiers  had  to  get  up  at  dead  of  night  to  move  tents  and 
couches.  Small-pox  broke  out  in  the  camp,  and  though  fatal  in  the 
brigade,  none  of  the  llSth  died.  Finally,  and  we  might  say  providen- 
tially, the  rebels  opened  the  levee  and  "drowned  out"  the  troops, 
when  they  were  all  moved,  March  9,  twenty  miles  up  to  Milliken's 
Bend. 

On  April  2  the  regiment  left  there  in  the  expedition  against  Vicks- 
burg,  forming  part  of  Osterhaus'  division.  Crossing  the  river  at 
Bruinsburg,  the  30th,  it  was  engaged  at  Thompson's  Hill  (Port  Gibson) 
May  1,  Champion  Hill  16th,  Black  River  bridge  17th,  and  siege  of 
Yicksburg  until  after  the  bloody  assault  of  the  22d,  in  which  it  also 
bore  a  distinguished  part.  At  Thompson's  Hill  its  conduct  was  so 
gallant  and  conspicuous  that  it  received  the  compliments  of  the  division 
commander  on  the  field.  From  the  19th  to  the  22d  the  loss  was  six 
killed,  twenty-four  wounded.  On  the  21th  Gen.  Osterhaus  was  ordered 
back  to  Black  River  bridge  to  ward  off  attack  by  Johnston,  and  the 
llStli  was  engaged  in  fortifying  and  skirmishing  until  June  10,  when, 
by  order  of  Gen.  Grant,  it  was  mounted,  after  which  it  was  continually 
occupied  with  scouting.  After  the  fall  of  Yicksburg  it  joined  Sherman 
against  Jackson,  and  was  engaged  there  until  the  evacuation  of  the 
place  July  17.  Early  in  August  the  13th  corps  was  transferred  to  the 
Gulf  ;  on  the  6th  the  regiment  turned  over  its  horses,  and  next  day  left 
Yicksburg. 

After  removal  to  Port  Hudson,  Carrollton,  Bayou,  Boeuff,  Brashear 
Citj  and  Berwick  City,  it  arrived  October  3  at  Camp  Bisland,  Louis- 
iana. It  moved  to  Algiers,  arrived  the  7th,  reported  to  Gen.  A.  L. 
Lee,  chief  of  cavalry,  and  was  remounted.  Taking  cars  on  the  11th, 
it  went  to  Brashear  City,  crossing  the  bay,  marched  to  Yermillionville, 
and  arrived  -at  Opelousas  the  23d.  Next  day  had  an  engagement  near 
Washington ;  November  1,  camped  at  Carrion  Crow  Bayou ;  on  the 
3d,  fought  the  severe  battle  of  Grand  Coteau ;  moving  again  to  Yer- 
millionville, fought  in  that  vicinity  the  11th.  The  next  encounter  was 
near  Yermillion  Bayou,  when  the  regiment  took  seventy-eight  prisoners, 
the  encampment  being  then  at  New  Iberia.  Leaving  thence  for 
Donaldsonville,  the  regiment  embarked  there  for  Port  Hudson,  arriv- 
ing January  7,  1864,  and  going  on  almost  daily  scouts  till  July  3, 


J^- 


i!r7-r£^ 


ONE    HUNDRED    AND    THIRTY-EIGHTH    ILLINOIS    INFANTRY.  1095 

skirmishing  sharply  and  frequently,  and  taking  many  prisoners.  A 
part  of  the  regiinent  was  assailed  by  superior  numbers  at  Bayou 
Grosse  Tete,  March  30,  when  a  headlong  saber  chai-ge,  and  hand  to 
hand  fight  alone  saved  them  from  defeat  and  capture.  On  April  7, 
a  detachment  of  seventy-five,  with  twenty-five  from  the  3d  111.  Cav., 
and  one  field-piece,  were  surrounded  near  Plain's  store  by  600  of  the 
enemy,  and  only  after  a  desperate  resistance  were  able  to  get  away. 
Moving  to  Baton  Rouge,  the  regiment  was  encamped  there  till  Sep- 
tember 4,  raiding  meantime  with  Gen.  Lee,  and  fighting  August  25 
at  Redwood,  Comite  bridge  and  Clinton.  From  September  7  to 
November  24  the  regiment  was  stationed  at  Hermitage  plantation,  op- 
posite Donaldsonville.  It  was  in  the  engagement  under  Gen.  Lee,  at 
Liberty,  November  19.  Moving  to  Baton  Rouge  on  the  2Tth,  it  joined 
Gen.  Davidson's  expedition  to  West  Pascagoula,  Mississippi,  and 
arrived  there  December  12.  Embarked  for  New  Orleans  the  24th, 
arrived  the  26th,  and  returned  to  Baton  Rouge  the  27th.  From  that 
date  the  command  was  picketing  and  scouting  until  May  22,  when  the 
horses  were  turned  over.  Provost  duty  in  the  city  formed  the  only 
employment  thenceforward  till  October  1,  when  the  118th  was  mustered 
from  the  service.  Co.  G  returned  with  two  commissioned  ofiicers : 
Capt.  Shaw  and  first  lieutenant  Painter,  and  twenty-six  enlisted  men. 


ONE   HUNDRED   AND   THIRTY-EIGHTH  ILLINOIS 

INFANTRY. 

This  regiment  was  raised  in  the  early  summer  of  1864  for  the  100 
days  service,  and  was  organized  at  Camp  Wood,  Quincy,  by  Col.  John 
W.  Goodwin,  and  mustered  in  June  21.  Co.  D  belonged  to  Hender- 
son county,  and  was  enlisted  at  Oquawka  in  May,  by  John  M.  Wilson 
and  Joseph  S.  Linel.  After  the  company  had  gone  to  Quincy  C.  D. 
Elting  brought  a  squad  of  about  twenty  from  Raritan.  Citizens  of  the 
county  subscribed  a  private  bounty,  which  amounted  to  about  $18  per 
man.  The  company  contained  eighty-two  enlisted  men,  including  two 
recruits,  who  deserted  before  the  muster-in.  The  organization  took 
place  at  Quincy.  Wilson  was  chosen  for  captain  ;  Andrew  Kirkpat- 
rick,  of  Biggsville,  for  first  lieutenant ;  and  Wilson  S.  Baughman,  of 
Oquawka,  for  second  lieutenant.  The  regiment  was  ordered  to  Fort 
Leavenworth,  Kansas,  July  26,  and  on  arrival  there  was  placed  on 
post  duty.  After  expiration  of  term  of  service  it  was  brought  to 
Springfield  and  mustered  out  October  14. 
62 


1096  HISTORY    OF   MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 


SEYEXTH  ILLINOIS  CAVALKY. 

This  fine  regiment  was  sworn  into  the  United  States  service  at 
Camp  Butler  in  the  month  of  September,  1861.  In  Co.  L  there  were 
probably  a  dozen  from  Henderson  county,  mostly  from  around  Raritan. 
At  the  organization  William  M.  Morris,  of  Raritan,  was  orderly  ser- 
geant, and  Elijah  Jacklin,  of  same  place,  second  corporal.  William 
Pitt  Kellogg,  of  Louisiana  fame,  was  the  fii'st  colonel  of  the  7th,  but 
he  was  never  much  with  it  and  resigned  early.  Col.  Edward  Prince, 
of  Quincy,  led  it  through  its  brilliant  achievements  to  the  close  of  its 
term.  It  began  active  duty  at  Bird's  Point  and  Cape  Girardeau, 
Missouri ;  operated  around  New  Madrid  and  Island  No.  10,  and  was 
in  the  siege  of  Corinth.  It  was  in  the  battle  of  luka,  September  20, 
1862 ;  Corinth,  October  3  and  4 ;  and  in  April,  1863,  formed  a  consid- 
erable part  of  Grierson's  celebrated  expedition  from  La  Grange,  Ten- 
nessee, to  Baton  Rouge,  Louisiana.  In  February,  1864,  it  marched, 
under  Gen.  W.  Sooy  Smith,  from  Guntown,  Mississippi,  to  West 
Point,  where  that  general  was  sadly  defeated,  and  did  excellent  service 
in  covering  his  retreat.  In  March  289  officers  and  men  re-enlisted,  and 
in  June,  when  these  were  absent  on  furlough,  some  120  non-veterans 
of  the  regiment  went  out  to  Guntown  with  Stuigis  on  his  ill-starred 
expedition  against  Forrest.  The  regiment  resisted  Hood's  invasion  of 
Tennessee,  fought  with  valor  at  Franklin,  Nashville  and  other  places, 
and  pursued  him  out  of  the  state.  We  have  mentioned  only  some  of 
the  leading  engagements  which  are  a  part  of  the  history  of  the  noble 
Tth.  The  fighting,  scouting,  guarding  and  other  service  which  it  did 
were  immense.  It  was  mustered  out  at  Nashville,  and  disbanded  at 
Camp  Butler  November  IT,  1865.  Lewis  Pickel,  of  Raritan,  was  pro- 
moted to  second  lieutenant  of  Co.  L  in  August  before  the  command 
was  discharged. 


BEDFORD  TOWNSHIP. 

Bedford  township  is  No.  8  in  N.  R.  4,  and  is  bounded  on  the  north 
by  Walnut  Grove  township,  on  the  south  by  McDonough  county,  on 
the  east  by  Warren,  and  on  the  west  by  Terre  Haute.  The  land  lying  in 
the  southeast  and  south  part  of  the  township  is  flat  prairie,  the  soil  of 
which  is  a  deep  black  loam.  In  the  north  and  northwest  part  of  the 
township  the  land  is  undulating  with  a  brown  clay  subsoil.  On  the 
ridges  which  skirt  the  streams  the  soil  is  of  less  depth  and  of  a  lighter 


BEDFORD    TOWNSHIP.  1097 

color  than  that  of  the  prairies.  It  is  usually  a  dark  brown  yellow 
color,  being  light  on  the  slopes  of  the  hills  and  partaking  of  the  sub- 
soil. Formerly  these  ridges  were  for  the  most  part  timbered,  but 
much  of  the  timber  has  been  cut  off  and  the  process  of  denudation 
still  goes  on. 

Springs  are  numerous  throughout  the  township  and  some  are  large 
and  valuable,  furnishing  a  constant  supply  of  fresh  water,  in  quantities 
sufficient  for  the  necessities  of  large  herds  of  cattle. 

On  Sec.  6  are  limestone  quarries  which  have  been  worked  to  some 
extent.  Blocks  of  any  desired  size,  from  one  to  two  or  three  feet,  may 
■be  had,  some  of  the  larger  are  of  a  yellowish  brown  color,  others  are 
tinged  with  blue  or  light  creamy  gray.  Sandstone  quarries  also  abound 
near  the  same  range,  two  specimens  appear,  they  are  of  a  dark  gray 
and  creamy  yellow. 

Honey  creek  enters  the  township  at  the  southwest  corner  of  Sec.  6, 
flows  northwest  through  Sec.  9,  and  through  the  northeast  of  Sec.  8, 
and  southwest  of  Sec.  5,  and  through  the  south  half  of  Sec.  6.  This 
creek  is  fed  by  tributaries  running  north  ;  one  running  through  the 
west  part  of  Sees.  16  and  9  finds  a  terminus  near  the  west  line  of  that 
section. 

Raritan  is  a  flourishing  town  of  300  inhabitants,  containing  fifty 
dwellings,  three  churches,  and  ten  business  houses,  a  postoffice,  print- 
ing office  and  several  mechanical  establishments.  It  is  situated  on  a 
high  plat  of  ground  on  Sec.  11,  the  principal  streets  of  which  run  east 
and  west.  The  town  was  named  in  honor  of  the  Raritan  river  in  New 
Jersey,  from  which  the  township  owes  its  first  few  settlers,  a  number 
of  whom  went  from  that  neighborhood  to  Fulton  county  and  made  set- 
tlements there,  and  after  moved  into  this  township. 

The  first  store  was  started  in  Raritan  in  the  spring  of  1856,  by 
Gulick  &  Voorhees,  who  continued  the  business  until  the  following 
spring  of  1857,  when  they  were  superseded  by  Jaques  Yoorhees,  who 
sold  out  the  next  year  to  Tharp  &  Eltinge,  soon  after  which  Mr.  Tharp 
sold  his  interest  in  the  business  to  Eltinge  and  formed  partnership  with 
Groendyke  in  1859.  This  store  was  situated  on  the  corner  on  the  south 
side  of  the  main  street.  Eltinge  sold  his  interest  in  the  business  to 
Elijah  Day,  who  closed  up  the  business  in  1867.  Parks  and  Jaques 
Yoorhees  then  started  a  dry  goods  store  under  the  firm  name  of 
Parks  &  Voorhees.  This  was  in  1867.  They  were  succeeded  by  Dr. 
H.  F.  Parks. 

The  first  blacksmith  shop  in  the  town  was  built  in  August,  1858, 
by  Jaques  Voorhees  for  U.  D.  Voorhees.  He  carried  on  the  business 
until  1865,  when  J.  K.  Barns  was  taken  in  as  a  partner.     They  con- 


1098  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   A^D    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

tinned  together  for  two  years,  and.  sold  out  to  Douglass  Bros.,  who 
continued  the  business  until  John  M,  Johnston,  the  present  owner, 
bought  them  out.  C.  Hartman  started  a  wagon  shop  about  1860.  A 
confectionery  was  started  in  1865,  by  J.  Tharp. 

In  1858  the  first  hotel  was  started  by  Charles  Hartshorn.  He  quit 
the  business.  In  1863,  I.  Y.  D.  Kelley  built  a  hotel,  and  rented  the 
same.  In  1861  he  sold  the  same  to  C.  Y.  D.  Spader.  John  Groyen- 
back  went  into  the  business  in  1870. 

The  first  physician  was  Dr.  Day.  He  built  a  residence  in  the  town 
and  after  a  few  years  sold  out  to  Dr.  Elliott.  This  was  in  1862,  and 
this  was  Dr.  Elliott's  first  field  of  practice.     He  died  in  1863. 

CHURCHES. 

In  August.  1855,  a  small  band  of  pioneer  Christians,  thirteen  in 
number,  together  with  the  Keys.  A.  D.  Wilson  and  S.  A.  Bumstead, 
.assembled  at  the  house  of  S.  P,  Neyius,  for  the  organization  of  a 
church.  This  organization  was  then  and  there  consummated  under  the 
name  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  church,  of  Hoiiey  creek,  with  six  male 
members  for  its  consistory.  Less  than  a  month  later,  or  September 
16,  1855,  at  the  house  of  Peter  S.  Tharp,  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's 
•supper  was  administered  for  the  first  time.  On  the  afternoon  of  the 
same  day  Dennis  Neyius  Simonson  received  the  rite  of  baptism,  this 
being  the  first  child  of  the  church,  as  he  was  also  the  first-born  of  his 
parents.  In  1856,  two  members,  AVm.  J.  Schenck  and  Martha,  his 
wife,  were  added  to  the  church,  as  were  several  others  by  certificate 
from  the  church  of  Fairview,  and  from  eastern  churches.  It  was  in 
the  spring  of  1856,  in  the  old  blacksmith  shop  which  still  stands  hard  b}' 
on  the  ])remises  of  Mr.  John  Livermore,  the  first  Sabbath  school  was 
organized  with  I.  Y.  Kelley  as  superintendent.  Mr.  K.,  it  is  said, 
occasionally  had  to  submit  to  a  good-natured  rebuke  for  being  late.  To 
this  blacksmith  shop  both  barefoot  horses  and  barefoot  children  were 
wont  to  resort,  the  former  for  shoes  and  the  latter  for  Bible  truth. 
Prom  humble  homes  scattered  thinly  over  the  flowery  strewed  prairie 
they  came  to  sing  and  to  study  of  Him  who  infused  fertility  into  the 
soil  and  breathed  perfume  into  the  air  and  crowned  the  year  with 
fruitful  harvests. 

During  the  first  year  of  organization  the  congregation  met  in 
private  houses.  Afterward  they  repaired  to  the  blacksmith  shop  before 
referred  to.  In  the  spring  of  1857  worship  was  conducted  at  the  house 
of  Peter  Tharp  and  W.  J.  Schencks.  When  the  school-house  was 
inclosed  that  became  the  place  of  regular  service,  while  afternoon 
lectures  were  held  at  other  convenient  places  throughout  the  settle- 


BEDFORD   TOWNSHIP.  1099 

ment.  Among  those  who  rightly  preached  at  that  time  before  the 
establishment  of  a  regular  preacher  was  the  Eevs.  AVilson,  Bimistead 
and  Morris. 

More  than  a  year  had  now  passed  since  organization,  and  they 
were  without  a  preacher.  Accordingly,  on  October  IS,  1856,  Rev.  C. 
D.  Eltinge,  of  Fort  Jarvis,  was  called,  and  was  installed  pastor  May 
20,  1857.  The  corner  stone  of  the  present  church  edifice  was  laid  on 
the  same  day.  Previous  to  this,  of  course,  it  had  been  foreseen  that 
around  the  site  of  this  church  as  a  nucleus  the  village  would  grow  up. 
Therefore  the  building  became  a  matter  of  debate  which  was  carried  on 
not  without  acrimony.  The  location  was,  however,  fixed,  and  a  pastor 
secured.  Measures  began,  to  be  taken  which,  considering  the  fewness 
of  members  and  comparative  poverty  of  the  people,  was  no  easy  one. 
Mr.  Eltinge  went  east  and  received  funds  to  the  amount  of  $1,600  by 
soliciting  from  members  there,  and  by  a  loan  of  $1000  from  his  own 
little  means.  Less  than  half  the  money  was  raised  by  contributions 
from  the  people  of  the  new  settlement.  The  lumber  used  in  the  con- 
struction of  this  edifice  was  brought  over  Lake  Michigan  in  the  vessel 
then  belonging  to  the  pastor's  father. 

The  year  1858  is  memorable  as  the  time  when  the  temple,  with  its 
tall  spire  pointing  heavenward,  began  to  take  shape  and  proportion. 
As  it  approached  completion  fond  hopes  were  realized,  and  there 
stood  a  neat  and  commodious  house,  ready  to  be  dedicated.  Septem- 
ber 8,  1859,  Rev.  A.  D.  Wilson  dedicated  it  and  Rev.  S.  A.  Bumstead 
preached  the  service,  and  having  now  an  organization,  a  pastor  and  a 
house,  the  full  career  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  church  of  Raritan  began. 

Mr.  Eltinge  closed  his  pastorate  in  the  spring  of  1861,  at  which  time 
the  membership  had  increased  from  the  original  thirteen  to  sixty  two. 
At  that  time  the  consistory  resolved  to  make  the  church  self-supporting, 
and  in  fact  accom])lished  their  desires.  Li  September,  1861,  Rev.  S. 
A.  Bumstead  came  to  supply  the  church  for  six  months,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1862  was  installed  as  the  second  pastor  of  the  church. 

In  the  history  of  the  church  so  far  there  have  been  several  marked 
revivals,  the  first  dui'ing  the  ministry  of  Mr.  Ehinge,  the  second 
durins;  tliat  of  Mr.  Bumstead.  and  one  under  Mr.  Adams.  Mr. 
Bumstead's  ministry  closed  April  1875,  and  his  place  has  been  filled 
bv  A.  A.  Pfanstiehl.  The  names  of  the  orio-inal  members  are  as 
follows  :  Joseph  Nevius  and  wife,  Henr}-  D.  Yoorhees  and  wife, 
Isaac  Kelly  and  wife,  Peter  Tharp  and  wife,  Simon  P.  i^evius  and 
wife,  Peter  Nevius  and  wife,  and  Mrs.  Simonson,  wife  of  Simon 
Simonson.  The  Raritan  Sabbath  school  was  organized  on  the  Ith 
day  of  May,  1856,  and  continued  through  the  summer  season.     On 


1100  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AJSTD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

tlie  first  Sabbath  in  May  last  it  was  reorganized  by  the  appointment 
of  officers  as  follows  :  superintendent,  A.  Hageman  ;  vice-superin- 
tendent, A.  Gulick  ;  librarians,  J.  Stanton  and  W.  Morris. 

The  Earitin  Methodist  Episcopal  church  has  a  membership  of 
sixty.  The  first  class  was  formed  in  Karitin  in  1864,  and  held  its 
first  meetings  in  the  old  school-house  now  gone.  Eev.  A.  Moray 
was  the  first  pastor.  The  first  members  were  Geo.  Mosier  and 
wife,  David  Dilley  and  wife.  Perry  Gardner  and  wife,  and  Emanuel 
Alpaugh  and  wife.  George  Mosier  was  chosen  the  first  class  leader, 
under  whose  leadership  the  class  soon  became  well  established.  Only 
two  of  the  original  members  now  remain  members  of  the  society. 

In  the  year  1873  the  society  determined  to  build  a  church,  and 
with  its  characteristic  energy  proceeded  at  once  to  erect  a  splendid 
house  of  worship,  which  for  convenience  and  architectural  beauty  is 
not  surpassed  in  the  county.  The  style  is  Gothic,  with  corner  tower 
and  bell  and  with  arched  ceilings  twenty-five  feet  from  the  floor  in 
the  center,  and  a  seating  capacity  of  about  three  hundred  and  fifty. 
This  edifice  was  built  by  subscription,  contributed  largely  by  persons 
now  members  of  the  society,  and  the  members  were  few  in  numbers 
and  not  ricli,  but  contributed  freely  and  as  far  as  their  ability  would 
permit.  There  were  217  subscribers  to  the  building  fund.  The  cost 
of  building,  including  interest  account  and  other  incidental  expenses, 
was  $3,962.81.  This  did  not  include  labor  performed  by  the  members, 
which  was  not  applied  on  their  subscription.  Had  the  labor  been 
paid  for  in  cash  the  building  would  have  cost  about  $4,800. 

This  society  has  employed  the  following  ministers  to  preach  for 
them  :  Thomas  Watson,  A.  Morey,  A.  S.  Atherton,  J.  E.  Taylor,  E. 
Ransom,  P.  S.  Garretson,  G.  W.  Miller,  S.  P.  James,  and  A.  C. 
Calkins,  their  present  ],iastor. 

During  the  pastorate  of  P.  S.  Garretson  the  noted  revival  known 
as  the  Swarts  meeting  was  held,  resulting  favorably  to  society  here  for 
the  time  being,  but  not  lasting.  Up  to  the  time  of  the  close  of  Pev. 
G.  W.  Miller's  term  as  pastor  the  Paritan  society  was  a  part  of  the 
Ellison  charge,  but  at  the  fall  conference  of  1878,  held  at  Macomb, 
Paritan  was  set  off"  with  the  Colfax  church  as  self-supporting,  to  be 
known  as  the  Paritan  charge. 

Dui-ing  the  ]Dastorate  of  Pev.  A.  C.  Calkins  the  church  building- 
was  improved  by  papering  the  walls  and  ceiling  and  the  purchase  of 
new  pulpit  furniture,  at  a  cost  a  little  less  than  $100.  Great  credit  is 
due  the  pastor's  wife  and  others  of  the  society  in  securing  the  needed 
improvement.  A  neat  little  parsonage  is  owned  by  the  society,  which 
cost  $1,000. 


BEDFORD   TOWNSHIP.  1101 

At  a  meeting  held  in  Raritan  December  24,  1858,  Henry  Johnson, 
of  the  Baptist  church  of  Roseville,  was  moderator,  and  J.  Yoorhees, 
clerk.  They  resolved  to  adopt  the  ordinances  of  the  gospel  com- 
munion. It  was  also  resolved  that  a  council  meeting  be  called  for  the 
purpose  of  being  recognized  as  a  regular  Baptist  church,  and  adopt  the 
basis  of  the  doctrine  and  practice  the  declaration  of  faith  and  covenants 
published  by  the  American  Baptist  publication  society.  This  declara- 
tion was  signed  by  Harry  Burrell,  Elvira  Burrell,  L.  W.  Otis,  Clarressa 
Otis,  William  Ferine,  Aletta  Ferine,  C.  V.  D.  Spader,  Jane  Spader, 
J.  Voorhees,  Sarah  Yoorhees,  Elizabeth  Hill,  and  Amanda  Yoorhees. 
On  February  22,  1859,  a  council  was  called  and  the  above  members 
were  recognized  as  comprising  the  Baptist  church  of  Raritan.  This 
meeting  was  called  to  order  and  presided  over  by  J.  L.  Gordon  as 
moderator,  and  J.  Yoorhees,  clerk.  The  following  churches  were 
represented :  Roesville,  by  Elder  H.  B.  Johnson,  Deacon  B.  W.  Smith 
and  James  Tucker ;  Berwick,  by  Elder  H.  S.  F.  Warren,  of  Linden, 
William  L.  Johnson,  of  Hillsborough,  J.  G.  Gordon  and  A.  Hengate. 
Twelve  members  having  organized,  presented  their  petitions,  and 
were  recognized  as  a  church.  The  first  sermon  was  preached  by  H.  S. 
Warmouth. 

The  first  business  meeting  occurred  on  February  27,  1859.  Henry 
Bull  and  William  Ferine  were  elected  deacons,  and  J.  Yoorhees,  clerk, 
and  H.  B.  Johnson  was  called  to  preach.  During  his  pastorate  there 
were  added  to  the  church  one  by  baptism,  one  by  letter,  and  two  by 
experience.  On  May  5,  1860,  Elder  Trower  was  employed  to  preach 
two  sabbaths  in  each  month.  He  ofiiciated  until  October,  1862.  In 
1862  a  revival  took  place  whicli  closed  on  December  16.  Twenty-three 
were  added  to  the  church  by  baptism,  three  by  experience,  and  one  by 
letter.  During  the  pastorship  of  Elder  Trowers  the  church  was  admitted 
to  the  Salem  Baptist  Association. 

On  January  3,  1863,  a  building  committee  was  appointed  to  build  a 
house  32x44  feet,  with  16  feet  posts,  which  was  erected  and  inclosed 
during  the  summer  and  fall  of  1863,  and  plastered  in  the  fall  of  1864. 
In  the  summer  of  1865  it  was  furnished,  and  on  the  foui-th  Sabbath 
of  June,  1866,  dedicated. 

The  Swedish  Evangelical  church  was  organized  October  7,  1877. 
This  was  the  original  Lutheran  church,  but  the  name  was  changed  in 
order  to  obliterate  church  prejudice  and  thus  combine  all  denomina- 
tions and  worship  under  the  new  name.  The  first  members  were 
Deacons  J.  M.  Johnson,  John  Brown,  Otto  Feterson  and  Anton  Feter- 
son.     This  church  has  at  present  about  fifty  members. 

The  oro;anization  of  the  Roman  Catholic  church  was  efiected  in 


1102  HISTORY   OF   :tfERCER   AND   HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

1855.  and  its  membership  is  composed  largely  of  members  from  "War- 
ren county.  The  lirst  step  taken  in  this  direction  was  at  the  house  of 
John  Leareys,  in  AVaiTen  county,  before  which  worship  had  been  held 
in  many  of  the  private  houses,  and  especially  at  the  house  of  John 
Berry,  who,  with  the  Hustons,  McLaries,  Slaters,  Downs,  Sulivans, 
Denivens,  Tiernies,  from  Henderson  count}',  and  others  from  Warren 
county,  were  among  the  hrst  members,  and  also  prominent  in  the 
building  of  the  church.  The  church  was  built  in  1876,  under  Rev. 
James  Halpins"  administration,  at  a  cost  of  82,100,  which  was  ]iaid 
for  by  subscriptions  from  its  membership  and  many  Protestants 
throughout  the  neighborhood,  the  Catliolics  having  lirst  helped  the 
building  of  Protestant  churches  in  a  similar  wav.  The  church  is  situ- 
ated  on  section  2  in  Bedford  precinct  and  is  known  as  St.  Patrick's 
parish.  This  church  is  in  size  32x42,  with  a  spire  sixty  feet  high. 
Since  the  organization  of  the  church  Father  OTarrell,  Father  Welden 
and  Father  Murphy  have  presided. 

Earitan  Lodge,  iSTo.  616,  I.O.O.F.,  was  instituted  June  30,  1876, 
and  was  moved  to  Terre  Haute  in  1868.  The  charter  members  were  : 
M.  M.  Fiekl,  A.  E.  Stanlev,  J.  C.  Coulson,  C.  W.  Hardestv,  and  L.  W. 
Calhoun. 

THE  T'lOXEERS. 

The  points  for  early  settlement  were  two,  the  timber  of  the  south- 
east poi-tion  of  the  precinct  and  the  southwest,  near  Bedford  church. 
Accordingly  we  find  settlements  made  at  these  places  at  quite  an  early 
date.  The  fij-st  white  settler  within  the  limits  of  this  precinct  is  not 
now  positively  known.  So  many  conflicting  stories  reach  the  ear  that 
one  cannot  positively  decide.  It  is  probable  that  John  Scroggins  was 
the  first.  He  came,  as  near  as  can  be  ascertained,  in  1829  or  1830. 
He  was  a  native  of  Tennessee.  He  did  not  remain  loncj  in  the 
neighborhood,  but  sold  his  patch  of  ground,  containing  ten  acres,  to 
Walter  Huston  and  moved  back,  it  is  said,  to  Tennessee.  Some  not 
knowing  these  facts  claim  that  Joel  Huston  came  before  this  man.  but 
he  did  not  arrive  until  1832  or  1833.  He  settled  on  section  30.  Huston 
was  from  Tennessee.  He  left  that  state  some  two  years  prior  to  his 
settlement  in  Bedford  township.  He  made  the  journey  with  teams  and 
stopped  a  year  or  two  in  Morgan  county  on  his  way  out.  William 
Pennington,  who  had  come  out  with  Huston,  settled  about  the  same 
time  and  place  on  section  32.  A  German  by  the  name  of  Cloberg  was 
the  next.  He  settled  on  section  35.  Two  other  Germans.  Statt  and 
Younff,  soon  after  settled  on  the  same  section.  Henrv  Isom,  from 
Tennessee,  settled  on  section  34.     The  place  is  better  known  as  the  old 


BEDFORD   TOWNSHir.  1103 

Beaver  place.  After  this  new  arrivals  were  quite  frequent,  and  Uncle 
George  Huston  said  that  when  he  arrived  here  in  1837  he  found  John 
Huston  living  in  a  point  of  timber  just  on  the  south  side  of  the  pre- 
cinct. There  was  a  school-house  near  Bedford  and  a  log  house  was 
built  near  by  it  soon  after.  The  settlers  did  their  trading  at  Burling- 
ton and  Oquawka.  There  was  no  mill  on  the  Henderson  and  they 
were  compelled  to  go  to  Crooked  creek,  some  twenty  miles  distant,  to 
get  their  milling  done. 

George  Huston  is  still  living  in  the  precinct,  at  an  advanced  age. 
He  is  a  native  of  Kockingham  county,  Virginia.  He  moved  to  Ohio 
in  an  early  day,  from  which  he  came  to  Illinois.  He  has  been  here 
most  of  his  time,  and  is  perhaps  better  acquainted  with  the  history  of 
the  vicinity  than  any  other  man  living.  His  first  settlement  was  sec- 
tion 26,  where  he  bought  the  tax  title  for  320  acres,  and  after  bought  a 
second  tax  title  on  the  same  place,  held  by  another  person.  The  house 
he  rented  when  he  first  came  to  the  country  was  the  only  one  in  that 
vicinity,  and  the  prairie  was  one  vast  sea  of  waving  grass.  It  was  not 
until  1841  that  he  erected  his  first  log  house,  with  sod  chimney.  In 
later  years  it  was  torn  down  to  give  place  for  one  of  more  modern 
style.  Although  entirely  obliterated  from  the  sight  of  the  later 
settlers,  the  recollections  of  its  former  usefulness  are  still  fresh  in  the 
minds  of  those  who  shared  the  protection  of  its  sheltering  roof  and 
enjoyed  the  warmth  of  the  sparkling  embers  on  the  hearth.  In  this 
log  cabin  Mr.  Huston  reared  his  family  of  children,  who  are  mostly  all 
settled  about  him.  The  nearest  pork  market  was  at  Beardstown,  on 
the  river.  On  one  occasion  Mr.  Huston  started  with  a  drove  to  that 
place  in  company  with  his  neighbors,  and  when  about  half-way  to  that 
place  they  discovered  that  the  hogs  were  chilling  and  they  could  pro- 
ceed no  farther  with  them.  They  concluded  to  kill  them,  but  having 
no  kettle  in  which  to  heat  water  with  which  to  scald  and  dress  them, 
after  consulting,  a  plan  not  thought  of  before  happened  to  strike  Mr. 
Huston.  He  said  :  "We  will  dig  a  large  hole  here  in  the  ground  and 
kindle  a  large  fire  in  it,  and  after  the  fire  has  burned  sufficiently  we 
will  pour  the  water  on  the  coals,  which  will  make  the  water  amply  hot 
to  scald."  The  idea  was  laughed  at  at  first,  but  they  tried  the  experi- 
ment, which  proved  a  success. 

The  Huston  families  are  well  remembered  in  connection  with 
pioneer  times,  and  their  children  compose  a  large  share  of  the  popula- 
tion of  the  precinct.  Archibald  Huston  settled  a  little  farther  up 
about  the  same  time.  He  died  many  years  ago,  but  his  widow,  now 
Mrs.  Bowman,  is  still  living  and  is  quite  active  for  one  of  her  years. 
She  is  a  Tennesseean  by  birth.      The  family  moved  from  that  state  to 


1104  HISTORY    OF   MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Indiana,  and  in  comi^any  with  lier  father,  James  Owen,  sister  and  two 
brothers  came  to  this  state  on  horseback.  Bowman,  her  last  husband, 
was  killed  by  lightning  some  thirty-eight  years  ago.  They  settled  in 
the  edge  of  the  timber  on  section  29  or  30,  and  their  honse  was  the 
only  one  between  that  and  Honey  creek.  They  nsed  to  do  all  their 
trading  with  old  Billy  Smith  at  LaHarpe,  which  was  but  a  small  town 
then.  The  trip  to  and  fro  was  usually  made  with  old  Buck  and  Berry 
and  not  at  a  2:40  gait,  but  at  about  the  rate  of  three  or  four  miles  per 
hour. 

The  date  when  Isaac  Crenshaw  settled  here  is  not  exactly  know^n, 
but  it  is  thought  to  have  been  directly  after  Bowman.  He  was  born 
in  Georgia,  from  whence  he  removed  to  Tennessee  when  young,  and 
from  there  to  Adams  county,  Illinois,  when  after  a  residence  of  two 
years  he  moved  to  Iowa.  He  came  back  three  years  later  and  settled 
here  on  sections  30  and  31.  Crenshaw  died  in  1880,  and  was  buried 
at  Hillsborough  church,  four  miles  south  of  his  home.  Mrs.  Crenshaw 
is  still  living  in  the  neighborhood,  as  are  many  of  her  children.  Indi- 
ans were  quite  plentiful  in  these  days.  Mrs.  Crenshaw  remembers 
seeing  them  while  in  the  timber  making  sugar.  They  were  peacefully 
inclined  and  anxious  to  trade  with  the  whites.  A  fact  which  more  than 
one  historian  has  failed  to  note,  is  that  in  nearly  all  the  troubles 
between  the  whites  and  Indians,  the  former  were  the  aggressors. 

We  have  mentioned  the  principal  pioneers  of  the  southwest  portion 
of  Bedford  precinct  ;  others  may  have  lived  here  who  deserve  a  notice 
in  the  history  of  the  communit}',  but  no  matter  how  deserving,  unless 
some  one  is  left  to  tell  the  storv,  their  deeds  of  heroism  must  sink  into 
oblivion,  or  perchance  live  in  better  lives  of  those  who  have  been  led 
they  know  not  by  whom.  From  1851  to  1858  a  new  tide  of  emigration 
set  in,  mostly  Jerseyans  from  Fulton  count}",  Illinois,  where  had 
settled  many  from  Somerset,  Middlesex,  Hunterton,  Sussex,  and  other 
towns  along  the  Raritan,  and  having  settled  in  the  vicinity  of  what  is 
now  Raritan,  the  demand  for  a  trading  point  soon  began  to  press  its 
claims,  and  the  settlers  began  to  dispute  the  point  at  which  it  should 
be  located.  Josiali  Brokaw  and  a  few  others  living  on  the  west  side  of 
Honey  creek  branch,  contended  that  near  his  place  was  the  proper  and 
the  only  place  for  a  town,  while  Peter  Tharp  and  others  living  in  the 
vicinity  of  the  proposed  location,  said  no,  this  shall  be  the  place,  and 
thus  the  two  factions  contended  like  two  liungry  dogs  pulling  at  a 
bone,  each  trying  to  get  the  advantage  of  the  other,  until  it  was  decided 
to  take  a  vote  on  the  subject,  which  ended  the  strife  and  located  the 
town  on  its  present  beautiful  site,  and  indeed  a  more  pleasant  and 
natural  place  could  not  be  found,  situated,  as  it  is,  between  the  two 


BEDFORD    TOWNSHIP.  1105 

branches  of  Iloney  creek.  The  land  slopes  toward  the  north,  south 
and  east.  We  have  no  dates  to  show  when  this  dispute  arose  and  how 
long  it  continued,  but  it  was  not  until  1856  that  M.  M.  Field  built  the 
first  store  building.  A.  Tharp  and  Josiah  Brokaw  came  here  about 
the  same  time,  in  1851 ;  which  of  them  was  the  first  is  hard  to  decide, 
as  difference  of  opinion  exists  in  regard  to  it.  Brokaw  was  called  the 
father  of  the  settlement.  There  were  no  houses  in  sight  of  his  when 
he  settled,  and  when  the  tide  of  immigration  had  set  in,  the  first  ser- 
mon preached  on  the  prairie  was  delivered  in  his  house.  He  lived 
until  the  country  changed  from  its  wild  state  to  civilization,  when  an 
accident  bj  lightning  caused  his  death.  Tharp  bought  149  acres  on 
the  S.W.  i  of  Sec.  12,  on  which  he  is  still  living.  He  was  the  first  to 
cut  hay  with  a  reaper,  in  1855.  The  same  year  he  raised  a  crop  of 
wheat  that  averaged  thirty  bushels  to  the  acre.  He  has  in  his  posses- 
sion a  piece  of  money  worthy  of  note.  It  is  an  old  continental  shilling, 
upon  one  side  of  which  is  stamped  a  tea  leaf,  emblematical  of  the 
unpleasantness  at  that  time ;  on  the  left  hand  corner,  ''Death  to  Coun- 
terfeit"; on  the  right,  "Burlington,  New  Jersey.  Printed  by  Isaac 
Collins,  1770." 

John  Goodnight  settled  one  mile  east  of  Bedford  church  in  1852. 
He  was  from  Stamford,  Lincoln  county,  Kentucky.  He  had  served  as 
a  soldier  under  Gen.  Jackson  at  New  Orleans,  during  1814  and  1815. 
From  Monroe  county,  Indiana,  he  came  to  Adams  county,  and  from 
there  to  Henderson  county.  The  date  of  uncle  Peter  Tharp's  arrival 
here  is  between  1854  and  1855.  He  and  his  son  William  came  on 
and  built  a  small  house,  when  the  family  came  on.  This  time  there 
was  a  house  two  miles  east  known  as  the  Hazeton  house,  another  one 
and  a  half  miles  southwest  on  Cornelius  Schenck's  place.  Uncle  Peter 
bought  the  one-quarter  of  land  on  which  Raritan  is  now  situated.  He 
gave  the  ground  for  the  cemetery  and  school-buildings.  II.  D.  Voor- 
hees  came  in  1855  and  settled  on  eighty  acres  near  where  the  town  is 
located.  He  worked  some  at  blacksmithing  and  improved  his  farm. 
In  1858  he  lost  one  of  his  arms  in  a  corn  sheller,  after  which  he  moved 
to  Raritan.  Zelota  Britt  and  Abraham  Brokaw  came  the  same  year. 
They  both  settled  east  of  town.  These  men  are  both  dead.  Some  of 
their  children  remain  in  the  neighborhood.  Mrs.  Brokaw  lives  on  the 
old-  homestead  two  miles  west  of  town.  James  Hageman  settled  in 
what  is  now  popularly  known  as  the  Prairie  Side  farm  in  1856. 

Soon  after,  William  Van  Arsdale  came  here.  He  was  out  on  the 
prairie  one  day  preparing  to  build  a  stable  which  he  intended  to  use 
for  awhile  for  a  house,  when  who  should  come  along  but  uncle  George 
Huston,  and  wanted  to  know  "what  in  the  world  he  was  trying  to 


1106  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

do."  "Build  a  stable,"  said  Mr.  Yan  Arsdale.  He  laughed  at  the 
idea  and  said.  "Yan  Arsdale,  you  will  live  until  your  hair  is  quite  gray 
before  you  ever  make  a  farm  here.  Why,  this  land  will  never  be 
worth  more  than  it  is  at  present."  Although  Mr.  Huston's  judgment 
was  good  on  other  matters,  he  made  a  mistake  that  time,  for  that  has 
proved  to  be  the  garden-spot  of  the  precinct.  F.  A.  Hixon  came  from 
Hunterton  countv  in  1854,  and  was  the  first  settler  nearest  the  limits 
of  Raritan.  His  place  of  settlement  was  section  15,  on  which  there 
was  a  log  house  and  a  three-rail  fence  around  the  place.  A  part  of 
the  land  had  been  broken.  A  party  was  surveying  and  a  regular  laid 
out  road  in  use  in  the  south  part  of  the  county.  M.  M.  Field  came  in 
1854.  Jaques  Yoorhees  about  1855.  From  this  time  on  to  1859, 
attracted  by  the  glowing  accounts  of  the  early  settlers,  many  flocked 
here  with  tlieu*  families  and  settled  close  together  in  this  vicinity.  The 
arrivals  were  so  frequent  and  near  together  that  to  determine  who  had 
the  precedence  is  quite  difficult.  Suffice  it  to  say  that  at  an  early  date 
came  Jaques  Yoorhees,  R.  V.  Cortelyon,  Garret  Simonson,  Peter 
Goven,  Aaron  Johnson,  Wm.  Yan  Arsdale,  Judge  Eltinge,  James 
Berry. 

The  town  of  Earitan  takes  its  name  from  the  Raritan  river  in  New 
Jersey,  from  near  whose  banks  came  most  of  the  inhabitants  that 
people  the  town.  The  river  was  named  for  a  tribe  of  Indians  who 
were  encamped  near  it.  A  town  called  Bedford  was  started  just  across 
the  south  line  of  the  precinct  at  a  point  called  Bedford.  It  was  a 
regularly  laid  out  town.  A  store  was  kept  there  by  Adams  &  Hardy. 
The  buildings  have  since  been  moved  away.  The  population  at  one 
time  was  four  or  five  families. 

Raritan  seems  to  be  quite  well  adapted  to  the  growth  of  such 
organizations  as  practice  their  peculiar  rites  and  ceremonies  with  none 
to  behold  but  the  all-seeing  Eye  and  those  who  have  been  so  fortunate 
as  to  be  admitted  behind  the  vail  of  secresy.  To  say  that,  in  quite  an 
unostentatious  manner  (fulfilling  the  connnand  of  the  great  Master,  to 
let  not  the  right  hand  know  what  its  fellow-member  is  doing),  they 
have  performed  many  acts  of  benevolence,  is  to  say  only  what  many 
who  have  been  the  recijiients  of  their  benefactions  would  testily. 

The  Masons  are  entitled  to  the  credit  of  being  the  pioneers.  They 
established  themselves  as  an  organization  as  early  as  1875.  The 
number  of  its  lodge  is  727.  The  preliminary  meeting  was  held 
November  9,  1874,  at  which  time  Eli  T.  Hinman,  R.  L.  Taylor  and 
J.  Y.  D.  Kelley  were  appointed  a  committee  to  di'aft  resolutions.  Up 
to  the  granting  of  the  charter  they  worked  under  a  dispensation. 
Silas  D.  Parsons,  Jacob  A.  Anderson  and  Robert  L.  Taylor  were  the 


BEDFORD    TOWNSHIP,  HOT 

princi])al  officers,  being  worsliipful  master,  senior  warden  and  junior 
warden. 

The  Independent  Order  of  Odd-Fellows  were  granted  a  charter  for 
the  purpose  of  performing  mystic  rites  and  for  the  purpose  of  prac- 
ticing the  principles  of  F.,  L.  and  T.  in  their  own  peculiar  manner. 
Raritan  Lodge,  jSTo.  616,-  received  its  charter  June  30,  1866.  The 
charter  members  were  M.  M.  Field,  A.  E.  Stanley,  J.  C.  Coulson, 
C.  W.  Hardesty  and  L.  W.  Calhoun.  The  order  did  not  prosper  well, 
or  for  some  other  reason  not  known  to  the  outside  world,  moved  across 
the  line  to  Terre  Haute  in  the  spring  of  1868. 

The  following,  by  a  local  poet,  is  inserted  here  at  the  request  of 
many  citizens  of  Earitan  and  vicinity. — [Ed. 

Full  twenty  years  ago,  and  more,  when  Raritan  was  new, — 

When  on  these  plains  the  prairie  grass  and  prairie  flowers  grew, — 

When  from  our  native  eastern  hills  and  valleys  we  had  come 

To  seek,  in  this  far-distant  land,  a  resting  place  and  home  ; — 

Wild  and  unbroken  was  the  view,  unturned  the  virgin  soil, 

The  prairies  broad  on  every  hand,  inviting  honest  toil. 

Tall  herbage  nodded  gracefully  before  the  jxissing  breeze. 

And  far  and  near  were  pleasing  forms  of  native  shrubs  and  trees. 

The  sacred  ties  of  friendship,  yea,  the  love  of  nearest  kin. 

Had  been  ignored,  tho'  felt  to  be  a  sacrilege  and  sin. 

From  scenes  of  earliest  childhood  days,  deep  graven  on  the  heart. 

From  long-loved  homes,  we  felt  constrained  with  sad  regrets  to  ijart. 

Not  as  when  first  from  dear  old  Jerseys  rode  in  wagons  new 

The  Wilsons,  Pumyeas,  Voorhees,  to  what  is  since  Fairview, 

Where  now,  when  the  enlivening  sound  of  her  church-going  bell, 

The  honored  sons  of  worthy  sires  in  peace  and  plenty  dwell. 

Not  thus,  but  gliding  swift  along  at  railroad  speed,  we  hied 

From  homestead  of  old  Somerset,  from  where  the  gentle  -tide 

Of  Raritan's  "North  Branch,"  and  south  toward  the  Atlantic  flows, 

And  where,  athwart  the  sunset  sky,  grand  Pickel's  summit  rose. 

From  Middlesex,  from  Hunterton,  and  Sussex,  too,  they  came ; 

From  classic  Middlebrook,  of  Revolution  fame. 

From  Fox  Hill,  where  the  sweet  delicious  huckleberry  grows. 

From  Pluckmin,  from  Peapeck,  and  where  Rockaway's  streamlet  flows, 

From  quiet  homes  of  Readington,  where  Dominie  Van  Liew 

Full  forty  years  proclaimed  the  truth,  beloved  by  all  he  knew. 

From  Lebanon's  peaceful  valley,  where  Van  Amburg's  earnest  voice 

Made  sinners  tremble  and  believe,  and  Christian  hearts  rejoice  ; 

From  Rocky  Hill,  from  Six  Mile  Run,  and  streams  of  lesser  fame. 

From  obscure  towns  and  villages  to  prairie  land  they  came ; 

Full  joyfully  and  hopefully  forsaking  native  land 

And  all  that  made  it  home  for  them,  to  join  our  pioneer  band. 

When  this  glorious  "  Sucker  State  "  then  hath,  perchance,  been  found, 

No  other  soil  where  health  and  w-ealth  and  pleasure  more  abound. 

So  Judge  Brokaw  and  Nevius  'twould  be,  when  they  came  to  seek 

Full  twenty  years  ago  and  more,  their  home  on  Honey  creek. 


1108  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND   HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Then  'twas  the  "Jersey  Settlement  "  —  what  now  is  Raritan, 

Few  names  will  nicely  rhyme  with  it  —  go  find  out  if  you  can  ; 

Scarce,  also,  as  the  visits  of  angelic  messengers 

Are  towns  so  proud  of  her  folks  as  Raritan  of  hers. 

Some  following  those  first  pioneers  came  others  from  afar, 

Still  toward  the  Occident  they  haste  — westward  their  guiding  star, 

Even  Fulton  county  was  too  old  for  restless  enterprise, 

And  Fairview  furnished  some  recruits  for  our  new  paradise. 

Enshrined  in  sacred  memory  will  ever  be  the  name 

Of  each  new  settler  from  the  east  who  left  their  homes  and  came 

To  cast  their  lot  with  us  and  share  the  pleasing  novelty 

Of  prairie  life,  so  full  of  mirth,  so  peaceful  and  so  free. 

Of  such  were  Voorhees,  Morris,  Tharps,  not  less  than  half  a  score, 

Grooms,  Kelleys,  Posts,  Fields,  Simons,  a  baker's  dozen  more, 

The  Gulicks,  Hfirdins,  Cortylyons,  A"an  Arsdales,  Groendykes, 

Schencks,  Clawsons,  Halls,  Quicks,  Hagemans,  all  Jerseymen  alike, 

These  all  and  some  whose  names  refuse  to  jingle  well  in  rhyme. 

Forth  came  among  the  earliest,  and  more  in  course  of  time, 

From  many  another  sister  state  to  Illinois  have  come. 

And  here  to-day,  enjoy  with  us,  this  happy  harvest  home. 

To  our  first  prairie  Sunday  school,  within  the  humble  shop. 

On  yonder  farm  yet  standing,  there  from  valley  and  hill  top. 

From  calm,  rude  or  half  built  house,  across  the  prairies  wild 

Came  many  a  one  who  is  here  to-day,  who  then  was  but  a  child, 

And  to  that  shop,  our  prairie  church,  each  holy  Sabbath  day, 

Good  father  ]Morris  came  to  preach,  and  people  came  to  pray, 

The  Baptists  and  Methodists,  the  Lutherans  and  the  Dutch, 

All  Christians,  faithful  and  sincere,  not  righteous  overmuch. 

Their  children  now  to  womanhood  and  manhood  quickly  grown, 

Remember  with  complacency  those  happy  days  their  own. 

Those  halcyon  days,  when  school  was  kept  but  six  months  in  the  year, 

And  teachers  ruled  the  young  ideas  by  love  and  not  by  fear, 

When  breaking  teams,  five  yoke  of  oxen,  turning  the  prairie  soil 

Ne'er  turned  before,  gave  novelty  and  zest  to  daily  toil. 

When  half-mile  furrows  making  the  bound'ry  line  'twixt  neighbors 

Gave  promise  of  sod-corn  and  wheat,  best  fruits  of  farmers'  labors. 

Post  offices  were  far  between  when  these  old  farms  were  new, 

Our  nighest  one  was  Dug  Out  near  the  margin  of  a  slough. 

Some  found  their  mail  at  Ralekins  and  others  at  Shake  Rag, 

Euphonious  name,  derived  from  what  was  once  a  Union  flag. 

Kind  Uncle  Sam  heard  our  petition,  laid  it  on  the  shelves, 

And  granted  us  the  privilege  of  carrying  mail  ourselves. 

As  often  as  once  every  week,  and  at  our  own  expense. 

Each  took  his  turn  across  the  plains,  through  creeks,  and  over  fence. 

Mail  days  with  glad  expectancy,  our  population  came, 

And  thronged  the  village  store,  where  Gulick,  honored  name. 

Announced  each  letter,  then  towards  him  who  answered  to  the  call. 

O'er  heads  it  flew,  to  reach  the  floor  or  strike  the  opposite  wall. 

One  question,  whether  fences  be  required  on  the  prairie, 

AVas  settled,  it  was  thought,  by  statute,  quite  contrary. 


BEDFORD    TOWNSHIP.  1109 

As  also  by  the  cattle  and  their  owners,  for  this  true, 

The  letter  would  influence  the  former's  taste  for  pastures  new. 

But  growing  crops  would  not  "pan  out"  if  totally  neglected. 

There  was  Kelley's  wheat  and  Hixon's  corn  must  be  someway  protected, 

Then  posts  from  Groosendreck's  timber  hauled,  with  wires  in  close  suspense, 

Or  pickets  driven  in  the  ground,  would  do  for  lawful  fence. 

Of  man's  first  struggles  with  the  beasts  that  roved  this  fenceless  plain, 

Long-horned  and  short,  imported  straight  from  Texas  or  Des  Rains, 

Sing,  gentle  muse,  that  from  the  ruins  in  some  ravaged  field, 

Inspired  with  deep,  mysterious  thoughts,  and  caused  our  faith  to  yield. 

To  robust  prairie  steers  our  fences  were  an  aggravation, 

'Twixt  loosened  wires  they  went  for  crops  with  brutish  exultation. 

By  day,  by  night,  at  work,  asleep,  was  heard  that  ominous  rattle 

Of  crushing  stalks,  and  crushing  ears,  devoured  by  ravenous  cattle. 

More  dangerous  to  integrity  than  common-place  temptation 

Was  this,  to  see  our  crops  destroyed  without  a  compensation  ; 

From  wire  to  boards,  from  boards  to  hedge,  from  hedge  to  pickets  driven. 

We  felt  one  consoling  thought,  there'll  need  no  fence  in  heaven. 

Coeval  with  the  incipient  church  and  mission  Sabbath  school, 

A  band  of  skillful  singers  rose  the  harmony  to  rule. 

With  them  all  joined  with  one  accord  in  sweet  melodious  lays. 

Few  lacked  an  ear  and  voice  t(j  sing,  who  had  a  heart  to  praise. 

Heard  ye  the  rhythmic  melodies  of  that  first  prairie  choir. 

Their  sweet  hymns  and  anthems  then  our  every  heart  inspire, 

And  still,  as  time  rolls  on,  that  choir  is  to  our  memory  dear. 

Oft  in  the  stillness  of  the  night  their  songs  I  seem  to  hear. 

When  the  shadowy  portals  of  the  dim,  oblivious  past 

Fond  memory  catches  glimpses,  too  evanescent  to  last. 

Of  those  who  left  us  years  ago  for  some  far  distant  shore, 

And  some  whose  once  inspiring  voice  shall  greet  our  ears  no  more. 

Hail,  music!  best  interpreter  of  every  kind  emotion. 

Heaven  born  dispenser  of  delight  and  soul  of  our  devotion. 

Without  thy  cheering  influence  our  home  had  been  too  sad ; 

Thy  solace  kept  our  thoughts  at  ease,  and  made  our  spirits  glad. 

A  town  was  wanted — then  was  felt  what  well  was  known  before. 

That  every  one  could  not  secure  a  town  by  his  own  door ; 

With  stores,  and  shops,  and  week-day  schools,  and  Sunday  congregation. 

So  greatest  good  to  greatest  number,  settled  the  location. 

A  store  was  erected  where  the  farmers  bought  and  sold, 

And  then  a  house  for  school  and  meetings — some  say  now  it's  sold — 

In  Christian  sympathy,  denominations  could  unite; 

In  Christian  union  there  was  strength  to  work  for  truth  and  right. 

A  house  of  worship  much  was  needed,  soon  the  people  joined 

To  build  a  temple  for  the  Lord — for  worship  more  refined — 

In  His  own  name  the  truth  to  preach,  to  Him  glad  songs  to  raise. 

Devoted  to  His  service  consecrated  to  His  praise. 

The  caravan  of  sturdy  teams,  some  twenty  years  ago, 

Which  from  Oquawka's  sandy  banks  moved  ploddingly  and  slow — 

Up  o'er  the  Junction's  steep  ascent,  thro'  lone  Colomas  street — 

Hard  by  Olena's  clay-brown  hills,  where  wooden  valleys  meet, 


1110  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES, 

Full  freighted  with  strong  beams  and  joists  and  sills  of  wondrous  length, 

And  faultless  boards  of  Holland  mills — for  beauty  and  for  strength, 

Swift  plunging  through  the  Henderson  and  Honey  creek  unspanned, 

To  where  had  already  fixed  the  site  of  Raritan. 

That  was  a  sight,  and  those  were  scenes  to  be  remembered  long; 

The  people  had  a  mind  to  work,  their  faith  and  zeal  were  strong. 

To  build  this  sacred  house  for  God,  His  friendly  aid  besought. 

And  like  the  Jews  in  Solomon's  day,  their  grateful  offerings  brought. 

First  Reformed  church  in  Henderson,  around  it  clustered  soon, 

Our  thriving  village,  with  its  business  stores  a  timely  boon 

To  husbandmen  of  prairie  land  who  hither  came  in  scores. 

To  market  their  surplus  products  and  lay  in  family  stores. 

May  we  boast  of  our  heritage  this  the  garden  state ; 

Our  progress,  our  resources,  correspondingly  are  great ; 

The  fertile  earth,  at  our  behest,  hath  yielded  much  increase. 

And  God  hath  blessed  our  western  home  with  plenty,  health  and  peace. 

Full  twenty  years  ago  no  thornj'^  hedges  intervened 

To  shade  the  traveler's  winding  course  across  the  grassy  scene ; 

When  we  to  Monmouth,  Burlington  and  Blandonville  would  go, 

No  lengthy  lanes  nor  sharp  rectangles,  made  the  journey  slow. 

AVhat,  tho'  in  sloughs  and  unbridged  creeks  our  teams  were  often  found, 

"With  borrowed  chain  and  doubletree  we'd  reach  the  solid  ground. 

It's  bilious,  Simon  used  to  say,  when  he  would  pull  us  through ; 

Next  time  we'll  find  some  shallower  ford,  and  head  that  awful  slough. 

When,  with  our  dominie  Morris,  in  the  days  of  long  ago. 

We  took  an  apostolic  ride,  a  mission  work  to  do. 

Hard  by  old  Deerpark  and  the  home  of  Cruser  just  begun  ; 

To  far-off  Bushnell  held  our  course,  nor  reached  till  set  of  sun. 

Then  Stewart,  Willis,  Wyckoff,  Sperling,  Crusier,  Posey,  others, 

United  in  their  christian  efforts,  as  a  band  of  brothers. 

To  give  their  town  its  earliest  church ;  that  was  their  noblest  mission. 

And  Bushnell  sees  their  noblest  labor  blessed,  their  homes  in  full  fruition. 

We  take  a  retrospective  view :  the  forgotten  i^ast. 

Full  of  unnumbered  hopes  and  joys  too  sweet  it  is  to  last, 

Looms  up  on  memory's  faithful  page,  as  if  'twere  yesterday 

When  o'er  those  plains  so  vast  and  wild  we  our  devious  way, 

Admiring  nature's  beauties  round  us  on  every  hand, 

Full  well  resolved  from  that  time  forth  to  dwell  in  this  fair  land; 

O'er  hills  and  dales  of  Honey  creek  surveyed  the  prospect  wide. 

Found  there  our  chosen  dwelling  place  and  made  a  prairieside. 

Those  lofty  trees,  whose  grateful  shadows  shelter  us  to-day, 

Remind  us  forcibly  that  the  time  is  passing  swift  away ; 

AVhile  those  for  our  enjoyment  made  and  those  ordained  for  food 

All  say  to  us,  in  cheerful  tones :  behold,  our  God  is  good. 

Down  the  diln  vista  of  the  years  I  see  these  shrubs  and  flowers. 

New  planted,  bursting  into  bloom,  fostered  by  heaven-sent  showers 

And  genial  sunshine,  steady  growing  thro'  each  yearly  stage. 

Developing  their  marvelous  beauties  with  advancing  age. 

Fond  recollections  cluster  'round  the  settler's  new-made  home  ; 

Each  one  had  formed  a  pleasant  refuge,  never  more  to  roam ; 


.^yvi  ^/^^^^-^ 


BEDFORD   TOWNSHIP.  1113 

As  each  with  others  sympathized  in  loving  brotherhood, 

Each,  while  providing  for  his  own,  toiled  for  the  general  good. 

Through  many  a  slough,  up  many  hills,  desponding  and  weary. 

Hedged  in  with  thorns,  our  path  of  life  seems  often  rather  dreary ; 

Yet  who  that  recollects  the  charm  of  prairie  toil  and  strife, 

But  will  confess  those  early  days  the  happiest  of  his  life. 

For  there  were  social  parties  then,  and  many  a  banquet  rare; 

To  excel  in  serving  up  a  feast  was  each  good  housewife's  care; 

The  girls  improved  their  taste  for  dress  and  studied  the  arts  of  charming. 

While  sons  and  sires  discussed  the  modes  of  western  farming. 

'Twere  not  for  me  in  fulsome  strains  of  flattery  to  speak 

Of  early  pastorates,  when  yet  in  numbers  we  were  weak: 

The  name  of  Bumstead  every  heart  with  fond  remembrance  thrills ; 

From  Adams  we  were  loth  to  jmrt;  Pfanstiehl  we  cherish  still. 

Our  harvest  song,  be  it  loud  and  long!  and  as  our  gifts  are  greater, 

So  let  us  praise,  in  loftier  lays,  the  name  of  our  Creator ; 

He  hath  blessed  us  more  in  our  earthly  store  than  we  in  weakness  pleaded ; 

His  sun  and  rain  hath  given  us  grain,  and  every  blessing  needed. 

This  j^ear  our  land,  on  every  hand,  yields  us  a  bounteous  treasure ; 

We  thankful  keep,  and  as  we  reap,  our  harvest  yields  us  pleasure. 

What  if  in  spring  we  could  not  sing,  so  sad  seems  our  condition, 

He,  while  we  wept.  His  promise  kept,  and  gave  us  glad  fruition. 

The  warbling  bird,  whose  song  is  heard  within  yon  leafy  bower, 

Each  shining  day  seems  thus  to  say:  sing  of  His  love  and  power. 

Then  come  and  sing,  your  music  bring;  we'll  chant  "  that  old,  old  song, 

Till  life  shall  end,  then  joyful  spend  a  harvest  home  in  glory." 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Personal  liberty  and  freedom  of  conscience  were  the  germinal  ideas 
that  induced  the  oppressed  and  proscribed  to  leave  the  diiferent  coun- 
tries of  Europe  and  adjacent  isles  ;  to  abandon  all  dear  social  scenes 
and  fond  influences  which  cling  around  nativity,  and  brave  the  perils 
attendant  upon  the  settlement  of  a  new  and  distant  country,  inhabited 
by  different  tribes  of  unknown  savages.  All  the  sacrifices,  however, 
involved  in  a  separation  from  home  and  friends  were  counted  by  them 
of  little  relative  value,  when  they  thought  of  gaining  the  privilege  of 
being  free  men  in  the  full  import  of  the  term.  Our  fathers  brought 
with  them,  when  they  crossed  the  turbid  Atlantic,  our  civil  and  relig- 
ious institutions  locked  up  in  their  brave  hearts,  and  an  Allwise  Pro\a- 
dence  directed  their  pilgrimage  to  a  land  whose  broad  expanse  of  ter- 
ritory, deep,  swift  rivers,  lofty  mountains  and  rich  soil  constituted  a  fit 
arena  for  the  birth  of  the  struggling  thoughts  of  world-beneficent  con- 
ception and  the  maturity  and  development  of  those  noble  sentiments 
which  are  as  soul  to  one  of  the  finest  countries  which  the  sun  looks 
down  upon  from  his  throne  in  the  heavens. 

It  was  a  wise  policy  on  the  part  of  the  framers  of  our  constitution, 
63 


1114  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND   HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

and  in  perfect  harmony  with  the  magnanimous  and  generous  spirit  that 
animated  our  ancestors,  to  throw  open  wide  the  door  of  citizenship, 
that  the  oppressed  and  honest  masses  of  other  countries  might  here 
find  that  liberty  and  freedom  of  thought  and  action  forbidden  by  other 
governments.  Thousands  every  year  crowd  to  our  shores,  attracted  by 
the  superiority  of  and  the  advantages  and  privileges  afforded  in  the 
United  States  to  those  of  other  nations.  And  some  of  the  most 
patriotic  and  honorable  citizens  of  which  our  country  can  boast  are  to 
be  found  among  those  who  have  come  to  this  country  that  they  might 
make  it  their  home  by  adoption. 

In  this  class  is  included  many  of  the  best  citizens  of  this  and  other 
localities,  whose  forefathers  purchased  liberty,  not  at  the  price  of 
eternal  vigilance,  but  at  the  risk  of  their  lives. 

Rev.  a.  a.  Pfanstiehl,  of  Raritan,  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  M'as 
born  at  Holland,  Ottawa  county,  Michigan,  November  14,  1856.  His 
parents  were  Hollanders,  who  moved  from  the  Netherlands  in  1848  on 
account  of  religious  persecutions.  The  national  church  of  the  Nether- 
lands about  1844  becoming  very  rationalistic  and  domineering  over  the 
consciences  of  religious  worshipers,  a  large  number  of  people  rebelled, 
thinking  it  their  unqualified  right  to  worship  God  according  to  the  dic- 
tates of  their  own  consciences,  and  accordingly  seceded  from  the  na- 
tional church,  growing  into  what  is  now  the  Seceded  Church  of  Hol- 
land. In  consequence  of  this  secession  they  were  persecuted  by  the 
government,  until  1847  a  large  number  of  families,  under  the  leader- 
ship of  the  late  Rev.  A.  C.  VanRalte,  D.D.,  emigrated  to  America 
and  settled  in  the  woods  of  Michigan,  on  the  eastern  shore  of  Lake 
Michigan.  About  the  same  time  another  colony,  under  the  leadership 
of  Dr.  Schouton,  emigrated  to  Iowa,  and  built  what  is  now  the  town 
of  Pella.  This  emigration  has  gone  on  more  or  less  ever  since,  until 
in  Michigan  alone  there  are  nearly  30,000  Hollanders.  Though  poor, 
yet  possessed  with  the  riches  of  hardihood,  frugality  and  the  Dutch 
characteristics  of  indomitable  perseverance  and  energy,  they  soon  built 
a  town  and  settled  the  country  with  comfortable  homes.  Wherever 
they  have  settled  the  place  is  marked  by  the  progressive  spirit  charac- 
teristic of  the  nationality.  Not  long  after  settling  they  built  a  college, 
which  has  sent  forth  many  professional  men  both  to  the  east  and  west. 
Tliis  college  is  under  control  of  the  general  synod  of  the  Reformed 
Church  of  America,  and  is  incorporated  under  the  name  of  Hope  Col- 
lege, at  Holland,  Michigan.  Here  A.  A.  Pfanstiehl  received  his  edu- 
cation, graduating  in  1876.  He  studied  theology  in  the  Presbyterian 
Theological  Seminary  of  the  Northwest,  at  Chicago,  and  graduated 
from  that  seminary  in  1879.  Having  received  a  call  from  the  Reformed 


BEDFORD    TOWNSHIP.  1115 

Church  he  was  ordained  and  installed  as  pastor  of  the  same  on  July 
24,  1879,  and  continues  the  pastorate.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Julia 
A.  Barnes,  of  Prairie  Gty,  Illinois,  on  May  10,  1882.  It  may  be  in- 
teresting to  note  that  the  lumber  with  which  the  Reformed  Church  was- 
built  was  sawed  in  a  mill  at  Holland,  Michigan,  and  was  shipped  over 
Lake  Michigan  to  Chicago  in  a  vessel  belonging  to  the  pastor's  father 
when  the  latter  was  an  infant  one  year  old.  In  1880  he  was  appointed 
as  a  delegate  to  the  London  Centenary  Sabbath  School  Convention,  to 
represent  the  Henderson  County  Sabbath  School  Association.  He  was 
absent  on  a  tour  of  four  months,  visiting  England,  Scotland,  France, 
Switzerland,  the  Rhine  country,  Belgium  and  Holland,  the  native  land 
of  his  parents.  A.  A.  Pfanstiehl  is  possessed  of  a  rare  combination 
of  excellent  qualities,  which  admirably  fit  him  for  the  profession  in 
which  he  is  engaged.  Careful,  though  quick  in  utterance,  using  cor- 
rect language,  is  a  good  elocutionist,  possessing  more  than  ordinary 
talent.  He  has  a  well  stored  mind  and  is  a  deep  thinker.  As  a  friend 
he  is  social  and  courteous. 

The  earliest  record  known  of  the  Schenck  family  is  found  on  the 
records  of  Amsterdam,  Holland,  dating  back  to  1153,  bearing  a  mili- 
tary commission.  When  the  first  emigration  to  America  was  is  not 
exactly  known,  but  must  have  been  at  an  early  date.  The  name  is 
found  on  records  at  Long  Island,  and  Monmouth  and  Somerset  coun- 
ties, New  Jersey,  at  dates  from  1660  to  1683.  The  Schenks  along  the 
Raritan  and  Millstone  rivers,  Somerset  county,  New  Jersey,  are  de- 
scendants from  Johannas,  or  John,  who  came  to  Somerset  county, 
New  Jersey,  in  1683.  He  had  five  children,  who  grew  up  and  married, 
two  sons  and  three  daughters  ;  their  births  were  from  1691  to  1728 ; 
their  deaths  were  from  1729  to  1793.  The  youngest  daughter, 
Catharine,  married  her  cousin,  and  raised  a  family  of  eight  sons  and 
four  daughters.  One  of  the  sons  followed  the  seas  and  died  young, 
the  other  four  brothers  all  settled,  or  at  least  lived  for  a  time,  along  the 
Raritan  and  Millstone  rivers.  They  were  married  and  settled  in  life 
from  1735  to  1745,  and  owned  mills  and  stores  on  the  Millstone  river, 
where  many  of  their  descendants  remain,  and  many  others  have  moved 
to  other  parts.  The  great-grandfather  of  Cornelius,  William  and 
Silas,  the  subjects  of  this  sketch,  and  now  of  Henderson  county,  Illi- 
nois, was  William  Schenck,  who  moved  from  Monmouth  county,  New 
Jersey,  to  Ilunterton  county.  New  Jersey,  long  before  the  revolutionary 
war.  His  wife  was  Mary  Winters,  and  among  his  children  were  Ralph, 
John  and  Josiah,  all  of  which  were  in  the  American  service  as  soldiers. 
John  was  a  captain.  Ralph  was  wounded,  and  after  the  war  drew  a  pen- 
sion.    Josiah  was  three  years  in  the  service,  and  was  with  Gen.  Wash- 


1116  HISTORY    OF   FIERCER   AND    HEJTDERSON    COUNTIES.  • 

ino-ton  in  crossing;  the  Delaware  at  Trenton,  jS^ew  Jersey,  when  he 
surprised  the  Hessians  at  that  place,  and  came  near  losing  his  life  at  that 
time.  After  the  war  he  removed  to  "Weston,  Somerset  county,  and 
bought  a  farm  of  Gen.  Frederick  Frelinghuysen  of  300  acres,  where  he 
lived  and  died,  and  was  buried  in  the  cemetery  at  Millstone,  Xew  Jersey. 
His  wife  was  Alshe  AYycoff.  They  had  nine  children,  four  sons  and 
fiye  daughters,  all  of  which  are  dead  except  Josiali,  who  is  living  at 
Millstone,  Xew  Jersey.  Jacob  "VV.  was  the  father  of  the  family  now  in 
this  country.  He  purchased  the  homestead  at  Weston,  where  he  lived 
and  died.  In  1848  he  married  Ann  Brokaw,  of  the  same  county.  She 
died  in  1854.  They  are  both  buried  at  Millstone,  Xew  Jersey.  They 
left  six  children,  iive  boys  and  one  daughter:  Magdaline  died  1854,  and 
was  buried  at  Fairview,  Fulton  county,  Illinois  ;  Josiah  died  1857,  and 
was  buried  at  Millstone,  Xew  Jersey ;  John  H.  died  at  Baird's  Point, 
Missouri,  and  was  buried  at  Earitan,  Illinois.  He  was  a  member  of 
Co.  L,  7th  111.  Cav.  Reg. 

"William  J.  Schenck  was  born  at  "West  Somerset  county,  Xew 
Jersey,  April  4,  1833.  He  married  Miss  Martha  Ann  Stryker,  of  the 
same  county.  They  removed  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  in  1855, 
where  thev  have  since  resided.  He  was  among  the  earliest  settlers  of 
the  county  in  which  he  lives.  He  has  taken  much  interest  in  educa- 
tional matters,  an  active  part  in  the  development  of  the  country  morals, 
both  in  church  and  state.  To  them  have  been  born  two  children,  a 
daughter  and  a  son :  Gilroy  Anna,  who  married  William  Davis,  and 
one  son,  Jacob  W.,  who  is  still  remaining  at  home.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Schenck  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  In  politics 
he  is  a  republican. 

Cornelius  Schenck  was  born  in  Weston,  Somerset  county,  New 
Jersey,  in  1852.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Liddia  M.  Stryker,  of  the 
same  county.  Three  children  was  the  result  of  this  union :  Josiah, 
born  September  27,  1857 ;  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Gearhart  December, 
1880 ;  Mary,  residing  at  home,  was  born  1860.  On  Mr.  Schenck's 
arrival  in  Henderson  county  he  bought  a  quarter  section  of  land  in 
Sec.  15,  on  which  there  was  a  small  log  house.  A  small  portion  of  the 
land  had  been  broken  up,  and  fenced  with  a  fence  three  rails  high. 
He  immediately  began  improving  a  farm,  and  in  a  few  years  he  had 
transformed  the  wild  prairie  into  a  fine  farm.  His  son  Josiah  is  now 
living  upon  the  old  home  place,  and  Mr.  Schenck  is  spending  his  de- 
clining days  in  Raritan  in  ease  and  comfort,  the  effects  of  an  indus- 
trious life. 

James  Hageman,  one  of  the  prominent  pioneer  settlers  of  Earitan, 
and   proprietor   of  the   Prairie    Side    Park,    was   born  in    Somerset 


BEDFORD   TOWNSHIP.  1117 

county,  New  Jersey,  June  27,  182-1:.  Here  he  spent  his  youth  at 
school,  and  when  at  the  age  of  twenty-two  commenced  a  course  of 
study  with  a  view  to  the  ministry,  and  accordingly  entered  sophomore 
class  of  Rutger^s  College,  Xew  Brunswick,  New  Jersey,  in  September, 
18-1:7.  In  less  than  a  year  failing  health  compelled  the  abandonment 
of  mental  occupation  and  a  return  to  the  pursuits  of  agriculture  on  his 
father's  farm.  In  November,  1849,  he  was  mari-ied  to  Miss  Margarett 
Kershaw,  of  the  same  county.  This  happy  union  was  blessed  \y  six 
children  being  born  to  them,  four  sons  and  two  daughters,  Sarah  Ann 
(wife  of  A.  W.  Van  Dyke,  editor  of  the  "Bushnell  Gleaner,"),  Phcebe, 
Charlotte,  Herman  and  Frank  are  living  ;  Gilbert  L.  K.,  the  eldest 
son,  died  in  the  spring  of  1869,  in  the  sixteenth  year  of  his  age,  at 
Bushnell ;  Charlie,  second,  died  when  three  years  old.  The  remains  of 
both  repose  in  the  cemetery  at  Raritan.  Mr.  Hageman's  career  in 
life  has  been  an  extremely  varied  one.  He  removed  from  his  paternal 
home  to  New  Brunswick  in  1854,  and  embarked  in  the  business  of 
manufacturing  and  selling  clothing  and  making  up  goods  to  order,  in 
partnership  with  S.  B.  Walker.  In  April,  1856,  he  emigrated  to  his 
present  location  in  Illinois  and  commenced  making  a  home  on  the  then 
treeless,  fenceless,  unplowed  prairie.  The  first  building  in  Raritan 
was  then  in  process  of  erection,  and  the  few  settlers  who  had  first 
arrived  (the  previous  summer  and  fall)  were  finishing  their  dwellings 
just  enough  to  make  them  comfortable.  Mr.  Hageman  commenced  at 
once  to  cultivate  the  virgin  soil,  plant  trees,  build  fences  and  a  dwell- 
ing, naming  his  chosen  heritage  Prairieside,  to  which  the  suffix  "  Park  " 
or  farm  is  of  late  years  appended  by  the  villagers,  as  the  Grove,  or, 
Hageman's  Grove.  Here  are  held  the  pioneers'  festivals,  4th  of  July, 
harvest  home,  political  tneetings,  etc.  Mr.  Hageman  removed  to 
Bushnell,  McDonough  county,  Illinois,  and  commenced  the  editing 
and  publishing  of  a  newspaper  which  he  named  the  "  Bushnell  Weekly 
Record. "  He  continued  the  same  for  four  or  five  years,  when  declining 
in  health  he  gave  place  to  A.  W.  Van  Dyke.  Since  that  time  he  has  been 
an  occasional  contributor  for  several  county  papers.  After  a  residence 
of  six  vears  and  a  half  in  Bushnell,  Mr.  Hageman  returned  to  his 
Prairieside  farm.  A  few  years  later  he  sold  twenty  acres  from  the 
south  side  for  $1,500  cash  in  hand  and  commenced  the  furniture  and 
undertaking  business  in  the  village,  the  latter  branch  being  still  con- 
tinued by  him.  Mr.  Hageman  has  been  closely  identified  with  the 
rise  and  progress  of  the  Reformed  church  in  Raritan,  and  also  the  Sab- 
bath school  connected  therewith,  of  which  he  was  chosen  superinten- 
dent at  the  time  of  its  organization,  in  1856,  and  was  re-elected  three 
succeeding  years  and  again  at  a  subsequent  period.     Twenty-five  years 


1118  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

after  the  organization  of  the  school  he  delivered,  by  appointment,  a 
historical  address  on  the  occasion  of  its  quarter  centennial  anniversary. 
He  became  somewhat  famous  as  the  Prairieside  poet  through  the  publi- 
cation of  various  essays  in  rhyme,  some  of  which  will  be  found  else- 
where in  this  work,  among  which  may  be  mentioned  '^Lights  and 
Shadows  of  Prairie-life  in  the  Early  Day,"  "The  Miseries  of  Drunk- 
enness," "Retrospection,"  "Be  Happy,"  "Yain  Regrets,"  "The  Old 
School-house."  Mr.  Hageman  is  also  a  composer  of  music,  and  has  also 
some  mechanical  genius,  and  among  his  many  business  engagements 
Mr.  H.  has  found  time  to  devote  a  little  study  to  mechanical  skill,  hav- 
ing constructed  several  violins  and  a  few  violoncellos.  The  last  ^dolin 
which  he  constructed  was  made  of  seventy  pieces  of  wood  grown  by 
him  on  his  own  farm.  He  w^as  elected  justice  of  the  peace  for  Bed- 
ford precinct,  Henderson  county,  in  the  spring  of  1882. 

Mr.  John  G.  Cox  was  born  in  Somerset  county,  New  Jersey, 
August  13,  1821,  where  he  passed  the  early  part  of  his  life.  He  was 
joined  in  marriage  with  Miss  Ellen  Voorhees  September  21,  1841.  In 
the  spring  of  1860  our  subject  moved  from  New  Jersey  to  Fulton 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  resided  until  the  following  October,  when  he 
removed  to  the  vicinity  of  Raritan.  Here  he  located  on  a  farm,  where 
he  remained  until  the  time  of  his  death,  March  9,  1882.  Here  Mr. 
Cox,  with  commendable  integrity,  industry,  frugality  and  good  busi- 
ness habits,  succeeded  in  amassing  a  comfortable  competence  and  sur- 
rounding himself  and  family  with  all  the  comforts  of  life.  He  was  an 
exemplary  member  of  the  masonic  institution,  having  been  initiated 
in  the  mysteries  of  that  order  December  8,  1874.  He  passed  to  the 
fellow-craft  degree  April  11,  1875,  and  was  elevated  to  the  subUme 
deorree  of  a  Master  Mason  June  1,  1876.  He  was  dulv  imbued  with 
the  noble  and  elevating  and  sublime  principles  of  the  mystic  order. 
J.  T.  Cox  is  a  merchant  of  Raritan. 

Among  the  worthy  prominent  citizens  of  Henderson  county  we 
mention  the  name  of  Walter  Huston,  deceased,  and  father  of  Walter 
Huston,  a  retired  farmer  of  Raritan.  From  his  lirst  settlement  in 
Bedford  precinct  in  1831  to  the  time  of  his  death,  he  was  identified 
with  all  the  interests  connected  therewith,  and  was  widely  and  favor- 
ably known  throughout  the  whole  neighborhood  in  which  he  lived  and 
acted.  He  was  born  in  Rockingham  county,  Virginia,  where  he  spent 
the  early  part  of  his  life.  He  removed  to  Tennessee  at  an  early  day, 
where  he  was  married  to  Miss  Nancy  Bradshaw,  of  South  Carolina. 
This  union  resulted  in  fourteen  children  being  born  to  them  (twelve  of 
whom  were  born  in  Illinois),  as  follows  :  John,  Joel  B.,  Grizie  A,, 
Archibald,  Mary   Ann,  Margarett,  Mary  Ann   P.,  Walter,  William, 


BEDFORD   TOWNSHIP.  1119 

Matthew,  and  Nancy  Jane.  Those  not  named  died  while  young.  Of  this 
family  two  only  survive  :  Walter,  a  successful  farmer  and  fine  stock 
raiser,  resides  in  Raritan  ;  Mary  Ann  P.,  wife  of  G.  W.  Penny,  resides 
in  Marysville,  Missouri. 

Zelota  Britt,  another  of  Henderson  county's  old  settlers,  was 
born  in  Cedonia  county,  Yermont,  June  6,  1805,  and  emigrated  to 
New  York  in  1810,  where  he  was  married  to  Catharine  Haskins,  of 
Herkimer  county,  that  state,  April  4,  1833.  Four  children  were  bom 
to  them.  He  removed  to  Kendall  county,  Illinois,  April,  1845,  and 
to  Henderson  county  October,  1855.  Here  he  made  a  farm  and  was 
successful  in  accumulating  property.  He  was  industrious  in  his  habits 
and  esteemed  by  his  friends  and  acquaintances,  and  popular  in  masonic 
circles,  having  taken  the  chapter  degrees. 

A.  DuRLiNG  was  born  in  Somerset  county.  New  Jersey,  in  1827, 
and  was  married  in  1851  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Allen,  of  Hunterton  county, 
of  the  same  state.  They  were  residing  at  Fairview  at  the  time  of  their 
marriage,  after  which  they  removed  to  Avon.  Here  they  resided  until 
1858,  when  they  removed  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois.  This  was 
the  year  that  Lincoln  and  Douglas  were  stumping  the  state  for  the 
presidency.  Our  subject  listened  to  one  of  their  debates  while  at 
Galesburg.  Mr.  Durling  has  never  associated  himself  with  any  of  the 
benevolent  or  religious  institutions,  is  liberal  in  his  political  views, 
possesses  a  clear  mind  and  an  independent  way  of  thinking.  In  an 
earnest  manner  he  stands  by  the  convictions  of  a  clear  head  and  pure 
purpose  in  every  department  of  life,  and  considering  this,  his  success 
as  a  farmer  has  been  somewhat  singular,  for  he  turns  neither  to  the 
right  nor  left,  either  for  man  or  parties,  in  pursuance  of  what  he 
believes  to  be  right.  It  is  generally  found  that  less  decided  minds 
succeed  best  in  business.  He  is  a  friend  to  educational  development 
and  good  morals. 

Henry  D.  Yooriiees,  retired  farmer  and  justice  of  the  peace,  of 
Bedford  precinct,  was  born  in  Somerset  county.  New  Jersey,  1820, 
and  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Nevius  in  1842.  Eight  children 
was  the  result  of  this  union,  as  follows,  named  in  order:  Daniel, 
Joseph,  David,  Sarah,  Elen,  John  H.  and  James.  His  wife  having 
died  he  was  married  a  second  time  to  Mrs.  Elizabeth  S.  Suydam  in 
1872.  Mr.  Yoorhees  came  to  Henderson  county  in  1855,  and  settled 
on  eighty  acres  of  land  on  the  W.  ^  of  the  S.  W.  J  of  Sec.  1,  in  Bed- 
ford precinct.  He  improved  the  place  and  lived  upon  it  until  1858, 
when  he  removed  to  Paritan.  An  accident,  resulting  in  the  loss  of 
his  right  arm,  has  been  an  inconvenience  to  him,  yet  he  writes  a  fine 
hand  with  his  left  hand  and  still  works  some  on  his  farm  near  Raritan. 


1120  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND   HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

He  was  elected  justice  of  the  peace  in  1861,  and  with  the  exception  of 
three  years  has  constantly  held  the  office.  He  has  also  held  the  office 
of  school  treasurer  for  nineteen  years.  They  are  connected  with  the 
Reformed  church.  Mr.  Yoorhees  was  educated  in  New  Jersey,  where 
he  learned  the  blacksmith  trade,  which  he  followed  at  Raritan  after 
coming  to  this  county.  He  began  life  poor,  and  is  one  of  a  few  who 
have  wrung  success  out  of  hard  labor  and  good  management.  He  is  of 
German  descent,  his  grandparents  having  come  from  Holland  in  an 
early  day. 

W.  O.  Huston,  farmer,  of  Bedford  precinct,  and  son  of  Walter 
Huston,  of  Raritan,  is  the  youngest  child  of  the  family.  He  was  born 
in  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  May  18,  1858,  and  was  married  Feb- 
ruary 5,  1880,  to  Miss  Eliza  J.  Green,  of  McDonough  county.  They 
have  one  child.  Mr.  Huston  owns  his  father's  old  homestead  of  160 
acres.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Mystic  Brotherhood  of  Justice,  located 
at  Blandonsville.  The  object  of  the  institution  is  to  suppress  crime 
and  vice  and  to  aid  innocent  parties  in  obtaining  justice.  He  is  also  a 
member  of  the  Christian  church.  Though  a  young  man  Mr.  Huston 
is  well  and  favorably  known  throughout  the  neighborhood.  His 
friendly,  courteous  manner  makes  one  at  home  in  his  society. 

J.  M.  Johnson  was  born  in  district  Fensjo,  Sweden,  in  1845.  He 
there  received  a  high  school  education  and  was  apprenticed  to  learn 
the  blacksmith  trade  at  the  Agricultural  Industrial  School.  He  came 
to  America  in  1869,  landing  in  Burlington,  Iowa.  Here  he  finished  his 
trade  and  went  to  La  Harpe  and  spent  a  part  of  his  time  at  Roseville. 
In  1874  he  came  to  Raritan,  where  he  worked  for  awhile  as  a  jour,  for 
one  year  or  until  1875,  when  he  began  business  for  himself.  He  was 
married  in  Webster  county,  Iowa,  to  Miss  Annia  Josephine  Peterson 
in  1874.  This  union  has  been  blessed  by  three  children,  two  boys 
and  one  gh'l.  Mr.  Johnson's  father  is  deceased,  and  his  mother  re- 
sides in  Sweden  with  her  sister.  Mr.  Johnson  is  a  member  of  the 
Masonic  order,  and  a  member  and  deacon  in  the  Swedish  church 
organization  of  Raritan.     In  politics  he  is  a  republican. 

Wyett  Stanly  ranks  among  the  several  prominent  gentlemen  of 
Henderson  county  who  have  taken  an  active  part  in  its  development. 
He  was  born  in  North  Carolina  in  1835,  where  he  remained  until  at 
the  age  of  eighteen  years,  when  he  removed  with  his  father's  family 
to  this  county.  On  their  first  arrival  here  they  rented  land  the  first 
year,  and  at  the  same  time  bought  land  on  section  4,  where  they  set- 
tled, but  continued  to  rent  for  three  years  after,  devoting  all  their  sur- 
plus time  to  the  improvement  of  the  place  which  was  to  be  their  future 
home.     Our  subject  began  life  with  nothing  but  his  empty  hands,  his 


BEDFORD    TOWNSHIP.  1121 

whole  stock-in-trade  being  his  indomitable  energy  and  industry.  He 
first  began  to  work  by  the  month,  in  which  way  he  managed  to  lay  by 
a  small  share  of  his  wages  with  which  he  bought  his  first  eighty  acres 
of  land.  From  this  small  beginning  he  added  to  his  farm  until  1882. 
He  controls  over  1,000  acres  of  choice  land.  In  1876  he  built  a 
handsome  mansion  at  a  cost  of  $10,000.  This  house  is  three  stories 
high  with  a  gothic  tower  extending  high  above  the  tall  trees  that  sur- 
round the  picturesque  place  overlooking  the  surrounding  country,  with 
high  arched  windows,  hardwood  finish  and  carved  solid  stone  steps 
leading  to  the  main  entrances,  it  presents  a  grand  appearance,  and  one 
would  scarcely  believe,  not  knowing  the  facts,  that  the  proprietor  of 
this  edifice  carved  this  stately  heritage  out  by  his  own  energy.  His 
barn  and  outbuildings  were  built  at  a  cost  of  $8,000.  He  was  married 
in  1864  to  Miss  Ellen  Yeech,  a  native  of  Kentucky.  The  following 
children  bless  their  happy  home:  Jesse  A.,  Artie,  John,  Minnie, 
Georgie,  and  Maggie.  John  Stanley,  his  father,  an  Englishman  by 
descent,  was  born  in  North  Carolina.  He  left  his  native  state  for  Fort 
Dennison,  Iowa,  but  changing  his  mind  landed  in  Henderson  county, 
Illinois.  In  his  family  there  were  eight  children :  Sarah,  the  eldest, 
married  William  Robinson.  They  are  both  deceased.  She  died  in 
Henderson  county,  and  he  in  ]N"orth  Carolina.  Mary  Jane,  wife  of 
Eli  Reziner,  resides  near  Biggsville,  this  county.  Hannah  married 
A.  E,  Stanly  and  is  deceased.  James  H.  died  while  young,  caused  by 
an  injury  fi'om  the  kick  of  a  horse.  William  S.  married  Miss  Ellen 
McDill ;  he  was  killed  at  Stone  River.  His  widow  resides  at  Biggs- 
ville, Illinois.  George  W.  married  jSTancy  Wood  side.  Stephen  B; 
married  Isabel  Rodden ;  she  died  and  he  married  a  second  time  to  a 
Miss  Dennison,  of  McDonough  county.  Mr.  Stanly  is  a  republican  in 
politics. 

WiNFiELD  S.  Hixsox  was  bom  in  Hunterton  county.  New  Jersey,  in 
1842.  When  young  he  came  with  his  father's  family  to  Henderson 
county,  Illinois,  in  the  spring  of  1854.  They  were  among  the  first 
settlers  in  the  vicinity  of  Raritan.  During  the  late  war  he  was  a  mem- 
ber of  Co.  D,  138tli  reg.  111.  Vol.  Inf ,  but  was  not  in  any  engagements, 
his  regiment  having  been  assigned  for  garrison  duty.  On  his  return 
home  after  the  war  he  rented  land  until  1869,  when  he  bought  eighty 
acres  of  land  south  of  Raritan.  This  was  raw  land,  which  he  improved 
and  erected  upon  it  a  substantial  house  and  outbuilding.  He  was 
married  in  Henderson  county  to  Miss  Ella  Hill,  in  the  fall  of  1864. 
They  have  four  children:  Andrew  E.,  Annie  Mary,  Maggie,  and  one 
not  named.     When  Mr.  Hixson  first  came  to  Henderson  county,  there 


1122  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

was  but  one  house  in  the  neighborhood,  that  of  Josiah  Bokaw.     Peter 
Tharp  came  the  following  spring, 

W.  H.  Penny  was  born  in  Henderson  county,  and  was  married  in 
1860  to  Miss  Ellen  Britt,  who  was  born  in  New  York.  Georgie,  Annie, 
Effie,  Fannie,  Lizzie,  Gussie,  Percie  and  Cosie  are  his  children  living. 
Eleven  children  were  born  to  them ;  three  not  named  are  deceased. 
His  father,  George  W.  Penny,  was  born  in  Maryland  in  1800,  and  is 
still  living.  He  was  a  soldier  during  the  Black  Hawk  war,  during 
which  he  passed  through  the  country  in  pursuit  of  the  warriors  under 
this  illustrious  chief.  After  the  war  was  over  he  came  back  to  Hen- 
derson county  and  bought  what  is  now  known  as  the  Allen  Yoorhees 
farm.  He  was  married  about  forty-five  years  ago  to  Miss  Mary  A. 
Huston.  They  had  eight  children.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Penny  are  living 
in  Mayville,  Maryland,  at  a  good  old  age.  He  was  a  carpenter  by 
trade,  which  he  followed  until  he  began  farming  in  Henderson  county. 
Before  this  he  did  not  own  a  foot  of  land,  but  succeeded  in  accumu- 
lating several  hundred  acres  of  choice  farm  land.  "William  H.  Penny, 
our  subject,  is  well  known  throughout  the  county  as  a  successful  and 
enterprising  farmer;  his  -lOO-acre  farm  shows  evidences  of  skill  and 
industry.     Mr.  Penny  is  a  member  of  the  masonic  institution. 

Abram  Brokaw  (deceased)  was  born  in  Xew  Jersey  in  1830,  and 
was  married  in  the  same  state,  in  1853,  to  Miss  Gertrude  Striker,  of 
the  same  county.  Soon  after  his  marriage  they  removed  to  Henderson 
county,  Illinois,  settling  on  the  farm  now  owned  by  Mrs.  C.  A.  Cox. 
Not  unlike  many  of  the  early  pioneer  settlers  of  this  precinct,  Mr. 
Brokaw  came  here  a  poor  man  ;  but  blessed  with  the  riches  of  hardi- 
hood and  a  strong,  determined  will,  he  soon  improved  a  farm  and 
made  a  comfortable  home.  When  he  first  settled  on  the  now  home 
farm,  he  began  at  once  to  plant  trees  and  shrubbery,  and  erect  new 
farm  buildings,  and  at  the  time  of  his  death  had  just  begun  to  realize 
the  return  from  his  hard  labor.  He  was  a  prominent  member  of  the 
Reformed  church  and  much  respected  by  his  neighbors.  By  their 
marriage  they  had  eight  children,  as  follows :  Isaac,  John  D.,  Mary  G., 
Vandivier,  Isaac,  Martha  A.,  John  S.,  Cornelius  S.  Mrs.  Brokaw's 
father,  Isaac  Striker,  and  mother,  Gidie  Yoorhees,  were  born  in  New 
Jersey ;  her  great-grandfather  Striker  was  a  revolutionary  soldier. 

S.  P.  Nevius  was  born  in  New  Jersey  in  1825,  and  is  the  son  of 
Simon  and  Brachie  (Simonson),  of  German  descent,  his  father  having 
emigrated  from  Holland  to  America  in  an  early  day ;  settled  in  New 
York,  where  he  was  married  and  raised  a  large  family  of  children, 
among  whom  were  David,  John,  Mary  E.,  Simon  P.  (our  subject), 
Elizabeth,  Dennis,  Abram  and  Garrett.     The  latter  died  at  Bushnell 


BEDFORD   TOWNSHIP.  1123 

a  few  years  ago  ;  he  was  a  miller  by  trade.  Our  subject  was  married 
in  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  in  1851,  to  Miss  Sarah  Davis.  They  have 
had  four  children  born  to  bless  their  home :  Garrett,  Anna,  Eichard, 
and  Minnie;  Annie  is  deceased.  Of  his  grandparents  but  little  is 
remembered  by  him,  except  that  his  grandfather  was  in  the  revolu- 
tionaiT  war ;  Mr.  Nevius  remembers  seeing  the  musket  lie  had  carried 
during  that  war.  Mrs.  Nevius'  father  was  Kichard  Davis,  and  her 
mother's  maiden  name  was  Sophia  Simonson.  In  this  family  there 
were  the  following:  J.  S.,  Sarah,  John,  L.  K.,  J.  V.  D.,  Lawrence  W., 
Frederick,  Margrett  J.,  and  Anna  C.  Her  brother  John  was  a  member 
of  the  7tli  111.  Cav.  Her  father  came  to  Fulton  county  in  1837, 
where  he  died  and  was  buried  at  Fairview.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nevius  are 
members  of  the  Reformed  church. 

Peter  Groom  was  born  in  Mercer  county,  New  York,  in  1826.  On 
coming  to  Illinois  Mr.  Groom  first  settled  in  Fulton  county.  Here  he 
remained  until  the  spring  of  1857,  when  he  removed  to  this  county. 
He  settled  on  the  S.E.  ^  of  Sec.  5,  where  he  now  resides.  The  only 
houses  near  him  when  he  settled  in  the  neighborhood  were  those  of 
Dennis  Foot  and  Josiah  Brokaw.  They  had  lived  there  years  before. 
The  year  1851  was  noted  for  new-comers,  among  whom  were  the 
Stuarts  and  Bonhams.  When  Mr.  Groom  arrived  he  had  but  $175,  and 
for  the  first  year  lived  in  a  small  stable,  surrounded  by  a  patch  of  hazel 
brush.  He  now  owns  265  acres  of  choice  land,  upon  which  are  good 
buildings,  besides  160  acres  of  land  in  Kansas.  He  was  married  in  Hen- 
derson county  in  1850,  to  Miss  Sarah  "Wilson,  a  native  of  New  York, 
who  came  with  her  parents  to  this  state  in  company  with  Mr.  Groom. 
By  this  union  they  had  ten  children  :  Crissie  C,  William  H.,  John  W., 
Nancy  C,  Emma  W.,  Nathaniel  G.,  Anna  L.,  Ella  E.  and  Peter,  be- 
sides one  not  named  who  died  while  young.  Mr.  Groom's  father 
moved  to  Illinois  in  1855,  where  he  died  about  1871.  His  mother 
remained  in  New  Jersey,  where  she  died.  His  grandfather  was  English 
descent,  and  his  grandmother  German.  They  were  both  born  in  New 
Jersey. 

James  H.  Butler  was  born  in  Jefferson  countv,  Kentuckv,  and  came 
with  his  father's  family  to  Adams  county,  in  the  fall  1832.  Mr.  Butler 
grew  up  to  manhood,  taking  such  chances  for  an  education  as  oftered 
in  the  early  times  of  the  country,  and  connected  with  which  was  the 
old  log  school-house  of  that  day.  Notwithstanding  the  meager  and 
rude  literary  facilities  with  which  his  early  life  was  surrounded,  he 
secured  a  very  fair  business  education,  and  grew  up  to  manhood  with  a 
constitution  seasoned  to  ruggedness  by  the  exposure  and  hardships 
consequent  to  a  pioneer  life.     After  a  residence  of  eighteen  years  in 


1124  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   A2rt)    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

Adams  county,  they  removed  in  the  spring  of  1850  to  Hancock  county, 
and  in  the  same  year  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  where  he  bought 
land  on  the  S.  W.  J  of  Sec.  29.     This  land  he  sold  to  John  Wasson  in 
1867,  and  a  quarter  of  unimproved  land  in  Sec.  30.     March  4,  1844, 
he  was   married  to  Miss  Nancy  Jane  Mattock,    of   Adams  county. 
This  marriage  has  been  productive  of  the  following  children :  Julia  A. 
(deceased),  wife  of  R.  H.  Barnes,  editor  of  the  Raritan   "Bulletin"; 
George  H.,  who  resides  in  Jackson  county,  Kansas  ;  Charles  C,  a 
student  of  Eureka  College  ;  John,  who  died  at  the  age  of  twelve ; 
Tobias,  and  James  P.     During  the  excitement  consequent  upon  the  tirst 
discovery  of  gold  in  California,  Mr.  Butler  determined  to  join  a  band 
of  emigrants  and  seek  a  fortune  on  the  Pacific  coast.     Accordingly,  in 
1850,  he  crossed  the  plains  in  company  with  a  party  who  started  from 
Hannibal.     He  was  chosen  captain  of  the  party  during  their  travels. 
Dissatisfaction  having  arisen  among  the  party,  he,  in  company  with  a 
few  others,  left  the  main  party  and  took  a  route  by  themselves,  and 
reached  the  destined  place  in  safety.     On  his  return  from  California 
he  followed  farming  until  the  breaking  out  of  the  late  civil  war  of  the 
rebellion  of  the  southern  states.     He  then  enlisted  as  a  private  in  the 
118th  111.  Inf.,  and  when  the  company  reorganized  he  was  elected  lieu- 
tenant, and  served  with  the  same  until  failing  health  necessitated  his 
leaving  the  field.     On  entering  the  field  the  regiment  was  consigned 
to  Gen.  Osterhaus'  division,  and  was  a  participant  in  the  following 
battles :  Hain's  Bluff,  Arkansas,  surrounding  of  Yicksburg,  Port  Gibson, 
and  charge  at  Black  River  bridge.      Mr.  Butler  is  a  member  of  the 
Christian  church,  and  a  member  of  the  republican  party. 

John  Goodnight  (deceased)  was  born  in  Stanford,  Lincoln  county, 
Kentucky,  on  May  4,  1794.  He  was  a  soldier  under  Gen.  Jackson  at 
New  Orleans  during  the  years  1814-5.  He  was  married  to  Rhoda 
Brown  October  18,  1820.  She  died  in  1823,  and  he  was  married  a 
second  time  to  Agnes  Jones  December  22,  1825.  She  died  December 
13,  1874,  leaving  him  once  more  alone.  He  removed  to  Indiana  in 
1827,  and  here  in  Monroe  county  lived  the  greater  part  of  his  time  for 
twenty-five  years.  Under  the  eldership  of  Michael  Combs  he  embraced 
the  doctrine  of  the  Christian  church  in  the  year  1833.  He  removed  to 
Adams  county  in  the  fall  of  1852,  and  early  in  the  spring  of  1853 
removed  to  a  farm  one  mile  east  of  Bedford  church  in  Henderson 
county,  and  from  there  to  Blandinsville  in  the  spring  of  1876,  where 
he  died  at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years,  one  month  and  twenty-four 
days.  He  was  an  exemplary  christian,  and  as  a  man  he  was  honest  in 
all  his  dealings,  ever  ready  to  denounce  evil  on  its  first  appearance  ; 
the  poor  never  left  his  door  uncared  for ;  the  hungry  were  bountifully 


BEDFORD    TOWNSHIP.  1125 

supplied  from  his  table,  and  the  naked  were  clothed  by  his  generous 
hand.  lie  died  June  25,  1879.  By  his  first  marriage  with  Miss  Rhoda 
Brown  he  had  two  children:  Isaac,  born  July  3,  1821;  Sarah  M., 
.August  19,  1822.  Isaac  died  in  infancy,  and  Sarah  married  Samuel 
A.  Moore  Februarj^  12,  1846.  Agnes  Jones,  his  second  wife,  was  born 
in  1800.  They  were  married  December  22,  1825.  The  following 
children  were  born  to  them:  Elizabeth  A.,  born  October  16,  1826; 
Mary  J.,  April  14,  1831  ;  Martha  E.,  February  26,  1834  ;  Amanda 
F.,  April  24,  1836;  Thomas  H.,  December  8,  1840;  Francis  M.,  Jan- 
uary 12,  1845. 

The  Tharp  family  is  of  German  extraction  and  originated  in  Hol- 
land. They  emigrated  to  America  in  a  very  early  day.  In  this 
family  there  were  eight  children,  as  follows :  Abner,  Cristopher, 
John,  Peter,  Arthur,  Mary,  Ellen  and  Eliza.  Mr.  Tharp  was  mar- 
ried in  1839  to  Debora  Wagner  and  became  the  father  of  eight 
children  :  Kaziah,  Jacob,  Amanda,  Larinda,  Lottie,  Emma  J., 
Maggie  K.  Jacob  served  three  years  as  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  the 
rebellion  and  was  a  member  of  the  14th  111.  Cav.  When  our  subject 
first  came  to  Illinois,  in  1851,  he  bought  149  acres  of  land  on  the  S.W. 
^  of  Sec.  12,  at  which  time  there  were  no  houses  to  be  seen  anywhere 
around,  neither  were  there  any  fences,  and  when  once  turned  loose  to 
graze  cattle  and  horses  would  wander  far  away  through  the  tall  prairie 
grass,  which  would  often  cause  several  days'  hunt  before  they  were 
again  found.  The  nearest  trading  place  at  that  time  was  at  Burling- 
ton. He  remembers  having  hauled  wheat  to  that  market  which  he 
sold  at  thirty  cents  per  bushel,  and  oats  from  twelve  to  fifteen  cents. 
Corn  was  selling  at  eight  cents,  during  which  time  the  railroads  were 
charging  ten  cents  per  hundred  for  carrying  it  to  Chicago.  A  cow  and 
calf  were  worth  from  $10  to  $12,  and  horses  $60.  But  notwithstanding 
all  the  disadvantages  incident  to  those  times,  Mr.  Tharp's  pioneer  life 
was  a  success,  and  he  is  now  enjoying  the  fruits  of  his  labors.  In 
politics  Mr.  Tharp  was  rocked  in  the  very  cradle  of  democracy,  but 
still  he  denied  secession  as  a  constitutional  provision  on  the  one  hand 
and  the  doctrine  of  federal  aggression  on  the  other.  He  stood  with 
Senator  Stephen  A.  Douglas  at  the  commencement  of  hostilities  be- 
tween the  two  sections,  as  against  two  extremes,  I^orth  and  South. 

Jacob  and  H.Y.  Young  were  born  in  New  Jersey  and  came  to  Fair- 
view,  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  about  the  year  1840  or  1841,  whither  they 
were  soon  after  followed  by  their  parents  and  two  other  brothers.  Their 
parents  located  permanently  near  Fairview,  where  they  died  and  were 
buried.  Our  subjects  removed  from  Fairview  to  Henderson  county 
about  1865  or  1866.     They  immediately  after  their  arrival  bought  a 


1126  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   A^D    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

farm  of  160  acres  of  land  on  the  N.E.  J  of  Sec.  22.  The  country  was 
just  then  in  its  infancy,  and  out  of  the  wild  prairie  they  have  made  a 
line  farm,  and  the  substantial  farm  buildings  erected  by  them  show 
evidence  of  enterprise  and  a  verification  of  the  old  adage  that  in  union 
there  is  strength.  The  two  brothers  live  and  work  together.  Mrs.  H. 
V.  Young's  grandparents  were  among  the  very  first  settlers  in  Fulton 
county.  Her  father  is  still  living  at  the  good  old  age  of  eighty  years, 
and  her  grandfather  was  a  revolutionary  soldier. 

We  dedicate,  with  pleasure,  a  part  of  these  pages  to  a  family  that 
has  been  long  and  well  known  in  Henderson  county.  There  are  many 
others  who  have  equal,  and  in  fact  prior,  claims  upon  the  community 
if  we  esteem  on\j  the  date  of  their  settlement  in  the  county,  but 
desiring  to  put  upon  record  the  prominent  and  worthy  of  the  day  in 
which  we  write,  we  take  up  the  account  of  the  family  of  David  Gear- 
hart.  In  doing  so,  we  realize  the  fact  that  at  best  we  can  only  leave  a 
finger-board  to  guide  the  future  biographer  to  a  more  successful  account 
of  the  family.  The  subject  of  our  sketch  was  born  in  1819,  in  l^s^ew 
Jersey,  where  he  was  educated  at  a  common  school  and  brought  up  to 
farming.  He  moved,  in  1852,  to  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  where  he 
immediately  renewed  his  occupation.  He  was  married,  in  Fulton 
county,  to  Miss  Catharine  Young,  September  2-1,  1856.  By  his  mar- 
riage he  had  four  children.  After  a  residence  of  eight  years  in  Fulton 
county,  he  removed  to  Warren,  where  he  remained  two  years.  In 
1854  he  came  to  Henderson  county,  to  visit  and  look  at  the  country. 
Returning  to  Warren,  he  moved  to  this  county  in  1862,  at  which  time 
he  bought  eighty  acres  of  land  on  Sec.  12,  and  afterward  300  acres. 
By  his  second  marriage,  with  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Perrine,  they  have  five 
children. 

GrARRET  SiMONsoN  was  bom  in  jSTew  Jersey,  where  he  was  educated 
and  raised  to  farming.  He  came  to  Henderson  county  in  the  spring  of 
1857,  and  bought  eighty  acres  of  land  of  liis  brother  on  Sec.  8,  where 
he  at  present  resides.  He  was  married  in  New  Jersey,  in  1845,  to 
Miss  Martha  Dunham.  Three  children  were  the  result  of  the  mar- 
riage. R.  B.  D.  is  principal  of  the  high  school  of  Troy,  Missouri, 
where  he  graduated  with  high  honors,  after  earning  money  with  which 
to  pay  his  tuition.  D.  Simonson,  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch, 
was  born  in  New  Jersey,  and  is  of  German  descent.  He  was  twice 
married,  and  his  children  are :  Rev.  John  Simonson,  Garret,  D.  M. 
Simonson,  Dennis  S.  (deceased),  James  W.  (a  resident  of  Rock  Island 
county,  and  memberof  the  legislature),  Marie  (wife  of  Abram  Wycofi"), 
Gertrude  E.  (wife  of  Parker  Wright,  of  Chicago),  Balinda  M.  and 
Annie  live  at  Port  Byron. 


BEDFORD   TOWNSHIP.  1127 

John  S.  Nevius  was  born  in  1820,  in  New  Jersey,  where  he  re- 
ceived the  advantages  of  a  common  school  education  and  afterward 
learned  the  carpenter  trade,  at  which  he  worked  until  he  came  to 
Henderson  county  in  1836.  On  his  first  arrival  here  he  purchased 
160  acres  of  land,  broke  the  same,  and  began  making  a  farm.  He 
was  married  in  New  Jersey  in  1846,  to  Miss  Maria  Ann  Brokaw. 
They  have  had  eight  children,  as  follows:  Simon,  Catherine,  Peter 
(deceased),  Sarah  Jane,  Mar}^  B.,  David  (died  when  three  years  old), 
Peter  B.  (at  home),  and  Brachie.  His  parents  were  Simon  and 
Brachie  (Simonson)  Nevius,  who  were  both  born  in  Somerset  county, 
New  Jersey.  His  father  died  in  1862  and  his  mother  in  1876.  They 
were  buried  in  Redington  cemetery,  Hunterton  county,  New  Jersey. 
Their  family  consisted  of  nine  children,  six  boys  and  three  gii*ls  ; 
David  resides  in  New  Jersey ;  Mary  Ellen,  wife  of  Benjamin  Voorhees, 
died  1868  ;  her  remains  repose  at  Bushnell ;  Simon  Peter  resides  in 
Henderson  county  ;  Elizabeth  Ann,  wife  of  M.  Lane,  Dennis,  re- 
sides in  New  Jersey,  formerly  lived  here  ;  Abram  V.  Garrett  and 
Anna  J.  are  deceased.  Simon  Addis,  grandfather  of  Mr.  Nevius, 
was  a  revolutionary  soldier,  and  Mr,  Nevius  still  remembers  seeing 
him  go  through  the  manual  of  arms.  Mr.  Nevius  has  been  a 
member  of  the  Reformed  church  for  twenty-three  years,  and  has  been 
chosen  deacon  at  diiferent  times. 

James  H,  Hazelwood,  farmer,  was  born  in  1830,  in  the  state  of 
Indiana,  where  he  received  the  advantages  of  a  common  school  educa- 
tion and  was  reared  to  farming.  His  parents,  Joseph  and  Mary, 
were  born  and  raised  in  Kentucky,  where  they  were  married,  but 
moved  to  Indiana  in  an  early  day,  and  remained  there  until  1852,  at 
which  time  they  removed  to  McDonough  county,  Illinois.  Our  subject 
was  married  in  1860  to  Miss  Mary  J.  Duncan,  of  Henderson  county,  and 
by  the  happy  union  they  have  been  blessed  with  three  children.  As 
a  citizen  Mr.  Hazelwood's  life  has  been  characterized  by  honest  and 
fair  dealing.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Masonic  order  and  also  a 
member  of  the  chapter  of  La  Harp.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the 
Christian  church. 

Aaron  Johnson  was  born  in  Hunterton  county,  New  Jersey,  1833. 
He  was  educated  at  a  common  school,  and  learned  the  trade  of 
carpenter  and  joiner,  which  he  has  since  followed.  In  1857  he  came 
to  Fulton  county,  where  he  sought  and  found  employment  at  his  trade, 
at  which  he  worked  for  nine  months,  after  which  he  removed  to 
Henderson  county,  in  the  spring  of  1858.  He  was  married  in  the 
spring  of  1859  to  Miss  Catharine  Coozatt,  of  Fulton  county,  Illinois. 
By  this  union  two  children  were  born  to  them  :  Liddie  and  Minnie  C, 


1128  HISTOKY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

who  are  living  at  home.  In  Mr.  Johnson's  father's  family  there  were 
eleven  children,  of  whom  he  was  the  eldest  :  Emma  E.,  died  and  her 
remains  repose  in  Somerset  coimty,  New  Jersey  ;  Cornelius  resides 
in  New  Jersey;  Mary  J.,  wife  of  A.  E.  Keed,  John  M.,  Jacob  W., 
Hannah  M.,  Ellen  and  Sarah,  all  reside  in  New  Jersey  ;  Dewitt  lives 
in  Adams  county,  Iowa  ;  Liddie  Josephine  died  when  seven  years  old. 
Mr.  Johnson's  father,  of  German  descent,  was  born  in  New  Jersey, 
and  is  still  living  at  the  age  of  seventy  years.  His  mother's  maiden 
name  was  Liddie  Wycooll  and  was  also  of  German  ancestry.  During 
the  late  war  our  subject  was  a  member  of  the  30th  111.  Inf.,  and  was 
engaged  with  his  regiment  at  the  battles  of  Nashville  and  Kingston, 
He  served  until  the  close  of  the  war  in  1865.  His  regiment  formed 
a  part  of  the  ITth  Army  Corps,  under  Gen.  Sherman.  Mr.  Johnson 
has  never  had  any  political  aspirations  nor  sought  for  office,  neither 
has  he  connected  himself  with  any  of  the  benevolent  organizations  of 
the  present  time,  but  is  social  and  free  in  his  habits  and  opinions,  and 
liberally  supports  the  cause  of  education,  religion,  good  morals  and 
public  progress.  The  estimate  here  placed  upon  his  character  is  a 
willing  testimony  of  many  who  have  known  him  for  years. 

R.  Y.  CoRTELYON  was  born  in  New  Jei'sey  in  1821.  His  parents 
were  Aaron  and  Elizabeth  YanArsdale,  of  German  descent  and  born 
in  New  Jersey.  They  had  four  children,  our  subject  being  the  second 
of  the  family.  Mariah,  the  eldest,  died  in  New  Jersey  ;  Ellen  is 
married  and  resides  in  New  Jersey;  William  resides  near  Raritan, 
this  county.  Mr.  Cortelyon  was  married  in  New  Jersey  in  1847  to 
Miss  Catharine  Stevens.  The  following  children  have  been  born  to 
them  :  Margaret  (deceased),  Harvey,  Stephen  (deceased),  Eddie, 
Eugene  (deceased).  The  family  remained  in  New  Jersey  for  eleven 
years  after  their  marriage.  They  then  came  to  Henderson  county. 
Immediately  after  their  arrival  here  he  purchased  160  acres  of  land  on 
the  N.W,  J  of  Sec.  10,  forty  acres  of  which  was  already  improved. 
Mr.  Cortelyon  began  life  with  but  little,  but  by  industry  and  good  man- 
agement has  succeeded  well.  For  a  large  share  of  his  success  in  life  he 
attributes  to  the  influence  of  noble  woman,  first  to  the  counsels  and 
admonitions  of  a  kind  mother,  and  second  to  the  encouragement  of 
a  judicious  wife. 

Robert  H.  Barnes,  editor  of  the  "Raritan  Bulletin,"  is  perhaps  as 
well  known  and  respected  as  any  man  in  Henderson  county.  He  was 
born  in  Lallarpe,  Hancock  county,  Illinois,  April  29,  1819  ;  is  the  son 
of  H.  H.  and  M.  D.  Barnes.  He  commenced  learning  saddlery  with 
George  Newton  in  1862,  and  worked  at  that  trade  and  shoemaking  for 
three  years.     He  sold  notions,  etc.,  from  1866  to  1870,  when  he  quit 


BEDFORD   TOWNSHIP.  1131 

business  on  account  of  declining  health,  and  in  tliat  year,  1870,  went 
to  Arkansas.  Here  he  spent  his  time  for  awhile  in  hunting,  clerking 
on  a  cotton  plantation  and  overseeing  about  ninety  hands,  mostly 
negroes.  In  the  spring  of  1871  he  returned  to  La  Harpe  and 
was  married  to  Miss  Julia  A.  Butler  March  19,  1871.  Immediately 
thereafter  returning  south,  he  settled  on  a  small  farm  near  Raleigh, 
Tennessee,  a  watering  place  about  nine  miles  northeast  of  Memphis.  In 
the  fall  of  the  same  year  he  returned  to  Raritan,  Illinois,  and  started 
a  saddlery  and  harness  shop  in  com})any  with  S.  D.  Parsons.  In  1873 
he  bought  property  and  built  a  shop,  16x3'2,  two  stories  high,  the 
upper  room  of  which  was  used  for  a  grange  and  masonic  hall.  In  1875 
S.  D.  Parsons  retiring  from  business,  he  formed  a  partnershij)  with  G. 
H.  Butler,  his  brother-in-law,  and  put  in  the  first  exclusive  stock  of 
hardware,  and  enlarged  the  building  to  32x1:8.  In  the  fall  of  1876  he 
issued  the  first  copy  of  the  "  Raritan  Bulletin,"  a  two-page  paper,  in 
size  5x7.  This  was  issued  in  the  interest  of  Hon.  John  Hungate, 
candidate  for  congress,  and  self.  The  subscription  fee  charged  for  this 
sheet  was  ten  cents  j)er  annum.  In  about  six  months  after  he  increased 
the  size  of  the  paper,  as  well  as  the  subscription  to  twenty-five  cents. 
The  next  year  it  was  made  a  five-column  two-page  paper,  and  later  a 
five-column  four-page,  and  the  subscription  placed  at  $1  per  annum, 
and  finally  in  1878  to  a  five-column  eight-page,  at  the  same  price,  circu- 
lating all  over  the  Union.  His  wife  died  September  18,  1877,  leaving 
a  small  babe  five  days  old,  Julia  A.,  who  is  living  with  her  grand- 
father Butler.  Mr.  Barnes  was  married  a  second  time  to  Miss  Ida  M. 
Beard,  March  17,  1880.  By  this  union  they  have  one  child,  Jettie  M., 
born  February  14,  1881.  She  died  September  11,  1881.  In  the  fall 
of  1881,  he  built  a  large  business  house,  32x64,  two  stories  high,  the 
upper  part  of  which  is  wainscoted  and  ceiled  with  matched  and 
grooved  flooring,  and  is  used  as  a  town  hall  and  for  storing  furniture. 
The  lower  floor  of  the  building  is  used  for  storing  implements. 

Jaques  Yoorhees,  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Bedford,  was  born 
in  Somerset  county,  New  Jersey,  August  21,  1825,  and  was  raised  to 
farming.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one  he  came  with  his  father's  family  to 
Greene  county,  Illinois,  in  1847.  They  made  the  journey  through 
with  teams  and  wagons  and  were  twenty-four  days  on  the  road.  On 
arriving  at  Greene  Castle,  Indiana,  they  were  delayed  and  compelled 
to  wait  on  account  of  high  water.  After  waiting  two  days  for  a  ferry 
to  take  them  over  the  river,  they  went  to  work  driving  stakes  in  the 
river,  by  which  means  they  managed  to  take  their  wagons  to  the  other 
side,  after  which  they  swam  their  horses  across.  The  next  year  after 
his  arrival  in  Illinois  he  returned  to  his  native  state,  and  in  1850  cele- 
64 


1132  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AKD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

brated  his  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  Yoorhees,  after  which  he  returned 
to  Illinois,  settHng  tirst  in  Fairview,  Fulton  county,  where  he  bought  a 
farm  and  remained  till  1855.  He  then  removed,  settling  near  Earitan. 
At  this  time  the  whole  country  was  one  vast  prairie.  He  bought  160 
acres  of  choice  praii'ie  land  of  John  Huston,  on  Sec.  10.  After  a  resi- 
dence of  two  years  he  left  the  farm  and  moved  to  town  and  engaged  in 
the  mercantile  business,  in  company  with  Abram  Gulick.  He  con- 
tinued the  business  until  1876,  when  he  sold  his  interest  to  Adam 
Crist.  Eight  children  have  been  born  to  bless  the  happy  home  of  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Yoorhees  :  Mary  Jane,  Henry  K.,  Lucian  A.,  Eddie  and 
Edwin,  twins,  Abram  J.,  Elmer  E.,  and  Emerett.  Mary  J.,  Eddie, 
Abram  and  Emerett  are-  deceased.  Mr.  Yoorhees  is  of  German 
descent,  his  grandfather,  Abram  J.  Yoorhees,  was  Holland  Dutch.  He 
was  born  in  Somerset  county,  New  Jersey,  in  1798.  His  parents 
emigrated  to  America  in  an  early  day,  and  settled  in  Xew  Jersey. 
His  mother  was  of  French  descent  ;  her  maiden  name  was  Mariah  De 
Harp.  His  grandmother  on  his  mother's  side  was  Margarett  Howell, 
and  on  his  father's  side  Sarah  Wycoff.  Jaques  Yoorhees,  father  of 
our  subject,  was  first  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Allen.  She  died  while 
our  subject  was  young.  He  was  married  a  second  time,  to  Miss  Sarah . 
Schenck.  She  having  died  in  1819,  he  married  Nancy  Slack.  By 
this  union  they  had  six  children.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yoorhees'  ai-e  con- 
nected with  the  Baptist  church  of  Raritan. 

There  is  probably  not  an  old  settler  in  the  precinct  of  Bedford  but 
who,  if  he  were  asked  wdio  the  Tharp  family  are,  would  answer  with- 
out an}'  hesitation :  ' '  One  among  the  first  and  most  honorable  families 
of  Henderson  county. "  Willia:^!  Thakp,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was 
born  .in  Hunterton  countv,  New  Jersev,  in  1835,  w^ere  he  received  a 
liberal  edncation  at  a  common  school,  and  was  raised  to  farming.  He 
came  with  his  father  to  Fulton  county  in  1851,  and  a  short  time  after 
came  to  Henderson  county,  where  they  purchased  land  on  section  14, 
near  the  site  of  where  Raritan  now  stands.  He  remained  with  his 
father,  assisting  him  in  the  improvement  of  the  new  farm,  until  the 
spring  of  1857,  when  he  began  clerking  for  Jaques  Yoorhees.  Here  he 
obtained  a  knowledge  of  the  mercantile  business,  in  which  he  afterward 
embarked  in  company  with  Lewis  B.  Eltinge.  They  continued  the  busi- 
ness until  1859,  when  Eltinge  sold  his  interest  in  the  business  to  one 
Grovendyke.  In  1860  he  bought  out  Grovendyke's  interest  and  has  since 
that  time  carried  on  the  business  alone.  In  1873  he  built  the  largest 
and  most  substantial  store  building  in  Raritan,  if  not  in  the  county,  on 
lots  8  and  9,  block  G.  The  size  of  the  building  is  28x10,  with  twenty- 
two  feet  posts.    The  upper  story  is  used  as  a  masonic  hall.    His  father, 


BEDFORD   TOWNSHIP.  1133' 

Peter  Tharp,  was  born  in  Hunterton  county,  New  Jersey,  in  May,. 
1801,  and  was  married  to  Miss  Catharine  Bogart  in  August,  1828. 
The  family  moved  to  Fulton  county  in  1854.  Mr.  Tharp  staid  there 
a  short  time,  and  leaving  his  family  he  and  William  came  to  Earitan 
and  bought  a  half  section  of  land  on  the  south  side  of  the  road  west  of 
town.  When  he  came  here  there  were  no  improvements  on  the  prairie 
and  only  two  or  three  houses  in  the  neighborhood, — one  two  miles 
east  of  town  known  as  the  Hazelton  house,  one  one-and-a-half 
miles  southwest  on  Cornelious  Schenck's  farm,  and  one  on  William 
Cortelyon's  farm  one  and  a  half  miles  west.  They  camped  and  lived 
in  wagon  box  put  on  stakes  driven  in  the  ground  to  keep  the  snakes 
out,  for  six  weeks,  while  they  were  putting  up  a  house.  After  getting 
everything  in  readiness  the  family  came  on  out,  and  they  all  com- 
menced battling  for  a  livelihood.  Uncle  Peter,  as  he  was  familiarly 
called,  next  bought  the  quarter  section  upon  which  the  northeast  part 
of  Raritan  now  stands.  He  gave  the  ground  for  the  school-building, 
and  also  for  the  cemetery.  He  was  one  of  the  first  officers  elected  in 
the  Reformed  church,  of  which  he  was  an  honored  member.  If  uncle 
Peter  Tliarp  had  an  enemy  in  the  neighborhood  it  is  said  that  no  one 
ever  knew  of  it.  Three  daughters  and  four  sons  were  born  to  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Tharp.  Three  sons  and  one  daughter  are  still  living,  all  of  whom 
are  living  in  Illinois  except  Isaac,  who  is  living  at  ISTortonville,  Iowa. 
Mrs.  Tharp  was  laid  to  rest  in  the  beautiful  little  cemetery  of  Raritan, 
four  years  prior  to  Mr.  Tharp's  death.  Before  his  death  he  had  erected 
to  her  grave  a  beautiful  head-stone,  with  two  pillars,  one  of  which  was 
left  blank  to  mark  his  own  last  resting-place. 

Dr.  E.  Beard  is  not  identified  with  the  history  of  Henderson  county 
for  so  long  a  period  as  some  others,  but  he  has  reached  a  position  of 
prominence  in  the  community  by  his  own  exertions  as  a  successful 
practitioner.  He  attributes  success  to  the  fact  that  experience  has 
tauglit  him  to  throw  aside  many  of  the  old  dogmas  of  the  early  prac- 
tice, and  to  use  such  remedies  as  prove  the  least  harmless,  and  afford 
the  most  speedy  relief  to  the  patient.  Mr.  Beard  was  born  in  Lees- 
burg,  Loudoun  county,  Virginia,  in  1820.  In  1829  he  removed  from 
that  state  to  Ohio,  where  he  received  his  education,  and  graduated  at 
the  medical  college  of  Columbus,  Ohio.  Soon  after  this  he  began  the 
practice  of  medicine  m  that  state,  and  continued  it  for  seventeen  years. 
He  removed  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  in  1865,  and  during  his 
residence  here  his  practice  has  extended  over  a  large  portion  of  the 
county,  and  he  is  classed  among  the  most  skillful  and  successful  of  the 
profession.  He  was  married  in  Ohio  in  1841,  to  Miss  Mar}-  Brady. 
Ten  children,  five  boys  and  five  girls,  were  born  to  them.     Dr.  Beard's 


1131  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AJS^D    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

ancestry  were  of  Scotcli-Irisli  descent,  and  runs  back  to  the  Moors  and 
Bradjs,  of  Virginia.  His  grandfather  was  born  in  Virginia  in  1761. 
He  removed  from  that  state  to  Ohio,  where  he  died  at  the  advanced 
age  of  ninety-two.  When  a  young  man,  he  was  a  drummer  in  the 
revohition,  and  joined  the  army  in  company  with  a  man  with  whom  he 
was  at  that  time  learning  a  trade.  After  his  service  and  the  war  was 
over,  lie  followed  shoemaking  as  an  occupation. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  S.  B.  Van  Aesdale,  who  is  now  passing 
his  declining  years  in  the  village  of  Raritan,  with  all  the  comforts  of  life 
spread  around  him,  was  one  among  the  iirst  few  enterprising  band  of 
pioneers  who  came  to  this  county  in  "days  that  tried  men's  souls," 
and  through  whose  influence  the  pillars  of  society  were  founded  on  the 
principles  of  virtue  and  knowledge.     He  was  born  in  _N^ew  York  in 
1815,  and  is  the  third  child  of  a  family  of  six  children,  and  three  only 
of  whom  are  living.     His  sister,   Catharine,  wife   of  Garrett  Statts, 
resides  in  New  Jersey  ;  Peter  B.  resides  in  Fulton  county,  Illinois, 
and  S.  B.  Van  Arsdale  resides  at  Glen  Garden,  New  Jersey.    His  father 
having  died  in  1836,  and  his  mother  May  26,  1847,  he  came  to  Bli- 
nois,  settling  in  Fulton  county,  in  1850.     There  he  bought  some  land 
and  began  to  improve  and  make  a  farm.     During  his  settlement  there 
he  made  a  visit  to  Henderson  county  and  was  attracted  with  its  natural 
advantages  for  agricultural  purposes,  but  not  until  some  time  after  this 
could  he  be  induced  to  remove  to  the  new  eldorado.     They  returned  to 
Fulton  county  and  in  a  short  time  sold  their  farm  there,  and  in  the 
spring  of  1856  came  up  and  bought  160  acres  of  land  on  Sec.  22.     He 
improved  it  and  traded  it  for  180  acres  on  Sec.  7.      Having  bought  a 
residence  in  town,  he  retired  from  business.     He  was  married  in  New 
Jersey,  in  1836,  to  Miss  Joanna  V.   Bergen,     Six  children  was  the 
result  of  the  union  :  Abraham,  the  eldest,  born  March  1,  1838,  mar- 
ried Miss  Mary  Ann  Huston,  daughter  of  George  Huston,  one  of  the 
iirst  early  pioneers  of  Bedford  precinct ;  they  have  four  children  and 
live  south  of  Raritan.   Peter,  born  May  9,  1842,  married  Miss  Amanda 
J.  Huston ;  they  have  three  children.    J.  B.  Van  Arsdale,  born  October 
30,  1841,  married  Miss  Ann  M.  Lewis  ;  she  having  died,  he  married 
Sarah  M.  Brokaw.     Peter  served  three  years  as  a  soldier  in  the  late 
war,  as  a  member  of  the  14th  111,  Cav.     Mr.  Van  Arsdale's  grandfather, 
Abraham  Van  Arsdale,  was  born  in  Somerset  county.  New  Jersey, 
December  2,  1750.      He  was  a  magistrate.     His  father  was  born  in 
Holland,  and  emigrated  to  America  in  an  early  day  and  settled  on 
Long  Island.     He  was  an  only  son,  as  was  Mr.  Van  Arsdale's  father. 
He  was  buried  in  Ilarlingen  cemetery,  Somerset  county.  New  Jersey. 
Mr.  Van  Arsdale's  grandmother,    Margaret   Keneday,    was   born   in 


BEDFORD,  TOWNSHIP.  1135 

America.  In  Mrs.  Van  Arsdale's  father's  family  were  the  following : 
James,  the  eldest,  was  born  September  14,  1804;  John,  March  12, 
1808;  Joanna,  June  7,  1813;  Mariah,  April  18,  1815;  Peter  and  Philip 
Bergen,  twins,  March  5,  1818.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Van  Arsdale  are  members 
of  the  Reformed  church. 

Matthew  Huston,  though  a  young  man,  is  nevertheless  worthy  of  a 
place  in  the  history  of  his  county,  in  which  he  was  born  and  reared. 
From  his  youth  he  has  been  an  active  business  man,  and  to  him  the 
community  is  indebted  for  the  introduction  of  fine  bred  horses  in  the 
neighborhood,  whicli  business  receives  a  part  of  his  attention.  He 
iirst  began  to  raise  graded  cattle  and  blooded  horses  about  1870,  and 
made  it  a  success  from  the  start.  His  farm  and  stables  are  in  section 
28 ;  he  has  108  acres.  He  was  married  in  Henderson  county  Decem- 
ber 15,  1871,  to  Miss  Minerva  Lovett,  whose  parents  were  among  the 
very  first  pioneers  of  the  precinct,  as  were  also  tlie  grandparents  and 
father  of  Mr.  Huston.  Mr.  Huston's  father  is  Walter  Huston,  a 
retired  farmer  and  resident  of  Raritan.  Mr.  Huston  is  an  honored 
member  of  the  masonic  fraternity. 

William  H.  Cortelyon,  one  of  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Bedford  pre- 
cinct, was  born  in  Somerset  county,  jS^ew  Jersey,  May  29,  1826,  and 
was  married  in  the  same  count}'  to  Miss  Elizabeth  M.  Field,  of  the 
same  place.  Four  children  were  the  result  of  the  union :  Emma 
Elizabeth  (wife  of  P.  V.  D.  Simonson,  was  born  in  New  Jersey), 
A.  W.  Cortelyon,  Fannie  A.,  and  Lyon  are  all  at  home.  His  father, 
Abraham  Cortelyon,  was  also  born  in  Somerset  county,  JSTew  Jersey, 
in  1795,  and  was  married  in  1817  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Van  Arsdale, 
of  the  same  state.  She  was  born  in  IMiddlesex  county.  His  oldest 
sister,  Mariah,  was  born  in  New  Jersey  in  1818.  She  married  Chris-' 
topher  B.  Melick,  of  the  same  county.  They  had  ten  children. 
Ralph  V.  married  Catharine  Stephens,  of  the  same  county.  He  moved 
to  this  state  in  the  spring  of  1858.  Ella  P.  married  Richard  Ilageman, 
of  North  Branch,  New  Jersey,  where  they  still  reside.  William  H.  Cor- 
telyon is  of  German  descent.  His  great-grandparents  were  Hollanders, 
who  came  to  this  country  at  a  date  unknown,  but  which  must  have 
been  before  the  revolution.  William  Cortelyon,  grandfather  of  our 
subject,  was  born  in  New  Jersey  and  settled  on  Long  Island.  Mr. 
Cortelyon,  in  the  spring  of  1836,  shipped  his  goods  to  Fulton  county, 
where  he  had  gone  to  visit  friends,  and  in  the  meanwhile  came  to 
Henderson  county  to  look  at  the  country,  and  being  satisfied  with  the 
appearance  and  prospect,  he  returned  to  Fulton  county,  and  came  back 
with  lumber  ready  to  build.  The  prairie  grass  was  almost  waist  high 
all  over.     He  bought  his  first  land  of  David  Rankin,  in  section  10. 


1136  HISTORY   OF   FIERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

When  he  came  out  he  brought  five  carpenters  with  him,  and  a  house 
was  soon  erected ;  but  one  day,  when  he  was  in  town,  a  heavy  wind- 
storm came  up  and  carried  away  the  newly-built  edifice. 

Daniel  Leinbach  was  born  in  Pennsylvania  in  1811.  He  was  a 
German  by  descent.  He  learned  blacksmithing  in  Pottsville,  that 
state,  and  followed  the  trade  during  his  lifetime.  He  moved  in  an 
early  day  to  Ohio,  at  the  first  settlement  of  that  state,  where  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Julia  Ann  Messer.  They  raised  a  large  family  of 
children,  among  whom  were  Isaac,  Henry,  Mary  Ann,  Benjamin, 
Sarah  J.,  Donald,  Samuel  E.,  Emma  C,  Hannah  M.,  and  James  W. 
Mr.  Leinbach  came  first  to  Fulton  county  in  an  early  day  and  bought 
a  farm,  and  resided  for  four  years,  when  he  removed  to  Henderson 
county,  where  he  bought  160  acres  of  land  in  section  1,  of  John  Huston. 
He  hnproved  it  and  made  a  fine  farm,  which  is  still  owned  by  the  heirs. 
His  son,  Daniel,  a  ftirmer,  resides  in  Henderson  county,  near  Karitan. 
He  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Huston  January  1,  1871. 

John  Bo  wen  was  born  in  Giles  county,  Vii-ginia,  in  1800,  and  is 
the  son  of  John  Harless  Bowen.  In  his  father's  family  there  were 
fourteen  children.  His  father  died  in  that  state.  His  mother  was  still 
living  at  the  time  he  left  the  state.  When  a  young  man  Mr.  Bowen 
left  his  native  state  for  Michigan  with  teams.  When  he  arrived  in 
Ohio  he  ran  out  of  money  and  was  forced  to  stop  and  seek  employ- 
ment, which  he  found,  and  remained  there  three  years.  He  then  went 
to  Michigan,  and  after  a  residence  of  five  years  came  to  Illinois  in 
1836.  He  first  settled  in  McDonough  county,  and  two  years  after 
came  to  Hancock,  where  seventeen  years  of  his  life  was  spent.  He 
bought  land  in  that  county,  and  having  three  yoke  of  oxen,  harness 
and  w^agon,  he  was  not  long  in  making  a  start  in  life.  He  sold  his 
land  there  in  1854  and  removed  to  Henderson  county.  At  one  time 
he  owned  over  a  section  of  land.  He  was  married  in  Virginia  at  the  age 
of  nineteen  years  to  Miss  Mary  Burton.  He  is  the  father  of  the  fol- 
lowing children:  Ariminta,  Marshall,  Elizabeth,  Lena,  John  R., 
Almeda,  Catharine,  W.  H.,  James  H..  Mary,  Jonathan,  Arena, 
Lafayette,  Eliza,  Warren,  and  two  others  who  died  while  young. 
Though  Mr.  Bowen  is  now  eighty-two  years  of  age,  he  is  quite  active 
and  attends  to  all  the  little  odds  and  ends  about  the  farm.  In  all  his 
struggles  with  fickle  fortune  to  gain  a  competence,  and  the  severe  trials 
through  which  he  has  passed,  it  is  a  source  of  great  satisfaction  to  him 
in  his  declining  days  to  know  that  he  has  the  good  will  of  all.  He 
holds  to  the  principles  of  Freemasonry, 

John  H.  Atkins  was  born  in  Elmira,  New  York,  September  1 8, 
1823.     There  he  was  educated,  and  meanwhile  assisted  his  father.    At 


BEDFORD   TOWNSHIP.  1137 

the  age  twelve  years  lie  went  to  Pennsylvania,  where  he  clerked  in  a 
conntry  store  for  his  uncle,  after  which  he  went  back  to  New  York 
and  worked  in  a  furniture  shop,  and  later  on  the  Erie  canal,  in  the 
summer,  and  in  the  winter  in  the  timber,  chopping  logs.  He  was  mar- 
ried April  19,  1849,  to  Miss  Abigal  Dalrimple.  After  their  marriage 
he  moved  to  Stenben  county,  and  from  there  to  Schenectady  county. 
Later  he  moved  to  Potter  county.  On  the  last  day  of  October,  1854, 
they  started  for  Lee  county,  Illinois,  and  in  the  8])ring  of  1857  came 
to  Henderson  county.  On  their  arrival  they  found  the  soil  unbroken. 
There  were  no  roads  and  they  could  take  a  straight  course  to  Burling- 
ton. No  houses  could  be  seen  anywhere.  There  were  living  in  the 
neighborhood  at  that  time  David  Thompson,  William  Yan  Doran  and 
James  Statts,  from  Ohio,  and  Charles  Edward.  Mr.  and  Mi-s.  Atkins 
began  life  under  the  most  unfavorable  circumstances.  They,  however, 
went  to  work  with  a  determination.  They  now  own  a  tine  farm  and  a 
house  that  cost  $8,000  when  built.  Their  children  are  :  Sarah  (wife  of 
Mr.  Frank  Everett,  of  New  Mexico),  Mary  Jane  (deceased),  and 
Abner  D. ,  who  is  residing  at  home.  He  was  married  to  Miss  Alice 
Biggs,  of  this  county.  Mr.  Atkins'  grandfather  was  a  Scotchman,  who 
emigrated  to  America  at  the  age  of  eighteen.  He  was  a  soldier  in  the 
revolution,  and  lived  to  be  104  years  old.  Mr.  Atkins'  father  volun- 
teered during  the  revolution  and  was  present  when  Gen.  Ross  was 
killed.  His  eldest  brother  enlisted  as  a  drummer  and  was  ])romoted 
to  lieutenant.  Mr.  Atkins  was  drafted  during  the  late  war  and  imme- 
diately responded,  leaving  his  family  and  his  thriving  business  to  vin- 
dicate upon  the  tented  field  the  principles  that  he  cherished.  Li  the 
days  when  the  expression  of  abolition  sentiments  subjected  a  man  to 
social  and  political  obliquy,  he  hesitated  not  to  espouse  the  anti- 
slavery  cause,  and  never  turned  his  back  upon  the  dusky  fugitive  that 
asked  for  succor  while  escaping  to  freedom.  The  fundamental  princi- 
ples of  the  republican  party  have  received  his  warm  support  from 
beginning  to  the  present  tiriie.  He  is  a  member  of  the  masonic  frater- 
nity. 

Hugh  G.  Woodside  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Yirginia, 
June  30,  1825,  When  about  nine  years  old  he  came  with  his  father's 
family,  in  the  fall  of  1837,  and  settled  in  the  northwest  corner  of  Mc- 
Donough  county,  where  his  father  bought  a  quarter-section  of  land  on 
which  there  was  slight  improvement.  After  he  had  made  some  im- 
provements and  lived  on  the  place  a  short  time,  a  man  with  a  forged 
title  came  on  and  his  father  bought  that  also.  He  remained  on  the 
place  until  the  time  of  liis  death,  in  1854.  He  was  married  in  North 
Carolina  to  Miss  Jane  Galliher.     They  had  seven  children :  Nancy, 


1138  HISTORY    OF    MERCER   AXD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Mary,  James,  Julia,  William  and  H.  G.,  the  SHbjc'ct.  One  other  was 
born  in  North  Carolina  and  died  there  while  young.  Mi-.  H.  G.  Wood- 
side  was  married  in  McDonough  county  in  1851  to  Miss  Catharine 
Wilson,  of  the  same  county.  Thirteen  children  was  the  result  of  this 
union,  as  follows  :  Nancy,  Jane,  William,  Henry,  Edward,  Annetta, 
Andrew  E.,  Alonzo,  Grant,  Charles,  Minnie.  Those  not  named  died 
while  young.  His  grandfather,  James  Woodside,  was  a  soldier  in  the 
war  of  1812.  Mr.  Woodside  received  such  an  education  as  the  times 
afforded.  He  was  a  pupil  in  the  first  school  established  in  Bedford 
precinct.  This  was  a  subscription  school  and  was  held  in  a  log  house 
near  Bedford  church.  Mr.  Woodside  has  been  chosen  assessor  of 
Bedford  precinct  for  several  years. 

Joseph  S.  King  was  born  in  Ireland  in  1824,  and  emigrated  to 
America  in  1845.  He  landed  in  New  York  and  resided  there  twelve 
years,  during  which  time  he  worked  by  months'  wages  as  a  common 
farm  hand.  He  managed  to  save  from  his  monthly  earnings  about 
$400,  which,  on  Coming  to  Henderson  county  in  1856,  he  invested  in 
ninety-five  acres  of  land.  This  is  the  place  which  Jacob  Ford  now 
owns.  He  sold  the  same  two  years  after  he  had  bought  it  to  Charles 
Marshall.  The  land  fell  back  into  his  hands  again.  He  then  sold  it 
to  David  Kankin.  He  next  bought  the  farm  on  which  he  now  lives, 
and  altogether  he  owns  TOO  acres,  besides  some  town  property.  In 
1877  he  built  one  of  the  most  substantial  farm  buildings  to  be  seen  in 
the  country,  at  a  cost  of  $8,000.  Standing  on  an  elevated  plat  ot 
ground,  this  building  presents  an  imposing  picture  and  mark  of  enter- 
prise. When  he  came  to  this  state  he  lived  in  a  log  cabin  14x16. 
Fourteen  years  after  Mr.  King's  arrival  in  America  his  parents  came 
over.  His  father,  James  King,  died  in  Henderson  county.  His 
mother  is  still  living  at  the  age  of  eighty  years.  They  were  born  in 
the  north  part  of  Ireland.  There  were  eight  children  in  the  family, 
three  of  whom  are  deceased  ;  the  rest,  with  the  exception  of  one,  re- 
side in  this  state  :  Sarah,  Elizabeth,  Joseph,  Jane,  Susan,  Mary, 
Samuel  and  Alexander.  Mr.  King  was  first  married  in  New  York. 
His  wife  having  died,  he  was  married  again  to  Miss  Julia  McLain.  For 
the  first  seven  months'  labor  in  this  country  Mr.  King  received  $50, 
half  of  which  was  paid  in  clothing.  After  working  for  two  years  he 
sent  all  his  earnings  home  to  Ireland  to  assist  through  the  famine.  He 
was  educated  at  a  high  school  in  the  county  of  Monaghan,  Ireland. 
He  is  much  interested  in  educational  matters  and  the  development  of 
societv  and  religion.  Jle  has  held  the  ofiice  of  school  director  for 
many  years.  They  are  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church. 
In  politics  he  is  a  republican. 


TWELFTH    ILLINOIS    CAVALRY.  1139 

JosiAH  Brokaw  (deceased),  son  of  tlie  late  Major  Brokaw,  of  Fair- 
view,  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  was  born  near  West  Somerset  county, 
New  Jersey,  April  25,  1829,  and  was  married  in  1850,  to  Miss  Mary 
Ann  Groendyke,  by  which  union  resulted  seven  children  :  Georgia 
Anna,  wife  of  J.  T.  Owens,  of  Mercer  county,  Illinois;  Gertrude  D., 
wife  of  M.  Cox;  Ida,*  wife  of  George  Stephenson;  Frederick  V.  L., 
Edmond  E.  (deceased),  Garat  A.,  and  Charles  N.  Mr.  Brokaw  was 
one  of  the  first  pioneer  settlers  of  Bedford  precinct.  He  came  into 
the  neighborhood  about  the  year  1831,  and  purchased  a  large  tract  of 
land,  at  which  time  there  were  but  a  few  houses  in  the  neighborhood 
within  sight  of  his  dwelling.  The  whole  country  around  was  one  vast 
prairie.  It  was  only  a  few  years  after  this  that  the  tide  of  emigration 
set  in,  when  many  others  followed,,  and  began  the  erection  of  dwellings, 
fences,  etc.  At  an  early  day  the  settlement  went  by  the  name  of  the 
Brokaw  settlement,  until  the  progressive  enlargement  of  its  domain, 
when  its  name  gave  way  to  a  more  distinctive  appellation,  more  suited 
to  the  growing  spirit  of  the  times.  Then  came  the  familiar  Simonsons, 
Yoorheeses  and  Neviuses,  with  many  other  families  and  households, 
who  soon  made  the  prairie  to  smile  and  bring  forth  the  fruits  of  industry. 
Through  all  the  signs  of  eventful  growth,  Mr.  Brokaw,  though  young 
in  years,  was  regarded  as  the  father  of  the  settlement.  Every  new- 
comer received  more  or  less  of  his  help  and  guidance,  and  always  a 
welcome  at  his  house.  The  string  of  his  cabin  latch  was  always  hang- 
ing at  the  door  in  sight  of  all.  Happy  days  were  these,  though  days 
of  toil  and  anxiety.  In  the  development  of  the  prosperity  of  the  settle- 
ment Mr.  Brokaw  lent  his  aid  in  securing  religious  services  on  the 
Sabbath.  The  lirst  sermon  was  preached  at  his  house,,  and  after  the 
establishment  of  the  Reformed  church  he  became  a  member.  From 
that  time  to  the  time  of  his  death,  in  February,  1879,  he  had  by  his 
liberality  and  example  done  much  toward  promoting  its  prosperity. 
Before  his  death  he  had  been  chosen  a  member  of  the  consistory,  and 
was  to  have  been  ordained  to  the  office  of  deacon  the  day  of  his  burial. 
His  remains  repose  in  the  cemetery  of  Raritan,  where  a  monument 
appropriate  to  his  past  worth  and  usefulness  has  been  erected. 


TWELFTH  ILLINOIS  CAVALRY. 

Several  men  from  Henderson  county  were  enrolled  in  this  regiment, 
most  of  them  in  Co.  L.     Mercer  county  also  furnished  a  very  few. 
Col.  Arno  Yoss,  of  Chicago,  commanded  the  12th  a  year  and  a  half 
from  its  organization  early  in  18()2,  and  was  succeeded  by  Lieut. -Col. 


1140  HISTORY    OF   MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Hasbrouck  Davis,  of  the  same  citj,  wlio  served  as  colonel  from  that 
time  till  after  the  close  of  the  war.  The  regiment  was  ordered  to 
Virginia,  where  it  made  a  monumental  reputation.  At  Frjatt's  Farm 
Lieut. -Col.  Davis,  with  about  eighty  men,  performed  one  of  the  most 
daring  and  dashing  exploits  of  the  war.  His  camp  was  attacked  at 
daybreak  by  800  of  Ashby's  cavalry ;  he  ordered  a  charge,  and  the 
rebels  were  driven  to  Darkesville  on  the  Winchester  road.  There  they 
made  a  determined  stand,  protected  by  houses  and  stone  walls ;  but 
his  men,  giving  no  heed  to  obstructions  or  numbers,  dashed  down^ 
upon  them  with  drawn  sabers,  cutting  and  slashing  right  and  left,  like 
loosed  demons.  Seized  with  consternation,  the  rebels  fled  in  tearing 
rout,  leaving  between  forty  and  fifty  of  their  number  in  Davis'  hands, 
and  from  twenty-five  to  thirty  of  their  dead  on  the  ground.  His  loss 
was  less  than  twenty  wounded,  three  or  four  mortally.  The  regiment 
was  shut  up  with  Gen.  AVhite's  command  at  Harper's  Ferry  in  Septem- 
ber, 1862;  but  having  permission  to  cut  their  way  out,  managed  to 
slip  away  at  night  without  detection,  and  on  nearing  Williamsport, 
Maryland,  came  upon  a  rebel  supply-train,  captured  112  wagons  loaded 
with  ammunition  and  provisions,  a  drove  of  beef  cattle,  and  fifty  pris- 
oners. The  whole  history  of  the  12tli  sparkles  with  exciting  episodes 
like  these.  At  one  time  Lieut. -Col.  Davis,  with  300  of  the  regiment, 
went  on  the  "Stonewall  raid,"  moving  from  Thompson's  Cross  Roads 
to  Gloucester  Point,  passing  between  Lee's  army  and  Richmond,  and 
within  two  miles  of  the  rebel  capital.  In  scouts  and  skirmishes  it  was 
abundant;  in  battles  it  fought  at  Aldie,  Upperville,  Gettysburg, 
Boonesboro,  Burevola,  Funkstown,  Williamsport,  Jones'  Cross  Roads, 
Falling  Waters,  Chester  Gap,  Rappahannock,  Culpepper,  Raccoon  Ford, 
Madison,  Germania  Ford,  Steven sburg,  and  Brents ville.  The  cam- 
paign of  1863  being  ended,  the  12th  came  home  to  Chicago  to  recruit 
and  reorganize.  When  its  ranks  were  again  full  it  went,  in  February, 
1861,  to  St.  Louis ;  thence  to  New  Orleans  and  Alexandria,  fighting  at 
the  latter  place  on  five  dift'erent  days  of  April  and  May.  In  the  latter 
month  it  fought  also  at  Markville,  Yellow  Bayou,  and  Morganzia.  It 
performed  a  variety  of  service  in  Louisiana,  Arkansas,  and  Mississippi, 
until  February  28,  1865,  when  120  ofiicers  and  200  men  whose  term 
had  expired  were  discharged,  and  the  remainder  were  consolidated  into 
an  eight-company  organization. 


SEVENTH   MISSOURI   CAVALRY.  1141 


SEVENTH  MISSOURI   CAVALHY. 

In  the  summer  of  1861  William  Bishop,  of  Missouri,  began  recruit- 
ing in  this  state  what  was  known  as  the  Blackhawk  Cavalry,  an  inde- 
pendent regiment,  which  he  rendezvoused  at  Warsaw.  About  the  first 
of  August  a  certain  Crumpton  from  that  place  arrived  in  Oquawka  and 
persuaded  T.  W.  Kinsloe,  merchant,  to  enlist  a  compan}^,  and  remained 
a  short  time  to  assist  him.  Kinsloe  at  once  addressed  himself  to  this 
object,  and  being  further  aided  bj  James  Yance,  John  A.  Pence  and 
AVilliam  Morris,  in  little  more  than  a  month  had  sixty-nine  men,  in- 
cluding a  dozen  or  more  from  Keithsburg,  whom  he  took  down  to 
Warsaw,  There  company  E  was  organized  and  officered,  Kinsloe 
being  chosen  captain,  Vance,  first  lieutenant,  and  Pence,  second 
lieutenant.  Col.  Bishop  assembled  nine  fractional  companies,  and, 
after  drilling  them  a  few  weeks  without  arms,  crossed  the  com- 
mand over  to  Alexandria,  Missouri,  where  it  remained  about  the  same 
length  of  time  and  then  went  to  Macon.  On  February  20,  1862,  this 
battalion  and  Capt.  Louis'  company  of  cavalry  were  consolidated  and 
named  the  Seventh  Missouri  Cavalry.  Capt.  Daniel  Huston,  Jr.,  1st 
reg.  U.  S.  Inf.,  was  appointed  colonel ;  Col.  Bishop,  lieutenant-colonel ; 
and  Daniel  McKee,  major.  Dissatisfied  at  being  assigned  to  a  sub- 
ordinate position.  Col.  Bishop  immediately  resigned.  On  the  25th  the 
mounted  companies  A  (Capt.  N.  A.  Winters)  and  B  (Capt  Foster  B. 
Hawks),  which  had  been  attached  to  the  22d  Mo.  Vols.,  were  trans- 
ferred to  the  7th.  On  March  Tth  the  two  unattached  companies  of 
cavalry  commanded  by  Capt.  Frederick  C.  Loring  and  Capt.  Benjamin 
T.  Humphrey  were  consolidated  with  the  7tli.  On  the  12th  company 
B  of  this  regiment  was  ordered  to  be  broken  up  and  the  men  dis- 
tributed among  other  companies  of  the  command.  Companies  E  and 
H  were  at  the  same  time  consolidated  and  lettered  D,  and  Capt. 
William  McKee,  of  company  B,  was  placed  in  command  of  the  new 
company.  There  being  now  an  excess  of  officers,  Capt.  Kinsloe  was 
mustered  out.  None  of  the  officers  of  the  Blackhawk  Cavalry  received 
commissions  until  the  various  consolidations  had  taken  place,  and  that 
battalion  was  only  indifferently  mounted  and  armed ;  but  after  the 
changes  spoken  of  the  regiment  was  provided  with  sabers  and  Hall's 
carbines,  and  grew  to  be  well  disciplined  and  efficient. 

In  the  spring  the  regiment  moved  to  Booneville,  and  was  separated 
into  detachments,  six  companies  going  to  Lexington,  two  to  Pleasant 
Hill,  and  four  to  Independence.  On  the  11th  of  August  companies 
B  and  D  at  Independence,  together  with  a  few  Missouri  state  militia, 


1142  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

commanded  b^-  Lieut.  Col.  Biiell,  of  the  Ttli,  had  a  sharp  enga.o;ement, 
lasting  six  hours,  against  800  rebels,  under  Quantrell  and  Hughes.  A 
part  of  the  federals  got  away,  and  the  surrender  of  the  rest  was  agreed 
uj)on  with  the  stipulation  that  the  wounded  on  both  sides  should  be  per- 
mitted to  remain  at  Independence  till  able  to  be  removed.  The  prisoners 
were  paroled.  Company  D  had  seven  killed  and  about  a  dozen 
wounded.  Soon  after  another  detachment  of  the  regiment  had  a 
combat  at  Lone  Jack  ;  and  the  Ttli  was  ordered  to  Arkansas,  where 
it  took  part  in  the  battle  of  Prairie  Grove,  December  T,  1862. 
Capt.  McKee  and  several  men  of  company  D  were  killed,  and  a 
large  number  wounded.  The  same  month  Yance  was  promoted 
captain  and  Pence  iirst-lieutenant.  The  regiment  had  an  engagement 
at  Saline  river  in  August,  1863,  and  a  little  later  took  part  in  the 
fighting  around  Little  Rock,  and  the  capture  of  the  city.  After  that 
it  was  divided,  and  kept  scouting  and  doing  guard  duty,  until  the 
muster-out  of  the  non-veterans  at  St.  Louis  in  November,  1861.  On 
January  1,  1865,  the  re-enlisted  men  and  recruits  of  the  7th  Cavalry 
were  encamped  at  Pine  Bluif,  where  the  regiment  had  been  for  a  long 
time  stationed  under  Maj.  Brawner.  The  duties  at  this  place  were 
severe,  owing  to  its  being  the  advanced  post  of  the  army,  and  the 
month  of  January  was  spent  in  carefully  scouting  the  country  in  the 
direction  of  the  enemy.  The  regiment  having  been  depleted  by  the 
muster-out  of  a  large  number  of  its  members,  in  February,  1865,  it 
was  consolidated  with  the  1st  Missouri  Cavalry,  the  designation  of  the 
latter  being  preserved  ;  and  thus  the  name  and  organization  of  the 
7th  Missouri  Cavalry  disappeared. 


BALD  BLUFF  TOWNSHIP. 

"  The  white  man  hmded, — 
Need  4he  rest  be  told  ?  " — Byron. 

Bald  Bluff  precinct  stretches  across  the  entire  north  end  of  Hen- 
derson county.  In  its  narrowest  width  it  is  scarcely  three  and  one-half 
miles.  Its  greatest  breadth  is  a  little  more  than  four  and  one-half 
miles.  The  greatest  length  is  nine  miles.  It  is  made  up  of  section 
12,  range  4,  and  section  12,  range  5,  the  latter  comprising  about  one- 
third  of  its  territory.  It  is  bounded  on  the  north  by  Mercer  county, 
and  on  the  east  by  Warren  ;  on  the  south  by  Greenville  and  Oquawka 
precincts,  and  on  the  west  by  the  Mississippi  river.  Its  area  is  over 
thirty-four  sections,  or  about  22,0(X)  acres  of  land.     Of  that  portion  of 


BALD  BLUFF  TOWNSHIP.  1143 

the  precinct  which  is  in  section  12,  range  5,  very  little  can  be  utilized 
for  purposes  of  cultivation,  it  being  sand  which  was  deposited  by  the 
Mississippi  in  the  ages  that  have  forever  gone  by.  Conjecture,  and 
the  almost  unerring  guide  of  science,  would  lead  us  to  the  belief  that 
this  was  once  the  bottom  of  a  mighty  inland  sea.  Here  once  from 
bluif  to  bluff  rolled  the  murmuring  sound  of  its  waters,  and  over  this 
space  the  terrible  billow  has  chased  others  of  its  kind  when  lashed 
into  fury  by  the  howling  storm.  This  part  has  a  few  farms  opened  in 
it  which  will  scarcely  pay  the  cost  of  cultivation,  while  some  of  it  is 
only  barren  sand.  The  greater  part  of  it  is  thickly  covered  with  a 
species  of  oak  known  in  common  parlance  as  the  "'black  jack,"  inter- 
spersed thinly  with  a  few  other  varieties.  This  "black  jack"  makes 
excellent  fuel,  the  onh^  purpose  for  which  it  is  nmcli  used.  Of  that 
part  which  is  in  section  12,  range  4,  a  considerable  portion  is  marked 
by  the  same  features  as  that  of  section  12,  range  5,  but  it  has  a  differ- 
ent soil  from  it,  most  of  it  being  covered  with  a  rich  alluvial  deposit, 
and  wash  fi'om  the  high  bluffs  which  lie  to  the  eastward.  The  bluff 
bends  in  a  crescent  shape,  which  at  its  farthest  point  almost  touches 
the  line  between  the  two  townships  in  section  18.  Immediately  at 
the  foot  of  the  bluff'  is  soil  as  fertile  as  may  be  found  in  the  wide  realm 
that  is  known  to  man  ;  made  up  of  the  wash  of  vegetable  decay  which 
has  been  collecting  for  ages.  The  generous  sun  has  touched  for  count- 
less years  the  vegetation  of  these  bluff's,  and  with  a  lavish  extravagance 
the}'  poured  their  wealth  of  soil  down  on  the  bosom  of  their  sister,  the 
low  land  beneath.  How  quick  and  bright  her  smile  when  her  son's 
hands  carress  her.  How  lavish  are  the  gifts  she  laughingly  bears  upon 
her  bosom,  a  generous  wealth  of  golden  harvest  e'en  though  it  be 
tickeled  with  the  rudest  implement.  To  the  east  of  this  depression 
rises  the  abrupt  bluffs,  and  once  upon  its  crest  may  be  seen  stretching 
away  as  far  as  the  eye  can  reach  a  superb  plain  gently  rolling  as  though 
nature  had  given  a  slightly  convulsive  sob  and  left  undisturbed  its 
gentle  upheavals.  The  bluff  in  section  18  reaches  its  farthest  point 
west  and  comes  to  an  abrupt  point  when  it  recedes  again.  It  rises 
abruptly  some  300  feet  above  the  country  to  the  westward,  and  from 
its  sparse  vegetation  years  ago  it  received  the  name  of  Bald  Bluff,  from 
whence  comes  the  name  of  the  precinct.  From  here  is  seen  the  finest 
view  in  the  county,  and  is  perhaps  unsurpassed  in  the  state.  Look- 
ing westward  one  sees  for  a  distance  of  a  mile  well  cultivated  and 
highly  productive  land,  then  comes  a  stretch  of  two  miles  thickly  set 
with  the  shrubby,  gnarly  '•'blackjack"  oak,  beyond  which  the  majestic 
Mississippi  may  be  seen  rolling  onward  to  the  sea,  bearing  on  its 
bosom  water-craft  of  almost  ever}-  kind  which  are  hurrying  to  the 


1144  HISTORY    OF    MERCER    AXD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

marts  of  the  world  heavily  laden  with  the  products  of  the  soil,  or  bear- 
ing proudly  on  their  decks  those  who  are  hurrying  away  from  the 
sultry  south  to  find  a  season  of  rest  among  the  lake-dotted  prairies  of 
the  north,  where  the  pure  and  inspiring  breeze  will  kiss  back  to  cheeks 
now  pale  and  wan  the  glow  of  health.  On  beyond  this  one's  gaze  is 
lost  in  the  misty  maze  that  hovers  o'er  Iowa's  fair  prairie  land. 

Looking  south,  and  a  little  to  the  westward,  ten  miles  in  the  dis- 
tance, may  be  seen  Oquawka  nestling  close  beside  the  gallant  Missis- 
sippi, on  her  eastern  shore.  While  further  on,  more  than  a  score  of 
miles  away,  one  beholds,  looking  skyward,  the  tall  and  graceful  spires 
of  Burlington's  temples  of  worship,  and  the  smoke  of  a  thousand 
industries,  where  strive  the  honest,  manly  sons  of  toil,  rising  heaven- 
wai'd  to  join  its  kind  among  the  clouds. 

To  the  northwest  Keithsburg  may  be  seen  modestly  trying  to  con- 
ceal herself  among  the  trees,  which  her  tasty  citizens  have  set  along- 
side her  thordughtkres.  Here  nature  is  more  profuse  in  her  display 
than  for  miles  around. 

"  Here  summer  first  unfolds  her  robes, 
And  here  the  longest  tarries." 

Here  is  the  favorite  pleasure  resort  of  the  people  for  many  miles 
around.  From  here  the  last  remnant  of  Black  Hawk's  tribe,  whose 
hands  were  reeking  with  the  gory  tribute  of  revenge,  standing  upon 
the  point  of  this  bluff,  while  its  rounded  crest  is  gilded  with  the  glitter 
and  glare  of  the  rapidly  sinking  May-day  evening  sun,  with  heaving 
bosoms  and  tear-stained  faces  they  bade  a  last  sad  adieu  to  their  home 
of  other  days,  and  were  soon  gone  across  the  Mississippi,  to  return — 
never. 

Here,  July  4,  1S51,  occurred  a  very  serious  accident.  A  swing  had 
been  put  up  on  the  point  of  the  bluff,  so  that  in  its  sweep  to  and  fro  it 
went  far  out  over  the  side  of  the  bluff.  Among  others,  in  her  turn,  a 
Miss  Nancy  Yan  Eaton  was  in  the  swing  when  it  broke,  precipitating  her 
a'distance  of  forty  feet,  where  she  was  picked  up  more  dead  than  alive 
by  W.  H.  Heaton.     She  recovered  and  is  still  living. 

July  4,  1862,  at  a  celebration  occurred  an  event  intensely  interest- 
ing to  the  rude  element,  which  formed  so  large  a  part  of  society  of  that 
time,  being  a  desperate  list  encounter  between  two  rival  devotees  of 
the  art  of  bruising.  Tlie  conflicting  statements  of  spectators,  colored 
in  many  cases  by  prejudice,  would  lead  us  to  the  belief  that  the  result 
was  satisfactory  to  neither  party.  One  of  the  combatants,  St.  Clair 
(Chane)  Watts,  afterward  enlisted  in  the  60th  111.  Reg.,  of  which  he 
was  chosen  color-bearer,  and  his  was  the  first  flag  planted  on  the  walls 


BALD  BLUFF  TOWNSHIP.  1145 

of  Fort  Donelson,  thus  proving  that  his  courage  was  not  all  of  the 
lower  order.     He  went  through  the  war  without  a  scratch. 

This  tract  was  nearly  all  military  land.  The  precinct  is  one  of  the 
last  settled  in  the  county.  Who  the  first  settler  was  we  have  been 
unable  to  definitely  ascertain.  The  earliest  one  of  which  we  have  any 
definite  information  is  Moses  Cowan,  who  settled  on  Sec.  18,  about 
the  year  1836  ;  the  farm  is  now  occupied  by  W.  H.  Phelps.  John  P. 
Robinson  settled  one  mile  south  of  the  bluff"  about  the  same  date,  and 
Isaiah  Willetts  on  Sec.  8,  Dr.  Thomas  Willetts  on  Sees.  4  and  5. 
James  Fullerton  was  also  one  of  the  first  settlers.  He  built  a  cabin 
on  the  S,  W.  ^  of  See.  8,  known  as  the  Heaton  farm.  James  Halsey 
settled  near  where  Belmont  church  now  stands,  in  the  year  1842,  and 
in  the  year  following  built  the  first  frame  house  in  the  precinct. 

Charles  Watson,  who  subsequently  married  a  daughter  of  Mr. 
Halsey,  came  the  same  year,  opening  a  farm  near  by,  upon  which  he 
still  lives.  Luther  Watson,  a  brother  of  Charles,  came  about  the  same 
time,  and  settled  near.  James  Heaton  and  his  sons  settled  on  this 
quarter,  and  bought  it  in  1852.  They  also  purchased  the  quarter  south 
of  it,  and  the  N.W.  ^  of  Sec.  17,  where  they  lived  until  1870.  They 
claim  to  have  raised  100  bushels  of  corn  to  the  acre  on  the  part  of  this 
land,  which  adjoins  the  timber  on  the  north  side  of  the  bluff".  They  also 
raised  three  tons  of  hay  to  the  acre.  When  the  land  was  new  it  was 
very  productive,  thirty  bushels  of  spring  wheat  being  an  average  yield. 

Thomas  Flack,  a  son  of  merry  England,  settled  on  section  9,  and 
by  dint  of  hard  toil  and  careful  economy  he  has  gathered  about  him  a 
competence. 

William  R.  Green  located  at  his  present  home,  on  section  16,  in 
1851.  He  was  the  first  justice  of  the  peace  ever  elected  in  the  pre- 
cinct, and  also  was  its  first  school  treasurer.  His  son  Charles,  who 
helped  his  father  change  this  virgin  prairie  into  a  highly  productive 
farm,  has,  for  nearly  a  score  of  years,  been  post-master  at  the  county 
seat. 

In  1852  John  Cooper,  a  native  of  Peimsylvania,  with  his  parents,' 
came  to  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  soon  after  which  his  father  died. 
He  grew  to  manhood  ;  learned  the  trade  of  a  carpenter.  Thinking 
to  better  his  fortunes,  in  1852  he  walked  and  drove  twenty-five  head  of 
cattle  and  sixteen  head  of  hogs  across  Indiana  and  through  Illinois  to 
Henderson  county.  In  company  with  his  brother,  Moses,  he  bought  a 
quarter  section  in  Greenville  precinct,  and  went  to  work  on  it.  A  few 
years  subsequently  he  sold  to  his  brother  and  bought  in  Bald  Bluff", 
where  he  now  owns  a  thousand  acres  of  well  cultivated  land,  with  good 
buildings,  which  were  built  with  his  own  hands. 


11-16  HISTORY    OF   MEKCEE   AND    HENDEESON    COUNTIES. 

William  Morris,  who  subsequeiitlj  entered  the  army  and  became  a 
ca])tain,  settled  in  the  southeast  corner  of  the  precinct  in  1852,  where 
he  nows  owns  a  splendid  farm.  He  is  also  largely  interested  in  cattle 
growing  in  the  Indian  Territory. 

John  Laird  settled,  about  the  same  time,  just  across  the  river  from 
Capt.  Morris,  and  is  still  living  there. 

James  Armstrong  and  John  Rowley,  brothers-in-law,  came  from 
Boston,  Massachusetts,  and  settled  on  section  10,  which  was  then  an 
unbroken  j^rairie,  which  they  now  own  and  have  transformed  into 
highly  productive  farms. 

Solomon  Clark  had  settled,  in  1854,  on  Sec.  12,  T.  12,  R.  5,  and  in 
the  same  year  James  D.  Clark,  now  a  leading  grocer  in  Keithsburg, 
opened  a  farm  in  the  same  vicinity.  Two  years  subsequently  to  this, 
in  the  spring,  Henry  Clark  built  the  house  now  occupied  by  T.  J.  Moffett, 
on  section  7,  and  moved  his  family  from  Fountain  county,  Indiana, 
into  their  new  home  in  the  autumn  following.  About  this  time  the 
Specs,  another  family  of  Clarks,  and  a  man  by  the  name  of  Taylor, 
settled  to  the  west  and  farther  south  in  section  12,  range  5.  The  first 
school  taught  in  the  precinct  was  taught  by  Mary  Bool  Glancey,  now 
Mrs.  Thomas  J.  Moifett,  in  1851.  The  school-house  was  built  of  logs 
and  stood  on  section  18,  on  the  west  slope  of  the  bluff.  The  principal 
patron  of  the  school  was  Isaiah  Willetts,  Esq.,  now  of  Keithsburg,  with 
whom  the  school  mistress  boarded.  Mrs.  Moffett  now  lives  near  the 
scene  of  her  early  labor.  There  are  now  seven  schools  in  the  precinct, 
known  as  Centreville  and  Sunny  Grove,  in  section  12,  range  5,  and 
Belmont,  Douglas,  Harmony,  Cornstalk,  and  Sixteen,  in  section  12, 
range  4 — all  in  a  flourishing  condition  with  the  exception  of  No.  2, 
Douglas,  which  seems  to  be  a  bone  of  contention  among  those  who 
should  be  its  most  ardent  su])]5orters. 

CHURCHES. 

,  There  are  but  two  churches  in  the  precinct,  the  Belmont  Episcopal 
church  and  the  Wesleyan  Methodist,  of  Bald  Bluff,  both  of  which  are 
in  a  flourishing  condition.  When  the  Belmont  church  society  was 
organized,  is  a  date  in  its  history  which  we  have  not  been  able  to  rec- 
oncile, on  account  of  conflict  of  authority,  but  prior  to  the  building  of 
the  church  edifice,  the  society  held  meetings  at  different  places,  among 
them  Belmont  school-house,  which  were  ofliciated  at  by  itinerant 
ministers.  Early  in  1860  the  people  resolved  to  have  a  church  build- 
ing and  immediately  took  the  necessary  steps  to  do  so,  as  the  following 
•exhibit  will  show  : 


^6.9iiicyil^ 


eiyy^l^ 


BALD  BLUFF  TOWNSHIP.  1149 

State  of  Illinois,         \ 
County  of  Henderson,  j 

We  do  hereby  certify  that  at  a  meeting  of  the  society  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church,  holden  at  tlie  Belmont  school-house,  in  Dist. 
No.  6,T.  12  X.,R.  4  ^V.  of  the  4th  P.M.,  on  the  14th  day  of  Marcli,  1860, 
for  the  election  of  trustees.  We,  the  undersigned,  were  duly  elected 
under  the  name  and  title  of  the  Trustees  of  the  Belmont  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  and  tliat  the  term  of  service  of  said  trustees  expires 
when  they  shall  be  removed  by  death  or  a  vote  of  said  society. 
Given  under  our  hands  and  seals  this  26th  day  of  March,  1865. 
Charles  Watson,  Royal  Rajstney, 

William  Armstrong,  William  Mory, 

Luther  Watson,  James  H.  Huleck, 

Jeremiah  Bivens,  George  Sloan, 

James  IIollinroke. 

The  congregation  is  now  under  the  leadership  of  Rev.  Cole  ;  has  a 
membership  of  about  fifty.  The  Belmont  church  has  been  a  power  in 
the  upholding  of  the  cause  of  Christ  in  its  vicinity.  The  building  is  a 
frame  structure,  28x40,  and  was  built  in  the  year  1860. 

BALD  BLUFF  WESLEYAN  METHODIST  CHURCH. 

BY    REV.    A.    R.    BROOKS. 

This  church  was  organized  Marcli  15,  1868,  Rev.  J.  A.  McGiha'a, 
pastor  ;  R.  E.  Cassel,  class  steward.  The  following  is  a  list  of  the 
church  members  at  the  time  of  organization :  R.  E.  Cassel,  Perry 
Cooper,  Francis  Ann  Cooper,  William  Golf,  Mary  Goif,  Francis  Pat- 
tern, Lycurgus  Cooper,  Leroy  Cooper,  Harriet  Crawford,  Christian 
Edwards,  Judith  Miller.  This  little  band  worshiped  for  a  long  time  in 
Sixteen  school-house,  but  in  the  year  1878  they  erected  a  commodious 
house  of  worship.  This  work  was  due  in  a  great  measure  to  the  untir- 
ing labors  of  the  Rev.  Joseph  Campbell.  The  following  is  a  list  of 
the  pastors  who  have  served  the  church  since  its  organization  :  Revs. 
J.  A.  McGilvra,  organizer,  from  March  15,  1867,  to  September,  1868  ; 
S.  G.  Cheny,  April,  1868,  to  April,  1871  ;  F.  Barton,  April,  1871,  to 
September,  1871  ;  A.  D.  Manly,  September,  1871,  to  September,  1872  ; 
H.  Breckenridge,  September,  1872,  to  September,  1874 ;  L.  Davis, 
September,  1874,  to  September,  1875  ;  Joseph  Campbell,  September, 
1875,  to  September,  1878  ;  W.  W.  Stewart,  September,  1878,  to  Sep- 
tember, 1879 ;  A.  R.  Brooks,  present  pastor. 

This  church  has  passed  through  severe  trials,  being  strictly  reform- 
atory in  its  organization  and  discipline,  and  holding  definitely  to  the 
doctrine  of  vital  hoHness  as  a  distinct  christian  attainment  in  personal. 
65 


1150  HISTORY    OF   MERCEE   AND    HE^VDERSON   COUNTIES. 

experience.  Mam^  souls  have  been  converted  to  the  Saviour  through 
the  instrumentality  of  this  organization.  So"me  of  its  original  mem- 
bers have  now  passed  over  to  the  silent  majority ;  some  have  gone  to 
distant  lands  and  are  still  laboring  to  build  up  the  Master's  kingdom 
there.  The  church  is  striving  amid  much  opposition  to  advance  the 
cause  of  true  religion.  It  maintains  regular  services,  has  two  out- 
stations,  and  carries  on  a  union  Sabbath  school.  The  church  building 
is  now  ovraed  in  part  by  the  said  Wesleyan  Methodist  church  and  in 
part  by  a  joint  stock  company.  List  of  present  members  :  A.  Patten, 
Frances  Patten,  Mary  Ball,  Peuben  Ball,  Louisa  Rieketts,  James  Smith, 

Croyse,    Richard  McCullen,    A.  P.  Brooks,    M.    E.  Brooks, 

Hattie  Brooks,  William  Speck,  Olive  M.  Sjjeck,  Louisa  Staley.  The 
church  membership  at  present  scarcely  exceeds  in  number  the  original 
charter  members.  Its  membership  has  been  greatly  diminished  of  late 
by  emigration  and  removal  of  members. 

Bald  Bluif  precinct  was  a  part  of  Oquawka  until  its  separate  organi- 
zation, September  8,  1858.  Commencing  on  the  line  dividing  "Warren 
and  Henderson  counties,  where  the  Henderson  river  crosses  said  line, 
thence  following  said  river  west  to  where  it  crosses  the  east  and  west 
Knes  through  center  of  Sec.  29,  T.  12,  P.  4  W.  ;  thence  due  west  to 
the  Mississippi  river  ;  thence  with  the  river  to  the  Mercer  county  line  ; 
thence  east  to  the  line  between  Warren  and  Henderson  counties. 
September  10,  1874,  by  order  of  the  county  board,  the  following  terri- 
tory was  added  :  all  that  part  of  T.  12  K.,  P.  4  W.  fr3rmerly  belong- 
ing to  Greenville  precinct,  except  the  west  half  of  section  33,  and  that 
part  of  sections  31  and  32  lying  south  and  east  of  Henderson  river. 
Fifty  years  ago  there  was  not  a  white  inhabitant  in  the  precinct.  The 
census  of  1880  showed  it  to  have  a  population  of  964  souls. 

Below  is  a  list  of  justices  of  the  peace  and  constables,  with  the  date 
of  their  qualification,  after  the  separate  organization  of  the  precinct : 

Justices  of  the  peace:  John  Powley,  !N^ovember  31,  1857  ;  Will- 
iam P.  Green,  November  2, 1858  ;  William  R.  Green,  November  5, 1861 ; 
James  Kile,  November  7,  1865  ;  William  P.  Green,  November  31, 
1868  ;  James  Kile,  November  2,  1869  ;  William  R.  Green,  November 
2,  1869  ;  James  Mitchell,  November  8,  1870  ;  James  Kile,  November 
4,  1873  ;  John  H.  Rice,  November  7,  1876  ;  William  E.  Smith, 
November  6,  1877  ;  John  H.  Rice,  November  6,  1877;  John  H.  Rice, 
November  8,  1881  ;  John  Home,  June  5,  1882. 

Constables :  James  H.  Halsey,  November  21,  1858  ;  Andrew  L. 
Morris,  November  3,  1859 ;  Andrew  L.  Morris,  November  5,  1861  ; 
Arthur  Roberts,  June  14,  1862  ;  Merit  R.  Green,  November  3,  1 863  ; 
Elisha,  N.  Kile,  November  27,  1867  ;  Levi  W.  Armstrong,  December 


BALD  BLUFF  TOWNSHIP.  1151 

19,   1868  ;    Merit   R.    Green,   November   2,   1869  ;    Henry   Hodson, 
November  4,  1873  ;  James  Z.  McCurdy,  November  4,  18T3  ;   Merit 

E.  Green,  November  4,  1874  ;    William  Morris,  November  6,  1877  ; 

F.  M.  Scott,  November  6,  1877  ;  Henry  Hodson,  November  4,  1879  ; 
Merit  R.  Green,  June  8,  1881  ;  Merit  R.  Green,  November  8,  1881. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

John  Cooper,  one  of  the  largest  landholders  in  this  section  of  the 
county,  was  born  July  8,  1817.  His  parents,  William  and  Elizabeth 
(Jennings)  Cooper,  were  natives  of  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania. 
Li  1817  they  moved  to  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  where  he.  (AVilliam 
Cooper)  died  a  few  years  later,  and  is  buried  in  the  orthodox  Quakers' 
graveyard.  His  wife  is  still  living  (1882)  at  the  advanced  age  of 
ninety-six  years.  William  Cooper  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812. 
He  became  the  father  of  nine  children :  Perry  (died  in  Kansas),  Moses 
(of  Henderson  county),  John,  Sarah  (now  Mrs.  Lewis  McCIain),  Bald- 
win (of  Wayne  county,  Indiana),  Anna,  Ephraim,  Matilda  (dead),  and 
Eunice.  All  came  to  Illinois  except  Sarah.  John  Cooper  was  bom 
in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania.  He  was  but  three  months  old 
when  his  parents  removed  to  Indiana.  His  life  thus  far  has  been  sixty- 
five  years  of  rural  surroundings  and  experiences.  His  schooling  was 
acquired  in  the  log  school-house,  with  its  slab  benches,  mud  chimney, 
etc.  His  youthful  arm  wielded  the  axe  that  felled  tree  after  tree  till 
the  Indiana  farm  was  cleared.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  years  he 
engaged  at  the  carpenter's  trade,  which  he  followed  fifteen  j-ears.  He 
became  owner  of  a  large  part  of  the  Indiana  homestead.  In  1852  he 
sold  his  property  and  started  for  Illinois.  He  drove  about  fifty  head 
of  cattle  and  ten  or  fifteen  head  of  hogs  from  Indiana  to  Henderson 
county,  walking  all  the  way  himself.  The  journey  was  a  tedious 
one,  so  muddy  was  it.  Mr.  Cooper,  in  company  witli  his  brother 
Moses,  bought  160  acres  of  land  in  T.  11  N.,  R.  4  W.  In  two 
or  three  years  he  sold  his  interest  to  his  brother  and  purchased  in 
Bald  Blufl"  precinct.  He  has  continued  adding  till  he  now  has  1,014 
acres  of  land.  He  has  done  his  own  building.  Industry  and  economy 
of  time  by  expenditure  in  machinery,  etc.,  have  marked  his  career. 
Although  Mr.  Cooper  has  been  town  trustee  and  has  filled  some  minor 
oftices,  yet  he  meddles  but  little  with  politics  any  more  than  to  vote 
his  republican  principles.  Mr.  Cooper  was  married  March  6,  1845,  to 
Martha  Smith,  who  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  Indiana.  She  died 
leaving  two  children  :  Rauseldon,  born  December  24,  1845,  now  state's 
attorney  for  Henderson  county,  and  Martha  Elnoi-a,  born  June  21, 
1847.     Mr.  Cooper  was  next  married,  October  27,  1864,  to  Mary  A. 


.1152  HISTOKY    OF   MERCER   AJSTD    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

Crawford,  dangliter  of  Jacob  and  Sopliia  Crawford,  then  of  Henderson 
county.  She  was  born  in  "Wayne  county,  Indiana.  This  union  has 
been  blessed  witli  nine  children :  Frank,  born  September  6,  1S65 ; 
Carleton,  born  January  10,  1867;  Emma,  born  December  15,  1868; 
John,  born  October  16,  1870 ;  Eva,  born  August  16,  1872 ;  Ada,  born 
April  30,  1874 ;  Sophia,  born  March  1,  1876  ;  Howard,  born  August  15, 
1879;  and  Jennie,  born  April  10,  1882.  Mr.  Cooper's  portrait  is 
found  in  its  proper  place. 

George  H.  Yogt  was  born  in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  June  9, 
1836.  He  is  the  son  of  Frederick  and  Caroline  Yogt.  The  elder  Yogt 
carried  on  the  tanning  business,  and  George  learned  the  trade  and 
worked  at  the  business  at  ChandlersWlle,  Ohio.  At  the  age  of  twenty- 
two  Mr.  Yofft  reached  the  conclusion  that  it  was  not  good  for  man  to 
be  alone  (he  felt  that  way  about  himself  at  least),  and  on  November  1, 
1858,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  S.  Few,  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Harriet  Few.  Mr.  Yogt  removed  from  Ohio  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois, 
in  1867,  and  after  a  residence  of  four  years  in  Mercer  he  located  in 
Henderson  county,  where  he  now  resides.  He  considers  farming  his 
legitimate  business,  but  still  he  has  such  a  fondness  for  live  stock  that 
he  does  a  great  deal  of  buying  and  shipping  of  cattle  and  hogs.  Mr. 
Yogt.  has  been  a  member  of  the  I.O.O.F.  since  1861,  and  a  member  of 
the  masonic  fraternity  since  1857.  The  lirst  ballot  that  Mr.  Yogt  had 
the  honor  of  depositing  for  President  was  given  to  the  ""Little  Giant'' 
of  Illinois ;  but  he  is  now,  and  has  been  for  a  good  many  years,  a  mem- 
ber of  the  republican  party.  When  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Yogt  started  up  the 
steps  of  time  together,  they  had  the  misfortune  to  have  their  residence 
consumed  by  fire  and  all  their  goods  destroyed ;  but  their  hearts  did 
not  fail  them  because  of  their  misfortune ;  it  rather  nerved  them  for  a 
more  earnest  battle  with  life's  cares.  Mrs.  Yogt  was  born  in  Muskin- 
gum county,  Ohio,  March  10,  1839.  They  have  three  children : 
Durward  F.,  Fannie  M.,  and  Lewis  S.  Mr.  Yogt  has  an  excellent 
farm  of  160  acres  under  a  good  state  of  cultivation.  The  parents  of 
Mr.  Yogt  were  natives  of  Germany.  Mr.  Yogt  is  a  genial,  big-hearted, 
companionable  gentleman,  and  has  a  strong  sympathy  for  all  mankind. 

Reuben  S.  AVolff  was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania, 
Julv  30,  1832.  He  is  the  son  of  Christian  and  Steinner  Wolff.  Thev 
were  born,  respectively,  October  30,  1791,  and  March  6,  1781,  in 
Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania.  He  went  with  his  parents  to  Cum- 
berland county  in  the  spring  of  1870.  He  is  a  carpenter  by  trade  and 
followed  the  business  for  some  years.  He  came  to  Henderson  county 
in  the  spring  of  1871.  Here  he  is  engaged  in  farming.  He  was 
married  in  1852  to  Caroline  Mellinger,  daughter  of  L.  Mellinger.  He 
is  a  Universalist  in  religion. 


BALD  BLUFF  TOWNSHIP.  1153 

Mrs.  Kaxcy  IIakkis,  daughter  of  Richard  and  Anna  Gregar,  was 
born  in  Kentucky,  February  12,  1S17.  She  married  Nelson  Harris ; 
came  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois,  in  1861.  They  lived  in  the  village  of 
Joy  about  four  years ;  they  then  moved  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois, 
where  she  lives  at  present.  She  was  married  in  April,  1838.  He  died 
February  1,  1870.     She  is  an  Episcopalian. 

A.  Russell  was  born  December  5,  1827,  in  the  State  of  Ohio. 
He  came  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  in  1835,  and  located  near 
where  Gladstone  now  stands.  Here  he  followed  farming  and  stone 
quarrying  until  1858,  wlien  he  bought  a  farm  in  the  northeast 
part  oi'  Henderson  county,  where  he  resided  until  his  death,  which 
occurred  June  2,  1879.  He  left  a  wife  and  two  children  to  mourn  his 
departure.  The  elder  child  of  the  two  is  William  L.,  w^ho  was  born 
August  24,  1857  ;  and  the  other  is  Park,  born  August  29,  1860.  Mrs. 
Russell,  to  whom  Mr.  Russell  was  married  September  22,  1856,  was 
Miss  Elmira  Cowan,  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  Cowan,  who  were 
natives  of  Pennsylvania.  Mrs.  Russell  was  born  in  Warren  county, 
Ohio,  September  21,  1824.  In  1829  she  went  with  her  family  to 
Indiana,  and  resided  there  until  1836,  when  they  removed  to  Hender- 
son county,  Illinois,  where  Mrs.  Russell's  home  has  ever  since  been. 

Geo.  W,  Ditto  was  born  in  Shelby  county,  Ohio,  March  29,  1820. 
His  parents  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania.  He  came  to  Mercer 
county,  Illinois,  in  1836,  where  he  remained  until  1840.  He  then 
removed  to  Texas,  where  he  resided  until  1849,  when  he  returned  to 
Mercer  county.  He  was  married  March  9,  1857,  to  Elizabeth, 
daughter  of  John  F.  and  Nancy  Da\'is.  She  was  born  July  13,  1834, 
She  was  the  sixth  daughter.  Her  parents  came  to  Illinois  in  1835, 
and  settled  in  Pike  county,  near  the  Fall  river.  Mr.  Ditto  bought  a 
farm  here  and  put  improvements  on  it,  and  in  1852  he  came  to 
Henderson  county,  and  improved  the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides. 
Mr.  Ditto  has  been  school  director  of  Douglass  district  for  thirty  years. 
He  owns  667  acres  of  land.     He  is  a  strong  greenbacker  politically. 

John  Rowley  was  born  in  Connaught  county,  Ireland,  September 
4,  1818.  He  removed  with  his  parents  to  New  Brunswick  in  1839, 
and  remained  there  until  1844.  He  then  removed  to  Massachusetts, 
where  he  remained  until  1854,  and  then  came  to  Henderson  county, 
Illinois.  He  formerly  worked  at  the  tanner's  trade ;  but  since  he  has 
been  a  resident  of  Illinois  he  has  devoted  his  time  to  farming.  He 
was  married  in  1849,  to  a  daughter  of  William  and  Mary  Armstrong. 
They  have  four  children:  William  J,,  born  January  11,  1850; 
Janney  R.,  December  26,  1858;  George  H.,  August  12,  1867; 
Samuel,  August  24,  1868.     He  has  a  farm  of  420  acres  of  good  land, 


1154  HISTORY   OF   IMERCER    AXD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

all  well  improved,  with  good  buildings.  He  organized  the  first  school 
district  ever  organized  in  the  township.  He  was  formerly  a  repub- 
lican, but  is  now  a  greenbacker. 

John  Laird  was  born  in  Scotland  in  1826.  He  was  educated  in 
L-eland  in  the  connnon  schools.  He  came  to  Henderson  county,  Illi- 
nois, in  1850,  where  he  has  since  resided.  He  has  always  followed 
farming  as  a  business.  He  was  married  July  3,  18-48,  in  New  York, 
to  Elizabeth  Mason,  who  was  the  daughter  of  James  and  Margaret 
Mason.  She  died  at  the  age  of  twenty-seven  years,  and  Mr.  Laird 
again  married,  tliis  time  selecting  the  daughter  of  James  and  Ellen 
y enable.  The  names  of  their  children  are  :  George,  born  August  18, 
1858 ;  Jennie,  born  November  10,  1860 ;  Ralpli,  February  15,  1862  ; 
Joseph,  born  January  13,  1865;  Charlie,  born  October  15,  1867; 
Levi,  born  January  15,  1880;  and  Staley,  born  March  1,  1881.  Mr, 
Laird  owns  a  farm  of  500  acres.     He  is  a  democrat  politically. 

Thomas  S.  Flack  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania, 
February  12,  182L  Lie  removed  with  his  father's  family  to  Virginia 
in  1837.  He  received  only  a  common  school  edneation.  He  followed 
teaming  from  Columbia  to  Baltimore  from  1843  to  1853.  He  then 
removed  to  Oquawka,  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  remaining  in  that 
town  but  a  short  time,  and  then  removing  on  the  farm  on  which  he 
now  lives.  He  has  been  very  successful  in  his  efforts  in  life.  He 
now  owns  a  fine  farm  of  400  acres  of  good  land,  and  it  is  all  imder  a 
good  state  of  cultivation.  His  buildings  are  all  good  and  he  has 
plenty  of  all  kinds  of  stock  around  him. 

S^vjviuEL  Mickey  was  born  in  Richland  countv,  Ohio.  He  came  to 
Henderson  county,  Illinois,  in  1851.  He  received  a  common  school 
education.  He  came  to  Illinois  with  a  team,  the  trip  being  long  and 
tedious  in  those  early  days.  Mr.  Mickey  learned  the  blacksmith  trade, 
wliich  business  he  followed  for  ten  years,  in  partnership  with  James 
Cunningham  in  Oquawka,  at  the  end  of  which  time  he  removed  to 
Bald  Blufi'  township,  and  engaged  in  farming  in  the  spring  of  1865. 
Mr.  Mickev  is  a  member  of  the  Odd-Fellows  order.  He  is  a  Methodist 
in  his  church  relations.  He  was  married  in  1852.  He  is  in  good 
circumstances. 

William  Morris  was  born  in  Fayette  county,  Kentucky,  October 
20,  1820.  His  parents  were  Virginians.  He  received  a  common 
school  education,  and  came  to  Illinois  and  located  in  Henderson  county 
in  1846.  Mr.  Morris  took  a  trip  overland  to  Colorado  in  1850  and  re- 
turned in  1851  to  Illinois.  In  1861  Mr.  Morris  enlisted  as  a  private 
soldier  in  the  Union  army  and  took  his  place  in  the  Blackhawk  cavalry. 
At  the  battle  of  Independence  he  received  a  wound  in  the  head  from  a 


BALD  BLUFF  TOWNSHIP.  1155 

musket  ball  on  August  11,  1862.  He  was  confined  to  the  hospital 
until  September  29,  when  he  returned  home.  Mr.  M.orris  was  married 
January  !),  184:3,  to  Eva  A.  Carpenter.  Thej  have  been  blessed  with 
three  children  :  John,  Myrin  C,  and  George  N.  Mr.  Morris  has  a  fine 
farm  of  317  acres,  well  improved.  Mr.  Morris  is  an  earnest  green- 
backer,  casting  the  only  vote  for  Peter  Cooper  for  President  which  that 
distinguished  philanthropist  received  in  Bald  Bluff  township.  In  two 
years  from  the  time  named,  when  the  one  vote  for  the  greenback  cause 
stood  sad  and  alone,  401  votes  were  cast  for  the  greenback  candidate 
for  congress,  and  Mr.  Morris  felt  proud,  as  he  had  a  right  to,  over  the 
large  accession  to  his  political  ranks  in  his  own  precinct.  Mr.  Morris 
is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  has  been  since 
1857.  He  is  also  a  member  of  the  masonic  fraternity  and  stands  high 
as  a  citizen. 

James  H.  Halsey  was  born  in  Ohio,  August  15,  1833.  His  parents 
were  natives  of  New  York.  He  received  a  liberal  education  in  the 
schools  of  Oquawka  and  then  removed  to  his  farm,  twelve  miles  north- 
east of  Oquawka,  where  he  has  ever  since  resided.  He  was  a  soldier 
in  the  LTnion  army  from  August  15,  1862,  until  the  close  of  the  war. 
He  was  in  Co.  C,  91st  111.  Vols.  He  was  married  March  5,  1857,  to 
Ellen  M.  Armstrong,  daughter  of  William  and  Nancy  Armstrong. 
They  have  four  children  :  Ellen  N.,  Sarah  E.,  Mary  L.,  and  Jennie  R. 
He  has  a  farm  of  160  acres.  •  He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church. 

Ephraim  Cooper  was  born  in  Wayne  county,  Indiana,  December 
18,  1825.  His  parents  were  Pennsylvanians.  He  was  married  Sep- 
tember 15,  1862.  to  Ruth  Malady,  daughter  of  John  and  Ruth 
Malady.  They  have  two  children.  Mr.  Cooper  owns  173  acres  of 
land.  In  the  earlier  part  of  his  life  Mr.  Cooper  followed  the  business 
of  carpenter  and  joiner. 

John  Hite  was  born  in  Shelby  county,  Kentucky,  February  15, 
1831.  His  parents  were  Pennsylvanians.  Our  subject  removed  to 
Mercer  county,  Illinois,  in  1860,  where  he  remained  until  1879,  when 
he  removed  to  Henderson  county,  where  lie  now  resides.  He  has 
always  followed  farming  as  his  legitimate  business.  Mr.  Hite  served 
as  a  soldier  in  the  20th  111.  Inf ,  tlie  last  year  of  the  late  civil  war.  He 
was  married  November  1,  1853,  to  Margaret  J.,  daughter  of  James 
and  Catharine  Grew.  They  have  had  eight  children  born  unto  them, 
seven  of  whom  are  living.     Mr.  Hite  is  in  good  circumstances. 

Lemuel  T.  Clark,  Keithsburg,  farmer,  was  born  in  Mahaska 
county,  Iowa,  July  1-1,  1853.  His  parents  were  Solomon  and  Huldah 
(Templeton)  Clark.     When  he  was  but  two  years  old  he  came  with  his 


1156  HISTORY   OF   MERCER    AND   HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

parents  to  Keitlisbnrg,  Mercer  county,  and  there  remained  one  year. 
The  family  then  moved  to  Henderson  county,  from  whence  Mr. 
Lemuel  Clark  returned  to  Mercer  county  when  he  had  reached  the 
age  of  manhood,  and  settled  on  the  farm  on  which  he  now  resides. 
December  24,  1874,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Lizzie  Camp- 
bell, daughter  of  John  and  Mary  Campbell,  of  Henderson  county. 
They  have  no  children.  Mr.  Clark  is  a  gentleman  of  education, 
having  attended  the  common  schools  until  eighteen  yeai's  old,  and 
finishing  a  business  education  at  the  Burlington  Business  College  of 
Burlington,  Iowa.  For  the  past  eight  years  he  has  been  teaching 
school  in  the  winter ;  six  years  in  his  own  district.  Politically  Mr. 
Clark  is  an  abolition  democrat.  He  is  a  man  whose  word  is  as  good 
as  his  bond,  and  who  is  respected  by  all  who  know  him.  . 

John  Swanson  was  born  in  Sweden,  June  20,  1849.  He  received 
a  common  school  education  in  his  native  countiy.  He  came  to 
America  in  1869,  and  settled  in  Mercer  count}^  Illinois.  He  worked 
as  a  farm  laborer  for  two  years.  He  now  owns  130  acres  of  land,  all 
improved.     He  was  married  March  17,  1871,  to  Amelia  Sheff. 

j^ELsoN  H.  Phelps  was  born  in  Oquawka,  Henderson  county,  Illi- 
nois, February  22,  1834.  His  parents  were  natives  of  New  York 
state.  He  received  his  education  at  Galesburg,  Illinois,  and  St.  Louis, 
Missouri.  In  1854  he  engaged  in  general  merchandising,  which  he 
followed  until  1857,  when  he  engaged  in  banking  in  Oquawka  for  two 
years.  He  then  retired  from  business,  and  in  1860  went  to  Pike's 
Peak.  After  a  stay  of  two  years  in  the  far  west  he  returned  to  his 
liome  in  Oquawka,  but  soon  went  south  and  served  as  tirst  clerk  in  the 
paymaster's  department.  He  was  married  July  4,  1855,  to  Julia  Deni- 
son,  daughter  of  Erastus  and  Martha  Denison,  They  are  the  parents 
of  six  children,  five  of  whom  are  living.  Mr.  Phelj)s  has  always  voted 
with  the  republican  party. 

David  B.  Murray,  farmer,  was  born  in  Ohio,  May  15,  1845.  In 
1849  his  father's  family  removed  from  Ohio  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois, 
where  they  remained  until  1856,  when  they  removed  to  Henderson 
county.  Our  subject  was  married  January  1,  1878,  to  Miss  Nettie 
Shafier.  They  have  two  children  :  George  E.,  born  March  9,  1879, 
and  Kay  B.,  born  January  10,  1882.  Mr.  Murray  has  a  good  farm  of 
100  acres.     Religiously  he  is  a  liberal. 

John  Walters  was  born  in  England,  February  12,  1820.  He  was 
educated  in  the  high  schools  of  his  native  country.  He  came  to  Hen- 
derson county,  Illinois,  in  1852.  He  has  a  farm  of  276  acres  well  im- 
proved ;  life  has  been  a  success  with  him.  Mr.  Walters  was  married 
in  1831,  to  Miss  Frances,  daughter  of  William  and  Frances  Edwards. 


WALNUT    GROVE    TOWNSHIP.  1157 

She  died  in  New  York,  June  21,  1849.  He  married  the  second  time. 
May  13,  1858,  choosing  for  his  companion  this  time  Nancj  Chard. 
Thev  have  had  seven  cliildren  born  unto  them:  Thomas,  Marv  F., 
John  W.,  George  A.,  William,  Nettie  H.,  and  Joseph,  all  living  but 
one. 

William  E.  Smith  was  born  in  England,  January  30,  1832.  He 
was  educated  in  the  common  schools.  He  came  to  Ohio  from  England, 
and  from  Ohio  he  removed  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in  Henderson 
cou^t3^  in  1842.  Mr.  Smith  was  elected  a  justice  of  the  peace  in  1877, 
which  position  he  held  for  one  term.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church,  and  has  been  since  1843.  He  was  married 
April  12,  1860. 

John  H.  Rice,  farmer,  was  born  in  Henderson  county,  Illinois, 
Febiniarv  14,  1844.  His  parents  wei-e  from  Kentucky.  Our  subject 
was  educated  in  Oquawka  in  the  connnon  schools.  He  was  a  member 
of  Co.  C.  91st  111.  Yols.  He  returned  home,  and  lived  in  Oquawka 
for  a  short  time.  He  then  went  on  a  farm,  and  has  since  followed 
farming.  He  was  married  December  29,  1865,  to  Miss  Margaret  J. 
Martin,  daughter  of  George  P.  and  Caroline  Martin.  Politicallj^  he 
is  a  republican. 

George  McCurdy  was  born  in  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  Decem- 
ber 15,  1856.  He  followed  teaming  from  1878  to  1880,  and  then 
removed  to  the  farm.  He  is  a  republican  in  politics.  His  circum- 
stances are  good. 


WALNUT  GEO  YE  TOWNSHIP. 

Walnut  Grove  township,  which  is  generally  termed  township  9, 
range  4,  comprises  thirty-six  sections  of  the  choicest  farming  land  in 
the  county  of  Henderson.  Though  there  is  no  eminence  from  which  a 
view  of  the  entire  township  may  be  taken,  yet  the  physical  features 
present  everywhere  a  delightful  landscape  to  the  human  eye.  Standing 
on  a  rise  of  ground  on  the  north  side  of  the  townshij),  there  is  stretched 
out  in  summer  a  glorious  prospect  of  forest,  field  and  sky ;  on  the  left 
hand  are  fields  of  billowy  grain  and  waving  corn,  extending  as  far  as 
the  eye  can  reach  until  the  green  of  the  fields  and  the  blue  of  the 
heavens  meet  in  the  distant  faint  horizon ;  on  the  right  hand  the  view 
is  more  circumscribed :  the  landscape  here,  more  undulating,  is  dotted 
with  green  groves,  with  white  houses,  with  red  barns,  decorated  with 
their  white  trimmings.  In  front  extends  the  long  line  of  heavy  forest 
which  skirts  the  banks  of  the  Ellison.     In  the  edge  of  this  timber  is 


1158  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AIJD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

the  Ellison  eliiirch,  its  whiteness  standing  out  the  more  clearly  in  the 
midst  of  the  dark  forest  trees ;  church  and  trees  together  lifting  them- 
selves up  to  the  open  heavens,  both  monuments  to  God,  the  one 
speaking  of  nature's  power  and  skill,  the  other  telling  of  the  piety  and 
reverence  of  the  soul  of  man.  To  one  standing  on  the  south  side  of 
the  township  and  looking  to  the  north,  there  is  biit  little  change  in  the 
scene,  save  that  the  green  fringe  marking  the  south  bank  of  Ellison 
valley  is  faint  and  indistinct.  In  front  and  on  both  sides  are  unequaled 
farms  running  back  on  the  long  ridges  and  gentle  slopes,  the  hedges, 
the  groves,  the  golden  fields  of  grain  against  the  background  of  watery 
sky,  all  combining  to  make  up  a  scene  the  silent  beauty  of  which 
beggars  the  skill  of  writers  pen  or  painter's  brush  to  describe. 

The  beautiful  and  fertile  lands  of  this  township  are  abundantly 
drained  by  various  streams  and  brooklets.  The  Ellison,  which  enters 
the  township  on  the  east  from  Warren  county,  after  flowing  through 
section  24,  j^asses  on  in  a  northwesterly  direction  until  it  reaches  the 
north  side  of  section  10.  Here  it  turns  and  flows  southwest,  passing 
out  of  Walnut  Grove  township  in  section  18.  The  southern  tier  of 
sections  is  drained  by  a  little  brooklet  which  rises  in  section  27,  and 
which,  after  passing  through  several  sections,  empties  into  Honey 
creek,  which  enters  Walnut  Grove  township  at  section  32  and  passes 
out  again  in  section  31.  Several  brooklets,  taking  their  rise  in  the 
central  portion  of  the  township  and  falling  into  the  Ellison,  furnish 
good  drainage  to  the  central  farms. 

Ellison  creek,  which,  it  is  said,  was  named  for  a  man  named 
Ellison  who  was  drowned,  at  an  early  day  while  laboring  on  a  mill,  is 
the  only  stream  or  brooklet  that  has  been  dignified  with  a  name.  The 
banks  of  this  beautiful  stream  are  fringed  with  an  abundance  of  tim- 
ber, which  yearly  is  thought  to  be  increasing.  Almest  every  variety 
of  wood  common  to  this  latitude  is  here  found :  oak,  white,  burr,  black 
and  other  varieties;  soft  maple,  black  walnut  and  butternut;  hickory 
of  several  varieties ;  lime,  ash,  ironwood,  elm,  crab-apple,  thorn-apple, 
wild  plum,  and  an  abundance  of  hazel  and  dog-brush  are  all  to  be 
found  on  the  banks  of  the  Ellison.  The  cool  shades  of  these  groves, 
tlie  refreshing  water  of  the  springs  and  streams,  the  rich  and  juicy 
grasses  of  the  prairie,  all  combined  in  an  early  day  to  make  this  a 
paradise  for  the  wild  grazing  herds. 

The  soil  of  this  township  that  lies  along  the  streams  is  of  a  chocolate 
colored  loam,  through  which  in  many  places  the  clay  subsoil  crops. 
Back  from  the  streams  the  soil  becomes  a  rich  black  loam,  possessed 
of  unbounded  fertility,  and  well  adapted  both  for  the  raising  of  fruit 
and  also  for  agriculture  and  stock-growing ;  a  number  of  the  citizens  of 


WALNUT    GROVE    TOAVNSIIIP.  1159 

the  township  are  engaged  in  the  hitter,  and  have  many  acres  set  in 
clover  and  bkie-grass,  which  grow  most  luxuriantly. 

There  ai'c  two  stone-quarries  in  the  townshi]) :  one  on  section  24, 
formerlv  owned  bv  Johnson  c'c  Rav,  and  a  second  on  the  old  Kirk- 
patrick  place  on  the  Ellison. 

AVILD   ANIMALS   AND   GAME. 

To  one  walking  in  the  quiet  stillness  of  the  evening  along  the  woods 
that  skirt  either  bank  of  the  Ellison,  it  seems  well  nigh  impossible  that 
at  the  time  of  the  advent  of  the  first  settlers  these  woods  were  filled 
with  deer,  turkeys,  antelope,  squirrels,  wolves  and  an  occasional  pan- 
ther. Yet  such  was  the  case.  Mr.  Davidson  was  accustomed  to  kill 
tui'keys  for  his  home  use  from  the  lots  about  the  place.  When  out  of 
meat  it  was  the  custom  of  all  the  early  settlers  to  go  to  a  deer  path 
about  dusk  in  tlie  evening  or  daylight  in  the  morning,  and  there  wait 
for  the  coming  of  a  deer,  which,  when  killed,  was  at  once  dressed  and 
dragged  to  the  house.  Even  as  late  as  1851,  at  a  wolf-hunt  on  South 
Prairie,  300  deer  were  counted  in  the  circle,  and  one  dog  of  Uncle 
Aleck  Rankin's  caught  and  killed  no  less  than  four.  In  1857  a  Mr. 
Brent  found  a  panther  in  a  tree  near  his  house,  and  even  later  than 
that  a  black  wolf  came  into  his  neighbor's  yard  and  carried  off  a  large 
porker. 

The  early  settlement  of  the  township  was  not  unattended  with 
danger,  as  is  shown  by  the  murder  of  the  man  who  first  erected  a 
cabin  within  its  limits  :  a  man  named  Harris,  from  ISTew  York.  Mr. 
Harris  was  an  old  soldier  who  had  fought  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  had 
come  to  this  county  to  settle  on  a  piece  of  land  which  he  had  drawn 
for  his  services  in  that  w^ar.  Here  he  hoped  to  make  tor  himself  and 
family  a  home.*  Having  cleared  a  small  piece  of  ground  on  section  11, 
a  quarter  of  which  he  had  drawn,  he  began  the  erection  of  a  cabin, 
which  was  neai-ly  completed.  After  a  hard  day's  labor  cutting 
and  squaring  logs  for  the  completion  of  his  home,  his  labor  being- 
no  doubt  lightened  by  the  thought  of  the  dear  ones  with  whom  he 
was  soon  to  be  united,  he  kindled  a  fire  on  the  hearth  and  sat 
down  to  his  evening  meal  of  homin}-  and  coftee.  From  this  point 
nothing  was  known  for  many  years  as  to  what  occurred  up  to  the 
time  his  body  was  found.  A  day  or  two  afterward,  a  neighbor 
going  to  see  him  found  him  dead,  with  face  bowed  over  upon  his  plate 
of  hominy  and  a  bullet  hole  through  his  head.  Evidently  he  had 
been  shot  from  the  rear,  the  murderer  having  placed  his  gun  in  the 
little  window.  The  alarm  was  given  at  once,  and  the  few  men  in  the 
county  came  together  and  made  all  possible  investigation  as  to  the 


1160  HISTORY   OF   MERCER    AND    HEJTDERSON   COUNTIES. 

murder,  but  without  learning  anything.  For  a  time  suspicion  rested 
on  the  Indians  ;  again  on  some  parties  who  afterward  removed  to  the 
west.  About  six  months  after  Mr.  Harris'  burial,  near  his  little 
cabin,  some  of  his  relatives  came  from  New  York  to  see  if  he  could 
be  found,  and  after  disposing  of  his  claim  they  again  returned  to  New 
York.  More  than  twenty  years  passed  away  and  the  matter  passed 
from  the  minds  of  all.  Yet  not  all,  for  the  murderer  never  forgot  it. 
One  day  some  one  in  the  township  found  in  a  Cincinnati  newspaper 
the  account  of  the  hanging  of  a  criminal  for  murder,  who  on  the  scaffold 
made  confession  of  his  crimes.  Among  other  murders  was  the  account 
of  his  killing  a  man  named  Harris  in  Henderson  county,  Illinois.  The 
murderer  said  that  he  saw  him  draw  a  large  sum  of  money  from  a  bank 
in  a  town  in  New  York,  and  to  obtain  this  followed  Mr.  Harris  through 
to  Henderson  county.  He  first  dressed  himself  as  an  Indian  and  then 
approached  the  house  and  shot  him  while  at  his  supper.  Having 
failed  to  find  on  his  person  or  in  the  cabin  any  of  Harris'  gold,  save 
a  twenty-five  cent  piece,  which  he  threw  on  the  floor,  he  left  in  disgust. 
To  those  who  were  acquainted  with  the  details  of  the  murder,  the 
proofs  of  the  truth  of  this  man's  story  seemed  conclusive,  and  there 
seems  to  be  no  doubt  that  after  many  years  Mr.  Harris'  foul  murder 
was  partially  avenged. 

Many  parties,  it  is  said,  have  dug  about  Mr.  Harris'  grave,  and 
one  man  has  made  experiments  with  instruments,  in  hopes  to  find  his 
gold,  which  is  supposed  to  be  buried  somewhere  in  the  vicinity  of  his 
cabin,  but  all  without  success. 

Soon  after  this  sad  affair,  which  it  is  thought  occurred  in  1833,  the 
township  was  settled  at  two  different  points  simultaneously,  by  Mr. 
Frederic  Davidson  and  Aleck  Rankin,  two  of  Walnut  Grove's  best 
men  and  staunchest  citizens  in  the  early  days.  Mr.  Davidson,  with 
his  family,  then  consisting  of  his  wife  Elizabeth  and  two  children, 
Marion  and  Martha,  came  from  Indiana  to  a  point  near  Ellison,  in 
Warren  county,  in  November  of  1833.  Here  he  resided  about  one 
year.  He  then  removed  a  mile  or  two  down  the  Ellison  to  the  edge 
of  a  long  point  of  timber,  within  the  limits  of  Henderson  county,  and 
here  settled  about  the  same  time  that  Mr.  Rankin  came  to  Walnut 
Grove,  in  the  spring  of  1834.  In  the  e(]ge  of  this  timber,  to  which 
was  given  the  name  of  "Long  Point,"  Mr.  Davidson  erected  a  cabin 
and  began  his  pioneering  life.  No  doubt  his  Scotch  ancestry  helped 
liim  to  endure  the  privations  to  which  he  was  subjected.  Yet  no 
ancestry  can  make  ])rivations  less,  and  though  it  may  lighten  heavy 
loads  it  can  never  entirely  remove  them.  The  least  of  all  his  labors 
were  performed  when  Mr.  Davidson  had  erected  his  little  log  cabin. 


WALNUT    GEOVE    TOWNSHIP.  1161 

At  the  point  of  woods  known  as  Walnut  Grove,  which  has  since  given 
its  name  to  the  township,  Aleck  Rankin  settled.  Close  down  by  the 
bank  of  Sampj  Branch,  beneath  a  majestic  tree,  he  drove  his  wagon 
containing  his  wife  and  four  children,  and  his  brother  Hugh's  family, 
consisting  of  wife  and  four  children.  Here  they  camped  all  night,  and 
next  mornini»:  a  site  for  Aleck  Rankin's  house  was  selected.  Trees 
were  felled  and  hewn  so  as  to  fit  together  and  a  cabin  erected.  While 
they  worked  at  felling  trees  they  lived  on  the  wild  game  which  passed 
by  the  wagon,  tame  and  unacquainted  with  the  sound  of  human  speech 
and  laughter.  At  night,  while  their  wives  slept  in  the  wagon,  the 
men  slept  beneath  the  overhanging  branches  of  a  mighty  tree.  The 
night  they  moved  into  the  house  a  strange  incident  occurred,  which 
must  have  deepened  these  men's  faith  in  an  overruling  providence. 
When  Mr.  Rankin  went  out  from  the  cabin  the  following  morning,  a 
great  limb  had  fallen  from  the  tree  on  exactly  the  spot  where  they  had 
lain  so  many  nights.  Had  they  been  there,  no  doubt  both  would  have 
been  killed.  Here,  also,  a  cabin  was  erected  for  Mr.  Hugh  Rankin, 
who  did  not,  however,  live  here  long,  but  moved  farther  north  and 
built  a  shop  on  the  Ellison  above  the  bridge  at  a  point  about  north  of 
the  present  church  building.  Here  he  followed  his  avocation  as  a 
wheelwright,  making  chairs,  tables,  etc.,  and  here  for  many  years  he 
had  a  sugar  camp.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  two  other  brothers, 
Joseph  and  James  Rankin,  came  on  and  settled,  the  former  south  of 
Sampy  Branch,  his  cabin  standing  where  the  house  of  Alexander 
Rankin,  Jr.,  now  stands.  James  erected  a  cabin  about  eighty  rods 
west  of  his  brother  Aleck.  Joseph  at  this  time  had  a  large  family, 
while  James  had  four  children. 

In  the  fall  of  this  year,  1835,  a  fifth  brother,  William  Rankin,  with 
his  family,  came  on,  and  settled  on  the  Ellison  at  a  point  northeast  of 
the  present  United  Presbyterian  church.  Here,  assisted  by  his  brothers 
Hugh  and  Joseph,  he  erected  a  saw-mill,  the  power  for  which  was  fur- 
nished by  the  Ellison,  for  which  a  race  was  dug.  He  afterward  added 
to  this  a  little  pair  of  burrs,  in  which  he  ground  corn  for  the  neighbors. 
All  of  these  brothers  were  influential  and  enterprising  men,  and 
though  most  of  them  are  dead,  yet  in  the  influences  left  behind  them 
thev  still  live. 

About  this  time  Judge  Steele  came  to  Walnut  Grove  and  entered 
the  land  where  George  Dixon  now  resides.  The  following  spring  he 
settled  on  this  land.  Four  brothers  named  Kendall  also  settled  near 
Mr.  Steele,  but  they  remained  only  a  short  time,  afterward  going  into 
Olena  township.  In  the  southeastern  part  of  the  township  Mr.  W.  P. 
Thompson  erected  a  cabin  on  the  west  bank  of  the  Ellison,  and  here 


1162  HISTORY   OF   iVIERCER   AJSTD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

lie  now  (1882)  resides.     In  the  early  days  of  his  settlement  lie  went  - 

thirty  miles  to  Spoon  riyer  to  mill,  and  was  then  sometimes  compelled  I 

to  stay  seyeral  nights  for  his  grist,  while  his  dressed  pork  brought  him  * 

but  one  dollar  a  hundred. 

In  the  fall  of  1836  Hugh  Lee  and  wife  and  Thomas  Allison  (then 
unmarried)  came.  In  the  fall  of  1837  came  John  Pogue,  and  two  years 
after,  with  his  wife,  he  settled  where  they  now  reside.  Soon  after  this 
the  Mathers  family,  possessed  of  sterling  worth,  came  on  and  began 
their  pioneer  life  near  where  Mr.  Joseph  Mathers  now  resides. 

HOSPITALITY. 

The  hospitality  of  those  early  days  knew  no  bounds.  The  log 
cabin  of  the  pioneer  was  the  point  to  which  the  weary  trayelers  directed 
their  steps.  When  the  great  white  wagon  drew  up  before  the  cabin, 
its  occupants  were  eagerly  welcomed.  The  women,  though  never  seen 
before,  were  kissed  and  carried  in  to  the  fire ;  the  children  became 
acquainted  as  if  by  instinct ;  the  barns  were  neyer  too  full  to  hold  the 
new  comer's  horses  ;  the  house  was  never  too  small  to  accommodate 
their  persons  and  goods.  Did  anyone  chance  by  that  way,  he  was 
warmly  welcomed.  So  it  happened  that  often,  in  a  little  cabin,  with 
its  single  room,  slept  beside  the  fireplace  full  fifteen  persons.  Did  any 
one  have  an  ox  team  or  wagon,  or  chain,  when  the  Rankins  first  came 
into  Walnut  Grove,  it  was  common  property.  Did  anyone  have  any- 
thing not  ]30ssessed  by  his  neighbors,  it  was  completely  at  the  disposal 
and  for  the  enjoyment  of  all. 

ROADS. 

Every  man  tlien  made  his  own  road.  The  travelers'  way  no  fence 
nor  farm  nor  barn  lot  obstructed;  but,  obtaining  his  bearings,  he  went 
directly  to  the  point  desired.  Generally  the  Indian  paths  were  fol- 
lowed, wliicli  led  along  the  banks  of  streams,  midst  shady  groves,  with 
camping  grounds  here  and  there  near  some  bubbling  spring.  Often  a 
full  half  .day's  ride  would  be  made  and  no  one  met,  save  an  Indian, 
solitary  and  alone.  But  oftener  no  sound  disturbed  the  sacred  stillness 
of  the  virgin  air,  nor  fell  upon  the  woodman's  ear,  save  the  distant 
echo  of  his  ax,  the  chattering  of  the  birds,  or  the  murmuring  of  the 
stream  hard  by. 

Sometimes  the  solitary  traveler  would  chance  upon  an  Indian 
burying-ground,  to  one  side  of  his  beaten  track.  Upon  the  little  new- 
made  mounds  were  bowls  of  nuts,  or  milk,  or  newly  gathered  forest 
fruits,  to  cheer  the  weary  traveler  on  his  silent  journey  to  the  happy 
hunting  grounds.     Upon  the  warrior's  grave  lay  his  accustomed  bow 


WALNTT   GROVE    TOWNSUIP.  1163 

and  proven  arrows.  Beside  the  cliieftain  rose  up  the  mound  of  his 
faithful  ponv,  killed  that  he  might  ride  in  tlie  new  life  even  as  he  had 
in  the  old  and  lost  one.  Sometimes,  not  often,  beside  a  new  made 
mound,  sat  the  squaw,  faithful  in  death  as  she  had  been  in  life,  sway- 
ing to  and  fro,  and  beating  time  upon  her  breasts.  Yet  such  sights 
as  this  did  not  often  greet  the  travelers'  eye,  as  he  wandered  up  or 
down  the  banks  of  Ellison.  Oftener  he  met  an  Indian,  attended  by 
his  squaw,  his  faithful  pack  of  dogs,  his  many-sized  papooses.  THe 
warrior  led  the  way,  tlie  squaw  came  next  with  papooses  before  or 
behind,  or  perchance  swung  on  either  side,  while  behind  was  a  pony, 
trained  to  obedient  service,  with  great  packs  hanging  from  either  side. 
Beneath  some  overhanging  tree,  close  by  the  stream  perchance,  they 
stopped,  when  four  small  trees  whose  tops  would  intertwine  were  bent 
together,  a  covering  was  thrown  over  all  and  fixed  fast.  Then  while 
her  liege  lord  lay  upon  the  ground  and  smoked,  the  dusky  squaw 
hastened  with  water  and  wood  to  prepare  the  evening's  meal,  while 
her  papooses  played  upon  the  grass.  Amid  such  sights  and  scenes  the 
early  pioneer  lived  and  labored  to  prepare  his  home. 

EARLY  SCHOOLS. 

Coming  fi-om  eastern  homes,  where  they  had  enjoyed  some  educa- 
tional advantages,  the  early  settlers  soon  felt  the  need  of  the  same 
privileges  for  their  chiklren.  The  iirst  session  of  school  ever  held  in 
this  township  was  taught  by  Mr.  John  Sampy.  Mr.  Sampy  was  a 
little  wiry  man,  with  keen  eyes,  and  wore  an  expression  on  his  face 
that  frowned  down  all  would-be  disturbers  of  the  schoolroom's  quiet. 
It  is  said  that  in  a  corner  alwaj-s  stood  several  rods  that  were  powerful 
arguments  in  favor  of  obedience,  and  these  were  by  many  teachers 
used  without  scruple.  Indeed,  tradition  tells  of  a  threat  on  the  part 
of  an  irate  parent  to  thrash  the  schoolmaster,  whose  name  has  been 
justly  forgotten,  if  he  ever  again  beat  his  boy  until  the  blood  ran 
down  his  back.  In  the  minds  of  these  early  teachers  the  accumulation 
of  knowledge  seems  to  have  been  necessarily  connected  with  the 
administration  of  blows. 

The  building  in  which  the  first  school  was  held  was  the  one  first 
erected  by  Aleck  Rankin  for  a  dwelling  house.  It  was  a  log  cabin, 
built  by  the  laying  together  of  logs  fitted  at  the  ends.  Its  windows, 
some  maintain,  were  of  paper,  well  greased  so  as  to  admit  the  light, 
while  others  think  that  the  oiled  paper  only  took  the  place  of  the  win- 
dow, a  small  square  one,  which  had  been  broken  out.  The  floor  was 
of  puncheons,  or  slabs  of  linn-wood,  hewn  smooth  on  the  one  side. 
The  room  was  seated  with  slabs,  into  which  holes  had  been  bored  and 


1164  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

pins  inserted.  The  backs  to  the  seats  were  supplied  bj  the  children, 
who  brought  them  to  scliool  in  the  morning  and  invariably  took  them 
home  again  at  night.  Around  the  room  were  slabs  elevated  above  the 
other  seats,  called  desks,  upon  which  the  scholars  learned  to  write. 
Some  of  the  children,  more  fortunate  than  others,  possessed  spelling 
books,  from  which  the}^  learned  their  letters.  Others  had  letters  cut 
from  some  paper,  which  were  pasted  on  a  board  held  before  them. 
After  completing  the  spelling  book  the  pupil  began  to  read  the  JSTew 
Testament,  which  he  read  in  until  he  graduated  from  the  school,  the 
time  of  liis  graduation  depending  less  upon  the  pupil's  advancement 
than  upon  his  ability  to  help  support  the  family.  The  majority  of  the 
boys  went  bareheaded  and  barefooted,  and  girls  and  boys  alike  often 
wore  home-made  clothes  spun  from  flax.  Upon  the  dismissal  of  the 
school  every  boy,  when  he  reached  the  door,  turned  and  bowed  to  the 
teacher,  while  each  girl  was  expected  to  make  a  courtesy.  Children's 
papers,  children's  columns,  were  things  unknown,  and  but  little  atten- 
tion was  paid  to  the  child  mind  in  the  early  days  of  the  history  of 
Walnut  Grove  township. 

The  influence  of  these  early  surroundings  in  developing  from  these 
children  strong  men  and  women  is  beyond  all  measurement.  The  fact 
that  the  children  of  these  parents  have  almost  without  exception  made 
themselves  both  fortunes  and  names  is  proof  enough  of  the  value  of 
the  early  institutions.  From  this  little  school-house  in  the  wood  have 
come  men  that  have  filled  with  honor  to  their  county  almost  every 
station  in  life ;  have  come  men  who  have  filled  the  legislative  cliair, 
the  pulpit,  the  desk  of  the  teacher,  besides  furnishing  men  for  profes- 
sional and  laboring  life  to  nearly  every  western  state.  Every  candid 
mind  that  compares  the  results  in  making  good  men  of  the  early  days 
with  the  results  of  our  later  hot-bed  civilization  must  confess  one  of 
two  things :  either  the  early  institutions  of  our  fathers  surpassed  ours, 
or  else  they  worked  upon  better  material. 

EARLY  PHYSICIANS. 

Sickness,  it  is  said,  was  less  frequent  then  than  now.  Log  cabins, 
through  whose  chinks  and  fire-])lace  came  plenty  of  fresh  air ;  fresh 
game,  simple  food,  and  a  quiet  life,  all  combined  to  produce  health. 
Over  all  the  township  but  one  doctor  traveled,  by  name  McMillan  ;  his 
memory  is  still  fragrant  in  the  minds  of  many.  Day  and  night  he 
traveled  over  his  circuit  of  three  counties,  sleeping  on  his  horse. 
Once  a  man  with  a  gasli  in  his  forehead  was  found  on  the  Ellison, 
slowly  bleeding  to  death.  A  man  going  to  a  neighbor's  house  where 
Dr.  McMillan  was  treating  a  patient,  met  him  sound  asleep  upon  his 


\_/ CtA-^ytA^ 


e/^'' 


■i/. 


WALNUT    GROVE    TOWNSHIP.  1167 

horse.  When  he  was  ready  to  sew  up  the  gash  on  the  man's  head,  he 
was  unable  and  told  them  to  let  him  sleep  an  hour ;  so  upon  the  grass 
he  slept,  and  awoke  with  steady  nerve  to  do  his  work.  Many  like 
incidents  are  told  of  this  good  man,  whose  name  is  now  secure. 
Methods  of  treatment  then  were  peculiar.  A  fever  patient  was  allowed 
no  water ;  and  if  perchance,  while  the  doctor  slept,  the  patient  awoke 
and  slyly  drank  a  whole  pitcher  of  ice  water,  thereby  saving  his  life, 
the  doctor  would  exclaim:  "What  a  constitution  that  man  has  got!  " 
But  with  the  passage  of  years  passed  away  many  of  the  old  ideas, 
much  to  tlie  relief  of  physicians  and  patients. 

AMUSEMENTS. 

If  the  early  days  lacked  some  of  the  means  of  amusement  furnished 
the  youth  of  to-day,  it  also  possessed  pleasures  which  the  present  gen- 
eration are  deprived  of  In  18-10  a  party  or  a  marriage  was  a  neighbor- 
hood affair.  The  people  came  from  far  and  near ;  the  marriage  was 
"our's"  to  everybody.  A  dinner  was  prepared  of  the  choicest  kind: 
deer  and  turkey  from  the  forest,  fresh  tish  and  wild  ducks  from  the 
streams,  grouse  and  quails  from  the  field  furnished  the  meat,  to  which 
the  skillful  farmer's  wife  added  every  delicacy  possible  to  limited  means 
to  prepare.  After  the  marriage  came  the  dinner;  then  around  the 
room  these  hospitable  people  gathered  and  chatted  the  afternoon  away, 
these  simple,  merry-hearted  folk.  With  the  coming  of  the  evening's 
dusk  came  the  going  of  the  older  ones,  while  the  younger  folks 
remained  behind.  Then  when  all  was  quiet  again,  through  the  black- 
ened rafters  of  the  kitchen  would  ring  the  twang  of  the  fiddle-strings 
as  Mr.  Thomas  Gibson  tuned  his  violin  and  prepared  for  the  evening's 
dance  (an  amusement  the  Associate  Reformed  church  approved  of  only 
among  their  own  families).  Old-fasliioned  games,  the  very  names  of 
which  have  passed  away,  were  played  with  a  gentle  frankness  and 
sincere  modesty  most  beautiful  to  behold.  In  the  fall  corn-huskings 
would  be  held,  at  which  the  men  picked  corn,  the  women  quilted,  while 
the  children  played  as  only  they  could  play.  In  the  winter  a  Mr. 
McCoy  went  from  one  private  house  to  another  teaching  singing-school, 
using  the  old  system  of  notes,  of  which  there  were  four :  one  round, 
a  second  square,  a  third  three-cornered  and  the  fourth  like  an  X. 

CHURCHES. 

Soon  after  the  coming  of  the  early  settlers,  pious  hearts  erected  a 
house  of  worship,  a  short  distance  east  of  the  present  United  Presby- 
terian church.     The  building  was  of  frame,  the  lumber  for  which  Mr. 
William  Rankin  sawed  at  his  little  saw-mill  on  the  Ellison.     This 
66 


1168  HISTORY    OF   FIERCER   AND   HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

church  was  erected  by  Hugh,  Joseph  and  William  Eankin,  and  was 
lBx20  in  size.  In  one  end  was  a  chair  beside  which  the  preacher 
stood.  In  front  of  him,  on  benches  without  backs,  made  by  placing 
pins  in  them,  sat  the  congregation.  The  custom  in  those  times  was  to 
gather  in  the  morning  at  ten  o'clock,  and  listen  to  a  sermon,  after 
which  the  people  had  a  recess  of  some  thirty  minutes,  when  they  ate 
their  lunch,  and  then  another  sermon,  lasting  until  three  or  four 
o'clock  in  the  afternoon.  It  is  related  that  at  one  time  when  the 
Rev.  Wallace  was  preaching  he  fainted  away,  one  hot  summer  after- 
noon. Some  of  those  sitting  near  brought  water,  and  after  he  had 
recovered  he  announced  this  psalm,  one  that  to  the  congregation  must 
have  seemed  very  appropriate:  "My  bones  waxed  old,  because  I 
roared  all  dav  lone:."  In  addition  to  the  communion  service  of  our 
time,  they  then  had  on  the  Thursday  before  sacrament  a  fast  day,  when 
but  two  meals  were  eaten  and  all  the  members  stopped  work  and 
attended  divine  worship,  two  sermons  being  preached  as  on  the  Sab- 
bath. At  this  time  no  Sabbath  schools  were  held,  and  the  children 
were  rather  instructed  in  the  catechism,  which,  together  with  the  chap- 
ter read  and  explained  before  the  sermon,  'which  explanation  some- 
times occupied  nearly  an  hour,  took  the  place  of  the  insfruction  given 
in  the  Sunday  school  of  to-day.  Among  the  early  church  organizations 
of  this  township,  by  far  the  most  important  is 

The  Ellison  United  Presbyterian  Church.'^ — The  printed  records 
say  that  Ellison  congregation  was  organized  in  1859  ;  but  it  must  be 
remembered  that  its  organization  consisted  principally  of  an  union  of 
the  Associated  congregation  of  Bethel  and  the  Associate  Reformed  con- 
gi'egation  of  Ellison.  The  integral  parts  composing  the  present  con- 
gregation have  an  early  and  in  the  main  an  honored  history  in  connec- 
tion with  the  moral  and  religious  status  of  Henderson  county.  Inas- 
much as  our  honored  brother.  Rev.  James  McArthur,  has  undertaken 
to  set  in  order  the  early  histoiT  of  the  Associate  congregation  of 
Bethel,  we  shall  confine  ourselves  to  the  Associate  Reformed  branch  of 
Ellison.  The  history  of  this  church,  until  the  union,  is  almost  entirely 
traditional,  as  neither  written  nor  printed  records  have  ever  been  placed 
in  the  hands  of  the  present  writer. 

The  congregation  of  Ellison  was  organized  by  the  Presbytery  of 
Indiana,  some  time  between  the  years  1836  and  1839,  and  was  a 
preaching  station  in  connection  with  the  South  Henderson  church.  In 
the  year  1839  the  first  church  building  was  erected  near  the  present 
cemetery.  This  was  a  small  frame  and  is  still  standing  in  a  rather 
dilapidated  condition,  on  the  farm  of  Aleck  Rankin,  Jr.,  where  it  is  occa- 

*  Contributed  by  the  pastor,  Rev.  J.  H.  Montgomery. 


WALNUT    GROVE   TOWNSHIP.  1169 

sionally  used  as  a  house  for  tenants.  The  iirst  session  of  Ellison  con- 
sisted of  William  Eankin,  George  S.  Wallace  and  John  Sampy.  The 
memory  of  these  fathers  is  as  the  fragrance  of  ointment  poured  forth. 
The  former  of  these  fell  asleep  in  1870,  aged  seventy-three,  and  the 
latter  in  1875,  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-five.  Among  the  first 
of  the  supplies  to  the  new  organization  was  the  Rev.  John  Wallace, 
who  ministered  more  or  less  statedly  to  the  people  for  two  or  three 
years,  and  of  whom  tradition  says  that  he  labored  so  long  and  fer- 
vently on  hot  summer  days,  that  he  fell  to  the  floor  from  sheer 
exhaustion.  The  first  pastor  was  the  Rev.  John  L.  Freatley,  who 
preached  at  Ellison  one-fourth  of  the  time,  giving  South  Henderson 
the  remaining  three-fourths,  and  receiving  as  salary  from  both  stations 
the  sum  of  ^^OO. 

This  pastoral  relation,  from  an  unhappy  combination  of  circum- 
stances, did  not  prove  a  very  desirable  one.  He  was  installed  over 
the  united  charge  in  18-12  and  released  in  1846.  About  this  time 
South  Henderson  became  self-sustaining,  and  desired  the  whole  time 
of  a  pastor,  and  consequently  Ellison  as  a  young  fledgeling  was  left 
to  shift  for  herself.  For  several  years  the  congregation  obtained 
supplies  from  various  quarters,  all  the  while  growing  in  number, 
power  and  influence,  from  the  tide  of  immigration  flowing  in  from 
the  eastern  states.  The  congregation  having  enjoyed  for  a  few  months 
the  preaching  service  of  Rev.  W.  R.  Erskine,  and  liking  the  general 
bearing  of  the  young  man,  proposed  a  marriage,  which  was  accepted  ; 
and  that  he  might  enter  officially  upon  the  duties  of  pastor,  he 
was  ordained  April  14,  1852,  by  the  Second  Presbytery  of  Illinois,  and 
installed  pastor  Ma}^  15  of  the  same  year.  This  pastorate  continued 
for  six  years  and  one  month.  During  its  continuance  the  congregation 
was  strengthened  and  encouraged,  and  the  memory  of  our  deceased 
brother  Erskine  is  very  precious.  The  year  1858  was  made  memorable 
by  the  union  of  the  Associate  and  the  Associate  Reformed  churches  of 
North  America.  Soon  after  this  union  was  affected  a  movement  was 
made  to  consolidate  the  congregations  of  Bethel  and  Ellison,  which 
was  effected  October  18,  1858.  In  order  that  the  way  for  a  union 
of  these  congregations  might  be  entirely  free  and  unencumbered, 
the  Rev.  Erskine  practically  retired  from  the  field.  In  the  mean  time 
a  larger  church  building  had  been  erected  near  the  residence  and  on 
the  farm  of  the  Hon.  David  Rankin.  To  this  house  the  united  charge 
repaired  and  worshiped  in  sweet  union.  The  united  congregation 
soon  after  made  out  a  call  for  the  services  of  the  Rev.  James  McArthur, 
late  of  Ryegate,  Vermont,  which  was  by  him  accepted,  and  he  was 
installed  as  pastor,  July,  1857.     At  the  time  of  the  union  the  united 


1170  HISTOKY    OF   MERCER   AifD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

session  consisted  of  William  Rankin,  John  Sampej,  A.  O.  McQuown, 
John  Carothers,  Stephen  White,  Eobert  Kirkpatrick,  Alexander  Spears, 
and  James  S.  Gowdj,  a  good,  able  and  formidable  session.  At  the 
time  of  the  union  of  the  two  congregations  the  membership  reported 
was  ISO,  just  twice  the  present  membership.  The  union  had  scarcely 
been  accomplished  before  an  oi;ganization  was  asked  for  at  Olena. 
This  was  granted,  and  eifected  September  8,  1859.  This  new  organiza- 
tion carried  off  a  large  portion  of  tlie  west  side  of  Ellison,  and  greatlj 
depleted  its  numerical  strengtli. 

In  1866  the  congregation  at  Biggs ville  was  organized,  which  took 
ojff  a  slice  of  the  north  side  of  the  congregation.  The  pastorate  of 
Rev.  McArthur  continued  over  thirteen  years,  and  dui-ing  his  ministry 
146  persons  were  added  to  the  communion  of  the  church,  and  yet,  at 
the  close  of  his  pastorate,  his  congregation,  because  of  new  organizations 
and  frequent  removals,  was  left  comparatively  weak.  During  the 
ministry  of  Mr.  Erskine,  the  stock  and  barn-yards  of  Mr,  David 
Rankin  increased  in  so  extraordinary  a  manner  that  uninterrupted 
worship  in  the  old  meeting-house  could  no  longer  be  enjoyed,  and  con- 
sequently it  was  concluded  to  sell  the  old  ediiice  to  the  above  named 
gentleman,  and  erect  a  new  building  at  such  a  distance  from  the  old 
«ite  that  the  worshipers  might  be  free  from  the  interruption  and 
annoyance  of  irrational  animals,  and  consequently  the  present  com- 
modious building  was  erected  at  a  cost  of  $1,200.  Also  during  this 
pastorate  the  session  was  strengthened  by  the  election,  ordination  and 
installation  of  the  following  elders  :  A,  Bell,  A.  Small,  J.  S.  King, 
D.  Ct.  Lant  and  I.  T.  Pogue ;  the  latter  three  continue  with  us  unto 
the  prese'nt  time.  Father  McArthur's  health,  never  robust,  became 
severely  impaired  during  1871-2,  and  a  retirement  from  pastoral  labors 
was  necessitated,  and  accordingly  the  relationship  between  pastor  and 
people  was  formally  dissolved  in  August,  1872. 

This  honored  father  still  resides  within  the  bounds  of  the  congrega- 
tion, and  carries  with  him  in  his  old  age  the  respect  and  esteem  of  the 
entire  community.  After  a  vacancy  of  three  years,  during  which 
several  fruitless  attempts  were  made  to  secure  the  services  of  a  pastor, 
a  call  was  made  out  for  the  present  incumbent,  who  entered  upon 
pastoral  labors  October  1,  1875,  but  was  not  installed  until  June  of  the 
following  year.  In  the  autumn  of  1876  a  very  commodious  parsonage 
was  erected  by  the  congregation  for  the  use  of  the  pastor.  At  the  com- 
mencement of  the  present  pastorate  the  congregation  numbered  but 
6eventy-one  members.  Since  that  time  seventy-two  have  been  added 
to  the  membership  of  the  church,  but  so  great  has  been  the  western 
immigration  that  our  membership,  at  this  writing,  comprises  just  ninety 


WALNUT   GROVE    TOWNSHIP.  1171 

members.    May  peace  and  prosperity  ever  remain  within  the  borders  of 
the  Ellison  United  Presbyterian  chnrcli. 

South  Prairie  Methodist  Episcopal  Church. — South  Prairie 
Methodist  Episcopal  church,  which  is  situated  in  the  southeastern  part 
of  the  township,  was  organized  some  time  previous  to  tlie  year  1850. 
It  is  composed  of  some  of  the  best  people  in  the  township,  and  has  in 
connection  with  it  a  flourishing  Sunday  school.  In  the  absence  of  any 
church  records  but  little  is  known  of  its  history.  At  various  times 
during  the  past  flfty  years,  since  the  settlement  of  "Walnut  Grove,  Baptist, 
Campbellite  and  preachers  of  other  denominations  have  held  services 
here.  The  Christian  church,  of  which  Dykman  Shook  was  the  lead- 
ing spirit,  and  at  whose  house  the  first  services  of  this  denomination 
were  held,  has  now  fallen  away.  Almost  every  denomination  is  now 
represented  in  this  township,  though  there  now  exists  but  two  church 
buildings  in  the  township,  yet  none  of  the  good  seed  sown  has  been 
seed  lost.  The  results  are  plainly  visible  in  the  integrity,  moral  tone 
and  noble  worth  of  its  citizens.  Less  directly  are  the  results  seen  in 
the  schools,  the  beautiful  homes  and  thrifty  farms  of  the  people,  for 
all  these  are  but  the  outer. signs  of  the  inward  character,  which  is  the 
unfailing  fruit  of  the  ministry  of  the  word. 

CEMETERIES. 

The  flrst  cemetery  in  the  township  was  Walnut  Grove,  which  con- 
sists of  three  acres  of  ground  on. the  land  flrst  owned  by  John  Sampy, 
and  by  him  given  to  the  Ellison  United  Presbyterian  church.  It  lies 
but  a  few  rods  east  of  the  church  building,  in  the  edge  of  the  grove. 
Here  are  buried  some  of  the  early  settlers  of  the  township.  The  flrst 
inhabitant  of  this  city  of  the  dead  was  John  Boan,  who  lived  upon  the 
place  now  owned  by  William  Chard  ;  the  second  was  George  McGrew. 
After  then  John  Gibson  was  buried  here,  all,  strange  to  say,  strong 
men  in  the  prime  of  life.  How  often  is  human  strength  but  sheerest 
weakness  ?  The  Davidson  cemetery  consists  of  three  acres  of  land  in 
section  12,  which  was,  in  1837,  set  apart  by  Mr.  Davidson  for  burying 
places.  The  flrst  person  buried  here  was  one  of  his  children,  and 
here  he  now  lies  buried,  a  magniflcent  monument,  costing  $1,125, 
marking  his  resting-] )lace.  South  Prairie  cemetery,  which  is  situated 
on  a  high  eminence  overlooking  the  Ellison,  was  set  apart  by  Mr. 
Adair,  on  whose  farm  it  is  situated.  • 

"  The  (lead  are  here.     I  liear  their  steady  throw 
Of  shuttles  iiiovinjr  in  the  ui>per  air, 
Weaving  a  fabric;  pure  and  white  as  snow." 


1172  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

TORNADO. 

In  the  historv  of  Walnut  Grove  township  we  have  but  one  tornado 
to  record,  one  of  the  most  frightful  in  results  known.  Probably  no 
more  powerful  storm  ever  struck  our  country,  and  had  the  township 
been  settled  as  thickly  then  as  now,  several  hundred  lives  would  have 
been  lost.  The  following  account  of  the  storm  is  taken  from  the 
"  Oquawka  Plaindealer,"  of  June  4,  1858  : 

''On  Sunday  evening  last,  May  30,  about  five  o'clock,  a  tremen- 
dous tornado,  which  in  its  force  and  terrible  effect  was  never  equaled 
in  this  part  of  our  land,  passed  over  the  southern  part  of  this  and  War- 
ren counties,  in  a  northeasterly  direction,  literally  tearing  to  pieces 
everything  in  its  course,  destroying  many  lives  and  a  great  amount  of 
property.  The  hurricane  took  its  origin  in  the  vicinity  of  Terre  Haute, 
Henderson  county.  About  a  mile  north  of  this  town  the  house  of 
William  Bennett  was  blown  down,  and  among  other  things  a  feather 
bed  was  carried  away  which  has  not  since  been  found.  The  houses 
and  barns  of  Elias  Keener  and  George  Foote,  in  the  range  east  from 
Mr,  Bennett's  house,  were  destroyed.  The  wife  of  Mr,  Keener  and  the 
wile  of  Mr.  Foote  were  somewhat  injured,  .  Mr.  J,  Peasley's  house  was 
much  damaged.  The  house  of  Mr,  George  Pence  was  moved  some 
eight  rods  from  its  foundation,  but  being  strongly  built  was  not 
broken.  Mr.  Pence's  family  was  in  the  house,  but  fortunately  escaped 
all  injury. 

"The  house  of  Mr.  David  Thompson,  which  was  about  ten  miles 
from  Terre  Haute,  was  destroyed,  and  here  is  the  first  place  where 
we   have   any   information   of   life   being    destroyed.     Mr.    William 
Thompson,  a  brother  of  David,  was  instantl}"  killed,  something  having 
been   driven    completely   through   his   temples.     A   child   of   David 
Thompson  was  so  injured  that  it  died  the  next  day.     The  storm  then 
passed  on  directly  in  range  with  the  town  of  Ellison,  increasing  in 
velocity  and  power,  but  narrowing  in  scope.     At  a  place  called  the 
Stone  Quarry,  about  one  mile  west  of  Ellison,  the  house  of  Mr.  Hiram 
Johnson  was  fairly  blown  to  atoms,  and  five  of  its  inmates  killed  ;  their 
names  were  as  follows  :  Mr,  Hiram  Johnson,  aged  twenty-seven  years ; 
Mrs,  Willard  Hurd,  a  sister  of  Mr.  Johnson,  aged  thirty-three  years  ; 
Mrs.  Spaulding,  a  twin  sister  of  Mr.  Johnson  ;  Charles  Hurd,  a  son  ot 
Mrs,  Willard  Hurd,  aged  thirteen  years,  infant  child  of  Mr,  Johnson. 
The  bodies  of  the  above  were  found  man}^  rods  from  where  the  house 
stood.     Those  who  were  in  the  house,  and  still  living  at  last  accounts, 
were  the  following  :  Mr,  Joseph  Bannister,  Mr.  Johnson's  hired  man. 
Mrs,   Hiram  Johnson  was  blown  about  eight  rods  from  the   house, 
alighting   in    a   slough.     One  leg  is  broken  in   two  places,   an  arm 


WALNUT   GKOVE   TOWNSHIP.  1173 

broken,  and  also  one  or  two  ribs.  Wliile  sitting  on  the  bank  of  the 
slough  she  saw  her  infant  child  come  floating  down  the  stream.  She 
put  out  her  hand  and  caught  it,  but  its  life  had  departed.  Mr. 
Willard  Hnrd,  a  brother-in-law  of  Mr.  Johnson,  is  fatally  injured,  as  is 
his  son  Bona.  A  house  a  few  rods  distant  from  Mr.  Johnson's  was 
occupied  by  Mr.  A.  £.  Burton  and  his  wife.  Here  a  party  of  six  young 
men  out  for  a  ]:)leasure  walk  had  taken  refuge  at  the  approach  of  the 
storm.  The  tremendous  roaring  and  the  fierceness  and  blackness  ot 
the  approaching  cloud  admonished  them  of  danger,  and  they  all  ran  to 
an  unoccupied  house,  which  was  protected  by  a  high  and  perpendicular 
bluif  upon  the  side  the  storm  was  approaching,  and  this  act  was 
probably  the  means  of  saving  their  lives.  The  house  they  vacated 
was  completely  anniliilated,  and  the  one  they  had  taken  refuge  in  was 
leveled  to  the  ground.  Mr.  Burton  was  but  slightly  injured.  His  wife 
had  her  collar-bone  broken. 

''In  our  visit  on  Monday  to  the  diflerent  houses  which  contained 
the  dead  and  wounded,  we  reached  the  house  of  Mr.  Little  in  the  eve- 
ning, about  eight  o'clock.  The  sight  which  met  us  here  was  most 
appalling.  The  five  dead  bodies  lay  in  one  room.  Mr.  Hurd  and 
Mrs.  Johnson,  mangled,  cut  and  bruised,  lay  in  the  room  adjoining. 
Eona  Hurd  had  been  removed  to  the  house  of  a  neighbor.  The  cofiins 
for  the  dead  had  just  arrived.  The  body  of  Mr.  Johnson  and  his 
infant  child  was  brought  in  at  the  request  of  Mrs.  Johnson,  and  with 
remarkable  fortitude  she  took  her  farewell  view  of  their  earthly 
remains. 

"Mr.  Hurd  with  his  family  had  but  recently  removed  from  the  State 
of  Vermont.  He  had  several  hundred  dollars  of  gold  and  silver  in 
a  small  trunk,  which  was  contained  in  a  larger  one,  no  trace  of  which 
has  been  discovered.  Mrs.  Spaulding  also  had  considerable  money  in 
the  house  at  the  time.  This  lady's  husband  was  in  Vermont,  and  was 
to  have  started  west  on  Monday.  A  most  horrible  recital  awaits  his 
coming.  Soon  after  passing  the  Stone  Quarry  the  tornado,  crossing  the 
line  into  Warren  county,  struck  the  little  town  of  Ellison  and  com- 
pletely demolished  it,  killing  ten  or  twelve  and  wounding  about  forty. 
But  three  of  the  twenty-five  dwellings  in  the  little  town  were  left 
standing. " 

After  passing  over  the  track  of  the  storm,  and  gaining  such  descrip- 
tions of  the  storm  from  the  old  settlers  as  they  can  after  the  lapse  of 
years  give,  it  would  seem  utterly  impossible  for  one  to  describe  the 
force  of  this  tornado'.  Large  and  sound  stumjjs  were  torn  from  the 
ground  and  carried  some  rods.  Every  spoke  in  a  log  wagon  was 
broken  out.     The  large  timber  west  of  ElHson  was  razed  to  the  ground. 


1174  HISTORY    OF   IVrERCER    AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

Small  hickories,  three  to  six  inches  in  diameter,  were  stripped  of  every 
particle  of  bark  and  twisted  into  a  withe.  The  tire  of  a  wagon  wheel 
was  found  broken  and  one  end  driven  into  the  ground  two  feet  and  a  half. 
Horses  and  cattle  were  killed  by  being  carried  up  into  the  air  and 
dropped  to  the  ground. 

The  storm  seems  to  have  been  largely  electric,  as  is  shown  by  its 
leaving  glass  unbroken.  It  first  assumed  the  shape  of  a  cyclone  when 
near  Terre  Haute,  and  had  its  origin  in  the  coming  together  of  two 
storms.  To  some  it  seemed  to  reach  down  from  the  heavens,  like  a 
gigantic  rope,  swaying  to  and  fro.  Soon  it  began  to  whirl ;  as  it 
advanced  it  narrowed  in  width,  but  developed  strength  correspondingly. 
To  those  at  one  side  it  was  black  as  a  moving  column  of  darkest  night ; 
to«  those  in  the  storm  it  seemed  light,  and  they  rose  in  the  vacuum, 
some  say  fifty  or  a  hundred  feet,  in  the  midst  of  grass,  dirt,  clothing 
and  timbers.  Some  objects  were  thrown  out  on  the  outer  edge  of  the 
circle,  and,  as  it  moved  on,  these  objects  falling  presented  a  strange 
appearance  to  observers.  The  center  of  the  track  of  the  storm  was 
swept  clean,  all  objects  being  thrown  out  to  the  one  side  or  the  other. 
Many  incidents  and  experiences  bordering  on  the  marvelous  are  told, 
and  could  not  be  believed,  were  it  not  that  the  narrators  are  men  of 
unbounded  trust  and  veracity.  The  loss  to  property  occasioned  by  this 
frightful  storm  we  have  been  unable  to  estimate,  while  there  can  be  no 
computation  as  to  the  loss  in  precious  human  life. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

John  Pogue  was  born  in  1S19,  in  the  State  of  Ohio.  He  is  of 
Scotch-Irish  descent.  His  father  was  Samuel  Pogue,  of  county  of 
Down,  Ireland,  who  came  to  America  about  1790.  On  both  sides  of 
the  family  the  ancestry  was  of  the  old  Scotch  Presb^'terian  stock. 
Samuel  Pogue  settled  first  in  Maryland.  He  afterward  resided  both 
in  West  Virginia  and  Pennsylvania.  Finally  he  moved  to  central 
Ohio,  where  the  subject  of  these  notes,  John,  was  born.  Here  he  . 
passed  his  early  years,  until  he  was  eighteen  years  of  age,  when  he 
removed  in  the  fall  of  1837  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois.  For  the 
first  two  years  he  worked  around  by  the  day  or  month,  early  forming 
habits  of  industry  and  evincing  practical  business  qualities.  In  the 
winter  of  1839,  January  22,  Mr.  Pogue  was  married  to  Miss  Elizabeth 
Brook,  daughtei-  of  John  and  Margaret  Brook  and  sister  of  Isaih 
Brook.  Mrs.  Pogue  is  a  woman  of  great  practical  ability  and  native 
good  sense,  believing  that  the  patent  of  real  worth  belongs  to  those 
who  do  right  and  live  by  industry'.  They  have  lived  together  a  long 
and  useful  life.     Forty-four  years  have  passed  away  and  they  have 


WALNUT   GKOVE    TOWNSHIP.  1175 

raised  a  tamily  of  seven  children.  Samuel  H.  died  at  the  age  of  nine- 
teen. Maria  Louisa  is  now  Mrs.  J.  G.  Stewart.  Q.  T.  married  Miss 
Emily  Spear,  and  resides  near  his  parents.  William  G.  now  resides 
on  the  Aleck  Kankin  farm,  having  married  Miss  L.  Rankin.  Margaret 
Jane  is  now  wife  of  Mr.  J.  L.  Ford.  The  two  younger  sons,  now 
young  men,  are  twins,  named  John  S.  and  James  S.  resjiectively.  Mr. 
Pogue  began  life  as  a  farmer,  for  which  avocation  he  had  a  special 
inclination.  Having  obtained  a  tract  of  land  soon  after  his  marriage 
he  was  able  to  buy  as  much  more  through  his  wife's  assistance.  To 
this  land  he  has  been  adding  steadily,  until  he  now  has  some  1550  acres 
of  land.  He  lived  first  in  a  log  cabin  near  the  present  Ellison  United 
Presbyterian  church.  The  house  was  built  of  hewn  linn-logs.  It  will 
illustrate  both  the  energy  of  those  days  and  the  nature  of  the  houses 
to  state  that  this  house  was  taken  down  one  morning  by  Mr.  Pogue 
and  his  man  and  moved  about  one  mile  and  completed  by  night  so  as 
to  permit  him  to  sleep  in  it.  In  this  cabin  for  years  they  lived 
and  labored,  enduring  all  the  privations  incidental  to  pioneer  life.  At 
one  time  Mr.  Pogue  gave  twelve  busliels  of  fall  wheat  for  a  sealskin 
cap.  One  bushel  brought  him  two  pounds  of  nails.  In  those  early 
days  men  did  not  need  money  as  they  do  now.  He  once  carried  a  ten 
cent  piece  around  in  his  pocket  for  several  months  without  needing 
it,  and  the  possession  of  fifteen  gold  pieces  that  were  put  away  for  safe 
keeping  was  after  a  few  months  forgotten,  though  afterward  found 
in  the  straw  tick.  Exchange,  not  cash,  was  then  the  working  pi-inciple. 
It  may  be  proper  here  to  state  that  Mr.  Pogue  was  raised  a  democrat 
ot  the  JefiTerson  school,  though  he  is  now  a  firm  republican.  The 
cause  of  his  change  of  party  pi-inciples  was  a  little  incident  which 
occuiTed  while  Mr.  Pogue  was  at  Louisville  on  a  business  and  pleasure 
trip  through  the  south.  One  day  he  saw  a  slave  trader  go  on  board  a 
boat  followed  by  a  young  negro  and  his  wife,  who  were  to  be  separated, 
the  man  to  go  south  to  the  plantations  from  which  few  ever  returned, 
and  the  wife  to  remain  with  their  old  master.  At  length,  when  the  bell 
rang  and  the  plank  was  to  be  removed,  the  poor  man  strained  his  wife  to 
his  breast,  from  whom,  in  spite  of  her  shrieks,  a  moment  later  he  was 
torn  away  and  hurried  aboard.  As  long  as  he  could  be  seen,  the  slave 
stood  on  deck  and  waived  his  old  hat  to  the  sobbing  wife.  The  scene 
was  witnessed  by  several  northern  men,  whose  eyes  filled  with  tears, 
and  then  and  there  Mr.  Pogue  determined  to  help  vote  down  the 
institution  of  slavery.  Since  that  time  he  has  been  a  firm  believer  in 
republicanism.  In  rnatters  of  religious  faith  the  family  are  Ignited 
Presbyterians.  In  all  the  relations  of  home  life,  in  their  children  and 
business,  have  been  greatly  blessed.     As  firm  believers  in  the  doctrines 


1176  HISTORY    OF    MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

« 

of  the  United  Presbyterian  eliurch  tlieir  influence  lias  ever  been  to 
help  on  every  movement  that  aimed  to  reform.  They  have  ever  been 
advocates  of  temperance  and  opponents  of  secret  societies,  believing 
their  principles  wrong. 

"  Oh,  happy,  true  and  honored  pair ! 

Oh,  ever  leal  and  loyal  I 
We  pay  you  willing  court  to-day, 

For  love  has  made  you  royal : 
All  gentle  thoughts  and  hopes  are  yours, 

All  wishes  sweet  and  tender, — 
What  richer  tributes  can  we  bring, 

What  worthier  homage  render  ? 
God's  cherubs  still  your  steps  attend, 

His  peace  your  true  hearts  strengthen, 
As  o'er  the  sky  above  your  heads. 

The  evening  shadows  lengthen  ; 
And  when  the  night  comes  on  at  last 

And  brings  its  welcome  slumber, 
Sweet  angels  from  the  welcome  host. 

Which  none  may  name  or  number. 
Shall  lead  your  still  united  souls 

Through  shining  arch  and  portal. 
To  gardens  fair  and  pastures  green, 

Where  love  shall  be  immortal!" 

William  G.  Pogue,  second  son  of  John  Pogue,  was  born  on 
November  8,  1848,  on  the  old  homestead  where  liis  parents  originally 
settled.  His  intellectual  training  he  received  in  the  common  schools 
near  his  home,  to  which  was  added  two  years  at  Monmouth  College, 
where  he  pursued  a  select  course.  Such  was  his  zeal  that  when  a 
company  to  enter  the  army  was  being  formed  in  1864,  at  the  college, 
he  enlisted,  and,  being  unusually  robust  and  strong,  was  accepted, 
though  but  sixteen  years  of  age.  But  on  account  of  objections  to  his 
extreme  youth,  his  name  was  given  up  by  the  recruiting  oflicer.  On 
January  1,  1877,  Mr.  Pogue  was  married  to  Miss  Lurena  E.  Rankin, 
daughter  of  S.  S.  Pankin,  To  them  have  been  born  two  children, 
Chester  E.  and  Olive  Gertrude,  the  former  of  whom  died  in  February, 
1879.  Mr.  Pogue  now  resides  upon  the  old  homestead  of  Uncle 
Aleck  Rankin,  where  he  gives  his  attention  to  farming  and  stock- 
raising. 

Among  the  prominent  gentlemen  of  Henderson  county  who  liave 
taken  an  active  part  in  its  development  we  mention  the  name  of 
Joseph  Dixson,  wlio  was  born  in  Greene  county,  Indiana,  on  August  5, 
1841.  An  old  scrap  of  paper  found  among  his  father's  papers  after 
his  death  points  the  ancestry  back  to  a  period  ]jrevious  to  the  revolu- 
tion, the  family  being  one  of  great  worth.     Allured  by  the  accounts 


WALNUT    GROVE    TOWNSHIP.  1177 

of  the  amazing  fertility  of  the  soil  of  Illinois,  Mr.  Stephen  Dixson 
removed  with  his  family  from  Indiana  to  Henderson  county  and  set- 
tled on  the  old  Steele  tarm.  Here  Mr.  Dixson  passed  his  early  youth, 
receiving  his  education  in  the  schools  near  his  home.  He  early  mani- 
fested an  unusual  love  of  business  and  trading,  and  while  a  youth  gave 
signs  of  possessing  unusual  business  qualiilcations.  On  June  3,  1869, 
he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  Dean,  daughter  of  Michael 
and  Susan  Dean.  Mrs.  Dixson's  parents  were  citizens  of  Warren 
county.  Of  this  marriage  have  been  born  four  children,  their  names 
being:  Willis  E.,  born  January  31,  1871;  Cora,  born  February  17, 
1873;  Lulu,  born  July  5,  1875;  George,  born  June  7,  1880.  The 
latter,  George,  is  the  only  one  of  the  Dixson  family  to  perpetuate  the 
name,  and  is  named  for  his  uncle,  George  H.  Beginning  with  some 
property,  Mr.  Dixson  has  steadily  added  to  this  until  he  now  has  840 
acres  of  land.  For  many  years  he  lias  given  his  attention  to  stock 
raising,  feeding  and  shipping.  In  the  township  Mr.  Dixson  is  known 
for  his  encTgy,  his  kindness  of  heart,  his  generosity  and  personal 
integrity.  Though  he  has  his  own  ideas  on  political  subjects,  he  has 
never  gone  into  politics  in  the  active  sense  of  the  term.  The  real 
wealth  of  any  country  is  made  up  of  such  men  as  Mr.  Dixson,  and  he 
is  a  good  example  of  what  earnest  industry  and  persevering  application 
will  dh. 

George  H.  Dixson,  second  son  of  Stephen  Dixson,  was  born  Septem- 
ber 2,  1814,  in  Greene  county,  Indiana.  When  he  was  but  a  child, 
three  and  a  half  years  of  age,  his  mother  died,  and  two  years  from  that 
time  he  moved  with  his  father  to  what  is  now  Henderson  county,  Illi- 
nois. ~  The  journey  was  made  with  the  old  reliable  ox-team  which 
scarcely  rivaled  in  speed  and  convenience  the  Pullman  cars  of  later 
days.  The  trip  was  accomplished  in  two  weeks,  and  then  began  in 
earnest  the  life  of  a  western  frontiersman.  At  tliat  early  day  the 
schools  had  not  attained  a  very  high  degree  of  perfection,  but  young 
Dixson  enjoyed  the  educational  privileges  of  the  day,  and  he  by  no 
means  wasted  his  opportunities.  May  15,  1864,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Mary  E.  Andrews,  daughter  of  John  M.  and  Mary 
Andrews.  From  this  marriage  there  have  been  born  five  children,  the 
second  of  whom,  Charles,  is  dead.  The  eldest.  Flora  I.,  is  now  at 
home,  having  returned  from  attendance  at  school  at  Koseville.  The 
second  now  living,  Lilian  M.,  is  also  at  home.  The  names  of  the  other 
children  are  Amanda  J.  and  Mabel  Blanche.  Mrs.  Dixson's  father  and 
three  brothers  were  in  tlie  war  of  the  rebellion  ;  two  were  wounded. 
Mr.  Dixson  had  but  little  when  he  began  in  life.  He  now  has  a  well 
improved  farm  of  480  acres  on  Sec.  18,  T.  9,  K.  4,  on  which  he  now 


1178  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

resides.  He  is  devoting  bis  attention  largely  to  stock  raising,  breed- 
ing and  shipping  sliort-liorn  Durham  cattle.  He  has  among  his  stock 
two  valuable  Clydesdale  mares  which  were  imported  some  time  ago. 
Mr.  Dixson  is  one  of  the  reliable  men  of  Walnut  Grove  township,  and  it 
is  in  appreciation  of  this  that  his  portrait  appears  in  this  work  as  one  of 
the  representative  men  of  Henderson  county.  It  has  been  found 
necessary  to  mention  his  name  frequently  in  other  portions  of  this 
book,  he  being  one  of  the  early  settlers  and  active  workers  in  the 
township. 

Among  the  remarkably  successful  men  of  Illinois,  none  have 
achieved  more  signal  success  than  the  Hon.  David  Rankin,  of  Hen- 
derson county.  He  was  born  in  1S26,  in  Sullivan  county,  Indiana, 
and  when  he  was  ten  years  of  age,  his  parents  removed  to  what  is  now 
Henderson  county,  then  Warren.  Here  Mr.  Rankin  passed  his  early 
youth  and  manhood.  At  that  time  the  educational  advantages 
ati'orded  by  the  schools  were  of  a  very  primitive  nature.  Yet  from  the 
school  of  poverty  with  its  teaclier  experience,  young  Rankin  seems  to 
have  gained  the  pmctical  wisdom  that  surpasses ^all  mere  book  learn- 
ing. Mr.  Rankin  began  life  for  himself  breaking  prairie,  buying  his 
ox-teams  on  credit.  Starting  in  this  humble  way,  he  planned  to  have 
eighty  acres  of  land.  Soon  he  earned  this.  Then  an  opportunity 
offered  for  -him  to  buy  two  quarter-sections  at  $200  each.  *  Soon 
after  buying  them  the  two  farms  increased  rapidly  in  value.  From 
that  time  Mr.  Rankin  began  to  buy  land,  and  since  that  time  has  added 
to  his  lands,  until  he  now  has  over  25,000  acres  of  land  in  Iowa, 
Missouri  and  Illinois.  In  Missouri  alone  he  has  this  year  (1882)  over 
20,000  acres  of  corn.  Annually  on  liis  farm  he  feeds  from  500  to  600 
head  of  cattle.  In  addition  to  this,  Mr.  Rankin  has  the  controlling 
interest  of  7,000  cattle  on  the  North  Platte  range  in  Nebraska.  He 
has  done  much  in  the  way  of  improving  horses  and  cattle,  importing 
both  from  England  and  Scotland.  Annually  he  breeds  about  100  fine 
grades  of  Hei-efords.  Both  in  acreage  and  value  of  produce  Mr. 
Rankin's  farms  surpass  the  celebrated  Dalrymple  farm  in  the  Red 
River  wheat  country.  In  1881  he  employed  180  men  who  worked 
teams,  and  in  the  s])ring  he  used  sixty  corn  planters.  Beginning  with 
nothing,  by  the  most  untiring  industry  Mr.  Rankin  has  accumulated 
property  valued  at  $1,000,000.  All  this,  too,  has  been  made,  not  from 
speculation,  but  dug  from  the  soil,  and  added  to  the  country's  wealth. 
Nor  has  he  bought  u]>  farms  from  poorer  men,  but  the  most  of  his  land 
has  been  purchased  when  waste  and  wild,  and  then  made  valuable  by 
cultivation  and  improvement.  Mr.  Rankin  is  one  of  the  few  men  who 
have  made  money  but  not  enemies.     Some  of  his  men  who  have  gained 


WALNUT    GROVE   TOWNSHIP.  1179 

from  him  their  start  in  life  have  paid  him  the  compliment  of  saying  he 
"never  did  a  hired  man  a  wrong."  In  the  fall  of  1873  Mr.  Rankin 
was  elected  to  the  state  legislature,  where  he  made  so  good  a  record  as 
to  lead  to  his  being  returned  to  the  twenty-ninth  general  assembly, 
where  he  served  as  a  useful  member  and  conscientious  legislator.  On 
the  21st  of  March,  1850,  Mr.  Rankin  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah 
Thompson,  daughter  of  Adam  and  Jane  Thompson.  Mrs.  Rankin 
died  on  December  28,  1878.  Three  of  the  six  children  born  of  this 
marriage  are  dead,  namelv,  the  two  eldest,  Elizabeth  and  Melinda, 
and  the  youngest,  Joseph  R.  Of  the  three  living,  Viola  N.  is  now 
the  wife  of  J.  F.  Hanna.  Mr.  Rankin's  two  sons,  John  A.  and 
William  F.,  are  also  married,  the  former  to  Miss  Hattie  Arms  and  the 
latter  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Marshall.  On  January  4,  1880,  Mr,  Rankin 
was  married  a  second  time,  his  wife's  name  having  been  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Gowdy.  He  now  resides  on  his  old  farm  in  Walnut  Grove  township, 
where  he  has  a  most  elegant  home,  which  is  ricldy  furnished.  Here  Mr. 
Rankin  spends  his  time  when  not  away  looking  after  his  business  inter- 
ests, which  are  augmented  by  his  duties  both  in  the  First  National  Bank 
of  Monmouth,  of  which  he  is  president,  as  well  as  in  two  private  banks, 
in  which  he  has  the  controlling  interest.  In  spite  of  all  his  vast  and 
varied  duties,  Mr.  Rankin  has  kept  his  name  unsullied  and  his  reputa- 
tion for  strict  honesty  untarnished.  There  is  no  one  who  is  a  bettei- 
example  as  to  business  life  and  principles  for  young  men  to  follow  than 
Mr.  Rankin.  System,  method,  order  and  industry,  have  been  the 
secret  of  his  success,  and  these  will  always  win  respect  and  confidence 
everywhere  and  will  always  retain  them.  Mr.  Rankin  may  well  be 
proud  of  his  success  and  reputation,  and  Hendeison  county  may  well 
be  proud  to  number  Mr.  Rankin  as  one  of  its  citizens. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  Mr.  Jaivies  F.  Rankin,  was  born  August 
4,  1834,  in  Sullivan  county,  Indiana.  His  parents  were  William  and 
Elizabeth  Rankin,  who  were  natives  of  Pennsylvania,  Mr.  Rankin 
being  (as  indicated  by  the  name)  of  Scotch  descent.  His  father  emi- 
gi'ated  to  Henderson  county  in  the  early  part  of  the  year  1837.  Imme- 
diately after  his  arrival  he  entered  a  half-section  of  land,  and  during 
the  following  year  erected  a  saw-mill,  where  he  cut  the  lumber  for  the 
first  church  building  in  the  township.  Full  thirty  years  before  his 
death,  which  occun*ed  in  1870.  at  Monmouth,  he  was  made  an  elder  of 
the  Associate  Reformed  church.  Six  years  after  his  father's  death  Mr. 
Rankin's  mother  died,  in  the  year  1876.  Mr.  Rankin  first  attended 
school  in  the  little  log-house  where  the  first  church  services  were  held, 
the  first  teacher  being  Mr.  John  Sampy.  April  19,  1860,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Jane  T.  Thompson,  daughter  of  Adam  Thompson. 


ilSO  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

To  them  has  been  born  one  chikl,  Edgar  D.,  who  is  now  (1882)  pnrsu- 
ing  his  studies  at  Monmouth  College.  Although  Mr.  Rankin  has  been 
unfortunate  in  having  to  pay  an  extremely  large  security  debt  for 
another,  yet  he  has  also  saved  a  large  competence,  having  a  beautiful 
farm  of  600  acres  upon  which  he  resides.  Mr.  Rankin's  early  life  was 
spent  upon  his  fathers  farm,  in  clearing  and  improving  it.  After 
starting  out  in  life  success  soon  crowned  his  efforts  to  make  for  himself 
a  competence,  and  he  is  now  surrounded  with  all  the  comforts  of  life. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  Mr.  Sa^cuel  Steele  Rankin,  son  of 
James  Rankin,  was  born  May  3,  1830,  in  Park  county,  Indiana.  His 
father,  who  died  in  May,  1879,  was  a  native  of  Jefferson  county, 
Indiana.  When  but  four  years  of  age  his  father  emigrated  to  Hender- 
son county  by  means  of  wagons  and  settled  in  what  was  then  Warren, 
but  has  since  become  Henderson  county.  Though  the  schools  of  those 
days  were  of  a  very  primitive  nature,  and  Mr.  Rankin  could  obtain 
but  little  education  from  books,  yet  he  seems  to  have  gained  the 
better  education  of  practical  wisdom  that  has  enabled  him  to  succeed 
better  than  many  college  graduates.  May  31,  1854,  Mr.  Rankin  was 
married  to  Miss  Caroline  Carothers,  whose  father  served  in  the  war  of 
1812.  Of  this  marriage  have  been  born  seven  children,  all  of  whom 
are  still  living :  Lauranca  Elizabeth,  Harriet  Ann,  Mary  Eleanor, 
Charles  Elmore,  Ralph  Worthington,  John  W^esley  and  Laura  Jeanette. 
The  two  eldest  daughters  have  married  and  left  their  parents"'  roof,  the 
eldest  one  to  AVilliam  Pogue,  the  third  to  Edward  Thompson.  It  is 
suthcient  to  say  of  Mr.  Rankin's  success,  that  though  he  began  with 
nothing,  yet  by  untiring  industry  and  application  he  has  become  the 
possessor  of  a  beautiful  farm  of  1:00  acres.  In  the  days  of  Mr.  Ran- 
kin's early  pioneering  his  father  sold  corn  as  low  .as  five  cents  a  bushel 
and  wheat  for  twenty  cents  a  bushel.  In  those  days,  too,  a  letter  cost 
$25 ;  and  long  journeys  had  to  be  made  to  mill,  and  oftentimes  great 
privations  were  gone  through  to  lay  the  foundations  of  Mr.  Rankin's 
present  competence. 

Thomas  Rankin,  of  township  i>,  range  4,  son  of  Alexander  Rankin, 
was  born  December  5,  1831,  in  Sulliv^an  county,  Indiana.  His  grand- 
father was  one  of  Indiana's  earliest  settlers,  he  having  built  the  first 
cabin  in  what  is  now  the  city  of  Steuben ville.  When  Mr.  Rankin  was 
but  five  years  of  age,  his  father,  Alexander,  emigrated  by  wagon  to 
Illinois,  to  what  is  now  Walnut  Grove  township,  Henderson  county. 
This  was  in  April  of  1836.  He  at  once  began  the  erection  of  a  cabin, 
into  which  he  moved  his  family  before  the  roof  was  on.  The  night 
Mr.  Rankin  moved  his  family  into  his  cabin,  a  huge  limb,  some  fifteen 
inches  in  diameter,   fell  from  the  tree  under  which  they  had  been 


WALNUT    GROVE    TOWNSHIP.  1181' 

sleeping,  and  had  they  been  there  would  no  donbt  have  killed  them 
all.  Amid  such  early  surroundings  in  his  father's  pioneer  home,  Mr. 
Rankin  passed  his  childhood  days,  receiving  his  early  education  in  a 
little  cabin  near  his  father's  house.  December  5,  1857,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  L.  Mathers,  daughter  of  Samuel  Mathers,  an  old  resident  of 
Henderson  county.  Of  the  five  children  born  of  this  marriage,  four 
are  living.  May  (5,  1881,  Annie,  the  eldest  daughter,  died  at  the  age 
of  seventeen,  just  in  the  beginning  of  her  young  womanhood.  The 
two  sons,  Eobert  and  Samuel  Alexander,  are  now  at  home ;  Jennie, 
Jessie  and  Martha  Letitia,  the  two  daughters,  are  also  with  their 
parents.  Mr.  Rankin  began  life  with  nothing  save  his  hands  and  a 
brave  heart.  He  now  has  250  acres  of  land  upon  which  he  resides, 
and  here  he  is  now  (1882)  erecting  a  beautiful  and  spacious  residence. 
Wesley  Milliken,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  farmer.  Walnut 
Grove  township,  was  born  on  October  21,  1827,  in  Dearborn  county, 
Indiana,  where  he  passed  his  youth  and  early  manhood,  receiving  his 
education  in  the  common  schools  of  this  county.  On  May  29,  1849, 
Mr.  Milliken  was  man-ied  to  Miss  Catharine  Powell,  daughter  of 
Nathan  and  Marv  Powell.  To  them  have  been  born  eleven  children, 
four  of  whom,  Orvill  A.  E.,  Wade  C,  Ellsworth  E.,  and  an  infant 
daughter,  are  dead.  Of  the  living,  Jeft'erson  B.  is  married  and  resides 
near  his  father  ;  Caroline  A.  is  the  wife  of  George  W.  Henry,  of  War- 
ren county  ;  Jeanette  J.  is  the  wife  of  William  Groom,  also  of  Warren 
county;  James  P.,  Mary  G.,  Greeley  L.,  and  Clara  A.  are  at  home 
with  their  parents.  Mr.  Milliken's  father's  name  was  James  P.  and 
his  mother's  Priscilla  Milliken.  James  P.  Milliken  was  born  October 
16,  1803,  and  emigrated  to  Indiana  in  1817.  In  1841  he  was  elected 
to  the  lower  house  of  the  legislature  of  Indiana  for  a  term  of  two 
years,  and  at  the  expiration  of  the  term  was  elected  to  the  state  senate 
and  again  re-elected,  serving  six  years  in  the  senate.  While  in  the 
senate  a  prohibitory  liquor  law  was  passed,  he  taking  an  active  part  in 
favor  of  it.  Upon  his  return  home  the  temperance  people  of  Dear- 
born county  presented  him  with  a  silver  cup  in  appreciation  of  his 
services  in  the  senate.  In  1852  he  was  the  Free  Soil  candidate  for 
lieutenant-governor,  with  George  W.  Julian  for  governor.  In  1858 
he  moved  to  Adair  county,  Missouri.  At  this  time  John  B.  Clark  was 
representative  in  congress  from  this  district,  and  he  had  gained  some 
notoriet}'  for  his  opposition  to  John  Sherman  as  speaker.  About  this 
time  a  work  called  "■The  Impending  Crisis  "  was  published.  It  was 
principally  made  up  of  statistics  which  compared  the  free  and  slave 
states  together,  and  showed  what  a  terrible  blight  slavery  was.  Be- 
lieving fii-mly   that   slavery   was  a  great   hindrance  to  the   material 


1182  HISTORY   OF   MERCEK    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

advancement  of  Missouri,  Mr.  Millikin  sent  $5  for  this  little  work  and 
stated  his  belief  that  when  the  people  of  the  district  got  their  eyes 
opened  on  the  subject  they  would  not  allow  themselves  to  be  misrepre- 
sented by  such  a  demagogue  as  Clark.  The  New  York  "Tribune" 
got  hold  of  this  letter,  and  commended  it  to  Clark's  careful  perusal. 
Mr.  Clark  sent  the  letter  to  Adair  county,  Missouri,  for  publication. 
This  letter  so  infuriated  the  hot-blooded  slavery  men  that  terrible 
threats  were  made  against  the  author  of  that  letter.  Mr.  Milliken 
called  a  political  meeting  and  in  an  address  stated  that  he  wrote  the 
letter,  believing  it  was  for  the  best  interests  of  Missouri.  It  was  with 
difficulty  that  the  mob  could  be  restrained  while  he  was  speaking, 
frequently  interrupting "  him  with  threats.  At  length  some  of  the 
cooler  heads  succeeded  in  restoring  quiet,  for  the  time.  In  1861  he 
moved  to  Davis  county,  Iowa,  and  in  August  of  the  next  year  enlisted 
in  the  30th  Iowa  Yol.  Inf.  He  was  elected  second  lieutenant  and  the 
next  spring  was  promoted  to  major  of  his  regiment.  In  the  charge 
made  on  the  rebel  works  at  Yicksburg,  May  22,  1863,  he  was  mortally 
wounded  and  died  the  next  day.  His  son  Ethan,  brother  of  Wesley 
Milliken,  was  also  in  this  battle,  and  after  it  was  over  was  made  cap- 
tain, which  office  he  held  until  the  close  of  the  war.  Mr.  Milliken, 
since  his  coming  to  Henderson  county,  has  resided  in  Walnut  Grove 
Township,  and  there  on  Sec.  33  he  now  lives,  his  farm  being  one  of 
the  neatest  and  most  beautiful  in  the  county. 

Rev.  John  H.  Montgomery,  pastor  of  the  United  Presbyterian 
church  of  Walnut  Grove  township,  was  born  in  Elniira,  Pennsylvania, 
in  1836.  Having  chosen  the  ministry  as  his  profession  he  went  to 
Monmouth  College  to  pursue  his  studies,  where  he  graduated  in  the 
class  of  1866.  When  in  his  senior  year  he  went  into  the  war,  having 
joined  Co.  C,  83d  reg.  Vol.  Inf.  He  afterward  became  chaplain  of  a 
colored  regiment.  After  his  licenciate  he  was  called  to  the  pastorate 
of  the  church  at  Elmira,  where  he  remained  seven  j^ears.  After  a 
rest  of  two  years  on  account  of  ill  health,  he  took  his  present  charge. 
On  August  14,  1862,  he  was  married  to  Miss  M.  E.  Hemphill,  then  a 
student  of  Monmouth  College  residing  at  Bloomington,  Indiana.  Of 
this  marriage  iive  children  were  born.  Their  names  in  order  of  age 
are  as  follows:  David  W.,  Charles  A.,  Alfred  C,  Mary  Paulina  and 
Maggie  J.,  all  being  at  home  with  their  parents.  Since  entering  the 
active  ministry  Mr.  Montgomery  has  been  a  delegate  to  the  general 
assembly  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church  four  times. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  Mr.  George  M.  Foote,  son  of  David 
and  Annie  (Mott)  Foote,  was  born  January  17,  1817,  in  Vermont. 
Both  of  his  grandparents  served  in  the  revolutionary  war.     In  1821 


/I  /^  I 


WALNUT   GROVE   TOWTSTSHIP.  11 85 

lie  emigrated  to  Chenango  county,  New  York,  where  he  was  educated 
in  the  common  schools.  In  1829  his  parents  removed  to  Oneida 
county,  where  they  afterward  died.  In  1844,  accompanied  by  his  brother 
Frank,  Mr.  Foote  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Henderson  county. 
In  those  days  good  hands  received  only  four  dollars  a  month,  an  Mrd. 
Foote  once  worked  seven  months  for  five  dollars  a  month,  and  then 
his  employer  ran  away  without  paying  him.  Mr.  Foote  began  by 
buying  eighty  acres  of  land  with  his  brother  Frank.  To  this  land  he 
has  been  steadily  adding  until  he  now  has  1,200  acres  in  one  body  and 
about  300  scattered  about.  The  great  storm,  known  as  the  Ellison 
cyclone,  struck  Mr.  Footers  farm  the  first  after  its  formation.  His 
house,  barn  and  fences  were  entirely  destroyed  and  had  to  be  rebuilt. 
Of  Mr.  Foote's  three  children,  but  one  (his  son  Jay,  who  recently 
graduated  at  Heding  College)  is  now  at  home.  One  of  his  daugh- 
ters, Laura  M.,  is  now  the  wife  of  John  Johnson,  of  Kearney  county, 
Nebraska.  Adella  A.  is  married  to  John  O'Connor,  of  Henderson 
county,  who  resides  in  township  9,  range  5.  In  1846  Mr.  Foote  was 
married  to  Miss  A.  Tinkham,  daughter  of  Joseph  Tinkham,  of  Hen- 
derson county.  In  1852  Mr.  Foote  was  married  again,  to  Miss  Mary 
Jane  Carpenter.     Mr.  Foote  now  resides  on  Sec.  31,  T.  9,  R.  4. 

T.  G.  RicHEY,  son  of  K.  W.  and  Helen  (Green)  Richey,  was  born 
in  "Washington  county,  New  York,  on  April  25,  1825.  Both  his  grand- 
father and  father  were  natives  of  New  York  state,  the  latter  having 
been  a  recruiting  oificer  for  the  war  of  1812.  Mr.  Ricliey  received  his 
early  education  in  New  York  and  in  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  to 
which  state  his  parents  emigrated  when  he  was  but  fifteen  years  of  age, 
driving  teams  all  the  way  across  the  country.  Imbued  with  the  gold 
fever  in  1849,  Mr.  Richey  determined  to  seek  the  "  Golden  Gate"  and 
his  fortune  in  the  rich  mines  of  California.  Joining  a  company  of 
about  sixty  men,  under  command  of  Capt.  Finley,  Mr.  Richej-  drove 
his  team  through  to  the  Pacific  coast,  thus  completing  the  journey 
across  the  continent.  Taking  the  overland  route,  they  reached  the 
Xuby  mines  in  safety,  having  been  surrounded  by  Indians  on  their 
way  and  compelled  to  buy  their  way  out.  Here  Mr.  Richey  remained 
a  little  over  one  year,  returning  by  way  of  the  Isthmus  and  Mississippi 
river  to  Burlington.  In  1851,  after  his  return  homo,  Mr.  Richey  was 
married  to  Miss  Lavina  Randall,  daughter  of  Roswell  Randall,  of 
Warren  county.  Of  this  marriage  six  children  have  been  born,  all  of 
whom  are  living:  Charles  E.  is  now  married  and  in  business  in 
Chicago;  Helen  C,  the  second  child,  is  now  the  wife  of  R.  D.  Faris, 
principal  of  the  graded  schools  of  Cable,  Illinois  ;  the  third  child, 
Lilian  M.,  is  now  wife  of  Dr.  Cowden,  of  Olena  ;  Clarence  G.  is  mar- 
67 


1186  HISTORY    OF   IVIERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

ried  and  works  the  homestead,  while  the  two  youngest,  Frank  P.  and 
Dora  A,,  reside  at  home  with  their  parents.  In  his  children  and 
domestic  relations  Mr.  Kichey  has  been  exceedingly  blessed.  Not  less 
prosperous  has  he  been  in  his  business,  of  farming  originally,  but  of 
shipping  stock  of  late.  He  has  by  labor  and  industry  made  for  him- 
self a  most  beautiful  home,  from  which  one  can  look  out  upon  his  380 
acre  farm.  More  than  all,  he  has  gained  a  reputation  for  integrity 
which  is  "better  than  grandeur;  better  than  gold,  than  rank  or  titles, 
a  thousand  fold."  After  the  Brook  tragedy,  when  the  need  of  an 
organization  to  protect  the  people  of  the  county  from  crime  was  felt, 
and  after  the  vigilance  committee  was  organized,  all  turned  to  Mr. 
Richey  as  the  man  Utted,  by  his  decision  and  energy,  to  head  that 
committee.  He  has  since  been  at  the  head  of  the  Olena  organization, 
and  it  was  due  to  his  skill,  to  a  large  degree,  that  every  horse  thief  in 
the  county  since  the  formation  of  the  committee  has  been  brought  to 
justice.  Mr.  Richey  may  be  called  a  self-made  man  in  every  sense  of 
the  term,  and  as  such  deserves  the  highest  praise  for  his  successful 
efforts  to  make  for  himself  an  honored  name  among  the  citizens  of 
Henderson  county. 

J.  L.  Ford,  farmer,  T.  9,  R.  4,  son  of  James  and  Rachel  (Field) 
Ford,  was  born  near  Cadiz,  Harrison  county,  Ohio,  on  May  6,  1844. 
His  mother's  father,  Mr.  Field,  was  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Penn- 
sylvania, and  fought  in  the  war  of  1812  ;  his  father's  grandfather, 
who  was  shot  by  the  Indians,  was  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  what  is 
now  Harrisburg.  When  Mr,  Ford  was  but  one  year  old,  his  father 
died,  in  1845.  When  nine  years  old  he  made  the  journey  from  Steu- 
benville,  Ohio,  to  Burlington,  coming  down  the  Ohio  on  the  Min- 
nesota Belle,  one  of  the  early  river  steamers  ;  his  folks  having  settled 
in  Henderson  county,  in  T.  9,  R.  4.  Mr.  Ford  obtained  his  early 
education  in  the  common  schools  of  that  township,  receiving  his  tirst 
instruction  from  an  old  teacher  named  Bailey,  who  is  still  remembered 
by  many.  Mr.  Ford's  name  is  to  be  recorded  among  those  who  went 
forth  to  battle  for  tlieir  country's  freedom  during  the  late  war.  He 
enlisted  in  Co.  C,  83d  111.  Vols.  For  over  two  years  he  was  mounted 
as  a  scout,  most  of  the  time  for  Gen.  Thomas.  He  was  also  one  of  the 
body  guard  of  Gen.  Rosseau,  on  his  march  from  Nashville,  Tennessee, 
to  Florence,  Alabama.  Although  he  was  engaged  in  just  fifteen  bat- 
tles and  skirmishes,  he  was  wounded  only  once,  a  ball  having  struck 
him  in  the  knee  at  Yellow  Creek,  Tennessee,  when  they  were  skir- 
mishing with  Gen.  Hood's  body  guard.  On  February  18,  1877,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Maggie  J.  Pogue,  daughter  of  John  and  Elizabeth 
Pogue,   old  residents  of  Henderson  county.      Of  this  marriage  two 


WALNUT   GROVE   TOWNSHIP.  1187 

children  have  been  born,  the  eldest,  Mary  Jane,  having  been  born  on 
June  14,  1878,  and  the  youngest,  Evalina  Maud,  on  May  12,  1880. 
Mr.  Ford  now  lives  in  Walnut  Grove  township,  on  Sec.  6,  and  gives, 
his  attention  to  farming. 

James  Shook,  son  of  Dykman  Shook,  was  born  on  December  11, 
1830,  in  Hancock  county,  Illinois,  and  hence  is  among  the  very  oldest 
born  in  this  state.  In  1 830  his  father  settled  in  Hancock  county,  and 
just  before  the  Black  Hawk  war,  with  his  family  of  five  children,  he 
removed  to  Henderson  county,  where  he  put  in  a  crop,  and  during  the 
war,  having  removed  his  family  to  a  place  of  safety  in  another  county, 
he  tended  his  crop  with  his  gun  at  his  side.  Mr.  Shook,  who  was 
among  the  very  earliest  settlers  of  the  county,  was  a  member  of  the 
Campbellite  or  Christian  church,  and  it  was  at  his  house  that  the  first 
ser\dces  of  this  denomination  ever  conducted  in  the  county  were  held, 
Rev.  Levi  Hatchet  having  preached  the  sermon.  Mr.  Shook's  wife 
died  January  19,  1876,  and  on  October  12  following  he  also  died. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch,  James,  the  fourth  son  of  Dykman  Shook, 
passed  his  early  youth  in  the  midst  of  many  privations,  and  gained  his 
education  in  the  primitive  schools  of  the  county.  Some  idea  of  the 
meagre  school  advantages  of  those  days  may  be  gained  by  saying  that 
Mr.  Shook  learned  his  ABC  from  letters  cut  out  of  a  book  and 
pasted  on  a  board,  which  was  set  up  before  him.  The  only  text-books 
used  were  Cobb's  old  spelling-book  and  the  New  Testament.  On  May 
19,  1860,  Mr.  Shook  was  married  to  Mary  Ann  Beebe,  daughter  of 
Levi  Beebe.  Of  this  marriage  nine  children  have  been  born :  four 
boys  and  five  girls.  One  of  his  sons,  Albert,  now  resides  in  Fremont 
county,  Iowa ;  David,  Wilbert  and  Levi  are  still  at  home.  One  of  his 
daughters,  Sarah  Jane,  is  the  wife  of  Edward  Elixon  ;  the  other  four 
daughters,  Effie,  Mary  Melinda,  Amanda,  and  Hannah,  are  at  home 
with  their  jiarents.  Mr.  Shook  began  life  with  nothing  save  a  good 
constitution,  and  having  raised  a  large  family,  with  them  resides  on 
his  farm  of  160  acres  in  Walnut  Grove  township,  giving  his  attention 
to  farming  and  stock-raising. 

Mr.  William  J.  Chard,  son  of  William  and  Mary  Chard,  of  LTpper 
Sandusky,  Ohio,  emigrated  from  Scioto  county,  that  state,  to  Warre'n 
county,  Illinois,  in  1845 ;  but  after  a  residence  of  one  year  there  came 
to  Walnut  Grove  township,  Henderson  county,  and  settled  near  where 
Mr.  Chard  now  resides.  Cast  ujaon  his  own  resources  and  compelled 
to  make  choice  of  an  occupation,  the  independent  life  of  a  farmer  was 
chosen  by  Mr.  Chard.  Beginning  life  with  nothing,  he  has  now  about 
him  all  the  comforts  of  life,  having  for  manj^  years  given  his  attention 
to  stock  raising  and  farming.     On  November  30,  1854,  he  was  married 


1188  HISTORY   OF   MERCEK   AJSTD    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

to  Miss  Louisa  Jane  Duncan,  daughter  of  Charles  Duncan,  of  McDon- 
ough  county,  Illinois.  Of  tliis  marriage  there  are  seven  children,  the 
eldest  of  whom,  Calvin  D.,  died  when  but  two  years  of  age.  All  the 
rest,  Alfred  M.,  Luella  J.,  Ola  E.,  Charlie  D.,  Dennis  A.  and  Harry 
L.,  are  at  home  with  their  parents.  In  1878,  after  a  tour  through  the 
west  to  Walla  Walla,  Washington  Territory,  where  he  is  planning  to 
remove  soon,  Mr.  Chard  returned  to  his  home,  where  he  has  exceed- 
ing happiness  in  his  home  relations  of  his  six  interesting  children. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  Richard  H.  Correll,  farmer,  of  Walnut 
Grove  township,  was  born  December  18,  1847,  near  Lancaster,  Han- 
cock county,  Illinois.  His  father  was  a  native  of  the  State  of  Tennes- 
see, where  he  was  born  in  1823,  and  when  yet  a  child  his  parents 
removed  to  Hancock  county,  Illinois,  where  their  eldest  son,  Richard 
H.,  was  born.  Here,  too,  he  passed  his  childhood  and  early  youth, 
receiving  his  education  in  the  common  schools  of  the  immediate  vicinity 
of  his  home.  After  liis  parents  removed  to  Henderson  county  Mr. 
Correll  met  Miss  Elizabeth  Weaver,  to  whom  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage on  June  18,  1878.  Mrs.  Correll  is  the  daughter  of  Jacob  and 
Ann  Eliza  (Dobbin)  AVeaver,  both  of  whom  are  natives  of  Washington 
county,  jS^ew  York,  and  residents  of  Walnut  Grove  township.  Of  this 
marriage  two  children  have  been  born :  the  elder,  Clinnie  Lorena,  and 
the  younger,  William.  Mr.  Correll's  father's  name  was  Jacob  Addison 
C(^rrell,  and  his  children  are:  Richard  IL,  Mary  Elizabeth  (wife  of 
William  Duncan),  Cincinnattus,  and  Alice  (wife  of  Daniel  Galbraith). 
Our  subject  now  resides  on  the  old  homestead  of  180  acres,  on  section 
11,  where  he  gives  his  attention  to  farming  and  stock  raising. 

William  G.  Pendarvis,  farmer.  Walnut  Grove  township,  was  born 
May  21,  1838,  in  Schuvler  county,  Illinois.  His  father,  Samuel  F. 
Pendarvis,  who  was  an  honored  resident  of  Henderson  county,  died 
on  March  1,  1875,  leaving  seven  children,  four  sons  and  three  daugh- 
ters, to  mourn  their  loss.  All  of  them  save  one,  who  resides  in  Alma, 
Harlan  county,  Nebraska,  are  residents  of  this  state.  The  subject  of 
.  this  sketch,  Mr.  William  G.  Pendarvis,  passed  his  early  days  in  Schuyler 
county,  where  he  grew  up  and  received  his  early  education.  When  he 
vfks  sixteen  years  of  age,  in  1854,  his  parents  came  to  Henderson 
county.  Ten  years  after,  in  1864,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah 
Salisbury,  daughter  of  Seneca  Salisbury,  of  Warren  county.  Of  this 
marriage  five  children  were  born,  four  of  whom  are  still  living  :  Mary 
Ettie,  Emma  J.,  Alice  I.  and  Lewis  M.  On  August  27,  1876,  Mrs. 
Pendarvis  passed  away,  leaving  behind  four  interesting  and  promising 
children  to  mourn  their  loss.  On  October  3,  1878,  Mr.  Pendarvis  was 
married  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Noakes.     Their  ofispring  are  Ollie  May  and 


WALNUT   GROVE   TOWNSHIP.  1189 

Sydney  A.  Save  a  good  constitution,  Mr.  Fendarvis  began  life  with 
but  little.  He  now  has  160  acres  of  land  in  sections  26  and  35,  on  the 
latter  of  which  he  resides.  Here  he  gives  his  attention  to  farming  and 
stock  raising. 

Lemuel  A.  Pendakvis,  farmer,  Walnut  Grove,  a  son  of  Samuel  F. 
Pendarvis,  was  born  in  Schuyler  county,  Illinois,  in  1813.  So  far  as 
the  name  is  concerned  he  would  seem  to  be  of  French  extraction, 
though  the  place  from  which  his  forefathers  emigrated  would  point  to 
Scotch  descent.  After  the  emigration  of  his  parents  to  Henderson 
county,  Mr.  Pendarvis  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools. 
On  April  1,  1875,  he  w^s  imited  in  marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth 
Pichardson,  daughter  of  Emanuel  Richardson.  To  these  parents  have 
been  born  three  children :  the  eldest  is  named  Perry  P. ;  the  second 
child,  also  a  son,  Albert  P.;  the  youngest  is  called  Earle  A.  Up  to 
the  time  of  his  father's  death,  which  occurred  in  1875,  Mr.  Pendarvis 
remained  with  him  on  the  old  homestead.  After  his  father's  death  he 
added  to  his  farm  eighty  acres,  so  that  he  now  has  160,  upon  which  he 
resides,  paying  attention  chiefly  to  farming  and  stock  raising. 

John  A.  Brook,  farmer.  Walnut  Grove  township,  son  of  Isaiah  and 
Jane  Brook,  of  Gladstone  township,  was  born  December  14,  1839. 
He  received  his  early  education  in  the  common  school  near  his  father's 
home,  and  afterward  spent  some  time  in  the  United  Presbyterian 
College  at  Monmouth,  completing  his  studies.  While  still  yoimg  he 
was  attacked  with  rheumatism,  which  rendered  him  almost  helpless  for 
a  time,  from  the  effects  of  which  he  has  never  recovered.  On  August 
27,  1867,  Mr.  Brook  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  A.  Carothers,  daughter 
of  Andrew  Carothers,  an  old  resident  of  Henderson  county.  Of  this 
marriage  five  children  have  been  born,  the  second  of  whom  died  in 
infancy:  Anna  Jane,  born  September  16,  1868;  John  Cecil,  born 
April  18,  1872;  Lydia,  born  June  16,  1874;  Nellie  Myrtle,  born  No- 
vember 18,  1877.  Mr.  Brook  is  the  owner  of  about  410  acres  of  land, 
lying  in  three  farms,  his  residence  being  on  Sec.  6,  T.  9,  R.  4.  He 
has  served  one  term  as  assessor  and  treasurer  of  Henderson  county, 
and  in  1878  he  was  appointed  school  treasurer  of  the  township  in 
which  he  resides,  and  still  holds  that  office.  Mr.  Brook  is  an  elder  in 
the  United  Presbyterian  church  at  Olena,  of  which  church  he  has  been 
a  member  for  several  years. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  Francis  Marion  Davidson,  was  born  on 
December  15,  1830,  in  Gibson  county,  Indiana.  His  parents  were 
Frederic  and  Elizabeth  Davidson,  who  were  of  Scotch  descent.  Mrs. 
Davidson's  father  served  during  the  whole  of  the  revolutionarv  war, 
and  was  with  Gen.  Morgan.     In  1835  Mr.  Davidson's  parents  removed 


1190  HISTORY   OF   ilERCER   ANT)    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

to  what  was  then  Warren  county,  since  become  Henderson.  Here  he 
passed  his  youth  obtaining  his  education  in  the  common  schools,  and 
has  since  carried  on  his  studies  in  private.  On  January  29,  1852,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Ann  Rankin,  daughter  of  Aleck  Rankin, 
of  Walnut  Grove  township,  Mr.  Davidson  was  a  mechanic  by  nature, 
and  in  1850  he  began  to  buy  books  on  mechanics.  When  the  old 
chaff  pilers,  which  were  so  hard  on  horses,  came  around,  Mr.  Da\ad- 
son  began  to  figure  and  plan  to  invent  an  engine  that  would  take  the 
place  of  horse  power.  After  working  on  the  subject  about  a  year,  in 
1856  he  sent  to  Cliillicothe,  Ohio,  and  had  a  new  engine  made  for 
him  according  to  his  patterns.  On  this  engine  he  added  two  improve- 
ments, one  as  to  the  copper  tubes,  another  as  to  the  stroke.  In  1858 
he  drafted  a  new  engine,  changing  the  cylinder  so  as  to  increase  the 
power.  This  engine,  which  was  not  completed  until  1861,  Mr. 
Davidson  named  the  John  C.  Henan.  After  three  or  four  years' 
study  and  examination  of  the  best  engines  in  the  country,  Mr.  David- 
son drafted  the  Monarch  engine,  which  he  completed  in  May,  1882. 
This  engine  has  a  complete  steering  apparatus  and  headlight,  and 
runs  on  the  road  from  six  to  ten  miles  an  hour.  In  addition  to  other 
improvements  the  Monarch  has  a  tender  which  carries  wood  and 
water.  This  engine  is  a  complete  success,  and  is  a  model  in  its  way, 
being  able  to  do  the  work  of  a  half  dozen  teams  in  tlie  field  per  day. 
The  eldest  of  Mr.  Davidson's  family  of  six  children  died  in  infancy ; 
five  are  still  living:  Darius  John,  Dion,  Francis  Marion,  Annis  and 
Sarah  Elizabeth,  and  are  all  at  home.  Mr.  Davidson  is  a  democrat  in 
his  politics,  and  was  at  one  time  up  for  a  state  ofiice,  but  was  on  the 
wrong  side  and  was  not  elected.  In  addition  to  his  milling  and  stock 
interests,  Mr.  Davidson  has  over  2,000  acres  of  land.  He  now  resides 
in  Kirkwood. 

Joseph  Mathers,  eldest  son  of  Samuel  and  Jane  (Greer)  Mathers, 
may  be  ranked  as  one  of  the  influential  men  of  Walnut  Grove  town- 
ship. His  father,  Samuel  Mathers,  of  Ireland,  ran  away  from  home 
in  youth  and  took  ship  for  America.  The  ship  having  gone  down  in 
a  storm  off  the  coast  of  the  "New  Land,"  he  was  carried  ashore  by  a 
sailor  and  afterward  went  to  Quebec,  where  he  was  married  to  Jane 
Greer.  After  residing  in  Pennsylvania  for  some  years  he  removed 
with  his  family  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  where  several  of  his 
sons  still  reside.  Here  he  died  on  August  19,  1859.  His  estimable 
wife  is  still  living  and  resides  on  the  old  homestead.  Sec.  28,  T.  9,  R.  4. 
Joseph  Mathers,  his  eldest  son,  began  life  with  nothing,  working  for 
five  dollars  a  month  once,  but  now  has  a  large  and  exceedingly  beau- 
tiful farm  of  500  acres.     On  May  16,  1850,  he  was  married  to  Mary 


WALNUT   GROVE    TOWNSHIP.  1191 

Ramsay,  daughter  of  David  Ramsay.  Nearly  three  years  later,  accom- 
panied by  his  wife  and  brother,  Mr.  Mathers  set  out,  in  a  wagon  drawn 
by  five  yoke  of  oxen  and  one  yoke  of  cows,  for  the  gold  regions  of  Cali- 
fornia. Here  he  remained  two  years,  returning  by  way  of  the  Isthmus 
of  Panama.  Although  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Mathers  have  no  children  of  their 
own,  yet  they  have  raised  one,  George  Gilmore  by  name,  now  married 
and  living  in  Kansas.  One  day,  while  in  Gibsonville,  California,  a 
mining  town,  Mrs.  Mathers,  having  heard  of  a  child  born  over  the 
mountains  whose  mother  had  died,  rode  a  mule  to  Rabbit  creek  and 
brought  the  child  home,  but  raised  it  with  difiiculty,  for  milk  was  fifty 
cents  a  quart,  and  it  was  hard  to  get  at  that.  Since  returning  to  his 
home  Mr.  Mathers  has  given  his  attention  to  stock  raising  and  farming, 
and  by  persevering  industry  and  careful  economy  he  has  made  for 
himself  a  large  competence. 

Robert  Mathers,  son  of  Samuel  and  Jane  (Greer)  Mathers,  was 
born  August  18,  1827,  in  Washington  county,  Pennsylvania.  In  his 
early  youth  he  emigrated  with  his  parents  to  Henderson  county,  where, 
in  3860,  he  was  married  to  Alzora  Z.  Powell,  daughter  of  Nathan 
Powell,  since  deceased.  Of  this  marriage  seven  children  have  been 
born,  the  fourth  of  whom,  Robert  E.,  is  dead.  All  the  rest,  Eugene 
"Wesley,  Dora  Mary,  Lois  Efiie,  Joseph  James,  Samuel  Nathan  and 
Ethel  Sarah,  are  at  home  with  their  parents.  It  is  a  truism  that  indus- 
try and  perseverance  bring  sure  success.  To  this  rule  Mr.  M.  is  no 
exception.  Beginning  life  with  nothing  but  his  hands,  and  laboring 
for  eight  dollars  a  month,  Mr.  Mathers  has  steadily  accumulated  prop- 
erty until  he  has  a  farm  of  320  acres  and  become  the  possessor  of  a 
good  name,  whose  price  is  above  rubies. 

David  W.  McCartney,  next  to  the  youngest  son  of  John  McCartney, 
was  born  July  2,  1826,  in  McMinn  county,  Tennessee,  and  emi- 
grated with  his  parents  when  fourteen  years  old  to  what  is  now 
Henderson  county,  Illinois,  and  settled  in  T.  9,  R.  4.  His  father  was 
born  August  24,  1787,  and  his  mother,  Margaret,  in  1789.  After  their- 
marriage  they  removed  from  Tennessee  in  1840,  and  after  a  short 
residence  in  Warren  and  McDonough  counties,  Illinois,  they  finally 
settled  in  Henderson  county  in  1847.  As  a  volunteer  under  the  com- 
mand of  Gen.  Jackson,  his  father  served  in  the  war  against  the  Creeks 
in  1812-13,  and  was  at  the  capture  of  Pensacola,  Florida.  Four  years 
after  his  father's  death,  Mr.  McCartney  was  married  on  September  10, 
1851,  to  Miss  Rachel  Moore,  daughter  of  Andrew  and  Margaret  Moore. 
Of  this  marriage  five  children  have  been  born.  In  1870  the  eldest  son, 
John  A.,  died  at  the  age  of  nineteen,  just  in  the  beginning  of  his  young 
manhood.     The  second  son,  William  M.,  after  marrying  Miss  Celia 


1192  HISTOKY   OF   SrERCEE    AND   HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Burchell,  moved  to  Mills  county,  Iowa.  Albert  E.  and  David  Ells- 
worth liave  also  removed  to  Iowa,  and  now  live  in  Pottawatamie 
county.  The  youngest,  Nettie,  is  at  home.  Of  Mr.  McCartney's 
character  and  worth  it  is  enough  to  say  that  he  has  been  three  times 
appointed  deputy  assessor,  besides  holding  several  terms  of  ofRce  in 
connection  with  the  school.  At  the  organization  of  this  district  Mr. 
McCartney's  father  was  the  secretary,  the  minutes  of  that  meeting  still 
remaining,  and  the  iirst  school-house  also  was  erected  by  Mr.  McCart- 
ney. Though  he  began  with  nothing,  Mr.  M.  has  now  a  beautiful 
home  and  farm,  and  has  gained  the  confidence  and  esteem  of  his 
fellows. 

Among  the  early  prominent  settlers  of  Henderson  county  is  to  be 
found  the  name  of  William  P.  Thompson,  son  of  Joshua  Thompson, 
who  served  in  the  war  of  1812.  Mr.  Thompson  was  born  October  16, 
1811,  in  Washington  county,  Indiana,  in  which  state  he  was  raised, 
and  in  whose  common  schools  he  was  educated  until  about  twenty 
years  of  age,  when  he  attended  a  Quaker  seminary  near  Salem.  In 
1838  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Moore,  daughter  of  Abram  Moore, 
of  which  marriage  five  children  were  born.  The  eldest,  Greenbury 
Calvin,  volunteered  in  Co.  B,  91st  regiment.  He  afterward  went  to 
Colorado,  where  he  served  one  hundred  days  in  the  Indian  campaign 
on  the  Big  Sandy.  When  on  his  way  from  Atchison  to  Colorado  he 
was  taken  sick  and  died.  His  body  was  brought  to  South  Prairie 
cemetery  by  his  father  and  there  interred.  Mary  J.,  who  married  Mr. 
H.  Garrett,  is  also  dead.  Robert  M.  is  now  engaged  in  farming  for 
himself,  near  his  parents.  Emma  A.  is  now  married  to  Thomas  Gar- 
rett. The  youngest,  Walter  J.,  is  now  (1882)  in  Iowa,  feeding  stock 
and  shipping.  In  the  days  of  Mr.  Thompson's  early  pioneering  there 
were  many  privations  to  undergo.  Deer  covered  the  prairies,  turkeys, 
wolves,  bears,  and  a  few  panthers,  were  in  the  woods.  It  was  miles  to 
mill,  to  the  postotfice,  and  the  nearest  doctor  was  out  near  Monmouth. 
.Yet  though  he  began  with  little,  Mr.  Thompson  has  now  850  acres  of 
land  and  a  competent  fortune,  and  has  also  gained  the  better  inherit- 
ance of  his  neighbors'  respect  and  esteem. 

Prominent  among  the  early  pioneers  of  Henderson  county  is  Mr. 
John  Barnetp.  He  was  born  in  ]S^orthumberland  county,  Virginia,  on 
December  14,  1812.  His  father,  John  B.  Barnett,  and  mother,  Mary 
Hayden  Barnett,  were  both  natives  of  Virginia,  the  former  having 
been  born  in  Matthews  county  and  the  latter  in  Lancaster  county.  On 
April  2,  1834,  Mr.  Barnett  was  married  to  Alice  Moore,  daughter  of 
Charles  and  Mary  Moore,  whose  grandfather  fought  in  the  revolutionary 
war,  and  whose  father  served  during  the  war  of  1812.     In  the  spring 


WALNUT   GEOVE   TOWNSHIP.  1193 

of  1837,  April  20,  Mr.  Barnett  and  liis  wife  left  their  early  home,  and 
having  placed  all  tlieir  worldly  eifects  in  a  wagon,  started  for  the  far 
west.  After  a  journey  of  two  months  they  came  to  what  is  now  Hen- 
derson county,  Illinois,  and  settled  on  section  12,  Walnut  Grove  town- 
ship, on  June  22.  As  the  woods  at  this  time  were  filled  with  game 
of  all  kinds,  they  obtained  plenty  of  food  and  soon  had  a  start  in  life. 
By  persevering  labor  and  careful  economy  Mr.  B.  has  amassed  quite  a 
fortune,  now  owning  three  ftirms,  one  in  Iowa,  a  second  near  Kirk- 
wood,  besides  the  homestead,  in  all  over  880  acres.  Some  idea  of  the 
early  privations  of  those  j^ioneer  days  may  be  gained  by  saying  that 
their  cooking  utensils  consisted  of  a  skillet,  six  tin  plates  and  a  kettle 
in  which  they  boiled  water  for  coffee,  made  corn  bread,  fried  their 
meat  and  boiled  their  clothes.  In  addition  to  these  earthly  treasures, 
Mr.  B.  has  been  blessed  with  a  large  family  of  ten  children  :  Lucy  Ann, 
Peter,  Mary  C,  Charles  K.,  Elizabeth  F.  (long  since  dead),  Eliza,  John 
Wesley,  Catharine,  Anne  Maria  and  Ellen  Josephine,  the  youngest. 
Among  those  lofty  souls  who  fought  for  their  country  was  the  second 
child,  Peter,  who  served  during  all  the  rebellion.  He  was  shot  twice, 
the  second  time  through  the  hip,  a  wound  that  in  his  last  days  troubled 
him  much,  and  probably  helped  to  shorten  his  life.  He  never  asked 
for  a  pension,  but  had  nearly  completed  arrangements  to  do  so,  wlien 
he  died  at  his  home  in  Kansas  at  a  time  when  least  anticipated.  Mr. 
Barnett  was  originally  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
of  which  his  family  are  members.  He  resides,  together  with  his 
excellent  wife  and  youngest  daughter,  on  the  old  homestead  where  he 
settled  some  forty-five  years  ago,  and  retains  the  respect  of  all  who 
know  him. 

N.  R.  Martin,  farmer.  Walnut  Grove  township,  son  of  James  H. 
Martin,  of  Warren  county,  was  born  June  20,  1851,  near  Sugar  Tree 
Grove,  in  Warren  county,  Illinois.  In  this  county  Mr.  Martin  passed 
the  days  of  early  youth  and  manhood,  receiving  his  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  Monmouth,  and  in  the  Business  College  of  Gales- 
burgh,  Illinois,  of  which  his  brother  is  at  the  head.  In  1876  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Aggie _  Rankin,  daughter  of  James  Rankin.  Of  this 
marriage  one  daughter  was  born,  Maudie  Agnes,  on  March  14,  1878. 
When  she  was  but  three  and  a  half  months  old,  on  July  1,  her  mother 
passed  away,  near  Rockfort,  Missouri.  Shortly  after  the  death  of  his 
wife  Mr.  Martin  removed  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  where  he  at 
present  resides.  During  the  late  war  Mr.  Martin's  father  was  elected 
to  the  Illinois  legislature,  where  he  did  the  state  good  service  and 
gained  the  reputation  of  a  loyal  patriot  and  able  legislator.  Nor  did 
he  permit  his  politics  to  interfere  with  his  duties  as  a  christian  gentle- 


1194  HISTOKY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

man,  for  he  was  an  elder  in  the  United  Presbyterian  church,  and  also 
the  clerk  of  the  session  for  more  than  fifteen  j^ears.  He  also  acquired 
quite  a  reputation  as  a  Sunday  school  worker  in  Warren  county.  On 
the  30th  of  March  he  deceased,  leaving  his  family  the  rich  legacy  of 
a  good  name.  His  son,  R.  Martin,  was  married  on  December  30, 
1880,  to  Mrs.  Mudd,  of  Raritan.  He  now  resides  in  Walnut  Grove 
township,  and  though  young,  is  already  known  as  a  man  of  real  worth 
and  character. 

Adoniram  Edwakds,  son  of  David  and  Eliza  J.  (Bell)  Edwards,  was 
born  in  Tuscarawas  countj^,  Ohio,  April  29,  1843,  and  emigrated  with 
his  parents  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  in  October,  1853.  He  was 
reared  on  a  farm,  with  only  the  common  schools  of  this  county  to 
attend.  He  served  as  a  soldier  in  Co.  H,  lltli  111.  Cav.,  in  the  war  of 
1861-5.  August  1,  18T2,  he  married  Miss  ISTancy  E.  Robinson,  a 
daughter  of  Daniel  and  Lucy  (Hobough)  Robinson,  of  Warren  county, 
Illinois.  She  was  born  February  15,  1844.  They  have  but  one  child, 
Arthur  R.,  born  August  24,  1873.  Mr.  Edwards  now  resides  and  is 
farming  on  the  N.  E.  J  of  Sec.  1,  T.  9,  R.  4,  where  his  parents  first 
settled  when  they  came  to  this  county  in  1853.  They  were  both  born 
and  married  in  Belmont  county,  Ohio,  where  their  eight  children  were 
born  and  four  of  them  buried.  He  died  here  in  March,  1868,  and  was 
buried  in  the  cemetery  in  Salter's  Grove.  She  is  still  living.  Her 
home  is  with  her  children. 

William  J.  VanDoren,  farmer,  Raritan,  is  a  son  of  Stephen  and 
Susan  (Nevius)  YanDoren,  and  was  born  in  Somerset  county,  New 
Jersey,  in  1830.  His  father  was  the  proprietor  of  a  hotel,  and  conse- 
quently the  early  life  of  our  subject  was  spent  in  town,  where  he 
received  what  might  be  termed  a  liberal  education.  In  December, 
1850,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Mary  E.  Munson,  the  daugh- 
ter of  Mr.  James  Munson.  She  was  born  in  the  city  of  l^ew  York  in 
1832.  Early  in  1851  Mr.  Yan  Doren  emigrated  to  Illinois,  first  settling 
in  Fulton  county,  where  he  remained  till  1856,  when  he  removed  to 
Henderson  county  and  permanently  located  on  Sec.  33,  T.  9  N.,  R.  4  W., 
where  he  has  since  resided,  successfully  engaged  in  farming.  In  1865 
and  in  1882  he  realized  what  is  to  every  human  heart  a  great  pleasure, 
that  of  visiting  (after  many  years'  absence)  the  scenes  of  his  childhood. 
He  was  accompanied  on  the  last  trip  by  his  excellent  wife  and  little 
daughter.  They  are  the  parents  of  six  children,  whose  names  in  the 
order  of  their  birth  are  :  Caroline  (wife  of  L.  Whitier),  Susan  (now 
Mrs.  Isaac  Y.  D.  Perren),  Charles  B.,  Sarah  (wife  of  J.  Milliken), 
George  and  Annie.  They  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church. 


WALNUT   GROVE    TOWNSHIP.  1195 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  Samuel  C.  Gibson,  of  T.  9,  R.  4,  son  of 
Jolm  and  Martha  Gibson,  was  born  near  Xenia,  Ohio,  January  31, 
1819.  His  father,  though  not  quite  of  age  at  the  time,  enlisted  in  the 
war  of  1812,  going  to  take  his  father's  place,  who  was  unable  to  go. 
"When  Mr.  Gibson  was  yet  but  a  child,  his  parents  emigrated  from 
Ohio  to  Sangamon  county,  and,  in  1831,  to  what  is  now  Henderson 
county,  being  among  the  earliest  of  the  pioneer  settlers,  and  settled 
near  Olena.  In  the  Black  Hawk  war,  Mr.  Gibson's  father  served  as  a 
ranger  six  months.  On  April  1-1,  1814,  Mr.  Gibson  was  married  to 
Miss  Margaret  Ann  Laut,  daughter  of  Michael  Laut.  Of  this  marriage 
but  one  child,  David,  is  now  living,  who  is  married  and  runs  the  home- 
stead. Catharine,  Elizabeth,  Henry,  John  and  Alexander  are  dead. 
Although  Mr.  Gibson  began  with  but  little,  he  now  owns  240  acres  of 
land,  upon  which  he  resides,  in  Sec.  21,  T.  9,  E.  4.  When  Mr.  G. 
came  to  Henderson  county  he  had  to  go  forty  miles  to  mill,  on  Spoon 
river,  and  at  one  time,  when  the  water  was  low,  went  three  weeks 
without  flour,  and  pounded  his  corn  in  a  mortar.  At  one  time  his 
father's  tire  went  out,  and  he  was  compelled  to  go  six  miles  to  get 
more.     Such  were  the  privations  of  the  early  settlers  of  this  county. 

"William  Delany,  son  of  Joseph  and  Elizabeth  Delany,  was  born 
in  Lincoln  county,  Kentucky.  His  father  was  born  in  Charleston, 
South  Carolina,  and  his  mother  in  Kentucky.  Mr.  Delany  studied  in 
the  primitive  schools  of  those  days,  and  acquired  a  knowledge  of  the 
three  rudiments  of  reading,  writing  and  ciphering.  On  January  4, 
1832,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Rebecca  Knokes,  daughter  of 
George  and  Nancy  Knokes.  Of  this  marriage  six  children  were  born, 
of  whom  three,  Nancy  Jane,  Mary  Jane  and  George  "Washington  are 
now  dead.  Of  the  living,  Eliza  Ann  is  now  wife  of  Richard  Enfield ; 
Martha  Ann  is  married  to  Daniel  Meredith ;  "William  Thomas,  the  only 
living  son,  was  in  the  late  war.  Being  a  large,  strong  boy,  he  at  last 
succeeded  in  getting  the  recruiting  officer  to  take  him,  though  but 
fifteen  years  of  age.  After  marrying  Katharine  Ross,  "William  removed 
to  Cherokee  county,  Kansas,  where  he  at  present  resides.  He  is  at 
present  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising.  Mr.  Delany  began  life 
a  poor  boy,  but  has  made  for  himself  and  family  a  beautiful  home  on 
Sec.  26,  T.  9,  R.  4. 

Mr.  George  D.  Laut,  deceased,  was  born  February  13,  1825,  in 
the  town  of  Greenwich,  Washington  county,  New  York.  When  he 
was  about  sixteen  years  of  age  he  emigrated  to  Henderson  county, 
where  he  was  destined  to  pass  through  the  most  important  stage  of  his 
life  and  die.  On  October  14,  1S4T.  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Sarah  C.  Gibson,  daughter  of  John  Gibson,  who  emigrated  to 


1196  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Henderson  county  in  1833,  and  settled  near  Olena.  She  was  born  on 
September  9,  1822,  in  Greene  county,  Ohio.  Of  this  marriage  have 
been  born  seven  sons,  six  of  whom  are  living,  one  having  died  in 
infancy.  Two  sons,  Chai-les  A.  and  John  B.,  are  now  married,  the 
former  residing  in  Henderson  county,  the  latter  in  Pottawatamie 
county,  Iowa.  Two,  William  M.  and  George  E.,  are  living  in  Lake 
City,  Colorado.  James  Henry  and  Samuel  C.  are  unmarried,  and  the 
former  has  charge  of  the  old  homestead,  residing  witli  his  mother. 
His  father,  who  was  a  most  worthv  member  of  the  United  Presbvterian 
church,  died  on  August  15,  1871,  at  his  home,  aged  forty-six  years,  six 
months  and  two  davs. 


EDUCATION"  m  HEXDEPtSOK  COUNTY. 

The  educational  system  that  obtains  in  this  county  rests  for  its 
support  upon  the  common  school  law  of  the  state.  There  are  no 
colleges  in  the  county.  Prior  to  t-he  year  1849  Henderson  county,  like 
all  other  coimties  in  the  state,  dei3ended  mainly  upon  private  bounty 
in  sustaining  her  schools.  A  small  sum  was  annually  received  from 
the  state,  but  was  wholh^  inadequate  to  meet  the  expenditure  in  keep- 
ing up  district  schools  for  the  proper  education  of  all  the  scholars  in 
the  county ;  as  a  consequence  education  languished,  and  those  results 
which  flow  from  a  perfected  system  of  education  were  almost  entirely 
wanting.  Our  state  seemed  to  slumber,  and  little  general  interest 
could  be  aroused  in  the  minds  of  our  grave  law-makers  on  the  subject 
of  common  schools.  Canals  could  be  dug,  railroads  built,  and  party 
interests  cared  for,  but  a  strange  indifference  was  manifested  in  this 
important  question.  Engrossed  in  the  accumulation  of  the  dross  of 
wealth,  they  seemed  to  forget  that  more  important  subject,  the  educa- 
tion of  our  youth.  I  have  characterized  it  as  the  pursuit  of  dross ;  for 
what  are  all  our  lands,  and  flocks,  and  herds,  and  gold,  but  dross,  with- 
out that  cultivation  of  the  mind  which  shall  elevate  the  soul  of  man 
and  point  out  to  him  the  true  end  of  his  being.  The  law,  as  it  stood 
before  1819,  authorized  the  levy  of  a  school  tax  by  district  directors 
for  all  school  purposes,  not  to  exceed  flfteen  cents  on  the  one  hundred 
dollars  of  valuation  of  property,  provided  that  two-thirds  of  the  legal 
voters  of  the  district  voted  for  the  tax.  In  1849  twenty-five  cents  on 
the  one  hundred  could  be  leaded  by  a  similar  vote.  In  1851  the  law 
was  so  amended  that  a  majority  could  by  vote  authorize  the  levy  of  one 
per  cent  on  the  property  of  the  district  for  school  purposes. 


EDUCATION  IN  HENDERSON  COUNTY.  1197 

The  conntv  in  1881,  by  scliool  census,  contained  pupils  to  the 
number  of  3,382  between  the  ages  of  six  and  twenty-one  jea,rs.  During 
the  same  3'ear  there  was  paid  to  teachers  the  sum  of  $20,278.38 ;  and 
the  total  expenditure  for  the  same  year  for  school  purposes  wais 
$26,352.91:.  I  have  refrained  from  going  into  minute  statistics  of  the 
several  townships,  as  the  township  compiler,  with  a  view  of  each 
locality,  in  a  more  complete  form. 

In  1850,  being  the  first  United  States  census  taken  after  its  organ- 
ization, Henderson  county  contained  a  population  of  4,612;  its  annual 
income  for  school  purposes  was  $2,431 ;  its  number  of  scholars  at 
school,  728. 

COMPARATIVE  PROGRESS. 

In  1853  we  find  of  record  the  first  statement  of  amount  of  taxable 
property  in  th§  county,  to  wit :  Total  value  of  personal  property, 
$380,659;  total  value  of  lands,  $784,152;  total  value  of  town  lots, 
$159,593;  total  value  of  all  property,  $1,324,404.  Upon  this  valua- 
tion a  state  tax  was  levied  of  49^  cents,  yielding  the  sum  of  $6,533.73  ; 
a  county  tax  of  40  cents,  yielding  the  sum  of  $5,297.60;  a  special 
road  tax  of  15  cents  was  levied,  yielding  the  sum  of  $1,986.60. 

At  the  September  term,  1861,  of  the  coimty  commissioners'  court, 
a  tax  of  three-fourths  of  a  mill  on  each  dollar's  valuation  of  property 
was  levied  for  the  purpose  of  supporting  the  families  of  soldiers  who 
had  volunteered  in  the  service  of  the  United  States,  to  be  disbursed 
under  the  authority  of  the  commissioners. 

On  August  2,  1862,  the  court  met  pursuant  to  adjournment  at  the 
town  of  Olena,  in  conjunction  with  a  public  meeting  of  the  citizens 
of  the  county,  who  had  met  for  the  purpose  of  encouraging  the  enlist- 
ment of  volunteers  in  the  army,  at  which  meeting  the  court  passed 
unanimously  the  following  resolutions  : 

''''Resolved.,  That  we  will,  at  the  next  regular  September  meeting  of 
this  county  court,  levy  a  tax  of  two  mills  on  the  dollar  of  taxable 
property  of  the  county,  for  the  support  of  the  families  of  volunteers 
who  have  enlisted  and  who  may  enlist  hereafter  in  Henderson  county 
companies. 

'''•Resolved.,  further.,  That  we  will,  at  the  next  September  term  of 
this  court,  levy  a  tax  of  three  mills  on  each  dollar  valuation  of  taxable 
property  in  the  county,  as  a  bounty  fund  to  be  paid  to  volunteers  who 
have  or  may  hei-eafter  enlist  in  Henderson  county  companies  under  the 
late  call  of  the  President  for  300,000  men." 

In  accordance  with  the  foregoing  resolutions  the  county  court  did 
at  the  September  term  of  the  court  levy  the  tax  pledged  thereby,  which 


1198  HISTORY   OF   IVIERCER   AJSTD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

encouraged  enlistments  and  materially  aided  in  promptly  filling  the 
ranks  of  military  companies  then  organizing  in  the  county.  At  the 
regular  term  of  the  county  court  held  in  September,  1863,  the  death 
of  Willison  Hopkins,  county  clerk,  was  announced,  and  the  appoint- 
ment of  Robert  McAllister  to  fill  the  vacancy  was  placed  on  file,  and 
Mr.  McAllister  was  duly  qualified  and  entered  upon  the  discharge  ol 
his  official  duties.  As  showing  the  material  prosperity  of  the  county 
by  the  increased  value  of  property  in  the  county,  I  append  after  ten 
years  another  showing  of  such  valuation :  total  valuation  of  all  prop- 
erty in  1863,  $1,847,536;  total  tax,  $31,096.66;  thus  showing  that 
our  valuation  had  increased  in  ten  years  from  $1,324,404  to  $1,847,536, 
and  our  total  tax  had  increased  in  the  same  time  from  $13,817.95  to 
$31,096.66.  In  1872  there  was  returned  for  taxable  purposes  by  the 
assessor:  personal  property,  $638,833;  lands,  $1,653,431;  town  lots, 
$136,776;  railroad  property,  $465,547;  with  miscellaneous  property 
making  a  total  of  assessed  value  of  property  in  the  county  of 
$3,014,054.  Upon  this  valuation  taxes  were  levied  to  the  amount  of 
$96,749.34  for  all  purposes. 

In  1882  the  total  assessed  value  of  all  property  in  the  county  was 
$3,056,065.30,  upon  which  a  tax  was  collected  of  $68,106.32  for  all 
purposes,  showing  a  large  decrease  in  taxation.  The  county  indebt- 
edness being  now  reduced  to  about  $14,000,  which  will  soon  be  extin- 
guished, leaves  a  hope  that  with  economy  in  county  affairs  the  time  is 
near  at  hand  when  the  burdens  of  taxation  will  be  more  easily  borne. 

The  population  of  the  county  by  the  census  of  1880  was  10,950, 
which  shows  a  decrease  from  1870,  to  be  accounted  for  by  heavy  emi- 
gration to  tlie  western  states  and  territories. 

LIST  OF  DECEASED  COUNTY  OFFICEES. 

Many  of  these  county  officials  died  during  their  term  of  office,  or 
since  their  retirement.  The  list  of  the  dead  is  large,  and  is  here 
appended :  William  Cowden,  Joseph  B.  Jamison,  Francis  J.  C.  Peasley, 
Benjamin  C.  Coghill,  Michael  Crane,  John  F.  Morgan,  Wilson  M. 
Graham,  Alexander  Marshall,  William  Cousland,  S.  S.  Leet,  Matthew 
Findley,  Julius  Gifford,  Ebenezer  Chapin,  Harvey  Eussell,  John  S. 
Peasley,  William  McMillan,  Booth  Nettleton,  James  A.  Maury,  John 
S.  Pollock,  Peter  Downey,  Lambert  Hopper,  William  L.  Stockton, 
George  W.  Cowden,  William  B.  Jamison,  Willison  Hopkins,  William 
Lomax,  Marion  F.  Button,  John  A.  Summers, 


HONEY    CREEK    TOWNSHIP.  1199 


HONEY  CREEK  TOWNSHIP. 

The  first  permanent  settler  in  Honey  Creek  precinct  was  Captain 
Redman.  He  was  an  officer  in  the  second  war  with  England,  and 
became  imbued  with  that  daring  spirit,  dauntless  resolution  and  match- 
less strategy  which  are  such  necessary  characteristics  in  the  frontiers- 
man and  pioneer.  His  attachment  for  the  wild  and  undeveloped  led 
him  to  leave  his  eastern  home  where  plenty  seemingly  held  forth  its 
hand.  About  1825  or  1826  he  landed  here  with  his  family,  before  a 
foot  of  the  county's  virgin  soil  had  been  polluted  by  the  touch  of  man. 
He  immediately  built  a  small  log  house,  which  for  many  years  was 
the  home  of  the  family. 

We  have  nothing  positive  of  the  settlers  until  the  coming  of  the 
Pence  family  in  1838.  John  Pence  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
having  been  born  in  Lycoming  county  January  12,  1803.  He  was 
married  to  Hannah  Pence  in  1829,  and  with  his  family  came  here 
in  1838,  landing  at  Shokokon  on  June  2,  having  traveled  down  the 
Ohio  and  up  the  Mississippi.  They  moved  into  an  unchinked  log 
house,  one  end  of  which  was  occupied  by  a  family  by  the  name  of  Tull, 
who  had  preceded  them  a  short  time.  This  was  on  section  11.  Dur- 
ing the  first  years  they  endured  terrible  hardships.  The  family  were 
all  taken  with  the  fever  and  chills  and  were  unable  to  help  one  another, 
and  had  it  not  been  for  the  trusty  rifle  and  unerring  marksmanship  of 
the  husband  and  father,  starvation  would  have  pointed  at  them  her 
shrunken  and  withered  hands.  The  long,  dreary  winter  wore  awa}^, 
and  with  the  sunshine  of  spring  came  the  hope  of  better  days.  The 
spring  following  they  built  a  log  house  for  themselves  on  section  15. 

When  the  Pences  came,  Jonathan  Nichols  lived  on  section  22, 
Robert  Crownover,  a  New  Yorker,  lived  on  section  14,  Andrew  Stice 
lived  below,  on  Honey  creek. 

During  the  autumn  of  the  year  in  which  the  Pences  came,  Samuel 
Logan  came  from  Fayette  county,  Indiana,  and  settled  on  the  south 
side  of  the  precinct.  Mr.  Logan  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  having 
been  born  there  October  24,  1784.  June  3,  1813,  he  was  married  to 
Susan  Duffy,  in  what  was  then  the  Territory  of  Indiana.  He  enlisted 
in  the  war  of  1812  for  one  year,  and  was  honorably  discharged  from 
the  service  at  the  expiration  of  his  time.  As  soon  as  he  was  discharged 
he  bought  a  farm  in  Faj^ette  county,  Indiana,  then  an  unbroken  forest, 
which  he  cleared.  But  soon  the  people  poured  in,  and  the  place  lost 
the  wildness  of  its  frontier  cast,  and  with  that  restless  spirit  so  charac- 
teristic of  men  who  have  become  inured  to  its  hardships  and  fascinated 


1200  HISTOKY   OF   FIERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

witli  its  exciting  incidents,  lie  could  no  longer  enjoj  liis  home.  In 
1838  he  sold  his  farm  and  with  his  family  moved  to  this  county. 
There  then  was  plenty  of  game,  such  as  deer,  turkey  and  grouse,  and 
fishing  was  fine.  This  latter  sport  he  followed  up  to  the  time  of  his 
death,  December  28,  1859. 

Among  other  early  settlers  was  Noble  McKim,  who  came  into  the 
southeast  part  of  the  precinct  in  1838. 

Captain  Samuel  Summers  came  from  Marysville,  Kentucky,  to 
Nauvoo  in  1833,  where  he  remained  for  a  short  time,  and  from  there 
he  came  to  this  county.  He  was  here  before  there  were  any  schools 
or  churches.  The  first  school  was  in  what  is  now  known  as  Snake 
Hollow.  This  was  somewhere  in  the  forties.  The  school  was  taught 
by  a  man  by  the  name  of  John  E.  Coleman.  The  first  preacher  was 
a  man  by  the  name  of  Booth.  The  services  were  held  at  Major  Rose's 
residence. 

The  first  school  in  the  precinct  was  taught  by  a  daughter  of  Major 
Rose  in  an  old  log  building  standing  on  section  15,  and  now  used  by 
Robert  Pence  as  a  granary. 

George  W.  Logan  was  an  early  settler,  coming  here  from  Indiana 
in  1811,  and  staid  a  short  time,  returning  to  Indiana.  He  came  a 
second  time  in  1853,  and  has  since  had  his  home  here. 

George  W.  Cartright,  of  whom  a  sketch  will  be  found  elsewhere, 
came  in  1848  and  settled  near  where  he  now  lives. 

John  Paul,  an  old  and  respected  citizen,  came  in  1841,  settling  on 
section  34,  where  he  still  lives. 

Michael  Crane,  who  was  a  prominent  man  here  years  ago,  came  in 
1835.  He  was  a  native  of  Lycoming  county,  Pennsylvania,  emigrat- 
ing fi-om  there  by  way  of  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers.  He  was 
at  one  time  an  associate  justice  of  the  county. 

Joseph  Kirby,  one  of  the  most  successful  men  of  the  precinct,  was 
born  in  Maryland  in  1822.  From  there  he  went  to  Ohio,  and  from 
there  to  this  vicinit}^  in  1837,  coming  to  Henderson  county  a  few 
years  later.     He  died  in  1878. 

Jacob  Millman,  who  is  now  perhaps  the  oldest  man  in  the  vicinity, 
came  here  in  1837.  He  is  a  native  of  Virginia,  and  was  born  1797. 
His  father  was  a  Hessian  soldier  in  the  employ  of  the  British,  and 
was  taken  prisoner  at  Trenton.  Subsequently  he  allied  himself  to  the 
patriot  band  who  were  struggling  for  liberty.  After  the  war  he  settled 
in  Greenbrier  county,  where  Jacob  was  born. 

W.  H.  Gittings,  a  native  of  Kentucky,  came  to  Hancock  county  in 
1834,  and  to  this  county  in  1838.  He  was  one  of  the  most  successful 
men  who  have  lived  in  the  precinct.  He  died  some  years  since,  leav- 
ing a  large  family  in  good  circumstances. 


^J^t^^^ 


HONEY    CREEK   TOWNSHIP.  1203 

There  are  in  the  precinct  three  school-houses,  known  as  Snake 
Hollow,  Honey  Creek,  and  Union.  They  are  all  in  a  flourishing  con- 
dition ;  the  two  former  have  good  and  substantial  frame  buildings. 

The  town  of  Lomaxwas  surveyed  and  platted  at  the  instance  of  the 
Lomaxes  in  the  spring  of  1869,  by  Isaac  Hartford.  The  plat  was 
never  made  a  matter  of  record.  In  consequence  of  this,  J.  Wilson 
Williams  resurveyed  and  replatted  the  town  for  R.  A.  Lomax  during 
the  spring  of  the  present  year,  and  it  has  been  properly  and  duly 
recorded.  The  first  business  here  was  the  opening  of  the  station  by 
the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  railroad  on  January  1,  1870,  the 
road  having  been  built  the  year  previous.  During  the  same  year 
Foggy  &  Lomax  opened  a  general  stock  of  merchandise.  Mr.  Foggy 
retired  in  1874,  and  the  firm  became  R.  A.  Lomax  &  Co.,  the  company 
being  Mr.  William  Lomax,  the  father  of  R.  A.  The  firm  changed  in 
1878  to  R.  A.  Lomax,  who  yet  continues  the  business  in  a  prosperous 
and  creditable  manner. 

In  1871  a  blacksmithing  business  was  begun  by  Robert  Forquar, 
which  he  sold  to  William  Cox  in  1876,  who  now  does  a  paying  business 
at  the  trade. 

Early  in  the  history  of  the  place  James  Rhodes  &  Co.  opened  a 
general  stock  of  merchandise.  They  closed  out  their  stock  and  retired 
from  business  in  1875. 

In  the  spring  of  1881  Dr.  W.  H.  Ball  opened  a  stock  of  drugs  here. 
He  was  succeeded  by  Mr.  C.  W.  Clutf  a  year  later.  The  only  physician 
in  the  place  is  O.  H.  Russell,  M.D.,  who  is  a  graduate  of  a  first-class 
medical  school,  and  a  man  of  no  mean  talent  in  his  profession. 

The  town  was  named  for  Mr,  William  Lomax,  who  was  one  of  the 
most  successful,  enterprising  and  highly-esteemed  men  who  ever  «ame 
to  this  section,  of  whom  a  biography  is  given  in  our  personal  sketches. 
This  little  town,  started  a  few  years  ago,  now  does  no  mean  business, 
Mr.  Lomax  being  ever  ready  to  buy  anything  the  farmers  may  have 
to  put  on  the  market.  The  aggregate  of  grain,  live  stock,  and  other 
things  which  find  a  market  through  him,  annually  amounts  to  many 
thousands  of  dollars. 

LOMAX  METHODIST  El^ISCOPAL  CHURCH. 

A  public  meeting  was  held  at  Union  school,  Lomax,  June  28,  1871, 
to  take  the  necessary  steps  toward  building  a  church.  Messrs.  William 
Lomax,  Robert  Crownover  and  William  Curry  were  chosen  as  building 
committee.  At  a  meeting  held  August  9,  the  same  year,  seven  trustees 
were  elected,  as  follows  :  Wm.  Curry,  J.  Beardsly,  Robert  Crownover, 
Robert  A.  Lomax,  Abram  Ashur,  Samuel  Vaughn,  and  Jacob  Millman. 
68 


1204:  HISTORY   OF    MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

It  was  finally  concluded  to  build  a  substantial  frame  structure,  at  a  cost 
of  about  $2,000,  to  be  open  to  all  denominations,  the  plan  being 
32x48  feet,  without  any  ornamentation.  The  money  was  readily 
raised  by  subscription,  and  during  the  year  the  building  was  finished. 
The  conditions  upon  which  other  denominations  were  to  use  the  build- 
ing were,  that  they  should  bear  a  proportionate  share  of  the  expenses. 
This  the  Baptist  organization  agreed  to  do,  but  foiled  in  it,  and  at 
a  public  meeting  held  November  20,  1878,  the  trustees  resolved  to 
exclude  them  until  they  fulfilled  the  conditions  of  the  contract.  The 
Methodists  have  now  full  control  of  the  building,  and  the  church  is  in 
a  prosperous  condition,  at  least  financially. 

DALLAS  CITY 

Lies  within  the  bounds  of  both  Henderson  and  Hancock  counties,  on 
the  east  bank  of  the  Mississippi.  The  name  "Dallas,"  in  its  applica- 
tion to  this  place,  originated  with  John  M.  Finch,  who  came  here  in 
18M.  At  that  time  there  was  but  one  house  within  the  present  con- 
fines of  the  town.  Mr.  Finch  and  W.  H.  Rollosson  opened  a  store 
and  commenced  the  erection  of  a  warehouse.  While  talking  with 
some  persons  one  day,  some  one  asked  Mr.  Finch  what  name  they 
were  going  to  give  the  town  ?  He  always  being  ready  with  an  answer, 
replied  :  "The  island  in  front  of  the  town  is  called  'Polk,'  and  I  think 
it  nothing  more  than  meet  and  proper  that  the  honors  should  be 
divided,  so  we  will  call  the  place  'Dallas,'  in  honor  of  our  candidate 
for  the  vice-presidency."  Subsequently,  at  the  incorporation,  it  was 
found  that  there  was  another  Dallas  in  the  state,  and  "City"  was 
added,  that  the  two  might  not  conflict. 

The  first  postofiice  here  was  called  East  Bend,  from  the  bend  in 
the  river,  and  was  kept  by  Mr.  Finch.  That  portion  of  the  town 
which  lies  within  Henderson  county  was  surveyed  and  platted  by 
J.  Wilson  Williams,  deputy  surveyor  of  Henderson  county,  for  W.  H. 
Rollosson,  in  October,  1818,  and  is  on  the  southwest  fractional  quarter 
of  Sec.  35,  T.  8,  R.  7.  The  lines  of  the  plat  run  diagonally  with  the 
points  of  the  compass  and  parallel  with  the  river.  A  number  of  the 
buildings  stand  in  both  counties.  By  an  act  of  the  people  represented 
in  general  assembly,  approved  February  18,  1859,  the  town  was  incor- 
porated as  a  body  politic  and  corporate.  The  same  act  named  the 
following  as  a  board  of  incorporation  :  Wm.  H.  Rollosson,  R.  W. 
Brewer,  Theodore  Rea,  John  Gibbs,  James  Gassaway,  John  M.  Finch, 
Daniel  G.  Baldwin  and  B.  F.  ISTewlon,  who  were  to  meet  on  the  first 
Monday  of  May  ensuing,  divide  the  city  into  wards  and  call  an  election. 
This  was  done,  and  Dallas  City  became  an  incorporated  town. 


HONEY    CREEK   TOWNSHIP.  1205 

The  first  postoffice  here  was  established   in  1844,  with  John  M. 
Finch  as  postmaster. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

The  Lomax  family  are  among  the  most  prominent  of  Henderson 
coimty.     The  grandfather  of  the  subject  of  the  present  sketch,  Robert 
Lomax,  was  born  in  Guilford  county,  North  Carolina,  June  25,  1775. 
He  grew  to  manhood  in  his  native  place  ;  was  educated  in  private 
schools,   learned  the  trade  of  a  carpenter,   and  married  Miss  Anna 
Dwiggins,  a  native  of  Carolina,  who  was  born  November  5,  1779.    She 
was  the  daughter  of  Robert  and  Sarah  Dwiggins.    In  1811  he  emigrated 
to  Clinton  county,  Ohio,  where  he  commenced  farming  ;  came  to  Hen- 
derson county  in  1830  and  settled  on  Sec.  22,  T.  8,  R.  6.     He  and  his 
wife  were  members  of  the  Christian  church.     Mr.  Lomax  was  a  whig 
and  republican  in  politics.     The  father  of  our  subject  was  born  in 
Guilford   county.  North   Carolina,   December    12,    1801,   and   at   his 
father's  removal  to  Clinton  county,  Ohio,  he  came  with  him.     He  was 
raised  on  a  farm  and  received  a  common  sclwol  education.     He  was 
married  to  Mary  Rankin,  daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth  Rankin.  ■ 
Mr.  Rankin  was  a  native  of  L'eland,  and  came  to  this  country  at  the 
age  of  eleven  years.     Mrs.  Rankin's  maiden  name  was  Cray.     Mr. 
Lomax  removed  to  Henderson  county  in  1853  and  settled  on  Sec.  22, 
T.  8,  R.  6,  and  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising.     A  few  years 
after  coming  here  he  was  elected  and  served  a  term  as  associate  judge. 
He  was  the  father  of  two  children  :  Elizabeth  Lomax,  born  January 
28,  1836,  married  to  Adam  Foggy  January  28,  1859  (who  now  live 
at  West  Point,  Iowa),  and  Robert  A.  Lomax,  the  subject  of  this  writ- 
ing, born  January  31,  1842.     Mr.  Lomax  died  September  7,  1878,  and 
lies  buried  at  Terre  Haute  cemeteiy.     Robert  A.  was  born  in  Clinton 
county,  Ohio,  and  with  his  father  removed  to  Henderson  county  in 
1853.     His  youth  was  spent  on  the  farm  and  in  the  common  schools. 
He  attended  Denmark  Academy,  Denmark,  Iowa.     He  followed  firm- 
ing until  1871,  when  he  engaged  in  the  dry  goods  and  farming  imple- 
ment business  at  Lomax,  a  place  named  for  his  father.     In  1874  he 
closed  out  the  business  in  farming  implements  and  commenced  to  buy 
grain,  in  which  he  is  yet  engaged.     He  is  township  treasurer,  and 
November  8,  1881,  was  elected  count}^  commissioner.     He  is  a  mem- 
ber of  Carman  Lodge  of  Masons,  No.  732,  and  in  politics  is  a  straight 
republican.     March  22,  1871,  he  married  Miss  Arminia  D.  Paul,  who 
was  born  June  6,  1842.     She  is  the  daughter  of  M.  C.  and  Mary  Paul. 
The  Pauls  are  originally  New  Yorkers.     Mr.  Lomax  owns  a  splendid 
farm  of  more  than  a  thousand  acres. 


1206  HISTOEY   OF   IIERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

The  foretatliers  of  William  K.  Gittings,  one  of  tlie  pioneers,  were 
from  England.  Before  the  revolutionary  war  tliej  came  to  the  United 
States,  finding  a  home  in  Baltimore  county,  Maryland.  The  father 
of  our  subject,  Kinsey  Gittings,  who  had  married  Miss  Mary  Clem- 
mons,  removed  from  Maryhmd  to  Washington  county,  Kentucky,  while 
yet  the  country  was  almost  in  its  primitive  state.  With  resolution 
born  of  the  surrounding  circumstances,  he  went  to  work  as  a  farmer, 
which  he  ever  followed  until  his  death,  in  1830,  at  the  age  of  sixty-five 
years.  He  left  a  wife  and  six  children.  The  wife  died  in  1840.  The 
eldest  son,  William  H.  Gittings,  who  was  born  in  Maryland  March 
12,  1792,  was  brought  up  on  his  father's  farm  in  Kentucky,  receiving  a 
very  meager  education.  Here  he  lived  and  worked  at  farming  or  flat- 
boating  to  New  Orleans.  In  October,  1818,  he  wedded  Miss  Eleanor, 
a  daughter  of  Richard  and  Mary  Mudd,  of  Maryland.  Richard  Mudd 
served  in  the  revolutionary  war  as  an  officer  under  Washington.  Soon 
after  the  war  he  with  his  family  removed. to  Kentucky.  After  his 
marriage  he  lived  in  Union  county,  Kentucky,  where  nine  children 
were  born  to  him.  In  1831  he  moved  to  Illinois,  stopping  for  a  year 
in  Morgan  county.  ■  In  1835  he  moved  to  Hancock  county  and  settled 
on  section  7  in  Fountain  Green  township,  where  he  afterward  bought 
180  acres  of  partly  improved  land.  In  1839  he  removed  to  section 
25,  Honey  Creek  township,  T.  8,  R.  6,  in  Henderson  county,  where 
he  resided  until  his  death,  November  7,  1869.  When  he  came  to  this 
vicinity  he  had  nothing  with  which  to  start,  but  afterward,  by  prudence 
and  economy,  became  one  of  the  wealthiest  as  well  as  one  of  the  most 
highly  respected  men  of  the  county.  He  was  a  whig  in  politics,  and 
was  once  his  party's  choice  for  the  state  senate.  His  wife  was  born 
October  20,  1794,  and  died  June  12,  1855.  This  pair  of  worthy  ones 
lie  resting  side  by  side  on  the  apex  of  the  mound  which  bears  their 
name,  and  is  known  far  and  wide  for  the  splendid  view  which  can  be 
had  from  it.  Of  a  family  of  fifteen  children,  ten  are  married  and 
living.  Wm.  K.  lives  near,  in  Hancock  county,  and  is  one  of  its  most 
staunch  and  reliable  citizens.  B.  B.  yet  remains  on  a  part  of  the  old 
homestead.  It  might  truly  have  been  said  of  Mr.  Gettings  :  "Life 
every  man  holds  dear,  but  the  dear  man  holds  honor  far  more 
precious,  dearer  than  life." 

Benjamin  Berry  Gittings  was  born  in  Union  count}^,  Kentucky, 
October  6,  1828.  He  is  the  son  of  Wm.  H.  and  Eleanor  Gittings. 
He  removed  with  his  father  from  Kentucky  to  Illinois  in  1834,  and 
settled  with  him  in  1839  in  Henderson  county.  Here  he  grew  to 
manhood,  inured  to  hard  toil.  While  riding  over  the  old  homestead 
with  the  writer,  he  pointed  out  fields  which  he  broke  when  a  boy. 


HONEY   CREEK   TOWNSHIP,  1207 

The  old  homestead  consisted  of  more  than  1,000  acres,  September 
28,  1854,  he  married  Miss  Sarah  Ann  Howard,  daughter  of  Thomas 
and  Martha  Howard,  of  Monticello,  Missouri.  She  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky, June  16,  1834.  They  have  no  children  ;  are  members  of  the 
Catholic  church.  Mr,  Gittings  is  a  democrat  in  politics.  A  few  years 
ago  he  was  so  unfortunate  as  to  be  stricken  by  paralysis,  from  which 
he  has  only  partially  recovered. 

Cornelius  Clover,  one  of  the  early  and  more  prominent  settlers, 
was  born  in  Greene  county,  New  York,  March  21,  1794.  Here  he 
grew  to  manhood,  and  when  the  war  of  1812  broke  out  he  was  found 
among  those  who  were  battling  against  the  "right  of  impressment." 
He  was  with  the  army  of  the  North,  and  for  a  long  time  was  stationed 
at  Sackett's  Harbor.  Eeturning  and  laying  aside  the  habiliments  of 
war,  on  July  29,  1818,  he  was  wedded  to  Miss  Rebecca  Parsons. 
Having  caught  the  spirit  of  the  times,  he  turned  his  face  westward  and 
found  a  home  within  the  forests  of  Jennings  county,  Indiana,  where 
death  stole  quietly  among  them,  and  Rebecca,  the  noble  wife  and 
tender  mother,  was  laid  away  to  rest.  '  On  November  27,  1833,  he 
was  a  second  time  married,  the  woman  of  his  choice  being  Narcissa 
Billingsly,  and  two  years  later  he  removed  to  Warren  county,  Illinois. 
From  there,  in  1852,  he  came  to  this  county,  settling  on  Sec.  3,  T.  8, 
R.  6,  where,  on  April  5,  1863,  he  died,  respected  by  all  who  knew 
him,  and  leaving  behind  him  a  competence.  Two  of  the  sons, 
Josephus  and  John,  now  live  on  the  old  homestead. 

Rev.  Jacob  R.  King,  of  Lomax,  was  born  in  Lancaster  county, 
Pennsylvania,  February  22,  1845.  His  parents  were  born  in  the  same 
county,  and  were  of  HoUandish  extraction.  His  youth  was  spent 
attending  school  and  in  the  pursuit  of  agriculture.  He  came  to  Illinois 
in  1856,  with  his  people,  and  was  sent  to  Denmark  Academy,  where 
he  received  an  academical  education.  In  1864  he  connected  himself 
with  the  Congregational  church,  and  the  following  year  became  a  mem- 
ber of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ.  In  1869  he  was  admitted  to 
the  annual  conference  of  Illinois,  since  which  time  he  has  been  en- 
gaged in  the  work  of  winning  souls  to  Christ.  For  the  past  eleven 
years  he  has  been  very  actively  engaged  with  his  duties  as  a  minister. 
He  was  married  to  a  JVIiss  George  in  1877.  He  is  a  republican  in 
politics. 

William  B.  Dean  was  born  in  Roscommon  county,  Ireland,  Feb- 
ruaiy  16,  1809.  He  was  the  son  of  AA^illiam  and  Elizabeth  (H3'gins) 
Dean.  At  the  age  of  seventeen,  to  better  his  fortunes,  Mr.  Dean  left 
his  native  heath  for  America,  hrst  settling  in  New  York,  where  he 
remained  some  years,  but  finally  found  himself  at  Port  William,  Ohio. 


1208  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

March  IT,  1841,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Margaret  Ann  Kankin,  a 
daughter  of  William  and  Elizabeth  Eankin,  of  Clinton,  Ohio.  In  1853 
they  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  township  8,  range  6,  Henderson 
county.  Mr.  Dean  was  a  farmer,  and  was  successful  in  money  making. 
He  died  June  14,  1872,  leaving  his  heirs  well  provided  for.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Eankin  were  the  parents  of  seven  children  :  Bartley  Eankin, 
born  January  28,  1872  ;  William  Lomax,  born  March  2,  1843  ;  Albert 
and  Alfred,  twins,  born  March  14,  1845  ;  Mary  Elizabeth,  born  October 
3,  1848  ;  Arthur,  born  October  12,  1850  ;  Charles  Edward  Franklin, 
born  April  1,  1861,  died  June  10,  1869. 

Judge  John  Logan  was  born  in  Fayette  county,  Indiana,  March  20, 
1822.  His  parents  were  very  respectable  formers,  who  settled  in 
Henderson  county  in  the  autumn  of  1839.  Their  names  were  Samuel 
and  Susan  (Guffy)  Logan.  With  the  help  of  their  sons,  John  foremost 
among  them,  they  went  to  work  with  a  will  on  a  farm,  and  experienced 
all  the  hardships  incident  to  pioneer  life.  The  youthful  and  stalwart 
John  became  smitten  with  the  charms  of  Miss  Delilah  Ann,  daughter 
of  Edward  Davis,  an  early  settler  in  Hancock  county.  The  young 
lady  looked  favorably  upon  his  wooings  and  they  were  married.  In 
1853  Mr.  Logan  was  elected  to  an  associate  judgeship  of  the  county, 
serving  with  Judges  Downey,  Eichey  and  Hopper.  Mr.  Logan,  al- 
though his  chances  for  an  education  were  meager,  has  succeeded  in 
collecting  a  good  store  of  information.  He  has  always  followed  the 
business  of  a  farmer,  only  when  interrupted  by  his  public  duties.  He 
is  the  father  of  ten  children :  Susan,  Alexander  Taylor,  Mary,  Jane, 
Nancy,  Elmira,  John,  William,  Nannie  and  Lincoln. 

Thomas  Andrew  Howard  was  born  in  Lewis  county,  Missouri, 
July  27,  1841.  His  father,  Thomas  Howard,  was  born  in  Hardin 
county,  Kentucky,  May  16,  1807.  His  grandfather,  Thomas  Howard, 
was  a  native  of  Scotland.  His  mother,  Martha  Jane  Ashbaugh,  was 
born  July  29,  1811.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Joseph  Ashbaugh.  a 
native  of  Germany,  and  a  potter  by  trade,  who  emigrated  to  this 
country  and  settled  in  Nelson  county,  Kentucky.  Our  subject  grew  to 
manhood  at  Monticello,  Missouri,  and  received  a  common  school  edu- 
cation. After  attaining  his  majority  he  drove  stage  for  two  3'ears,  and 
in  1866  he  came  to  Henderson  county,  stopping  near  Earitan.  He 
married  Louisa  Morton,  of  Canton,  Missouri.  She  was  a  native  of 
Ohio,  and  the  daughter  of  Gilky  and  Sarah  (Slater)  Morton.  They 
have  eight  children,  seven  of  whom  are  living:  Leonidas  B.,  born 
September  6,  1868  ;  Claudius  E.,  born  September  25,  1869  ;  Corrie 
Leonore,  born  December  3,  1871  ;  Thomas  M.,  born  July  21,  1873  ; 
Charles  W.,  born  October  14,  1875  ;  Maurice  and  Marion,  twins,  born 


HONEY    CREEK   TOWNSHIP.  1209 

September  1,  1878  ;  Joseph  Cyrus,  bom  June  22,  1881.  Marion  died 
November  1,  1879.  Mr.  Howard  is  now  clerk  of  the  school  board  of 
his  district. 

John  Pence,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  our  sketch,  was  bom  in 
Lycoming  county,  Pennsylvania,  January  12,  1803.  He  was  raised 
as  a  farmer  and  mechanic,  and  educated  in  the  common  schools. 
March  4,  1829,  he  married  Miss  Hannah  Pence.  In  1838  he  removed 
to  Illinois,  landing  at  Sliokokon  June  2,  and  moved  into  a  log  cabin 
on  Sec.  11,  T.  8,  K.  6.  They  were  the  parents  of  six  children  :  Robert, 
Philip,  Susan  Ann,  Harriet,  Louisa  and  Anna  Belle.  Mr.  Pence  died 
April  12,  1860  ;  Mrs.  Pence  died  March  22,  1861.  Robert  Pence 
grew  to  manhood  among  the  pioneers  of  the  county,  and  was  married 
December  11,  1862,  to  Miss  Anna  Howard,  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Betty  Howard.  She  was  born  in  England,  and  while  yet  a  mere  child 
her  parents  came  to  America  and  settled  in  New  York.  They  emi- 
grated to  Henderson  county  in  1856,  where  she  was  met  and  won  by 
Robert  Pence.  They  have  ten  children  :  James  Robert,  born  January 
25,  1864 ;  Tliomas  Lee,  born  March  10,  1865  ;  Estella  May,  born  March 
1,  1867 ;  Philip  Edward,  born  December  28,  1869 ;  Charles  Henry, 
born  December  18,  1871 ;  Harriet  Ann,  born  November  13,  1873  ; 
Martha  Jane,  born  August  16,  1875 ;  Orville  Foster,  born  August  4, 
1877;  Olive  Blanche,  born  June  11,  1879;  Harry  Franklin,  born 
January  25,  1882.     Mr.  Pence  now  resides  on  the  old  homestead. 

Charles  Sparrow  was  born  in  Oxfordshire,  England,  in  1828.  He 
is  the  son  of  William  S])arrow.  His  mother's  maiden  name  was 
Porter.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Suffolk.  In  1842  the  young 
Oiarles  came  to  America,  first  stopping  at  Burlington,  Iowa,  where, 
on  December  17,  1846,  he  was  married  to  Mary  Foster  Darby  shire,  by 
birth  an  Englishwoman,  having  been  born  to  John  and  Jane  Darby- 
shire,  in  London.  They  became  the  parents  of  seven  children,  six  of 
whom  are  yet  living,  the  other  dying  quite  young :  Lutetia,  now  the 
wife  of  John  F.  King,  Shenandoah,  Iowa,  was  born  April  28,  1848 ; 
Sarah  E.,  now  the  wife  of  Samuel  Leek,  of  Grenola,  Kansas,  born 
July  10,  1850;  William  S.,  who  married  Miss  Ida  Sweigert,  born 
October  28,  1852;  Martha  Ann,  born  May  27,  1858;  Albert  C,  bom 
May  6,  1862;  and  Edward  T.,  born  February  28,  1864,  yet  remain  at 
home  with  their  father.  Mrs,  Sparrow  died  July  11,  1877.  Mr, 
Sparrow  came  to  this  country  with  nothing,  but  he  now  owns  a  well 
improved  farm  of  420  acres  in  T.  8,  R.  6, 

John  W,  Cluff,  Dallas  City,  born  in  Lexington,  Kentucky,  April 
1, 1813,  and  with  his  parents  soon  after  removed  to  Pike  county,  Ohio, 
His  parents  were  Reuben  and  Catherine  Cluff,      He  was  reared  on  a 


1210  HISTORY   OF   FIERCER   AXD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

farm  and  received  very  little  ediication,  January  23,  1836,  he  wedded 
Miss  Anna  Jarman,  daughter  of  James  Jarman,  of  Pike  county,  Ohio. 
In  1843  he  removed  to  Peoria  county,  Illinois,  and  from  there  to  Hen- 
derson county  in  1852,  settling  in  T.  8,  R.  6,  near  where  he  now  lives. 
He  is  the  father  of  eight  children,  three  daughters  and  five  sons: 
Reuben,  Isaac,  Catherine,  James  P.,  Mary  W.,  John  T.,  Charles  "W". 
and  ]^ancy  B.  James  remains  at  home  with  his  father  and  eases  him 
down  the  declivity  of  closing  life. 

Lee  W.  Shaw,  of  Dallas  City,  was  born  in  Honey  Creek  township, 
Henderson  count}'.  May  20,  1846.  He  is  the  son  of  Jackson  W.  and 
Abagail  Shaw.  He  grew  up  among  the  pioneers  on  a  farm  and  received 
a  common  school  education.  He  enlisted  April  11,  1865,  in  the  83d 
111.  Yols.,  but  was  soon  after  transferred  to  Co.  G  of  the  61st  Illinois, 
and  commissioned  as  a  corporal,  and  was  honorably  discharged  during 
the  same  year.  Married  January  26,  1868,  to  Euphemia  J.  Babcock, 
daughter  of  Samuel  B.  and  ^N^ancy  (Logan)  Babcock,  who  were  early 
settlers  in  the  vicinity  where  Mr.  Shaw  now  lives,  by  whom  he  has 
five  children  :  Elmina  S.,  born  October  25,  1869  ;  James  Jackson, 
March  15,  1872  ;  Ada  Leora  (deceased),  October  27,  1874  ;  Lula  Etta, 
June  5,  1877 ;  Iva  Odella,  May  6,  1880.  Mr.  Shaw  has  always 
engaged  in  farming.     He  is  a  republican  in  politics. 

SA^ruEL  SiMiNioNs,  of  Dallas  City,  was  born  near  Marysville,  Ken- 
tucky, April  10,  1820.  His  father's  name  was  Samuel  and  that  of  his 
mother  Elizabeth,  who  came  to  Illinois  and  settled  near  Nauvoo  in 
1836.  Mr.  Simmonds  spent  his  youth  on  a  farm  and  received  such  an 
education  as  the  common  schools  of  the  day  aftbrded.  He  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Sarah  Logan  December  15,  1842,  by  whom  he  had  three 
children  :  Elizabeth  A.,  born  September  22,  1843  ;  Mary  T.,  April  28, 
1845,  and  Margaret  V.,  August  14,  1847.  Was  married  a  second  time 
to  Miss  Mary  Ann  Green,  daughter  of  William  and  Mary  A.  Green, 
May  22,  1852,  by  whom  he  had  eight  children  :  Levina  J.,  born  No- 
vember 10,  1853;  Richard  H.,  February  3,  1856;  Alice  P.,  March 
17,  1858;  Martha  D.,  January  30,  1860;  Samuel  A.,  December  16, 
1861  ;  Florence  Jane,  June  7,  1866  ;  Capitola  D.,  February  16,  1869  ; 
Esther  Rose,  January  20,  1874  ;  Alonzo  W.,  June  22,  1871  ;  Melinda, 
July  4,  1872.  Mr,  Simmonds  was  a  captain  in  the  78th  111.  Yols., 
and  served  through  the  war.     He  is  now  engaged  in  farming. 

Robert  W.  Crane,  one  of  the  pioneers  of  the  county,  and  especially 
of  Honey  Creek  precinct,  was  born  in  Lycoming  county,  Pennsylvania, 
Kovember  1,  1818.  He  is  the  son  of  Michael  and  Anna  Pherits 
Ci-ane.  With  his  parents  he  came  from  Pennsylvania  to  Henderson 
county  in  1835,  landing  here  June  2.     Robert  was  reared  on  a  farm 


HONEY  CREEK  TOWNSHIP.  1211 

and  received  a  common  school  education.  He  experienced  all  the 
hardships  incident  to  pioneer  life.  All  tlie  improvement  on  the  farm 
which  his  father  bought  was  an  unchinked  log  house.  I^ovember  1, 
1851,  he  married  Mrs.  Sarah  Dougherty,  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Jane  Bassett,  who  lived  near  Shokokon.  They  are  the  parents  of 
seven  children,  four  of  whom  are  boys  and  three  are  girls  :  William  I., 
born  August  9,  1858;  Harry  G.,  born  December  12,  1859;  Eobert 
Lee,  born  February  12,  1862,  died  July  7,  1863;  PVederic  C,  born 
October  20,  1863;  Anna  P.,  born  March  9,  1866;  Patience  G.  and 
Mercy  C,  twins,  born  September  15,  1869.  Patience  G.  died  July 
26,  1870,  and  Mercy  C.  died  August  4  of  the  same  year.  Mr.  Crane 
is  a  member  of  Dallas  City  Lodge  of  Masons,  No.  235,  of  which  he 
was  the  first  charter  member.  He  is  a  member  of  Chapter  111,  Dallas 
City.     He  now  owns  and  lives  on  the  old  homestead. 

Charles  Yaughn  was  born  in  Monmouthshire.  Great  Britain, 
November  26,  1833.  He  commenced  life  as  a  farm  laborer  at  the  age 
of  nine  years,  at  a  consideration  wholly  incommensurate  with  the  ser- 
vices given.  He  emigrated  to  America  with  his  parents  in  1849.  His 
father  died  the  same  year,  and  was  buried  at  Sharonville,  Warren 
county,  Ohio.  In  Ohio  he  worked  as  a  farm  laborer.  Not  liking  the 
situation  he  came  to  Henderson  county  in  1851,  landing  August  26, 
where  he  has  ever  since  lived.  He  received  some  education  in  private 
schools  in  Europe  and  finished  in  Illinois.  Mr.  Vaughn,  March  18, 
1858,  married  Miss  Novella  Bethany  Bonham,  a  daughter  of  Thomas 
M.  and  Sarah  Betliany,  of  Mount  Vernon,  Ohio.  They  are  the 
parents  of  nine  children,  five  of  whom  are  living  and  four  are  dead  : 
Estella  Jane,  born  February  13,  1859;  Rczella  C,  born  October  27, 
1860,  died  January  30,  1863;  Beverly  Charles,  born  May  4,  1862; 
James  Ulysses,  born  November  7,  1864,  died  March  10,  1866; 
La  Fayette  B.,  born  August  15,  1866,  died  September  3,  1867  ;  Thomas 
Earnest,  born  January  7,  1868;  Sarah  Novella,  born  December  20, 
1869;  AVilliam  Claude,  born  October  28,  1871;  Florella  M.,  born 
August  7,  1874,  died  October  2,  the  same  year.  Mr.  Vaughn  is  a 
straight  republican.  He  has  been  deputy  assessor  of  the  county  for 
the  last  fifteen  years.  He  is  a  member  of  Carman  Lodge  of  Masons, 
No.  732.  His  mother,  during  her  widowhood,  was  kindly  and  ten- 
derly cared  for.     She  died  March  8,  1870. 

Beet  Moore  is  an  Englishman  by  birth,  having  been  born  in 
Northamptonshire  about  1826.  His  fiither  was  Samuel  and  his  mother 
Sarah  (Beach)  Moore.  His  grandfather  was  John  Moore.  His  mater- 
nal grandparents  were  George  and  Mary  Beach.  His  parents  came  to 
America  in  1830,  stopped  at  Deerfield  Corners,  New  York,  from  where 


1212  HISTORY   OF   MERGER   AJSTD    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

tliey  soon  moved  to  the  Black  river  country.  From  there  they  went  to 
Michigan,  where  the  father  and  mother  lived  and  died,  the  father  in 
1864,  the  mother  two  years  earlier.  Mr.  Moore  came  to  Henderson 
county  in  March,  1853,  settling  in  T.  8,  E,.  6.  He  was  married  in  1859 
to  Mrs.  Amelia  Crane,  a  daughter  of  John  and  Temperance  Curts.  His 
wife  died  December  28,  1876.  In  1860  he  was  in  the  Rocky  Moun- 
tains engaged  in  mining  and  logging,  and  has  since  spent  a  year  at 
Chippewa  Falls.     His  home  is  on  Sec.  2,  T.  8,  R.  6. 

John  Kemp,  the  father  of  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in 
North  Carolina,  April  15,  1793.  He  emigrated  to  Kentucky,  where 
soon  after  he  married  Miss  Nanc}^  Fort.  In  1832  he  moved  to  Warren 
county,  Illinois,  and  from  there,  in  1834,  to  what  is  now  Henderson, 
settling  near  Sagetown,  where  Norman,  our  subject,  was  born,  January 
8,  1837.  He  grew  to  manhood  on  liis  fiither's  farm,  receiving  a 
common  school  education.  July  16,  1857,  he  married  Miss  Mary  E. 
Shanks,  daughter  of  George  W.  and  Amelia  (Gittings)  Shanks.  She 
was  born  in  Union  county,  Kentucky,  September  25,  1840.  They  are 
the  parents  of  eleven  children,  nine  of  whom  are  living :  George,  born 
May  18,  1858;  Jessie,  born  January  18,  1860;  John,  born  January  6, 
1862;  Minnie,  born  February  6,  1864;  Charles  F.,  born  April  18, 
1866,  died  December  31,  same  year;  Martha  E.,  born  December  20, 
1867;  Orrin  S.,  born  June  20,  1871;  Addie,  born  May  15,  1873,  died 
July  1,  1874;  Mercy  E.,  born  July  15,  1875;  L.  M.,  born  December 
2,  1877  ;  Flora  Alda,  born  June  2,  1880.  Mr.  Kemp  is  a  democrat  in 
politics.     His  farms  are  in  Sec.  1,  T.  8,  R.  6,  and  Sec.  36,  T.  9,  R.  6. 

RisDON  Henry  Kirhy  was  born  in  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  April 
10,  1843.  His  grandfather,  Henry  Kirby,  was  born  on  the  east  shore 
of  MarjJand  ;  his  grandmother's  name  was  Jane  Kirby.  His  father 
was  born  in  Marjdand  and  removed  with  his  father,  Henry  Kirby,  to 
Butler  county,  Ohio,  in  1827,  and  from  tliere  to  Henderson  county  in 
1837.  He  was  one  of  the  j^ioneer  farmers  of  the  county.  He  subse- 
quentl}'  married  Sarah  Quinshaw.  Risdon  H.  grew  to  manhood  on 
liis  father's  farm  and  received  a  common  school  education.  He  was 
married  December  31,  1865,  to  Miss  Abertina  Parker,  daughter  of 
Stephen  and  Elizabeth  Parker,  of  Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio.  Mr.  Kirby 
is  a  member  of  Dallas  City  lodge  of  Masons,  No.  235,  In  politics  he 
is  a  democrat,  and  was  the  nominee  of  his  party  for  county  commis- 
sioner in  1881,  and  came  near  being  elected  over  his  opponent,  who  is 
one  of  the  first  men  in  the  count}^,  thus  showing  his  popularity,  the 
county  being  stronglj^  republican.  He  has  since  qualified  as  a  justice 
of  the  peace  at  the  solicitation  of  his  friends.  He  owns  a  splendid 
farm  in  Sec.  34,  T.  8,  R.  6,  and  is  well-to-do. 


HONKY    CREEK   TOWNSHIP.  1213 

Joseph  Kirby  was  born  on  the  eastern  shore  of  Maryland  June  8, 
1822.  He  was  the  son  of  Henry  and  Jane  Kirby,  who  moved  to 
Butler  county,  Ohio,  about  182T,  and  came  from  there  to  Henderson 
county  in  1837.  Mr.  Kirby  died  in  1848,  and  Mrs.  Kirby  ten  years 
later.  Joseph  was  married  October  15,  1841,  to  Miss  Jane  Swymelar, 
daughter  of  Andrew  and  Jane  Swymelar.  She  was  born  in  Chester 
county,  Pennsylvania,  February  14,  1822.  Her  parents  came  to  Han- 
cock county,  Illinois,  in  1840,  where  she  and  Joseph  met  and  were 
married.  The  marriage  took  place  at  Nauvoo,  while  yet  the  Mormons 
were  reveling  in  the  height  of  their  prosperity.  They  are  the  parents 
.of  five  children  :  Mary  Jane,  the  eldest,  born  October  8,  1845,  and  died 
the  22d  of  the  following  month ;  William  Hinckley,  born  November  23, 
1845 ;  Josephus,  born  December  23,  1848  ;  Minerva,  born  August  28, 
1856  ;  Andrew,  born  March  8.  1858.  Mr.  Kirby  died  June  28,  1878, 
and  is  buried  in  Terre  Haute  cemetery.  The  children  all  live  at  or 
near  home. 

George  Caktwright  was  born  in  Staffordshire  county,  England, 
March  6,  1823.  His  parents,  George  and  Sarah  Cartwright,  were 
farmers,  but  his  father  subsequently  went  to  coal  mining,  at  which  he 
did  a  considerable  business,  working  a  great  number  of  men.  George, 
Jr.,  while  quite  young,  was  apprenticed  to  a  manufacturer  of  queens- 
ware,  but  disliking  the  business  he  never  followed  it  after  his  appren- 
ticeship ended.  He  came  to  America  in  1842,  landing  at  New  Orleans. 
From  there  he  went  to  Missouri,  where  for  a  time  he  worked  on  a 
farm.  From  here  he  drifted  through  Iowa  and  into  Illinois,  when  in 
1847,  '48  and  '49  he  drove  a  stage  from  Burlington,  Iowa,  to  Spring- 
field, Illinois.  In  1848  he  settled  in  McDonough  county,  where,  on 
April  24  of  the  subsequent  year,  he  married  Miss  Mary  E.  Woodside, 
who  was  born  August  3,  1822,  in  Virginia,  and  with  her  parents,  John 
G.  and  Jane  Woodside,  came  to  McDonough  county,  Illinois,  in  1833. 
Mr.  Woodside  was  afterward  quite  prominent  in  local  politics.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Cartwright  are  the  parents  of  seven  children,  five  of  whom 
are  living  and  two  are  dead :  Sarah  Jane,  born  November  13,  1850  ; 
Virginia  E.,  born  January  24.  1852;  John,  born  August  28,  1853, 
died  September  18,  1853  ;  Ann  Eliza,  born  May  7,  1855  ;  AVilliam 
Edgar,  born  July  25,  1857  ;  Frederic  H.,  born  December  15,  1858, 
died  October  27,  1859  ;  and  Elmer  E.,  born  February  11,  1861.  Prior 
to  the  war  Mr.  Cartwright  was  a  democrat,  but  on  the  issues  of  1 860 
he  voted  foi*  Abraham  Lincoln.     He  has  been  a  justice  of  the  peace. 

Robert  Crownover,  born  in  Lycoming  county,  Pennsylvania,  Octo- 
ber 16,  1817.  His  parents  were  James  and  Elizabeth  (Knox)  Crownover, 
His    grandfather,   liobert    Crownover,   who    married   Nancy   Kelsey 


1214  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND   HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Cutter,  with  several  of  his  brothers  emigrated  from  New  Jersey  to 
Lycoming  county,  Pennsylvania,  prior  to  the  revolution,  and  in  the 
deadly  contests  which  ensued  between  the  Indians  and  whites  in  that 
section,  all  the  brothers  except  Robert  were  slain.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  grew  to  manhood  on  a  farm,  and  received  a  common  school 
education.  In  1834  he  emigrated  to  Michigan,  and  spent  eight  years 
in  the  counties  of  Calhoun  and  St.  Joe.  From  here,  in  1842,  he 
removed  to  Henderson  county,  and  settled  near  Shokokon,  where  he 
remained  for  two  years,  when  he  came  to  his  present  place  of  residence 
on  Sec.  22,  T.  8,  R.  G.  January  23,  1851,  he  was  married  to 
Temperance  Curts,  daughter  of  John  and  Temperance  Curts,  who  came 
to  Henderson  county  from  what  is  now  Clinton  county,  Pennsylvania, 
then  Lycoming.  They  are  the  parents  of  nine  children  :  James  H., 
born  September  25,  1851;  Elizabeth,  January  27,  1853 ;  John,  October 
21,  1855;  Eobert  and  Temperance,  March  14,  1858;  Alice,  January 
29,  1860;  Mary,  January  12,  1863;  William,  November  T,  1865; 
Mary  Kelsey,  January  2,  1870.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Crownover  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Mr.  Crownover  was  well 
acquainted  with  the  Mormon  prophets  Joseph  Smith  and  Brigham 
Young  during  the  days  of  their  dwelling  at  Nauvoo,  his  father,  who 
lived  near  where  Robert  now  lives,  having  often  entertained  them  at 
his  residence. 

John  Paul  was  born  in  Cumberland  county,  Pennsylvania,  Decem- 
ber 15,  1815.  He  is  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Sarah  Paul,  and  is  of 
Holland  Dutch  descent.  His  father  was  a  miller,  and  young  John 
worked  at  this  business  during  his  boyhood.  In  1828  the  family 
moved  to  Mahoning  county,  Ohio.  He  was  married  January  4,  1838,  to 
Hannah,  daughter  of  Basil  and  Rachel  Perry,  and  immediately  settled 
in  Columbiana  county,  Ohio.  From  here,  in  1844,  he  came  to  Hen- 
derson county  and  settled  on  Sec.  34,  T.  8,  R.  6.  He  is  the  father  of 
five  children,  all  boys  :  James,  born  July  28,  1840  ;  Eli,  born  March 
6,  1843,  died  September  27,  1846  ;  Joseph  L.,  born  March  9,  1846  ; 
Basil  Henry,  born  September  5,  1848 ;  Thomas  Morgan,  born  Febru- 
ary 4,  1851.  Mr.  Paul  has  followed  farming  since  his  marriage. 
Basil  Henry  was  married  November  27,  1878,  to  Miss  Nancy  J. 
Logan,  daughter  of  Judge  John  Logan.  They  are  the  parents  of  two 
children  :  Missie  Ann,  born  June  5,  1873  ;  Myra  M.,  born  November 
2,  1876. 

The  grandfather  of  the  present  sketch  suffered  the  hardships  of  the 
revolution.  His  father  was  also  in  the  latter  part  of  tlie  struggle  for 
independence,  and  saw  service  in  the  war  of  1812.  His  maternal 
grandfather  was  in  the  revolution  and  fought  at  Brandywine,  where  he 


HONEY   CREEK   TOWNSHIP.  1215 

was  severely  injured.  William,  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Jane  Arclii- 
bald  Curry,  was  born  in  Harrison  county,  Ohio,  November  21,  1819. 
His  parents  were  of  Scotch-Irish  descent.  He  grew  to  manhood  on  a 
farm,  and  married  Rebecca  Close,  daughter  of  Benjamin  and  Elizabeth 
Close,  of  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  April  19,  1844,  by  whom  he  had  two 
children  :  Marion  F.,  born  December  27,  1846,  and  Rebecca,  born 
May  1,  1848.  Mrs.  Curry  died  May  11  of  the  same  year.  He  was 
married  a  second  time,  to  Nancy  L.  Wright,  daughter  of  Jonathan, 
a  native  of  Ohio,  and  Mary  Wright,  a  native  of  Virginia.  She  was 
buried  in  Lorain  county,  Ohio,  May  31,  1827.  They  are  the  parents 
of  three  children  :  Eugene,  born  February  25,  1856,  and  died  April 
19,  1856,  in  Cedar  county,  Iowa,  where  he  was  buried  ;  Clayton, 
born  December  28,  1859,  died  the  25th  of  March  following,  and  was 
buried  in  lot  seventeen  of  Logan's  cemetery.  Henderson  county ; 
Mary  K.,  born  Sejitember  23,  1865,  in  Henderson  county.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Curry  are  both  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Jasper  Logan,  son  of  George  W.  and  Melinda  Logan,  was  born  in 
Fayette  county,  Indiana,  October  8,  1846,  Mr.  Logan's  grandfather 
was  an  early  settler  in  this  county.  His  mother,  whose  maiden  name 
was  Martin,  is  a  cousin  of  the  Hon.  James  N.  Tyner,  of  Indiana. 
Jasper,  with  his  parents,  came  to  Henderson  county  in  1853,  was 
reared  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common  schools.  He  graduated 
at  Bryant  &  Stratton's  Commercial  College,  Burlington,  Iowa,  Aj)ril 
10,  1868.  He  enlisted  in  the  83d  reg.  111.  Vols.,  April  11,  1865,  and 
was  soon  afterward  transferred  to  Co.  G  of  the  61st,  and  was  mustered 
out  September  8,  1868.  He  taught  one  term  of  school  in  1868.  April 
14,  1870,  he  married  Elizabeth  Angeline,  daughter  of  Hon.  William 
Scott,  of  Dallas  City,  Illinois.  They  are  the  parents  of  four  children, 
all  boys  :  Lemuel  Edgar,  born  February  20,  1872  ;  Clement  Eddison, 
born  August  31,  1874;  Royal  Claude,  born  August  24,  1877  ;  Clinton 
Henry,  born  October  21,  1880.  Mr.  Logan  is  now  a  farmer  and  owns 
a  farm  in  T.  8,  R.  6. 

John  Cooper,  Lomax,  Illinois,  was  born  in  Monastrevan,  county 
Kildare,  Ireland,  July  28,  1805.  He  was  educated  in  his  native  town, 
and  remained  there  until  fifteen  years  of  age,  when  he  moved  from 
there  to  Dublin  and  learned  the  cabinet-making  trade.  He  was  mar- 
ried June  6,  1828,  to  Eliza  Deane,  of  Dublin,  and  they  had  fifteen 
children,  of  whom  but  five  are  now  living  :  John,  William,  Thomas  G., 
Eliza  and  Washington  L.  After  working  at  his  trade  for  seven  years 
altogether,  he  received  an  appointment  on  the  Grand  Canal  as  captain 
of  a  passenger  canal  boat  plying  between  Dublin  and  Balinsloe,  serv- 
ing  in  that  capacity  for  twenty-five  years.      He  then  resigned  and 


1216  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

accepted  a  coUectorship  for  the  company  at  Tullamore,  Kings  county, 
and  served  as  collector  eight  months,  and  then  resigned  and  came  to 
America,  landing  at  New  Orleans  December  10,  1848.  From  there  he 
came  to  Burlington,  Iowa,  and  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  for 
eighteen  months,  and  from  there  he  removed  to  Henderson  county  and 
engaged  in  his  present  occupation  of  farming.  He  is  a  member  of 
Dallas  City  Lodge,  No.  235,  of  A.  F.  and  A.  M.  In  religion  he  was 
brought  up  in  the  belief  of  the  Episcopal  church. 


SOUTH  HENDEPvSON  TOWNSHIP. 

Township  10,  range  5,  was  laid  out  by  the  government  in  1816. 
This  township,  the  most  centrally  located,  does  not  contain  the  largest 
population,  though  almost  a  full  township.  It  does  not  have  so  much 
tillable  land  as  others,  but  it  has  contained  and  does  contain  more  and 
larger  industries  than  any  other  in  the  county.  The  population  in 
1860  was  489  ;  in  1870,  1438  ;  in  1880,  1135,  showing  a  decrease  in 
the  last  decade  of  303.  The  area  in  acres  is  22,735.  The  township 
surface  corners  on  the  Father  of  Waters,  the  bluffs  of  which  extend 
through  the  township  from  north  to  south.  They  cut  the  north  line 
one  and  one-fourth  miles  from  the  east  line  on  the  north,  and  the  south 
line,  three  and  one-half  miles  from  the  same  line.  These  monuments  of 
the  "Ice  Periods"  of  the  north,  in  connection  with  the  main  Hender- 
son creek  and  its  confluent,  South  Henderson,  flowing  westwardly 
through  the  northern  pai-t,  produce  a  diversified  surface.  These  blufts 
are  gradually  ascending,  nowhere  precipitous,  extending  at  times  into 
long,  sharp  ridges  diametrically  to  their  length,  again  culminating  into 
high  mounds  or  conical  peaks,  presenting  a  beautiful  scenery,  and  from 
which  may  be  seen  a  large  scope  of  country  and  several  towns  and 
cities,  some  of  which  are  on  the  Iowa  side.  Sometimes  they  are  bold 
and  even  romantic  and  quite  lofty.  One  of  the  highest,  probably,  in 
the  township  is  north  of  Mr.  F.  Galbaith's  house,  on  section  22. 

There  is  another  very  beautiful  one  just  southeast  of  Gladstone,  of 
conical  shape  and  almost  as  high.  Some  of  these  blufts  aflbrd  some 
excellent  building  stone  and  stone  for  lime.  The  surface  of  the  land 
east  of  the  blufts,  and  bordering  on  them,  is  very  undulating  ;  west  of 
them  is  the  second  bottom,  which  is  quite  flat,  but  drainable  ;  between 
the  first  and  second  bottom  is  what  is  called  the  sand  ridge,  which  is 
somewhat  rolling.  The  first  bottom  is  very  low,  flat  land,  and  is  over- 
flowed at  times  by  the  Mississippi. 


SOUTH    HENDERSON    TOWNSHIP.  1217 

The  timber  in  tliis  township  is  not  principally  confined  to  the 
streams,  as  in  some  other  townships.  The  eastern  half  of  T.  10,  K.  5, 
is  largely  composed  of  either  timber  or  timber  land,  with  the  exception 
of  two  whole  sections  in  the  northeastern  part  and  five  in  the  south 
and  southeastern  portion.  Large  oaks,  scattered  here  and  there,  cov- 
ered the  bluffs  wlien  first  seen  by  the  settlers.  The  oaks  were  so 
disti-ibuted  that  prairie  grass  grew  all  over  the  blufts.  Most  of  the 
young  timber  of  the  blufi's  and  elsewhere  has  grown  up  since  the 
second  set  of  settlers  settled  here.  This  young  timber,  which  is,  or 
most  of  which  is,  large  enough  to  make  good  wood,  is  quite  thick  in 
places  where  it  has  not  been  cut  for  wood  or  rails.  Some  of  the  most 
valuable  kinds  of  wood  are  black  walnut,  white  oak  and  hard  maple, 
sometimes  called  sugar-maple. 

This  township,  situated  as  it  is,  contains  about  all  the  varieties  of 
soils  of  the  county,  such  as  the  black  loam,  the  light,  the  sandy,  and 
the  sand  soil.  It  does  not  have  as  much  good  tillable  land  as  some 
other  townships  adjacent  to  it,  though  there  is  some  as  good  land  found 
in  T.  10,  R.  5,  as  in  any  other  county  or  state.  There  is  a  strip  of  bot- 
tom land  in  the  western  part  of  the  township,  about  two  miles  wide, 
mostly  in  the  northern  part  and  the  blufi's,  that  cannot  be  called  waste 
land,  as  most  of  the  bottom  not  tilled  or  occupied  by  the  several  lakes 
are  utilized  by  pasturing  them. 

These  bottom  lands,  or  swamp  lands  as  some  may  call  them,  if  they 
could  be  drained  and  diked  against  the  overflow  of  the  Mississippi, 
would  make  excellent  farm  lands. 

The  soil  at  the  foot  of  the  bluffs  is  the  best  soil  in  cultivation.  It 
is  of  a  deep  black  mold,  slightly  sandy,  and  is  best  adapted  to  raising 
Indian  corn.  The  soil  on  the  prairies  is  of  a  black  loam  and  will  ])ro- 
duce  all  kinds  of  grains.  The  soil  of  the  timber-land  is  much  lighter, 
but  is  often  better  adapted  to  wheat,  oats  and  fruits. 

MILLS. 

Grist-mills  were  quite  scarce  and  steam-mills  unknown.  What  few 
mills  there  were  were  run  by  water-power.  The  first  grist-mill  and 
saw-mill  in  the  precinct  was  built  on  South  Henderson  creek,  two  and 
a  half  miles  east  of  Gladstone,  by  Mr,  Shell  Ward,  to  whom  belongs 
the  honor  of  building  the  first  mill  in  the  precinct  and  the  second  one 
in  the  county.  It  was  built  about  1848,  on  Sec.  2.  It  was  three  stories 
high  besides  the  perline  story,  3(')X50  feet,  with  three  run  of  French 
burrs  in  complete  operation,  calculated  for  one  run  or  more,  with  all  the 
machinery  necessary  for  doing  country  and  merchant  work  in  the  best 
manner ;  also,  a  saw-mill,  with  good  cutting  capacity.     Both  mills, 


1218  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   A^D    HENDERSON   COrNTIES. 

together  with  the  dam,  have  foundation  on  solid  rock.  The  dam 
affords  a  ftill  of  eighteen  feet  for  both  mills.  The  original  mill  was 
torn  down  and  rebuilt  and  changed  into  the  present  one,  which  is  still 
running. 

There  were  two  other  mills  running  about  this  time  in  the  county, 
one  near  Oquawka,  called  Jack's  mill,  and  one  at  Warren.  The 
streams  which  fed  these  mills  would  in  very  dry  seasons  fail  to  supply 
the  required  quantity  of  water,  and  remain  motionless  until  there 
was  water  enough  to  turn  the  wheels.  It  was  during  these  times  that 
the  people  had  to  travel  long  distances  over  a  roadless  country  and 
bridgeless  streams,  with  nothing  but  the  sun  and  stars  as  their  guides. 
When  we  now  have  to  go  ten  to  fifteen  miles  to  mill  it  is  a  long  way, 
but  what  would  some  of  the  young  farmers  of  to-day  think  if  they  had 
to  travel  seventy-five  or  eighty  miles  to  have  a  grist  ground,  which  the 
early  settlers  of  those  times  were  compelled  to  do  or  go  without  bread  ? 
In  performing  the  long  journey  to  and  from  the  mill  the^  would  some- 
times get  lost,  lay  out  all  night  on  the  prairie,  not  knowing  where  they 
were  or  what  might  be  their  fate  ere  the  dawn  of  day.  They  would 
often  be  gone  a  week  or  ten  days  before  they  returned  to  •  their  log 
huts,  their  homes ;  though  they  were  humble  they  were  dear. 

Such  were  some  of  the  early  times  of  the  history  of  South  Hender- 
son precinct.  It  is  related  of  John  Woods  and  John  Tweed,  Sen.,  in 
December,  when  no  grinding  could  be  done  at  their  home  mills,  they 
went  to  Burlington  to  have  their  grist  ground.  They  hauled  it  to  the 
Mississippi  river  with  a  team,  then  put  it  on  hand  sleds  and  dragged 
it  across  the  river  on  the  ice,  and,  as  the  narrator  says,  "had  three 
grains  knocked  into  one,  and  it  was  the  best  bread  I  ever  ate." 

The  first  threshing  machine,  if  they  may  be  called  such,  said  to 
have  been  used  in  the  precinct  was  in  1842.  It  was  what  was  called 
in  these  days  a  chaff-piler ;  that  is,  the  straw,  wheat  and  chaff  came 
through  the  machine  simultaneously,  all  in  one  heap.  The  straw  then 
had  to  be  separated  from  the  chaff  and  wheat.  Atter  this  was  accom- 
plished the  wheat  and  chaff  were  sent  through  a  fanning  mill,  which 
separated  the  chaff  from  the  wheat.  This  was  considered  a  great  im- 
provement over  the  ancient  process  of  tramping  out  the  wheat  by 
either  horses  or  oxen,  saving  time  and  being  much  the  cleaner  mode 
of  the  two. 

They  cut  their  wheat,  rye  and  oats  with  the  sickle  and  cradle,  and 
were  just  as  well  contented  to  cut  their  grain  in  that  way  as  we  are  to 
cut  our  grain  with  the  reaper,  harvester  or  self-binder.  A  day's  work 
with  the  sickle  was  one-half  an  acre.  A  day's  work  with  the  cradle 
was  called  fi'om  two  to  three  acres. 


Wl  LLIAM    H  ,  G  ETT  I  NGS 


SOUTH    HENDERSON    TOWNSHIP,  1221 

As  an  illustration  of  what  reapers  would  do  when  they  were  first 
introduced  into  the  settlements,  the  following  is  one:  Maj.  Sam 
Hutchinson  with  his  Virginia  reaper,  which  he  calls  the  Western 
Clipper,  cut  in  four  and  a  half  days  si^jty-five  acres  of  very  heavy 
wheat,  on  the  farms  of  William  Graham  and  Thomas  McDill.  The 
wheat  on  Mr.  McDill's  farm  was  decidedly  the  heaviest  in  the  county. 

Some  of  the  oldest  settlers  were  compelled  to  live  on  potatoes  alone 
for  several  weeks  at  a  time,  and  they  thought  it  preferable  to  living 
on  acorns  and  a  small  portion  of  parched  corn,  as  did  their  pilgrim 
fathers  on  the  shores  of  New  England  during  the  first  settlements 
there.  During  the  drouths,  when  the  mills  could  not  grind,  they 
would  resort  to  many  devices  of  obtaining  meal,  often  making  graters 
of  some  thin  metal  on  which  to  grate  their  corn  ;  some  using  the  coffee 
mill,  and  others  the  mortar  for  crushing  it. 

The  following  market  quotations,  from  the  Oquawka  "Spectator," 
show  the  prices  prevailing  February  12,  1848 :  Wheat  (winter),  55@ 
57  cents;  wheat  (spring),  40@50  cents;  corn,  15@18  cents;  oats, 
15  cents ;  barley,  30  cents ;  flax-seed,  60  cents ;  white  beans,  38  cents ; 
potatoes,  20  cents;  dried  peaches,  $2;  apples,  $1.12;  salt  (Kanhawa), 
50  cents;  ground  alum,  per  sack,  $2.50;  dry  hides,  per  lb,  6  cents; 
green  hides,  per  ft),  3  cents ;  lard,  4  cents ;  tallow,  9  cents. 

The  first  road  through  the  township  was  the  Monmouth  and  Bur- 
lington road.  This  road  was  traveled  before  the  country  was  fenced 
into  farms  and  before  any  regularly  laid  out  road  was  surveyed.  This 
old  road  followed  very  nearly  the  old  Indian  trail,  which  began  in  the 
northeastern  part  of  the  township,  through  the  Jameson  and  Sam  Lynn 
settlements,  running  southwest  to  South  Henderson  ford  near  Glad- 
stone, and  ft-om  there  southwest  along  a  sand  ridge  across  the  bottom 
to  Burlington. 

When  a  survey  for  a  county  road  was  made,  the  surveyors  followed 
the  old  track  from  the  Sam  Lynn  place  to  South  Henderson  ford ;  from 
this  place  it  only  followed  the  old  road  in  the  main.  James  Eyason, 
Peter  Butler  and  James  Jameson  were  the  viewers  to  South  Henderson 
creek.  The  first  road  from  the  southern  part  of  the  township  started 
from  Honey  creek,  leading  north  through  Warren  to  Gladstone;  this 
road  was  extended  on  to  Oquawka,  the  present  county  seat. 

FIRES. 

Tall  prairie  grass  everywhere  covered  the  township  when  the  red 

man  roamed  the  bluffs  for  wild  game  to  make  his  breakfast  on,  and  for 

some  time  after  settlements  were  made.     In  the  fall  of  the  year  the 

grass  would  often  catch  on  fire,  by  some  Indian  chief  smoking  his  pipe 

69 


1222  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

of  peace,  or  from  the  fire  of  some  hungry  hunter  who  had  started  it  to 
cook  liis  venison  or  turkey.  It  would  run  like  "wikl  fire,"  as  is  the 
common  saying,  roaring,  leaping,  scathing,  spreading  wider  and  wider, 
like  the  mighty  waves  of  the  ocean,  over  the  plain,  up  the  high  blufis, 
across  the  hills  and  vales,  out  on  to  the  vast  prairies,  carrying  destruc- 
tion to  everything  which  interrupted  its  progress. 

When  the  settlers  would  see  the  smoke  of  this  destroying  element, 
it  would  be  the  signal  for  every  man,  woman,  boy  and  girl  in  the  whole 
settlement  to  turn  out  to  save  their  own  and  the  homes  and  property  of 
their  neighbors.  They  would  go  miles  away  to  assist  their  neighbors 
to  stay  the  fires  ;  they  would  often  fight  fire,  to  arrest  its  progress,  from 
twelve  to  twenty  hours  at  a  time  without  rest.  It  was  in  one  of  those 
fires  in  which  Tamatown,  an  Indian  town  near  Gladstone,  was  burned ; 
the  fii'e  came  up  so  suddenly  that  they  had  no  time  to  save  anything. 

One  Monday  morning,  about  one  o'clock,  Mr.  McFarland's  distillery 
at  Sagetown  was  discovered  to  be  on  fire.  On  Saturday  evening,  as 
usual,  the  fires  were  put  out  and  the  house  closed  for  Sunday,  the  only 
fire  left  in  the  building  being  in  a  stove  in  the  room  in  which  the  yeast 
was  kept ;  this  had  been  replenished  again  on  Sunday  evening  with  the 
same  care  that  was  always  taken  to  keep  the  room  warm,  but  it  is 
supposed  that  the  accident  originated  from  the  fire  in  the  stove  in  some 
way,  as  the  flames  were  first  discovered  in  the  roof  over  the  yeast-room. 
Some  persons,  however,  among  the  workmen  are  of  the  opinion  that 
the  fire  was  the  work  of  an  incendiary.  The  loss  must  have  been 
large,  as  the  beer  in  the  tubs  would  have  run  out.  Over  sixty  barrels 
of  highwines,  with  the  large  building  and  all  its  contents,  were  totally 
destroyed. 

During  the  Blackhawk  war  a  fort  and  block-house  was  built  in 
the  yard  where  Mr.  Samuel  Lynn's  house  now  stands,  as  a  place  of 
refuge  for  all  the  surrounding  settlers'  families.  A  place  was  first 
enclosed  by  twelve  foot  slabs  set  in  the  ground,  inside  of  which  was 
built  the  block-house,  consisting  of  two  stories,  the  upper  one  project- 
ing out  about  two  feet  over  the  lower  one,  each  having  loop  holes  on 
all  sides,  through  which  to  shoot.  Previous  to  this  a  temporary  fort 
was  built  around  W.  R.  Jameson's  house,  by  setting  pickets  in  the 
ground  around  the  house.  This  was,  so  far  as  known,  the  second  fort 
in  Henderson  county  built  against  the  invasion  of  the  Indians,  the  one 
at  Yellow  Banks  being  the  first.  The  only  remaining  thing  to  mark 
the  spot  where  the  fort  stood  is  the  wall  of  the  well  for  the  use  of  the 
fort. 

In  the  winter  of  1832,  when  there  was  a  great  deal  of  excitement  in 
the  settlements  about  the  Blackhawk  war,  there  were  several  families 


SOUTH    HENDERSON    TOWNSHIP.  1223 

stayed  in  tlie  bloek-house  near  by.  The  names  of  those  living  in  the 
block-house  were  as  follows  :  Samuel  Jameson  and  his  family,  his  son 
James  and  his  family,  William  E..  and  his  family,  among  which  was 
Calvin  Jameson,  Stephen  Short  and  his  family,  and  Abner  and  Gabriel 
Short,  William  Russel  and  his  family,  Aaron  Earnest  and  his  family, 
James  Ryason  and  his  family,  Eliza  Griffith  and  her  family,  making 
forty-five  in  all. 

RELICS. 

Mr.  John  Tweed  has  in  his  possession  an  old  sword  which  is  a  relic 
of  the  Blackhawk  war,  used  by  his  father,  John  Tweed,  Sr.  It  is  a 
short  narrow-bladed  sword  with  an  ordinary  brass  handle.  He  has 
also  a  pair  of  tongs,  plowed  up  in  his  field,  which  were  used  nearly 
fifty  years  ago  by  one  of  the  first  blacksmiths  of  this  county. 

On  the  summit  of  the  blufts,  on  the  left-hand  side  going  north  ot 
the  Gladstone  and  Olena  road,  at  the  mouth  of  what  is  known  as 
Tweed's  Hollow,  are  found  about  100  mounds,  which  are  thought  to 
be  of  ancient  Aztec  origin.  Human  bones  have  been  taken  out  at  a 
depth  of  eight  feet,  the  corresponding  ones  of  which  are  larger  than 
those  of  the  largest  man  in  Henderson  county,  thereby  proving  the 
people  who  made  them  to  be  of  more  than  ordinary  stature.  The 
mounds  are  of  rather  a  mysterious  origin,  are  prominent,  at  intervals, 
on  the  tops  of  the  blufts  extending  through  the  Precinct.  In  one  of 
these  an  unburnt  red  clay  pot,  having  flowers  rudely  etched  on  one 
side,  was  found  in  the  blufts  just  east  of  Gladstone,  by  C.  Lilteich, 
while  leveling  oft"  one  side  of  the  bluft". 

Mr.  Alexander  Lynn,  living  just  in  the  northern  part  of  Gladstone, 
on  the  S.W.  ^  of  Sec.  10,  has  the  lower  part  of  a  post  found  while 
plowing  on  his  land  about  twenty  rods  north  of  his  residence,  which 
belonged  to  the  Sac  Indians  council  house.  It  was  taken  out  by  him 
several  years  ago  and  can  be  seen  at  any  time  at  his  house. 

On  the  blufts  near  Frank  Galbrath's  Mr.  William  McChesney 
picked  up  a  small  flat  stone  nearly  three  inches  in  diameter,  round, 
concave  on  both  sides,  bird  tracks  on  one  side,  a  bird  on  the  opposite, 
and  having  a  hole  in  the  center.  This  small  stone  is  called  an  Indian 
totum.  This  totum  was  taken  to  Burlington,  Iowa,  and  is  supposed  to 
be  in  the  Iowa  State  Museum. 

Mr.  J.  Smith  has  two  Indian  relics,  one  of  which  is  a  small  dark 
brown  round  and  flat  stone,  concave  on  both  sides,  about  an  inch  in 
thickness,  and  about  two  and  one  half  inches  in  diameter ;  the  other 
one  is  a  yellowish  and  gourd-shaped  stone  ;  it  is  about  three  inches 
long,  the  largest  part  of  which  is  about  two  inches  in  diameter. 


1224  HISTOEY   OF   IVrEECEE    A^D    HESTDEESON   COUNTIES. 

FIRST  SETTLEMENTS. 

Mr.  James  Rjason,  the  first  settler  in  the  township,  was  an  Ohioan. 
In  1827,  leaving  his  wife  and  child  with  his  father-in-law,  he  started 
from  Edgar  county,  Illinois,  intending  to  take  a  flat-boat  load  of  whiskj- 
to  New  Orleans,  by  way  of  the  Wabash,  Ohio  and  Mississippi  rivers. 
Before  he  reached  there,  on  learning  the  state  of  the  market,  pulled 
oars  for  Galena,  Illinois.  Here  he  disposed  of  his  load,  worked  in  the 
mines,  and  not  striking  a  bonanza,  he  abandoned  his  prospect,  loaded 
his  canoe  with  lead  and  hides  and  sailed  down  the  river  for  Oquawka. 
Landing  at  Oquawka,  he  began  looking  out  a  site  for  a  wood  yard.  It 
was  located  on  jS^.  ^  of  jST.W.  J  Sec.  2,  which  he  afterward  improved, 
and  built,  in  the  fall  of  1828,  the  first  house  in  the  township,  two 
miles  south  and  one-half  mile  east  of  Oquawka,  and  a  quarter  from 
main  Henderson  creek.  The  cabin  was  built  near  his  present  house, 
and  made  of  hewed  logs  covered  with  clapboards ;  the  floor  was  of 
hewed  logs  ;  the  chimney  of  sticks  and  clay.  It  was  a  single  room 
and  one  story  high. 

"What  caused  him  to  select  this  piece  of  land  was  on  account  of  a 
fine  spring  of  water  at  the  foot  of  the  bluft's  on  this  land  ;  not  pre- 
empting as  much  as  he  expected  he  was  getting,  he  subsequently 
bought  a  tract  lying  east  of  his  would-be  choice.  This  land  he  pre- 
empted and  bought  of  the  government  when  it  came  into  market. 
At  one  time  he  came  near  losing  it.  He  proved  his  pre-emption  before 
the  magistrate,  and  sent  it  to  the  land  ofiice.  at  Quincy  to  have  it  re- 
corded, but  the  land  agent  neglected  to  record  it.  Just  as  Mr.  Ryason 
was  recovering  from  an  illness  he  heard  that  one  of  his  neighbors,  who 
knew  that  his  pre-emption  had  not  been  recorded,  was  then  on  his  way 
to  Quincy  to  pre-empt  his  land.  Notwithstanding  his  convalescence, 
he  borrowed  a  horse,  and,  after  riding  nearly  the  whole  of  the  follow- 
ing night,  succeeded  in  reaching  Quincy  ere  his  would-be  neighbor 
and  land  jumper,  and  preventing  him  from  filing  his  fraudulent  pre- 
emption title. 

During  the  winter  of  1828  everything  in  the  way  of  eatables, 
especially  pork,  which  was  part  of  their  living,  was  very  scarce  in  the 
Yellow  Bank  settlement  from  which  Mr.  Ryason  obtained  his  food. 
It  was  during  one  of  the  coldest  spells  of  that  winter  he  went  over  to 
a  settlement  on  Drown  creek  to  engage  some  pork  from  that  settle- 
ment. On  his  way  back  he  got  lost ;  night  coming  on,  had  to  tie  his 
horse  in  the  woods  and  walk  around  all  night  to  keep  from  freezing. 
He  went  back  with  team  to  help  Stephenson  over  with  the  pork. 
While  going  over  with  Stephenson  he  became  separated  from  him, 
and  was  compelled  again  to  stay  in  the  timber  all  night,   without 


SOUTH   HENDEKSON   TOWXSHIP.  1225 

anything  to  eat  or  but  scant  wrappings  to  keep  him  comfortable  from 
the  excessive  cold. 

Wlien  he  pre-empted  his  land  he  said  he  could  carry  all  the  property 
he  had  on  his  back,  and  did  not  have  twenty-five  cents  in  his  pocket. 
He  worked  at  rail-making  at  fifty  cents  a  thousand,  to  obtain  money 
to  keep  him  and  family  and  make  some  improvement  on  his  place. 
He  made  all  the  rails  to  fence  his  place  by  moonshine.  He  also 
chopped  wood  during  the  winter  of  1828-9  for  a  living.  Following 
the  putting  in  of  and  tending  of  a  small  crop  of  corn,  he  started  back 
in  August  for  his  wife  and  child  with  an  ox  team,  which  he  borrowed 
of  his  brother  in  Fulton  county.  -He  returned  in  November  with  his 
family  to  the  little  log  cabin  which  was  to  be  their  future  home, 
and  the  first  one  in  the  township,  and  among  the  very  first  in  the 
county.  Mr.  Ryason  claims  to  be  the  first  agricultural  settler  in  Hen- 
derson county. 

During  the  winter  of -1829  the  only  food  they  had  was  bread,  meat 
and  potatoes.  For  a  bushel  of  meal  he  had  to  work  two  days.  While 
on  his  journey  after  his  family,  he  traded  a  rifle  for  four  hogs,  which 
were  to  be  fatted  and  ready  for  him  when  he  called  for  them  in  the 
fall.  When  he  went  after  his  hogs  he  found  them  too  fat  to  drive,  so 
he  was  compelled  to  butcher  them  there  and  haul  the  pork  home  after- 
ward. As  he  had  no  cow,  and  thinking  he  could  do  with  less  meat  if 
he  had  one,  he  traded  one  hundred  pounds  of  this  meat  to  Jerry  Smith 
for  a  cow.  Some  time  following  this  bargain  he  bought  a  young  heifer, 
and  from  these  succeeded  in  getting  a  start  in  cattle. 

He  bought  a  couple  of  hogs  from  Mr.  Richey,  and  captured  some 
wild  ones  on  shares  with  him.  His  excellent  prospect  for  raising  hogs 
was  set  at  naught  when  the  Indians  came  in  and  drove  ofi"  or  killed  all 
but  four  of  them.  Some  of  his  neighbors,  through  a  mistake,  drove 
off  two  of  these  so  he  could  not  find  them,  leaving  only  two  for  his 
winter's  meat. 

Among  the  first  settlers  were  the  Jameson  and  Short  families,  who 
settled  in  the  northeast  part  of  the  township.  In  the  fall  of  1829, 
James,  William  R.  and  John  C,  sons  of  Samuel  Jameson,  came  and 
settled  in  this  county.  Cahdn  (John  C.)  settled  on  the  N.  |-  of  Sec.  1, 
which  was  bought  of  Thomas  Richey  and  designed  for  the  family, 
where  the  father,  Samuel  Jameson,  spent  the  remainder  of  his  days. 
William  R.  settled  on  section  12,  and  also  James,  where  the  latter 
died.  William  Jameson  raised  a  crop  of  wheat  the  next  summer.  He 
sowed  ' '  a  half  bushel  and  a  half  peck "  to  the  acre,  and  raised  thirty- 
three  bushels  to  the  acre,  which  would  be  fifty-two  bushels  to  one 
bushel  of  seed.     He  sowed  nine  acres,  and  reaped  from  it  297  bushels 


1226  HISTOEY   OF   ilERCER   AND    HEXDERSO^T   COUXTIES. 

of  good  wheat.  Calvin  and  James  cropped  together,  and  raised  fifteen 
acres  of  corn,  twelve  of  which  was  sod,  a  first-rate  yield.  The  second 
years  crop  was  still  better,  the  yield  of  which  was  about  sixty  bushels 
per  acre. 

The  remainder  of  the  Jameson  and  Short  families,  consisting  of 
Samuel  Jameson  and  his  wife,  three  children,  Joseph  H.,  Kathan  and 
Elizabeth,  his  two  step-sons,  Abner  and  Gabriel  R.  Short,  in  Septem- 
ber, 1830,  left  Perry  county,  Indiana,  for  Henderson  county,  Illinois. 
They  brought  one  wagon  and  team,  two  yoke  of  oxen  and  one  span 
of  horses.  They  drove  cattle  and  sheep,  and  Mrs.  Jameson  rode  all 
the  wav  on  horseback.  Mr.  Jameson  and  most  of  the  familv,  after 
they  had  gotten  in  what  is  now  Henderson  county,  got  lost  after  night 
in  trying  to  find  the  road  to  his  sons'.  They  hallooed  for  considerable 
length  of  time,  when  friends,  hearing  them,  came  and  directed  them 
to  their  destination.  The  balance  of  the  family  remained  on  the 
prairie  for  the  night,  near  James  McDill's  place.  Stephen  Short,  a 
bi-other  of  Gabrel  and  Abner,  preceded  them  and  built  a  pole  cabin 
on  the  X.  E.  \  of  Sec.  1,  in  which  the  family  were  to  live  temporarily. 
After  the  corn  was  planted  they  cultivated  it  with  a  single  shovel  and 
horse.  The  corn  was  not  pulled  until  after  a  three-foot  snow  had  fallen, 
but  they  were  glad  to  have  corn  to  pull  in  the  snow.  They  gathered 
and  hauled  it  home  on  a  sled  with  an  ox  team. 

Food  being  quite  scarce  when  they  first  came,  they  lived  on  veni- 
son, wild  ducks  and  turkeys,  until  the  pork,  which  they  traded  for  on 
their  way  to  the  settlement,  came.  During  the  winter  they  ground 
corn  in  a  hand  mill,  the  meal  of  which  they  made  into  bread.  The 
bread  was  made  with  salt  and  water.  Goods  and  gi-oceries  were 
hauled  from  St.  Louis  that  winter,  and  they  paid  ^16  per  barrel  for  all 
the  salt  they  used. 

Mr.  Joseph  De  Hague,  a  Frenchman  by  birth  and  a  sailor  by  occu- 
pation, was  born  about  1796  and  died  in  1856,  making  him  sixty  years 
of  age  at  his  death.  He  went  to  sea  at  the  age  of  fifteen,  and  at  which 
life  he  lived  until  he  was  twenty-four,  when  he  gave  up  a  sailor's  life, 
went  to  Terre  Haute,  Indiana,  from  there  to  Edgar  county,  Illinois, 
where  he  married  Marv  Laswell.  Afterward  he  went  to  Galena,  Illi- 
nois,  leaving  his  family  with  his  wife's  father,  where  he  was  engaged 
in  mining  for  awhile.  From  there  he,  with  James  Ryason,  came 
to  Oquawka.  After  running  on  the  river  for  a  few  years  he  took  up 
a  claim  and  settled  and  built  on  section  33  in  1832.  De  Hague's  cabin 
was  like  most  of  the  cabins  in  those  times,  a  one  story  hewed-log  cabin, 
hewed  puncheons  for  floor,  roof  made  of  clapboards,  stick  chimney 
laid  up  with  clay,  the  back  wall  of  which  was  made  by  laying  up  a 


SOUTH    HENDERSON   TOWNSHIP.  1227 

frame  on  tlie  outside  as  high  as  needed,  and  one  of  the  same  height 
on  the  inside  ;  this  frame  then  allowed  to  dry,  when  the  inside  frame 
was  burned  out,  leaving  a  solid,  hard  clay  wall.  He  brought  his 
family,  consisting  of  his  wife  and  two  children,  from  Edgar  county, 
with  James  Ryason,  to  Fulton  county,  where  he  stayed  two  years. 
Came  to  this  county  and  rented  a  place  one  season,  previous  to  pre- 
empting. Though  he  built  on  section  33,  he  farmed  on  section  34. 
He  broke  and  cultivated  thirty  acres  on  the  I.  J.  Brooks  farm.  After 
De  Hague  remained  at  the  old  place  a  few  years  he  sold  out  to  I.  J. 
Brooks  in  the  year  of  1837,  built  a  double-hewed  log  house  in  the 
Mississippi  bottom,  in  township  9,  range  5,  where  he  kept  tavern, 
making  money  quite  fast,  and  where  he  lived  until  his  death.  His 
remains  were  buried  in  the  cemetery  on  the  bluff,  in  township  9, 
range  5,  where  his  wife  and  several  children  were  buried. 

Mr.  Right  Lynn,  one  of  the  early  settlers,  settled  on  the  south  bank 
of  South  Henderson  Creek,  on  the  N.W.  J  of  Sec.  10,  in  the  limits  of 
the  present  town  of  Gladstone,  in  about  the  year  1833.  The  primi- 
tive log  cabin  was  built  in  the  same  lot  in  which  the  residence  of  his 
son  now  stands.  Mr.  Lynn  was  much  better  oif  financially  than  most 
of  his  cotemporaries,  he  having  about  $1,300  in  money  when  he  came. 
In  the  spring  of  1833  he,  with  his  brother,  went  to  St.  Louis,  where  he 
bought  two  yoke  of  cattle.  To  get  some  trunks  home  which  he  had 
there  he  put  them  on  a  forked  pole,  and  hitching  the  oxen  to  it,  hauled 
his  trunks  all  the  wav  from  St.  Louis  to  his  home  in  Henderson 
county.  His  brother,  who  had  accompanied  him  there,  left  him 
and  went  east.  When  he  began  farming  he  used  a  mold-board  plow  ; 
after  the  scouring  plow  came  into  use  he  got  one  of  the  first  of  them. 
He  farmed  without  horses  until  1856,  and  these  came  from  Connecti- 
cut. He  tilled  but  few  acres  at  first.  He  possessed  a  wagon  which 
was  a  decided  improvement  over  the  forked  stick  which  he  used  com- 
ing from  St.  Louis.  It  was  a  wagon  which  he  himself  made,  the 
wheels  of  which  were  made  by  sawing  off  the  ends  of  logs,  and  he 
called  it  his  tnick  wagon. 

William  Russell,  of  Sangamon  county,  Illinois,  with  nine  children 
in  his  family,  settled  on  Sec.  24,  T.  10,  R.  5,  in  the  spring  of  1831, 
and  there  resided  until  the  year  1849,  when  the  father  and  part  of  the 
family  removed  to  Iowa. 

In  the  spring  of  1829,  John  Campbell  with  his  wife  and  nine  chil- 
dren, emigrated  from  Scott  county,  Indiana,  and  settled  in  close  where 
South  Henderson  church  now  stands.  Here  they  raised  a  small  crop 
of  corn,  and  the  next  year  moved  to  Shokokon.  He  died  in  1867. 
and  she  in  1851.      Their  son,   Richey  Campbell,   is  now  a  worthy 


1228  HISTOKY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

citizen  of  Biggsville  township,  and  a  consistent  member  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  church. 

Lucius  Cook  emigrated  fi-om  the  State  of  New  Jersey  with  his  family 
in  1834.  He  drove  his  team  through  to  Wheeling,  West  Virginia, 
where  he  put  them  and  family  on  a  boat,  and  going  down  the  Ohio 
and  up  the  Mississippi  rivers,  they  landed  at  Warsaw,  from  which 
place  they  traveled  the  balance  of  the  way  by  land  to  Henderson 
county.  They  first  went  into  a  small  cabin  built  by  Right  Lynn  on 
Sec.  10,  on  the  north  bank  of  South  Henderson  creek.  Cook  built  a 
cabin  afterward  on  the  S.W.  ^  of  Sec.  15,  where  he  lived  until  he 
died.  He,  like  many  other  settlers,  came  here  with  limited  means. 
He  only  had  one  team  and  $10  in  money.  He  moved  into  the  cabin 
ere  it  was  completed,  cold  weather  set  in,  and  while  the  cabin  was  yet 
uncovered  a  young  pioneer  made  himself  known,  who  was  afterward 
known  as  John  Cook  and  who  still  lives  on  the  home  place. 

Mr.  J.  S.  Mitchel,  who  lives  near  Gladstone,  came  from  Pennsyl- 
vania in  1839.  He  first  stopped  at  Warsaw,  Illinois,  and  went  from 
there  to  the  vicinity  of  Terre  Haute,  this  county.  He  was  county 
recorder  in  1848.  He  served  as  a  teacher  for  several  years  in  Han- 
cock and  Henderson  counties.  In  the  year  1849  he  settled  on  the 
S.W.  J  of  Sec.  16.  There  was  an  old  log  cabin  on  the  place  when  he 
bought  it,  and  was  one  of  the  best  of  those  days.  This  quaint  old 
cabin,  with  its  shingle  roof  and  stone  and  brick  chimney,  still  remains 
to  remind  the  present  generation  of  what  tlieir  fathers  and  mothers 
had  to  live  in  when  they  were  children. 

LIST  OF  OI>D  SETTLERS. 

As  it  is  respectful,  at  least,  to  have  the  names  of  the  old  settlers 
mentioned,  the  following  is  a  list  of  all  the  names  of  the  settlers,  with 
dates  of  settlement  when  obtainable,  which  could  be  ascertained  :  James 
Ryason  settled  in  1828  ;  Thomas  Richey,  1829;  John  Campbell,  1829; 
Johnathan  Viles,  1829  ;  Samuel  Jameson,  1830;  W.  R.  Jameson,  1829; 
J.  C.  Jameson,  1*829 ;  Calvin  Jameson,  1829  ;  Samuel  Lynn,  1830  ; 
Stephen  Short,  1830 ;  Abner  Short,  1830  ;'  John  Kemp,  1835  ;  Joseph 
De  Hague,  1834;  D.  McDill,  1836;  L  J.  Brooks,  1837;  James  McDill, 
1838  ;  James  Meckenson,  1838  ;  Mathew  Graham,  1838 ;  A.  L.  Porter, 
1840;  Cromwell  Catlin,  1844;  J.  N.  Bruen,  1844;  John  Caruthers, 
1842 ;  Mrs.  Mary  A.  Bruen,  1840.  The  following  persons  were 
known  to  have  settled  here  previous  to  1840  :  William  Graham, 
Daniel  Putney,  Ezekiel  Popham,  Abraham  Tweed,  John  Tweed,  John 
^McClintoi,  Alec.  Spence,  Daniel  Gorden,  Alec.  Russell,  Henry 
Russell,  William  D.    Henderson,   J.   F.   Maitin,  Thomas  B.   McDill, 


•      SOUTH    HENDEKSON    TOWNSHIP.  1229 

Thomas  McDill,  Ilenrv  McCartney,  Jolm  McCartney,  Eev.  Jolm 
Freetly,  Cyrel  S.  Ward,  J.  H.  Henderson,  Thomas  Henderson,  Wash- 
ington Fort,  Edenezer  Russell,  Galbrath,  Earnest. 

Stoves  were  said  to  have  been  a  real  curiosity  in  early  times, 
more  so  than  a  phonograph  now  is  to  the  present  settler,  the  settlers 
going  long  distances  to  see  these  novel  cooking  machines.  Mr.  Elan 
Catlin  introduced  the  first  cooking-stove  into  the  settlement  as  early  as 
IS-il.  Of  course  the  stoves  of  those  times,  like  all  other  patents,  were 
not  so  perfect  as  our  stoves  of  to-day,  but  a  decided  improvement  over 
cooking  by  the  fire-place,  especially  in  the  summer  time.  Only  two  of 
those  queer  articles  were  to  be  found  in  the  precinct  until  later  days  of 
the  settlements,  Mr.  Russell  being  in  possession  of  the  second  cooking- 
stove. 

BIRTHS. 

About  six  months  subsequent  to  the  settlement  made  by  Mr.  James 
Ryason  there  appeared  a  young  wool  spinner  in  his  little  log  cabin, 
called  afterward  Mary  Ryason,  who  is  said  to  be  the  first  white  girl 
born  in  the  townshi]),  and  probably  the  first  in  Henderson  county,  and 
the  second  white  child  in  the  county.  He  had  to  go  to  Monmouth  after 
a  midwife,  because  no  doctor  was  near ;  her  name  was  Mrs.  Gilson, 
and  she  charged  him  $S  as  her  fee  in  the  case. 

The  first  white  child  born  in  the  township,  and  even  in  the  county, 
was  Henderson  Richey. 

DEATHS. 

The  first  death  of  which  the  oldest  settlers  remember  was  that  of  a 
young  child,  which  was  two  years  old  when  death  occurred,  a  daughter 
of  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Joseph  DeHague.  Mr.  DeHague  requested  Messrs. 
James  Ryason  and  Robert  Russell  to  dig  the  grave  on  a  mound  south 
of  his  house,  on  the  blufts  of  the  Mississippi,  in  what  is  now  called 
the  Kemp  cemeter3\  They  had  dug  about  two  spades  deep  when 
Russell  came  to  what  he  supposed  to  be  a  round  rock  at  one  end  of  the 
grave;  at  the  same  depth,  farther  on,  they  found  another  similar  to 
the  first,  and  a  third  at  the  opposite  end  from  the  second  one,  when 
they  took  it  up ;  upon  examination  the  supposed  rocks  proved  to  be 
human  skulls,  which  no  doubt  were  the  craniums  of  ancient  Aztecs, 
and  probably  lain  there  for  centuries.  The  grave  was  filled  up  and 
another  one  dug.  A  man  by  the  name  of  Yannatta  went  horseback  to 
a  carpenter,  had  the  cotiin  made  and  took  it  to  DeHague's  house ;  from 
there  Yannatta  carried  the  remains  to  the  graveyard  before  him  on  the 
horse,  where  the  last  rites  were  paid  to  the  first  death  in  the  township. 
Old  settlers  of  Henderson  county  will  recollect  the  "flush  times" 


1230  HISTORY    OF    IVtERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

of  the  State  Bank  of  Illinois,  and  the  great  scarcity  of  money  (we 
mean  gold  and  silver)  that  succeeded  its  downfall.  About  that  time  a 
mint  was  established  down  in  Bogus  Hollow,  two  miles  below  Sage- 
town,  where  a  large  number  of  spurious  half  dollars  were,  coined  and 
circulated  through  the  country,  many  of  them  going  over  to  Burling- 
ton into  the  hands  of  confederates.  A  clue  to  the  discovery  of  the 
place  was  obtained  by  officers  of  the  law,  and  the  establishment  broken 
up  by  the  removal  of  their  tools,  which  consisted  of  small  crucibles, 
ladles,  dies  and  metal.  A  number  of  half  dollars  just  coined  were 
also  found.  The  suspected  parties  fled  the  country  and  have  not  since 
returned.  In  1862  Mr.  Henry  Wixforth,  just  married,  moved  out  to  a 
small  house  situated  on  the  land  now  belonging  to  Mr.  C.  Rodman,  a 
few  miles  east  of  the  disorganized  mint  in  Bogus  Hollow,  for  the  pur- 
pose of  improving  his  land,  and  while  engaged  in  making  his  garden, 
his  wife,  Mrs.  Hannah  Dorotha  Wixforth,  dug  up  a  large  crucible  and 
a  piece  of  metal  (zinc  and  pewter)  that  had  evidently  belonged  to  the 
mint ;  the  crucible  would  hold  a  quart,  and  the  metal  was  harder  than 
common  babbit-metal. 

In  this  county,  situate  south  of  McQuown's  mill  (Ward's),  is 
Sandstone  Hollow,  worthy  of  the  attention  of  geologists  and  others 
who  take  any  interest  in  the  works  ol  nature.  Dr.  David  McDili,  who 
has  spent  some  time  in  exploring  it,  says  that  it  abounds  in  interest 
during  its  whole  length.  It  has  been  washed  out  to  the  depth  of  more 
than  twenty  feet,  over  a  quarter  of  a  mile  in  length,  leaving  the  walls 
of  sandstone,  layer  after  layer,  piled  up  to  the  top,  which  could  be 
easily  quarried  in  any  desired  length  or  breadth.  The  layers  are  uni- 
formly about  six  inches  thick.  Among  other  curiosities  picked  up  by 
the  doctor  is  a  sandstone  representing  that  part  of  a  bone  which  enters 
a  socket. — [Oquawka  "Spectator"  in  1874. 

The  organization  of  the  vigilance  committee  of  Warren  township, 
Henderson  county,  dated  back  thirty-one  or  thirtj'-two  years  ago,  and 
was  the  outgrowth  of  what  was  called  "the  horse-thief  company,"  which 
the  old  settlers  of  Henderson  had  formed  to  protect  themselves  against 
all  their  best  horses  being  abducted  from  their  stables.  But  the  imme- 
diate necessity  for  the  formation  of  the  vigilance  committee  was  caused 
by  the  Brooks  tragedy,  which  was  December,  1864.  The  persons  par- 
ticipating in  the  saving  the  lives  of  the  Brooks  family  suspected  that  the 
friends  of  the  robbers  would  seek  revenge  on  them.  Hence  the  object  of 
the  committee  was  for  "mutual  protection  of  its  members"  against  the 
"encroachments  and  depredations  of  outlaws,"  to  assist  the  ofiicers  of 
the  law  in  arresting  ortenders,  "and  to  expel  and  exterminate  outlaws 
or  desperadoes  of  every  description  from  community  by  all  justiiiable 


SOUTH    HENDERSON   TOWNSHIP.  1231 

means."  Mr.  I.  J.  Brooks  was  the  president,  and  Mr.  W.  McChesney 
secretary,  after  tlie  organization  was  effected  at  Brooks  school-house, 
on  N.W.  ^,  Sec.  33,  in  January,  1S65.  At  iirst  they  met  in  houses  of 
the  neighborhood,  but  some  of  their  proceedings  were  known  outside 
the  committee,  by  being  published,  as  they  supposed  by  some  of  the 
youthful  vigils.  For  awhile  when  they  met  in  this  way  it  seemed  as 
if  all  the  community  knew  what  the  committee  was  doing  and  had 
resolved  to  carry  out.  So  it  became  necessary  for  them  to  change 
their  place  of  meeting  from  their  houses  to  the  school-house  for  future 
proceedings.  The  committee  was  organized  by  and  from  a  large  num- 
ber of  the  best  citizens,  and  held  their  meetings  first  at  each  other's 
houses,  but  later,  for  the  better  security  as  to  proceedings,  at  school- 
houses.  They  had  a  constitution  and  by-laws  by  wliich  they  were 
bound,  and  have  j^reserved  their  organization  until  the  present  writing. 
Quite  a  number  of  cases  have  by  their  influence  been  brought  to  tlie 
notice  of  the  authorities,  and  in  a  general  way  the  knowledge  that  such 
an  organization  existed  has  been  a  terror  to  evil-doers. 

THE  OLENA  TRAGEDY. 

According  to  evidence  given,  Monday  night,  December  17,  1864, 
was  set  by  a  band  of  robbers  for  the  burglary  of  the  houses  of  I.  J. 
Brooks,  John  N.  Bruen  and  John  B.  Fort.  Information,  however, 
had  been  given,  by  one  who  had  gained  the  confidence  of  the  rob- 
bers, to  Mr.  Brooks  and  his  friends.  A  party  of  picked  men,  con- 
sisting of  Theodore  Fort,  Jesse  Kemp,  John  Kemp,  F.  M.  Galbraith, 
John  Crane,  W.  II.  McChesney,  Isham  Pugh,  and  John  Owens,  to 
repel  the  attack  and  if  possible  to  cajiture  or  kill  the  villains,  was 
organized.  The  night  set  the  plan  failed,  and  Tuesday  night  was  then 
selected  by  the  robbers,  and  accordingly  prepared  for  by  Mr.  Brooks 
and  his  friends,  the  result  of  which  was  the  killing  of  two  of  them  and 
badly  wounding  and  capturing  the  third.  It  seems  tliat  a  Mr.  David, 
who  gave  the  information  resulting  as  above  stated,  liad  fallen  in  with 
the  robbers  and  by  them  had  been  impressed  into  their  service  for  a 
time,  and,  after  his  escape,  acted  the  part  of  detective  in  bringing 
them  to  justice.  Mr.  I.  J.  Brooks,  the  party  whom  they  had  proposed 
to  rob,  and  murder  if  necessary,  gives  the  ft)llowing  evidence  in  regard 
to  the  tragedy : 

Mr.  I.  J.  Brooks'  account  of  the  tragedy,  beginning  with  the  first 
appearance  of  the  robbers.  It  is  given  to  correct  some  of  above  state- 
ments. When  the  robbers  came  to  the  front  door  they  knocked  as 
though  they  were  neighbors.  Mr.  Brooks  went  to  the  door  and  opened 
it.     They  asked  to  stay  all  night ;  Brooks  told  them  he  was  not  pre- 


1232  HISTOEY   OF   aiERCEE   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES, 

pared  to  keep  them.  Without  further  conversation,  as  Brooks  antici- 
pated they  would  do,  they  went  into  the  hall  past  him.  Just  as  soon 
as  they  entered  the  leader  made  known  their  business,  following  the 
dropping  of  revolvers  from  their  coat-sleeves,  by  demanding  of 
Brooks  to  stand  and  deliver  up  his  money.  Seeing  the  light  from 
the  north  room  glaring  on  the  hall  floor,  and  fearing  they  might  suspect 
something  wrong,  he  replied  immediately  and  indirectly  to  their 
demand  by  inviting  them  to  the  stove  to  warm,  which  was  in  south 
room.  They,  thinking  him  quite  polite,  accepted  the  invitation. 
When  all  had  entered  the  room  Mr.  Brooks  immediately  answered 
their  question,  saying  he  was  about  out  of  money.  The  robbers  then 
asked  him  if  he  had  any  arms,  and  if  there  were  any  men  about  the 
house;  both  questions  in  one  breath.  Mr.  Brooks  replied  that  the 
boys  were  up-stairs  in  bed.  Then  the  leader  of  the  party  placed  his 
pistol  in  close  proximity  to  Mr.  Brooks'  head,  saying :  ' '  Take  that 
light  and  conduct  us  to  the  boys'  room,  and  if  you  give  any  alarm  you 
are  a  dead  man."  He  took  the  candle  and  started  as  if  to  do  their 
bidding,  the  robbers  following,  and  just  as  he  stepped  into  the  hall 
the  men  in  east  room  flred,  as  they  had  heard  the  signal  just  before 
Mr.  Brooks  had  stepped  into  the  hall,  killing  Darnell  instantly,  and 
not  the  leader,  as  stated  by  Davids  ;  the  leader  being  killed  by  a  fire 
from  the  north  door. 

It  was  some  time  afterward  ascertained  that  one  of  the  robbers  was 
A.  P.  Barnum,  a  deserter  from  the  army,  whose  home  was  Iberia, 
Morrow  county,  Ohio.  He  did  not  rob  because  he  was  in  need  of 
money,  as  he  was  heir  to  a  large  fortune  from  his  father's  estate  ;  that 
he  had  $5,000  in  bonds  deposited  at  Mount  Gilead,  county  seat  of 
Morrow  county,  Ohio.  The  sheriff  of  Morrow  county,  Ohio,  states 
after  Barnum  escaped  jail  here  he  went  back  to  Ohio  and  robbed  a 
train  of  $150,000,  150  miles  east  of  Mount  Gilead. 

HISTORY  OF  GLADSTONE,  FORMERLY  SAGETOWN,  MASONIC   LODGE 

The  petitioners  for  dispensation  to  form  this  lodge  were  Frederic 
Kemp,  Andrew  J.  Moore,  Andrew  J.  Hedges,  A.  S.  Swartz, 
William  Kemp,  W.  II.  Bridgeford,  A.  McFarland,  Jesse  Kemp, 
J.  B.  Fort  and  Samuel  McElheney.  The  three  officers  appointed 
under  this  dispensation  were  :  A.  S.  Swartz,  first  master  ;  Andrew  J. 
Moore,  first  senior  warden  ;  Frederic  Kemp,  first  junior  warden.  Un- 
der this  dispensation  the  first  regular  communication  was  held  at  Sage- 
town,  Illinois,  Monday  evening,  November  23,  166S,  when  the  master 
proceeded  to  fill  the  remaining  offices,  viz  :  A.  McFarland,  treasurer ; 
A.  J.  Hedges,  secretary  ;  E.  J.  Tremble,  senior  deacon  ;  Jesse  Kemp, 


SOUTH   HENDERSON    TOWNSHIP.  1233 

junior  deacon  ;  "William  Kemp,  tjler.  ISTames  of  the  stewards  were  as 
follows  :  W.  H.  Bridgeford  and  J.  B.  Fort.  The  above  named  officers 
constituted  the  lodge.  The  lodge  working  under  this  dispensation 
was  very  prosperous,  which  lasted  until  October  T,  1869. 

The  charter  of  Lodge  No.  638,  A.  F.  and  A.  M.,  Fortitude  Lodge,  was 
granted  October  7,  1869,  by  Harmon  G.  Eeynolds,  grand  master  of  the 
Grand  Lodge  of  A.  F.  and  A.  M.  of  Illinois.  The  charter  members  under 
this  charter  were  :  Aram  S.  Swartz,  J.  A.  Tremble,  Samuel  McElhenej, 
Alexander  McFarland,  William  Kemp,  Peter  Meyer,  Henry  Wenthe, 
William  Zeipe,  Erastus  Rise,  Robert  Burris,  Stephen  M.  Gearhart, 
David  L.  McMurtry,  Samuel  Galbreath,  Charles  A.  Martin,  W.  H. 
Cook,  Thomas  G.  Ricliey,  William  Lant,  John  A.  Bruin,  Joseph 
Nebergall,  Daniel  McMillin  Marshal,  Ira  Putney,  Jr.,  George  Curry, 
Charles  D.  Fee. 

The  first  election  under  this  charter  was  held  at  Masonic  Hall, 
Sagetown,  Illinois,  December  20,  1869,  when  the  following  officers 
were  elected  :  E.  J.  Tremble,  worthy  master  ;  W.  H.  Birdgeford, 
senior  warden  ;  A.  J.  Hedges,  junior  warden  ;  Alexander  McFar- 
land, treasurer  ;  Robert  Burris,  seci'etary.  The  master  appointed  the 
following  officers :  S.  M.  Gearhart,  senior  deacon ;  W.  H.  Cook, 
junior  deacon  ;  E.  Rise,  chaplain  ;  Peter  Meyer,  tyler  ;  and  Charles 
D.  Fee,  marshal  ;  Stewards  were  :  Charles  A.  Martin  and  Joseph 
Nebergall.  The  officers  were  installed  according  to  ancient  form,  at 
the  Presbyterian  church,  by  J.  Simpson,  past  master,  on  the  evening  of 
the  25th  of  December,  1869.  On  this  occasion  Thomas  H.  Benton 
delivered  an  excellent  oration.  This  installation  was  witnessed  by  a 
large  and  interested  audience.  The  number  of  members  under  this 
dispensation  was  ten ;  under  the  regular  organization,  thirty.  The 
highest  number  attained  at  anj^  one  time  was  fifty.  The  present  mem- 
bership is  about  thirty-five.  Fortitude  Lodge  was  very  prosperous  up 
to  about  1875,  since  which  time  the  lodge  has  lost  a  great  many 
by  moving  away  and  death.  A.  M.  Graham,  worthy  master ; 
A.  McFarland,  senior  warden ;  George  Wilson,  junior  warden ; 
Samuel  Galbreath,  treasurer ;  J.  S.  McFarland,  secretary  ;  M.  S. 
Hooper,  senior  deacon  ;  J.  H.  McFarland,  junior  deacon  ;  A.  A. 
Cook,  tyler  ;  Charles  Martin  and  William  Kemp,  stewards,  are  the 
officers  at  present. 

EARLY  SCHOOLS. 

The  first  school  house,  if  not  some  empty  cabin,  was  a  rude  log 
house,  door  hung  with  huge  wooden  hinges,  mud  and  stick  chimney, 
which  was  invariably  built  wrong  end  up  and  never  turned.  For  win- 
dows chinking  was  left  out  along  the  sides  of  the  house  and  the  inter- 


1234  HISTORY    OF   MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

stices  pasted  over  with  white  paper,  which  being  well  greased  was  a 

means  of  letting  the  dark  out.  Dave used  to  punch  holes  through 

the  paper  so  he  could  see  out.  The  puncheon  floor  was  very  open  ;  a 
cut  from  a  small  tree  split  into  halves  and  legs  put  in  by  boring  with  a 
large  auger  formed  the  seats.  A  shelf  was  attached  to  the  wall  for 
writing  purposes.     A  dunce  block,  and  the  outfit  was  complete. 

The  requirement  for  teaching  by  law  was  simply  to  "spell,  read, 
write  and  cipher,"  and  that  very  imperfectly,  for  as  late  as  1842  appli- 
cants for  schools  were  asked,  "How  far  have  you  been  on  in  the 
arithmetic  ? "  If  A  could  show  that  he  (or  she)  had  been  as  far  as 
page  150,  and  B  could  show  that  he  had  been  as  far  as  page  165,  it 
was  B's  school  sure.  In  those  days  the  school-masters  (as  they  were 
invariably  called)  needed  no  time-piece,  for  they  taught  all  day,  from 
early  morn  till  late  in  the  evening  ;  one  hour  at  noon,  no  other  recess 
during  the  day. 

A  wooden  hook  hanging  upon  a  nail  just  inside  of  the  door  showed 
that  all  were  in,  for  when  a  scholar  went  out  he  took  the  hook  with 
him,  and  brought  it  in  again  upon  his  return.  Discipline  was  much 
more  rigid  then  than  now,  and  any  command  from  the  master  was 
obeyed  at  once.  There  was  no  classification,  but  each  family  gave 
their  children  just  such  books  as  they  had  in  their  possession.  The 
old  English  Reader,  American  Preceptor,  lives  of  George  Washington, 
Francis  Marrion,  Christopher  Columbus,  and  the  story  of  Joseph  were 
text  books  in  general  use.  The  quill  pen  was  the  only  one  in  use,  so 
that  much  of  the  teacher's  time  was  spent  in  making  and  mending  pens. 

The  schools  were  supported  by  subscription,  each  patron  paying  so 
much  per  scholar  during  a  term  of  school.  Teachers  received  fi'om 
$11  to  $13  per  month.  The  first  school  taught  in.T.  10,  K  5,  was  by 
W.  R.  Jamison  in  1829,  the  second  by  Ebenezer  Russell  in  the  same 
township. 

Coloma  has  rather  taken  the  lead  of  all  the  schools  in  the  township, 
at  which  place  Dr.  Wm.  McMillan  taught  the  first  school,  and  Wm.  D. 
Henderson  the  second.  Prominent  men  who  were  once  students  of 
Coloma  school  were :  Alexander  G.  Leslie,  M.D.  (now  deceased);  Daniel 
I.  McMillan,  M.D.;  George  W.  Nelson,  M.D.  (afterward  a  member  of 
the  territorial  legislature);  Alexander  P.  jSTelson,  M.D.  (now  a  prac- 
ticing physician  of  this  county);  Rev.  James  P..  Magaw,  D.D.  (now  of 
Toledo,  Ohio),  Rev.  John  A.  Gordon  (afterward  professor  in  Monmouth 
College,  and  a  pastor  in  Philadelphia,  Pa.);  Hon.  James  G.  McClinton 
(afterward  a  member  of  tlie  convention  that  framed  the  constitution  of 
the  State  of  Nevada,  served  the  state  later  in  the  legislature  and  senate, 
also  filled  the  position  as  judge  for  some  years,  and  is  now  a  prominent 


SOUTH    HENDERSON   TOWNSHIP.  1235 

attorney  in  California);  Samuel  P.  Magaw  and  John  B.  Magaw  (the 
former  once  sherift"  of  Henderson  county,  the  latter  captain  of  Co.  K, 
84th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  during  the  late  war);  John  T.  Martin  (who  was 
elected  two  terms  for  sheritf  of  Montgomery  county,  Iowa);  and  David 
Graham  (now  of  Monmouth). 

Of  the  most  prominent  teachers  in  this  school  were  Judge  McDill, 
now  in  the  United  States  senate,  from  Iowa,  Wilson  Hopkins,  once 
county  clerk  of  Henderson  county,  and  Prof  John  Tweed,  who  is  still 
teaching.  Mrs.  Merrill  and  Mrs.  Carpenter  taught  on  section  28  at  a 
very  early  date.  Miss  Eliza  Cowden  taught  in  the  first  regularly  built 
school-house  in  the  same  district  in  1842. 

The  first  session  of  what  is  called  Lynn  School,  in  district  No.  2, 
was  taught  by  Ebenezer  Eussell  in  his  own  house,  on  A.  McFarland's 
place,  about  1842.  The  next  one  was  taught  by  E.  Kussell  in  a  little 
cabin  built  on  Eight  Lynn's  place,  in  which  he  "bached"  four  years 
previous  to  his  marriage.  The  first  school-house  was  built  in  1848  on 
the  S.W.  I  of  Sec.  10.  The  first  meeting  of  the  inhabitants  to  vote 
for  or  against  a  tax  to  pay  for  building  the  school-house  or  other  debts 
accrued,  was  July  18,  1848,  of  which  David  Lynn  was  chairman  and 
E.  W.  Lynn  secretary.  The  first  board  of  directors  were  E.  W.  Lynn, 
E.  Eussell  and  L.  Cook.  May  7,  1849,  the  legal  voters  of  the  district 
met  at  Lucius  Cook's  to  tax  themselves  fifteen  cents  per  $100  to  pay 
for  a  school-house.  The  first  teacher  was  Wilson  Hopkins,  at  about 
thirteen  dollars  per  month,  from  what  the  clerk's  book  shows.  The 
wages  varied  from  $13  to  $45.  Caroline  Talcet  taught  for  $13,  and 
J.  Tweed  and  C.  Lynn  got  $45.  The  school-house  was  enlarged  and 
the  terms  of  school  extended  to  six  months  in  1864.  In  1859  there 
were  102  children  in  the  district.  In  1866  the  district  was  nine  miles 
long  and  fi-om  two  to  three  miles  wide. 

The  following  are  the  names  of  the  teachers  with  the  time  of 
beginning  :  Wilson  Hopkins,  1848  ;  Caroline  Talcet,  1857 ;  J.  Tweed, 
1857  ;  J.  G.  McClinter,  1858  ;  A.  C.  Gilchrist,  1858  ;  Miss  Eussell, 
1859  ;  Bissell  Parks,  1859  (one  month,  J.  Tweed  finished  term) ;  Eliza- 
beth Ashton,  1800  ;  Emma  Darah,  1866  ;  C.  E.  Lynn,  1868  ;  J.  Tweed, 
1870  ;  Cora  Simpson,  1874 ;  Anna  Eecord,  1877 ;  Eusha  Carll,  1877  ; 
— .  Eeece,  1878  ;  Maggie  Mitchell,  1878 ;  John  Tweed,  1878  ;  Sue 
Edwards,  1879  ;  E.  Parsley,  1879  ;  Miss  L.  McFarland,  1881  ;  Miss 
O.  Baker,  1881 ;  Miss  J.  Pogue,  1882. 

The  number  of  pujDils  in  the  district  at  present  is  about  seventy-five. 
There  were  forty-seven  enrolled  at  the  last  term  of  Miss  Jennie  Pogue's 
school.  The  grade  of  the  school  is  not  up  to  the  average.  The  gov- 
ernment has  generally  been  good. 


1236  HISTORY    OF    JklERCEE    AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

CHURCHES. 

The  Presbyterian  church  at  Gladstone  was  organized  January  24, 
1867.  The  persons  who  composed  the  organization  were :  James 
McMath  and  wife  Mary  A.  McMath,  Miss  Margaret  McMath,  Mrs. 
Ehoda  Lynn,  Samuel  Gordon  and  wife  Sarah  A.  Gordon,  Mrs.  E.  J. 
Tracy,  Albert  M.  Graham  and  wife  Martha  J.  Graham,  Mrs.  Ella 
J.  Kiry,  and  Mrs.  Mary  McFarlaud.  Samuel  Gordon  and  James 
McMath  were  elected  ruling  elders.  The  name  of  the  church  as  then 
organized  was  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Oquawka  Junction, 
which  is  the  corporate  name  at  the  present  time. 

After  the  resignation  of  the  first  pastor.  Rev.  W.  Kiry,  the  Rev. 
J.  P.  Bliss  was  stated  supply  for  some  time,  and  for  a  short  time  the 
church  was  vacant.  The  Rev.  H.  Hanson,  of  the  Oquawka  church, 
was  invited  to  supply  the  church,  and  began  his  services  as  stated 
supply  October  1,  1874,  and  continues  to  supj)ly  the  church  at  stated 
intervals  at  the  present  time.  The  first  trustees  were :  Jno.  N.  Bruen, 
Alexander  McFarland,  Erastus  Rise,  Albert  M.  Graham  and  Fredrick 
Kemp.  Erastus  Rise  and  Albert  M.  Graham  were  ordained  and 
installed  ruling  elders  September  27,  1868.  A.  M.  Graham  is  now 
the  only  elder  the  church  has,  the  three  others  liaving  gone  to  join  the 
eldership  on  high,  but  have  left  unimpeachable  evidence  of  their  devo- 
tion to  the  church  they  loved  so  well. 

The  church  edifice  was  erected  in  1866,  under  the  direction  of  a 
building  committee,  a  majority  of  which  were  the  first  ruling  elders. 
The  house  cost  about  $3,000.  $1,000  was  contributed  by  James 
McMath,  one  of  its  first  ruling  elders,  the  other  $2,000  by  some  of  the 
citizens  of  the  place  and  adjoining  country,  and  others  interested. 
This  church  was  dedicated,  soon  after  its  completion,  in  January,  1867, 
by  the  Rev.  R.  C.  Mathews,  pastor  of  the  first  Presbyterian  church  of 
Monmouth,  Illinois.  Upon  this  occasion  there  was  a  large  number 
received  into  church  membership  upon  the  confession  f)f  faith.  There 
was  a  whole  family  baptized,  and  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper 
was  administered. 

The  present  Sabbatli  school  was  organized  July  12,  1857,  in  the 
school-house  in  Lynnville,  by  Rev.  H.  Hanson  and  R,  W.  Smiley, 
elder  of  Oquawka  church.  This  Sabbath  school  was  the  nucleus  of 
the  Presbyterian  and  Methodist  churches  of  Gladstone,  which  was 
then  known  as  Oquawka  Junction. 

The  first  organization  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church*  took 
place  about  1831.     A  meeting  of  a  few  of  the  very  early  settlers  was 

*  For  the  history  of  the  Meth(jdist  Episcopal  and  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
churches  we  are  indebted  to  Prof.  Tweed. 


h 


ii\     ^\\^^Uin^ 


SOUTH    HENDERSON   TOWNSHIP.  1239 

called  at  the  house  of  Stephen  Short,  in  tlie  Jamison  settlement,  on 
Jamison  Prairie,  Warren  county,  to  consider  the  matter  of  religious 
devotion,  and  devise  some  plan  of  securing  the  same.  As  no  regular 
preaching  could  yet  be  had,  a  class  was  formed  as  a  vine  around  which 
clustered  many  branches  in  after  days.  The  names  of  the  members 
were  :  Stephen  Short  and  wife,  James  Ryason  and  wife,  Mrs.  Wells 
and  daughter,  Paul  Griffith  and  wife. 

On  one  occasion  it  was  known  that  the  Bajjtist  brethren  were 
coming  over  to  attend  the  Thursday  night  prayer  meeting,  so  Frank 
Smith  was  invited  to  come  and  conduct  the  meeting.  He  did  so,  and 
brought  the  fire  with  him,  and  soon  the  hearts  of  others  were  touched, 
and  in  their  joy  they  shouted  glory  to  God  in  the  highest.  Our  Baptist 
brethren,  not  being  used  to  beholding  it  ''after  this  fashion,"  became 
greatly  alarmed.  This  was  known  as  the  South  Henderson  class.  The 
first  circuit  rider  was  Barton  Randall,  who  resided  in  Madison.  He  was 
followed  by  Peter  Cartwright,  the  first  presiding  elder,  who  held  the  first 
quarterly  meeting  at  the  house  of  Samuel  Jamison.  Revs.  Hobert  and 
Kirkpatrick  preached  in  what  is  well  known  as  the  Kemp  and  Fort  settle- 
ment in  1836,  Rev.  Ginter  in  18-10.  Rev.  Jesse  Pardun  held  the  first 
protracted  meeting  in  the  same  settlement  in  181:2.  As  log  and  other 
school-houses  were  erected,  religious  meetings  were  held  in  them. 

Rev.  ]N^ewton  Berryman  held  the  first  camp-meeting  on  the  farm 
of  James  Ryason  in  1839,  after  which  many  other  meetings  were  held 
on  tlie  same  ground. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  Gladstone,  was  built  in  1867  by 
the  Cumberland  Presbyterians  and  the  Methodists.  The  building, 
situated  in  tlie  eastern  part  of  the  village  at  the  foot  of  the  bluft's,  is  a 
good,  substantial  one,  35x46,  the  original  cost  of  which  was  near 
$2,000,  the  members  donating  the  hauling  of  the  stone  for  foundation 
and  lumber  for  the  building.  The  money  to  pay  for  lumber  and  build- 
ing was  made  up  by  subscriptions  from  members  of  both  churches  and 
citizens  of  the  place  and  surrounding  neighborhood,  each  church 
owning  an  equal  share.  There  was  an  understanding  between  them 
that  when  the  Ciimberlands  wished  to  build  a  church  of  tlieir  own,  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church  was  to  pay  them  their  share  of  the  build- 
i]'g,  not  thinking  that  they  would  ever  wish  to  take  the  money  to  help 
1  uild  a  church  in  another  town.  In  1869  they  made  a  demand  for 
their  share  of  the  value  of  the  building.  The  Methodists  objected  to 
paying  them,  as  they  wanted  it  to  go  toward  paying  for  the  building 
of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  church  in  Biggsville,  and  said  they 
had  no  right  to  take  the  money  of  outsiders  to  liel]:)  build  up  another 
town.  The  difference  was  soon  adjusted  by  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
70 


1240  HISTORY   OF   iSIERCEE   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

church  paying  them  tlie  amount  agreed  to  by  both  parties.  The 
j)rogress  of  the  cliurch  has  been  slow  and  plodding,  but  there  are 
always  a  faithful  few  in  all  the  churches,  as  it  has  been  in  this  one, 
who  are  earnest,  zealous,  persevering,  and  have  the  cause  of  their 
Master  uppermost  in  their  hearts.  These  are  the  steady  pilots  who 
have  steered  the  old  shijj  aright  through  breakers  and  off  rock-bound 
coasts  of  its  enemies  and  sin  of  the  world,  and  at  last  anchored  her  in 
the  harbor  of  safety  and  prosperity. 

The  Methodist  Episcopal  church  was  organized  previous  to  the  con- 
struction of  the  church  building,  and  services  held  in  Lynn  school- 
house.  Rev.  Bealer  was  the  first  pastor.  Rev.  Kinne  was  the  pastor 
when  the  church  was  built,  and  to  him  much  honor  is  due  for  urging 
and  carrying  on  the  work.  He  himself  worked  on  the  building.  Other 
pastors  were  :  Revs.  Coe,  Shaffer,  Gilmer,  Maniu,  Brink,  Hill,  Mer- 
riam.  Smith,  Rugh  and  McLeish. 

The  Cumberland  Presbyterian  was  among  the  early  churches  to 
brave  the  hardships  and  privations  of  a  new  country  and  hold  up  the 
banner  of  Christ.  Prominent  among  the  first  ministers  in  township 
10,  range  5,  was  Rev.  Peter  Downey,  who  preached  and  held  a  grove 
meeting  on  the  farm  of  Harvey  Russell  in  August  or  September,  1835. 
Mr.  Downey  continued  to  preach  at  intervals  at  Harvey  RusselFs  house 
for  some  years,  living  at  the  same  time  on  I^igger  creek.  A  committee, 
appointed  by  the  Rushville  Presbytery  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
church,  met  at  the  dwelling-house  of  Abner  Short,  Jameson  settlement, 
Warren  county,  Illinois,  on  IS'ovember  IT,  1838,  and  was  constituted 
by  prayer.  The  following  members  of  the  committee  were  present : 
Peter  Downey  and  Cyrus  Haynes,  ministers,  and  G.  G.  Lattimer,  elder. 
Among  the  first  members,  most  of  whom  joined  by  letter,  were  :  John 
McKinney  and  wife,  Abner  Short  and  wife,  Joseph  B.  Jamison, 
Elizabeth  E.  Jamison,  Margaret  Jamison,  Mary  Jane  and  Sarah 
Jamison.  On  motion.  South  Henderson  was  adopted  as  the  name  of 
this  congregation.  Rev.  Peter  Downey  baptized  five  children  before 
the  organization  of  this  church. 

March  IS,  1818,  a  committee  was  appointed  to  select  ground  for 
cemetery  and  church  edifice.  The  site  where  the  stone  church  now 
stands  was  selected.  Rev.  Peter  Downey  died  in  great  peace  on  Sab- 
bath, March  23,  1856. 

The  Catholic  church  was  built  in  1880,  and  located  on  the  south 
side  of  Elm  street.  The  building,  which  is  about  25x10,  cost  $1,500. 
The  pastor  is  Rev.  Wm.  Murphy.  The  building,  while  in  process  of 
erection,  was  struck  by  lightning,  which  damaged  it  to  the  amount  of 
fifty  dollars.     Previous  to  the  erection  of  the  church  in  Gladstone, 


SOUTH    HENDERSON    TOWNSHIP.  1241 

mass  was  held  around  at  the  dwellmg-honses  of  tlie  members  of  the 
church.  There  are  at  present  about  twentv-hve  members  of  this  church 
here,  whose  nationality  is  principally  of  the  Emerald  Isle. 

The  Soutli-  Henderson  United  Presbyterian  church  is  one  of  the 
oldest,  if  not  the  oldest,  organizations  in  Henderson  county.  The 
church,  with  its  parsonage  and  a  greater  part  of  its  membershijj,  is 
located  in  the  South  Henderson  precinct.  In  the  spring  of  1829 
Dayid  Findley,  with  liis  two  sons,  David  and  John,  and  his  son-in-law, 
William  R.  Jamison,  with  their  families,  emigrated  from  Clark  county, 
Indiana,  and  settled  on  the  banks  of  South  Henderson.  After  the 
Black  Hawk  war  other  emigrants  of  psalm-singing  Presbyterians  joined 
these  brethren  until  a  goodly  number  were  hungering  in  this  Hender- 
son county  wilderness  for  preacliing.  After  some  preliminary  talk 
they  held  a  meeting,  and  as  the  minute  is  undoubtedly  the  oldest  of 
its  kind  in  the  county,  it  is  inserted  entire  : 

"Agreeably  to  appointment  a  meeting  was  held  at  the  house  of 
William  R.  Jamison,  March  25, 1834,  by  the  members  of  the  Associate 
Reformed  church,  and  others  favorable  to  the  propagation  of  the  gospel, 
for  the  purpose  of  consulting  and  entering  into  the  most  important 
measure  for  that  purpose.     After  prayer  and  consultation  it  was 

'■'•Resolved^  That  Messrs.  Erwin  and  Jamison  be  appointed  a  com- 
mittee to  draft  a  petition  for  ministerial  services  from  the  Indiana 
Presbytery  of  the  A.  R.  church  ;  also  a  paper  for  subscription  for  the 
support  of  a  minister  if  any  be  sent. 

"Said  committee  reported.  The  former  was  adopted  and  the  latter 
subscribed  to  by  every  adult  male  present. 

'''"Resolved^  That  the  minutes  of  this  meeting  be  forwarded  to  the 
editor  of  the  'Christian  Intelligencer  and  Evangelical  Guardian,'  with 
a  request  for  their  publication  in  that  periodical,  that  emigrants  to  the 
west,  and  such  as  might  join  us  in  propagating  the  gospel,  may  know 
where  we  are  and  what  we  are  doing,  or  tr3dng  to  do,  in  the  cause  of 
religion.  David  Findley,  Chairman." 

"  William  R.  Jamison,  Clerk." 

In  answer  to  this  petition  Rev.  Jeremiah  Morrow  came  and  preached 
two  Sabbaths  in  Mr.  Jamison's  log  barn,  in  August,  1834,  and  Mr. 
Thomas  Turner  preached  two  more  Sabbaths  in  the  same  buikling  in 
the  spring  of  1835. 

Revs.  Alexander  Blaikie,  of  Boston,  Massachusetts,  and  Hugh 
Parks,  of  St.  Clairsville,  Ohio,  preached  and  organized  the  congrega- 
tion on  July  4,  1835.  It  was  organized  with  lifty-nine  members  :  about 
twenty  were  received  on  certificate  and  the  remainder  on  the  confession 
of  their  faith.    William  R.  Jamison  and  John  Giles  were  elected  elders. 


1242  HISTORY    OF    IVIERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

None  of  these  original  fifty-nine  are  members  of  the  congregation 
at  the  present  time  ;  most  of  them  are  dead  and  the  others  have  moved 
away.  The  living  ones  at  this  date  are  :  Col.  W.  D.  Henderson,  at 
Ked  Oak,  Iowa ;  James  Findlev  Martin,  of  Walton,"  Kansas ;  Mrs. 
Hachel  Gordon,  of  Biggsville ;  James  Campbell,  of  Monmouth ;  Mrs. 
Jane  C.  Dunlap,  Mrs.  Xancy  Barton,  Mary  J.  Courtney;  Daniel 
Kitchie  and  David  Findley,  Jr.,  in  the  Willamette  Valley,  Oregon. 

First  among  church  buildings  must  rank  William  K.  Jamison's  log 
barn.  It  was  used  for  preaching  on  almost  all  occasions,  and  also  the 
sacraments  of  baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper  were  celebrated  in  it. 
Doubtless  a  very  pleasant  place  it  was  to  the  early  fathers.  It  is  still 
standing  in  the  field  on  the  Samuel  Lynn  place,  but,  like  the  genera- 
tion who  worshiped  in  it,  old  age  is  dismantling  its  strength  and 
marring  its  beauty.  The  first  church  building  was  erected  on  the  lot 
now  owned  by  the  church,  and  a  few  feet  to  the  north  of  the  present 
church,  in  1S3T.  It  was  a  frame  building  about  forty  feet  square,  was 
not  fully  completed  for  several  years,  and  then  was  found  to  be  too 
small  for  the  congregation.  It  was  used  until  1855,  when  it  was  sold 
and  removed  to  Biggsville,  where  it  is  still  in  use  as  a  grain  warehouse 
on  the  track  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  railroad. 

On  March  2,  1854,  the  pent-up  feeling  of  the  congregation  took 
this  form  :  ''Besolved,  That  we  proceed  immediately  to  build  a  new 
meeting-house  on  the  site  now  occupied  by  the  old  one."  Through 
the  summer  the  stone  walls  were  put  up  and  the  building  inclosed.  In 
the  next  summer  the  church  was  finished,  and  dedicated  on  July  4, 
1855.  It  is  a  stone  building  about  50x80  feet,  and  cost  about  $4,000, 
It  is  still  in  use,  making  a  very  pleasant  country  church-home  for  a 
good  many  people. 

The  names  of  W.  M.  Graham,  Samuel  McDill,  Sr.,  John  E.  Thomp- 
son, A.  P.  Lessly,  William  A.  Fostei-,  W.  Alex.  Findley,  M.  Secrist, 
Kobert  McDill,  J.  H.  McDill,  and  W.  J.  Hutchison  appear  on  the 
records  as  building  and  collecting  committees. 

On  September  7,  1868,  the  congregation  bought  a  parsonage  as  a 
pastor's  residence.  It  is  about  three  miles  away  from  the  church,  in 
the  village  of  Coloma,  but  near  schools  and  neighbors.  It  is  a  two- 
story  frame  dwelling,  with  barn,  orchard  and  pasture,  in  all  about 
eight  acres,  where  a  poetical  parson  may  find  a  pleasant  home. 

The  congregation  was  furnished  with  preaching  by  "supplies," 
that  is,  by  ministers  who,  under  appointment  by  presbytery,  look  after 
the  interests  of  several  congregations  at  one  time.  Of  these  supplies 
Kev.  John  Wallace  labored  longer  than  any  other  one.  Tie  v.  John  L. 
Freetly  was  the  fii-st  pastor,  and  began  his  work  April  1,  1842,  and 


SOUTH    HENDEKSON   TO\\'NSniP.  1243 

continued  until  April  1,  1846.  Mr.  Freetly  was  a  graduate  of  the 
Western  University,  Pennsylvania,  and  Alleghany  Theological  Semi- 
nary. Afterward  was  supply  at  Ross  Grove,  Illinois,  and  died  at 
Harmon}^,  Illinois,  December  22,  1878,  aged  sixty-six. 

Rev.  Robert  Ross  was  second  pastor ;  began  labor  April,  1849, 
ending  April  8,  1857.  Mr.  Ross  was  a  graduate  of  Franklin  College, 
Ohio,  and  Theological  Seminary  at  Oxford.  Afterward  labored  as 
agent  for  Monmouth  College  until  his  death,  October  30,  1873,  aged 
fifty-eight.  Rev.  J.  A.  P.  McGaw,  D.D.,  was  third  ;  began  April  1, 
1858,  ended  February  20,  1867.  A  graduate  of  Miami  University, 
Ohio,  and  Oxford  Theological  Seminary.  Is  at  present  pastor  of  a 
large  Presbyterian  church  at  Toledo,  Ohio.  Rev.  Samuel  W.  Lorimer 
was  the  fourth  ;  began  June  1,  1868,  ended  March  31,  1875.  A  gradu- 
ate of  Franklin  College,  Ohio,  and  Xenia  Theological  Seminary.  Is 
now  pastor  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church  at  Mulberry,  Missouri. 
Rev.  Andrew  Renwick  is  fifth  and  present  pastor ;  began  his  labors 
October  24,  1875.  A  graduate  of  Monmouth  College  and  Xenia 
Theological  Seminary. 

The  Sabbath  school  is  flourishing,  with  about  one  hundred  mem- 
bers, with  John  Mekemson,  superintendent.  There  are  two  weekly 
prayer  meetings,  one  at  Coloma  school-house  and  one  at  record  school- 
house,  both  well  attended.  The  present  board  of  trustees  consists  of 
I.  H.  M.  McQuown,  R.  K.  X.  Glenn  and  John  M.  Mill.  The  session 
consists  of  the  pastor,  Andrew  Renwick,  with  elders  Andrew  Mekem- 
son, W.  A.  Findley,  W.  B.  Graham  and  A.  O.  McQuown. 

[For  the  above  in  regard  to  the  United  Presbyterian  church,  we  are 
indebted  to  Rev.  Andrew  Renwick,  present  pastor. — Ed.] 

GLADSTONE, 

A  village  of  600  inhabitants,  formerly  called  Sagetown,  is  located  on 
the  Chicago,  Burlington  it  Quincy  railroad,  at  the  junction  of  the 
Oquawka,  Keithsburg  and  Galva  branch  of  the  same  road.  It  is  nine 
and  a  half  miles  from  Burlington,  Iowa,  thirty-two  from  Galesburg, 
five  and  a  half  from  Oquawka,  and  197  from  Chicago.  It  is  advan- 
tageously situated  on  a  level  tract  of  sandy  soil  contiguous  to  the 
Mississippi  river  blufis,  which  aftbrd  fine  building  places  for  the  most 
gorgeous  mansions. 

Being  situated  nearer  the  center  of  the  county  than  any  other  town 
on  the  railroad  in  it,  and  an  excellent  site  for  a  small  city,  it  is  des- 
tined to  become  the  most  business,  prosperous  and  populous  town  in 
the  county.  There  is  a  bountiful  supply  of  water,  wood  and  excellent 
stone  close  at  hand,  making  it  a  desirable  location  for  manufactories. 


1214  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AJS'D    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

The  streets  extend  due  north  and  south  and  east  and  west. 

The  streets  are  sixty  feet  wide  and  the  alleys  twenty.  The  lots  are 
fifty-four  feet  front  and  125  feet  deep,  excepting  fractional  ones. 

The  names  of  the  streets  running  north  and  south,  beginning  on 
the  west,  are  as  follows :  Dallis,  Olena,  Rariton,  Main  and  Warren  ; 
of  those  east  and  west,  beginning  on  the  north,  are  Sycamore,  Walnut 
and  Elm. 

Though  most  of  the  buildings  are  ordinary  wooden  ones,  there  are 
some  good,  substantial  buildings,  both  public  and  private. 

Among  some  of  the  best  dwellings  may  be  mentioned  Messrs. 
Wm.  Hammack's,  Henry  Coat's,  Alec  McFarland's,  Geo.  Sottle's, 
Alec  Lynn's,  Eliza  Gunter's,  Andrew  Williamson's,  Chris.  Graflf's  and 
the  Russell  heirs'.  The  public  buildings  are  the  two  school  houses, 
one  on  the  north  and  the  other  on  the  south  side  of  the  Chicago,  Bur- 
lington &  Quincy  railroad,  the  town  hall.  Catholic  church,  Methodist 
church,  Presbyterian  church,  W.  Fort's  storehouse,  A.  McFarland's 
storehouse,  G.  Sage's  storehouse,  C.  Lilteich's  storehouse,  depot, 
F.  Galbrath's  old  distillery,  refinery  building,  Geo.  Sottle's  saloon, 
C.  Lilteich's  hotel,  in  which  J.  Lilteich's  saloon  is  kept,  Marsden's 
hotel,  Geo.  Sottle's  hotel,  warehouse.  C.  Lilteich  claims  to  have  kept 
the  first  groceries  for  sale  in  the  village,  in  connection  with  whisky 
and  other  drinks,  in  the  same  building  in  which  he  now  resides, 
in  1856. 

On  the  north  side  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  railroad, 
in  the  same  room  in  which  J.  C.  Tolman  keeps  his  drug  and  grocery 
store,  Gideon  Airs,  in  1859,  sold  the  first  goods  in  the  village  and  also 
in  the  township.     He  was  succeeded  by  Obin  &  Son. 

In  a  small  log  building  on  the  north  side  of  the  Chicago,  Burling- 
ton &  Quincy  railroad,  and  west  of  the  Galva  branch,  in  the  westei-n 
part  of  the  town,  in  1856  one  Patrick  Grady  carried  on  blacksmithing, 
tlie  first  of  the  kind  in  the  hamlet  of  Sagetown.  Lucius  Cook  was  the 
first  mail  and  station  agent,  and  Julias  Giftbrd  carried  the  mail  to 
Oquawka,  Golden,  the  first  postmaster,  left  with  funds  not  belonging 
to  him.  G.  Airs  was  the  next  postmaster,  after  which  there  was  no  post- 
ofiice  for  one  and  one  half  years.  C.  Lilteich  kept  the  post-olfice  in  a 
candy  jar  for  some  time.  The  mail  was  sent  by  Col.  Patterson  from 
Oquawka  to  him.  He  was  afterward  postmaster  four  3'ears.  It  has 
since  been  a  success. 

It  was  laid  out  on  sections  14  and  15  by  Judge  Rice,  of  Oquawka, 
in  1856,  and  named  after  Mr.  Gideon  Sage,  on  whose  land  it  was  laid 
out.  At  first  it  was  called  under  several  different  names.  Wright 
Lynn  called  it  Lynntown,  Lucius  Cook,  Cookville,  Alec  McFarland, 


SOUTH   HENDERSON   TOWNSHIP.  1245 

Limestone  Cottage,  and  G,  Sage,  Sagetown,  by  which  it  has  ever 
since  been  known  until  ISSl,  when  it  was  changed  from  Sagetown  to 
Ghidstone. 

A  petition  to  the  county  judge  of  Henderson  county  was  presented 
on  March  2S,  1881,  by  the  voters  of  the  vilhiges  of  Sagetown  and 
Lynn,  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  "praying  for  the  submission  of  the 
question  of  incorporating  the  territory  of  the  S.  E.  ^  of  the  S.  E.  j  of 
Sec.  9,  S.  i  of  the  S.  W.  i  of  Sec.  10,  N.  W.  i  of  Sec.  15,  E.  ^  of  the 
]S[.  E.  J  of  Sec.  16,  T.  10,  K.  5,  as  a  village  under  the  general  incor- 
poration act  of  the  State  of  Illinois,  under  the  corporate  name  of  the 
village  of  Gladstone." 

The  question  of  incorporation  was  submitted  to  the  voters  of  said 
territory  on  April  16,  1881. 

The  judges  of  election  were  S.  M.  Gearhart,  Thorton  Hedges  and 
Benj.  French. 

Votes  cast  were  as  follows  :  For  incorporation,  seventy-six  votes ; 
against  incorporation,  twelve  votes.  There  being  a  majority  of  sixty- 
four  votes  for  the  corporation  under  the  name  of  Gladstone,  Sagetown 
was  no  more,  and  the  village  has  since  been  called  Gladstone. 

On  May  17,  18S1,  William  Hammack,  J.  S.  McFarland,  John 
Butteriield,  J.  C.  Tolman,  Andrew  Williamson  and  Henry  Coats  were 
elected  callage  trustees,  and  J.  R.  Glover  justice  of  the  peace.  At  the 
first  regular  meeting,  May  26,  1881,  J.  R.  Glover  was  elected  clerk  of 
the  board,  C  E.  Crandall,  village  constable  and  street  supervisor ; 
W.  H.  Graham,  treasurer,  and  J.  S.  McFarland,  president  of  the  board. 

Gladstone  has  three  stores,  and  are  as  follows,  with  names  of 
owners :  J.  C.  Tolman,  grocer}^  and  drug  store ;  Thorton  Hedge, 
grocery  store ;  J.  W.  Pence,  dry  goods  store ;  two  hotels,  Star  House, 
M.  Cunningham,  proprietor,  and  Commercial  House,  Mrs.  Marsden, 
proprietress ;  two  saloons,  one  kept  by  Geo.  Sottle  and  the  other  by 
John  Lilteich ;  one  barber,  William  ELulet ;  two  blacksmiths,  J.  S. 
McFarland,  Hulet ;  one  meat  market.  Win.  Wooden  and  Misler, 
owners  ;  one  doctor.  Dr.  Bulsford ;  one  feed  mill,  run  by  D.  C.  Ward ; 
manufactory  and  refinery  of  grape  sugar,  glucose  and  sorgum  syrups  ; 
and  one  carpenter  shop,  John  James. 

The  population  of  Gladstone  contains  a  large  foreign  element,  most 
of  which  are  Swedes,  some  Irish  and  Germans.  The  citizens  are  of 
small  means,  honest,  industrious,  law-abiding  people.  Their  occupa- 
tions are  principally  railroad  laborers,  quarry  hands  and  stone  cutters. 

Though  there  are  five  church  organizations  the  church-going  people 
are  in  the  minority,  as  any  thoughtful  individual  would  expect  from 
their  occupations  and  juxtaposition  of  nationalities. 


1246  HISTOEY    OF   MERCEK   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

From  "Oquawka  Spectator,"  January  23,  1857  :  "An  affray  of  d, 
serious  character  occurred  at  Oquawka  Junction  last  week,  the  particu- 
lars of  which  are  nearly  as  follows  :  Two  Irishmen  got  into  a  quarrel, 
angry  words  passed  between  them,  and  during  the  quarrel  threats  of  vio- 
lence were  made  by  both  parties.  At  length  one  of  the  men  picked  up  a 
gun  and  discliarged  it  at  the  other,  who  stood  but  a  few  feet  off.  The 
gun  was  loaded  with  slugs,  which  took  effect  upon  his  shoulder,  neck 
and  face,  inflicting  several  frightful  wounds.  He  is  still  alive  and,  it  is 
thought,  will  probably  recover.'  The  other  man  immediately  fled  and 
has  not  since  been  heard  from.  On  the  21st  of  January,  1857,  an 
Irishman,  who  had  delirium  tremens,  left  the  house  where  he  had  been 
confined,  and  afterward  tried  to  enter,  but  the  lady  of  the  house,  being 
alone,  became  frightened  and  would  not  admit  him.  It  was  very  cold. 
When  found  in  the  morning  his  limbs  were  frozen  and  he  himself  stiff. 
He  afterward  died  from  its  eflects." 

"The  crowd  at  the  fourth  of  July  celebration  in  1873  was  augmented 
by  two  trains  running  from  this  place.  The  morning  train  from  Keiths- 
burg  brought  down  about  fifty  persons,  and  from  tliis  point  we  under- 
stand there  were  about  250.  'The  Earthquakes'  made  their  a])pear- 
ance  in  grotesque  costume  and  performed  their  part  for  the  amusement 
of  the  crowd.  The  grounds  were  arranged  with  stands  and  seats  on 
North  Hill,  and  the  performance  came  off  as  per  programme.  Rev. 
S.  W.  Lorimer  made  an  eloquent  prayer.  The  Declaration  of  Inde- 
pendence was  impressively  read  by  J.  M.  Akin,  and  the  oration  made 
by  Hon  J.  J.  Glenn.  We  learn  from  some  who  were  there  that  the 
orator  acquitted  himself  to  the  satisfaction  of  the  large  crowd  and  with 
credit  to  himself  as  a  public  speaker.''- — Oquawhct  8jpectatoi\  July  10, 
1873. 

Mr.  E.  Else  was  the  president ;  Col.  Samuel  Hutchison,  marshal ; 
J.  S.  McDaniel,  assistant  marshal. 

GLADSTONE'S   REFINERY. 

This  is  the  largest,  most  extensive  and  valuable  industry  in  Hen- 
derson county,  now  incorporated  under  the  name  of  Gladstone  Refin- 
ing Company,  and  having  an  invested  capital  in  buildings  and  ma- 
chinery of  $126,000.  It  was  first  incorporated  in  1878,  under  the 
title  of  the  Excelsior  Refining  Company,  with  Geo.  R.  Crittenden, 
president,  Amos  T.  Hall,  treasurer,  and  Jonathan  Turner,  general 
manager.  This  firm  continued  until  November.  23,  1880,  when  Hall 
bought  out  Turner's  interest,  and  Turner  retiring,  Mason,  of  Burling- 
ton, became  general  manager.     Crittenden  dj'ing  September  27,  1881, 


t 


SOUTH    HENDERSON   TOWNSHIP.  1247 

tlie  refinery  closed  up  late  in  the  fall  and  remained  so  until  thev  opened 
up  for  repairs,  to  fit  up  for  the  manufacture  of  sorghum  syrups  in  June. 

The  company  was  reorganized  in  the  spring  of  18S2,  with  Geo.  S. 
Willits,  president ;  L.  O.  Godard,  secretary ;  IT.  A.  Hall,  treasurer, 
Chicago ;  E.  Chamberlain,  vice-president  and  general  manager,  Bur- 
lington, Iowa,  under  the  firm  of  Gladstone  Eefining  Company.  The 
new  Sagetown  distillery  was  valued  at  $4,000  when  the  compam-  took 
possession  of  it.  This,  with  the  additional  buildings,  improvements 
and  machinery,  is  valued  at  $126,000. 

The  original  building  was  the  new  distillery  of  Sagetown,  now 
Gladstone,  about  40X70,  three  stories  high,  and  built  of  stone.  To 
this  has  been  added  an  L  on  the  north,  65  X  35,  and  one  on  the  east, 
25x40,  and  additional  stories,  making  part  of  tlie  main  building  five 
stories  high. 

This  company  manufactures  grape  sugar,  glucose,  and  sorghum 
syrups,  for  which,  at  this  writing,  the  company  is  putting  in  additional 
machinery.  The  principal  machinery  for  the  manufacture  of  the  arti- 
cles named  above  are  as  follows  :  ten  steam  pumps,  costing  from  $500 
to  $2,000;  one  vacuum  pump  that  cost  $7,000;  milling  machinery, 
$4,000  ;  cane  mill  and  crusher,  $5,000,  the  weight  of  which  is  54,000 
pounds;  steam,  liquid  and  water  pipes,  $5,000;  nine  bone  and  coal 
filters,  $5,000 ;  two  filter  presses,  $5,000  each,  for  finishing  goods ; 
one  125-horse  power  engine  (old  style),  $3,000;  three  bone  mills, 
$1,000  each.  Its  capacity  was  400  bushels  per  day  when  last  in  opera- 
tion. The  company  is  now  fitting  it  up  for  a  capacity  of  1,000  bushels 
per  day.  They  employ  about  forty  men  in  the  works.  When  they 
begin  the  manufacture  of  sorghum  syrups  it  will  require  more.  The 
average  pay-roll  for  three  years  has  been  $1,800  per  month.  The 
comj)any  finds  market  for  its  goods  in  all  the  large  cities. 

With  the  machinery  that  is  being  put  in  now  they  will  make  syrups 
from  sorghum  that  will  compare  favorably  with  the  syrups  made  from 
the  cane  of  the  south.  The  comjjany  induced  a  number  of  the  farmers 
to  plant  cane  to  the  amount  of  about  350  acres,  including  jMr.  W. 
Hammuck's  130  acres,  which  he  hired  teams  to  put  in  and  cultivate 
for  him,  which  they  will  work  up  this  fall  into  syrups. 

« 

STONE  QUARRY. 

One  itiorning  in  the  early  spring,  a  prominent  contractor  of  build- 
ings, of  Chicago,  Illinois,  was  approached  by  a  prominent  ofiicial  of 
the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  railroad  and  requested  to  go  down 
to  a  station  near  Burlington  to  examine  some  stone  indications  there. 
This  contractor  was  Mr.  Wallbaum,  and  a  few  days  later,  accompanied 


1248  HISTOEY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

by  the  chief  engineer  of  tliat  raih-oad,  he  stepped  off  tlie  train  at 
Biggsville,  and  taking  a  hand-car  thev  proceeded  slowly  down  the 
track,  scrutinizing  closely  the  banks  on  both  sides  of  South  Henderson. 
At  a  point  about  one  and  a  half  miles  above  Gladstone  they  stopped, 
as  the  quick  eye  of  the  present  owner  of  the  stone  quarry  perceived 
good  indications.  A  few  minutes'  investigation  sufficed  to  convince 
Mr.  Wallbaum  of  the  superior  quality  of  the  stone  and  the  calls  for  it 
in  the  building  of  bridges  across  the  Mississippi,  such  as  the  Hannibal, 
besides  others  in  the  near  vicinit3\  Having  learned  the  owner's  name 
he  at  once  sought  him  and  purt:liased  the  land,  some  five  hundred  acres, 
in  all.  He  began  at  the  quarry  nearest  Gladstone  and  worked  it  for  a 
long  time.  After  the  quarry  was  opened  out  he  traveled,  taking  orders 
for  stone  and  buildings  for  several  years.  He  came  down  from  Chicago 
in  1876  and  opened  another  quarry  farther  up  the  creek  of  South  Hen- 
derson, where  he  is  at  present  engaged  qnarrying  and  cutting  stone._ 
Here  he  carries  on  an  extensive  business  which  amounts  to  $60,000  or 
$80,000  annually.  The  shipment  of  stone  averages  from  eight  to  ten 
car  loads  per  day.  He  works  from  fifty  to  eighty  men,  part  of  whom 
are  stone  cutters. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Prominent  among  the  names  of  those  who  have  succeeded  well  in 
this  township  is  to  be  found  that  of  John  JST.  Bruen.  His  parents,  who 
were  of  Scotch  ancestry,  were  natives  of  New  Jersey,  and  in  this  state, 
in  the  village  of  Bloomfield,  Mr.  Bruen  himself  was  born  on  October 
8,  1825.  Here,  also,  his  grandfather  had  lived  and  laboi'ed,  having 
been  one  of  those  who  favored  the  temperance  movement,  then  agitated 
for  the  first  time,  and  energized  his  belief  by  destroying  his  currant 
orchard,  from  which  he  annually  made  large  quantities  of  wine.  In 
this  village,  lying  some  ten  miles  west  of  New  York  city,  Mr.  Bruen 
passed  his  childhood  and  early  youth,  amid  the  best  of  surroundings 
and  influences,  having  received,  in  addition  to  the  training  of  the 
village  schools,-  several  years'  training  in  the  Bloomfield  Academy. 
In  the  summer  of  1844,  while  in  his  nineteenth  year,  Mr.  Bruen 
received  an  offer  that  was  to  affect  his  whole  after  destiny.  Thomas 
Gould,  his  uncle,  who  was  in  the  war  of  1812,  offered  him  one  half 
the  land  he  had  drawn  for  his  services  in  this  war  if  Mr.  Bruen  would 
remain  upon  it  for  five  years  and  improve  it.  This  land  lay  in  Hen- 
derson county,  Illinois.  After  some  reflection  the  offer  was  accepted, 
and  a  few  weeks  later,  on  one  of  the  earl}^  summer  days,  Mr.  Bruen, 
then  in  his  nineteenth  year,  accompanied  by  his  father,  stepped  on 
board  the  Capital,  a  new  steamboat  just  beginning  service  on  the  Ohio, 


SOUTH  ]ip:nderson  township.  1249 

then  about  to  start  down  the  river  for  the  far  western  lands.  This  was 
at  the  time  of  tlie  now  noted  high  waters  of  184-J:,  and  after  a  journey 
of  three  weeks,  made  mostly  by  water,  Mr.  Bruen  landed  at  Oquawka, 
Henderson  county,  having  passed  Nauvoo  on  the  day  Joseph  Smith, 
of  Mormon  fame,  was  shot.  After  stopping  a  few  days  at  the  old 
pioneer  hotel,  kept  by  Knowles  &  Perkins,  names  that  will  be  recog- 
nized by  all  old  settlers,  he  went  out  to  look  at  his  uncle's  land,  which 
lay  in  Sec.  27,  T.  10,  E.  5.  He  at  once  hired  out  to  Mr.  I.  J.  Brooks, 
at  first  for  seven  dollars  and  then  for  eight  dollars  a  month.  During 
this  summer  he  broke  five  acres  of  land,  and  in  the  spring  of  181:5  he 
traded  Mr.  Samuel  Galbraith  a  rifle  to  break  ten  acres  more.  In  order 
to  make  further  improvements  on  his  farm  he  traded  stone  to  Johnny 
B.  Fort  for  the  use  of  his  oxen,  old  Broad  and  Berry,  noted  as  being 
the  biggest  oxen  in  the  country.  In  the  fall  of  1845,  having  plowed 
his  land  with  these  oxen,  he  sowed  it  to  winter  wheat,  and  during  the 
winter  fenced  it,  with  the  aid  of  Samuel  Evans,  giving  him  his  silver 
watch  to  help  him  split  the  rails.  The  next  spring  Mr.  Bruen  rented 
ground  of  Mr.  Brooks,  and  during  the  summer  he  fell  very  sick,  but 
through  the  kindness  and  skill  of  Mrs.  Brooks,  came  through  his 
sickness  in  safety.  His  wheat  Mr.  Bruen  cradled  and  Francis  K.  Gib- 
son bound.  After  threshing  it  with  the  first  cleaner  ever  brought  in 
the  county,  he  hauled  his  wheat  to  Burlington,  where  he  sold  it  to  the 
old  Walker  Stone  mills  for  thirty  cents  a  bushel.  In  1848  occurred  an 
incident  of  great  after  value  to  Mr.  Bruen.  A  friend  asked  him  to 
sign  a  note  with  him  for  forty  dollars.  This  note  Mr.  Bruen  had  to 
pay,  and  from  that  time  he  has  never  been  asked  to,  sign  a  note  with- 
out thinking  of  the  old  note  of  forty  dollars  which  he  paid  for  with 
corn  he  hauled  to  Oquawka  and  sold  for  tei^  cents  a  bushel.  In  the 
fall  of  1849,  having  raised  fifty  acres  of  sod  corn,  Mr.  Bruen  went  to 
S.  S.  Philp  and  borrowed  money  to  buy  twenty  head  of  steers,  at  $15  a 
head,  ofl'ering  Mr.  Philp  one  half  the  proflts,  after  estimating  the  value  of 
the  corn  at  ten  cents  a  bushel.  After  sellino;  these  cattle  three  months 
later  at  $30  a  head,  Mr.  Bruen  went  into  partnership  with  Mr.  Philp, 
which  continued  up  to  the  time  of  the  latter's  failure,  who  paid  Mr.  Bruen 
the  compliment  of  saying  he  had  never  through  him,  in  any  business 
transaction,  lost  a  dollar  during  the  ten  years  of  partnership.  From 
this  time  Mr.  Bruen  began  to  branch  out  in  his  financial  dealings, 
from  the  beginning  evincing  rare  business  qualifications.  During  the 
first  ten  years  of  his  stay  in  Henderson  county  he  never  saw  a  person 
he  knew  in  his  eastern  home,  nor  did  he  hear  from  them  often,  as 
every  letter  in  those  days  cost  twenty-five  cents.  On  September  14, 
1848,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Jane  Sharpless,  daughter  of  Noah 


1250  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AKD   HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

Sharjjless,  a  resident  of  Maryland.  Of  tins  marriage  six  children 
were  born.  Of  these  two,  Francis  James  and  Annie  L.,  died  in 
infancy ;  a  third,  Thomas  Gould,  died  at  the  age  of  thirteen ;  three 
are  living.  William  S.,  the  eldest,  who  has  charge  of  his  father's 
farm  in  Henderson  county,  was  born  on  February  12,  1853.  After 
attending  school  three  years  at  Mount  Pleasant,  Iowa,  he  was  married 
on  February  25,  1871:,  to  Miss  E.  Stevenson,  daughter  of  Espy  Steven- 
son, of  Fort  Madison,  Iowa.  By  this  marriage  they  have  two  children, 
the  elder  John  E.  and  the  younger  Mabel  Ida.  He  gives  his  attention 
mostly  to  farming  and  stock  raising,  doing  something  in  the  way  of 
raising  the  Belmont  horses,  some  of  which  have  made  excellent  S])eed. 
Charles  E.,  the  second  living  son,  after  graduating  at  Eastman's 
National  Business  College,  went  to  Mills  county,  Iowa,  and  though 
but  nineteen  years  of  age,  took  charge  of  his  father's  farm  of  2,250 
acres.  Ida  J.,  the  youngest,  is  now  the  wife  of  Alex.  Graham,  a  mer- 
chant of  Monmouth,  111.  On  September  24,  1863,  Mrs.  Bruen  died 
at  her  home  in  the  thirty-fifth  year  of  h.er  age.  On  October  10,  1865, 
Mr.  Bruen  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  A.  Martin,  daughter  of  Judge 
Martin,  of  Biggsville.  In  October,  1875,  Mr.  Bruen  removed  to 
Monmouth,  where  he  now  (1882)  resides.  His  wife  and  daughter  are 
members  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  this  ]:)lace.  Although  Mr. 
Bruen  began  life  with  nothing,  yet  by  patient  industry  he  has  made 
himself  a  wealthy  man.  He  now  owns  680  acres  of  land  in  Hender- 
son county,  Illinois.  He  has  also  three  large  fai'ms  in  Iowa,  one  in 
Mills  county  of  2,250  acres,  a  second  in  Montgomery  county  of  640 
acres,  a  third  in  Pottawatamie  county  of  1,920  acres,  together  with 
some  small  tracts,  amounting  to  over  6,000  acres.  In  addition  to  his 
duties  in  connection  witli^his  land  and  stock  interests,  he  is  a  director 
of  the  First  National  Bank  of  Monmouth,  Illinois. 

At  this  date  (1882)  maiiy  of  the  older  settlers  have  passed  away. 
Among  the  more  prominent  of  these  is  the  name  of  William  John 
Hutchinson.  He  was  born  in  1813,  in  New  York  State,  and  emigrated, 
to  Henderson  county  in  1832.  Mr.  Hutchinson  began  by  working  for 
S.'  S.  Phelps,  and  afterward  went  into  business  with  him  at  Oquawka. 
It  was  at  this  stage  of  his  life  that  he  received  the  appellation  of  cap- 
tain, by  which  he  was  afterward  known.  Possessed  of  superior  busi- 
ness qualifications  he  soon  amassed  some  property  and  began  to  branch 
out  widely  and  dealt  largely  in  stock  in  the  feeding  and  shipping  of 
which  he  was  engaged  at  the  time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  on 
April  9,  1863,  at  Hornellsville.  New  York,  he  having  been  accidentally 
run  over  by  the  cars  while  shipping  stock  to  New  York  city.  At  the 
time  of  his  death  Capt.  Hutchinson  was  one  of  the  most  prominent 


SOUTH    HENDERSON   TOWNSHIP.  1251 

members  of  tlie  South  Henderson  United  Presbyterian  cliurcli.  The 
following  resolutions  were  passed  by  the  trustees  of  Monmouth  Col- 
lege, of  which  board  he  was  a  member,  at  their  June  meeting  after  his 
death. 

"Whereas,  it  has  pleased  Almighty  God  to  remove  by  a  sudden  and 
painful  death  Capt.  W.  J.  Hutchinson,  a  member  of  tliis  board  ; 

Whereas,  it  is  believed,  in  view  of  the  relation  which  he  sustained 
toward  us,  that  we  should  give  expression  to  our  feelings  in  relation  to 
this  event ;  therefore, 

Resol'ved^  that  in  this  painful  dispensation  of  God's  Providence, 
we  recognize  the  hand  of  Him  who  hath  allotted  our  days,  and 
appointed  the  bound  beyond  which  we  cannot  pass,  and  that  we  bow 
in  humble  submission  to  his  holy  will. 

Resolved^  that  in  the  death  of  Capt.  W.  J.  Hutchinson  the  board 
has  lost  an  efficient  and  valuable  member.;  wise  in  counsel  and  ener- 
getic in  action  ;  the  college  a  liberal  and  earnest  friend  ;  the  communi- 
ty an  honest  and  enterprising  man  of  business  ;  the  county  a  patriotic 
citizen  ;  the  church  a  useful  and  consistent  member.  Possessed  in  his 
calling  by  a  favoring  Providence,  he  seemed  to  realize  that  he  was  a 
steward  of  God's  bounty,  and  disjDensed  with  a  liberal  hand  to  those 
objects  that  he  deemed  to  be  consistent  with  the  glor}^  of  God  and  the 
good  of  man. 

Resolved^  that  we  tender  our  heartfelt  sympathy  to  the  family  of 
the  deceased,  and  commend  them  to  the  kind  and  watchful  care  of  Him 
who  has  promised  to  be  the  widow's  stay  and  the  orphan's  shield. 

Resolved.,  that  a  copy  of  these  resolutions,  signed  by  the  proper 
officers  of  the  board,  be  furnished  to  the  city  papers  and  the  "Instruc- 
tor," and  that  a  copy  be  forwarded  to  the  family  of  the  deceased. 

J.  A.  P.  McGaw, 
E.  C.  Matthews, 
A.  Y.  Graham. 

As  Capt.  Hutchinson  was  one  of  the  founders  of  Monmouth  Col- 
lege and  a  most  influential  and  prominent  man,  known  for  his  gener- 
osity and  integrity  of  character,  this  tribute  of  respect  seemed  peculiarly 
appropriate  as  a  monument  to  his  value  and  solid  worth.  He  was 
married  on  JSTovember  25,  ISttO,  to  Miss  Nancy  Tyler.  Of  this  mar- 
riage eleven  children  were  born,  of  whom  only  four  are  living.  Of 
the  four  living  sons,  Stephen  Sumner  is  the  second.  He  was  born 
August  27,  1852,  near  Biggs ville,  Henderson  county.  He  received 
his  education  in  the  common  schools  of  the  county.  Mr.  Hutchinson 
was  married  on  September  14,  1871,  to  Miss  Emma  Mickey,  daughter 


1252  HISTOKY    OF   MEKCEE   AND    HENDEKSON    COUNTIES. 

of  Jonathan  Mickey,  of  Ainswoitli,  of  Washington  connty,  Iowa.  She 
was  born  January  23,  1830.  To  them  liave  been  born  five  children, 
two  of  whom,  Lena  and  Freddie  F.,  died  in  infancy.  The  rest,  Clar- 
ence Herbert,  Robert  Miles  and  Stephen  Sumner  are  at  home  with 
their  parents.  Mr.  Hutchinson  now  resides  on  his  farm  of  about 
100  acres,  which  lies  four  miles  northwest  of  Biggsville,  where  he  gives 
his  attention  to  farming  and  stock  raising. 

Rev.  Andrew  Ren  wick,  the  son  of  James  and  Abigail  Ren  wick, 
was  born  where  Idaville  now  stands,  in  "White  county,  Indiana,  Oc- 
tober 11,  1812.  His  mother  and  an  onh^  bi'other  both  died  suddenly 
in  August,  181:5.  In  that  sad  bereavement  of  his  father  he  was 
dedicated  to  the  ministry,  though  he  knew  it  not  until  the  hand  of 
ordination  had  been  laid  upon  him,  twenty-two  years  afterward.  Mr, 
Renwick's  boyhood  was  watched  over  carefully,  and  the  pra^^ers  of  a 
pious  father  hedged  in  his  childhood's  days.  His  father  belonged  to 
the  Associate  church,  and  his  early  days  were  spent  under  the  ministry 
of  Rev.  Xathauiel  Ingles.  When  about  seventeen  years  of  age  he 
was  admitted  to  the  communion  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church. 
After  attending  an  academy  at  Monticello,  Indiana,  Mr.  Renwick  took 
the  college  course  at  Monmouth,  where  he  graduated  with  the  second 
honor  in  1865.  He  then  took  a  theological  course  at  Xeiiia,  and  the 
presbyteiy  of  Wabasli  licensed  him  June  27,  1866.  The  general 
assembly  appointed  him  as  stated  supply  at  La  Fayette,  Indiana, 
and  he  was  ordained  there  November  26,  1867.  On  September  26, 
1867,  Mr.  Renwick  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Lida  Dean, 
daughter  of  Joseph  and  Hannah  (Boggs)  Dean,  prominent  .people 
of  Xenia,  Ohio.  To  them  were  born  live  children,  by  name 
Maud  JrL,  Daisy  A.,  Lida  Eva,  Zulu  Z.,  and  Andrew  Dean. 
Having  a  call  from  Olathe,  Kansas,  Mr.  Renwick  resigned  his 
position  at  La  Fayette,  and  began  his  labors  at  Olathe  May  2, 
1869.  Here  Mr,  Renwick  remained  live  ^-ears,  having,  in  addition 
to  his  labors  as  pastor,  duties  in  connection  with  Garnet  Col- 
lege, of  which  he  was  president.  In  June,  1874,  he  resigned  his 
pastorate,  and  that  fall  was  made  superintendent  of  public  instruction, 
at  a  salary  of  $1,500.  The  next  summer  he  resigned  his  office.  In 
September,  1875,  Mr.  Renwick  received  a  call  to  the  United  Presby- 
terian church  of  South  Llenderson,  and  on  April  6,  1876,  he  was 
installed  pastor  of  this  church,  where  he  is  now  (1882)  laboring  with 
a  great  acceptance  to  his  people.  On  April  28,  1881,  Mr.  Renwick 
was  greatly  aiflicted  by  the  death  of  his  wife.  Mr.  Renwick's  father 
settled  in  Indiana  in  1836,  and  his  grandfather  Andrew,  who  came 
from  Scotland,  settled  in  Ohio  in  1817.     As  is  indicated  bv  the  name, 


sorTii  iip:xderson  township.  1253 

the  family  are  of  Scotcli  descent,  the  traditional  record  being  that  they 
are  descended  from  the  Renmcks  who  were  the  last  martyrs  under  the 
reign  of  Queen  Mary. 

Among  those  citizens  known  for  their  moral  stamina  and  inde- 
pendent thought  is  Alexander  L.  Pokter,  of  Gladstone  township.  He 
was  born  November  24,  1821,  near  Oxford,  Preble  county,  Ohio.  His 
parents,  who  were  natives  of  South  Carolina  and  of  Scotch-Irish  des- 
cent, were  Hugh  and  Eleanor  (Brown)  Porter.  Hugh  Porter's  father 
emigrated  to  America  about  17T0,  and  in  1808  he  removed  from  South 
Carolina,  where  his  father  settled,  to  Preble  county,  Ohio.  From  an 
Irishman,  who  taught  a  subscription  school  at  $1.25  a  term  per  capi- 
tum,  Mr.  Porter  received  the  most  of  his  education.  At  this  school, 
with  its  slab  seats  and  its  three  "R's" — reading,  riting,  rithmetic — 
which  were  then  the  sole  studies,  he  spent  six  years  of  his  early  life, 
having  no  holiday  from  one  year's  end  to  another,  save  on  Saturday. 
In  1840,  his  father  having  failed  in  business,  he  came  with  his  uncle 
to  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  where  he  began  life  for  himself  with 
fifty  cents.  Several  years  were  consumed  by  teaching  and  working  in 
various  ways,  being  held  back  for  a  time  in  paying  his  last  year's 
schooling  at  Miami  University.  By  diligent  labor  Mr.  Porter  soon  got 
a  start  for  himself,  and  began  to  accumulate  some  property.  Having 
chosen  his  occupation  in  life,  he  married  on  March  28,  1S48,  Miss 
Margaret  Graham,  daughter  of  Matthew  Graham.  To  them  were 
born  seven  children,  six  of  whom  are  living,  one  having  died  in 
infancy.  Their  names  are  Lauretta  J.,  William  P.,  Wilson  G.,  Alice 
E.,  John  and  Frank  M.  On  May  20,  1861,  Mrs.  Porter  died  at  her 
home,  leaving  to  her  husband's  care  six  children.  Mr.  Porter,  on 
May  15  of  the  following  year,  married  Mrs.  Sarah  Cameron,  daughter 
of  James  Graham.  Mrs.  Cameron  brought  to  her  new  home  one 
child,  a  daughter,  Libbie  A.  Cameron.  Of  this  marriage  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Porter  have  had  three  children,  whom  they  have  named  Annie 
M.,  James  E.  and  Lulu  K.  In  all  their  family  relations  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Porter  have  been  greatly  blessed,  and  have  to  the  uttermost  realized 
the  truth  of  the  old  proverb,  that  the  home  pleasures  of  life  are 

"  Better  than  grandeur,  better  than  gold, 
Than  rank  or  titles  a  thousand-fold." 

The  unity  and  perfect  gladness  of  this  home,  where  there  are  three 
sets  of  children,  is  a  standing  rebuke  to  all  disbelievers  in  the  possible 
impartiality  of  ste])-parents.  Mr.  Porter,  soon  after  his  coming  to 
Henderson  count}^,  was  elected  school  treasurer  in  his  township,  and 
for  more  than  eighteen  years  he  continued  in  the  duties  of  that  office. 


1254  HISTORY    OF   3HERCER    ANT)    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Since  that  time  almost  continuously  lie  lias  served  in  the  capacity  of 
school  director.  As  a  temperance  man — which  fact  was  probably  due 
to  the  influence  of  his  father,  who  was,  in  an  early  day,  one  of  three 
men  to  announce  in  Preble  county,  Ohio,  where  he  had  long  resided, 
that  they  would  in  future  furnish  no  whisk}"  in  harvest — he  has  always 
been  in  favor  of  every  moral  movement.  I^o  less  energetic  has  he 
been  in  political  movements,  having  been  a  republican  since  the 
organization  of  the  party,  and  previous  to  that  time  a  whig.  In 
matters  of  church  faith  Mr.  Porter's  family  are  United  Presbyterians, 
holding  connection  with  the  church  at  Olena.  At  all  times  he  has 
favored  progress,  and  in  1845  Mr.  Porter  ran  the  first  reaper — an 
old  McCormick,  after  which  a  man  raked — ever  run  in  the  county. 

The  name  of  Isaih  J.  Brook  will  be  recognized  as  one  of  the  most 
prominent  in  Henderson  county.  Coming  here  at  an  early  day,  he 
soon  became  known  as  a  man  of  remarkable  qualifications  for  business 
and  of  strict  integrity.  He  was  born  in  Perry  county,  Ohio,  in 
ISTovember,  1813.  When  but  a  child  his  parents,  John  and  Margaret 
(Pogue)  Brook,  removed  from  Perry  to  Muskingum  county,  where  they 
resided  for  many  years.  In  the  common  schools  of  that  day  Mr.  Brook 
obtained  a  good  knowledge  of  the  rudimentary  branches  ;  but  in  later 
years,  not  satisfied  with  the  educational  advantages  of  the  district,  he 
went  to  Franklin  College,  New  Athens,  where  he  remained  about  two 
years  pursuing  his  studies.  In  1837,  in  the  beginning  of  his  young 
manhood,  Mr.  Brook  was  attracted  by  the  various  accounts  then  cur- 
rent as  to  the  unbounded  fertility  and  healthful  climate  of  Illinois,  then 
just  beginning  to  be  opened  up  as  a  new  state.  With  its  Chicago  and 
thousand  of  smaller  towns  to  be  built,  and  its  rej'iutation  as  the  best 
corn  state  in  the  world  yet  to  be  made,  it  was  not  strange  that  the 
opportunities  of  those  early  days  attracted  many  young  men  to  its 
prairies,  and  among  them  I.  J.  Brook.  When  he  arrived  in  Hen- 
derson county  in  1837,  and  settled  on  his  present  farm  on  Sec.  34, 
T.  10,  R.  5,  there  were  but  few  families  in  the  township,  and  every- 
thing was  yet  to  be  made.  Witli  untiring  energy  and  ambition,  backed 
by  a  powerful  bodily  frame,  Mr.  Brook  began  his  work  of  making  for 
himself  a  competence,  and  richly  has  he  been  rewarded.  Two  years 
after  his  arrival  Mr.  Brook  was  united  in  marria2;e  with  Miss  Jane  T. 
Marshall,  daughter  of  Alexander  Marshall,  a  citizen  of  Henderson 
county.  To  them  were  born  ten  children,  two  of  whom,  Isaih  S.  and 
Charles  Francis,  died  at  the  age  of  seventeen,  the  former  in  1862  and 
the  latter  in  1876,  both  in  the  opening  of  their  3'oung  lives.  In  their 
children  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Brook  have  been  greatly  blessed,  all  having 
been  a  credit  to  their  parents.     They  were  educated  religiously  in  the 


^2>^ 


^ 


SOUTH    HENDERSON    TOWNSHIP.  1257 

principles  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church,  of   which  their  family 
were  members,  and  iive  of  them  were  graduates  of  various  colleges. 
Two  sons,  Thomas  A.  and  Hugh  M.,  reside  with  their  families  in  Linn 
county,  Kansas.     John  A.  and  James  W.,  sketches  of  whom  appear 
elsewhere,  are  married  and  reside  in  Henderson  county.     Of  the  four 
daughters,  Mary  Jane  is  the  wife  of  W.  P.  Barnes,  of  Linn  county, 
Kansas;  Margaret  E.  is  the  wife  of  John  Gaddis,  of  Fulton  ;  Mary  A. 
is  now  Mrs.  George  Pierce,  of  Warren  county,  Illinois ;  Jessie  Ellen 
is  wife  of  Walter  Lattimer,  of  Anderson  county,  Kansas.     In  1864,  at 
the  home  of  Mr.  Brook,  occurred  the  celebrated  "Brook  tragedy,"  of 
which  a  full  account  has  already  been  given.     During  his  residence 
here  Mr.  Brook  has  twice  been  elected  county  commissioner,  and  many 
times  school  treasurer  and  director.    In  politics,  up  to  1856,  Mr.  Brook 
voted  the  democratic  ticket.     In  1860  he  voted  for  Douglas,  but  after 
that  became  a  republican.      In  all  his  business  Mr.  Brook  has  been 
very  successful.     Having  made  for  himself  a  fortune,  he  gave  each  of 
his  children  $10,000  to  start  in  life  with.     In  such  men  and  families 
as  Mr.  Brook's  lies  a  county's  wealth,  and  in  the  absence  of  such 
characters,  without  regard  to  financial  riches,  a  county  is  always  poor. 
WiLLARD  I.  SiGNOR,  proprietor  of  Ward's  mills,  was  born  on  July 
24,  1836,  in  the  State  of  New  York,  near  its  metropolis.     His  father, 
John  Signor,  was  of  German  descent,  his  mother,  Amitta  Sign  or,  of 
English.     jSTothing  exact  is  known  as  to  the  time  when  his  forefathers 
came  to  America,  save  that  it  was  before  the  revolution.     Mr.  Signor's 
father  was  a  soldier  in  the  second  war  with  Great  Britain,  and  the  son 
now  possesses  the  red  plume  his  father  wore  in  that  war.     When  Mr. 
Signor  was  but  two  years  of  age  his  parents  removed  to  Chillicothe, 
Ohio,  where  they  remained  until  1845,  when  they  again  removed  to 
Henderson  county,  Illinois,  and  settled  in  Olena,  where  his  father  died 
in  1846.     By  the  death  of  his  father  Mr.  Signor  was  early  deprived  of 
many  advantages,  but  having  obtained  such  an  education  as  the  com- 
mon schools  offered,  in  1851  he  went  to  Oquawka  and  there  entered 
the  office  of  the  "Spectator,"  which  was  then  controlled  by  Mr.  Pat- 
terson, with  whom  he  remained  -two  and  a  half  years.     On  September 
4,   1856,  Mr.   Signor  was   married  to  Miss  Margaret  J.   McQuown, 
daughter  of  John  McQuown.     She  was  born  in  1835,  and  is  a  native 
of  Virginia.     Five   years   after  his   marriage,  in  1861,   Mr.    Signor 
enlisted  in  Co.  E,  10th  111.  Yols.,  under  command  of  Capt.  Gown. 
He  joined  the  army  of  the  west,  and  having  been  drilled  at  Mound 
City,  he  was  discharged.     After  his  return  home  Mr.  Signor  engaged 
in  farming,  and  also  in  merchandising  in  Sagetown,   where  he  was 
71 


1258  HISTOKV    OF   MERCER   AJSTD    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

burned  out.     In  1876  lie  bought  the  old  Ward's  mill,  of  which  he  is 
now  (1882)  one  of  the  proprietors. 

Success  has  been  called  a  fickle  thing  ;  fickle,  because  to  some  men 
it  comes  and  remains  in  spite  of  all  their  attempts  to  thrust  it  away ; 
or  because,  like  a  will-o'-the-wisp,  it  eludes  the  grasp  of  many  who 
labor  long  to  hold  it  in  their  hand.  But  there  can  be  no  fickleness 
about  the  success  that  crowns  the  patient  and  painstaking  eflPorts, 
covering  a  period  of  thirty-five  years,  of  such  a  man  as  our  subject, 
Franklin  Galbraith.  Beared  in  the  painful  school  of  poverty, 
his  wealth  stands  for  years  of  privation.  He  was  born  February  14, 
1828,  on  the  Chucky  river,  Tennessee,  of  which  state  his  parents  were 
natives,  an  account  of  whom  has  already  been  given.  As  he  was  but 
a  mere  child  when  his  parents  came  to  Henderson  county,  his  oppor- 
tunities were  of  the  most  limited  nature.  There  was  not  a  school  in 
the  township  at  this  time,  1831.  though  one  was  soon  after  organized. 
He  was,  however,  able  to  acquire  such  a  knowledge  of  the  rudimentary 
branches  as  to  enable  him  to  do  his  business  well.  On  March  27, 
1857,  he  was  married  to  Miss  T.  Fort,  daughter  of  Washington  Fort, 
an  old  resident  of  Henderson  county.  She  was  born  June  29,  1835. 
Their  children  were  ten  in  number,  of  whom  eight  are  living,  two 
having  died  in  infancy.  One  of  his  daughters,  Mary  E.,  is  the  wife 
of  William  Sells.  All  the  rest  are  at  home  with  their  parents.  Mr. 
Galbraith  began  life  with  but  little  or  nothing,  with  the  hope  to  make 
for  himself  a  home.  The  hope  has  been  richly  fulfilled.  He  now  has 
about  1,800  acres  of  land.  Besides  this  he  has  much  other  property. 
Of  late  years  he  has  raised  and  shipped  stock.  The  family  may  be 
called  in  faith  Presbyterian.  All  this  but  serves  to  show  what  a  young 
man  can  do,  if  with  an  ambition  to  found  a  home  he  sets  out  deter- 
mined to  be  honest  and  yet  gain  a  competence.  Mr.  Galbraith,  whose 
portrait  appears  on  another  page,  is  one  of  the  men  in  whom  Hender- 
son county  is  rich,  and  from  men  of  his  stamp  the  success  of  a  country 
depends. 

Thomas  Galbraith,  father  of  Samuel  Galbraith,  the  subject  of  this 
sketch,  was  born  in  Boan  county,  Tennessee,  about  1785.  While  still 
a  young  man  he  was  called  upon  to  fight  in  the  celebrated  battle  of 
Tippecanoe,  in  1811.  Before  leaving  his  native  state  he  married  Miss 
Margaret  White,  also  of  Boan  county.  To  them  were  born  eight 
children,  two  of  whom,  Alexander  and  Bobert,  are  dead.  The  names 
of  the  living  are :  Elizabeth,  wife  of  Martin  Montgomery,  of  Iowa 
city  ;  Mary,  wife  of  J.  W.  Woods ;  William,  now  residing  near  Kirk- 
wood  ;  Evelyn,  wife  of  Sanford  Harned,  and  Samuel,  our  subject,  is 
next  to  the  youngest,  by  name  Franklin. 


SOUTH    HENDERSON   TOWNSHIP.  1259 

Samuel  was  born  on  JSTovember  6,  1824,  near  Kingston,  East  Ten- 
nessee. When  he  was  six  jears  of  age  his  parents  moved  by  team  to 
Morgan  count}',  Illinois,  thence  to  Adams,  from  whence,  in  December, 
1834,  the_y  came  to  Henderson  county,  settling  on  Sec.  26,  T.  10,  R.  5, 
where  they  lived  two  years,  and  then  on  Sec.  27,  where  they  died,  the 
father  in  August,  1843,  and  the  mother  in  July  of  1870.  Mr.  Gal- 
braith,  soon  after  liis  father's  coming,  began  to  attend  school,  which 
was  taught  by  a  young  man  named  W.  D.  Henderson,  in  a  private 
house,  the  windows  of  which  were  partly  of  greased  paper  and  partly 
of  glass.  In  this  little  school  at  Coloma,  which  has  given  the  world 
quite  a  number  of  prominent  men,  Mr,  Galbraitli  received  a  practical 
business  education.  On  account  of  the  breaking  up  of  the  prairie,  and 
the  decay  of  the  vegetation  for  several  years  after  their  coming,  chills 
and  fever  troubled  Mr.  Galbraitli,  in  common  with  everybody  else. 
In  1843  the  father  of  the  family  passed  away,  leaving  the  care  of  his 
family  to  his  sons.  It  is  related  that  at  one  time,  when  Dr.  McMillan, 
the  pioneer  physician,  came  to  see  Mr.  Galbraith,  he  went  to  sleep 
while  examining  him,  but  on  awaking  he  insisted  on  going  to  see  the 
rest  of  his  patients,  some  of  whom  were  miles  away.  Several  hours 
afterward  Mrs.  Galbraith  discovered  him  standing  at  the  head  of  his 
horse,  against  which  lie  leaned,  sound  asleep.  Cast  thus  early  upon 
his  own  resources,  Mr.  Galbraitli  early  developed  habits  of  industry 
and  perseverance  that  have  been  of  great  service  to  him.  On  June  25, 
1829,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sarah  Evans,  daughter  of  John  Evans, 
senior,  an  old  citizen  of  Henderson  county.  Of  this  marriage  thirteen 
children  were  born,  two  of  whom  died  in  infancy.  Of  the  live  sons, 
one,  James  F.,  is  married,  and  resides  in  Mills  county,  Iowa.  The 
other  four  are  at  home  with  their  parents.  Three  of  his  six  daughters 
are  also  at  home,  the  other  three  being  married,  one  to  Leander  Guy, 
now  deceased.  Two,  the  wives  of  Franklin  Slump  and  Charles 
Bacon,  now  live  in  Mills  county,  Iowa.  Mr.  Galbraith  began  life 
with  nothing,  working  out  for  as  low  as  $8  a  month.  For  wheat 
he  obtained  but  twenty-five  cents  per  bushel,  and  for  corn  ten  cerits 
per  bushel,  and  he  was  compelled  to  haul  it  to  Burlington  to 
obtain  even  that  price.  J^otwithstaiiding  his  early  disadvantages 
he  has  become  the  possessor  of  a  farm  of  880  acres,  on  which  he 
resides.  It  has  been  said  of  him  that  in  all  his  business  life  he  never 
wronged  a  man  out  of  a  cent.  Than  this  a  higher  compliment  can  be 
paid  to  no  man.  Mr.  Galbraith  is  in  politics  a  democrat.  In  religious 
laith  his  family  are  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church. 

Henry  Miller    Whiteman,  son  of  James  and   Rebecca  (Miller) 
Whiteman,  was  born  on  December  25,  1825,  in  Preble  county,  Ohio. 


1260  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

He  is  of  Irish  extraction  on  liis  futlier's  side,  of  Scotcli-Irish  on  his 
mother's,  his  forefathers  having  emigrated  to  America  previous  to  the 
war  of  the  revoh;tion,  in  which  his  grandfather  Miller  fought.  About 
the  year  1816,  attracted  by  the  rich  openings  in  the  west,  Mr.  "White- 
anan's  father  removed  to  Ohio.  Here  his  eleven  children,  of  whom  the 
subject  of  this  sketch  is  the  ninth,  were  educated.  Mr.  Whiteman  was 
well  prepared  with  a  practical  education  for  tlie  business  of  life.  His 
early  moral  training  was  thorough  and  careful,  and  to  this  much  of  his 
success  in  life  is  no  doubt  due.  On  March  12,  1851,  he  was  married 
to  Miss  Elizabeth  McDill,  daughter  of  David  McDill,  also  a  resident 
of  Preble  county.  To  them  have  been  born  a  large  and  promising 
family  of  eleven  children,  all  of  whom  are  (1882)  living.  One  son, 
Henry  O.,  is  married  and  is  a  farmer  of  Henderson  county.  James 
and  David  A.  both  young  men  of  promise,  are  now  beginning  the  life 
of  a  farmer  for  themselves  ;  the  rest  are  all  home  with  their  parents. 
Some  two  years  after  his  marriage,  in  1853,  Mr.  Whiteman  was  in- 
duced by  the  reports  of  the  marvelous  richness  of  the  soil  and  health- 
fulness  of  the  climate  of  Illinois  to  remove  from  Ohio  to  the  as  yet 
undeveloped  State  of  Illinois.  In  teams  he  crossed  the  States  of 
Indiana  and  Illinois  until  he  reached  the  eastern  bank  of  the  Missis- 
sippi.- Here,  in  Henderson  county,  he  stopped,  settling  on  Sec  25,  T. 
10,  li.  5,  where  he  still  resides.  Soon  after  his  arrival  in  the  county 
Mr.  Whiteman  united  with  the  South  Henderson  United  Presbyterian 
church,  from  which,  when  the  church  at  Biggsville  was  organized,  he 
removed  his  membei'ship.  In  1866  he  was  elected  an  elder  of  the 
last-mentioned  church,  but  his  influence  has  been  thrown  not  less 
into  every  educational  or  moral  movement.  As  director  or  trustee  of 
the  township  he  has  served  almost  continually  since  his  arrival  in  the 
state.  From  the  beginning  of  its  organization  he  has  been  a  staunch 
republican,  holding  firmly  to  the  principles  U])on  which  its  organization 
was  based.  As  a  fitting  reward  for  his  labors  in  the  re])ublican  ranks, 
in  the  summer  of  1880  he  was  nominated  for  the  legislature,  and  in 
the  fall  following  was  elected  to  that  office.  The  duties  of  this  office 
Mr.  Whiteman  discharged  with  credit  to  himself  and  honor  to  his 
country.  To  the  performance  of  his  duties  he  brought  an  intelligent 
mind,  a  right  purpose  and  a  keen  perception  of  the  practicability  of  a 
measure  or  movement.  In  these  qualities,  rather  than  those  of  an 
orator  or  political  manipulator,  Mr.  Whiteman's  worth  lies.  For  some 
years  he  has  been  a  director  in  the  bank  at  Kirkwood,  in  which  he 
holds  an  interest.  In  addition  to  his  other  duties  he  carries  on  a  farm 
of  some  TOO  acres,  engaging  also  in  stock  raising  and  feeding.  If,  as 
is  often   said,  men  cannot   succeed  in  all  directions,  Mr.  Whiteman 


SOUTH    HENDERSON   TOWNSHII'.  1261 

would  seem  to  be  an  exception  to  this  rule.  Happy  in  a  j)romising: 
family,  honored  by  political  preferment,  he  has  also  become  the  pos- 
sessor of  a  beautiful  home  and  farm,  and,  added  to  all  attainments,  a 
reputation  for  unsullied  integrity  of  cliaracter. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  Mr.  August  Wallijaum,  is  but  another 
illustration  of  what  it  is  possible,  under  the  existing  institutions  of  our 
country,  for  a  poor  boy  to  accomplish.  He  was  born  on  December  11, 
1831,  in  the  province  of  Hesse-Cassel,  Gernumy.  Though  reared  in  a 
position  of  humblest  poverty,  his  father  being  a  stone-mason,  he  acquired 
a  good  practical  education  for  the  business  of  life  in  the  common 
school,  to  which  he  has  been  constantly  adding- by  private  studies. 
At  the  age  of  fourteen  he  was  ap23renticed,  and  with  such  skill  did  he 
master  the  details  of  his  duties,  and  such  executive  ability  did  he 
manifest,  that  when  he  was  eighteen  he  was  made  foreman  of  the 
government  works  on  a  criminal  building.  He  was  born  but  a  mile 
from  the  river  "Weser,  near  the  Neuustorf,  where  the  barons  spend 
their  summer.  When  twenty  years  of  age  Mr.  Wallbaum  left  his 
native  land  to  try  his  fortune  in  America,  under  the  following  circum- 
stances. When  he  had  attained  the  military  age  he  was  drafted,  in 
common  with  every  young  German,  into  the  cavalry,  where  it  was  not 
possible  to  hope  for  any  promotion,  as  none  but  the  sons  of  nobles 
could  attain  rank  here.  Though  his  employer  offered  to  buy  him  a 
substitute,  then  costing  $400,  young  Wallbaum,  galled  by  a  sense  of 
injustice,  resolved  to  accompany  an  old  school-mate  to  America.  He 
at  once,  upon  landing,  repaired  to  Chicago,  where  he  arrived  in  1S52. 
Mr.  Wallbaum  began  life  in  America  as  a  stone-cutter.  But  as  water 
seeks  its  level,  so  he  was  soon  promoted,  and  in  1854  he  began  to 
contract  for  himself,  and,  after  building  many  buildings  of  lesser  im- 
portance, he  erected  the  Chicago  Waterworks,  on  the  north  side, 
then  the  Crosby  Opera,  now  a  historic  building  and  music  hall  on 
State  street.  Among  his  many  western  contracts  are  the  Government 
Works  at  Fort  Omaha ;  the  High  School  building  at  Council  Bluffs ; 
the  Sioux  Xational  Bank  at  Sioux  Gty,  Iowa ;  the  Chicago  &  North- 
western iind  Chicago,  Bock  Island  &  Pacitic  freight  houses  in  Chicai>:o : 
employing  on  these  buildings  from  500  to  1,500  men.  By  diligent  and 
careful  industry  and  skill  at  the  time  of  the  Chicago  fire  in  1871, 
Mr.  Wallbaum  had  made  an  immense  fortune.  In  this  fire  he  lost 
$650,000 ;  and  when,  a  few  days  after,  he  began  work  again  in  a 
corner  of  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  freight  house,  which  was 
given  him  for  an  office,  he  found  himself  $158,000  in  debt.  After 
contracting  again  for  a  time,  Mr.  AVallbaum  and  family  removed  to 
the  Gladstone  Stone  Quarry,  which  he  had  a  controlling  interest  in. 


1262  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

Here,  in  a  home  beautifully  and  riclilj  furnished,  happy  in  his  family, 
Mr.  AVallbaum  resides,  haying  sole  charge  of  his  seventy  or  eighty 
workmen,  his  store,  his  laying  out  of  work,  besides  his  shipping 
interests.  Mr.  Wallbaum  was  married  on  October  8,  1854,  to  Miss 
Charlotte  Whittrock,  a  lady  of  excellent  family  and  splendid  attain- 
ments. Of  their  eight  children,  fiye  are  living.  Henry  W.  is  now 
married,  and  resides  in  Galesburg.  Edward  W.  is  also  married,  and 
is  a  conductor  on  the  Chicago  &  Xorthwestern  railroad.  Miss  Carrie, 
Miss  Lillie  and  Master  Harry  are  still  at  home,  enjoying  every  advan- 
tage which  parents'  loving  hands  and  wealth  can  fuj-nish.  It  has  been 
said  b}'  some  that  a'  man  is  made  by  his  circumstances.  If  so,  Mr. 
Wallbaum  would  seem  an  exception  to  this  rule.  He  has  rather 
risen  above  his  circumstances,  making  them  do  his  bidding.  Few 
men  have  come  from  so  humble  a  station  to  the  point  of  success  Mr. 
Wallbaum  has  attained. 

Jesse  Kemp,  farmer,  Gladstone,  son  of  John  and  Nancy  Kemp, 
was  born  on  October  18,  1828,  in  Warren  county,  Kentucky.  His 
father,  John  Kemp,  was  a  native  of  Waite  county,  North  Carolina, 
and  his  mother  of  the  state  of  Kentucky.  In  the  fall  of  1833  his 
parents,  with  their  nine  children,  emigrated  to  Henderson  county, 
Illinois,  settling  on  Sec.  33,  T.  10,  R.  5.  At  this  time  there  was 
neither  day  school  nor  church  advantages  in  the  whole  township, 
which  did  not  have  over  a  dozen  men  in  it.  A  further  idea  of  the 
privations  of  those  days  may  be  given  by  saying  that  Mr.  Kemp  was 
obliged  to  go  to  Monmouth  for  his  mail,  and  paid  twenty-five  cents 
each  for  letters.  In  the  midst  of  such  surroundings  the  subject  of  this 
sketch  passed  his  youdi.  On  March  13,  1860,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Louisa  F.  Fryrean.  To  them  have  been  born  six 
children,  five  of  whom  are  living:  John  IL,  Edward,  Jessie,  Edith 
and  Franklin.  The  second  child,  Frederic,  is  dead.  As  will  be  seen 
by  reference  to  another  page,  Mr.  Kemp  was  wounded  in  the  cele- 
brated Brooks  tragedy.  He  began  life  with  nothing  save  a  good 
constitution  and  an  honest  will.  He  has  now,  with  his  brother's 
estate,  who  is  now  dead,  over  400  acres  of  land,  lying  partly  in 
Sections  33  and  34. 

Samuel  W.  Lynx  (deceased)  was  born  December  20,  1799,  in 
Middlesex  county,  Connecticut,  of  which  state  his  parents  were  natives. 
Here  he  lived  up  to  his  thirty-fifth  year,  when  he  in  1834  emigrated  to 
Henderson  county  and  settled  on  Sec.  1,  T.  10,  R.  5.  Four  years 
before,  January  24,  1830,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Sallie  Coe,  daughter 
of  Oliver  Coe,  of  Middlesex  county,  Connecticut.  When  he  came  to 
Henderson  county  he  selected  a  farm  out  on  the  prairie,  and  here, 


SOUTH    HENDERSON   TOWNSHIP.  1263 

beginning  witli  almost  nothing,  he  labored  on  steadily  for  many  years, 
seeking  to  provide  for  himself  and  wife,  for  they,  had  no  children,  a 
competence  in  their  old  age.  Richly  were  his  labors  blessed,  and 
when  he  died,  in  July,  1881,  he  left  over  a  thousand  acres  of  land, 
besides  personal  pi-operty,  behind  him.  Mr.  Lynn  was  an  industrious, 
persevering  and  honest  man,  of  real  worth  to  the  county,  and  when 
he  died  he  left  a  host  of  friends  to  cherish  his  memory  and  mourn  his 
loss. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  Charles  H.  Brainard,  son  of  Asa 
Brainard,  was  born  on  May  1,  1832,  in  the  State  of  Connecticut. 
When  he  was  but  two  years  of  age  came  to  Henderson  county,  then 
known  as  part  of  Warren  county.  Here  he  passed  his  early  youth 
and  manhood,  in  the  midst  of  very  meagre  educational  advantages. 
When  he  was  eighteen  years  old,  in  the  spring  of  1850,  attracted  by 
the  gold  mines  of  California,  he  crossed  the  plains  with  oxen  and 
struck  the  mines  first  at  Placer ville.  After  his  return  to  Henderson 
county  he  went  back  to  California  in  1857,  and  there  remained  ten 
years,  going  and  coming  by  water  routes.  Several  years  after  his 
second  return  to  his  childhood's  home  in  1876,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Minerva  Applebee,  daughter  of  James  Applebee,  of 
Henderson  county.  To  them  have  been  born  two  children,  named 
Elmira  and  Charles. 

Prof.  John  Tweed,  a  prominent  educator  of  Henderson  county,  was 
born  in  Poss  county,  Ohio,  July  19,  1829.  In  the  same  year  his  father 
and  family  removed  to  Warren  county,  Indiana,  and  settled  near  Attica, 
where  he  remained  till  Xovember,  1841,  when  he  with  his  wife,  Kezia 
(Hinson)  Tweed,  and  their  seven  children,  emigrated  to  Henderson 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  lived  until  his  death  in  1857.  During  his 
lifetime  Mr.  Tweed  was  principallj-  engaged  in  farming.  He  was  a 
soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  was  one  of  the  party  who  helped  to 
guard  the  prisoners  taken  by  Commodore  Perry  on  Lake  Erie.  Later 
he  served  as  captain  of  a  company  during  Indian  troubles.  John,  the 
subject  of  these  notes,  was  only  about  eight  years  old  when  a  white 
swelling  made  its  appearance  on  his  left  arm  and  leg,  which  finally 
settled  in  the  latter,  and  has  ever  since  remained  incurable,  and  has 
for  many  years  caused  him  great  sufiering,  even  now  threatening 
his  life.  He  entered  life  for  himself  without  forjtune  but  possessed  of 
a  great  ambition.  His  early  education  was  necessarily  much  neg- 
lected, for  during  his  school  life  eleven  months  would  cover  the  entire 
time  of  his  attendance  at  school,  but  at  all  times  and  under  all  circum- 
stances he  was  a  constant  student.  On  liis  way  to  mill  he  learned  a 
lesson,  and  while  waiting  for  the  grinding  of  his  grist  he  would  learn 


126-1  HISTORY    OF   IVfERCEE   AJSTD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

another,  and  so  by  continual  study  he  finally  became  a  scholar,  and  has 
since  the  spring  of  1851  been  closely  identified  with  the  educational 
interests  of  the  county.  It  is  said  he  taught  more  terms  of  school  than 
any  other  teacher  in  the  state,  and  all  within  ten  miles  of  where  he 
began.  October  26,  1865,  he  married  Miss  Harriet  C.  Lynn,  a  native  of 
this  count}^  born  at  Gladstone  in  184-3.  In  1858  Mr.  Tweed  was  con- 
verted and  at  once  joined  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  In  1864  he 
received  a  license  to  preach.  While  in  Colorado,  where  he  spent  about 
two  years  for  his  wife's  health,  he  rode  a  circuit  of  150  miles  and  preached 
at  seventeen  appointments. 

John  C.  McDill,  son  of  Thomas  B.  and  Martha  (McDill),  who 
were  natives  of  South  Carolina  and  of  Irish  descent,  was  born  Sep- 
tember 23,  in  Union  county,  Indiana,  to  which  state  his  parents 
removed  in  1818.  Some  twenty  years  subsequently,  in  1838,  they 
again  removed,  and  settled  in  Henderson  count}^  in  T.  10,  R.  5,  on 
the  farm  where  John  C.  McDill,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  resides  at 
the  present  time.  Both  of  his  parents  were  members  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  Church  of  South  Henderson  congregation,  and  educated 
their  children  in  the  doctrines  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church,  of 
which  all  of  his  children,  save  Robert,  were  members.  Two  of  his  six 
children  died  before  Mr.  McDiirs  coming  to  Henderson  county, — one  in 
infancy  and  a  second,  David,  when  twelve  years  old  ;  three  died  in 
manhood, — Samuel,  William  and  Robert  F.  Of  all  his  children  John 
C.  is  the  sole  survivor.  His  father  and  mother  both  died  in  18T2_,  the 
former  August  10,  the  latter  August  26.  November  12,  1873, 
Mr.  McDill  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  McMillan,  daughter  of  John 
and  Lucinda  McMillan.  Of  this  marriage  two  children,  George  Wil- 
bert  and  Martha  Jane,  have  been  born.  Mr.  McDill  now  resides  on 
his  farm  of  240  acres,  in  Sec.  24,  T.  10,  R.  5,  giving  his  attention  to 
farming.  He  has  been  a  member  of  the  South  Henderson  church  for 
more  than  thirty  years.  Mr.  McDill  is  a  second  cousin  of  Hon.  J.  W. 
McDill  congressman  from  Iowa. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  Andrew  Mekemson,  farmer,  Gladstone, 
son  of  James  and  Mary  (Brown)  Mekemson,  was  born  January  7, 
1817,  in  Fleming  county,  Iventuck}^  His  ancestry  on  his  father's 
side  were  Irish,  his  mother's  Scotch.  Mr.  Mekemson's  great-grand- 
father, Andrew  Mekemson,  with  his  five  sons,  emigrated  from  Ireland 
to  America  some  twenty-five  years  before  the  revolutionary  war,  about 
1750.  Each  of  the  five  fought  in  the  revolutionary  war,  and  it  is  said 
that  one  or  two  of  the  five  were  killed.  When  Mr.  Mekemson  was 
about  two  years  old  his  parents  removed  to  St.  Clair  county,  Illinois, 
where  they  resided  until  the  spring  of  1838,  when  they  removed  to 


SOUTH  hendi:rson  township.  1265 

Henderson  connty  and  settled  on  Sec.  24,  T.  10,  E.  5.  Here  his  parents, 
both  of  whom  were  members  of  the  South  Henderson  United  Pres- 
byterian churcli,  died  in  the  summer  of  1858.  Three  years  after  his 
parents  removed  to  Henderson  county  Mr.  Mekemson  was  married,  on 
September  28,  1841,  to  Miss  Eleanor  B.  McQuown,  daughter  of  John 
E.  and  Harriet  (McQuown).  who  were  natives  of  Virginia.  In  1842 
he  joined  tlie  United  Presbyterian  Church  of  South  Henderson,  and 
the  next  year  was  elected  an  elder  of  this  congregation,  which  position 
he  still  ( 1882 )  holds.  Of  his  marriage  eleven  children  have  been 
born,  one  of  whom,  Mellissa,  died  when  about  three  years  of  age. 
Two  of  his  sons,  William  B.  and  John,  are  married  and  engaged  in 
farming.  Eobert  N.  is  just  entering  upon  his  profession  as  a  physi- 
cian in  Biggsville,  while  the  youngest  son.  Flavins,  is  at  home  with  his 
parents.  Two  of  his  daughters  are  married  :  one,  Harriet  M.,  is  the 
wife  of  John  T.  Porter;  Joanna  is  the  wife  of  M.  H.  McCorkle. 
Four  of  his  daughters,  Sarah  M.,  Alda  Jane,  Eleanor  and  Idelletta, 
are  at  home  with  their  parents.  Mr.  Mekemson  resides  now  on  his 
farm  of  330  acres,  giving  his  attention  chieliy  to  farming,  to  which 
duties  he  has  recently  added  the  labors  in  connection  with  a  creamery 
(of  which  an  account  is  given  elsewhere),  carrying  it  on  with  his  son, 
Mr.  Mekemson's  reputation  for  integrity  and  worth  has  been  well 
earned  by  his  forty-four  years  of  life  among  the  citizens  of  Henderson 
county. 

Joseph  Scott  Mekemson  (deceased),  brother  of  Andrew  Mekemson, 
was  born  on  April  23,  1812.  He  was  married  on  May  23,  1837,  to 
Mrs.  Sarah  L.  Williams.  Of  this  marriage  no  children  were  born, 
and  some  twelve  years  afterward,  on  June  13,  1849,  his  wife  died.  In 
the  spring  of  1850  Mr.  Mekemson,  in  company  with  his  step-son,  started 
for  California  on  the  overland  route.  On  the  way  they  lost  their  team 
and  entire  outfit  costing  some  $500,  and  only  with  great  exertions  did 
they  reach  the  Pacific  slope  enfeebled  with  toil  and  sickness.  They 
had  but  forty  cents  on  arriving  at  the  camp,  and  for  several  M^eeks 
were  compelled  to  undergo  great  hardships  in  obtaining  food  and  tools. 
After  one  and  a  half  years  of  severe  privation  and  sickness  he  got 
fairly  to  work,  and  after  five  years'  residence  in  California  returned  with 
some  $3,000.  Some  five  years  after  his  return  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Mary  M.  McClinton,  daughter  of  James  McClinton,  an  old  resident  of 
Henderson  county.  She  was  born  on  December  30,  1832.  Of  this 
marriage  four  children  were  boiTi,  only  two  of  whom  are  living.  Luna, 
the  eldest,  was  born  January  14,  1866,  and  united  with  the  United 
Presbyterian  church  when  thirteen  years  old.  Elvira  was  born  July 
23,  1871.     On  November  5,  1875,  Mr.  Mekemson  died  at  his  residence. 


1266  HISTOEY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

Here  on  the  old  liomestead  of  over  210  acres  his  widow  and  two 
children  still  reside,  being  rich  in  the  reputation  of  integrity  which 
their  father  and  husband  bequeathed  to  them. 

Isaac  Forward,  son  of  Robert  and  Mary  (Waters)  Forward,  was  born 
in  England,  Sussex  county,  March  23,  1817.  When  twenty-four  years 
of  age  he  emigrated  to  America,  haying  been  married  fiye  days  pre- 
yious  to  his  sailing  to  Miss  S.  Johnson,  daughter  of  Wm.  Johnson, 
The  parents  of  Mrs.  Forward  were  members  of  the  church  of  England, 
while  the  jjarents  of  Mr.  Forward  were  Calyinists.  Two  children  have 
been  born  of  this  marriage  :  the  eldest  is  Olive  Mary  ;  the  youngest, 
Charles  Robert,  is  now  married  to  Miss  Martha  E.  Kemp,  daughter  of 
Frederic  Kemp.  Mr.  Forward  first  settled  in  Madison  county,  New 
York,  and  there  he  remained  from  1841,  the  year  he  landed,  until 
1851,  when  he  emigrated  to  McHenry  county,  Illinois.  In  1854  he 
removed  to  Oquawka,  where  he  lived  for  eleven  years,  until  1865. 
Then  he  again  removed,  first  to  Sec.  10,  T.  10,  R.  5,  and  afterward  to 
Sec.  15  in  the  same  township,  where  he  now  resides.  Though  he 
began  with  but  little,  and  had  but  four  sovereigns  when  he  landed, 
wliicli  he  lost  by  lending,  he  has  more  than  gained  the  object  for  which 
he  and  his  wife  came  to  this  country, — to  get  a  little  land  and  found 
a  home.  Patient  industry  has  added  to  his  farm  until  he  now  has 
over  1000  acres  of  land.  As  Mr.  Forward  came  from  a  hop  country 
he  soon  found  employment  after  his  arrival  in  America,  in  the  hop 
vineyards,  as  an  adept  in  the  business.  For  the  first  five  yearjs  he 
worked  out  for  one  man,  and  the  next  five  for  the  same  man,  having 
charge  of  the  vineyard.  His  principal  business  is  in  stock  raising, 
though  he  feeds  annually  about  100  head  of  steers.  He  also  pays  some 
attention  to  tlie  improvement  of  horses,  breeding  the  heavy  draft  Clydes- 
dales. This  is  far  from  a  complete  history  of  Mr.  Forward's  life.  We 
have  only  said  that  he  began  in  povert}^  and  is  now  a  rich  man. 
When  but  ten  years  of  age  he  was  taken  out  of  school,  and  worked  for 
the  same  man  until  he  was  twenty-four.  During  these  fourteen  years 
he  never  failed  to  receive  his  pay  every  Saturday  night,  and  never  had 
but  one  holiday  a  year,  this  holiday  being  Christmas,  when  permission 
was  given  him  to  hunt  with  the  hounds.  Such  is  the  difference  between 
the  life  of  the  workman  in  America  and  the  laborer  in  England. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  Mr.  Henderson  Sloan,  was  born  No- 
vember 26,  1810,  in  Antrim  county,  Ireland.  Here  his  parents  had 
resided  for  generations  back.  His  forefathers  were  shoemakers  by  trade, 
but  owned  some  land.  His  father's  name  was  James,  and  mother's 
Mary  (]5eck)  Sloan.  Such  educational  advantages  as  those  times  of- 
fered were  extended  to  Mr.  Sloan,  and  he  received  a  good  practical 


SOUTH    HENDERSON   TOWNSHIP.  1267 

education.     On  account  of  the  superior  advantages  offered  to  a  poor 
man  —  superior  as  compared  to  those  of  Ireland — Mr.  Sloan  sailed  for 
America,  to  try  his  fortune  there,  in  December  of  1850.     From  New 
Orleans,  where  he  first  touched,  he  came  up  the  Mississippi  to  Oquawka 
and  settled  in  Henderson  county.     Mr.   Sloan  began  by  working  for 
Capt.  Hutchinson  by  the  month.     From  this  he  took  contracts  on  the 
old  Peoria  and  Oquawka  railroad.     In  this  work  of  contracting  he 
obtained  quite  a  start,  and  in  1857  he  settled  down  on  his  farm  of  some 
400  acres,  which  lies  one  mile  east  of  Gladstone,  in  Sec.  11,  T.  10,  K.  5. 
Though  Mr.  Sloan  has  never  gone  actively  into  politics,  he  has  always 
believed  in  and  voted  with  the  democratic  party.     For  many  years  he 
has  given  his  attention  to  the  raising  of  stock.     Mr.  Sloan  is  one  of 
those  of  whose  coming  to  America  our  citizens  may  always  be  glad. 
The  subject  of  this  sketch,  William  H.  McCiiesney,  was  born  on 
February  2,  1816,  in  Strasburg  township,  Lancaster  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania.   His  ancestry  was  Irish,  his  father  and  mother  having  emigrated 
from  Tyrone,  near  Dungannon,  the  seat  of  the  O'Neils,  the  kings  of 
Ulster,  in  1794.     After  coming  to  America  Mr,  McChesney,  who  was 
educated  in  the  grammar  schools  of  his   native  town,  followed   the 
duties  of  school  teacher,  and  from  him  our  subject  received  the  most 
of  his  training.     In   1SP)3  his  parents  removed  to  Ohio,  settling  in 
Trumbull  county,  where  they  resided  nineteen  years,  after  which,  in 
1852,  two  years  after  the  coming  of  his  son,  they  removed  to  Hender- 
son county,  Illinois,  where  they  resided  up  to  the  time  of  their  death, 
Mr.  McCiiesney  dying  in  1856,  and  his  wife  eleven  years  later,  in 
1867.     On  September  26,  1861,  Mr.  McChesney  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Jane  Fort,  daughter  of  Jefferson  Fort,  an  old  resident 
of  Henderson  coanty.    To  them  were  born  two  children,  both  of  whom 
are  dead,  the  first  having  died  in  infancy,  and  the  second,  Nathaniel 
Macon,  in  1873.     On  April  27,  1868,  Mr.   McChesney  was  greatly 
afflicted  in  the  loss  of  his  wife,  who  died  at  the  age  of  thirty-three 
years.     Mr.  McChesney  came  to  Henderson  county  in  1846,  and  since 
1850  has  been  a  permanent  resident  of  the  county.     During  the  first 
four  years  of  his  residence  here  he  was  occupied  in  the  clerk's  office 
with  Dr.  Pollock.     In  1857  he  removed  to  a  farm,  which  avocation  he 
still  follows.     During  two  terms  he  has  filled  the  office  of  county  sur- 
veyor.     In  faith  Mr.   McChesney  was  brought  u])  by  Presbyterian 
parents.    In  politics  he  is  a  firm  believer  in  the  tenets  of  the  democratic 
party.     Now  that  he  has  been  bereaved  of  his  family,  Mr.  McChesney 
resides  in  Gladstone,  still  i-etaining  his  two  farms  of  160  acres  each, 
one  lying  four  miles  southwest  of  Gladstone  and  the  other  in  Hancock 
countv. 


1268  HISTORY    OF   arERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Thornton  Hedges,  merchant,  Gladstone,  son  of  William  Hedges, 
a  native  of  Virginia,  was  born  in  Pickaway  conntj,  Ohio,  on  March 
14, 1836.  When  about  three  years  of  age,  in  1839,  his  parents  removed 
to  DesMoines  county,  Iowa,  where  the  family  lived  till  1867,  when 
they  removed  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois.  In  1847  his  father, 
William  Hedges,  died  in  DesMoines  county  when  forty-four  years  of 
age.  Since  that  time  Mrs.  Hedges  has  resided  with  her  sons.  After 
his  removal  to  Henderson  county  Mr.  Hedges,  on  December  31,  1868, 
was  united  in  mari-iage  with  Miss  Mattie  A.  Gunter,  daughter  of  E.  W. 
Gunter,  then  a  citizen  of  Henderson  county.  Of  this  marriage, 
January  26,  1873,  one  child  has  been  born,  who  was  named  by  her 
parents  Luella  May.  Mr.  Hedges  received  his  early  education  in  the 
common  schools  of  Iowa,  which  were  then  in  their  infancy  and  of  a 
primitive  nature.  He  began  life  with  nothing.  In  August,  1868,  he 
went  into  business,  some  fourteen  years  ago,  during  which  time  he  has 
worked  as  a  druggist,  as  a  general  merchant,  as  a  butcher,  besides  a 
year  spent  in  grain  buying  in  Iowa.  He  is  now  doing  a  general  busi- 
ness as  a  merchant  in  Gladstone. 

Cyrus  Hedges,  liveryman,  also  a  son  of  William  Hedges,  was  born 
on  February  27,  1839,  in  Pickaway  county,  Ohio.  He  was  educated 
in  the  common  schools  of  DesMoines  county,  Iowa,  where  his  parents 
removed  in  1840.  When  the  call  came  for  volunteers,  in  the  summer 
of  1862,  Mr.  Hedges,  then  in  his  twenty-third  year,  enlisted  on 
August  9  in  Go.  C,  30tli  Iowa  Inf ,  under  command  of  Capt.  Roberts. 
In  the  grand  assault  of  Gen.  Grant  upon  Yicksburg  he  was  shot  twice, 
once  through  the  left  shoulder,  and  a  second  time  through  the  left 
lung.  He  was  entirely  helpless  for  more  than  two  months,  and  for 
nine  years  was  compelled  to  dress  his  wounds.  After  returning  to  his 
home  in  Iowa,  Mr.  Hedges  moved  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  and 
from  that  time  has  been  engaged  in  farming  and  in  the  livery  business, 
in  partnership  with  his  brother,  Leonard  Hedges,  third  son  of  William 
Hedges,  who  was  born  February  18, 1844,  in  DesMoines  county,  Iowa. 
In  this  county  Mr.  Hedges  passed  his  childhood  and  youth,  receiving 
his  education  in  the  school  near  his  home.  In  1867  he  removed  to 
Gladstone,  himself  and  his  brothers  residing  together,  their  mother 
being  with  them.  His  father  having  died  in  1847,  Mr.  Hedges  is  now 
with  his  brother  in  the  livei'y  business,  at  the  old  stand  of  P.  M.  Hall, 
a  name  that  will  be  recognized  throughout  the  county. 

Robert  C.  Beck,  son  of  John  and  Ellen  (Craig)  Beck,  was  born  in 
the  county  of  Antrim,  Ireland,  about  1826.  His  parents  were  of  the 
old  Irish  stock,  and  for  centuries  ])revious  to  their  emigration  to 
America  they  had  been  a  race  of  farmers.     Robert  C.  Beck  in  1847 


SOUTH   HENDERSON   TOVVNSHIl'.  1269 

was  married  to  Miss  Ellen  Gibb,  who  died  two  years  alter,  leaving 
one  son,  John  by  nanie.  This  son  was  in  the  late  war,  and  fought  in 
some  of  the  hardest  battles  of  the  rebellion.  On  March  1,  1850, 
Mr.  Beck  was  married  a  second  time,  his  wife's  maiden  name  being 
Margaret  Kaney,  daughter  of  Hugh  Ranoy,  also  of  Antrim  county. 
On  September  1,  1851,  they  sailed  for  America,  and  after  touching  at 
New  Orleans  they  ascended  the  Mississippi  river  to  Oquawka  and 
settled  in  Henderson  county,  where  they  were  destined  to  spend  the 
most  of  their  lives.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Beck  have  been  born  seven 
children,  six  of  whom  are  still  living,  one  daughter  having  died  at  the 
age  of  twenty-one.  Three  of  his  sons  are  out  in  life  for  themselves, 
while  his  three  daughters  are  all  at  home.  In  politics  Mr.  Beck  is  a 
republican.  He  resides  about  two  miles  southeast  of  Gladstone  on 
his  farm,  giving  his  attention  to  farming  and  stock  raising. 

Alexander  McFarland,  farmer,  Gladstone,  was  born  on  May  10, 
1818,  in  Washington  county.  New  York,  of  which  state  his  parents 
were  natives.  In  the  common  schools  he  obtained  his  education. 
Wlien  he  was  nineteen  years  of  age,  he,  accompanied  by  his  brother, 
removed  to  Quincy,  Illinois,  with  teams.  This  was  in  1837.  Here 
he  remained  for  fifteen  years,  engaging  in  the  prosecution  of  his  trade 
as  blacksmith.  When  the  gold  excitement  struck  the  country  Mr. 
McFarland  caught  the  fever  and  crossed  the  plains  in  a  wagon  to 
California.  When  he  reached  San  Francisco  he  had  crossed  the  conti- 
nent in  a  wagon,  as  just  before  leaving  home  in  New  York  he  had 
driven  to  Boston  in  a  wagon.  He  remained  in  California  seven  years 
and  then  returned  to  Henderson  county,  where  he  purchased  a  farm 
on  Sec.  10,  T.  10,  E.  5.  On  March  7,  1859,  he  was  married  to  Mrs. 
Mary  Dodge.  Of  this  marriage  one  child,  Laura,  was  born  on  No- 
vember 26,  1859,  who  in  June,  1882,  graduated  at  the  Baptist  College 
at  Burlington,  Iowa.  Mr.  McFarland  is  one  of  those  who  may  be 
rightfidly  called  a  self-made  man,  having  been  cast  out  on  the  world 
at  seven  years  of  age.  By  diligent  labor  he  has  gained  a  competence, 
and  now  owns  a  farm  af  180  acres  of  land,  which  he  rents.  He  resides 
in  Gladstone,  where  he  owns  a  beautiful  residence  and  store  building, 
the  last  of  which  is  occupied  in  part  by  the  Freemasons,  of  which  lodge 
Mr.  McFarland  is  a  prominent  member. 

Among  the  worthy  settlers  of  modern  times  are  the  sons  of  James 
and  Mary  (King)  McMatli.  Of  these  Rufus  Udolpho  was  born  in 
Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  January'  23,  1853.  His  parents  were 
Scotch-Irish,  his  grandfather  having  emigrated  to  America  about  1790. 
He  settled  in  Pennsylvania,  and  on  his  old  homestead  James  McMath 
and  his  sons  were  born.     In  1855  Mr.  McMath  emigrated  to  Ilender- 


1270  HISTORY    OF    MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

son  county,  Illinois,  and  settled  on  Sec.  10,  T.  10,  R.  5,  on  the  farm 
where  his  son  Rufus  now  resides.  In  the  common  schools  of  Gladstone 
Rufus  received  his  education  and  passed  his  early  youth  and  manhood. 
On  November  13,  1880,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Idella  Dunn,  daughter 
of  Allen  JVI.  Dunn,  of  Audubon  county,  Iowa.  To  them  has  been 
born  one  son,  by  name  Roscoe  Allen.  Mr.  McMath  now  resides  on 
the  N.  W.  1  of  Sec.  10,  T.  10,  R.  5.  He  is  the  owner  of  some  225 
acres  of  land,  upon  which  he  pursues  his  chosen  avocation  of  farming 
and  stock  raising.  He  is  now  director  of  the  school  district  in  which 
he  resides.  Mr.  McMath  is  a  lirm  believer  in  the  ideas  of  the  repub- 
lican party,  the  principles  of  which  his  father  accepted  before  him. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  Alexander  Wright  Lynn,  son  of 
Ezekiel  Wright  and  Olive  (Harvey)  Lynn,  was  born  January  29,  1838. 
His  father,  who  was  a  native  of  Hartford,  Connecticut,  emigrated  to 
Henderson  county  in  the  fall  of  1832,  and  settled  on  Sec.  10,  T.  10, 
R.  5,  whei'e  Mr.  Lynn  now  resides.  Some  idea  of  the  disadvantages 
of  those  days  is  given  by  recalling  the  fact  that  at  that  time  there  was 
no  house  between  South  Henderson  and  Ellison.  After  four  yeai-s' 
residence  in  this  county  Mr.  Lynn,  in  1836,  returned  to  his  native 
state,  and  there  on  March  14,  1837,  he  married  Miss  Olive  Harvey, 
whose  descent  can  be  traced  back  to  the  celebrated  family  of  Llarvey 
who  came  over  in  the  Mayflower  soon  after  their  marriage.  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Lynn  started  for  Illinois  in  a  wagon,  the  journey  occupying 
many  weeks.  In  the  edge  of  the  present  town  of  Gladstone,  where 
he  afterward  laid  out  the  town  of  Lynn,  Mr.  Lynn  erected  his  house, 
at  a  spot  near  the  Indians'  old  council  house.  Here  Mr.  Lynn  died 
March  4,  1871,  his  wife  having  died  many  years  before,  on  ]S[ovember 
21,  1846.  Four  of  their  six  children  are  now  living,  two,  Mary  Olive 
and  George  Huntingdon,  having  died  in  infancy.  Harriet  C.  is  now 
wife  of  Prof  John  Tweed,  of  Gladstone.  Olive  A.  is  the  wife  of 
Rev.  John  L.  Torpin,  of  Rock  Island.  One  son,  Charles,  served  three 
years  during  the  late  rebellion,  enlisting  as  a  private,  coming  out  as 
first  lieutenant.  Alexander  Wright  Lynn  was  the  eldest  of  the  six 
children.  He  was  married  in  Burlington,  Iowa,  on  November  18, 
1861,  to  ]\[iss  Sarah  Ann  Applebej^  Of  this  marriage  three  chil- 
•dren  were  born  :  two,  Marietta  and  Martha  Elizabeth,  are  at  home 
with  their  ]:)arents  ;  the  third,  Chauncey  Wright,  died  February  8, 
1878.  On  December  10,  1880,  Mrs.  Lynn  died  at  her  home.  Mr. 
Lynn  is  a  republican  in  politics;  in  religious  faith  he  is  a  member 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Hiram  Sylvester  Tweed,  son  of  Abram  and  Susan  (Merrill)  Tweed, 
was  born  May  8,  1837,  near  the  present  town  of  Gladstone,  Illinois. 


SOUTH    HENDERSON   TOWNSHIP.  1271 

In  descent  he  was  of  Irish-German  blood,  though  his  parents  were 
natives  of  the  State  of  Virginia.  Mr.  Tweed's  father,  Abram  Tweed, 
removed  to  Ohio,  and  after  a  short  residence  there  again  removed,  this 
time  to  Indiana,  where  he  resided  up  to  1835,  when  Mr.  Tweed  went 
to  Henderson  county  to  look  at  the  country,  and  after  making  prepara- 
tions to  bring  his  family  on  he  returned  for  them  in  the  spring  of 
1836.  Mr.  Tweed  settled  on  section  28,  where  he  resided  up  to  the 
time  of  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1815,  his  excellent  wife  having 
died  four  years  before.  The  subject  of  this  sketch,  Hiram,  received 
his  education  in  the  common  school  in  the  vicinity  of  his  home,  though 
the  educational  advantages  of  that  time  were  of  a  primitive  nature. 
On  January  T,  1862,  Mr.  Tweed  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Lucy  Ellen  Sage,  daughter  of  Gideon  and  Mary  Ellen  Sage,  her  father 
being  the  founder  of  Sagetown.  She  was  born  on  January  4,  1843. 
To  them  have  been  born  seven  children,  three  of  whom  are  dead. 
The  eldest,  Hiram  Leander,  died  in  1878,  aged  thirteen.  Two, 
Gideon  Abram  and  Charlie  Emerson,  died  in  June,  1881,  the  former 
being  ten  and  the  latter  twelve  years  of  age.  The  names  of  the  four 
living  are  :  John  W.,  James  T.,  Eddie  Ray  and  Katie  May.  Mr. 
Tweed  now  resides  on  his  farm  half  a  mile  south  of  Gladstone,  where 
he  gives  his  attention  to  farming  and  stock  raising. 

The  name  of  James  Ryason,  of  Gladstone  township,  will  be  recog- 
nized by  all  as  the  oldest  living  settler  in  Henderson  county.  More 
than  fifty -four  years  have  passed  away  since  first  his  feet  stepped  upon 
the  soil  of  Henderson  county,  and  he  has  lived  to  see  the  four  or  five 
men  who  preceded  him  here  carried  to  their  tombs.  Mr.  Ryason  was 
born  in  Pickaway  county,  Ohio,  on  December  14,  1803,  his  father's 
name  being  John  Ryason,  who  was  a  native  of  J^ew  Jersey.  He 
resided  in  his  native  county  until  he  was  twenty-one  years  old,  obtain- 
ing his  education  in  the  common  schools.  After  going  to  Louisville 
he  went  on  foot  to  Terre  Haute,  Indiana.  In  1824  Mr.  Ryason  emi- 
grated again,  this  time  to  Edgar  county,  Illinois,  where  he  worked  as 
a  tanner  in  the  employ  of  Isaac  Sanford.  Here  he  was  married  to 
Sarah  Lasswell,  daughter  of  John  L.  Lasswell,  a  native  of  Virginia. 
This  was  in  February,  1827.  One  year  after  his  marriage  he  emigrated 
to  Henderson  county  and  settled  about  three  miles  south  of  Oquawka. 
After  completing  preparations  for  his  family  he  returned  for  them,  and 
the  next  year,  the  fall  of  1829,  he  brought  his  family  to  his  new  home. 
During  the  time  of  the  Black  Hawk  war  Mr.  Ryason  was  a  member 
of  the  Rangers,  and  in  this  company  did  good  service  in  protecting  the 
homes  of  the  then  scattered  people.  At  the  time  of  the  organization 
of  the  county  Mr.  Ryason  served  as  deputy  sherifi:,  Mr.  S.  S.  Philps, 


1272  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

who  was  sheriff,  having  thrown  all  the  duties  of  that  office  upon  him. 
Mr.  Ryason  is  the  fother  of  eight  children,  six  of  whom  are  living. 
His  wife  died  in  Febi'uarv,  1844.  In  March,  1845,  Mr.  Rj^ason  mar- 
ried Miss  ISTancy  Webb,  who  lived  but  three  years.  In  1849  he 
married  Mrs.  K.  Howard,  who,  with  her  children,  lived  with  him  up 
to  1867.  One  of  his  sons,  Jasper  M.,  was  a  member  of  the  16th  111. 
Vols.  About  six  months  after  he  volunteered  he  lost  one  of  his  eyes. 
After  his  recovery  he  volunteered  a  second  time,  and  was  captured  by 
Col.  Morgan,  in  Kentucky.  Four  of  Mr.  Ryason's  sons  are  in  the 
west,  one  in  Mexico,  a  second  in  California  and  two  in  the  Black 
Hills.  During  the  early  days  of  the  history  of  Henderson  county  Mr. 
Ryason  was  one  of  the  staunch  men  of  the  county.  In  every  public 
enterprise  he  did  his  part,  and  did  it  willingly  and  well.  Though  a 
republican  in  politics,  he  votes  for  the  best  man,  permitting  no  narrow 
party  lines  to  hem  him  in.  Some  fifty-three  j^ears  ago  he  united  with 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  of  which  denomination  he  is  still  a 
member.  Further  reference  to  Mr.  Ryason's  early  days  may  be  found 
by  turning  to  another  page. 

Charles  A.  Martix,  fourth  son  of  Judge  Martin,  whose  sketch 
appears  elsewhere,  was  born  on  February  13,  1833,  in  Morgan  county, 
Illinois.  He  was  married  on  February  25,  1857,  to  Miss  Mary  M. 
Russell,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Melinda  (Winters)  Russell,  who 
came  to  Henderson  county  in  1831.  Both  of  Mrs.  Martin's  parents 
were  natives  of  Roan  county,  Tennessee.  Her  father,  who  was  born 
November  11,  1810,  died  September  29,  1881,  and  her  mother,  born 
August  19,  1810,  died  on  June  11,  1881.  Mr.  Russell  was  an  elder 
in  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  church  for  thirty-seven  years  prior  to 
his  death,  having  been  made  elder  in  1844,  a  year  after  joining  that 
denomination.  To  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Martin  have  been  born  two  children, 
Edwin  Russell,  born  November  15,  1858,  and  Alvah  Winters,  born  in 
August,  1872,  now  at  home  with  his  parents.  The  elder  son,  Edwin 
Russell,  died  on  April  12,  1882,  at  the  Electi-ic  Springs,  Arkansas, 
whither  he  liad  gone  in  search  of  health  and  vigor.  After  three  years' 
attendance  upon  the  Lincoln  University,  when  a  member  of  the  junior 
class,  he  was  compelled  to  give  up  his  studies  on  account  of  his  eyes, 
and  returned  home.  During  the  two  years  after  his  leaving  college 
and  previous  to  his  death  he  was  able  to  use  his  eyes  but  little.  To 
his  superior  ability  and  attainments  he  added  a  lofty  ambition  and 
noble  purpose,  and  now  ''though  dead  still  speaketh."  Mr.  Martin  and 
his  wife  are  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  church,  of 
which  their  son  Edwin  was  also  a  member.  They  now  reside  on 
Sec.  24,  T.  10,  R.  5,  and  here  Mr.  Martin  engages  in  farming  and 
stock  raising. 


-<s^^. 


"^5?=*: 


ty^.S,c/ty^  ^c^^erz^^ 


SOUTH    HENDERSON   TOWNSHIP.  1275 

Aloxzo  Woodari),  butcher,  Gladstone,  was  born  in  Montgomeiy 
county,  Ohio,  January  14,  1840.  His  parents,  who  were  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  emigrated  to  Henderson  county  in  1855,  coming  down 
the  Ohio  river  on  steamer.  Mr,  Woodard's  grandfather  was  in  the 
war  of  1812,  and  fought  for  our  second  independence.  In  1861  Mr. 
Woodard  enlisted  in  the  1st  Iowa  Battery,  commanded  by  Capt. 
Fletcher,  and  was  attached  to  Gen.  Sigel's  brigade.  During  his  ser- 
vice he  was  in  the  battle  of  Pea  Pidge,  against  Gen.  Price,  who  ca^D- 
tured  the  battery  to  which  Mr.  Woodard  belonged,  but  it  was  recap- 
tured. After  a  year's  service  Mr.  Woodard  was  discharged  on  account 
of  disability,  and  at  once,  in  1862,  went  to  Idaho,  where  he  remained 
for  seven  years.  In  1869  he  returned  to  Gladstone,  where  he  opened 
a  meat  market,  which  he  is  now  running.  He  has  been  twice  married, 
once  in  1858,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Miller,  who  died  in  1863.  In  1879  he 
was  again  married,  to  Miss  Marietti  Miller.  Of  this  marriage  three 
children  have  been  born,  all  of  whom  are  still  living  :  Oscar  A., 
Florence  May  and  Alice  Bell.  Mr.  Woodard  is  a  member  of  the 
masonic  fraternity,  and  also  belongs  to  Chapter  17,  at  Keithsburg, 

William  H.  IlAivnviot'K,  superintendent  of  the  manufacturing  depart- 
ment of  the  Gladstone  Refining  Company,  was  born  July  2,  1849,  in 
Abington  township,  Mercer  county.  His  father,  who  is  a  native  of 
Indiana,  was  one  of  the  earliest  settlers  of  Henderson  county,  having 
married  his  wife  in  Mercer  county  at  an  early  day.  In  the  common 
schools,  then  not  in  their  present  state  of  perfection,  Mr.  Hammock 
received  his  education.  On  September  2,  1869,  he  was  married  to 
Miss  P.  I.  Wiley,  daughter  of  Samuel  Wiley,  of  Warren  county.  Of 
this  union  seven  children  were  born  :  of  these,  two  died  in  infancy ;  the 
remaining  five,  Minnie  E.,  Ephraim  C,  Claude,  Mary  and  Daniel  M,, 
are  at  home  with  their  parents.  Mr.  Hammock  has  spent  most  of  his 
life  in  Henderson  county,  having  commenced  with  nothing.  He  began 
as  night  watchman  for  the  company  by  whom  he  is  now  employed  as 
superintendent  of  the  manufacturing  department. 

Gideon  Sage,  Gladstone,  for  whom  the  town  of  Sagetown  was 
originally  named,  was  born  September  2,  1797,  in  the  State  of  New 
York.  His  parents,  who  were  natives  of  Connecticut,  were  of  Scottish 
descent.  After  a  residence  of  some  years  near  Caledonia  Springs,  Mr. 
Sage,  when  twenty-one  years  of  age,  removed  to  Dearborn  count}', 
Indiana.  Here  he  remained  for  nearly  thirty  years.  On  July  18, 
1818,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Mary  Clark,  daughter  of  Eli  Clark,  who 
had  emigrated  from  Vermont.  Of  this  marriage  have  been  born 
fourteen  children.  Eight  of  them,  five  boys  and  three  girls,  are  still 
living  and  engaged  in  business  in  different  states.     In  1874  Mr.  Sage 


1276  HISTORY   OF    MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

was  bereft  of  his  wife,  she  dying  at  her  residence  in  Sagetown,  aged 
about  seventy-two  years.  Although  Mr.  Sage  began  life  a  poor  boy, 
he  has  become  the  possessor  of  much  property,  which  he  has  now 
(1882)  distributed  among  his  children.  He  is  now  eighty-live  years  of 
age  and  is  still  hale  and  hearty.  (A  further  account  of  Mr.  Sage  may 
be  found  by  turning  to  the  general  history  of  Sagetown,  which  was 
named  for  him. 

Albert  M.  Graham,  son  of  Joseph  C.  and  Sarah  (Garber)  Graham, 
was  born  near  Oquawka,  Illinois,  on  March  18,  1842.  So  far  as  his 
ancestry  can  be  traced,  he  is  of  Scotch  extraction  on  his  father's  side  ; 
of  German  on  his  mother's.  In  1817,  when  our  subject  was  but  five 
years  of  age,  his  father  died,  lea\dng  a  family  of  five  children,  of 
which  Albert  M.  was  the  youngest.  Cast  thus  early  upon  his  own 
resources,  adversity  early  developed  those  ideas  and  habits  that  make 
him  a  leader  among  men.  After  beginning  life  for  himself  Mr. 
Graham  united  with  the  Presbyterian  church  at  Oquawka  in  1858, 
and  in  1878  he  was  made  elder  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of  Glad- 
stone. In  April,  1863,  Mr.  Graham  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss 
Martlia  J.  White,  daughter  of  Stephen  and  Martha  White,  who  were 
natives  of  Ohio.  Mr.  Graham  joined  the  masonic  lodge  at  Gladstone 
in  1872,  and  for  the  three  years  past  (1882)  he  has  been  master  of  this 
lodge. 

James  Gary  Tolman,  son  of  James  W.  and  Lucretia  Tolman,  was 
born  near  Randolph,  Massachusetts,  on  September  7,  1816.  On  the 
maternal  side  of  his  grandparentage  he  is  a  direct  descendant  from 
John  Alden,  of  the  immortal  Mayflower.  As  the  name  indicates,  he 
is  also  descended  from  Thomas  Tolman,  who  settled  in  Massachusetts 
in  1630,  some  ten  years  after  the  coming  of  the  Mayflower.  Mr. 
Tolman  received  his  education  in  the  common  schools  of  Winnebago 
county,  Illinois,  to  which  state  his  parents  removed  at  an  early  day. 
In  1871  they  removed  to  Oquawka,  Henderson  county,  where  they 
now  reside.  In  the  fall  of  the  same  year  Mr.  Tolman  began  business 
in  Gladstone  as  an  apothecary  and  druggist.  On  August  26,  1878,  he 
was  commissioned  postmaster  of  Gladstone,  which  position  he  now 
holds,  having  been  reappointed  June  16,  1881.  Mr.  Tolman  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  A.  French  on  October  22,  1874.  Mrs. 
Tolman  is  the  daughter  of  Benjamin  French,  one  of  the  oldest  citizens 
of  Gladstone,  whose  biography  appears  elsewhere. 


TERRE    HAUTE    TOWNSHIP.  '       "  1277 


TEERE  HAUTE  TOWNSHIP. 

It  seems  strange,  when  one  looks  at  the  fine  farms  and  beautiful 
homes  that  are  now  so  numerous  in  the  beautiful  spot  of  earth  of  which 
we  are  now  writing,  that  but  a  few  years  ago,  seemingly,  the  naked 
savage,  the  howling  wolf  and  the  red  deer  roamed  over  it  almost 
unknown  to  the  "palefaces."  What  wonderful  strides  have  been 
made  in  the  sunlit  road  of  progress  in  this  part  of  the  beautiful  west 
within  less  than  half  a  century  !  Upon  the  summit  that  has  been  so 
soon  reached  one  can  but  stand  and  gaze  upon  the  past  in  astonish- 
ment and  bewilderment.  Instead  of  the  dusky  wari-ior  there  is  now 
the  peaceful  husbandman  ;  instead  of  the  tall  prairie-grass  is  the  golden 
grain  that  springs  from  the  earth  at  the  white  man's  call  ;  instead  of 
the  rude  tent  is  the  handsome  cottage  and  stately  mansion. 

Just  the  period  at  which  the  township  or  j^recinct  of  Terre  Haute 
was  first  settled  by  the  white  man  is  a  matter  somewhat  involved  in 
uncertainty,  but  it  was  as  early  as  1835,  and  possibl}'  earlier.  One 
of  the  oldest  settlers  that  is  now  living  in  Terre  Haute  is  Mr.  Steven 
Genung,  who  came  to  the  coimtry  in  1842  with  his  father's  family. 
They  came  from  near  Terre  Haute,  Indiana,  and  the  village  and  precinct 
of  Terre  Haute,  Illinois,  was  named  for  the  well  known  city  of  the 
same  name  in  the  Hoosier  State,  at  the  request  of  the  Genung  family. 
Mr.  Steven  Genung,  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  information,  was  a 
soldier  during  the  Mormon  trouble,  and  represents  that  that  was  a  time 
which  tried  men's  souls  who  were  for  peace  and  good  order. 

Mr.  Simeon  Averett,  who  is  also  yet  residing  in  Terre  Haute,  and 
who  has  reached  a  very  ripe  age,  was  also  a  soldier  in  the  ranks  of  the 
law-abiding  citizens  against  the  fanatical  horde  who,  in  the  name  of  a 
religion,  was  indulging  in  rapine,  theft  and  murder,  and  spreading  fear 
and  discontent  throughout  the  sparsely  settled  country.  Mr.  Averett 
was  on  guard  at  the  Carthage  jail  the  night  before  the  notorious  Joe 
Smith  was  sent  to  the  "happy  hunting  grounds." 

After  the  Mormon  war  was  over  and  the  law-abiding  citizens  of  the 
country  could  again  breathe  the  air  of  peace  and  slumber  peacefully  in 
their  newly  chosen  homes,  when  the  red  hand  of  persecution  had  been 
paralyzed  by  the  strong  arm  -of  law  and  justice,  the  new  county  com- 
menced to  settle  rapidly.  The  few  who  were  already  making  for 
themselves  fine  homes  in  this  "new  world"  served  as  a  guiding  star  for 
others,  and  ere  long  the  busy  hammer  could  be  heard  in  every  quarter, 
the  wild  grass  fell  in  the  furrows  of  the  brave  and  industrious  frontiers- 
man's plow  and  the  vast  desert  smiled  with  teeming.     Terre  Haute  is 


1278  HISTORY    OF    iCERCER   AJSTD    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

a  beautiful  spot  of  earth.  Land  commands  a  high  price  and  the 
farmers  are  generally  disinclined  to  cliange.  The  soil  is  a  rich  black 
loam  and  the  surface  is  just  undulating  enough  to  give  the  land  good 
■drainage.  Corn  is  the  principal  Grop,  and  many  of  the  farmers  are 
paying  a  great  deal  of  attention  to  high-bred  stock  culture.  There  are 
many  fine  horses  and  cattle  as  well  as  hogs  to  be  found  on  the  farms 
throughout  the  township  or  precinct. 

The  village  of  Terre  Haute  was  surveyed  and  plotted  March  22, 
1854,  by  Wm.  C.  Rice,  deputy  county  surveyor  of  Henderson  county, 
and  the  document  was  filed  by  John  L.  Pollock,  county  clerk,  March 
25,  1854.  This  original  plot  covered  a  little  more  than  13  acres  in  the 
corners  of  sections  20,  21,  28  and  29.  There  have  been  some  additions 
to  the  town.  Wm.  Archer  was  the  first  postmaster.  The  first  house 
built  on  the  present  site  of  Terre  Haute  was  erected  by  Wm.  Reynolds 
in  1848,  and  soon  afterward  Joseph  Genung  built  the  second.  The 
first  store-room  was  built  by  Alexander  Bushnell,  and  is  at  present 
used  for  a  wareroom  by  J.  J.  Bryan.  Dr.  Nelson  was  the  first 
physician,  and  went  to  the  village  on  foot.  Keokuk,  chief  of  the  Sacs 
and  Foxes,  then  had  his  headquarters  at  Burlington,  and  was  quite  a 
frequent  vjsitor  to  the  Terre  Haute  neighborhood.  Dr.  Smith  remem- 
bers of  often  sitting  on  the  knee  of  the  old  warrior. 

There  are  in  the  town  several  dry-goods,  grocery  and  notion  stores, 
as  well  as  a  drug  store,  restaurant,  wagon  and  blacksmith  shops  and 
other  general  business  found  in  a  thriving  country  village.  Dr.  E.  H. 
Trask,  Dr.  B.  F.  Hamilton  and  Dr.  W.  K.  Smith  are  the  physicians 
of  the  place.  Among  the  gentlemen  who  have  held  the  scales  of  the 
fair  goddess  of  justice  are  J.  Davis,  Wm.  Hartford,  A.  Bushnell,  W. 
C  Reynolds  and  A.  H.  Magie.  The  present  incumbents  are  Geo.  J. 
Morgan  and  C.  R.  Gittings. 

SECRET  ORDERS. 

There  is  a  flourishing  lodge  of  the  Independent  Order  of  Odd- 
Fellows  in  the  village.  It  was  organized  October  11,  1876,  at  Raritan. 
M.  M.  Field,  J.  C.  Coulson,  C.  W.  Hardisty,  A.  E.  Stanley  and  L. 
W,  Calhoun  were  the  charter  members.  The  lodge  was  transferred 
from  Raritan  to  Terre  Haute  in  1879  and  the  name  changed  accord- 
ingly. Many  of  the  most  prominent  citiiens  of  the  callage  and  vicinity 
are  members  of  the  lodge. 

A  REMARKABLE  FAMILY. 

A  family  remarkable  for  longevity  is  the  Allen  family.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Amasa  Allen  liave  been  married  seventy-six  years.     Mr.  Allen  is 


TKERE    HAUTE   TOWNSHIP.  1279 

ninety-five  years  of  age  and  Mrs,  Allen  is  ninety-one.  The  ages  of 
their  children  now  living  are  as  follows  :  Martin,  now  living  in  New 
York,  is  seventy  years  old  ;  Hannah,  sixty-seven  ;  Mary,  sixty-four, 
Joseph,  sixty-one  ;  A.  F.  57 ;  A.  T.  52.  The  father,  Mr.  Amasa  Allen, 
is  yet  quite  a  sprightly  old  gentleman.  The  first  fourth  of  July  cele- 
bration at  Terre  Haute  was  in  1856,  and  was  held  in  Edmond  Genung's 
grove.  The  dinner  was  free  and  about  six  hundred  persons  partook 
of  it.  Mr.  M.  C.  Paul  was  marshal  and  a  Mr.  Reed,  or  Eeid,  of  Oquawka, 
delivered  the  oration.  The  old  settlers  yet  living,  who  had  the  pleasure 
of  attending  that  celebration,  join  in  saying  that  there  was  never  a  better 
one  and  they  love  to  call  it  to  mind,  and  they  feel  young  again  in 
talking  over  the  occasion.  It  is  indeed  a  blessed  thing,  when  age  jjuts 
its  mark  upon  us,  to  call  to  mind  the  many  joyous  days  we  had  when 
we  basked  in  the  sunlight  of  strength  and  vigorous  manhood. 

CHURCHES. 

The  first  church  was  the  Methodist  Episcopal.  The  first  society  of 
this  denomination  was  organized  in  a  class  in  the  Genung  school-house 
near  where  the  \^llage  of  Terre  Haute  now  stands.  In  August,  1850, 
the  La  Harpe  circuit  was  organized  and  Charles  Genung  was  class- 
leader  of  this  society,  which  was  the  northeast  appointment  of  the  La 
Harpe  circuit.  This  society  stands  ahead  of  all  others  in  the  La  Harpe 
circuit  in  their  reports  to  the  quarterly  conference.  In  their  support  of 
preaching  and  benevolent  woi'k  their  report  excels,  per  number,  all  other 
societies. 

The  society  has  a  good  substantial  brick  church  building,  which 
was  dedicated  in  the  summer  of  1854.  The  first  quarterly  meeting  was 
held  in  the  new  church  on  August  12  and  13  of  the  same  year.  Rev, 
M.  J.  Geddings  and  Joseph  Milsap  were  the  preachers  in  charge,  and 
Rev.  Milton  Bourne  was  presiding  elder.  Charles  Genung  and  AYm. 
F.  Ai'cher,  stewards,  and  Mr.  Archer  and  Joseph  Allen  class-leaders. 
Rev.  AVm.  F.  Archer  was  a  local  elder,  but  was  two  years  on  the  La 
Harpe  circuit  as  a  supply.  In  the  fall  of  1860  Terre  Haute  was  sepa- 
rated from  La  Harpe  circuit  by  the  annual  conference,  but  at  the  first 
quarterly  meeting  of  the  La  Harpe  circuit  a  class-leader  from  Terre 
Haute,  Mr.  Joseph  Allen,  representiiig  the  church  at  Terre  Haute,  asked 
that  it  be  continued  with  the  La  Harpe  circuit,  and  the  prayer  of  the 
petitioner  was  granted.  F.  M.  Qiafiee  was  the  preacher  in  charge  ot 
La  Harpe  circuit,  and  Rev.  A.  Magee  presiding  elder.  In  the  year 
1865-6  Joseph  Allen,  E.  Genung  and  J.  Snick  were  official  mem- 
bers of  notoriety.  In  1866  Terre  Haute  was  permanently  sepai-ated 
from  La  Harpe.     The  house  of  worship  owned  by  the  Terre  Haute 


1280  HISTORY    OF    FIERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

society  is  a  fine  brick  structure  40X50,  with  a  good  basement.  The 
roof  has  been  blown  off  twice  by  severe  wind-storms.  Rev.  P.  S.  Gar- 
retson  is  the  present  pastor  of  the  society,  and  has  been  for  near  three 
years.  They  have  j^reaching  every  alternate  Sunday  evening  and 
Sunday  school  every  Sunday  at  ten  o'clock  a.m.  Class  leader  and 
superintendent,  Joseph  Allen;  recording  steward,  C.  R.  Gittings; 
stewards,  Clias.  Curry,  T.  W.  Jenkins,  Steven  Genung  and  Wm.  Rob- 
inson; trustees,  George  Morgan,  Joseph  Allen,  Wm.  Rogers,  Jacob 
Snick  and  Steven  Genung. 

The  £aj}ttst  Clim'cli — was  built  in  1866  and  dedicated  in  June, 
186T.  The  society  was  organized  in  the  Genung  school-house  in  1851, 
by  father  Sewell.  At  that  time  preaching  was  not  always  the  most 
pleasant  task.  The  preacher  was  often  called  on  to  use  his  fists  as  well 
as  his  voice  to  bring  sinners  to  a  realization  of  their  wickedness,  and 
many  a  man  had  to  have  a  pounding  before  he  got  religion. 

The  number  of  adherents  at  the  organization  of  the  society  were 
perhaps  not  more  than  half  a  dozen,  but  the  society  grew  and  flourished 
until  1866,  when  they  spent  nearh'  three  thousand  dollars  in  a  church 
building.  They  now  have  from  forty  to  fifty  members.  The  society 
is  of  the  Free- Will  denomination.  The  Rev.  F.  W.  Westfall  is  their 
present  pastor. 

EDUCATIONAL. 

The  school-house  in  the  village  is  veiy  commodious,  and  the  school 
buildings  throughout  the  township  about  the  same  as  in  other  paits  of 
the  country. 

The  town  of  Terre  Haute  is  a  very  temperate  place,  the  majority  of 
the  citizens  frowning  down  drunkenness  and  rowdyism  of  every  sort. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Moses  Peasley  was  born  in  Ware,  New  Hampshire,  September 
17,  1773.  His  lather,  Jonathan  Peasley,  was  a  native  of  !New  Hamp- 
shire, antl  his  mother,  Sarah  (Carr)  Peasley,  was  a  daughter  of  a  sea 
captain.  Moses  Peasley  early  engaged  in  agriculture.  He  was  mar- 
ried June  5,  1799,  to  Miss  Lydia  Evans,  who  was  born  in  New  Hamp- 
shire, July  25,  1773.  A  few  years  after  marriage  Moses  Peasley  and 
wife  settled  in  the  Province  of  Quebec,  then  Canada  East.  One  child, 
Lydia,  was  born  February  20,  1800,  and  Moses  O.  E.,  born  March  9, 
1802.  Mrs.  Lydia  (Evans)  Peasley  died  February  9,  1801.  JVIi-. 
Peaslev  next  married  October  16,  1806,  Miss  Pollv  Aver,  whose 
father,  Joseph  Aver,  was  born  May  19,  1755,  and  whose  mother,  Sally 
Ayer,  was  born  November  27,  1758,  in  New  Hampshire.     The  former 


TEERE    HAUTE    TOWNSHIP.  1281 

died  December  25,  1815,  and  the  latter  April  18,  1817.  Polly  was 
born  in  New  Ilampsliire,  March  25,  1789,  and  was  taken  by  her  par- 
ents to  Canada,  in  an  early  day,  when  the  lands  were  covered  with 
thick  wood,  which  required  genuine  labor  to  remove  that  crops  might 
be  raised.  After  a  life  of  toil  Moses  Peasley  died  October  16,  1851, 
followed  by  his  wife  August  15,  1855.  They  were  the  parents  of  ten 
children  :  John  G.,  born  August  18,  1808,  and  died  February  7,  1814; 
Sally  IL,  born  April  10,  1812;  John  S.,  born  July  8,  1814;  James, 
born  April  7,  1817,  died  May  22,  1817  ;  Polly,  born  April  23,  1818 ; 
Betsey,  born  April  29,  1820  ;  James  F.,  born  January  15,  1822  ; 
Hari-iet,  born  July  3,  1824 ;  Francis  A.,  born  July  22,  1829  ;  and  Helen 
A.,  born  October  10,  1831.  John  S.,  Francis  A.,  James  F.,  Polly 
and  Helen  emigrated  to  the  United  States,  the  three  boys  mentioned 
settling  in  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  John  S.  in  1836  and  Francis  in 
about  1852. 

Jajvies  F.  Peasley,  to  whose  memory  these  lines  are  especially 
written,  was  born  in  Canada.  His  life  has  been  spent  on  the  farm, 
where  many  acres  have  gradually  clustered  around  him,  giving  pasture 
to  fine  herds  of  stock  as  results  of  labor  well  economized.  His  school 
advantages  were  very  limited,  yet  self  perusal  of  books  and  practical 
everyday  thought  has  made  him  a  good  business  man.  When  twenty- 
one  years  of  age  he  purchased  100  acres  of  the  home  farm,  which  he 
controlled,  and  also  managed  the  rest.  He  was  married  January  30, 
1853,  to  Sarah  Tarleton,  daughter  of  Stillman  a^id  Harriet  (Webster) 
Tarleton,  both  natives  of  I^ew  Hampshire.  The  former  is  buried  at 
Hartford,  Connecticut,  and  the  latter  at  Tamworth,  JSTew  Hampshire. 
Mrs.  Peasley  was  born  June  12,  1835,  in  Piermont,  IS^ew  Hamp- 
shire. Mr.  Peasley  resided  in  Canada  till  1855.  He  was  school  com- 
missioner and  a  member  of  the  council  of  Stanstead  coimty.  He  was 
one  of  a  number  of  men  appointed  by  the  people  to  examine  the  titles 
of  the  lands  of  that  section  and  to  secure  evidence  for  the  purpose  of 
defeating  the  effort  of  Sir  Stewart  to  deprive  the  settlers  of  their 
homes.  The  lawyer  employed  secured  the  passage  of  a  bill  in  par- 
liament which  resulted  in  a  government  grant  elsewhere  to  satisfy  Sir 
Stewart's  claim.  In  1855  Mr.  Peasley  came  to  Henderson  county, 
Illinois,  where  he  bouglit  the  S.  ^  of  Sec.  10,  T.  8  N.,  Pt.  5  W.  In 
the  following  fall  he  built  a  small  one-and-a-half  story  frame  house, 
which  he  occupied  till  1858,  when  it  was  destroyed  by  storm  while 
the  family  were  within  it.  The  house  was  rebuilt  with  the  assistance  of 
neighbors,  ever  at  hand  at  such  needy  times.  Mr.  Peasley  built  his 
present,  substantial  residence  in  1875.  He  has  improved  his  farm  and 
has  added  till  he  has  720  "acres  in  his  home  farm  and  270  elsewhere. 


1282  HISTORY    OF    MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

He  takes  great  pride  in  his  stock  and  gives  this  department  of  his  busi- 
ness considerable  attention.  In  politics  Mr.  Peaslev  holds  republican 
doctrines.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peaslev  are  parents  of  an  interesting  family 
of  six  children  :  Helen  M. ,  Alfred  E. ,  Harriet  A. ,  James  O. ,  Bertha  A. 
and  Sewell  H. 

Joseph  Ai.len  was  born  in  ISTew  York  in  1821.  His  parents  were 
Amasa  and  Susanna  Allen ;  his  father,  of  Connecticut,  his  mother,  of 
New  York,  where  thej  were  married.  In  1855  they  came  to  Hender- 
son county,  and  now  live  with  their  son,  Joseph.  They  raised  a  family 
of  twelve  children,  seven  of  whom  are  now  living.  Mary,  Rodger 
and  Joseph  live  in  Henderson  county.  He  and  wife  are  members  of 
the  Free-AYill  Baptist  church,  at  Terre  Haute.  He  is  now  ninety-five, 
his  wife  ninety-one  years  old.  Joseph  Allen  was  reared  on  the  farm, 
his  education  was  that  of  the  common  school.  He  resided  in  his 
native  state  till  1851,  when  he  came  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois, 
and  located  where  he  now  resides.  In  1818  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Amy  C.  Wescott,  a  native  of  New  York,  born  in  1823,  and  daughter 
of  Henry  and  Amy  D.  Wescott,  both  of  Massachusetts,  and  emigrated 
to  New  York  when  youcg.  In  1854  they,  her  parents,  came  to  Hen- 
derson county,  where  her  father  died  shortly  after  his  arrival,  in  the 
seventy-seventh  year  of  his  age.  Her  mo,tlier  lived  thirteen  years  after 
her  emigration  to  this  county,  and  died  at  eighty-four  years  of  age. 
She  was  a  member  of  the  Close-Communion  Baptist  church.  The 
last  nine  years  of  her  life  she  was  blind,  but  bore  patiently  her  loss 
and  was  never  heard  to  complain.  Joseph  Allen  and  wife  have  one 
adopted  son,  Willie  J.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church,  at  Terre  Haute.  He  has  held  most  of  the  offices  in 
the  church.  He  was  county  commissioner  live  years,  and  held  the 
office  of  school  treasurer  twenty-five  years.  He  has  a  well  improved 
farm  of  80  acres,  located  one  mile  north  of  Terre  Haute. 

J.  C.  Nelson  is  son  of  George  C.  and  Charlotte  Nelson,  whose 
histoiy  will  appear  in  the  biographical  department  of  this  township. 
He  was  born  in  1819,  in  Pike  county,  Illinois.  He  was  reared  on  the 
farm,  and  received  no  other  education  beyond  the  common  school 
and  fourteen  months  at  Abington,  Illinois.  In  1872  he  was  married 
to  Sarah  Boyer,  of  Pennsylvania,  daughter  of  William  and  Mary 
Boyer.  In  1856  they  emigrated  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  and 
now  reside  in  La  Harpe,  Hancock  county.  They  are  members  of  the 
Christian  church.  He  is  a  farmer.  Mr.  Nelson  has  by  this  marriage 
two  children :  James  S.  and  Jennie  M.  He  has  a  well  improved  farm 
of  240  acres,  and  is  a  successful  farmer. 


TERRE    HAUTE   TOWNSHIP.  1283 

William  J.  Loyitt  (deceased)  was  not  of  the  first  settlers  of  Hen- 
derson county,  but  came  when  the  country  was  comparatively  new. 
The  improvements  of  every  kind  which  now  are  seen  on  every  hand 
were  in  their  infancy.  lie  was  born  in  1810,  and  was  a  native  of 
Maryland.  His  parents  were  Daniel  and  Mary  Lovitt,  who  emigrated 
to  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  when  their  son,  William  J.,  was  only  ten 
years  old.  This  was  their  last  location.  Here  they  both  died.  They 
were,  by  vocation,  farmers.  Their  religious  faith  was  that  of  the 
Baptist  church,  of  which  they  both  were  members.  In  1857  William 
J.  Lovitt  located  in  Henderson  county,  in  the  southeast  part  of  town- 
ship 8,  section  5,  where  he  remained  till  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
1876.  In  1837  he  was  married  to  Lydia  A.  Grigsby,  of  Virginia,  who 
was  born  January  1820.  She  was  the  daughter  of  John  and  Sarah  F. 
Grigsby,  both  of  Virginia.  They  emigrated  to  Ohio  when  she  was 
five  years  old.  They  both  died  in  Ohio ;  her  father  in  1870,  at  the 
age  of  eighty  years ;  her  mother  in  1830,  aged  forty  years.  They  were 
married  in  1812.  John  Grigsby  was  left  an  orphan  when  two  years 
old.  By  this  union  AVilliam  J.  Lovitt  had  eleven  children:  Rue  E., 
Elmus  (deceased),  Sarah  F.,  Arthur  (deceased),  Epaminondas,  Mary, 
Cordias,  Marion,  Manerva,  John  W.,  and  Haney.  His  widow  lives 
on  the  old  homestead  of  160  acres,  which  is  well  improved  and  a 
delightful  home.  She  is  a  member  of  the  Bedford  Christian  church, 
in  Hancock  county,  as  was  her  husband.  Says  one  of  his  brother 
church  members,  "his  death  was  looked  upon  as  a  calamity  in  the 
community.  The  uncontrollable  grief  of  his  stricken  family  testified 
how  tenderly  and  dearly  they  esteemed  his  virtues  as  a  husband  and 
father.  As  an  officer  in  the  church  he  was  practical,  discerning 
and  decided.  He  devoutly  loved  his  God  and  his  brethren.  He  was 
remarkable  for  both  his  humility  and  modesty.  Highly  respected  as 
he  was  in  the  church,  he  commanded  no  less  outside  of  the  church. 

Among  the  early  settlers  and  pioneers  of  Henderson  county 
was  Joseph  Gexung,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He  was  a  native  of 
New  Jersey,  born  in  1784.  His  father  was  the  son  of  Josiali  Genung. 
He  was  a  farmer  by  vocation  and  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church.  Joseph  Genung  remained  in  his  native  state  till  he  was 
thirty-five  years  of  age.  There  he  was  reared  to  the  vocation  of  farm- 
ing. His  early  education  was  that  of  the  district  school  of  his 
neighborhood.  He  married  in  1807  Mary  Coil,  a  native  of  Maryland, 
by  whom  he  had  five  children,  who  grew  up  to  manhood  and  woman- 
hood's years,  three  of  whom  are  now  living  :  Albert  H.,  Mary  and 
Stephen.  Edmund  and  Hester  A.  are  deceased.  In  1817  he  emigrated 
to  Indiana  and  located  near  New  Albany.     In  1827  he  moved  to  Vigo 


1284  HISTORY    OF    MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

county,  Indiana,  locating  near  Terre  Hante.  In  1842  he  came  to 
Illinois,  where  lie  died  in  1855.  He  was  well  respected  by  all  who  knew 
him,  and  left  a  large  circle  of  friends  to  mourn  his  departure.  His 
son,  Stephen  Genung,  now  resides  on  a  part  of  what  was  his  father's 
farm.  He  was  born  in  1821  in  the  State  of  Indiana,  and  came  to  Hen- 
derson county,  Illinois,  with  his  father.  His  early  education  was  that 
of  the  pioneer  schools  of  Indiana.  He  has  always  pursued  the  voca- 
tion of  farming.  Pie  married  in  1855  Mary  Trainor,  a  native  of  New 
Jersey,  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  Trainor,  by  whom  he  had  one 
child,  Mary  J.  He  has  an  adoj)ted  son,  George  G.  He  enlisted  in  the 
army  August  T,  1862,  in  the  91st  111.  Yols.,  Co.  B,  and  served  three 
years  as  a  private.  He  was  in  the  following  engagements  :  Bacon 
Creek,  Kentucky,  Morgan's  Bend,  Mobile  and  Whitter,  two  miles  from 
the  former  place.  The  entire  regiment  was  taken  prisoner  and  he  was 
held  six  months  before  they  were  exchanged.  Mr.  Genung  has  a  farm 
of  110  acres  located  at  Terre  Haute  and  keeps  a  good  grade  of  all 
kinds  of  farm  stock.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church. 

Among  the  iirst  pioneers  to  locate  in  this  township  was  the  Ed- 
munds family.  Oliver  Edmunds,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born 
in  Oliio,  and  emigrated  when  eight  years  old  to  Henderson  county 
with  his  parents,  Obediah  and  Lydia  (Moors)  Edmunds.  His  father 
was  a  native  of  Rutland  county,  Yermont,  born  in  1788.  Obediah 
Edmunds  Jr.'s  father,  Obediah  Edmunds  Sr.  was  a  native  of  Rhode 
Island,  but  was  reared  principally  in  Yermont.  He  married  in  Yer- 
mont, wliere  he  i-aised  a  famil}^  and  died.  He  married  Sarah  Williams, 
a  granddaughter  of  'Roger  Williams.  He  was  a  revolutionary  soldier 
and  belonged  to  the  Yermont  Minute  Men.  James  Edmunds,  father 
of  Obediah  Edmunds,  Sr.,  was  also  engaged  in  the  revolution  and  was 
taken  prisoner  by  Burgoyne's  scouts.  About  1810  Obediah  Edmunds 
Jr.  emigrated  to  New  York,  where  he  resided  till  1819,  when  he 
removed  to  Columbia  county,  Pennsylvania.  In  .  1825  he  moved  to 
Ohio,  where  he  remained  till  1837.  He  then  came  to  Henderson 
county  with  his  family,  and  located  in  T.  8,  R.  5,  near  the  south  line 
of  the  county,  where  he  resided  till  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1853, 
in  the  sixty-fifth  year  of  his  age.  His  wife  survived  him  six  years, 
and  died  in  her  seventy-third  year.  They  built  the  second  house 
in  the  township.  They  raised  a  family  of  ten  children,  only  two 
of  whom  are  now  living.  Obediah  Jr.  was  in  early  life  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  but  died  a  Quaker.  In  politics  he 
was  a  radical  anti-slavery  advocate.  Oliver  Edmunds,  his  son,  lives 
on  the  old  homestead,  where  he  was  born  in  1825.     His  early  educa- 


TERRE    HAUTE   TOWNSHIP.  1285 

tion  was  limited,  because  of  there  being  but  few  schools  here  during 
his  boyhood.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm  where  he  has  since  lived. 
In  1854  he  was  married  to  Eliza  Spiker,  of  Ohio,  born  in  1834, 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Kachel  (Hekle)  Spiker ;  the  father  of  Maryland, 
the  mother  of  Yirginia.  In  1839  they  came  with  the  early  settlers  and 
located  in  Hancock  county,  where  Henry  Spiker  died  in  1846,  at  the 
age  of  thirty-four  years.  His  wife  yet  resides  in  Hancock  county, 
where  they  first  located.  Oliver  Edmunds  has  by  this  marriage  four 
children:  Marilda,  John  A.,  Charles  S.  and  Bertie  H.  He  has  a 
well  improved  farm  of  555  acres  and  keeps  a  good  grade  of  all  kinds 
of  farm  stock. 

George  W.  Chandler  is  one  of  the  prominent  farmers  in  the  town- 
ship. His  farm  is  located  in  the  N'.W.  corner  of  T.  8,  K.  5,  and 
consists  of  500  acres  of  line  farming  land  well  improved.  He  was 
born  in  Green  coimty,  Pennsylvania,  in  1835.  His  parents  were  Jesse 
and  Kachel  Chandler,  whose  history  will  appear  in  connection  with 
the  sketch  of  John  T.  Chandler,  of  this  township.  George  W.'s  early 
education  was  that  of  the  district  school  and  one  winter  at  Henry, 
Illinois.  He  came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents.  AVlien  he  set  out  to 
do  for  himself,  his  capital  to  begin  business  with  was  such  as  nature 
had  provided  for  him,  namely,  energy  combined  with  good  business 
judgment.  He  labored  for  several  years  as  a  hired  man.  In  1860  he 
bought  the  farm  where  he  now  lives,  and  was  married  the  same  year 
to  Estel  Eetzel,  of  Pennsylvania,  who  was  born  in  1841,  in  Lancaster 
county,  and  a  daughter  of  George  and  Catharine  Eetzel.  Her  father 
was  a  native  of  Maryland,  and  came  to  Pennsylvania  with  his  parents 
when  a  small  boy.  Her  mother  was  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  where 
they  were  married.  In  1855  they  came  to  Illinois  and  located  in 
Henderson  county.  Her  father  died  in  December,  1881,  aged  seventy- 
three  years ;  her  mother  in  March,  1882,  aged  sixty-seven  years.  They 
were  highly  respected  in  the  community,  and  all  mourned  their 
departure.  The  Retzel  family  is  of  Scotch-Irish  descent.  George  W. 
Chandler  has  by  this  marriage  one  child,  George  E.  He  keeps  a 
good  grade  of  all  kinds  of  farm  stock. 

AViLLiAJvi  II.  MxiRSDEN  is  a  native  of  Cheshire  county,  England. 
He  was  born  in  1837,  and  is  a  son  of  Thomas  A.  and  Elizabeth 
(Hardman)  Marsden.  In  1839  they  came  to  America  and  located  at 
Dayton,  Ohio,  where  they  remained  till  ^844,  when  they  came  to 
Henderson  county,  and  returned  to  Dayton  the  following  year.  In 
1867  they  came  again  to  Henderson  county,  and  now  live  at  Carman, 
this  county.  His  wife,  Elizabeth,  died  soon  after  he  located  at  Dayton 
the  first  time.     In  Dayton  lie  carried  on  a  livery  stable  until   1865, 


1286  HISTORY    OF    ]MERCEE    AXD    HEXDEKSOX    COUNTIES. 

when  he  engaged  in  the  himber  trade.  AYilliam  H.  was  reared  to  the 
vocation  of  farming,  which  he  has  always  followed  except  three  years  ; 
during  that  time  he  was  in  the  service.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in  the 
army,  in  Co.  B,  91st  reg.  111.  Vols.,  and  served  three  years.  He 
was  in  the  following  battles :  Bacon  Creek  (Ivy.),  where  he  was  taken 
prisoner;  Athafayla  (Ga.),  Spanish  Fort,  Blakely,  Whistler  and 
Mobile,  besides  numerous  skirmishes.  He  passed  through  the  war 
without  receiving  any  injury.  In  1859  he  was  married  to  Laurena  J. 
Volentine,  of  Ohio,  born  in  1835,  daughter  of  Stephen  and  Mary 
Volentine.  Her  father  was  a  native  of  Xew  York;  her  mother  of 
Connecticut.  They  came  to  Ohio  in  1845,  where  her  father  died  in 
1879,  aged  seventy-five;  her  mother  died  in  1877,  aged  sixty  years. 
William  H.  Marsden,  by  this  marriage,  has  nine  children  living: 
Thomas  W.,  Stephen  H.,  Mary  H.,  Ulyses  L.,  John  E.,  Isaac  R,, 
Louella,  Lourinda  V.  and  Ernest  A.  He  has  a  fine  farm  of  380 
acres,  and  keeps  a  good  class  of  farm  stock.  He  and  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  he  of  the  masonic  lodge 
at  Carman.  William  H.  Marsden's  grandfather,  William  Marsden, 
located  in  township  8,  range  5,  where  the  widow  Kirby  now  lives,  and 
opened  a  farm  in  the  then  wilderness.  He  was  a  native  of  England. 
He  died  in  1861,  in  Hancock,  at  the  age  of  seventy-four  years. 

George  C.  Nelson,  one  of  the  most  extensive  land  owners  and 
stock  raisers  in  the  township,  is  a  native  of  the  Buckeye  State ;  born 
in  1 823.  His  parents  were  Elisha  and  Mary  Nelson,  both  of  whom 
were  born  in  Maryland,  where  they  were  reared  and  married.  They 
emigrated  to  Ohio  with  its  early  settlers,  where  they  farmed  and  kept 
hotel.  In  1842  they  emigrated  from  Ohio  to  Pike  county,  Illinois, 
where  they  both  died  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  about  eighty  years.  The 
mother  was  a  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church.  The  father 
served  as  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  Burges  R.  Nelsou,  tatlier  of 
Elisha  Nelson,  lived  in  Maryland  all  his  life.  He  was  a  minister  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  faith.  He  was  a  successful  financier  ;  a  pro- 
prietor and  director  in  a  bank  corporation.  He  lived  to  the  extreme 
age  of  ninety-eight  years,  and  then  was  murdered  for  his  money.  He 
was  a  man  that  was  highly  respected  for  his  good  qualities  and  high 
integrity.  He  frequently  visited  his  son,  Elisha,  in  Ohio,  making  the 
entire  distance  to  and  from  on  horseback.  He  served  in  the  revolu- 
tionary war.  George  C,  Nelson  came  to  Pike,  Illinois,  with  his 
parents,  and  remained  there  till  1848,  when  he  eame  to  Henderson 
county.  He  has  since  resided  in  Henderson  county.  He  was  reared 
on  the  farm.  His  early  education  was  such  as  he  could  obtain  during  the 
winter  months  in  the  district  school.     He  was  first  mari-ied  in  1842  in 


TERRE    HAUTE    TOWNSHIP.  1287 

Ohio,  to  Charlotte  Carnes,  native  of  Oliio,  bom  in  1822,  and  a  daughter 
of  Reason  and  Elizabeth  Carnes,  both  of  Maryland.  By  this  marriage 
G.  C.  Nelson  had  five  children:  Matilda  J.,  Elislia  R.,  John  C.  and 
Elizabeth.  The  mother  of  these  died  in  1850.  In  1852  he  was  married 
a  second  time,  to  Sarah  A.  Irvin,  of  Ohio,  born  in  18)^3,  daughter  of 
James  and  Martha  Irvin.  They'  emigrated  in  1854  to  Pike  county, 
Illinois.  Her  father  is  yet  living,  and  is  seventy-eight  years  old  ;  her 
mother  died  in  1882  at  the  age  of  seventy-six  years.  The}-  were  by 
occupation  farmers,  and  old  soldiers  of  the  cross  in  the  United  Brethren 
church.  B}"  this  marriage  Mr.  Nelson  has  twelve  children  :  William 
S.,  Joshua,  Abraham  L.  (deceased),  Melissa  J.  (deceased),  Comelia 
(deceased),  George  O.  (deceased),  James  L.  (deceased),  Charles  H., 
Ricliard  E.,  Isaac  M..,  Bessie  S.,  and  Quincy  W.  James  and 
Martha  Irvin  were  both  of  Ohio.  His  parents  were  James  and  Eliza- 
beth Irvin.  They  emigrated  from  Virginia  to  Ohio  in  early  times,  and 
made  the  journey  on  horseback.  He  was  a  farmer,  and  died  at  the 
age  of  eighty  years.  His  wife  came  to  Pike  county,  Illinois,  where 
she  lived  to  the  age  of  eighty  years.  Mr.  Nelson  held  the  office  of 
county  supervisor  one  term.  He  has  1,580  acres  of  fine  farming  land, 
on  which  he  keeps  the  best  grades  of  sheep,  horses,  cattle  and  hogs. 
He  lives  at  the  county  line  between  Henderson  and  Hancock  counties. 
Joseph  H.  Maygie  is  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  born  in  1831,  son  of 
Abraham  and  Pheobe  (Tunis)  Magie,  both  of  New  Jersey.  His  father 
was  born  in  1799,  at  East  Madison,  and  died  in  1869.  His  mother 
was  born  in  1819,  and  died  in  187-1.  In  1856  they  emigrated  to  Illinois, 
and  lived  the  remainder  of  their  days  at  Terre  Haute,  where  they  were 
farmers  and  kept  hotel  for  several  3'ears.  He  also  engaged  with 
his  son,  Joseph  H.,  in  the  broom  business  from  1856  to  1868.  His 
wife  was,  at  the  time  of  her  death,  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episco- 
pal church.  He  was,  in  his  early  life,  a  member  of  that  denomination, 
but  at  the  time  of  his  death  was  a  Free -Will  Baptist.  In  1855 
Joseph  H.  came ;  located  in  Terre  Haute,  Illinois,  where  he  has  since 
lived.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm,  which  he  has  always  followed, 
except  the  time  from  1856  to  1868,  when  in  the  broom  manufactory, 
and  even  then  carried  on  the  farm.  He  has  made  corn  and  hogs  a 
specialty.  He  has  a  fine  farm  of  112  acres.  He  sometimes  feeds 
cattle  for  the  market,  and  keeps  good  grades  of  farm  stock.  He 
was  married  in  1858,  to  Martha  A.  Averett,  of  North  Carolina, 
born  in  1831.  She  is  the  daughter  of  Simeon  and  Nancy  Averett, 
both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Noi-th  Carolina.  Her  father  now 
lives  with  his  daughter,  Mrs.  J.  H.  Magie.  He  was  in  the  Mormon 
troubles    at    Carthage,    Hancock    county.       He   was    relieved    from 


1288  HISTORY   OF   JHERCER    AND   HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

tlie  duty  of  guarding  the  jail  at  ten  o'clock  in  the  morning  and  Joseph 
Smith  was  killed  the  following  evening.  He  is  now  seventy-six  years 
old.  He  first  located  in  Hancock  county,  where  he  remained  for  a 
few  years.  In  1857  he  moved  to  Henderson  county,  then  to  Woodford 
county,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  some  four  or  five  years.  He  then 
moved  to  Indiana,  where  his  wife  died  in  1875,  aged  seventy-two  years. 
Since  that  time  he  has  lived  in  Terre  Haute.  J.  H.  Magie,  by  this 
marriage,  has  three  children:  Albert  H.,  Lillie  J.  and  Florence  M. 
He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist  church.  He  has,  at  various 
times,  been  a  member  of  different  lodges.  In  addition  to  his  farm  he 
has  a  nice  town  property. 

Among  the  prominent  farmers  of  this  township  is  Charles  T. 
Painter,  subject  of  this  sketch.  He  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 
born  in  1831,  and  is  son  of  Joseph  T.  and  Jane  Painter,  both  of 
Pennsylvania.  His  mother  died  in  1834.  His  father  came  to  Han- 
cock county  with  its  early  settlers,  and  located  near  the  north  line, 
where  he  lived  till  1875,  when  he  died,  at  the  age  of  seventy -five 
years.  He  was  a  farmer.  He  and  his  wife  were  members  of  tlie 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He  held  the  office  of  constable  several 
years,  and  was  assessor  of  his  township  fifteen  years  in  succession. 
Charles  T.  came  with  his  father  to  Hancock  county,  where  he  remained 
till  1850,  when  he  moved  to  Henderson  county,  where  he  now  lives. 
In  1856  he  was  married  to  Sarah  A.  Evans,  of  Indiana,  born  in  1850, 
and  came  to  Illinois  in  1865  with  her  brother.  Her  parents  were 
Beniamin  T.  and  Ellen  Evans.  Her  father  was  born  in  Kentucky, 
and  died  in  1861,  at  the  age  of  sixty-six  years,  in  Indiana.  Her  mother 
died  in  1865,  at  the  age  of  forty-nine  years.  They  were  both  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Mr.  Painter  has  by  this  marriage  four 
children  :  Joseph,  Eugeane,  Frank,  Ralph  and  Clara.  He  has  a  farm 
of  180  acres,  well  improved,  and  well  stocked  with  good  grades.  Fie 
and  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Terre 
Haute.  In  August,  1862,  he  enlisted  in  the  army,  in  Co.  G,  n8th 
111.  Vols.,  and  served  till  the  close  of  the  war.  He  was  mustered  out 
October,  1865.  He  was  second  lieutenant  of  his  company  at  its  first 
organization,  and  in  1863  was  made  first  lieutenant.  He  was  in  the 
following  engagements  :  Chickasa  Blufts,  Arkansas  Post,  Port  Gibson, 
Champion  Hills,  Black  River,  siege  at  Vicksburg  from  its  beginning 
to  its  close,  Jackson,  (Miss.),  Brookhaven,  Carioncrow  Bayou,  Grand 
Cotton,  near  Iberia,  Grose  Bayou,  which  was  a  hand  to  hand  fight. 
Plains  Store  (La.)  and  Libertj^  (Miss.).  He  escaped  without  a  single 
wound. 

Thomas  F.  Pence,  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania, 


TERRE  HAUTE  TOWNSHIP.  1289 

Lycoming  county,  born  in  1811.  He  is  son  of  John  and  Sarah 
Pence,  bojh  of  Pennsylvania.  His  mother  died  in  1843,  at  the  age  of 
sixty-five  years.  His  father  emigrated  in  1847  to  Henderson  county,  and 
located  near  Lomax,  where  he  resided  for  some  time.  He  then 
moved  to  T.  8,  Sec.  5,  where  he  died  in  1861,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of 
eiffhtv-three  vears.  He  was  a  farmer.  He  and  wife  were  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  church  at  Pine  Creek,  Pennsylvania.  Thomas  F.  was 
reai'ed  in  his  native  state  on  the  farm,  where  he  remained  till  1846, 
when  he  emigrated  to  Huntington  county,  Indiana,  where  he  remained 
two  years.  In  1848  he  moved  to  Wabash  county,  where  he  remained 
three  years.  In  1857  came  to  Illinois,  and  located  in  Peoria  county, 
where  he  remained  until  1853.  He  then  came  to  Henderson  county, 
locating  in  the  N.W.  J  of  T.  8,  Sec.  5,  where  he  has  since 
resided.  He  was  married  in  1834  to  Mary  White,  of  Pennsylvania, 
born  in  1809,  and  died  in  1851.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Abraham  and 
Pachel  White,  both  of  New  York,  where  they  died  members  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Mr.  Pence  had  by  this  marriage  nine 
children  :  Mercy  A.,  Clarrissa,  Susana  and  Maria,  who  are  now  living. 
The  deceased  ones  are:  Malinda  J.  and  Sarah  B.,  who  died  in 
Pennsylvania  ;  Daniel  S.  died  in  Peoria  county,  Illinois  ;  John  W.  was 
killed  on  the  farm,  where  his  father  now  resides,  by  the  overturning 
of  a  wagon  loaded  with  wood  while  he  was  driving  the  team  ;  and  one 
child  died  in  infancy.  In  1852  he  was  a  second  time  married,  to  Mrs. 
Sarah  A.  Merris,  born  in  1814,  and  reared  near  Columbus,  Ohio. 
She  is  the  daughter  of  James  S.  and  Eliza  White,  both  of  Virginia,  the 
latter  of  Westmoreland  county.  Her  parents,  James  S.  and  Eliza 
White,  emigrated  to  Ohio  when  young,  where  they  were  married,  and 
resided  till  1840,  and  came  the  same  year  and  located  in  Fulton 
county,  Illinois,  where  the  mother  died  a  few  weeks  after  their 
arrival,  aged  hfty-three  years,  the  father  in  1852,  aged  sixty-nine  years. 
They  were  farmers  and  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  Mr. 
Pence  has  a  well  improved  farm  of  480  acres.  He  raises  Durham 
cattle,  horses,  mules  and  hogs  of  the  best  breeds. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  Jesse  Butler,  was  born  in  Ohio  in 
1826.  He  is  the  son  of  Henry  and  Charity  Butler,  both  of  whom 
were  natives  of  Maryland  and  emigrated  to  Virginia,  where  they  w^ere 
married,  then  to  Ohio,  near  Zanesville.  There  they  reared  a  family. 
The  father  died  in  1855  at  the  age  of  eighty-five;  the  mother  died  at 
the  age  of  eighty-two.  His  business  was  that  of  a  farmer.  He  was 
teamster  in  the  war  of  1812.  At  the  time  he  located  in  Ohio  the  land 
was  not  yet  in  market.  He  held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace 
twenty-four  years.     He  and  wife  were  members  of  the  old  school  Bap- 


1290  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AJSTD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

tist  church.  His  wife's  father,  Samuel  Baxter,  emigrated  to  Ohio  at 
the  same  time  as  did  Henry  Butler,  where  he  died,  a  member  of  the 
Baptist  church,  in  his  eighty-fourth  year.  Jesse  Butler  was  reared  on 
the  farm.  His  early  education  was  that  of  the  common  school.  In  1856 
he  emigrated  to  Wisconsin  ;  in  1864  to  Hancock  county.  In  1874  he 
located  in  Henderson  county,  where  he  now  resides,  on  a  fine  farm 
of  160  acres.  He  was  married  in  1848  to  Elizabeth  Tatham,  of  Ohio, 
born  in  1829,  and  daughter  of  John  and  Mary  A.  Tatham,  both  natives 
of  England.  They  came  to  New  York  state  when  yoimg.  They  were 
married  in  New  York  and  emigrated  to  Ohio  about  1822.  By  trade 
he  was  a  weaver.  He  was  born  in  1800  and  died  in  1857.  His  wife 
died  in  1859,  at  the  age  of  forty-nine  years.  They  were  members  of 
the  old  school  Baptist  church,  Mr.  Butler  has  by  this  marriage  eight 
cliildren  :  one  died  an  infant,  Sylvester,  Harrj^,  Virginia  (deceased  at 
the  age  of  twelve),  Mary  A.,  Charity,  William  L.,  Arthur  Y.  His 
wife  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
masonic  lodge  at  Raritan,  of  the  I.O.O.F.  at  Lallarpe,  where  he  is  a 
charter  member. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  James  M.  Williams,  is  a  native  of  Ohio, 
born  in  1 822,  son  of  Joseph  and  Margaret  (Harper)  Williams.  They 
were  married  in  Ohio  at  Zanesville,  settled  near  that  town,  and  raised 
a  family  without  emigrating.  The  father  died  at  the  age  of  seventy- 
seven  years,  the  mother  died  when  about  the  same  age.  He  was  by 
trade  a  blacksmith.  He  served  in  the  war  of  1812.  James  M.  was 
reared  to  the  business  of  the  farm,  which  he  has  always  followed.  His 
early  educational  training  was  such  as  he  could  get  in  the  common 
schools  of  his  neighborhood.  In  1852  he  came  to  Illinois  and  located 
in  Hancock  county,  where  he  remained  three  years,  when  he  moved 
to  Henderson  county  and  located  where  he  now  lives.  In  1860  he  was 
married  to  Sarah  J.  Mace,  of  Ohio,  born  in  1831.  daughter  of  Simeon 
and  Nancy  (La  Mar)  Mace,  both  of  whom  were  natives  of  Ohio.  They 
came  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  in  1851.  Her  mother  died  in 
1852 ;  the  father  now  lives  in  Kansas.  James  M.  Williams  by  this 
marriage  has  seven  children:  Marion  J.,  Margaret  A.,  Mary,  Hannah 
M.,  James  U.,  Cora  J.,  and  Harvey  M.  He  has  a  fine  farm  of  eighty 
acres  and  keeps  a  good  grade  of  stock.  He  and  wife  are  members 
of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Among  those  living  here  at  the  present,  who  have  -witnessed  the 
progress  of  improvements  now  visible  in  Henderson  county,  is  MELZAy 
C.  Paul,  the  subject  of  this  sketch.  He  is  a  native  of  the  State  of 
Vermont,  born  in  1815,  resided  in  his  native  state  until  he  was  sixteen 
yeas  old,  when  he  emigrated  to  Jefferson  county,  New  York,  with  his 


TERKE    HAUTE    TOWNSHIP.  1293 

parents,  Jeremiah  and  Polly  (Parker)  Paul,  both  of  whom  were  of 

Vermont.     They  were  married  and  lived  in  their  native  state  till  they 

emigrated  to  New  York,  where  they  died ;  the  father  in  1851,  at  the 

age  of  fifty-seven ;  the  mother  in  1842,  aged  about  forty-eight  years. 

In  1836  M.  C.  Paul  was  married  to  Mary  A.  Wescott,   of  Jefferson 

county,  New  York,  born  in  1812,   daughter  of  Henry  and  Amy  D. 

(Gushing)  Wescott,  both  of  Massachusetts,  and  emigrated  to  New  York 

when  young.     In  1855  they  came  to  Illinois,  where  they  both  died  ;  the 

father  a  few  weeks  after  their  arrival,  at  the  age  of  seventy-seven  ;  the 

mother  thirteen  years  after,  at  the  age  of  eighty-four  years.     He  was  a 

man  highly  respected  for  his  integrity ;  she  was  an  ardent  christian 

and  a  member  of  the  Close-Communion  Baptist  church.      The  last 

eight  years  of  her  life  she  was  blind,  but  was  never  heard  to  complain 

of  her  lot.     By  this  marriage  Mr.  Paul  has  six  children :  Cyntha  M. 

(deceased),  Alvah  W.  (deceased),  Anna  D.,  Rhoda  B.,  Melzar  A.,  and 

an  infant  (deceased).  The  first  died  fourteen  months  after  her  marriage. 

In  1861  Alvah  W.  enlisted,  at  the  first  call  made  by  the  President,  in 

the  1st  111.  Vols.,  for  ninety  days.     He  served  out  his  time.     Ill  health 

compelled  him  to  remain  home  for  a  spell.    Upon  the  call  of  President 

Lincoln  for  600,000  men,  he  again  enlisted  in  Co.  B,  91st  111.  Vols., 

against  the  advice  of  his    many  friends.      He  was   first   appointed 

sergeant,  afterward  promoted  to  the  ofiice  of  second  lieutenant.     He 

was  a  faithfid  officer.     During  the  last  few  months  of  his  service  he 

acted  as  adjutant  of  the  regiment.      He  was  detailed  captain  of  the 

company  a  part  of  the  time.      His  gallant  conduct  at  the  siege  of 

Spanish  Fort  won  the    admiration  of  all,    carrj'ing   orders    through 

showers  of  balls  and  exploding  shells  whenever  ordered.     His  bravery 

and  fearlessness  was  the  theme  of  praise  by  both  officers  and  men. 

He  was  at  Bacon  Creek,  Brownsville,  Texas,  Mobile  and  Whistler. 

The  company  was  all  taken  prisoner  and  paroled  at  Bacon  Creek. 

When  his  friends  urged  him  not  to  enlist  again  in  the  army  he  was 

heard  to  remark  that  all  the  friends  of  the  country  were  going  to  the 

army  and  only  the  rebels  were  remaining:  he  said  with  these  he  could 

not  associate.    He  enlisted  forty  men  in  the  service  of  his  country.    At 

the  close  of  the  war  he  returned  home,  having  lost  his  health  in  the 

army.     He  engaged  in  mercantile  business  at  Sagetown.     There  he 

remained  with  a  good  trade  till  his  death  which  occurred  in  1876,  in 

his  thirty -seventh  year.     He  married  Mattie  E.  Russel,  by  whom  he 

had  one  child,  Jessie  A.,  whose  mother  died  in  1882.     Mr.  M.  C.  Paul 

was  elected  associate  judge  and  served  four  years.     He  and  wife  are 

members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  at  Terre  Haute.     He  has 

formerly  farmed,  but  because  of  his  age  has  moved  to  the  village  of 


1294  HISTORY    OF   irERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Terre  Haute,  where  he  wishes  to  spend  the  remainder  of  his  days  in 
quietude,  leaving  his  farm  of  120  acres  to  the  care  of  his  son  Melzar  A. 

Among  the  early  settlers  now  gone  to  rest  is  Price  Lovitt,  the 
subject  of  this  sketch.  He  was  born  in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  in 
1822,  son  of  John  W.  Sr.  and  Anna  Lovitt;  the  father  of  Maryland, 
the  mother  of  Ohio,  where  they  were  married.  John  and  Winneford 
(Scott)  Lovitt,  the  parents  of  John  "VV.  Lovitt  Sr.  emigrated  from 
Wales  to  Amei'ica  at  a  very  early  time  and  located  in  Ohio.  Price 
Levitt's  mother  died  in  1827,  at  the  age  of  twenty-three  years,  his  father 
in  1876,  at  the  ripe  old  age  of  eighty-one  years.  John  W.  Lovitt  Sr. 
was  a  farmer  and  miller.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  1840  and  located  in 
McDonough  county,  where  he  died.  He  was  a  member  of  the  Baptist 
church,  his  wife  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Price  Lovitt 
located  in  1840  in  township  8,  section  5,  where  he  died  in  1880.  Li  1844 
was  married  to  Mary  J.  Grigsby,  of  Vermont,  born  in  1825,  and  came 
to  Ohio  with  her  parents,  John  and  Sarah  Grigsby,  when  she  was  a 
little  girl.  Her  parents  were  both  natives  of  Virginia.  Her  father 
died  in  1870,  aged  eighty  years,  her  mother  in  1833,  aged  forty  ^^ears. 
Her  father  served  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  he  was  an  earh^  settler  of 
Ohio,  where  he  and  his  wife  died.  Price  Lovitt  had  by  this  marriage 
ten  children :  Sarah  (deceased),  Oliver,  John  "W. ,  Alonzo,  Clarrissa 
(deceased),  Cordelia,  Francis,  Marion,  Viola  and  Jesse.  He  was  a 
man  well  respected  in  the  community.  His  wife  resides  on  the  old 
homestead  and  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church. 

John  W.  Lovitt,  Sr.,  son  of  Price  Lovitt,  was  born-  in  1847,  and 
reared  on  the  farm.  In  1869  he  went  to  Iowa,  where  he  remained 
thirteen  years,  then  returned  to  the  old  homestead  where  he  now 
resides.  In  1864  he  enlisted  in  the  army  in  the  128th  111.  Vols.,  Co. 
G,  and  served  one  year.  He  was  at  the  battles  of  Blakely,  Spanish 
Fort  and  Mobile.  In  1872  he  was  married  to  Anna  Kerby,  native  of 
Henderson  county,  Illinois,  born  in  1849,  daughter  of  Thomas  and 
Sarah  Kerby ;  her  father  of  Maryland,  her  mother  of  Virginia.  The 
former  died  in  1864,  aged  sixty  years :  the  latter  is  now  living  in  Hen- 
derson county,  and  is  tiity-eight  years  old.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
I.O.O.F.,  she  of  the  Baptist  church.  John  W.  has  by  this  marriage 
three  children :  Harry,  Loy  and  Blanchie.  He  owns  a  fine  farm  con- 
sisting of  160  acres,  located  one  mile  and  a  quarter  north  of  Terre 
Haute,  and  keeps  a  good  grade  of  farm  stock.  He  and  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Christian  church. 

William  R.  Louden,  the  subject  of  this  history,  is  a  native  of 
Trimble  county,  Kentucky ;  born  in  1833,  son  of  William  and  Milla 
(Hancock)  Louden  ;  the  father  a  native  of  Kentucky,  the  mother  of 


TERRE    HAUTE   TOWNSHIP.  1295 

Yirginia.  They  were  married  in  Kentucky.  His  father,  Oliver 
Louden,  located  in  Kentucky  when  the  state  was  in  its  pioneer  days. 
Her  people  emigrated  to  Kentucky  with  its  early  settlei-s.  William 
Louden  died  in  his  native  state  in  1859,  at  the  age  of  fifty-six  years. 
His  wife  still  resides  on  the  old  homestead  in  Kentucky,  and  is  now 
sixty-nine  years  old.  William  Louden  and  wife  from  earh^  life  were 
members  of  the  Free -Will  Baptist  church.  They  were  b}'  occupation 
farmers.  He  held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  for  several  years 
and  at  one  time  was  candidate  for  the  legislature  of  the  State  of  Ken- 
tucky. William  R.  Louden  was  reared  on  the  farm.  His  early 
education  consisted  of  such  training  as  he  could  get  in  the  pioneer  log 
school-house  of  his  neighborhood.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  1858  and 
located  in  Hancock  county,  where  he  remained  till  1879,  when  he 
moved  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois.  He  now  resides  in  the  south- 
east quarter  of  township  8,  range  5.  In  1855  he  was  married  to 
Samantha  James,  of  Ohio,  born  in  1833,  and  daughter  of  Ivan  and 
Lydia  A.  James,  the  father  from  Maryland,  the  mother  from  Pennsyl- 
vania. They  first  emigrated  from  Pennsylvania  to  Ohio.  In  1853 
the}'  settled  in  Edgar  county,  Illinois,  where  the  latter  died  in  1855,  at 
the  age  of  fifty-three  years.  The  foi-mer  came  to  Hancock  county,  where 
he  died  in  1872,  at  the  age  of  sixty-eight  years.  They  were  farmers  by 
occupation,  and  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  William 
R.  Louden  by  this  marriage  has  seven  children:  Edward,  Ida  M., 
John  W.,  Josephine,  Sydney,  Lulu  and  Poxy.  He  and  wife  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Ej^iscopal  church.  Mr.  L.  is  a  member  of 
the  I.O.O.F.  lodge  at  Terre  Haute.  He  has  a  farm  of  160  acres  of 
fine  land  well  improved  and  fairly  stocked  with  the  best  grades  of 
common  stock. 

Among  the  present  business  men  of  Terre  Haute  is  Stephen'  H. 
Bruen.  He  is  a  native  of  Morris  county,  New  Jersey,  and  was  born 
in  1836.  His  parents  were  Isaac  H.  and  Mary  A.  Bruen,  both  of  Xew 
Jersey.  They  were  born,  reared,  and  raised  their  family  in  the  same 
neighborhood.  His  mother  died  in  1862,  at  the  good  old  age  of  sixty 
years,  without  ever  having  moved  from  the  place  of  her  childhood.  In 
1868  his  father  came  to  Illinois  and  located  ^vitll  his  son  Stephen  at 
Terre  Haute,  where  he  now  remains.  Isaac  H.  Bruen  is  a  cooper  by 
trade.  He  is  now  eighty-four  years  old.  His  wife  was  a  member  of 
the  Presbyterian  church.  The  history  of  the  Bruen  family  in  America 
was  begun  by  three  brothers  coming  over  from  England,  if  not  previous 
to  the  revolution,  very  shortly  after.  Stephen^H.  received  only  a  com- 
mon school  education.  When  sixteen  years  of  age  he  went  to  learn 
the  mercantile  business,  whicli  he  has  pursued   constantly  with  the 


1296  mSTORY   OF   >rERCER   A:SD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

exception  of  four  years  he  was  in  the  service  and  ten  years  he  spent  in 
farming  in  this  county.  He  enlisted  in  the  service  of  his  country  in 
1861,  in  the  Tth  :N^e\v  Jersey  Vols.,  Co.  K,  and  served  till  1865,  the 
close  of  the  war.  He  was  with  the  army  of  the  Potomac.  He  entered 
the  service  as  a  private  and  was  promoted  to  the  office  of  first  lieuten- 
ant and  quartermaster,  which  jwsition  he  held  at  the  time  he  was  dis- 
charged. He  was  in  the  adjutant's  department  previous  to  his  promo- 
tion to  the  lieutenancy.  During  his  first  month  of  service  he  was  in 
almost  a  continuous  battle.  He  was  in  the  seven  days'  fight  in  the 
Wilderness,  second  battle  at  Bull  Run.  He  was  married  in  1869  to 
Mary.Magie,  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  born  in  1851,  and  daughter  of 
William  H.  and  Unas  Magie.  They  were  both  natives  of  New  Jersey, 
and  came  to  Illinois  about  1856,  and  located  in  Henderson  county, 
where  they  remained  seven  years.  They  then  moved  to  Chicago  and 
returned  to  Henderson  county  in  1869,  then  returned  to  New  Jersey  in 
1874,  and  came  again  to  Henderson  in  18T5,  then  removed  to  Craw- 
ford county,  Kansas,  where  they  now  live.  They  are  farmers.  S.  H. 
Bruen,  by  this  marriage,  has  three  children  :  Bertie,  William  H.  and 
Eoyal  C.  For  the  past  three  years  he  has  been  engaged  in  general 
merchandise  in  Terre  Haute,  and  has  a  live  trade.  He  is  present  post- 
master, and  a  member  of  the  I.O.O.F.  lodge  of  that  place. 

The  Sloan  family,  now  residents  of  this  township,  consists  of  the 
families  of  Frisby,  Thomas  W.  and  Woricvian  Slo.\n.  The  last-named 
is  deceased.  They  are  the  sons  of  Robert  and  Ruth  (Frisby)  Sloan. 
The  father  was  a  native  of  Ireland  and  came  to  America  about  1790 
with  his  father,  John  Sloan,  and  located  in  Allegheny  county,  Penn- 
sylvania, where  the  last-named  (John  Sloan)  died.  Ruth  Frisby  Sloan 
was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  emigrated  to  Ohio,  where  she  was 
married  to  Mr.  Sloan,  who  died  in  1839  at  the  age  of  about  fifty-nine 
years.  His  wife  is  now  living  with  her  son,  Thomas  W.,  and  is  a 
member  of  the  Free-Will  Baptist  church  ;  she  is  now  eighty-three  years 
old.  Frisby  Sloan  was  born  in  1820,  in  Muskingum  county,  Ohio,  and 
came  to  Illinois  in  1852,  and  located  in  Hancock  county,  where  he 
remained  but  a  short  time,  when  he  moved  to  Oquawka.  There  he 
resided  twenty-nine  years,  and  now  lives  in  this  township.  He  is  a 
stonemason  by  trade,  which  vocation  he  has  followed  most  of  his  life. 
In  1847  he  was  married  to  Phoebe  Spangler,  of  Muskingum  county, 
Ohio,  born  in  1825,  daughter  of  Mathias  and  Sarah  (Wells)  Spangler ; 
the  father  of  Maryland,  the  latter  of  Pennsylvania.  They  were 
married  in  Ohio,  and  ^migrated  to  Illinois  in  1851.  The  father  was 
born  in  1793  and  died  in  1864;  the  mother  was  born  in  1791  and  died 
in  1854.     They  were  members  of  the  Baptist  church.     He  served  in 


TERRE    HAUTE    TOWNSHIP.  ,  1297 

tlie  war  of  1812.  Frisbj  Sloan  has  by  this  marriage  six  childreH : 
Ann  Eliza,  William  C,  Louis  E.,  Judson,  Emma  and  Laura.  Work- 
man Sloan  was  born  in  1825,  in  Ohio.  He  came  to  Illinois  at  the  age 
of  twenty-two  years,  and  located  in  Hancock  county,  where  he  resided 
four  or  five  years,  when  he  came  to  Henderson  county  and  located 
where  his  widow  now  lives.  He  was  married  in  1853  to  Pere  Roberts, 
of  Pennsylvania,  born  in  1831,  daughter  of  James  and  Lucretia 
(Morris)  Roberts ;  the  father  born  in  1785,  the  mother  in  Pennsyl- 
vania in  1787,  and  died  in  1867.  In  1851  they  came  to  Illinois  and 
located  in  Hancock  county,  wdiere  they  lived  the  remainder  of  their 
days.  They  were  farmers  and  lived  near  La  Harpe.  .  He  was  in  belief 
a  Quaker ;  she  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  in  Penn- 
sylvania. They  raised  a  family  of  thirteen  children.  Workman  Sloan 
had  by  this  union  five  children:  James  P.,  Frisby  (deceased),  Rhien- 
hart  M.,  Pleasant  J.  and  Nancy  E.  (deceased).  He  and  wife  were 
members  of  the  Baptist  church.  His  oldest  child  joined  the  church 
when  thirteen  years  old  ;  his  second  when  only  ten  years  old.  Rhien- 
liart  M.  remains  at  home  with  his  mother.  Mr.  Sloan  left  his  family 
in  good  circumstances.  His  farm  consisted  of  135  acres,  located  in  the 
northwest  corner  of  the  township.  Thomas  W.  Sloan  was  born  in  1824 
in  Ohio.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm.  In  1850  he  came  to  Illinois 
and  located  in  McDonough  county,  where  he  remained  three  years, 
when  he  moved  to  Henderson  county,  where  he  now  resides.  He  has 
a  farm  of  120  acres  and  keeps  a  good  grade  of  farm  stock.  His  aged 
mother  lives  with  him.  He  has  remained  a  bachelor.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  Free-Will  Baptist  church  at  Terre  Haute. 

R.  W.  RuBERTS,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  a  native  of  Morgan 
county,  Illinois,  born  in  1831,  and  son  of  Milton  B.  and  Ann  (Mathews) 
Ruberts,  both  of  Kentucky.  The  father  lived  in  his  native  state  till 
he  was  seventeen  years  old,  when  he  came  to  Illinois.  In  1827  he  was 
called  out  by  the  governor  to  defend  the  lead  mines  in  the  north  part 
of  the  state  at  Galena  against  the  Indians.  On  his  way  back  in  1832 
he  marked  his  claim  by  sticking  up  a  spoon  in  North  Henderson. 
He  made  three  campaigns  during  the  years  1827,  1831  and  1832. 
He  was  at  Rock  Island  when  Black  Hawk  was  taken  prisoner.  He 
is  by  occupation  a  farmer.  He  now  lives  in  McDonough  county. 
He  was  twice  married.  His  first  wife,  Ann  (Mathews),  died  in  1S42. 
He  now  lives  with  his  second  wife,  Sarah  A.  Terr3\  R.  W.  was 
reared  on  the  farm.  He  has  alwavs  followed  farmine;.  In  1866  he 
married  Mary  J.  Connor,  of  Ohio,  born  in  1841,  daughter  of  James 
and  Nancy  Connor,  the  former  of  Virginia,  the  latter  of  Maryland, 
and  went  to  Ohio  when  young  with  her  parents.     She  was  a  member 


1298    .  HISTORY   OF    MEKCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

of  the  Cliristian  church.  E.  W.  Kuberts  has  bj  this  marriage  four 
children:  Emma  L.,  Edward  H.,  Bessie  R.,  and  Jennie  O.  He 
moved  to  La  Salle  county  with  his  parents  in  1835,  and  remained 
there  till  185-1  or  1855,  then  in  1858  to  near  Raritan,  Henderson 
county,  where  he  remained  till  the  breaking  out  of  the  war  in  1861, 
when  he  enlisted  in  Capt.  Dallom's  company,  raised  at  Oquawka. 
The  captain  was  promoted  to  the  ofhce  of  major  of  the  10th  111.,  and 
the  company  lost  its  place  in  that  regiment.  Then  a  part  went  to  Earl, 
La  Salle  county,  and  was  recruited  by  Capt.  Hudson  and  made  a  part  of 
the  53d  111.  Vols. ,  in  which  Mr.  Euberts  was  first  corporal.  He  recruited 
his  company  four  times  from  this  and  adjoining  counties.  He  was  in 
the  following  battles  :  Shiloh,  Corinth.  He  then  marched  to  Memphis 
and  luca,  where  he  was  wounded  in  the  hip.  He  was  taken  prisoner 
at  Holly  Spring,  where  he  was  in  the  hospital  and  paroled,  and  was 
exchanged  ;  then  in  the  siege  of  Vicksburg,  then  at  Jackson,  and 
was  wounded  in  the  hand,  and  came  home  on  veteran  furlough.  He 
returned  and  was  under  Gen.  Blair  and  joined  Sherman  at  Altoona, 
and  continued  with  the  army  till  Sherman  reached  Savannah,  when 
his  time  expired  and  he  I'eturned  home.  He  was  28  miles  from  camp 
with  a  party  of  800  men  when  they  were  attacked  by  11,000  rebels, 
and  made  their  way  back  to  camp  in  about  seven  hours,  fighting  all 
the  time.  He  was  present  when  McPherson  was  killed  at  Atlanta, 
where  they  had  to  defend  themselves  on  both  sides  of  the  breastworks, 
ha\dng  been  surrounded.  He  was  detailed  after  the  battle  of  Shiloh 
with  a  company  of  nine  men  to  bury  dead  rebels,  and  to  collect  their 
wounded,  and  worked  three  .daj^s  and  nights  without  rest. 

Among  the  energetic  business  men  of  this  township  is  Clarence 
E,.  GirriNGS.  He  was  born  in  1848  in  Hancock  county,  a  short  dis- 
tance from  the  south  line  of  Henderson,  where  he  was  reared  on  the 
farm  of  his  father.  His  parents,  James  and  Mrs.  Susan  Thompson 
(Dague)  Gittings,  were  among  the  pioneers  of  this  section  of  the 
country.  The  father  is  a  native  of  Jefferson  county,  Yirginia,  born  in 
1801,  and  the  oldest  of  his  father's  familj^  of  eleven  children.  His 
parents  were  Ason  and  Elizabeth  Gittings.  James  Gittings,  when 
four  years  old,  moved  with  his  parents  from  his  native  state  to  Belmont 
county,  Ohio,  and  afterward  to  Muskingum  county.  Here  he  remained 
till  1836.  He  worked  at  the  carpenter's  trade,  then  engaged  in  the 
tobacco  trade  with  success,  then  shipped  flour  from  Janes ville  to  New 
Orleans,  and  made  but  few  trij)s  before  he  owned  the  craft  that  carried 
his  produce  to  market.  In  1836  he  came  west  in  search  of  a  home. 
After  viewing  Chicago,  with  its  few  dilapidated  buildings,  he  came  to 
Hancock  county,  where  he  now  resides,  and  o^Dened  a  farm  in  the  tlien 


TEKEE   HAUTE    TOWNSHIP.  1299 

wilderness,  where  he  has  proved  himself  a  successful  business  man 
and  a  good  citizen.  Almost  from  his  first  settling  here  he  has  been 
interested  in  this  township.  He  was  twice  married  :  first  in  1832  to 
Jane  Yan  Horn,  of  Ohio,  by  whom  he  had  four  sons  and  two  daugh- 
ters;  his  second  marriage  was  with  Susan  (Thompson)  Dague,  in 
1844,  widow  of  the  late  Frederick  Dague,  of  Wheeling,  Virginia,  with 
whom  he  is  now  living.  By  this  last  marriage  he  has  three  children, 
two  sons  and  a  daughter.  Clarence  R.  received  a  fair  common  school 
education  and  three  years' training  in  college.  He  was  married  in  1871 
to  Mary  Witherspoon,  of  Mineville,  New  York,  daughter  of  Robert 
and  Margaret  Witherspoon,  the  father  of  Ireland,  now  living  in  ISTew 
York,  and  is  sixty-eight  years  old.  The  mother  died  when  their 
daughter  Mary  was  two  years  old,  aged  about  thirty  years.  C.  R. 
Gittings  has  by  this  marriage  two  children,  Robert  F.  and  Charles  S. 
He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist  E2:)iscopal  church.  He  is 
a  member  of  the  I.O.O.F.  and  holds  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace 
in  T.  8,  R.  5.  He  has  a  farm  of  280  acres  one  mile  south  of  Terre 
Haute.  He  keeps  a  good  grade  of  stock.  He  is  a  member  of  the 
firm  of  Lovitt,  Gittings  &  Co.,  which  deals  in  all  kinds  of  agricultural 
implements  and  buys  and  ships  grain.  The  firm  does  business  at 
Disco,  Lomax  and  Terre  Haute. 

J.  W.  Crenshaw  is  a  native  of  Henderson  county,  born  in  1844, 
and  son  of  Isaac  and  Mary  C^renshaw.  His  father  was  a  native  of 
Georgia,  his  mother  of  Kentucky.  They  came  with  the  early  settlers 
and  located  in  T.  8,  R.  4,  where  Isaac  Crenshaw  died  in  1880  at  the 
age  of  seventy-six  years.  His  wife,  Mar}^  Crenshaw,  is  yet  living  on 
the  old  homestead  farm.  They  both  are  old  soldiers  of  the  cross  in 
the  Methodist  Episcojjal  church.  J.  W.  was  reared  on  the  farm  where 
he  was  born.  He  was  educated  in  the  common  schools  of  his  neigh- 
borhood. In  1872  he  married  Alice  E.  Duncan,  of  Henderson  county. 
She  was  born  in  18G0,  and  is  the  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Martha 
Duncan.  Her  father  is  a  native  of  Tennessee,  her  mother  of  McDon- 
ough  county,  Illinois.  They  are  farmers.  Mr.  Crenshaw  has  by  this 
marriage  four  children:  Millie  E.,  Mabel  M.,  Asa  F.  and  Ethel.  He 
owns  a  fine  farm  of  160  acres  near  the  south  line  of  the  township  and 
is  a  successful  farmer.  Fie  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Christian 
church. 

Of  the  citizens  now  resident  of  T.  8,  R.  5,  is  John  Mills,  subject 
of  this  sketch.  He  is  a  native  of  I^ew  York,  born  in  1830.  His 
parents  were  Isaac  and  Joanna  Mills,  both  of  whom  were  reared,  mar- 
ried, raised  a  family,  and  died  in  their  native  state.  New  York.  He 
was  a  grocer.    He  and  wife  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church. 


1300  HISTOEY   OF   MERCER   ANT)    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

He  served  in  tlie  war  of  1812.  The  Mills  family  emigrated  to  America 
from  England  in  the  early  days  of  American  history,  and  located  in 
New  York.  Mr.  John  Mills  was  reared  to  farm,  the  business  of  his 
father.  His  early  educational  training  was  received  in  Morris  county, 
New  York,  the  home  of  his  boyhood.  In  1869  he  emigrated  to  Hen- 
derson county  with  his  family,  and  located  one  half  mile  east  of 
Terre  Haute,  where  he  has  since  resided.  In  1851  he  was  married 
to  Henrietta  Bruen,  daughter  of  Isaac  and  Mary  A.  Bruen.  Her  native 
home  was  near  IMadison,  New  York.  In  1869  her  parents  came  to 
Henderson  county,  Illinois.  Her  mother  is  deceased  ;  her  father  now 
resides  in  Terre  Haute,  and  is  eighty-four  years  old.  The  Bruen  family 
emigrated  to  America  from  Germany  at  a  very  early  time.  Isaac 
Bruen  was  by  trade  a  cooper,  but  by  occupation  a  farmer.  His  wife 
was  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church.  Mr.  Mills  h-as  by  this 
marriage  two  children,  George  E.  and  Adellaid.  He  is  a  member  of 
masonic  lodge  at  Morristown,  New  York,  and  is  a  member  of  the 
I.O.O.F.  lodge  at  Terre  Haute.  He  has  a  farm  of  160  acres  of  line 
land,  and  keeps  a  good  grade  of  farm  stock.  He  is  present  assessor 
of  his  township. 

James  Mathews  is  a  native  of  Ireland,  born  in  1831.  His  parents 
emigrated  to  America  the  year  of  his  birth,  and  located  in  Hicks  county, 
New  York,  where  he  was  reared  and  educated.  His  immediate  an- 
cestors were  James  and  Betsy  Mathews,  both  native  of  Ireland,  where 
they  died.  His  fatlier  died  in  1881,  aged  sixty-seven  years ;  his  mother 
in  1880,  aged  seventy-seven  years.  They  were  farmers,  and  members 
of  the  Close  Communion  Baptist,  of  which  church  they  were  members 
almost  fifty  years.  In  1865  James  Mathews  Sr.  emigrated  fi-om  New 
York  to  Henderson,  Illinois,  with  his  family,  and  located  in  T.  8,  E..  5, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  In  1853  he  was  married  to  Sarah  L. 
Twaits,  of  New  York,  born  in  1833,  daughter  of  William  and  Sarah 
(Nayes)  Twaits.  Her  father  was  of  England,  her  mother  of  New 
Hampshire.  Her  father  was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  died  in 
1879,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five  years  ;  her  mother  died  about  18'11,  at 
the  early  age  of  thirty  years ;  both  were  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  James  Mathews  Jr.,  by  this  marriage,  has  nine 
children:  Edward,  James  (deceased),  Isabell,  Netta,  George,  Hattie, 
Henry,  Ida  and  Ella.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Free- Will 
Baptist  church  at  Terre  Haute.  He  has  a  well  improved  farm  of 
eighty  acres. 

Rev.  P.  S.  Garretsox  is  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  born  in  1840,  and 
is  son  of  John  and  Alletta  (Christopher)  Garretson,  both  of  New  York. 
His  father  died  in  New  York  State  in  1857,  at  the  age  of  forty-eight 


TERRE    HAUTE    TOWNSHIP.  1301 

years.  His  father  and  motlier  were  members  of  the  Dutch  Reformed 
church.  Ilis  mother,  in  1868,  located  at  Galesbura^,  Illinois,  where 
she  resided  seven  years.  She  then  went  to  Philadelphia,  where  she 
died  in  1876,  at  the  age  of  seven t^^-four  years.  Her  daughter,  Elsa  M., 
went  to  China  as  a  missionary  worker  in  1880.  Rev.  Ciarretson  was 
reared  on  the  farm  at  Bound  Brook,  New  York.  He  began  his  educa- 
tion in  Pennington  College,  New  York.  In  1865  he  came  to  Illinois 
and  entered  Hedding  College,  at  Abington,  where  he  remained  two 
years,  when  he  entered  the  ministry,,  which  profession  he  has  since  ful- 
filled. In  1868  joined  Central  Illinois  conference.  Since  that  time  he 
has  been  located  at  the  following  places  as  pastor  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church  :  Orian,  Viola,  Colana,  Henry  county  ;  Port  Byron, 
Rock  Island  county  ;  Millersburg,  Mercer  county  ;  Bardolph  and  Terre 
Haute.  At  the  latter  place  he  has  been  stationed  for  the  past  three 
years.  In  1862  he  enlisted  in  the  army,  Co.  K,  30th  N.  Y.  Vols.,  and 
served  eighteen  months.  He  was  in  the  engagements  at  Fredericks- 
burg, Chancellorsville  and  Gettysburg,  but  was  discharged  before  the 
engagement  at'  the  last  named  place  was  begun.  In  1865  he  enlisted  a 
second  time  in  the  service  of  his  country  in  the  150th  N.  Y.Vols.,  and 
was  stationed  on  Hart  Island  to  do  guard  duty.  In  1871  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Mary  M.  Pratt,  a  native  of  Illinois,  born  in  184-1,  and  daughter 
of  William  M.  and  Margaret  S.  (Whitaker)  Pratt.  Her  father  was  of 
Vermont,  her  mother  of  Ohio.  They  located  in  Sangamon  county, 
Illinois,  with  the  pioneer  settlers.  Her  father  died  in  1878,  aged 
seventy-six  years  ;  her  mother  in  1881,  at  the  age  of  seventy-five. 
They  were  ardent  christians  and  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church.  In  1837  they  moved  to  Hancock  county,  and  remained  five 
years,  during  which  time  their  daughter,  Mary  M.,  was  born  ;  then 
they  moved  to  Stark  county  in  1860,  and  lastly  they  moved  to  Knox 
county,  where  they  both  died.  Mrs.  Mary  M.  Garretson  graduated  at 
Hedding  College  with  the  class  of  '69,  after  which  she  taught  school  for 
a  time.  Rev.  P.  S.  Garretson  by  this  marriage  has  five  children  : 
Garret  R.,  Allie  M.,  Eddy,  Elsa  (deceased),  and  Garfield. 

Dr.  B.  F.  Hamilton,  present  practicing  physician  of  Terre  Haute,  is 
a  native  of  Ohio,  born  in  1837.  His  parents  were  Robert  and  Lavina 
(Sallee)  Hamilton.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  his  mother  of 
Kentucky.  His  father  is  now  seventy-two  years  old  and  makes  his 
home  with  his  children.  His  mother  died  in  1881,  at  tlie  age  of  sev- 
enty-two years.  She  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church, 
as  is  also  her  husband,  Robert  Hamilton.  They  emigrated,  in  1852, 
to  Missouri.  By  occupation  they  \yere  farmers.  Dr.  Hamilton  was 
reared  on  the  farm.     At  the  age  of  eighteen  he  left  the  farm  and  began 


1302  HISTORY    OF   FIERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

teaching  school,  which  he  followed  a  part  of  the  time  for  a  few  years. 
He  tlien  attended  college  at  Quincv,  Illinois.  He  read  medicine  with 
Drs.  Samuel  Henry  and  G.  Black,  at  Clayton,  Illinois.  He  graduated 
in  the  Ohio  Medical  College,  Cincinnati,  with  the  class  of  '67.  In 
1867  he  began  the  practice  of  medicine  at  Camp  Point.  In  1870  he 
came  to  Terre  Haute,  where  he  has  since  resided  with  the  exception  of 
two  years,  where  he  was  located  at  Dallas,  Hancock  county.  In  1867 
he  was  married  to  Sarah  F.  Reaugh,  of  Illinois,  daughter  of  Samuel 
and  Mahala  (Pound)  Peaugh.  They  were  both  natives  of  Kentucky. 
Her  father  died  in  1881,  at  the  age  of  sixty-seven  years.  Her  mother 
is  now  living  and  is  sixty-three  years  old.  They  were  farmers  and 
members  of  the  Christian  church.  They  came  to  Illinois  when  young 
and  located  near  Quincy.  Dr.  Hamilton  has  by  this  marriage  six 
children  :  Oweenee,  Mary,  Leander,  Orville,  Jessie  and  Lavina  M. 
He  owns  a  nice  town  property  of  nine  acres,  besides  other  buildings 
and  lots  in  Terre  Haute,  and  has  a  good  practice.  He  and  his  wife  are 
members  of  the  Christian  church  at  Bedford,  in  Hancock  county. 

M..L.  Roderick,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  a  native  of  Hender- 
son county,  born  and  reared  on  the  farm  where  he  now  resides.  His 
father,  David  F.  Rodrick,  was  a  native  of  Ohio,  and  came  to  Hender- 
son county  when  a  young  man,  with  its  early  settlers,  and  located  in 
T.  8,  R.  5,  where  his  son,  M.  L.,  now  resides.  In  1861  he  enlisted 
in  the  army,  and  died  in  the  service.  He  married  Mahala  Magnes,  ot 
Ohio,  by  whom  he  had  two  children :  Mathew  L.,  and  Charley  F.  He 
farmed  all  his  life.  His  widow  married  Captain  James  Fritzs,  and 
now  lives  in  Kansas.  In  1875  Mathew  L.  was  married  to  Jennie 
Mills,  born  in  1856  in  Hancock  county,  and  daughter  of  John  and 
Elizabeth  (Scott)  Mills.  Her  father  was  born  in  Morgan  county,  Illi- 
nois ;  her  mother  was  born  in  Hancock  county,  Illinois.  The}'  now 
reside  in  Hancock  county.  By  this  marriage  M.  L.  Rodrick  has  three 
children:  Wesley  S.,  Frederick  E.,  and  an  infant  not  named.  He  is 
now  twenty-eight  years  old.  lie  has  a  well  improved  farm  of  160  acres, 
fairly  stocked  with  good  grades  of  farm  stock. 

Jacob  Retzer,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  was  born  in  1841.  His 
parents  were  George  and  Catherine  Retzer,  the  former  a  native  of 
Maryland,  coming  to  Pennsylvania  when  young,  the  latter  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania.  They  came  to  Illinois  in  1855,  and  located  in  Hender- 
son county,  wliei-e  the  former  died  in  December,  1881,  aged  seventy- 
three;  the  latter  in  March,  1882,  aged  sixty-seven.  The  subject  of 
this  memoir  was  eleven  years  old  when  he  came  with  his  parents  to 
Henderson  county,  which  has  since  been  his  home.  He  was  reared 
on  the  farm,  receiving  a  common  school  education.     He  volunteered 


TERRE    HAUTE    TOWNSHIP.  1303 

in  1860  in  91st  111.  Yols.,  Co.  B,  and  served  three  years,  taking  part 
in  the  following  engagements :  Bacon  creek,  Kentucky,  where  he  was 
taken  prisoner ;  at  Atchafayla,  Spanish  Port,  Alabama,  Whistler,  and 
Mobile.  He  was  married  in  1871  to  Miss  Addie  Wallace,  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  born  in  1846,  daughter  of  George  and  Catherine 
Wallace.  The  latter  died  in  Pennsylvania,  aged  forty-one  years ;  the 
former  came  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  remaining  one  year,  then 
spending  two  years  in  Hancock  county,  again  returning  to  Henderson 
county.  He  made  his  home  among  his  children,  and  died  in  Des 
Moines,  Iowa,  in  1879,  aged  eighty-two  years.  He  was  a  carpenter 
by  trade.  By  this  marriage  Jacob  Retzer  has  four  children  :  Pay  W., 
Maud  E.,  Catherine  T.,  Blanche  E.  (deceased),  and  Frederick.  He  is 
heir  to  an  interest  in  540  acres  of  land;  is  a  successful  farmer  and 
respected  man.     He  keeps  common  grade  stock. 

E.  H.  Trask  is  a  native  of  Oneida  county,  New  York.  He  was  born 
in  1832.  His  parents  were  James  H.  and  Frances  H.  Trask,  His 
father  was  of  New  York,  his  mother  of  Connecticut.  They  emigrated 
to  Iowa  in  1842,  and  located  in  Louisa  county.  In  1862  moved  to 
Keokuk.  In  1864  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois.  His  father  died  at 
Terre  Haute  in  1881,  at  the  age  of  seventy-one  years.  His  mother  is 
now  living  at  JSTew  Boston,  Mercer  county,  this  state,  and  is  seventy- 
one  years  old.  His  father  was  a  tailor  by  trade.  In  1849  he  went  to 
California,  where  he  spent  two  years,  then  returned  and  engaged  in 
the  mercantile  business,  which  he  followed  till  his  death.  He  was  a 
member  of  the  Masonic  order,  his  wife  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian 
church.  Dr.  Trask  was  reared  in  town,  went  to  Iowa  with  his  parents. 
He  was  educated  principally  in  Louisa  county,  Iowa ;  read  medicine 
with  Dr.  T.  H.  Bras.  He  attended  the  Eclectic  Medical  College  at 
Cincinnati,  Ohio,  taking  two  courses  of  lectures.  In  1856  he  began 
the  practice  of  medicine  in  Louisa  county,  Iowa.  In  1863  he  located 
in  Terre  Haute.  In  1873  he  returned  to  Louisa  county,  Iowa.  In 
1880  he  returned  to  Terre  Haute,  wliei-e  he  is  now  located.  He  has  a 
paying  practice.  In  1867  he  was  married  to  Mary  L.  Parsons,  a 
native  of  Canada,  and  daughter  of  W.  D.  Parsons.  Her  father  was 
also  of  Canada,  and  died  when  his  daughter  Mary  L.  was  five  years 
old.  Dr.  Trask  has  by  this  marriage  eight  children :  Frank  L.,  Albert 
W.,  Laurence,  Nettie  M.,  George  P.,  Carrie  G.,  Jessie  and  Cyril. 

Lewis  P.  Maynard  is  a  native  of  Hancock  county,  Illinois,  born 
in  1839.     His  parents  Lewis  C.  and  Adaline  (Ward)  Maynard,  both  of 
Massachusetts.     They  emigrated  in  1836  to  Hancock  county,  Illinois, 
from  Massachusetts,  where  they  were  married  previous  to  their  emigra- 
tion.    They  are  both  living  near  La  Harpe.     They  are  farmers  by 


1304  HISTORY   OF   lEEKCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

vocation  and  members  of  the  Congregational  church.  His  father  is 
now  seventy-six  years  old,  his  mother  seventy-two.  L.  P.  was  reared 
on  the  farm  in  Hancock  county.  His  early  education  was  such  as  he 
could  get  during  the  winter  months  in  the  district  school.  In  1861  he 
enlisted  in  the  7th  la.  Yols.,  Co.  B,  and  served  four  years  in  the  army 
of  the  Tennessee,  in  Logan's  corps.  He  was  in  the  following  battles  : 
Belmont,  Fort  Donelson,  Shiloh,  Corinth,  and  with  Sherman  in  his 
march  to  the  sea.  In  1866  he  was  married  to  M.  J.  Kirkpatrick,  of 
Virginia,  born  in  1838,  and  daughter  of  George  and  Maria  Kirkpat- 
rick;  the  father  of  Virginia,  the  mother  of  England.  In  1865  they 
came  to  Hancock  county,  Illinois,  and  settled  on  a  farm,  and  now  live 
in  La  llarpe.  They  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
Mr.  Maynard  has  by  this  marriage  three  children :  Kutli,  George  R. 
and  Susan.     He  has  a  well  improved  farm  of  160  acres,  Avell  stocked. 

Thomas  Morgan  is  a  native  of  England.  He  was  born  in  1811, 
in  Monmouthshire.  His  parents  were  William  and  Anna  Morgan, 
both  of  England,  where  they  died.  His  mother  died  in  1837,  aged 
sixty-eight  years  ;  his  father  died  in  18-17,  aged  seventy -five  years. 
They  were  farmers  and  members  of  the  Ba})tist  church,  in  which 
he  held  the  office  of  deacon  for  forty  years.  In  1848  Thomas  Morgan 
came  to  America,  and  located  in  New  York,  where  he  remained  three 
years.  In  1851  he  came  and  located  in  Henderson  county,  where  he 
now  resides.  He  was  married,  in  1835,  to  Mary  Howell,  of  England, 
born  in  1806,  daughter  of  Walter  and  Jane  Howell.  They  were  Eng- 
glish  people  and  members  of  the  Church  of  England.  LLer  father  died 
in  1846,  at  the  age  of  seventy-two  years.  In  1854  her  mother  died, 
aged  eighty  years.  By  this  marriage  Mr.  Morgan  has  a  family  of  six 
children,  three  of  whom  are  dead :  Anna,  Jane,  George,  Annah 
(deceased),  Thomas  (deceased),  John  (deceased).  He  has  a  well 
improved  farm  of  160  acres.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Free- 
Will  Baptist  church. 

George  Morgan,  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  England  in 
1840,  and  is  son  of  Tliomas  and  Mary  Morgan,  whose  history  will 
appear  in  the  biograj^hical  dei^artment  of  this  township,  George 
Morgan  came  to  America  with  his  parents  and  located  in  New  York, 
where  he  remained  two  years ;  then  he  came  to  Henderson  county, 
where  he  has  since  lived.  His  early  education  was  that  of  the  common 
school.  He  was  married  in  1863  to  Sarah  Richards,  a  native  of 
Pennsylvania,  and  daughter  of  Wm.  and  Harriet  Richards.  The  father, 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  came  to  Henderson  county,  Illiuois,  then  moved 
to  Missouri,  where  the  mother  died  in  1881,  aged  seventy -five  years. 
The  father  was  a  farmer  and  a  member  of  tlie  Methodist  Episcopal 


TERRE    HAUTE   TOWNSHIP.  1305 

cliurdi.  His  widow  now  lives  in  Iowa,  "Wayne  county.  Mr.  Morgan 
by  tliis  marriage  has  six  children :  Anna,  George,  Mary,  Ella,  Thomas 
and  Maggie.  He  enlisted  in  the  war  in  1S02,  January  1,  in  the  10th 
111.  Vols.,  Co.  G  ;  served  one  year,  when  he  was  discharged  because  of 
a  sunstroke.  He  was  in  the  battles  of  Corinth,  Island  No.  10  and 
Tiptonville,  besides  numerous  skirmishes.  He  is  now  justice  of  the 
peace  and  is  serving  his  second  term  as  notary  public.  He  and  wife 
are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He  is  a  member  and 
chaplain  of  the  Soldiers'  lodge  at  Carman,  this  county.  He  owns  a 
farm  of  160  acres  in  the  north  part  of  T.  8,  R.  5,  and  town  property  in 
Terre  Haute. 

Marion  McKim,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  18-10,  on 
his  father's  farm,  where  he  now  resides.  His  parents  were  Noble  and 
and  Abagail  McKim.  His  father  was  born  in  Ohio,  his  mother  in 
Yermont.  She  died  in  1856,  aged  forty-nine  years.  They  came  to 
Henderson  county  in  1839  and  located  in  T.  8,  R.  6,  on  the  farm  where 
their  son  Marion  now  lives.  Here  his  father  resided  till  1873,  when 
he  moved  to  Dallas  to  spend  the  remainder  of  his  days  in  retired  life. 
He  is  by  trade  a  brick-mason,  but  made  farming  the  business  of  his  life. 
He  is  now  seventy -four  years  old.  The  McKim  family  formerly  came 
from  Ireland.  Marion  McKim  superintends  his  father's  farm.  In 
1864  he  was  man-ied  to  Rebecca  Grey,  born  in  1833,  native  of  Ohio, 
daughter  of  John  O.  and  Jane  E.  (Bryant)  Grey,  both  of  Yermont. 
They  came  to  Illinois  in  1841:,  and  located  in  Hancock  county,  then 
moved  to  Rock  Island  county,  where  they  both  died,  the  father  in 
1873,  aged  sixty-four  years  ;  the  mother  in  1876,  at  the  age  of  seventy 
years.  Hir  mother  was  a  member  of  the  Mormon  church.  Mr. 
McKim,  by  this  marriage,  has  four  children  :  Robert  A.,  Abagail, 
Frank  and  Fred  B.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Free-Will  Bap- 
tist church,  at  Terre  Haute.  The  McKim  family  is  justly  entitled  to 
the  name  of  pioneer  settlers  of  Henderson. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  John  T.  Chandler,  is  a  native  of  Greene 
county,  Pennsylvania.  He  was  born  in  1838,  and  is  son  of  Jesse  and 
Rachel  Chandler.  His  father  is  a  native  of  Yirginia,  his  mother  of 
Pennsylvania,  where  they  were  married.  They  emigrated,  in  1844,  to 
McDonough  county,  Illinois,  and  located  six  miles  west  of  McComb, 
where  they  remained  till  1846.  They  then  moved  to  Hancock  county. 
He  helped  to  drive  out  the  Mormons,  by  assisting  in  the  uprising  of 
the  people  at  that  period  against  that  sect.  In  1852  he  moved  to  Hen- 
derson county,  and  located  in  T.  8,  R.  6.  He  now  lives  in  Abington, 
Knox  county.  His  wife  died  in  1858.  He  is  now  sixty -eight  years 
old  and  is  livina:  a  retired  life.     He  at  various  times  held  sucli  of  the 


1306  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AISTD    HP:NDERS0N    COUNTIES. 

township  offices  as  were  forced  upon  liim.  The  Chandler  family  in 
America  are  descendants  of  three  brothers  who  came  to  America  in 
early  times.  John  T.  was  reared  on  the  farm.  His  early  education 
was  that  of  the  common  school.  He  enlisted  in  the  army  in  1861  in 
the  10th  111.  Vols.,  Co.  D,  and  served  three  months.  In  1862  he  mar- 
ried Sarah  A.  Lovitt,  of  Ohio,  born  in  1844,  daughter  of  Price  and  Mary 
J.  Lovitt,  whose  history  will  appear  in  the  biographical  department  of 
this  township.  She  died  in  1875.  By  this  marriage  Mr.  Chandler 
had  two  children :  Albert  E.  and  Oliver,  Mr.  Chandler  has  a  well 
improved  farm  of  320  acres.  He  keeps  short-horn  cattle  and  good 
grades  of  other  farm  stock. 

William  Kobinson  was  born  in  Lancaster  county,  Pennsylvania, 
September  21,  1821,  and  made  that  state  his  home  until  1869.  He 
then  moved  to  Illinois  and  located  in  Terre  Haute,  Henderson  county, 
where  his  eldest  brother,  Joseph,  was  then  living.  He  is  the  youngest 
of  a  family  of  eight  children,  four  of  whom  are  living.  His  parents 
were  James  and  Catherine  (Retzer)  Robinson,  both  natives  of  Pennsyl- 
vania, who  died  in  their  native  state,  the  former  in  1865,  aged  eighty- 
four  years ;  the  latter  in  1849,  aged  seventy  years.  The  subject  of  this 
sketch  spent  his  early  years  on  the  farm,  receiving  a  limited  education, 
such  as  the  subscription  schools  of  that  age  afforded,  that  being  before 
the  days  of  public  schools.  He  afterward  learned  the  shoemaker's 
trade,  which  has  been  his  chief  occupation.  He  was  twice  married : 
first  in  1841,  to  Miss  Trancina  Lewis,  a  native  of  Pennsylvania,  who 
died  in  1849 ;  subsequently  married  in  1855,  to  Miss  Ann  E.  Pennell, 
also  a  native  of  Pennsylvania.  By  the  first  marriage  he  has  four  chil- 
dren: Joseph  P.,  John  S.,  Thomas  M.  and  Mary  T.  (now  wife  of 
John  T.  Le  Fevre).  By  the  second  marriage  he  has  three  children : 
W.  Howard,  A.  Ella  and  Leta  L.  His  eldest  son,  Joseph,  enlisted  in 
Co.  A,  97th  reg.  Pa.  Vols.,  in  1861,  and  served  three  years,  after- 
ward locating  in  Clearfield  county,  Pennsylvania,  The  other  children 
all  reside  in  Henderson  county,  except  Howard,  who  lives  in  Disco, 
Hancock  county.  Mr.  Robinson  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Meth- 
odist Episcopal  church,  and  he  a  member  of  the  I.O.O.F.  lodge,  Terre 
Haute. 

Melzar  a.  Paul,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  New  York 
State  in  1848,  and  is  a  son  of  Melzar  C.  and  Mary  A.  (Wescott)  Paul, 
whose  history  will  appear  in  the  biographical  department  of  this  town- 
ship. Melzar  A.  was  reared  on  the  farm,  and  received  only  a  common 
school  education.  He  came  to  Henderson  county  with  his  parents 
when  seven  years  old,  where  he  has  since  lived.  He  was  married  in 
1880  to  Miss  Josie  Rodgers,   of  Illinois,  born  in  1830,  daughter  of 


TERRE    HAUTE    TOWNSHIP.  1307 

William  and  Mary  Koclgers ;  the  father  of  Missouri,  the  latter  of  New 
York.  They  came  here  with  the  first  settlers,  and  now  live  one  mile 
south  of  Terre  Haute,  and  are  farmers.  Mr.  Paul  has  a  fine  farm  of 
120  acres  and  keeps  a  good  grade  of  farm  stock. 

John  Forbes,  the  subject  of  this  history,  is  a  native  of  Scotland; 
born  in  1818,  and  the  only  surviving  member  of  his  father's  family. 
His  parents  were  Alexander  and  Jane  (McFarland)  Forbes.  They  were 
reared  and  spent  their  lives  in  their  native  country.  The  father  lived 
to  the  age  of  sixty  years;  the  mother  died  in  1845,  at  the  age  of 
forty-eight  years.  They  were  members  of  the  Presbyterian  church  of 
Scotland,  and  by  occu])ation  farmers.  In  1850  John  Forbes  emigrated 
to  America  and  located  at  Fond  du  Lac,  Wisconsin,  where  he  remained 
one  year;  then  he  moved  to  Jackson  county,  Wisconsin,  where  he 
resided  twent}^  years  and  carried  on  the  business  of  a  lumberman.  In 
1872  he  came  to  Henderson  county,  where  he  now  resides.  He  was 
married  in  1855  to  Sarah  K.  Heisler,  of  Ohio,  born  in  1832,  and 
daughter  of  William  and  Sarah  (Edmunds)  Heisler.  The  father  died 
in  1879,  aged  seventy-six  years ;  the  mother  in  1834,  at  the  age  of 
twenty-one  years.  Mr.  Forbes  by  this  marriage  has  seven  children, 
two  of  whom  died  in  infancy :  Ella  (deceased  at  the  age  of  twenty-four 
years) ;  Myron,  John,  Emma  and  Stella.  He  formerly  was  a  member 
of  the  Presbj'terian  church  in  Scotland ;  liis  wife  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He  has  a  fine  farm  of  eighty  acres, 
which  is  fairly  stocked. 

W.  A.  Rogers,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  was  born  in  Missouri  in 
1834,  son  of  W.  A.  Sr.  and  Elizabeth  Rogers,  both  of  Tennessee. 
They  emigrated  to  Missouri,  where  they  were  married,  with  their 
parents.  The  ftither  died  in  1842,  at  about  fifty  years  of  age.  The 
mother  came  to  Illinois  shortly  after  his  death,  and  located  in  Schuyler 
county,  near  Rushville  ;  then  in  1849  came  to  Plancock  county,  where 
she  died  in  1878,  at  about  seventy  years  of  age.  She  was  a  member  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  They  were  farmers.  Her  father, 
Daniel  Biggs,  served  in  the  army  in  the  war  of  1812.  W.  A.  Jr. 
was  reared  on  the  farm.  He  has  always  followed  farming.  In  1859 
he  was  married  to  Mrs.  Mary  E.  Allen,  formerly  Miss  Mai-y  E.  Allen, 
born  in  1818,  in  New  York  State,  and  daughter  of  Amasa  and  Susana 
(Farrington)  Allen  ;  the  father  of  Connecticut,  the  mother  of  New 
York,  both  of  whom  now  live  with  their  son,  Joseph  Allen,  north  of 
Terre  Haute.  By  her  first  husband,  Silas  Allen,  who  died  in  1854,  at 
the  age  of  thirty-nine  years,  she  had  five  children  :  Martha  J.,  Free- 
man, James  M.,  Emma  C.  and  Susie.  Mr.  Rogers  has  by  this 
marriage  two  children  :  Josaphine  and  William  A.  He  has  a  fine  farm 


1308  HISTORY   OF   MERCER   AJSTD    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

of  120  acres,  fairly  stocked.     He  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church  and  of  the  I.O.O.F.  lodge  at  Terre  Haute. 

The  subject  of  this  sketch,  MxIrion  Edmunds,  deceased,  was  born  in 
Butler  county,  Pennsylvania.  His  parents  were  Obediah  and  Lydia 
Edmunds,  whose  history  will  appear  in  the  sketch  of  Oliver  Edmunds. 
He  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents ;  spent 
the  winter  of  six  years,  then  three  years  in  Wisconsin  in  the  lumber 
trade,  running  a  saw  mill.  Pie  was  married  in  1848  to  Martha  J.  Git- 
tings,  of  Kentucky,  born  in  1828,  and  came  to  Illinois  with  her 
parents,  Albion  and  Elizabeth  Gittings,  'when  she  was  fourteen  years 
old.  Her  parents  were  both  of  Union  county,  Kentucky,  and  located 
in  Hancock  county  in  1843,  where  the  father  died  in  1844,  at  the  age  of 
fifty-six  years,  and  the  mother  in  1858,  aged  sixty-five  years.  They 
were  both  members  of  the  Catholic  church.  By  occupation  they  were 
farmers.  Marion  Edmunds  by  this  marriage  had  four  children :  Mary 
E.  (deceased),  Simeon  G.,  Francis  A.  and  Lula  E.  His  widow  is  a 
member  of  the  Catholic  church,  and  lives  on  the  old  homestead.  Mi. 
Edmunds  left  his  family  a  fine  farm  of  300  acres  well  improved.  He 
is  justly  entitled  to  be  placed  with  the  pioneer  settlers  of  Henderson 
county.  He  was  a  man  of  energetic  and  industrious  habits  and  won 
the  respect  of  all  who  knew  him. 

Samuel  Hunter,  the  subject  of  this  narrative,  is  a  native  of  Penn- 
sylvania, born  in  1820.  B[is  parents  were  William  and  Jane  (Carr) 
Hunter;  the  father  of  New  York,  the  mother  of  Pennsylvania,  where 
they  were  married.  They  emigrated  to  Muskingum  county,  Ohio, 
where  they  lived  for  seven  years,  when  they  moved  about  considerably. 
During  these  removals  the  father  died,  and  his  wife  came  with  her  son 
Samuel  to  Illinois,  Hendei-son  county,  where  she  died  in  1856.  He 
was  a  cooper  by  trade.  Samuel  Hunter's  early  education  was  such  as 
he  could  obtain  in  the  district  school.  He  went  to  work  on  a  farm  as 
soon  as  he  was  large  enough  to  y>Iow,  which  business  he  has  since  fol- 
lowed. He  was  married  in  1851  to  Lydia  Heisler,  of  Ohio,  born  in 
1833,  and  came  to  Henderson  county  with  her  parents,  William  and 
Hannah  Edmunds  Heisler,  when  she  was  five  years  old.  By  this 
union  Samuel  Hunter  had  twelve  children  :  Charles  F.  (deceased). 
Perry,  Eliza  A.,  John  W.,  Joseph  A.,  Mary  M.,  Delia  M.,  William, 
Harriet,  Oliver  E.  and  Lydia  A.  (deceased  in  infancy).  He  has  a 
nicely  improved  farm  of  forty-eight  acres,  fairly  stocked  with  common 
grades. 

Among  the  i)ref^ent  business  men  of  Terre  Haute,  and  those  to 
whom  Henderson  county  is  their  birth-place  and  home,  is  Jajvies  M. 
Allen.     He  was  born  in  1848,  and  reared  on  the  farm.     His  early 


-t^-■  .,..*'fc^ ,_ 


^ 


y^^^^A^. 


TERRE    HAUTE    TOWNSHIP.  1311 

education  was  such  training  as  lie  could  get  in  the  district  school.  He 
followed  the  vocation  taught  him  by  his  father  till  1881,  .when 
he  engaged  in  the  general  mercantile  business  in  Terre  Haute,  which 
business  he  still  continues  with  a  good  trade.  His  father  was  Silas 
and  his  mother  Mary  Allen,  both  of  New  York.  They  came  to  Illi- 
nois in  1845,  and  settled  in  Henderson  county.  The  father  died  in 
1851 ;  the  mother  afterward  married  W.  A.  Rodgers,  and  now  lives 
one  mile  south  of  Terre  Haute.  Silas  Allen  was  a  farmer,  well  re- 
spected by  all  in  the  community.  He  raised  a  family  of  five  children, 
all  of  which  are  now  living.  J.  M.  was  married  in  1869,  to  Sarah 
Louisa  Perry,  a  native  of  Wisconsin,  born  in  1851,  and  daughter  of 
James  and  Lydia  (Edmunds)  Perry,  both  of  Ohio ;  came  here  with  the 
earlj^  settlers.  The  mother  died  in  1856,  aged  thirty-two;  the  father 
now  lives  in  Wisconsin.  They  came  to  Henderson  county  from  Wis- 
consin and  returned.  Mr.  Allen  has  by  this  marriage  three  children  : 
Ida  Y.  (deceased),  James  A.  and  Glide  M.  He  and  wife  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Methodist  church.  He  is  a  member  of  the  I.O.O.F.  lodge 
at  Terre  Haute. 

The  subject  of  this  history,  William  P.  Bryan,  was  born  in  1825, 
in  the  State  of  Pennsylvania.  His  parents  were  John  and  Mary 
(Painter)  Bryan.  The  father,  a  native  of  Maryland,  the  latter  of 
Pennsylvania,  where  they  were  married.  They  emigrated  from  Penn- 
sylvania in  1839  to  Illinois,  and  located  in  Hancock  county,  where 
they  lived  one  year,  then  moved  to  Henderson  county,  T.  8.  R.  5,  near 
the  south  line  of  the  township,  where  the  father  died  in  1879,  at  the 
age  of  eighty-nine  years ;  the  mother  is  now  living,  and  is  eighty-five 
years  old.  Both  were  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 
He  held  the  office  of  justice  of  the  peace  for  several  years.  He  was  a 
successful  farmer  all  his  life,  a  judicious  and  well  respected  citizen. 
He  reared  a  family  of  ten  children,  six  of  whom  are  now  living. 
Wm.  P.  Bryan  was  reared  on  the  farm  in  his  native  state,  and  received 
such  educational  training  as  the  common  schools  of  his  neighborhood 
could  furnish.  In  1839  he  came  with  his  father  to  Hancock  county, 
and  in  18-1-0  to  Plenderson  county,  where  he  has  since  resided.  In  1854 
he  married  Maria  Justice,  of  Laurence  county,  Pennsylvania,  daughter 
of  Joseph  and  Maria  (Renols)  Justice,  both  of  Pennsylvania,  and  were 
reared,  lived  and  died  in  their  native  state;  the  father  died  in  1878, 
at  the  age  of  eighty-five  years ;  the  mother  at  the  age  of  thirty-eight. 
He  was  a  hatter  by  trade,  and  engaged  in  the  mercantile  business  in 
the  latter  part  of  his  life.  They  were  both  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.  By  this  union  William  P.  Bryan  has  four  children : 
74 


1312  HISTORY   OF   IVrERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Joseph  J.,  Louella,  Laura  aud  Mary  (deceased).      He  has  a  farm  of 
160  acres,  well  improved  and  well  stocked. 

Peter  C.  Bainter,  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  a  native  of  Muskingum 
county,  Ohio ;  born  in  1830,  son  of  Peter  and  Mary  Bainter,  both  of 
Pennsylvania.  They  emigrated  to  Illinois  in  1851,  and  located  in 
Hancock  county.  They  now  live  in  La  Harpe.  The  father  is  eighty- 
six  years  old  ;  his  wife  is  eighty-three.  They  have  been  married  sixty 
years.  He  is  a  farmer  by  vocation.  His  father  worked  his  own  passage 
from  Germany  to  America,  and  that  of  a  sister.  He  was  virtually  a 
slave  till  the  debt  was  paid.  P.  C.  Bainter  came  to  Illinois  in  1853, 
and  located  in  Hancock  county,  where  he  lived  six  years,  when  he 
came  to  Henderson  countv,  where  he  now  lives.  He  was  married  in 
1852  to  EmiW  Snoots,  of  Ohio,  born  in  1832,  daughter  of  Henry  and 
Nancy  Snoots  ;  both  died  in  Ohio,  the  father  in  1870,  the  mother 
lived  some  time  after.  They  were  farmers.  By  this  marriage  he  has 
fourteen  children.  Four  died  in  infancy.  The  living  are :  Nancy, 
Olive,  Jane,  William,  Adda,  Mary  A.,  Allen,  AUie,  Arthur.  He  has 
a  well  improved  farm  of  360  acres,  and  twenty  acres  of  timber.  He 
keeps  a  good  grade  of  farm  stock.  His  wife  is  a  member  of  the 
Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Thomas  McMurry,  subject  of  this  life  history,  was  born  in  Ken- 
tucky in  1829.  His  parents  were  George  and  Eliza  McMurry,  both 
of  Kentucky,  where  they  were  reared  and  married.  In  1833  they 
emigrated  to  Adams  county,  Illinois,  where  they  both  died,  the  former 
in  1879,  aged  seventy-three,  the  latter  in  1874,  aged  sixty  years.  They 
were  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  The  McMurry 
family  is  of  Scotch-Irish  descent.  Two  bi'others  emigrated  to  America, 
one  of  which  was  killed  by  an  alligator,  the  surviving  one  came  to 
Kentucky  and  located  at  a  very  early  time  in  its  settlement.  Thomas 
McMurry  was  reared  on  the  farm,  which  vocation  he  has  made  the 
business  of  his  life.  He  came  to  Adams  county  with  his  parents,  where 
he  remained  till  1854,  when  he  located  in  Henderson  county,  where  he 
now  lives.  He  was  married  in  1850  to  Nancy  Griffing,  of  Kentucky, 
born  in  1831,  and  daughter  of  Lyle  and  Eliza  Griffing,  both  of  Ken- 
tucky. They  came  to  Illinois  in  1834  and  located  in  Adams  county, 
near  Quincy,  where  they  both  died  in  1848,  within  three  days  of  each 
other.  They  were  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  and 
farmers.  Mr.  McMurry,  by  this  marriage,  has  one  daughter,  Mary. 
He  owns  a  splendid  farm  of  480  acres,  well  improved  and  well  stocked 
with  good  grades. 

William  Bolton,  subject  of  this  history,  is  a  native  of  Kentucky; 
born  in  1832,  son  of  John  and  Ann  Bolton,  the  father  of  Virginia,  the 


TERRE    HAUTE    TOWNSHIP.  1313 

mother  of  Kentucky.  They  were  married  in  Kentucky,  where  they 
both  died  when  their  son  William  was  a  small  boy.  They  were  farm- 
ers and  members  of  the  Catholic  church.  William  Bolton  was  reared 
among  his  relatives  to  the  vocation  of  farming,  which  business  he  has 
always  followed.  He  came  to  Illinois  in  1857  and  located  near  Git- 
ting's  Mound,  where  he  lived  for  four  years,  when  he  came  to  T.  8,  E.  5, 
where  he  has  since  resided.  He  bought  the  farm  of  160  acres,  where 
he  now  lives,  in  1861.  He  was  married  in  1853  to  Sarah  E.  Neigh- 
bours, a  native  of  Kentucky,  born  in  1832,  daughter  of  William  and 
Malinda  Ts'eighbours,  both  of  North  Carolina.  They  emigrated  to  Illi- 
nois in  1860,  and  located  west  of  Terre  Haute,  in  T.  8,  R.  5,  where 
they  yet  own  the  farm.  They  now  live  at  Burlington  Junction,  Mis- 
souri. By  this  marriage  he  has  eleven  children,  eight  of  whom  are 
living  :  James  W.,  Ann  Eliza,  Francis  L.,  Malinda  E.,  Mary,  Clay, 
Artemesia,  Raymond  and  John  H.,  his  third  child  (deceased).  Two 
died  in  infancy.  The  mother  of  these  died  in  1868.  She  was  a  mem- 
ber of  the  Catholic  church  at  Gitting's  Mound,  where  repose  her 
remains.     Mr.  Bolton  is  a  member  of  the  same  church. 

O.  P.  LoviTT  is  a  native  of  Ohio;  born  in  1831,  son  of  James  and 
Catharine  (Holstein,  Farj-)  Lovitt,  both  of  Ohio.  The  father  died  in 
1862  ;  the  mother  now  lives  in  Indiana.  The  father  was  a  cooper  by 
trade.  O.  P.  was  reared  on  the  farm,  and  brought  up  by  a  cousin  after 
he  was  six  years  of  age.  In  1854  he  came  to  Illinois,  and  located 
three  miles  west  of  where  he  now  lives  ;  there  he  remained  till  1857. 
In  1854  he  was  married  to  Lucinda  J.  DeBolt,  of  Ohio,  born  in  1833, 
daughter  of  William  and  Barbara  E.  DeBolt,  of  Ohio.  The  mother- 
of  whom  died  in  1876,  at  the  age  of  sixty -four  years ;  the  father  is  now 
living  and  is  seventy-four  years  old.  Mr.  Lovitt  by  this  marriage  has 
six  children:  Mary  E.  (deceased),  Christiana  A.,  Sarah  A.  (deceased), 
William  (deceased),  Lucinda  J.  and  Perry  M.  He  has  a  well  im- 
proved farm  of  430  acres,  faiily  stocked  with  good  grades  of  cattle, 
hogs  and  horses. 

J.  N.  Herbert,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  a  native  of  New  York, 
and  was  born  in  1837.  His  parents  were  James  G.  and  Catharine 
(Button)  Herbert,  both  of  whom  were  born  and  reared  in  New  York, 
where  they  resided  till  after  their  son,  J.  N.,  was  born.  In  1839  they  emi- 
grated to  Wisconsin,  and  lived  there  till  1850,  when  the  latter  came  to 
Henderson  county,  the  former  having  died  in  1848,  in  the  forty-seventh 
year  of  his  age.  His  wife  now  lives  in  Terre  Haute,  being  cared  for 
in  her  old  age  by  her  son,  J.  N.  They  were  farmers,  and  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  ;  commanded  the  respect  of  all  who 
knew  them.     J.  N.  was  reared  on  the  farm,  and  brought  up  to  respect 


1314:  HISTORY    OF   IIEECER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

the  vocation  of  his  lather.  His  earlv  educational  training  was  such  as 
the  pioneer  schools  of  Wisconsin  furnished.  In  1850  he  came  to  Hen- 
derson county,  where  he  has  since  resided.  In  1861  he  enlisted  in  the 
army,  in  the  7th  Mo.  Yols.,  and  served  seventeen  months  in  Co.  F. 
The  regiment  during  this  time  was  not  in  any  regular  engagements, 
having  been  detailed  to  tight  guerillas  and  bushwhackers  in  the  State 
of  Missouri.  Mr.  Herbert  owns  a  good  farm  of  eighty  acres  near 
Terre  Haute,  and  keeps  a  good  'grade  of  farm  stock.  He  is  a  member 
of  the  masonic  lodge  Xo.  195,  at  La  Harpe,  Hancock  county,  Illinois. 

"William  Finch  is  a  native  of  Chester  county,  Pennsylvania;  born 
in  1820,  son  of  Joseph  and  Hester  (Reese)  Finch,  both  of  Pennsyl- 
A'ania,  where  they  died.  William  came  to  Henderson  county  in  1846. 
He  labored  for  several  years  by  the  month  and  bought  his  present 
farm,  where  he  located  in  1852.  He  was  married  in  1866  to  Ellen 
Penny,  of  Maryland,  born  near  Baltimore  in  1843,  daughter  of  Josiah 
and  Ann  Penny,  both  of  Maryland,  and  now  living  in  Pike  county, 
Missouri,  where  he  lives  a  retired  farmer.  Mr.  Finch  has  by  this 
marriao;e  six  children:  Marv,  Svlvester,  Anna,  Alice,  Samuel  and 
Edith.  He  has  a  well  improved  farm  of  320  acres,  fairly  stocked.  His 
wife  is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

Joseph  Beckett,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  is  a  native  of  Indiana; 
born  in  1834,  son  of  Robert  and  Mary  Beckett ;  the  father  of  Indiana, 
the  mother  of  Virginia.  They  were  married  in  Indiana,  and  came 
about  1836  to  Adams  county,  Illinois,  where  they  now  remain.  The 
father  is  seventy-four  years  old,  the  mother  sixty-eight ;  they  are  farm- 
ers and  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  Joseph  was 
reared  in  Adams  county  till  1868,  when  he  came  to  Henderson  county, 
where  he  has  since  lived.  In  1862  he  married  Margaret  McMurry,  of 
Adams  county,  Illinois,  who  died  in  1879,  aged  thirty-five  years.  She 
was  the  daughter  of  George  and  Eliza  McMurry.  By  this  marriage 
he  has  eight  children :  Oscar.  Ellsworth,  Mary,  Florence,  George, 
Charley,  Joseph  and  Glive.  He  has  always  farmed,  and  keeps  good 
grades. 

Jacob  S.  Xegley  is  a  native  of  Pennsylvania ;  born  in  1830,  son  of 
John  and  Catharine  Xegley,  both  of  Pennsylvania.  In  1852  they 
emigrated  to  Fulton  county,  Blinois ;  then  to  McDonough,  at  Bushnell, 
where  they  both  died,  the  father  in  1870,  at  the  age  of  sixty-nine  years ; 
the  mother  in  1880,  aged  sixty-nine  years.  In  Ohio  he  farmed  and 
carried  on  a  distillery ;  in  Illinois  he  kept  hotel  and  engaged  in  the 
mercantile  business.  His  wife  was  a  member  of  the  Methodist  Epis- 
copal church.  Jacob  S.  came  to  Illinois  with  his  parents  and  remained 
in  Fulton  county  till  1878,  when  he  came  to  Henderson  county  and 


BIGGSVILLE   TOWNSHIP.  1315 

located  where  he  now  lives.  lie  has  a  fine  farm  of  130  acres,  which 
is  well  impi'oved  and  well  stocked.  He  was  married  in  1854  to  Mary 
E,  Perrine,  of  Ohio,  born  in  1834,  daughter  of  Daniel  and  Mary 
Perrine,  both  of  J^few  Jersey,  and  located  in  Ohio  with  the  early 
settlers,  and  afterward  came  to  Fulton  county,  Illinois,  where  the 
father  is  now  living,  on  the  farm  where  he  located  about  1842 ;  the 
mother  died  in  1876,  at  the  age  of  seventy  years  ;  she  was  a  member  of 
the  Baptist  church.  Mr.  Xegley  by  this  marriage  has  eleven  children  : 
William,  John  G.,  Ellen  (deceased),  Mary  J.,  Daniel,  Albert  and 
Elmer  (twins),  Joseph,  Abraham  and  Absalam  (twins,  both  deceased), 
and  Henry.     lie  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist  church. 


BIGGSYILLE  TOWNSHIP. 

For  ages  had  the  waters  of  South  Henderson  rolled  on  to  join  the 
great  Mississippi,  quiet  and  undisturbed  save  by  the  monotonous  plash 
of  the  oars  of  the  Indian  as  he  sruided  his  frail  canoe  over  its  brio-ht 
and  yielding  suHace.  Early  explorers  had  perhaps  passed  by  the  little 
stream  scarcely  deigning  to  give  it  notice.  But  the  actual  settler, 
desiring  to  utilize  the  forces  of  nature  that  would  give  the  quickest  and 
surest  return,  looked  to  the  stream  first  of  all  for  the  means  of  liveli- 
hood. So  John  Hopper  and  David  Robinson,  who  came  to  Henderson 
county  in  the  spring  of  1839,  at  once  conceived  the  idea  of  building  a 
mill  on  South  Henderson  creek  at  a  point  where  it  passes  through  the 
S.  W.  J  of  Sec.  16,  T.  10,  P.  4.  That  summer  they  built  a  dam  across 
the  stream,  erected  the  mill,  and  in  the  winter  of  1840  announced  them- 
selves as  ready  to  do  custom  work  for  the  public.  This  was  the  first 
fiour  mill  in  this  part  of  the  country  and  filled  a  long-felt  need.  Mr. 
Hopper,  who  was  a  native  of  the  State  of  ]^ew  York,  and  an  active 
and  energetic  man,  sold  his  interest  in  the  mill  in  1840,  and  removed 
to  Olena,  where  he  soon  after  died.  He  was  a  brother  of  Lambert 
Iloppei-,  of  IIop])er's  mills,  near  Warren.  Mr.  Jerry  Meachem,  who 
bought  out  Hopper,  soon  sold  to  Mr.  John  Birdsall,  who,  with  Mr. 
Robinson,  carried  on  the  business  with  fair  success  till  the  spring  of 
1843,  when  they  sold  to  one  John  Biggs,  an  Englishman  of  no  little 
engineering  skill.  After  parting  with  his  mill  property  here  Mr. 
Robinson  removed  to  Wisconsin,  where  he  turned  his  attention  to  saw- 
milling.  He  was  residing  there  in  1882.  Mr.  Birdsall,  his  partner  in 
the  mill  here,  after  selling  out  removed  back  to  his  farm  on  Ellison, 
where  he  afterward  died.  Mr.  Biggs,  after  purchasing  the  mill,  actively 
engaged  in  making  new  improvements,  and  being  a  man  6f  some  con- 


1316  HISTORY    OF   IVrEECEE   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

siderable  means  he  bought  lumber  and  obtained  the  services  of  Abel 
Jackson  and  Henry  Canton  to  build  a  comfortable  and  substantial 
frame  dwelling  house  to  take  the  place  of  the  board  shanty  in  which 
lived  the  former  proprietors.  '  He  also  the  same  vear  raised  the  dam 
three  feet  higher  and  built  a  levee  along  the  southwest  bank  of  the 
stream,  evidently  ex]:»ecting  to  hold  at  will  the  turbulent  waters  of  this 
treacherous  little  stream. 

Through  the  seasons  of  1813^  tliej  ran  well,  and  its  proprietor 
flourished,  and  those  who  had  made  long  trips  to  mill  at  Quincy  and 
other  distant  points  with  ox  teams,  occupying  days  and  even  weeks  of 
time,  were  greatly  pleased.  But  imagine  the  surprise  and  consterna- 
tion of  not  only  Mr.  Biggs,  but  all  others  living  within  a  radius  of 
many  miles,  when,  during  the  unprecedented  high  water  of  June,  1814, 
the  little  South  Plenderson  got  up  in  all  its  fury  and,  being  apparently- 
confined  by  dam  and  levee,  succeeded  in  undermining  the  mill  itself 
by  washing  away  the  foundation.  All  this  was  secreth^  going  on  and 
invisible  to  the  eve  till  the  mischief  was  complete.  The  mill  topj^led 
and  fell,  with  all  its  store  and  contents,  which  were  carried  away  by 
the  torrent  in  its  mad  rush  to  join  the  already  overflowed  and  raging 
Mississippi. 

Taking  into  consideration  the  new  and  sparsely  settled  condition  of 
the  country  and  the  great  need  of  bread  by  the  pioneers,  this  loss  was 
most  disastrous,  not  only  to  the  owner  of  the  once  prosperous  but  now 
defunct  institution,  but  to  all  who  had  depended  on  it  for  the  staft'  of 
life  ;  for  at  the  time  of  its  destruction  the  mill  liad  stored  within  it 
about  fifty  barrels  of  flour  and  over  four  hundred  bushels  of  wheat, 
which,  with  all  its  machinery  and  fixtures,  were  nearly  a  total  loss. 

This  catastrophe  demonstrated  the  fact  that  building  a  mill  on  the 
sand  or  in  the  face  of  the  waters  on  the  prairie  streams  was  decidedly 
uncertain,  and  gave  birth  to  the  idea  of  selecting  a  location  for  a  mill 
more  protected  from  sudden  rises  of  water.  Hence  Mr.  Biggs  built  a 
strong  and  substantial  one  on  what  has  since  been  laid  out  and  j)latted 
as  lot  11,  block  1.  in  Rigby's  addition  to  Biggsville.  This  mill  in  1882 
stands  a  monument  to  his  memory,  and  judging  from  its  strong,  sub- 
stantial ai)pearance,  and  the  completeness  of  its  machinery,  it  will  re- 
main to  do  service  for  many  years  to  come.  To  obtain  water-power 
for  this  mill  it  was  necessary  to  drift  or  tunnel  through  the  bank  and 
under  Main  street  and  build  a  dam  across  the  creek,  above  the  old  one, 
which  had  entirely  disappeared.  To  do  this  men  were  employed  on 
the  dam,  and  the  work  on  the  race  was  let  by  contract  to  and  was  done 
by  Elton  Catlin,  and  proved  a  success.  Some  jeavs  later  steam-power  was 
added,  obviating  the  necessity  of  delay  during  a  long  term  of  dry  weather 


BIGGSVILLE    TOWNSHIP.  1317 

and  consequent  low  water.  After  the  completion  of  his  new  mill  Mr. 
Biggs  did  a  good  business  up  till  the  time  of  his  death,  when  the  mill 
passed  into  the  hands  of  Mr.  llobert  Moir.  Mr.  Biggs  was  one  of 
those  men  whose  deeds  live  after  them,  as  it  is  universally  said  of  him 
that  he  was  strictly  honest  and  exact  to  a  cent.  He  was  a  native  of 
England,  and  had  come  to  America  when  quite  young ;  had  been  exten- 
sively engaged  in  business  in  a  manufacturing  line  in  the  east  and  also 
in  Mexico.  He  had  come  here  with  some  means  and  spent  it  lavishly 
for  the  success  of  his  pet  enterprise.  For  a  fuller  sketch  of  him  refer- 
ence may  be  had  to  the  history  of  Oquawka.  As  before  stated,  after 
Mr.  Biggs'  death  the  mill  became  the  property  of  Robert  Moir,  and 
subsequently  passed  into  the  possession  of  Smith,  George  Rigby, 
Samuel  McDonald,  Eli  Beaver  and  Fort  (fe  Kemp,  respectively.  Mr. 
Kemp  died  in  July,  1882,  since  which  time  Mr.  Fort  is  the  principal 
owner,  while  the  mill  is  in  care  of  Mr.  Zach.  Staley.  A  little  incident 
might  here  be  related  :  At  the  time  of  the  freshet  of  June,  1844,  the 
family  of  Paul  D.  Birdsall  (who  was  then  at  work  for  Mr.  Biggs  get- 
ting out  timber  over  on  Ellison  creek,  was  living  in  a  small  house  near 
the  mill  and  on  the  bank  of  the  creek.  Before  his  wife  was  aware  of 
the  fact  the  water  had  surrounded  the  house.  After  remaining  there  till 
the  water  was  two  feet  deep  (and  still  rising)  she  secured  a  passing  boat 
and  with  her  family  escaped  to  the  main  land,  leaving  most  of  her 
house  hold  goods  behind.  The  same  day  Mr.  Birdsall  returned  home 
and  was  appalled  to  see  the* state  of  affairs  and  the  narrow  escape  of 
his  family.  Mr.  Birdsall  is  still  living,  and  resides  in  Warren  county. 
He  related  with  considerable  enthusiasm  all  the  facts  in  relation  to  the 
rise  and  fall  of  the  first  mill  at  Biggsville  and  the  incidents  connected 
therewith.     A  short  sketch  of  him  will  be  found  in  this  chapter. 

Township  10,  R.  4,  or  more  familiarly  known  as  Biggsville  voting 
precinct,  is  the  center  one  of  the  east  tier  of  townships  in  the  county 
bounded  on  the  east  by  Warren  county,  on  the  south  by  T.  9,  R.  4,  or 
Walnut  Grove  precinct,  on  the  west  by  T.  10,  R.  5,  or  South  Hender- 
son precinct,  and  on  the  north  by  T.  11,  R.  4,  or  Greenville  precinct. 
The  physical  features  of  Biggsville  precinct  are  what  might  be  called 
''rolling  land,''  showing  as  it  does  in  most  places  (except  along  the 
southern  border)  a  rough  and  uneven  surface,  inclining  to  a  bluffy  and 
broken  appearance  bordering  the  South  Henderson  creek.  This  flows 
through  the  township  from  southeast  to  northwest,  and  enters  the  town 
in  Sec.  36  and  passes  out  through  Sec.  18.  Another  branch  of  this 
stream  (though  of  little  importance  except  for  drainage)  enters  the  town 
from  Warren  county  at  a  point  on  or  near  the  line  between  Sees.  24  and 
25,  and  unites  with  the  main  stream  in  the  N.W.  ^  of  Sec.  26.     High 


1318  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND   HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

bluiFs  and  deep  ravines  on  either  side  of  this  now  quite  inferior  water- 
course indicate  that  in  the  ages  antedating  tlie  existence  of  the  pre- 
historic race  the  rushing  mighty  waters  or  other  works  of  nature 
intended  leaving  their  footprints  unobliterable. 

The  groves  and  belts  of  timber  (oak,  ash,  walnut,  hickory,  lime 
and  other  varieties)  bordering  this  stream  and  its  tributaries  offered 
sufficient  inducement  to  call  to  a  halt  the  early  pioneer  who  supposed 
that  a  home  could  be  made  only  in  the  timber  like  unto  that  of  his 
fathers,  back  in  old  Ohio,  Indiana  or  Kentucky,  and  some  even 
predict  that  tlie  amount  of  timber  then  here  would  not  last  to  exceed 
live  years.  The  same  party  now  (1882)  asserts  that  the  supply  has 
rather  increased  than  diminished,  and  experience  has  taught  that  the 
most  beautiful  homes  and  greatest  wealth  could  be  made  on  the  prairie. 
Those  who  settled  in  and  about  the  timber  have  only  to  look  upon  the 
prairie  homes  to  see  that  they  not  only  equal  but  surpass  those  they 
left  far  behind  in  the  old  eastern  States. 

In  fact,  it  is  asserted  by  the  oldest  settlers  (now  living),  that  they 
believed  the  prairie  would  remain  unoccupied  and  unsettled  and  as  a 
range  for  stock  for  many  generations.  But  forty  years  closed  up  every 
foot  of  the  available  prairie  land  in  the  county. 

EARLY  SETTLEMENT. 

There  is  no  doubt  but  that  to  John  McKinney  belongs  the  credit  of 
making  the  first  permanent  and  successful  settlement  in  this  township. 
He  was  born  in  Lincoln  county,  Kentucky,  in  1801,  and  at  the  age  of 
nineteen  left  his  native  state  and  went  to  Ohio,  where  he  became  assist- 
ant clerk  in  the  office  of  his  uncle,  John  Riley,  who  was  clerk  of  the 
supreme  court  of  that  state,  also  court  of  common  pleas.  He  after- 
ward studied  law  under  the  Hon.  John  Pope,  once  senator  of  the  state, 
representative  in  congress  and  the  first  territorial  governor  of  Arkansas. 
Finding  the  bar  crowded  with  young  aspirants  and  without  patrimony, 
Mr.  McKinney  turned  his  attention  to  farming,  the  vocation  to  which 
he  was  raised. 

Having  a  liking  for  the  west,  he  came  first  on  a  prospecting  tour, 
and  in  the  spring  of  1832  emigrated  with  his  wife  and  two  children  to 
Warren,  now  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  settling  on  Sec.  25,  on  the 
northwest  corner  of  which  he  built  a  cabin  and  began  to  make  and  im- 
prove a  farm.  This  was  formerly  military  land,  which  he  purchased  for 
$1,000  of  one  Romelus  Rigg,  an  eastern  speculator.  He  also  bought 
of  G.  Mann,  for  $500  the  E.  -J  of  Sec.  26,  and  later  entered  a  piece  of 
land  in  Sec.  30,  all  T.  10  N.,  E.  4  W.  Perhaps  it  was  the  beautiful 
grove  after  known  as  McKinney's  grove,  and  now  (1882)  as  Salter's 


BIGGSVILLE    TOWNSHIP.  1319 

grove  that  induced  Mr.  McKinney  to  settle  so  far  east  of  the  river. 
However,  in  addition  to  the  advantages  of  plenty  of  timber  of  the  lead- 
ing varieties,  he  also  located  in  what  was  destined  to  be  as  good  a 
farming  district  as  could  be  found  in  the  country,  a  beautiful  rolling 
prairie  and  well  watered.  At  the  time  Mr.  McKinney  settled  here  his 
nearest  neighbor  was  Amos  Williams,  who  was  then  settled  on  Ellison 
Creek,  some  four  miles  distant  to  the  south.  Living  near  to  Williams 
was  Abram  Hendrick,  who  was  formerly  from  near  Lexington,  Ken- 
tucky. Ezekiel  Smith  also  lived  in  the  same  neighborhood,  and  of  whom 
Hendricks  bought  his  first  land. 

Though  it  is  conceded  that  to  McKinney  belongs  the  credit  of 
being  the  permanent  pioneer  who  remained  on  his  fii-st  purchase  and 
growing  up  with  the  county,  it  is  nevertheless  the  fact  that  the  honor 
of  first  settler  should  be  acknowledged  to  belong  to  one  James  Richey, 
who  settled  on  section  7  in  1829,  for  in  that  year,  when  John  C.  Jami- 
son came  here,  Richey  was  the  only  man  living  in  that  part  of  the 
country.  Mr.  Richey,  with  his  family,  had  emigrated  from  Indiana, 
and  during  the  summer  of  1829  raised  a  small  crop  of  corn.  The 
year  following  wheat  raising  was  also  a  part  of  his  agricultural  indus- 
try. This  crop  was  cut  with  the  old-fashioned  reaping-hook,  or  hand- 
sickle,  the  Shorts  and  Jamison  assisting.  During  his  first  year  or  two 
here  Mr.  Richey  was  so  straitened  in  circumstances  as  to  be  actually 
compelled  to  take  the  weeds  commonly  called  nettles  and  have  his 
wife  manufacture  a  lint  from  them  (by  the  same  process  as  it  is  made 
from  flax),  and  from  this  she  made  rude  clothing  for  herself  and  the 
children. 

Uncle  Abner  Short  informs  the  writer  that  Mr.  Richey  was  a  church 
member  and  a  Seceder  of  the  strictest  sort,  and  that  on  a  certain  Sun- 
day (having  forgotten  the  day  of  the  week)  he  put  a  grist  on  his  horse 
and  started  to  mill.  Meeting  Mr.  Jamison  near  his  cabin,  his  memory 
was  corrected.  He  stopped  and  prayerfully  returned  home.  Prior  to 
1840  Mr.  Richey  left  here  and  moved  beyond  the  Mississippi,  still 
glorying  in  the  name  of  hardy  pioneer. 

In  the  days  of  those  earliest  pioneers  (Richeys  and  Jamisons)  their 
nearest  postofiice  was  Peoria,  a  distance  of  over  eighty  miles,  where 
they  occasionally  sent  for  mail  by  a  neighbor,  though  he  should  live 
ten  miles  distant.  In  the  fall  of  1835  Samuel  McDill  and  Andrew 
Graham  came  from  Preble  county,  Ohio,  and  made  claims  on  Sec.  7, 
T.  10,  R.  4.  The  former  brought  with  him  a  wife  and  small  family, 
the  latter  was  then  unmarried.  Biographies  of  these  worthy  pioneers 
are  found  elsewhere  in  this  chapter.  George  McDill,  whose  S(m  John 
visited  this  part  of  Illinois  in  the  summer  of  1835  on  liorseback,  came 


1320  HISTORY    OF    MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

here  in  the  following  year.  He  was  a  native  of  Chester  county,  South 
Carolina,  but  had  resided  many  years  in  Newton  county,  Georgia, 
previous  to  his  advent  into  Illinois.  He  is  also  mentioned  in  the 
biographical  part  of  this  work. 

Going  back  to  McKinney's  Grove  in  1835,  we  find  Benjamin 
Thompson  settled  a  little  southeast  of  the  grove,  j^erhaps  on  Sec.  36. 
He  was  a  Kentuckian  by  birth,  and  became  very  popular  among  the 
early  pioneers.  He  was  early  elected  sheriif  of  Warren  county,  a 
position  he  creditably  filled  for  a  number  of.  years.  Dj-keman  Shook, 
who  settled  on  the  N.  E.  J  of  Sec.  34  in  the  sj^ring  of-1836,  was  another 
of  Mr.  McKinney's  nearest  neighbors.  He  was  also  from  Kentucky 
and  a  man  of  sterling  worth.  He  lived  on  this  farm  till  the  time  of 
his  death.     Mention  of  him  is  made  on  another  page. 

Mr.  McKinney  and  Mr.  Shook,  both  having  families  and  living 
near  neighbors,  united  in  building  a  log  school-house,  and  engaged  as 
teacher  a  young  man  named  Bell.  This  school  was  kept  up  for  some 
time,  or  till  McKinney's  children  became  far  enough  advanced  to  send 
away  to  boarding  school,  during  which  time  a  new  system- of  schools 
sprang  up.  McKinney  was,  during  his  residence  here,  both  school 
director  and  treasurer,  and  after  his  removal  to  Oquawka  in  1842  or 
1844,  Mr.  Shook  was  elected  in  his  stead. 

Soon  after  the  settlement  of  Shook  and  Thompson,  the  former  a 
Campbellite  and  the  latter  a  Baptist,  together  with  McKinney,  who 
was  formerly  a  Cumberland  Presbyterian,  agreed  to  put  forth  an  effort 
to  have  divine  worship  at  their  cabins  every  alternate  Sabbath.  It  was 
also  agreed  that  each  with  their  families  should  attend.  Following 
closely  in  the  footsteps  of  the  pioneer  comes  the  frontier  itinerant,  who 
is  truly  a  divine  laborer.  One  Eev.  Peter  Downey  was  the  first  to 
expound  the  gospel  to  these  people.  He  was  a  Cumberland  Presby- 
terian, and  his  fii-st  sermon  here  was  at  the  house  of  John  McKinney. 
He  afterward  founded  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  church  in  the  short 
settlement,  afterward  known  as  the  South  Henderson  Cumberland 
Presbyterian  church,  and  in  1846  settled  permanently  on  a  farm  on  the 
N.W.  J  of  Sec.  16,  where  he  lived  till  his  death,  which  occurred  in 
March,  1856.  He  left  a  family  of  five  children,  of  whom  Mrs.  B.  H. 
Martin  is  the  only  one  now  residing  in  the  county.  He  was  a  native 
of  Kentucky,  and  was  an  earnest  worker  in  his  Master's  vineyard. 

Kev.  Van  Doi-n,  a  Baptist  minister,  also  preached  at  the  houses  of 
Thompson  and  Shook  for  those  who  were  settled  about  the  grove. 

It  is  with  some  degree  of  pride  and  satisfaction  that  the  writer 
speaks  of  the  backwoods  preacher.  Courage  and  industry  were  the 
pre-eminent  virtues  of  his  activity.     His  circuit  embraced  what  would 


BIGGSVILLE   TOWNSHIP.  1321 

now  seem  an  incredible  extent  of  country,  and  lie  did  well  if  he  served 
all  his  appointments  once  every  month.  To  defy  distance  and  weather 
was  a  regular  habit.  He  usually  traveled  on  horseback,  carrying  in 
capacious  saddle-bags  a  small  bible  and  hymn-book,  a  clean  shirt  or 
two  and  a  homely  luncheon.  Often  he  would  ride  thirty  miles  to 
preach  a  funeral  sermon,  and  forty  or  fifty  to  marry  a  couj^le  for  three 
or  four  dollars.  But  he  did  not  scorn  privation  and  overcome  obstacles 
for  money ;  it  was  a  pleasure  to  be  about  his  Masters  work.  He  grew 
strong  in  view  of  the  great  field  and  the  waiting  harvest,  and  his  soul 
was  animated  by  the  simple  joy  and  hearty  salutations  which  the  warm 
hearts  of  the  ])e()ple  always  expressed  at  his  coming.  But  before  cir- 
cuits were  formed  the  zealous  messengers  of  truth  rode  through  the 
wilderness  visiting  the  scattered  settlements  and  carrying  the  news  of 
the  Good  Shepherd.  His  arrival  was  the  signal  for  word  to  go  forth 
and  summon  together  the  hungry  souls.  Meetings  were  held  in  the 
cabins  or  in  God's  first  temples,  the  groves.  At  this  early  period 
denominations  exerted  no  influence,  congregations  were  composed  of 
every  sect  and  those  who  represented  no  sect,  all  feeling  and  acknowl- 
edging a  common  necessity  for  worship.  Then,  the  service  over,  the 
preacher  departed  on  his  rugged  journey  refreshed  with  the  hospitality 
of  his  full-souled  entertainers  and  laden  with  the  provisions  which  the 
thoughtful  housewife  had  prepai-ed  for  his  comfort,  bearing  on  his 
head  their  blessings,  and  followed  by  silent  prayers  for  his  satety  and 
return.  As  money  was  a  commodity  little  seen,  and  tor  many  years 
commanded  a  high  rate  of  interest,  the  preacher  usually  received  his 
pay  in  provisions,  such  as  potatoes,  beans,  meat  and  flour. 

Among  the  many  early  circuit  riders  in  this  part  of  the  state,  and 
whose  names  have  become  household  words,  were  Peter  Cartwright 
(whose  name  is  perhaps  written  in  nearly  every  county  history  in  this 
state  as  well  as  in  Indiana),  Richard  Hana  and  Henry  Sommers,  who 
still  live  (though  far  advanced  in  years)  to  look  back  over  the  great 
work  they  have  accomplished. 

But  to  return  to  increase  of  settlements,  which  in  1840  had  begun 
to  spring  up  all  over  the  township,  perhaps  a  little  later,  say  January 
1843,  Mr.  E.  Marston  made  a  settlement  on  Sec.  29.  This  was  decid- 
edly on  the  prairie  and  over  a  mile  from  the  timber.  He  was  from 
"York  State,"  and  a  man  of  very  peculiar  characteristics.  Here  he 
engaged  in  a  mixed  business  of  farming,  stock  raising,  tavern  keeping 
and  store  keeping.  On  his  farm  was  built  the  second  school-house  in 
this  township.  After  Mr.  Marston's  death  his  family  removed  to  Kansas 
and  the  farm  passed  into  the  hands  of  a  Biggsville  worthy  citizen,  Paul 
D.  Gibb. 


1322  HISTORY   OF   aiERCER    AND   HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

James  Rankin  in  an  earlv  day  purchased  a  quarter-section  of  land 
in  Sec.  32.  The  same  land  is  now  (1S82)  worth  $60  per  acre,  though 
when  he  bought  it  he  paid  for  it  with  a  yoke  of  steers  worth  $35. 
This  is  but  another  illustration  of  the  cheapness  of  land,  stock  and 
produce,  and  the  dearness  and  scarcity  of  money.  As  another  in- 
stance of  the  little  cash  value  placed  on  stock  and  labor,  a  reliable 
old  citizen  declares  that  he  tried  to  redeem  his  note  for  $4.25  in  the 
hands  of  a  neighbor  by  offering  him  a  yearling  steer,  a  good  thrifty  calf, 
a  shoat  weighing  125  pounds  and  two  days'  work.  This  offer  was 
declined  and  he  was  obliged  to  raise  the  money. 

Another  settlement  was  made  on  the  prairie  at  an  early  date  by 
J.  S.  Harbison,  on  the  S.  W.  J  of  Sec.  34.  His  farm,  which  is  now 
quite  large  and  well  improved,  is  entirely  isolated  from  the  public  high- 
way, and  inaccessible  only  by  a  narrow  lane. 

Some  few  years  previous  to  1840  Seth  Oaks  made  improvements 
on  Sec.  24,  though  he  permanently  located  just  in  the  edge  of  "Warren 
county.  He  came  from  the  eastern  part  of  the  State  of  Vermont  with 
one  Abner  Davis,  a  brother-in-law.  They  made  the  trip  here  during 
the  summer  of  1829  or  1830  with  team  and  wagon.  Mr.  Davis  settled 
near  Olena,  and  Mr.  Oaks,  after  working  out  a  couple  of  years,  settled 
as  above  stated,  where  he  grew  immensely  rich  in  land  and  cattle, 
owning  at  the  time  of  his  death,  besides  a  large  amount  of  stock, 
nearly  4,000  acres  of  valuable  land  in  this  and  Warren  counties  and 
Milo  county,  Iowa.  Plis  sons  now  own  and  occupy  the  land  and  well 
sustain  their  father's  good  name  for  thrift  and  industry.  It  might  here 
be  stated  that  to  Mr.  Oaks  is  due  the  credit  of  owning  and  running  the 
first  reaper  in  Henderson  county.  The  S.W.  corner  of  Sec.  31  in  the 
township  was  settled  in  an  early  day  by  Dr.  William  McMillan  and 
Arthur  McQuown  Sr.,  the  former  from  Kentucky  and  the  latter  from 
Virginia.  Portraits  of  these  two  estimable  citizens  appear  in  this  work 
and  stand  as  monuments  to  their  memory  and  evidences  of  the  high 
esteem  in  which  they  were  held  by  their  relatives  and  friends.  Though 
the  doctor  had  no  children  of  his  own,  yet  others  who  enjoyed  his  father- 
ly care  stand  ready  to  do  honor  to  him  as  loving  sons  and  daughters,  and 
a  grateful  people  will,  while  life  lasts,  hold  sacred  his  memor}^  for 
many  years.  AVhile  the  country  was  yet  new  and  undeveloped  he 
rode  almost  constantly  day  and  night  visiting  the  sick  (poor  as  well  as 
rich),  carrying  with  him  healing  words  of  kindness  as  well  as  trusty 
quinine.  His  sleep  was  usually  obtained  while  riding  along  on  horse 
or  mule  back  and  at  other  times  where  no  time  would  be  lost,  unless 
perchance  he  fell  into  a  sound  sleep  while  tying  or  untying  his  horse, 
as  he  once  did  at  the  residence  of  Mr.  (lalbraith,  where  he  was  once 


BIGGSVILLE    TOWNSHIP.  1323 

discovered  an  hour  after  he  went  out  to  go,  standing  asleep  wliere  his 
horse  was  hitched  to  a  post.  By  untiring  industry  and  good  manage- 
ment he  made  on  the  prairie  a  model  home  which  immediately  attracts 
the  attention  of  the  passer  by.  His  line  substantial  brick  residence, 
which  stands  a  little  elevated  and  back  a  distance  of  about  thirty  rods 
from  the  public  road,  is  approached  by  a  beautiful  drive,  either  side  of 
which  is  adorned  by  lofty  pines  and  other  varieties  of  evergreen  in 
great  profusion.  To  the  right  as  you  enter  is  an  extensive  orchard 
covering  many  acres  and  filled  (in  the  season)  with  most  of  the  leading 
varieties  of  fruit.  But  the  doctor  is  not  there.  Find  a  brief  sketch  of 
him  on  another  page. 

Mr.  McQuown,  whose  home  is  on  the  S.W.  ^  of  this  section,  emi- 
grated from  "Washington  county,  Virginia,  to  this  county  in  1842,  with 
three  horses  and  a  wagon  containing  all  his  worldly  goods,  and  one 
horse  and  carryall  (light  square-box  buggy)  containing  his  wife  and 
small  children.  He  started  from  the  place  of  his  birth  and  the  home 
of  his  fathers  for  the  Far  West,  and  after  a  journey  of  six  weeks  arrived 
in  Biggsville  on  October  3.  Mr.  McQuown  at  once  with  his  character- 
istic industry  went  to  work,  and  is  now  enjoying  the  sure  reward  of  a 
life  well  spent.  So  guarded  has  been  his  every  act,  and  so  scrupulously 
honest  in  all  his  dealings  with  men,  that  now,  after  nearly  half  a  cen- 
tury's active  business  life  and  relations,  none  have  but  the  highest 
words  of  praise  to  offer  in  his  behalf. 

John  Rezner,  who  owns  a  large  amount  of  land  in  the  northeast 
part  of  this  township,  and  resides  on  Sec.  11,  where  he  has  recently 
erected  a  costly  residence,  has  been  a  resident  of  Henderson  county 
since  IS-lo,  though  as  early  as  1840  he  emigrated  from  Washington 
county,  east  Tennessee,  to  Warren  county.  There  he  engaged  in 
farming,  as  a  rentei-  for  a  start.  He  is  now  a  large  stock  raiser  and 
farmer,  and  turns  all  his  attention  in  that  direction,  rather  than  giving 
time  to  anything  of  a  literary  nature.  Not  so,  however,  with  his 
brother,  Eli  Rezner,  whose  home  is  always  provided  with  the  current 
newspapers,  secular  and  religious  periodicals  and  publications  of  the 
day.  He  is  the  youngest  of  the  two,  and  remained  with  his  widowed 
mother  till  1847,  when  he  turned  over  to  her  all  he  had  but  $5, 
with  a  promise  to  work  while  his  clothes  were  good.  He  then  came 
direct  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  wliere  he  has  since  resided,  made 
good  his  promise,  and  is  now  one  of  this  township's  wealthy  and  pros- 
perous farmers  and  stock  raisers,  mentioned  on  another  page. 

William  John  Hutchinson,  whose  portrait  appears  in  this  work,  and 
whose  personal  history  is  briefly  given  in  the  history  of  T.  10,  R.  5, 
settled  in  this  (T.  10,  R.  4)  township  on  Sec.  9,  S.  f,  as  early  as  about 


1324  HISTORY    OF   MERGER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

1842.  He  owned  a  farm  of  400  acres  there,  and  as  a  farmer,  stock 
raiser  and  shipper  was  a  decided  success.  He  did  not  live  to  be 
defeated  in  what  he  undertook,  and  seemed  to  easily  accomplish  what 
most  men  would  hardly  dare  to  undertake.  In  his  early  death  the 
town  lost  one  of  its  most  valued  and  active  citizens,  and  his  children  an 
honored  father. 

Thomas  Records  settled  on  and  owned  for  many  years  the  farm  now 
owned  by  Dr.  Nelson,  in  the  IST.  ^  of  Sec.  8.  He  and  his  brother 
Spence  came  to  Oquawka  with  their  mother  and  step-father,  Judge 
Pence,  prior  to  1840,  and  after  selling  his  farm  to  Mr.  Nelson  removed 
to  California. 

Levi  Bebee,  Miles  Gordon,  Isaac  Yan  Tuyl,  John  Jamison,  Samuel 
G.  Plummer  and  John  C.  Jamison  were  all  old  settlers  in  the  north 
part  of  the  township,  while  in  the  south  part  Samuel  C.  Douglass, 
Andrew  Douglass,  David  Mundorf,  John  Worden,  Stephen  Holmes  and 
uncle  Jacob  Akerman  had  settled  and  were  known  among  the  quite 
earl}^  on  the  prairie. 

Up  to  the  year  1850  no  doubt  many  had  come  and  gone,  some 
perhaps  whose  names  were  familiar  to  those  with  whom  they  asso- 
ciated, but  have  since  quite  passed  out  of  memory. 

As  in  almost  all  other  early  settlements  so  it  was  in  this.  Not  a  few 
of  the  first  to  come  were  also  the  first  to  go,  and  no  doubt  the  writer  of 
the  pioneer  history  beyond  the  Mississippi  would  find  names  once 
familiar  here,  but  that  they  had  moved  on  toward  the  setting  sun,  fol- 
lowing in  the  footstey3S  of  the  noble  redman  and  glorying  in  the  name 
of  hardy  pioneer.  A  few,  it  is  to  be  presumed,  growing  disheartened 
by  the  hardships  and  privations  of  frontier  life,  made  their  way  back  to 
their  old  eastern  homes,  carrying  with  them  an  everlasting  indignation 
at  and  contempt  for  a  life  on  the  prairies  of  the  far  west,  foolishly  pre- 
ferring a  life  of  servitude  than  to  crack  corn  for  bread  in  a  mortar  or 
grind  it  in  a  coffee  mill  for  a  season,  and  finally  become  rich  and  inde- 
pendent in  a  home  of  luxur}^,  and  be  able  to  call  it  their  own,  to  be 
honored  and  respected  by  their  friends  and  feel  a  just  pride  in  them- 
selves. But  perhaps  the  largest  number  of  those  wdio  early  settled  here 
now  rest  beneath  the  sod,  here  and  there  in  little  groves  or  beside 
some  little  brook,  with  scarcely  a  head-mark  to  their  almost  unknown 
graves. 

A  few  at  first  buried  their  dead  for  convenience  on  their  own  claim, 
with  the  intention  of  later  transferring  their  remains  to  cemeteries, 
when  such  should  be  organized.  At  the  southwest  end  of  the  point  in 
the  bend  of  the  creek  southeast  of  the  village  of  Biggsville  is  yet  to  be 
seen  two  lonely  graves  with  small  rough  stones  at  their  head,  on  which 


BIGGSVILLE    TOWNSHIP.  1325 

are  no  names  inscribed.   '  Many  others  may  exist  in  this  township,  of 
which  the  writer  has  no  knowledge. 

But  to  come  down  to  the  days  of  later  improvements,  we  find  out- 
side of  the  thriving  little  village  of  Biggsville  (the  prospective  county 
seat)  many  beautiful  farms,  the  result  of  continued  application  and 
long  years  of  patient  toil. 

Paul  D.  Salter,  Robert  A.  McKinley,  Samuel  C.  Douglass,  Samuel 
Stewart,  Stephen  Staley,  William  Eankin,  Arthur  O.  McQuown,  Isaac 
McQuown,  G.  II.  Cowden,  James  A.  Graham,  Paul  D.  Gibb  and 
James  Gibb,  might  be  mentioned  as  taking  the  lead  in  agricultural 
pursuits  in  the  south  part  of  the  township,  and  John  H.  McDougall  and 
Dr.  J.  G.  Stewart  as  giving  their  attention  (in  addition  to  farming)  to 
the  introduction  into  this  part  of  the  county  of  a  better  grade  of  stock. 
Mr.  McDougall  has  recently  j>urchased  and  imported  a  thoroughbred 
Cleveland  bay  or  English  coach  horse  for  the  improvement  of  that  class 
of  horses  in  this  section.  To  Mr.  McDougall  much  credit  is  due  for  an 
early  step  in  the  right  direction,  as  line  stock  is  as  essential  to  the 
building  up  and  successful  growth  of  a  community  as  is  the  cultivation 
of  the  soil. 

The  thoroughbred  short-horns  of  this  country  have  been  long  known 
as  the  most  successful  competitors  of  the  best  American  herds.  A 
herd  of  these  valuable  bovines  has  been  lately  purchased  by  and  can 
now  be  found  in  the  pastures  of  Mr.  Stewart's  stock  farm.  Tn  the  north 
part  of  the  township.  Dr.  Nelson,  P.  M.  Hutchinson,  W.  B.  Graham, 
Robert  McMillan,  J.  W.  Jamison,  Eli  Rezner,  John  Rezner  and  Wm. 
Weigand  are  among  the  largest  agriculturists,  and  John  R.  Foster  is 
giving  some  attention  to  fruit  growing  and  the  raising  of  nursery  stock, 
and  the  present  indications  are  that  in  the  near  future  Larch  farm  will 
be  an  attractive  feature  in  this  part  of  the  township. 

Reader,  let  us  now  ask  your  attention  for  a  short  time  to  a  further 
review  of  the  habitations  of  your  honored  dead.  As  the  country 
began  to  settle  up  more  thickly  and  deaths  occur  more  frequently,  the 
necessity  for  a  burial-place  for  the  dead  became  in  reality  a  need  that 
should  be  satisfied  ;  whereupon  John  Worden  and  Michael  Van  Tuyl 
donated  to  the  citizens  in  general  five  acres  in  the  beautiful  grove 
on  the  KW.  and  N.  E.  corners  of  Sees.  35  and  36,  T.  10,  R.  4,  which 
was  to  be  known  as  Salter's  Grove  cemetery.  This  ground  was,  and 
yet  is,  free  to  all,  but  is  the  property  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church 
of  that  place,  and  is  under  the  control  of  its  officers.  To  this  place 
many  of  the  first  buried  were  removed  and  are  now  taking  their  last 
long  sleep  with  those  of  the  later  dead.  Here  are  also  the  bodies  of 
some  of  the  fallen  heroes  of  our  country  who  lost  their  lives  on  south- 


1326  HISTORY    OF   ISIERCER   AJ^T>    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

ern  soil  while  fighting  for  their  country's  honor  and  her  flag.  John 
Shook  and  Samuel  Wilkins,  who  fell  at  the  battle  of  Stone  Kiver,  De- 
cember 31,  1862,  among  the  number.  On  this  same  ground  a  neat  and 
substantial  church  was  erected,  in  size  28x1:2,  by  a  few  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  faith  and  their  friends  during  the  summer  of 
1875,  and  was  dedicated  June  4.  1876,  by  E.ev.  Jesse  Smith,  who  also 
laid  the  corner-stone.  The  moving  spirits  in  this  enterprise  were 
John  Worden,  William  Harbison,  Adoniram  Edwards,  Eev.  James 
Tubbs  and  H.  M.  River,  though  the  credit  of  building  and  keeping  up 
t)ie  church  was  largely  due  to  Mr.  "NYorden,  who,  with  his  family,  had 
been  prominent  in  church  and  Sabbath  school  work  for  many  years 
previous  to  the  building  of  the  church.  It  has,  since  his  removal 
west,  been  on  the  decline.  They  now  have  a  membership  of  about 
twelve,  with  Mr.  C.  P.  Davidson  as  leader  of  the  class  and  superin- 
tendent of  the  Sabbath  school.  It  should  be  here  stated  that  Mr. 
John  Worden,  in  an  early  day,  held  meetings  in  his  own  house,  and 
later  preached  in  the  school-house  at  the  grove  ;  kept  the  class  in  a 
state  of  prosperity  and  the  Sunday  school  in  good  working  order  till 
his  removal  to  Bloomington,  Illinois  ;  then  'the  interest  died  out  and 
the  wolf  got  among  his  scattered  flock.  It  was  after  his  return  to 
his  old  home  that  he  gathered  together  the  few  friends  of  the  cause, 
established  order  and  built,  or  was  the  means  of  building,  the  church, 
and  has  since,  unfortunately  for  the  society,  moved  west.  This 
church  is  known  as  the  Salter's  GroA'e  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and 
the  appointment  is  supplied  by  the  preacher  in  charge  at  Kirkwood. 
It  is  surrounded  by  a  beautiful  grove  and  is  a  credit  to  its  members 
and  the  community  to  which  it  belongs. 

In  about  1848  another  cemetery  was  donated  to  the  public  by  Mr. 
James  Huss,  on  Sec.  31,  T.  10,  E..  4,  containing  two  acres.  The  first 
to  find  a  resting-place  here  was  Aunt*  Susan  Wilkinson,  in  1848.  The 
donor  of  the  land  is  also  buried  here,  as  well  as  many  others  of  the 
count^^'s  early  settlers. 

The  next  important  cemetery  in  this  township  was  organized  in 
1877,  and  chartered  by  the  state  government  under  the  name  of  the 
Biggsville  Cemetery  Association,  May  17,  1877,  with  the  following 
board  of  directors :  John  Folmer,  Robert  Gibson,  Jos.  M.  Michener, 
David  McDill,  Abner  Graham  and  Eli  Beaver,  with  R.  A.  McKinley, 
president ;  John  McKee,  vice-president ;  Thomas  Bell,  secretary,  and 
John  Folmer,  treasurer.  This  year,  1882,  the  directors  and  officers 
are  :  John  McKee,  president ;  R.  A.  McKinley,  vice-president ;  Robert 
Gibson,  secretary  ;  John  Folmer,  treasurer,  and  John  E.  Pearson.  This 
burial-place  is  beautifully  located  on  a  slightly  elevated  piece  of  ground 


:^X/ 


■/  }^-  o 


^i>^^^ 


BIGGSVILLE    TOWNSHIP.  1329 

by  the  roadside,  on  Sec.  8,  T.  10,  E.  4,  about  one  mile  north  of  the 
vilhige  of  Biggsville,  and  shows  the  characteristic  good  taste  and  fore- 
sight of  the  authorities  of  the  village  in  locating  their  graveyard  well 
out  of  town.  During  the  summer  of  1882  a  new  fence  made  of  pick- 
ets and  painted  white  was  built  along  the  road  and  in  front  of  the 
ground,  inside  of  which  may  be  seen  some  substantial  monuments,  and 
on  them  suitable  inscriptions  to  hold  in  memory  departed  friends. 

PUBLIC  IMPROVEMENTS. 

The  first  road  laid  out  through  this  township  was  the  Monmouth 
and  Burlington  state  road.  It  entered  the  township  near  the  northeast 
corner,  and  passing  through  to  the  southwest  left  the  township  at  Sec. 
30,  near  the  southwest  corner  of  the  township.  Like  all  other  roads 
in  an  early  day,  without  any  attention  being  given  to  lines,  it  passed 
from  one  leading  point  to  another,  traversing  the  most  convenient  route 
and  fording  streams  in  the  safest  and  most  accessible  places.  The 
South  Henderson  creek  was  usually  crossed  at  a  point  where  the  wagon 
bridge  has  since  been  built,  on  the  road  leading  out  north  of  town 
from  Elm  street,  and  exactly  where  the  bridge  spans  the  railroad  cut 
on  the  same  street,  passing  through  what  is  now  the  business  part  of 
Biggsville,  over  ground  now  known  as  lots  1  and  2,  block  3,  and  left 
the  village  a  little  to  the  west  and  north  of  the  residence  of  B.  H. 
Martin. 

At  a  point  near  the  stores  of  G.  W.  Holmes  and  John  McKee,  on 
lots  1  and  2,  block  3,  corner  of  Main  and  Johns  street,  once  stood  the 
"lord  of  the  forest,"  a  massive  oak,  to  which  was  nailed  guide-board 
pointing  out  the  direction  of  Burlington  and  Monmouth,  and  the 
distance  to  either  hamlet  was  given  in  rude  figures.  But  this  road, 
like  many  of  its  predecessors  in  older  settlements,  is  a  thing  of  the 
past,  and  exists  only  in  memory. 

In  speaking  of  the  roads  of  this  township,  and  in  fact  of  the 
county,  nothing  flattering  can  be  said.  A  few  of  the  leading  roads  on 
which  is  the  most  travel  are  at  times  fairly  passable,  yet  their  extreme 
narrowness  renders  it  almost  impossible  to  ever  make  them  what  might 
be  called  good,  while  in  many  places  they  are  but  narrow  lines  mean- 
dering from  farm  to  farm  regardless  of  lines  or  directness  of  route. 
The  excuse  generally  offered  for  the  poor  condition  of  the  country 
roads  is  the  "elements,"  which  of  course  should  be  largely  accepted, 
as  it  is  impossible  to  keep  bridges  and  culverts  in  place  during  a  sea- 
son of  rains  and  floods  like  that  of  the  summer  of  1882. 

Nine  schools  have  an  existence  in  this  township,   many  of  them 
wearing  the  appearance  of  neglect.     The  one  known  as  Salter's  Grove 
75 


1330  HISTORY    OF   MERCEK   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

on  the  S.E.  J  of  Sec.  26  is  no  doubt  a  relic  of  tlie  old-time  cabin 
school,  erected  and  operated  by  John  McKinej  and  Dykeman  Shook. 
If  so,  it  has  not  kept  up  with  the  rapid  march  of  its  sister  institutions, 
as  it  has  the  ajipearance  of  a  school  abandoned  twenty  years  ago. 
Dutch  Row  school-house,  formerly  located  on  Sec.  29,  but  recently 
removed  to  the  northwest  corner  of  Sec.  34,  was.  it  is  said,  the  second 
in  the  townshijD,  built  in  the  fall  of  1856  by  R.  G.  Duncan,  D.  Raw- 
houser  and  Samuel  Stewart,  directors.  The  David  Graham  school- 
house  on  the  S.E.  J  of  Sec.  19,  a  neat  little  frame  structure,  needing 
the  protecting  influence  of  a  few  shade  trees,  was  perhaps  the  third, 
while  the  fourth  is  said  to  be  the  Records  school-house,  located  on  the 
S.E.  J  of  Sec.  5.  It  is  of  good  size,  is  painted  white,  and  at  once 
attracts  attention  on  account  of  its  pleasant  location  on  the  cross-road 
and  the  few  trees  that  adorn  its  yard.  Fairview  school-house  on  Sec. 
2,  southeast  corner  as  its  name  would  indicate,  has  a  pleasant  sightly 
appearance,  but  seems  to  lack  the  expenditure  of  a  sufficient  amount  of 
money  to  make  the  building  equal  to  its  surroundings.  Situated  on 
the  N.E.  J  of  Sec.  15  is  the  McLain  scliool-house  and  is  supposed  to  be 
the  sixth  in  the  township  in  the  order  of  their  building.  It  shows  the 
appearance  of  being  in  the  care  of  neat  and  careful  hands,  with  its 
white  coat  of  paint  and  green  window  shutters  contrasting  with  the 
dark  and  frozen  ground  of  our  dreai-y  fall  and  winter  seasons.  Paul 
D.  Salters  and  Dr.  William  McMillan's  school-houses,  located  on 
Sec.  24  and  the  S.W.  J  of  Sec.  31,  complete  the  list.  Many  changes 
have  been  made,  many  are  being  made,  and  changes  will  no  doubt 
continue  for  some  time  to  come  befoi'e  the  school  sj^stem  of  this  town- 
ship is  considered  c<nnplete;  hence  a  detailed  history  of  each  country 
school  would  be  superfluous.  For  a  more  extended  pioneer  school 
history  the  reader  is  referred  to  the  history  of  Walnut  Grove,  where  it 
is  pictured  in  panoramic  clearness  by  the  able  writer  of  that  chapter 
and  is  withheld  here  to  save  repetition. 

HENDERSON  COUNTY  AGRICULTURAL  BOARD. 

The  flrst  agricultural  society  of  Henderson  county  having  the 
appearance  of  organization  met  and  held  its  fair  at  Oquawka,  in  the 
street,  near  tlie  county  court-house  on  October  21,  1855,  under  the  man- 
agement of  the  following  board  of  officers  :  Samuel  Darnell,  presi- 
dent ;  Col.  Sanuiel  Hutchinson,  Isaac  Van  Tuyl  and  John  Curts,  vice- 
j)residents  ;  Hiram  Ro§e,  recording  secretary ;  E.  H.  N.  Patterson, 
corresponding  secretary ;  W.  D.  Henderson,  treasurer,  and  E. 
Chapin,  John  Coo])er,  N.  H.  Davis,  John  Curts  and  John  B.  Fort, 
executive  committee.     By  the  time  of  the  next  annual  meeting  the 


BIGGSVILLE    TOWNSHIP.  1331 

executive  committee  had  secured  and  enclosed  suitable  grounds  a  little 
southeast  of  the  village  of  Oquawka,  where  the  citizens  of  Henderson 
county  continued  to  meet  and  exhibit  their  stock  and  other  interesting 
articles  of  their  county's  production  up  to  and  including  the  year  1866. 
The  incompatibility  of  holding  the  fair  so  remote  from  the  center  of 
the  county  had  begun  to  be  felt  and  talk  of  removal  freely  indulged  in, 
and  to  this  end  the  newly  elected  executive  committee  and  official 
board,  in  session  on  the  fair  ground,  resolved  to  meet  at  Biggsville 
May  25,  1867,  to  receive  bids  and  hear  arguments  as  to  a  more  central 
and  at  the  same  time  suitable  location.  Biggsville  and  vicinity  was 
equal  to  the  occasion  and  generously  raised  by  subscription  $1,684, 
which  was  used  in  fencing  and  iitting  up  in  suitable  shape  the  beauti- 
ful piece  of  land  about  one  mile  south  of  town,  the  use  of  which  was 
donated  to  the  society  free  of  charge  by  the  enterprising  Adam  Sloan 
for  a  term  of  six  years.  This  offer,  it  is  needless  to  say,  was  accepted, 
and  the  next  exhibition  of  farm  produce,  fine  herds  and  fast  horses 
took  place  on  the  new  fair  grounds  at  Biggsville  in  October,  1867,  and 
proved  a  decided  success.  The  by-laws  of  this  society  require  that  on 
the  last  day  of  each  annual  fair  the  board  of  officers  for  the  ensuing 
year  shall  be  elected,  and  in  accordance  with  this  law  the  old  board, 
which  was  com]30scd  of  Bobert  Gibson,  president ;  E.  Hollingsworth 
and  A.  McDougall,  vice-presidents ;  IT.  F.  McAllister,  recording 
secretary ;  B.  S.  McAllister,  corresponding  secretary  and  treasurer ; 
Col.  Samuel  Hutchinson,  Samuel  McElhinney,  O.  W.  Milliken,  John 
H.  'Bice  and  William  Tharp,  executive  committee,  retired,  giving 
place  to  Samuel  Hutchinson,  president ;  Freston  Martin  and  B.  A. 
McKinley,  vice-presidents  ;  A.  B.  Graham,  treasurer ;  B.  S.  McAllis- 
ter, corresponding  secretary ;  H.  F.  McAllister,  recording  secretary ; 
A.  McDougall,  Jos.  S.  King,  M.  H.  Mills,  John  H.  Bice  and  John  B. 
Fort,  executive  committee. 

The  next  change  of  any  importance  to  note,  with  reference  to  this 
organization,  was  the  expiration  of  their  lease  to  the  ground.  This 
was,  however,  arranged  by  renting  the  same  of  Mr.  Sloan  at  a 
rental  of  $150  per  year,  which  was  soon  found  to  be  too  heavy 
a  tax  on  their  receipts,  and  a  movement  was  accordingly  put  on 
foot  by  the  citizens  of  the  county  to  purchase  the  land,  15|^  acres  in 
the  S.  W.  1  of  Sec.  21,  T.  10,  B.^l,  of  Mr.  Sloan.  This  was  a  fortu- 
nate step,  at  least  to  the  Henderson  county  agricultural  board,  as  a 
contract  between  them  and  the  purchasers  of  the  land  secured  to  them, 
at  comparative  small  cost,  the  use  of  a  commodious  and  well  arranged 
fair  ground.  Since  then,  and  in  fact  since  its  removal  to  Biggsville, 
the  fair  has  been  a  success  in  display,  but  not  in  finances.     It  is  now 


1332  HISTORY    OF    MERCER    AXD    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

under  tlie  supervision  of  the  following  efficient  board  :  Paul  D.  Sal- 
ter, president ;  Thomas  G.  Eicliej,  vice-president ;  and  John  H.  Mc- 
Dougall,  Elijah  Beal,  I.  II.  M.  McQuown,  James  Duke,  J.  H.  Woods, 
Joseph  Linell,  Com.  P.  Davidson  and  Paul  D.  Gibb,  executive  com- 
mittee ;  R.  A.  McKinle}',  recording  secretary  ;  Geo.  W.  Holmes,  cor- 
responding secretary  ;  Geo.  McDill,  treasurer. 

As  above  stated,  a  number  of  the  citizens  of  the  county,  especially 
those  having  the  interest  of  the  fair  at  heart,  purchased  the  land  and 
formed  themselves  into  a  joint  stock  company  ;  was  incorporated  Jan- 
uary 12,  1880,  in  accordance  with  the  state  laws  as  the  Henderson  Coun- 
ty Agricultural  Fair  Ground  Corporation,  and  now  control  $1,200  in 
stock,  which  is  divided  in  shares  of  $10  each,  on  which  they  receive 
from  the  agricultural  board  ten  per  cent  in  gate  tickets.  They  are 
under  the  guardianshi])  of  a  board  of  directors,  of  whom  A.  L.  Porter 
lias  been  president  since  they  became  an  incorporate  body.  For  the 
interest  of  the  general  readers  it  might  be  here  mentioned  that  the 
official  members  of  the  agricultural  board,  after  they  had  decided  on 
removal  to  Biggsville,  met  and  procured  men  and  teams  to  go  to 
Oquawka  with  a  view  to  also  removing  the  old  ftiir  ground  outtit,  but 
their  return  empty  is  evidence  that  they  had  no  legal  claim  to  the 
property.  The  friend  of  the  Oipiawka  taction  held  a  fair  on  the  old 
grounds  the  season  of  1867,  which  was  the  last  effort  to  sustain  a 
second  institution  in  that  line  i»  the  county. 

TILLAGE  OF  BIGGSVILLE. 

The  early  settlers  of  this  county,  like  those  of  the  state,  had  no 
thought  that  their  solitude  would  be  so  soon  invaded  by  the  greatest  of 
all  improvements,  a  railroad.  Yet  such  is  the  case,  and  to-day  train 
after  train  goes  hurrying  past  their  doors  with  their  many  cars  heavily 
laden  with  the  vast  productions  of  the  then  unknown  country,  far 
beyond  the  Father  of  Waters.  Though  they  waited  patiently  for  the 
development  of  their  country,  and  watched  with  pride  and  joy  every 
phase  of  its  onward  march  and  improvement,  yet  few  for  a  moment 
anticipated  that  soon  would  they  be  in  communication  with  the  great 
outside  world  by  means  of  anytliing  other  than  the  old  stage  coach. 
But  in  1852  surveyors  and  engineers,  looking  for  a  route  for  the  Peoria 
*k;  Oquawka  railroad,  put  in  an  appearance,  and  the  talking  of  railroad 
by  day  and  dreaming  of  cars  by  night  was  but  an  infimtile  anticipation 
of  what  was  in  waiting  for  these  sturdy  sons*of  toil.  A  line  was  soon 
established  entering  this  township  from  Warren  county  at  the  center  of 
Sec.  13  and  ])assing  through  the  south  half  of  Sees.  13,  14,  15,  16,  17, 
and  leaving  the  township  near  the  X.E.  corner  of  Sec.   18,  a  route 


BIGGSVILLE   TOWNSHIl'.  1333 

which  would  seem  to  the  minds  of  ordinary  men  the  most  inaccessible, 
as  it  followed  the  bottom  lands  of  Henderson  creek  through  Sees.  16, 
17  and  18,  necessitating  bridging  the  stream  in  several  places.  The 
line  being  located  grading  was  at  once  begun,  and  soon  the  great  iron 
horse  put  in  an  Appearance  and  infused  into  the  inhabitants  new  life 
and  vigor.  But  it  was  not  until  1854  that  the  Peoria  &  0(piawka  rail- 
road was  completed,  that  there  was  any  marked  change  in  this  part  of 
the  county.  .  In  that  year  Andrew  and  Samuel  C.  Douglass  ])latte(l  the 
first  lots  in  the  town  on  the  N.W.  ^  of  S.W.  J,  T.  10,  K.  4,  and  named 
it  Biggsville,  in  honor  of  its  early  fcninder,  John  Biggs.  Tliis  plat 
consisted  of  one  row  of  lots  on  the  north  and  one  on  the  south  side  of 
Main  street,  and  from  the  depot  on  the  east  to  the  mill  race  on  the 
west.  Thus  matters  stood  until  1856,  when  Solomon  Essex,  George 
and  Smith  Wax  came  to  the  newly  laid  out  but  yet  unsettled  town. 
The}'  each  bought  lots  and  built  houses  which  are  now  occupied  by 
Sol.  Essex,  Wm.  Bell  and  Jerome  Fuller.  Tlie  same  fall  Michael 
Farley  built  two  houses  on  the  south  side  of  Main  street  near  the  west 
end  of  the  new  plat.  Grain  was  bought  at  and  shipped  from  this  point 
by  Robert  Moir  and  John  McKinney,  of  Oquawka,  and  it  was  not  until 
the  summer  of  1857  that  the  grain  trade  became  a  commercial  attrac- 
tion. In  that  year  B.  H.  Martin  purchased  the  old  South  Henderson 
United  Presbyterian  church  and  removed  it  to  Biggsville,  where  it  kept 
up  its  former  reputation  by  doing  good  service  as  a  grain  warehouse. 
Here  Mr.  Martin  actively  embarked  in  the  grain  trade, '  which  soon 
grew  to  large  proportions.  The  first  corn  bought  here  by  Martin  was 
shelled  by  hand,  weighed  in  a  flour  barrel  on  a  small  ])air  of  Fairljanks 
scales  and  loaded  on  the  cars  on  track.  The  growth  of  business  can  be 
better  illustrated  in  giving  the  figures  furnished  by  Mr.  T.  W.  Dennis, 
as  the  transactions  of  one  day :  Three  hundred  and  ninety-eight  loads 
of  grain  received,  twenty-six  cars  of  grain  loade'd,  twenty -two  cars  of 
stock  loaded,  making  two  full  trains  of  twenty-two  cars  each,  which  was 
pulled  out  at  night,  leaving  four  cars  of  grain  standing  on  the  side 
track.  The  same  day  Mr.  Crostliwait  removed  the  furniture  from  his 
parlor  and  filled  the  room  with  grain,  and  then  turned  his  horses  out 
and  filled  the  stable.  But  in  later  years  Biggsville  boasts  of  no  such 
days  of  trade.  Grain,  however,  is  still  raised  in  large  quantities  and 
finds  a  firm  and  steady  market  hei'e.  M.  Belden,  at  the  old  ware- 
house of  B.  II.  Martin  and  the  enterprising  James  JVIontgomery  u])  in 
town  are  tlie  buyei's. 

Up  to  1858  the  Peoria  &  Oquawka  and  Chicago,  Burlington  & 
Quincy  railroads  then  operating  on  the  now  great  Chicago,  Burlington 
&  Quincy  line  had  no  agent,  and  only  sold  tickets  at  Monmouth,  Kirk- 


1334  IIISTOEY    OF   MERCER    A^S'D    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

wood  and  Oqiiawka  junction,  carrying  passengers  between  these  points 
without  stop])ing  at  Biggsville  unless  to  take  water  at  the  tank,  then 
located  near  the  bridge  north  of  town.  The  only  passengers  sure  of 
an  accommodation  were  large  shippers  or  those  expert  enough  to  get 
off  of  a  moving  train.  In  the  same  year,  1858,  one  Xoali  Purcell 
removed  a  small  shanty  (called  a  store)  and  a  stock  of  goods  here  from 
Ivirkwood  and  in  a  small  way  engaged  in  merchandising  in  calico,  tea, 
coffee,  soap,  molasses  and  whisky.  His  stay,  however,  was  of  short 
duration,  and  between  two  days  for  forgery  he  left  the  country,  leaving 
the  constable  asleep  in  the  bed  tliev  were  both  to  occupy.  After  con- 
siderable correspondence  Mr.  Martin  induced  Mr.  H.  W.  Crosthwait, 
of  Iowa,  to  come  to  Biggsville  and  put  in  a  stock  of  goods.  This  was 
also  in  1858.  This  stock  was  only  such  as  was  most  needed,  such  as 
tea,  coffee,  sugar,  molasses,  and  other  groceries,  and  opened  out  to  the 
trade  in  a  corner  of  Martin's  warehouse.  It  was  the  custom  of  Mr. 
Crosthwait  to  go  to  Burlington  and  purchase  his  goods  by  wholesale 
and  bring  them  back  in  his  arms.  While  on  these  trips  Mr.  Martin 
usually  clerked  for  him. 

It  so  hap25ened  that  at  one  time  the  proprietor  was  away  and  Ben 
was  behind  the  counter  when  a  customer  came  in  and  wanted  some 
molasses.  On  turning  to  the  barrel  Ben  found  the  molasses  slow  to 
run,  the  weather  being  cold,  so  lie  pulled  out  the  plug,  set  under  the 
measure  and  continued  to  wait  on  his  other  customers.  Adam  Sloan, 
who  was  ever  ready  for  a  joke,  induced  the  molasses  customer  to  go 
off  for  an  hour  or  two,  and  he  (Sloan)  engaged  Mr.  Martin  in  talk  on 
the  fluctuating  prices  of  corn  and  the  uncertainty  of  the  markets  till 
he  was  quite  sure  Ben  had  forgotten  the  open  bung,  when  he,  with 
the  others  present,  sauntered  out  to  await  coming  events.  In  the 
course  of  an  hour  they  returned  and  found  Ben  sitting  with  both  feet 
in  the  molasses  busily 'engaged  figuring  on  the  profit  and  loss  on  grain. 
AVlien  he  was  apprised  of  his  situation  he  "set  'em  up  all  round,"  and 
never  again  went  much  on  slow  molasses.  jS"otwithstanding  all  the 
difficulties  that  then  presented  themselves,  Mr.  Crosthwait  did  a  flour- 
ishing business.  He  soon  after  built  a  house  just  opposite  the  depot, 
on  the  extreme  east  end  of  Main  street,  on  the  south  side. 

The  next  to  enter  into  the  mercantile  trade  in  town  was  Isaac 
Myerstine,  who  occupied  the  third  house  west  of  the  east  end  of  Main 
street,  on  the  south  side.  He  opened  up  a  stock  of  dry  goods,  gro- 
ceries, hardware,  drugs  and  medicines.  Between  hinj  and  Crosthwait, 
on  the  same  side  of  the  street,  a  hotel  was  built  by  A.  Talcott,  and 
occupied  by  him  as  such  till  the  time  of  his  death,  in  about  1866.  His 
wife  continued  the  business  a  year  longer  and  then  sold  out  to  James 


BIGGSVILLE   TOWNSHIP.  1335 

Paul,  who  ran  it  until  about  1876,  when  it  passed  into  the  hands  of 
otlier  parties  and  finally  became  the  property  of  Robert  Martin,  who 
built  up  its  lost  reputation. 

In  1858  the  place  began  to  assume  an  air  of  importance  as  a  com- 
mercial point,  but  no  postofhce  had  yet  made  its  appearance,  and 
accordiijgly  the  people  in  this  vicinity  concluded  to  ask  Uncle  Sam  to 
grant  them  one,  and  thus  obviate  the  necessity  of  going  three  miles 
south  of  town  for  a  weekh^  mail.  After  getting  the  required  number 
of  petitioners  that  old  distributor  of  postofhces  quietly  dropped  a  com- 
mission as  postmaster  into  the  lap  of  B.  H.  Martin,  who  kept  the 
postoffice  for  a  few  years  in  one  corner  of  his  grain  warehouse,  and 
the  people  congratulated  themselves  hereafter  on  a  daily  mail,  and  that 
in  town.  About  the  same  time  the  useful  Benj.  IT.  Martin  was  elected 
and  commissioned  a  justice  of  the  peace,  though  up  till  this  time  there 
seems  to  have  been  but  little  need  of  a  court  of  justice,  as  most  all 
difficulties  were  settled  amicably  or  the  parties  would  adjourn  to 
some  convenient  place  and  knock  the  difficulties  off  of  each  other's 
face. 

In  1859  John  McKee  opened  a  store  in  the  building  Purcell  had 
occupied,  but  soon  after  built  a  larger  and  more  commodious  building 
near  the  depot,  north  side,  east  end  of  main  street,  where  he  carried 
on  a  successful  trade  till  1864,  when  he  sold  to  David  Bovee  and 
bought  three  lots  in  Tiigby's  addition  to  Biggsville,  on  one  of  which 
he  built  a  fine  store  and  tlfere  started  a  thriving  business  in  drugs  and 
groceries.  He  and  James  Sloan  Jr.  also  built  on  lot  5,  block  2,  the 
store  now  occupied  by  Frank  McKim.  These  buildings  were  sold  and 
Mr.  McKee  built  on  lot  4,  block  2,  and  there  run  a  drug  business 
exclusively  till  his  removal  t(j  Iowa  in  1868.  After  Mr.  McKee  left 
the  part  of  town  near  the  depot  Mr.  John  McKinney  (now  of  the 
Aledo,  Illinois,  postoffice)  occupied  the  old  McKee  stand  and  did  a 
large  and  flourishing  mercantile  business  ^br  several  years.  Mr.  John 
McDill  was  also  an  early  merchant  in  the  town.  In  1867  Jos.  M. 
Michener  bought  the  house  John  KcKee  first  built  on  lot  6,  block  2, 
in  liigby's  addition  to  Biggsville,  and  engaged  in  the  hotel  and 
restaurant  business,  and  by  strict  economy  and  the  aid  of  an  industrious 
family  has  gathered  ai'ountl  him  a  goodly  share  of  this  world's  goods. 
Subsequent  to  the  laying  off'  of  the  original  town,  additions  have  been 
platted  as  follows  :  B.  H.  Martin's  three  additions,  1861,  1865  and 
1882  ;  Brown  &  Downey's,  1861  ;  Yan  Tuyl's,  1865 ;  Shoemaker's, 
1866  ;  Rigby's,  1863  ;  Belden's  1870  ;  McKee's  1878.  Van  Tuyle  and 
Shoemaker's  additions  are  the  largest  and  on  these  the  residence  part 
of  the  town  is  built.     After  McKee  built  his  'first  business  house  on 


1336  HISTORY    OF    3krERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

the  hill  in  the  west  jDart  of  town,  the  business  gradually  left  that  part 
of  the  town  near  the  depot.  Immediately  after  Mr.  JNIcKee  had  platted 
his  addition  to  Biggsville,  in  1878,  he  built  the  large  store  on  lot  1, 
block  3,  and  the  following  year  another  commodious  store  on  lot  2, 
block  3,  in  his  addition  to  Biggsville,  the  former  now  occupied  by  Geo. 
W.  Holmes  as  a  general  store  and  the  latter  by  Mr.  McKee  as  a  drug 
store.  Biggsville  had  no  resident  physician  up  to  1865,  or  about  that 
time,  when  Dr.  David  McDill  came  and  permanently  located  here, 
where  he  soon  built  up  and  enjoyed  an  extended  and  lucrative  practice. 
He  built  the  first  house  in  Shoemaker's  addition  to  Biggsville,  which 
ho  sold  to  his  successor  in  practice,  Dr.  Maxwell,  in  1878,  who  in 
turn  sold  out  to  Drs.  Bailey  &  Mekemson  in  1882.  Dr.  McDill 
removed  to  Burlington  and  Dr.  Maxwell  to  Keokuk,  where  they  are 
more  than  sustaining  their  former  reputations  both  as  citizens  and 
physicians.  The  first  blacksmitliing  done  in  the  town  was  during  the 
building  of  Biggs'  mill  in  1841,  by  Paul  D.  Birdsall.  This,  however, 
was  only  a  private  aftair  and  the  earliest  business  of  the  kind  was 
started  in  1856,  by  one  Patrick  Shaw,  whose  business  it  was  to  mend 
forks,  shovels  and  iron  and  steel  plows,  which  had  taken  the  place  of 
the  pioneer's  rude  wooden  implements,  for  it  must  be  borne  in  mind 
that  the  first  plow  used  on  the  prairie  was  made  of  wood,  with  a  steel 
share  and  drawn  by  from  four  to  six  oxen.  Len  Fuller  was  also  an 
early  manipulator  of  the  hammer.  They  were  followed  by  J.  H. 
Wiley,  whose  anvil  still  rings  under  the  muscular  stroke  of  the  ham- 
mer ;  Dixon  &  Rodman  are  also  later  blacksmiths. 

Samuel  McDonald  was  also  an  important  character  for  a  time  in 
Biggsville.      While  owner  of  the  mill  here  he  refitted  throughout. 

B.  H^  Martin,  Esq.,  who  figured  so  ]irominently  in  the  early  his- 
tory of  the  town,  is  still  residing  here,  opl  his  fine  farm  adjoining  the 
incorporation.  Crosthwait  resides  in  Iowa.  The  town  since  1875  has 
made  good  progress,  and  n©w  is  quietly  enjojdng  its  hard  earned 
reputation. 

Below  is  given  a  list  of  the  present  business  men  of  Biggsville, 
their  business  and  the  year  in  which  they  came :  John  McKee,  drug- 
gist, 1859;  James  Sloan,  boot  and  shoe  maker,  1862;  H.  L.  Kell}^, 
hardware  and  agricultural  implements,  1874 ;  Geo.  McDill,  general 
store,  1879;  J.  Montgomery,  grain  dealer,  1882;  Geo.  W.  Holmes, 
general  store,  1876;  J.  E.  Pearson,  groceries,  1872;  J.  C.  McDill, 
groceries,  1878;  J.  H.  Wiley,  blacksmith,  1872;  McDill  &  Nesbet, 
butchers,  1882;  B.  F.  Dyson,  harness  and  saddlery,  1881;  A.  G. 
Gi-aham,  postmaster,  18J6;  AY.  A.  Miller,  barber,  1878;  A.  W.  Gra- 
ham, general  store,  1877;  Frank  McKinn,  general  store,  1877;  Dixon 


BIGGSVILLE    TOWNSHIP.  1337 

&  Rodman,  blacksmitlis,  1880;  M.  M.  Rowley,  editor,  1875;  R.  J. 
Martin,  Biggsville  Hotel,  1878  ;  T.  W.  Dennis,  lumber  and  coal,  1864  ; 
John  Fulmer,  furniture,  1866 ;  John  Henderson,  physician,  1881  ; 
Bailey  &  Mekemson,  physicians,  1883  ;  B.  F.  Bassett,  wagon  maker, 
1872  ;  Russell  Graham,  U.  P.  minister,  1873. 

ACCIDENTS. 

On  December  2-1,  18-14»  William  Cowden  was  accidentally  killed 
while  excavating  dirt  to  be  used  in  constructing  the  new  dam  at 
Biggs'  mill.  He  was  one  of  the  first  half-dozen  settlers  in  the  county. 
October  10,  1852,  Dennis  Swords  was  killed  by  the  falling  of  an  em- 
bankment while  grading  on  the  railroad,  a  few  rods  southeast  of 
where  the  depot  now  stands,  at  the  east  end  of  Main  street.  He  had 
been  in  this  country  three  years,  and  his  family  were  on  their  way 
here  at  the  time  of  his  death.  The  same  fall  James  Kindlier  was 
killed  in  the  same  place  the  same  way.  An  Englishman  (name  un- 
known) was  drowned  near  town,  in  Tom  creek,  while  riding  a  horse 
after  the  cows.  His  horse  mired  down,  threw  his  rider  and  plunged 
on  to  him.  Isaac  Shook,  in  the  country,  was  killed  by  being  thrown 
from  a  fractious  horse.  His  nephew,  Asa  Shook,  was  killed  by  horses 
running  away  with  the  cultivator  on  which  he  was  riding,  on  his  way 
to  dinner.  James  Harbison,  a  young  man,  was  killed  while  attempt- 
ing to  ride  an  unbroken  colt.  He  left  a  wife  and  three  children.  His 
sister,  Caroline  Harbison,  a  young  lady,  was  drowned  while  crossing 
Ellison  creek  with  a  wagon,  in  high  water.  The  box  tipped  off,  cover- 
ing her  in  the  stream ;  her  brothers  and  sister  at  the  same  time  mak- 
ing their  escape.  John  Milliken  was  killed  by  falling  on  a  butchers 
knife.  It  entered  his  head  near  the  temple.  Miss  Rachel  Salter  was 
drowned  while  skating  on  Peoria  lake,  while  on  a  visit  to  that  city. 
William  Goff  was  drowned  in  South  Henderson  creek,  on  Sec.  25, 
near  Salter's  Grove,  in  1870.  A  stranger  by  the  name  of  Graham 
was  drowned  in  the  mill-pond  one  4th  of  July.  An  unknown  Swede 
was  drowned  in  the  same  place  a  few  years  previous.  Thomas  Sugart, 
a  boy  five  years  old,  was  drowned  in  the  creek,  below  the  dam,  in  1876. 

JOURNALISM  IN  BIGGSVILLE. 

The  "Plain dealer,"  published  at  Oquawka,  w^as  purchased  by  a 
stock  company  and  moved  over  to  Biggsville  in  1867,  the  first  number 
being  published  under  the  name  of  "The  Henderson  Phiindealer," 
December  12  ;  Ira  D.  Chamberlin,  editor  and  publisher.  In  about  one 
year's  time  the  "Plaindealer"  was  turned  over  to  Judson  Graves,  the 
stockholders  agreeing  to  pay  him  $1,000  per  year.     At  the  end  of  the 


1338  HISTORY    OF   MERCER    AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

first  year  the  receipts  of  the  establisliment  not  "panning  out"  satisfac- 
toril}^,  the  whole  establishment  was  turned  over  to  Mr.  Graves  with 
the  agreement  that  he  should  take  the  office  and  run  the  paper  for  his 
pa_y.  For  a  few  months  Mr.  Graves  published  the  paper  on  those 
terms,  and  then  removed  to  Kirkwood  (then  Young  America),  and  from 
thence  to  Galesburg,  where  the  "Plaindealer"  is  still  published  by 
Irani  Biggs.  The  " Biggs ville  Clipper"  was  established  by  M.  M. 
Rowley  in  1875,  the  first  number  being  j^ublished  May  29.  The 
"Clipper"  has  continued  its  publication  from  its  foundation  until  the 
present  time  under  its  original  management,  and,  though  not  a  paying 
institution,  has  proved  far  more  successful,  stable  and  permanent  than 
its  predecessors,  and,  with  the  continued  assistance  of  the  liberal- 
minded  citizens  and  business  men  of  the  town,  is  likely  to  prove  a 
permanent  fixture  of  the  town  and  county.  Marellies  M.  Rowley, 
editor,  was  born  in  Attica,  Indiana,  February  12,  1842.  In  1816  his 
father.  Rev.  Rossiter  Rowley,  a  minister  in  the  Methodist  Episcopal 
church,  removed  to  the  northern  part  of  Illinois.  Young  Rowley's  life 
was  without  events  up  till  the  fall  of  1857,  when  he  had  completed  an 
apprenticeship  as  printer  on  the  "Fulton  Democrat"  at  Lewiston, 
Illinois.  His  parents  then  removing  to  Peoria  were  accompanied  by 
our  subject,  who  there  turned  his  attention  for  a  time  to  the  study  of 
medicine.  After  a  short  time  spent  in  the  practice  of  medicine  at 
Monmouth  Mr.  Rowley  removed  to  Biggsville  and  started  in  business. 
August  22,  1862,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Drusilla  Criss, 
a  native  of  Berlin,  Ohio,  born  ISTovember  2,  1842.  They  are  the 
parents  of  five  chi'dren,  whose  names  are  Rossiter  C,  Samuel  F., 
Applonia  D.,  Harry  and  Philo. 

VILLAGE  SCHOOLS. 

With  the  growth  of  the  town  and  with  its  advancement  step  by 
step,  so  also  did  the  schools  grow  and  prosper.  Their  origin  here 
by  several  years  antedates  the  laying  out  of  a  railroad,  the  platting  of  a 
town,  or  even  the  advent  of  many  settlers,  and  dates  its  beginning  back 
to  the  log  cabins  of  1846,  when  Mr.  Biggs  and  Jerry  Meechim  con- 
structed a  rude  frame  building  of  the  material  used  for  shanty  shelters 
by  the  Mormons  employed  by  Mr.  Biggs  while  buifding  his  mill  in 
1844.  This  antiquated  school-house  was  built  on  what  has  since  been 
laid  off  and  platted  as  lots  4  or  5,  block  2,  in  Rigby's  addition  to  Biggs- 
ville, and  near  a  convenient  patch  of  bushes  which  the  cliildren  used  to 
bend  down  and  ride  for  horses,  and  probably  some  of  them  long 
remember  the  master's  "hazel"  and  how  easily  it  was  obtained.  The 
first  school  was  tauglit  there  in  1847  by  Prof  Joshua  Hopkins.     He 


BIGGSVILLE    TOWNSHIP,  1339 

was  succeeded,  in  the  years  1848  and  1849,  by  tlie  Misses  Elizabeth 
and  Frances  Downey,  who  had  acquired  considerable  of  a  reputation  as 
pioneer  school  teachers  in  Warren  county.  They  were  the  daiighters  of 
Rev.  Peter  Downey,  the  frontier  preacher.  This  was  all  the  school- 
house  of  which  the  place  could  boast  up  till  1861,  when  B.  H.  Martin 
platted  his  first  addition  to  the  town  on  lot  17,  on  which  a  school-house 
was  at  once  built,  size  22  X  28,  with  twelve-foot  posts.  This  was  quite 
a  respectable  building  and  added  a  new  attraction  to  the  newly  started 
village.  This  building  did  service  for  church  as  well  as  school  purposes 
for  a  number  of  years.  As  the  town  grew  and  increased  in  population, 
nearly  all  of  which  extended  westward,  the  necessity  for  a  larger  house 
and  more  central  location  presented  itself,  and  accordingly  the  school 
board  in  1869  built  a  line  two-story  school  edifice  in  the  west  part  of 
town,  on  Shoemaker's  addition.  Here  three  teachers  are  kept  employed 
directing  the  young  minds  of  about  an  average  attendance  of  125 
scholars.  Of  this  their  last  effort  the  citizens  of  Biggsville  have  a 
just  reason  to  feel  proud,  as  good  schools  bespeak  future  prosperity  to 
any  community.  * 

CHURCHES. 

One  great  cause  of  the  remarkable  prosperity,  good  order  and  high 
morality  of  this  township  may  be  easily  traced  to  the  three  churches 
of  Biggsville.  Their  influence  is  not  divided,  but  united.  The  peo[)le 
of  these  organizations  have  always  worked  hand  to  hand  and  heart  to 
heart  on  all  questions  pertaining  to  the  morality,  good  order  and  social 
welfare  of  the  community.  Sectarian  jealousy  and  rivalry  are  things 
almost  unknown  in  their  midst ;  while  the  spirit  of  proselytism  is 
regarded  as  "A  monster  of  so  frightful  mien,  as  to  be  hated  needs 
but  to  be  seen."  The  Sabbath  is  really  a  day  of  rest  and  worship. 
The  whole  community,  with  but  few  exceptions,  go  to  church — those 
who  are  members  and  those  who  are  not, — and  the  non-member  is  as 
welcome  and  feels  as  much  at  home  in  clmrch  as  the  member.  The 
churches  have  always  worked  unitedly  in  the  cause  of  Temperance, 
and  as  a  result  not  a  drinking  saloon  has  been  in  or  near  the  town  for 
many  years.  An  intoxicated  person  is  very  rarely  seen,  and  when 
seen  is  regarded  by  almost  everyone  wnth  mingled  feelings  of  pity  and 
disgust.  The  churches  make  it  a  rule  to  help  each  other,  ''bearing 
one  another's  burdens,"  and  are  also  quite  liberally  supported  by  many 
outside  of  all  church  connection.  These  are  some  of  tlie  reasons  why 
people  love  to  live  in  Biggsyille,  and  so  regret  to  leave  it.  Strangers 
are  always  struck  with  the  peace,  quietness  and  good  order  and  good 
society  of  the  place  ;  and  among  the  prominent  causes  of  this  state  of 
things  we  place  our  three  churches. 


1340  HISTORY    OF    MERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

The  first  services  in  connection  with  the  United  Presbyterian 
•Church  were  held  during  the  summer  of  1859,  in  a  grove  east  of  town, 
south  of  the  raih'oad  bridge.  The  grove  has  since  been  cut  down. 
The  services  were  conducted  by  Eev.  J.  A.  P.  McGaw,  then  pastor 
of  the  United  Presbyterian  congregation  of  South  Henderson,  he 
occup^-ing  this  fiekl  as  a  missi(jn  point. 

The  congregation  was  organized  January  3,  1866,  in  the  school- 
liouse  which  is  still  standino-  in  the  east  part  of  town,  afterward  known 

4  ^  J. 

as  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  church,  now  used  as  a  lumber-room 
by  Robert  Mickey. 

The  organization  was  effected  by  Rev.  A.  M,  Black,  D.D.  Dr. 
Black  took  a  deep  interest  in  the  young  congregation,  and  watched 
over  it  witli  great  care  for  several  years.  The  congregation  was  organ- 
ized under  the  oversight  of  Monmouth  presbytery. 

The  original  members  came  from  the  United  Presbyterian  congre- 
gations of  South  Henderson  and  Ellison,  mostly  from  the  former,  viz : 
B.  H.  Martin,  Dr.  A.  C.  McDill,  J.  B.^ McGaw,  Elizabeth  McGaw, 
A.  R.  Graham,  Mary  A.  Graliam,  Mrs.  E.  McDill,  Margaret  McDill, 
J.  E.  McClain,  Frances  McLain,  Andrew  McDougal,  I.  McDongal, 
Maggie  H.  Henderson,  Mary  Porter,  J.  S.  Smiley,  Mary  M.  Smiley, 
Jane  Gilmore,  Mary  E.  Graham.  John  H.  McDill,  Mary  A.  McDill, 
M.  M.  Douglass,  Ellen  J.  Stanley,  Robert  McDill,  Mary'McDill,  Rob- 
ert Y.  McDill,  M.  AV.  McDill,  Margaret  Young,  AVilliam  F.  Campbell, 
H.  M.  Whiteman,  Elizabeth  Whiteman,  A.  G.  Stewart,  Jane  Stewart, 
John  Glenn,  Margaret  Campbell,  thirty-four  in  all.  Of  this  number 
twelve  are  still  members  of  the  organization,  viz :  Elizabeth  McGaw, 
Mrs.  E.  McDill,  Margaret  McDill  (Mrs.  Henry  Clark),  Mary  Porter, 
Jane  Gilmore,  M.  M.  Douglass,  Ellen  J.  Stanley,  Robert  McDill,  Mary 
McDill,  H.  M.  Whiteman,  Elizabeth  Wliiteman,  Margaret  Young. 

For  several  years  the  C(jngregation  worshiped  in  what  are  now 
the  rooms  above  Frank  McKims'  store,  then  known  as  Sloan's  Hall. 
Here  a  Sabbath  school  was  organized  in  connection  with  the  congre- 
gation. It  was  a  vigorous  plant  from  the  first  and  its  natural  force 
has  never  abated.  It  has  ju-oved  to  be  one  of  the  most  eflicient 
agencies  of  the  congregation,  and  its  influence  for  good  has  been  felt 
throughout  the  entire  community.  The  success  and  prosperity  of  the 
school,  so  far  as  human  agency  is  concerned,  may  be  attributed  to  a 
few  untiring  christian  workers.  Among  the  most  zealous  and  faithful 
su])erintendents  we  may  mention  Robert  Gilmore,  J.  B.  McGaw,  A. 
AV.  Graham  and  George  McDill,  the  present  incumbent.  It  now  has 
an  enrollment  of  over  200  scholars. 

A  house  of  worship  65  X  36,  with  twenty-foot  story,  was  completed  and 


BIGGSVILLE    TOWNSHIP.  13-1:1 

dedicated  in  the  summer  of  1869,  at  a  cost  of  $6,000.  Among  those 
who  were  most  active  and  instrumental  in  the  work  of  buikling  we 
may  name  B.  H.  Martin,  H.  M.  Whiteman,  Kobert  McDill,  Andrew 
McDougal,  John  Smiley,  John  B.  McGaw,  S.  C.  Douglass,  John 
Glenn  and  Margaret  Young.  The  congregation  have  always  taken 
pride  in  keej^ing  their  property  in  good  repair,  laying  out  at  one  time 
as  high  as  $500  in  this  way.  In  1882,  they  built  a  lecture  and  Sunday 
school  room  33  X  24  at  the  rear  of  the  main  building  at  a  cost  of  $1,000, 
with  furnaces  for  heating  the  main  building  at  a  cost  of  $400. 
In  1875  a  good  parsonage  property  was  secured.  The  congregation 
now  has  a  property  which  is  a  credit  to  a  small  town  like  Biggsville 
and  of  which  they  may  justly  feel  proud. 

On  January  3,  .1866,  on  the  day  of  organization,  Dr.  A.  C.  McDill 
and  Capt.  J.  B.  McGaw  were  elected  ruling  elders  ;  and  on  February 
3,  1866,  J.  B.  McGaw  was  ordained  and  installed  and  Dr.  A.  C. 
McDill  was  installed  ruling  elders.  Dr.  A.  C.  McDill  having  been 
previously  ordained  to  the  ofKce  while  in  connection  with  another  con- 
gregation. December  1,  1866,  H.  M.  Whiteman  was  ordained  and 
installed  ruling  elder  ;  also,  at  the  same  time,  Richey  Campbell  and 
Andrew  McDougall  were  installed  to  same  office,  having  been  previ- 
ously ordained  to  the  office  in  other  congregations  ;  all  having  been 
elected  to  the  office  in  this  congregation.  On  March  30,  1875,  J.  D. 
Cochrane  was  elected  elder  and  on  the  2Sth  day  of  same  month  was 
duly  installed,  having  been  ordained  to  the  office  in  another  congrega- 
tion in  the  year  1859.  In  the  winter  of  1879,  Dr.  T.  J.  Maxwell  and 
Isaac  McQuown  were  elected  and  installed  ruling  elders,  having  been 
previously  ordained  in  other  congregations.  Of  these,  four  members 
now  remain,  constituting  the  session  of  the  congregation,  viz  :  IT.  M. 
AVhiteman,  Biche^y  Campbell,  J.  D.  Cochrane  and  Isaac  McQuown. 
The  session  has  always  been  i-emarkable  for  their  unanimity'  in  coun- 
sel, and  have  been  unusually  successful  in  their  spiritual  oversight  of 
the  congregation. 

Rev.  D.  W.  McLane  was  called  to  become  pastor  April  30,  1866. 
Began  stated  labors  August  21,  1866,  and  was  ordained  and  installed 
October  16,  1866.  He  labored  as  pastor  about  six  months  and  was 
then  released  on  account  of  failing  health.  Rev.  John  M.  Baugh  was 
called  August  17,  1868,  and  was  installed  ]3astor  October  7,  1868. 
Labored  as  ])astor  about  one  year  and  was  then  released  to  go  and 
labor  in  a  mission  church  in  Chicago.  Rev.  D.  M.  Thorne  was  called 
June  24,  1871.  Was  soon  after  installed  pastor.  He  labored  as  pas- 
tor for  one  year.  Russell  Graham,  present  pastor,  was  called  Janu- 
ary 16,  1873.     Was  ordained  and  installed  pastor  Aj)ril  29  of  same 


13-1:2  HISTORY   OF    FIERCER   AJSTD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

year,  and  is  now  in  the  tenth  year  of  his  pastorate.  All  the  ex-elders 
and  pastors  are  still  living  and  laboring  in  other  fields.  Among  the 
prominent  cliaracteristics  of  this  people  may  be  mentioned  regular 
attendance  on  public  worship,  freedom  from  the  spirit  of  strife  and 
discord,  the  amount  of  money  promised  to  benevolent  and  religious 
purposes,  a  commendable  liberality,  contributing  during  last  year 
(1881)  over  $2,700  for  religious  and  benevolent  purposes  at  home  and 
abroad.     Over  $J:00  are  contributed  annually  to  mission  work  alone. 

Beginning  in  1806,  with  a  membership  of  thirty-four,  there  has 
been  a  steady  increase  until  there  are  now  an  actual  membership  of 
200.  It  is  the  largest  congregation  in  the  county,  and  its  complete 
growth  is  evidently  not  yet  attained. 

After  a  long  and  fruitless  search  and  many  anxious  inquiries,  only 
a  brief  and  fragmentary  history  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church  of 
Biggsville  can  be  presented  to  our  readei's,  and  the  cause  can  be  justly 
laid  to  incomplete  records  and  imperfect  memory.  Tradition  has  it 
that  about  1860  a  class  of  that  faith  was  organized  in  Biggsville, 
composed  of  the  following  members,  citizens  of  the  little  village  and 
vicinity :  H.  P.  M.  Brown  (local  preacher),  II.  W.  Crosthwait 
(leader),  C.  W.  Brown,  C.  W.  Brouse,  Matthew  Douglass,  H.  AVatson, 
James  H.  David  Douglass,  Humphry  Alexander,  and  their  respective 
wives.  They  worshiped  for  a  number  of  years  in  the  school-house  in 
the  east  part  of  town,  and  not  unfrequently  in  the  beautiful  grove  of 
timber  then  standing  on  lots  35  and  36,  Brown  &  Downey's  addition  to 
Biggsville — Mrs.  Jane  Ivelley's  property.  Soon  after  the  organization 
of  this  class  a  Sabbath  school  was  organized,  and  with  varied  success 
carried  on  in  connection  with  the  church,  and  was  taken  part  in  by  all 
classes,  regardless  of  sectarian  interest.  As  the  church  and  Sabbath 
school  grew  in  interest  and  numbers,  the  need  of  a  house  in  which  to 
worship  became  apparent,  and  in  the  summer  of  1866  the  society 
elected  a  board  of  trustees  with  instructions  to  negotiate  for  a  lot  and 
take  the  necessary  steps  to  securing  the  means  for  Iniilding  a  church. 

In  1867  lots  2  and  3,  in  block  9,  of  Shoemaker's  addition  to  Biggs- 
ville, was  purchased  by  the  trustees  at  a  cost  of  $100,  and  afterward 
excavating  for  a  basement  was  begun  and  finally  completed.  This  was 
followed  by  the  stone  work,  and  walls  were  raised  a  sufficient  height 
for  one  story,  as  it  was  designed  to  have  a  school-room  under  the  main 
audience  room.  These  walls  were,  aftei-  being  finished,  condemned  or 
considered  insufficient,  and  were  taken  down  to  a  proper  height  for 
a  foundation.  There  does  not  appear  to  have  been  any  move  made  in 
the  way  of  raising  money  till  the  spring  of  1868,  when  on  March  21 
a  subscription  paper  was  drawn  up,  circulated  and  well  patronized.     A 


I5IGGSVILLE    TOWNSHIP.  1343 

building  committee  was  appointed  consisting  of  H.  P.  M.  Brown,  C.  W. 
Broil  se   and  Smith  Wax,  who   employed   workmen,  w^ith  Krow  and 
Monroe  as  foremen,  and  early  in  the  summer  of  1S68  work  was  begun 
and  vigorously  i)rosecuted  till  the  building  was  completed.     It  was 
dedicated  December  80,  1868,  by  T.  M.  Eddy,  D.D.,  of  Chicago,  who 
succeeded  in   raising  that   day  by  subscription   the   sum   of  $2,184, 
besides  a  cash  collection  of  $105,  an  amount  equal  to  the  indebtedness 
then  standing  on  the  church.     As  is  generally  the  case,  so  it  was  here. 
Influenced  by  a  power  sermon,  men  subscribed  sums  of  money  they 
afterward  found  it  difficult  to  pay,  and  the  church  was  clouded  with 
debt  for  some  time  with  interest  at  the  rate  of  ten  per  cent  accumulat- 
ing ;  but  the  money  was  finally  raised  and  the  indebtedness  canceled. 
The  church,  which  is  in  size  36  X  60,  with  twenty-foot  posts,  on  which 
was  mounted  a  lofty  spire,  cost  the  incredulous  sum  of  $4,400.     The 
first  board  of  trustees,  H.  W.  Crosthwait,  C.  W.  Brouse,  Matthew  and 
David  Douglass,  H.  Alexander,  H.  P.  M.  Brown  and  C.  W.  Brown 
were  elected  for  five  years,  and  all  but  the  latter  two  (who  had  moved 
away)  were  re-elected  at  the  expiration  of  their  first  term  of  office.     The 
following  is  a  list  of  the  pastors  in  charge  since  the  society's  organiza- 
tion :  James  Tubbs,  David  Pershian,  J.  A.  Windsor  (in  charge  during 
the  building  of  the  church),  IS".  T.  Allen,  J.  W.  Coe,  U.  Z.  Gilmer, 
J.  S.  Budd,  D.  M.  Hill,  D.  S.  Main,  Wm.  Merriam  and  C.  B.  Couch. 
The  conference  year,  the  last,  was  completed  by  Rev.  N.  T.  Allen.     The 
board  of  trustees  in  1882  are:    C.  W.  Brouse,  G.  AV.  Holmes,  H. 
Watson,  Peter  Ward,  C.  Rodman  and  Wm.  Yan  Tuyl.     The  society 
has  a  membership  of  about  sixty,  with  H.  Watson,  leader;  C.  W. 
Brouse  is  superintendent  of  the  Sabbath  school,  which  is  on  good  finan- 
cial basis  but  is  not  largely  attended.     In  1879  the  forty-foot  spire  was 
removed,  leaving  in  its  place  only  the  belfry,  thus  lessening  the  danger 
from  storms  and  avoiding  repeated  damage  to  the  building. 

A  congregation  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  church,  with  twenty- 
nine  members,  was  organized  in  Biggsville,  Illinois,  August  8,  1868. 
Rev.  J.  W.  Carter  officiated  in  the  organization. 

The  congregation  sprung  from  the  South  Henderson  church  of  the 
same  denomination,  which  worshiped  four  miles  north  of  Biggsville, 
Illinois.  This  organization  was  eftected  in  a  school-house  which  was 
in  tlie  extreme  east  end  of  town.  The  congregation  immediately 
employed  Rev.  J.  W.  Carter,  its  pastor. 

They  worshiped  for  several  years  in  this  school-building.  The  mem- 
bers of  the  church  elected  Geo.  M.  Jamison,  A.  H.  McLain  and  A.  C. 
Shoemaker  its  ruling  elders,  and  Alford  Burriis  and  Wm.  H.  McLain  its 
deacons.      Thos.  B.  Records,  J.  J.  Efibrt  and  A.  C.  Shoemaker  were 


1344  HISTORY   or   ]MERCER   AND   HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

elected  trustees  by  the  congregation,  October  23,  1869.  Rev,  J.  W.  Car- 
ter was  pastor  of  this  church  about  three  years,  and  then  resigned  his 
pastorate.  The  pastoral  sei'vices-  of  Eev.  J.  L.  Croiford  were  sought 
and  obtained,  and  he  began  his  pastorate  April  21,  1ST2.  Eev.  Mr. 
Crotlbrd  served  as  pastor  for  the  Sagetown  and  South  Henderson  con- 
gregations in  union  with  that  at  Biggs ville.  AVm.  H,  McLain  was 
elected  ruling  elder  by  the  Biggsville  church  October  5,  1872,  being 
ordained  according  to  the  custom  of  the  church.  During  the  pastor- 
ate of  Kev.  J.  L.  Croftbrd  the  South  Henderson,  Sagetown  and  Biggs- 
ville congregations  were  united  into  one  congregation  by  the  Rushville 
presbytery  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  church,  under  whose  care 
these  churches  had  been  from  the  time  of  .their  existence.  This  was 
done  at  the  request  of  the  members  of  the  three  churches,  and  also 
with  the  understanding  that  the  name  of  the  one  congregation  should 
be  South  Henderson,  its  place  of  worship  Biggsville,  Illinois,  and  that 
the  officers  of  the  three  churches  should  be  the  officers  of  the  one 
church. 

This  was  done  by  the  presb3^tery  convened  at  Abington,  Illinois, 
February,  1875.  The  officers  of  the  new  congregation  then  were  :  Kev. 
J.  L.  Crofford,  pastor ;  Abner  Short,  T.  A,  Russell,  AV.  B.  Jamison,  A. 
H.  McLain,  ruling  elders  ;  Alford  Burrus  and  Wm.  H.  McLain,  dea- 
cons. Wm.  H.  McLain  continued  his  office  as  deacon,  instead  of  serv- 
ing as  I'uling  elder.  Clias.  A.  Martin  was  elected  and  ordained  a  ruling 
elder.  On  account  of  affliction  of  his  eyes  Rev.  J.  L,  Croffi3rd  resigned 
the  pastorate  of  this  church.  Thus  closed  a  successful  atid  pleasant 
pastorate  which  was  of  about  five  years'  continuance. 

The  pastoral  sei-vices  of  Rev,  J.  W.  Mitchell  were  immediately 
obtained.  He  began  his  labors  for  the  congregation  January  1,  1877. 
During  his  pastorate,  which  continued  about  five  years,  the  beautiful 
church  edifice  which  stands  on  northeast  corner  of  Main  and  Church 
streets,  Biggsville,  as  an  honor  to  Cumberland  Presbyterians  in  the 
town  and  its  vicinity,  was  erected.  Tliis  building  is  30x56  feet  in 
size  and  cost  $2,300. 

The  church  bell  weighs  three  hundred  pounds  and  cost  $108. 

The  church  was  dedicated  January  26,  1879.  Rev.  J.  B.  Mitchell, 
D.D.,  of  Kirksville.  Missouri,  preached  the  dedicatory  sermon. 

J.  J.  Effort  and  Jonathan  Gee  were  elected  deacons  by  the  congre- 
gation, and  were  ordained  as  such  April  6,  1879. 

R.  A.  McKinley  and  F.  H.  McLain  were  elected  ruling  elders  by 
the  church  September  6,  1880,  and  J.  W.  McClinton  was  elected  deacon 
on  the  same  occasion. 

These  officers  were  afterward  regularlv  ordained  in  October,  1881. 


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BIGGSVILLE   TOWNSHIP.  1347 

The  pastoral  labors  of  Rev.  J.  W.  Mitchell  for  this  congregation  closed 
November,  1881. 

Rev.  J.  L.  Dickens  was  unanimously  called  to  the  pastorate  of  tliis 
church  May  8,  1882.  The  call  was  accepted,  but  on  account  of  disa- 
bility resigned  Se]itember  11  of  the  same  year.  The  church  has  now 
ninety-three  members.  The  following  are  its  officers  :  Rev.  J.  L.  Dick- 
ens, pastor ;  Abner  Short,  A.  H.  McLain,  C.  A.  Martin  and  R.  A. 
McKiniey,  ruling  elders  ;  J.  J.  Effort,  A.  Burrus,  J.  Gee  and  J.  W. 
McClinton,  deacons  ;  B.  II.  Martin,  A.  H.  McLain  and  A.  Short, 
trustees.  A  flourishing  Sabbatli  school  has  been  -connected  with  this 
congregation  from  its  organization  until  the  present.  Wm.  H.  McLain 
was  its  superintendent  until  January  1,  1881.  Rev.  J.  W.  Mitchell  was 
superintendent  from  January  1,  1881,  until  November  of  the  same  year. 

The  Sabbath  school  at  the  present  has  eighty -live  members. 

The  following  are  its  officers  :  Frank  McKin,  superintendent ;  Je- 
rome McLain,  assistant  superintendent  ;  Mrs.  Mahala  Martin,  secretary 
and  treasurer ;  Miss  Ada  Martin,  assistant  secretary.  There  are  seven 
classes  in  the  school  taught  by  efficient  teachers. 

The  church  and  Sabbath  school  are  out  of  debt  and  in  good  finan- 
cial condition. 

The  history  of  Biggsville  towmship  would  scarcely  be  complete  with- 
out some  mention  of  a  queer  and  antiquated  structure  now  standing  6n 
the  farm  of  Paul  D.  Gibb,  the  erection  of  which  has  been  often  attributed, 
on  account  of  its  strange  appearance,  to  the  Mormons,  who  formerly 
frequented  this  section.  To  the  educated  architects  of  to-day  this  build- 
ing is  a  wonder  and  a  puzzle.  Built  to  ' '  outlive  the  ages, "  it  has  stood  for 
over  a  quarter  of  a  century  as  a  monument  to  the  energy  and  persever- 
ance of  its  supposed  builder,  Ery  Marston.  It  size  is  34x26  feet,  and 
it  is  built  of  stone.  The  foundations  are  wonderfnlly  solid,  being  four 
feet  in  thickness.  The  stones  composing  the  walls  were  seemingly 
hoisted  to  their  positions  in  the  order  of  their  arrival  from  the  quarry 
and  not  with  regard  to  any  special  order  of  arrangement.  Some  of 
these  stones  are  very  large ;  four  of  them  extending  the  entire  length 
of  one  side  of  the  building.  On  the  west  side  is  one  slab  eleven  feet 
long,  two  and  a  half  feet  wide  and  one  foot  thick.  The  dOor  jams  are 
solid  from  to])  to  bottom,  one  foot  square.  Across  the  top  are  huge 
stones  fitted  with  a  precision  equaled  only  in  the  temples  of  the  ancient 
Aztecs.  The  inside  of  the  house  is  finished  in  cherry,  and  presents  a 
rather  comfortable  but  primitive  ap])earance. 

The    Hon.  David   Rankin  and  Judge  Preston  Martin  state :  The 
very  tough  prairie  sod  in  this  county  stoutly  resisted  all  attempts  to 
subdue  and  pulverize  it.     The  scouring  steel  plow  had  not  yet  been 
76 


1348  HISTORY    OF   MERCER    AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

invented,  and  the  only  dependence  was  the  old  wooden  moldboard 
plow,  to  which  the  dirt  clung  tenaciously,  and  could  only  be  removed 
with  the  heel  of  the  plowman's  boot  or  a  wooden  paddle  carried 
for  that  purpose  and  was  done  with  commendable  patience.  Improve- 
ment of  the  raw  land  was  a  tedious  process.  After  the  owner  had 
broken  the  sod,  if  he  had  any  to  spare  he  would  gladl^y  let  it  to  another 
to  use  the  following  year  for  the  crop.  If  tlie  tillage  had  been  thorough 
the  sod  was  now  usually  subdued,  but  not  always  so,  particularly  in 
low  land,  where  the  excessive  moisture  kept  the  grass  roots  alive.  The 
characteristics  of  the  prairie-grass  are  peculiar,  and  the  most  singular 
thing  about  the  prairie  is,  that  the  native  grass  which  was  found  grow- 
ing here  when  man  came,  and  which  for  ages  had  maintained  itself 
against  all  the  natural  elements  of  extinction,  has  neitlier  seed  nor  any 
other  organs  of  propagation  ;  when  once  killed,  or  subdued  in  any  way, 
it  could  not  again  by  any  means  spread.  It  was  not  merely  compara- 
tively, but  positively,  impossible  to  spread  it.  Nature  does  not  seem  to 
have  furnished  another  case  of  actual  absence  of  the  quality  of  ]:)ropa- 
gation. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

John  C,  -Luiisox,  retired  farmer,  Biggsville.  In  writing  the  history 
of  Henderson  county  it  is  rarely  the  privilege  of  the  biographer  to 
sketch  the  life  of  one  having  a  continuous  residence  in  the  county  since 
1829.  ^Nevertheless  that  man  is  found  in  the  person  of  Mr.  Jamison. 
He  was  born  in  Grayson  county,  Kentucky,  February  3,  1811,  on  the 
same  day  which  gave  birth  to  the  venerable  Horace  Greeley.  His 
father,  Samuel  Jamison,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  and  his  grand- 
father, James  Jamison,  was  a  native  of  Ireland.  He,  with  his  parents, 
emigrated  to  America  about  the  middle  of  the  seventeenth  century, 
being  then  but  a  boy.  He,  with  his  son  Samuel  (the  father  of  our 
subject),  emigrated  from  Brownsville,  Virginia,  via  the  rivers,  to  where 
Louisville,  Kentucky,  now  stands,  though  at  that  time  the  place  could 
boast  of  only  one  log  cabin.  Here  Samuel  married  Sarah  Rowland, 
hj  whom  he  had  born  to  him  three  sons.  Lost  his  wife  by  death ;  re- 
married, and  in  1819  removed  to  Perry  county,  Indiana.  His  second 
marriage  was  with  Mrs.  Melinda  (Richards)  Short.  His  mother,  before 
marriage,  was  Miss  Elizabeth  Ewing,  a  lady  whose  family  wei'e  noted 
for  their  rare  moral  and  intellectual  worth.  In  1830  he  emigrated  to 
Llenderson  county,  Illinois,  where  he  died  August  20,  1845.  Having 
spent  the  greater  part  of  his  life  in  the  tall  timbers  of  Kentucky  and 
Indiana,  he  attained  to  a  great  degree  those  characteristics  and  great 
physical  powers  s(^  honored  and  loved  among  the  true  pioneers.     Of 


BIGGS VILLE    TOWNSHIP.  1349 

his  three  sons,  John  C.  may  be  mentioned  as  the  pioneer  of  the  family 
in  Henderson  county.  His  father  sent  him  here  in  1829  prospecting 
for  a  suitable  locality,  with  a  view  to  settling  the  family,  which  was 
done  the  following  year.  He  was  married  in  this  county  September 
15,  1836,  to  Miss  Sarah  Stice,  a  native  of  Montgomery,  Illinois.  She 
died  xVugust  8,  1879,  where  she  so  long  lived  and  reared  her  fam- 
ily. The  chiklren  are  Martlia  (wife  of  Wm.  Bell),  James  W.  and 
Tabitha,  living;  Caroline,  Thomas  and  William  H.,  deceased.  By 
industrious  labor  and  good  management  Mr.  Jamison  has  secured  a 
competency  of  this  world's  goods,  owning,  besides  his  residence  in 
Biggsville,  a  fine  farm  of  250  acres,  in  Sees.  6  and  7. 

James  W.  Jamis(»n,  son  of  John  C.  and  Sarah  (Stice)  Jamison,  was 
born  in  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  August  17,  1845.  Was  reared  on 
his  father's  farm,  where  he  is  now  engaged  in  farming.  Aj^ril  7,  1872, 
he  married  Miss  N^ancy  J.  Luten,  of  Lee  county,  Iowa.  She  was  born 
in  Ohio,  March  16,  1850.  They  are  the  parents  of  three  children: 
Nora  C,  Estella  T.  and  Tliadius.  His  brother,  William  H.,  was  born 
in  1841,  August  30.  Served  in  the  late  war,  in  the  89th  111.  Vol.  Inf 
Was  wounded  and  died  October  18,  1868. 

George  M,  Jamisox,  farmer,  Biggsville,  was  born  in  Henderson 
county,  Illinois,  May  17,  1835.  His  parents,  James  and  Mary 
(McKinney)  Jamison,  were  born  October  7,  1805,  and  April  28,  1798, 
respectively.  They  were  united  in  marriage  March  8,  1827,  and  reared 
a  familj'  of  five  children,  whose  names  in  the  order  of  their  birth  were 
Samuel,  Sarah  A.,  Mary  J.,  Margaret  E.  and  George  M.  They 
died  in  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  she  in  August,  1843,  and  he  in 
October  of  the  same  year.  They  emigrated  to  this  county  in  1830 
from  Perry  countj^  Indiana.  He  was  the  eldest  son  of  Samuel  and 
Sarah  (Rowland)  Jamison,  and  brother  of  John  C.  Jamison,  whose 
biography  a])pears  elsewhere  in  this  chapter.  George  M.,  the  subject 
of  this  notice,  was  reared  on  a  farm  with  only  the  advantages  of  a 
common  school  education,  completed  with  six  months  at  Abingdon 
College.  BLis  education,  however,  in  the  way  of  economy,  industry 
and  integrity  was  full  and  complete.  January  10,  1861,  he  married 
Miss  Sophia  Yan  Tuyl ;  she  was  born  near  Dayton,  Ohio,  ]\Iay  8, 
1839,  and  came  with  her  parents  to  Henderson,  Illinois,  in  1854.  Her 
father  died  October  8,  1880,  in  Warren  county,  and  her  mother  still 
resides  there.  In  1862  Mr.  Jamison  enlisted  in  Co.  K,  84th  111.  Vol. 
Inf.,  from  which  he  was  discharged  after  one  year's  service  on  account 
of  disability.  In  the  fall  of  1878  he  bought  a  residence  in  Biggsville, 
where  he  now  (1882)  lives,  though  he  is  engaged  in  farming,  stock- 
raising  and  feeding.     He  is  now  in  comfortable  circumstances,  owning 


1350  HISTORY  OF  :mt;rcek  akd  Henderson  counties. 

two  farms  containing  360  acres  of  land  besides  liis  village  residence. 
His  children  are  Alfred  L.,  Sarah  B.,  Herbert  and  Howard. 

William  R.  J.vmisox  (deceased),  another  of  the  iirst  pioneers  of 
Henderson  county,  was  born  in  Grayson  county,  Kentucky,  in  1808. 
In  1819  he  removed  with  his  father  (Samuel  Jamison)  to  Perry  county, 
Indiana,  and  in  1829  emigrated  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois.  In 
Indiana  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Martha  Fijidley,  by  whom 
he  has  two  sons  living.  Rev.  John  C.  Jamison  and  F.  M.  Jamison. 
His  second  wife  was  Miss  Margaret  Giles  (now  deceased).  By  this 
union  he  has  four  children,  viz :  Porter,  Henry,  Ewell  and  Fannie.  A 
few  years  ago  he  went  to  Jacksonville,  Florida,  with  a  view  to  improv- 
ing his  failing  health,  and  there  died,  June  IT,  1882.  He  was  the 
second  son  of  Samuel  Jamison,  elsewhere  mentioned  in  this  chauter. 

John  J^yynsox,  son  of  James  and  Elizabeth  (Ewing)  Jamison,  and 
only  brother  of  Samuel  Jamison,  emigrated  to  this  county  from  Gray- 
son county,  Kentucky,  a  few  years  later  than  the  other  members  of  the 
Jamison  family.  He  settled  on  Sec.  6,  T.  10,  P.  1:,  the  tirst  one  on  the 
prau-ie  in  that  neighborhood.  His  bones  now  rest  in  the  Smith  Creek 
cemetery.  His  wife  was  formerly  Miss  Ann  Beatty.  His  children 
were  Joseph  (now  dead),  Elizabeth,  Margaret,  William,  Jane,  Sarah 
(tlie  three  latter  dead),  Xancy  and  Samuel  (living).  His  son  Joseph's 
family  are  the  only  representatives  of  his  now  living  in  this  county, 
and  are  worthy  representatives  of  the  name. 

Wilson  B.  Jamison,  farmer,  Biggsville,  son  of  Joseph  and  Sarah 
(YanTuyl)  Jamison,  and  grandson  of  John  Jamison,  was  born  in  Hen- 
derson county,  Illinois,  January  12,  1852.  His  grandfather  John  was 
an  only  brother  of  Samuel  Jamison,  mentioned  elsewhere  in  this  work. 
The  subject  of  these  few  notes  was  born  and  reared  on  the  farm  where 
he  now  lives,  on  Sec.  31,  T.  11,  P.  4,  and  received  the  best  education 
that  could  be  obtained  in  the  common  schools,  besides  two  vears  at 
Monmouth  College  and  one  year  at  Mount  Pleasant,  Iowa.  After  com- 
pleting his  education  he  turned  his  attention  to  agricultural  pursuits. 
December  1,  1874,  he  married  Miss  Christena  Wiegand,  daughter  of 
William  Weigand,  of  Biggsville.  After  his  marriage  he  at  once  went 
to  Bedford,  Iowa,  where  he  engaged  in  the  grain  trade,  but  one  year 
later  returned  to  his  farm,  satisfied  to  be  content  in  the  humble  voca- 
tion of  a  farmer.  For  the  last  three  years  he  has  been  in  feeble  health, 
caused  by  being  overcome  with  heat  in  1879.  His  father  died  March 
5,  1855,  leaving  four  children,  three  of  whom  are  now  living : 
Michael  Y.,  Anna  J.  and  Wilson  B.,  the  subject  of  this  sketch,  who 
has  two  children,  Harry  F.  and  Jesse  Joseph.  They  are  members  of 
the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  church. 


BIGGSVILLE    TOWNSHIP.  1351 

The  subject  of  tliis  sketcli,  Robert  M.  Gilmore,  was  born  in  Rock- 
bridge county,  Virginia,  on  June  30,  1823.  When  he  was  three  years 
of  age  his  father,  who  was  a  physician,  removed  from  Pennsylvania  to 
Preble  county,  Ohio,  wliere  he  passed  his  early  youtli  and  manhood. 
Here  Mr.  Gilmore  received  his  intellectual  and  religious  training,  and 
in  this  county  he  was  married  on  March  8,  1848,  to  Miss  Jane  Porter, 
daughter  of  Hugh  Porter,  of  Preble  county.  After  residing  several 
years  in  Ohio,  in  1853  they  removed  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois, 
settling  first  near  Coloma,  but  afterward  on  Sec.  22,  T.  10,  R.  4,  where 
Mr.  Gilmore  died  November  17,  1873,  leaving  a  wife  and  twelve  chil- 
dren to  mourn  his  loss.  Mr.  Gilmore  was  a  brother  of  William  J. 
Gilmore,  judge  of  the  supreme  court  of  Ohio,  and  also  of  Judge  James 
Gilmore,  of  Preble  county,  in  the  same  state.  He  was  a  son  of  Eli 
and  Clarissa  (Clayton)  Gilmore.  When  about  three  years  of  age  a 
white  swelling  appeared  on  his  left  limb,  below  the  knee.  This  caused 
him  great  pain  all  his  life  and  finally  resulted  in  his  death.  He  died 
respected  and  loved  by  all,  enduring  his  sifffering  with  great  patience. 
Mr.  Gilmore  was  a  staunch  member  of  and  believer  in  the  tenets  of 
the  United  Presbyterian  church,  and  used  largely  of  his  means  in  its 
behalf.  His  estimable  wife  is  now  living  with  the  youngest  of  her 
children.  The  names  of  the  children  are  William  E.,  Frank  C, 
Emma  L,  now  wife  of  William  C.  Dougless,  Eli  W.,  Anna  M.,  now 
wife  of  John  M.  Graham,  James  A. ,  George  R. ,  Charles  W. ,  John  E. , 
Mary  E.,  ISTora  E.  and  Robert  E.  Much  credit  is  due  to  Mrs.  Gilmore 
for  the  training  in  industry  and  thrift  her  children  have  received.- 

ThoMxVs  J.  Maxwell,  M.D.,  Keokuk,  Iowa,  was  born  in  Harrison 
county,  Ohio,  March  6,  1837.  In  the  spring  of  1844  his  father,  Mr. 
John  Maxwell,  and  family,  emigrated  to  Washington  county,  Iowa,  and 
settled  in  the  town  of  Crawford sville,  where  he  died  in  1869.  He  was 
born  near  Wheeling,  West  Virginia,  in  1798,  of  Scotch  parents,  whose 
ancestors  came  to  America  prior  to  the  revolutionary  war,  in  which 
they  took  an  active  part,  one  of  whom  was  at  the  battle  of  Brandy- 
wine,  and  was  wounded  at  Germantown.  Dr.  Maxwell's  education  was 
received  in  the  common  schools,  to  which  he  added  an  academic  course, 
having  a  desire  for  the  study  and  profession  of  medicine,  and  accord- 
ingly turned  his  attention  in  that  direction,  graduating  from  the  college 
of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  at  Keokuk,  with  the  class  of  1861.  In 
1862  he  enlisted  in  the  service  of  his  country,  and  was  commissioned 
as  assistant  surgeon  of  the  3d  Iowa  Cav.,  where  he  remained  till 
July  1,  1865,  when  he  was  transferred  to  and  commissioned  surgeon 
of  the  138th  United  States  Colored  Troops,  from  which  he  was  dis- 
charged at  Atlanta,  Georgia,   with  the  regiment,  in   January,  1866. 


1352  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

He  then  returned  to  Washington,  Iowa,  where  he  engaged  m  the  prac- 
tice of  his  profession,  but  soon  after  removed  to  Henderson  countj, 
Illinois,  and  located  at  Olena.  Dui'ing  his  practice  in  this  county  Dr. 
Maxwell  has  been  flatteringly  successful,  and  has  performed  some 
remarkable  surgical  operations.  Among  them  may  be  mentioned  that 
of  Mrs.  Alexander  Main,  of  Olena,  this  county,  of  whom  he  extracted 
an  ovarian  tumor  weighing  ninety  pounds,  or  in  bulk  about  nine  gal- 
lons. Feeling  confidence  in  his  ability  to  compete  with  the  best  physi- 
cians in  the  west,  and  choosing  city  practice  rather  than  the  country, 
in  the  spring  of  1SS2  he  removed  to  Keokuk,  Iowa,  where  he  is  now 
already  building  up  a  prosperous  business.  October  30,  1866,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Elizabeth  Riley,  a  native  of  Jefferson 
county,  Ohio,  by  whom  he  has  four  children,  as  follows:  John  E,., 
Mabel  C,  Maud  B.  and  Hellen  J.  The  doctor's  mother  still  resides  in 
Washington,  Iowa,  and  is  now  in  her  seventy-ninth  year.  Her  father, 
Robert  Orr,  was  a  native  of  County  Antrim,  Ireland,  and  born  of 
Scotch  parents.  • 

Andrew  W.  Martin,  farmer,  Biggsville,  is  the  son  of  Judge  Preston 
Martin,  of  this  place,  and  was  born  on  the  old  farm  in  T.  10,  li.  5, 
in  this  county,  June  T,  1838.  He,  like  the  rest  of  the  judge's  chil- 
dren, was  reared  on  the  farm,  with  the  best  privileges  of  the  common 
schools.  He  served,  with  the  rest  of  his  brothers,  in  the  war  for  the 
Union,  as  a  member  of  Co.  K,  84th  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  till  discharged  on 
account  of  disability.  February  27,  1861,  he  married  Miss  Mary  M. 
Grajiam,  the  daughter  of  Andrew  Graham,  who  was  once  a  citizen  of 
this  county,  but  early  removed  to  Missouri,  where  Mrs.  Martin  was 
born  April  15,  1816.  Mr.  Martin  has  children  as  follows :  wife  of 
John  Mcintosh,  Annie  B.,  Sanniel  P.,  John  B.  and  Ida  M.  He  is 
now  engaged  in  farming  at  the  old  home. 

Among  the  leading  farmers  of  Biggsville  townshij),  and  worthy  of 
special  notice,  is  Samuel  C.  Douglass,  who  was  born  in  York  county, 
Pennsylvania,  October  24,  1825.  His  parents  were  William  and  Jane 
(Wallace)  Douglass,  natives  of  the  same,  while  his  grandparents  were 
of  Scotch  and  Irish  extraction.  Mr.  Douglass,  like  his  father,  was 
reared  a  hardv  tiller  of  the  soil.  He  was  to  a  limited  extent  educated 
in  the  common  schools,  to  which  has  been  added,  hy  practical  expe- 
rience reading  and  observation,  that  more  useful  knowledge  which  has 
led  to  a  life  of  success.  At  the  age  of  twenty-one,  with  seventy-five 
cents  in  his  pocket,  he  started  in  life  for  himself,  and  for  the  six  follow- 
ing years  engaged  in  boating  on  the  Pennsylvania  canal.  In  1852  he 
emigrated  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  and  cropped  the  first  year  on 
rented  land.     In  1853  he  purchased  160  acres  of  land,  the  JST.E.  ^  of  Sec. 


BKIGSVILLE    TOWNSHIP.  1353 

28,  T.  10,  R.  4.  In  the  same  year,  in  April,  lie  bought  a  piece  of  land 
where  the  east  end  of  the  village  of  Biggsville  now  stands,  and  platted 
a  part  of  the  town.  June  7,  1S55,  he  married  Miss  Jane  A.  Stewart, 
who  died  in  Man-h,  1880.  His  second  marriage  was  with  Miss  Mary 
A.  Edwai'ds,  a  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Anna  (McBride)  Edwards  ; 
she  is  a  native  of  Tuscarawas  county,  Ohio,  born  April  24,  18-13.  Mr. 
Douglass  is  the  father  of  seven  children,  whose  names  are :  Armintha 
J.,  wife  of  August  AVeigand,  Anna  E.,  now  Mrs.  Edward  Claybaugh, 
Ulysses  G.,  Sarah  L.,  Collins  S.,  Angeline  F.  and  Claudias  C.  Mrs. 
Weigand  is  the  only  child  by  his  first  wife.  Mr.  Douglass  has  added 
to  his  old  home  farm  an  adjoining  farm  of  ninety-five,  besides  thirty 
acres  of  timber.  His  fine  property  is  the  result  of  his  personal  industry 
and  careful  economy.  He  and  family  are  members  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  churcli  of  Biggsville,  a  church  he  has  aided  much  by  his 
liberality. 

Isaac  C.  Short,  son  of  Gabriel  and  Sarah.  (Purcell)  Short,  was 
born  in  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  June  30,  1838.  Being  one  of  the 
sons  of  this  county,  born  and  reared  before  the  county's  development  into 
its  present  school  system,  his  educational  advantages  were  limited. 
He  was  twice  married :  first  to  Miss  Eutha  J.  Burrus,  February  24, 
1859.  She  was  born  March  11,  1838,  and  died  November  15,  1868; 
his  second  marriage  was  with  Miss  Martha  A.  Smith,  a  native  of  Ohio; 
she  was  born  August  4,  1835,  and  died  August  1,  1879.  Mr.  Short 
has  children  living,  as  follows:  Sarah  F.,  Samuel  B.,  Wilson  D.,  John 
N.  and  George  jST.,  by  his  first  wife,  and  Martha  E.  by  his  second  wife, 
and  three  deceased.  In  March,  1876,  he  purchased  and  moved  onto  his 
present  farm  in  Sec.  31,  T.  11,  11.  4.  As  will  be  seen  by  reference  to 
the  history  of  Gladstone  township,  his  father,  Gabriel  Short,  settled  in 
this  county  in  an  early  day.  He  was  born  in  Washington  county,  Ken- 
tucky, in  1810,  and  in  1819,  with  his  mother  and  stepfather  and  their 
families,  removed  to  Perry  county,  Indiana,  and  to  Henderson  county, 
Illinois,  in  1830.  He  served  through  the  Black  Hawk  war  as  a  volun- 
teer. In  1835  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  Purcell,  an 
old  school-mate,  by  whom  he  reared  a  family  of  eight  children.  He  is 
now  a  resident  of  Biggsville  and  is  a  consistent  member  of  the  Cum- 
berland Presbyterian  chui'ch. 

Jonx  A.  WiLsox,  son  of  John  M.  and  Eliza  (Duffield)  Wilson,  was 
born  in  Fairfield  county,  Ohio,  December  14,  1833.  Soon  after  his 
birth  his  father  removed  to  Franklin  county,  where  John  A.  grew  to 
manhood  on  a  farm.  During  the  years  that  boys  usually  secure  an 
education,  with  him  schools  were  few,  .and  the  few  that  did  ])retend  to 
exist  were  on  the  old  subscription  principle.     Flence,  to  gain  an  educa- 


1354  HISTORY   OF   MERCER    AJSTD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

tion  was  a  tiling  almost  impossible  to  a  poor  boj.  In  1856  he  came 
to  Illinois,  arriving  in  Oquawka  July  17.  Plere  lie  at  once  went  to 
work  as  a  common  laborer,  and  persistently  applied  himself  to  work 
wherever  and  whenever  he  could  earn  a  dollar  or  a  shillino;.  October 
28,  1858,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Sarah  J.  Thompson,  the 
daughter  of  William  and  Margaret  (Wilson)  Thompson.  She  was 
born  in  Brown  county,  Ohio,  July  3,  1838.  His  hrst  farm  was  sixty 
acres,  bought  in  Warren  county.  To  make  his  first  payment  on  this 
he  borrowed  the  money.  In  1865  he  sold  this  and  bought  of  A.  Y. 
Graham  ninety -three  acres  in  S.  W.  J  of  Sec.  l-i,  T.  10,  R.  4.  Some  time 
after  he  added  to  his  first  purchase  an  eighty-acre  tract  adjoining  him 
on  the  east.  His  home,  farm  and  surroundings  have  an  appearance  of 
neatness,  industry  and  thrift,  and  his  entire  time  is  devoted  to  the  care 
of  his  farm  and  agricultural  jiursuits.  His  five  interesting  children, 
named  in  the  order  of  their  birth,  are:  Rosetta,  Elizabeth  A.,  James 
A.,  Sarah  E.  and  Hiram.  Mr.  Wilson  and  wife  are  members  of  the 
United  Presbyterian  church.  Mr,  Wilson's  parents  were  natives  of 
Ohio,  and  his  grandparents  of  Pennsjdvania.  The  latter  were  among 
the  early  pioneers  of  the  Buckeye  State.  His  grandfather  Wilson 
served  with  energy  throughout  the  war  of  1812.  He  permanently 
settled  in  Fairfield  county,  near  Lancaster,  Ohio. 

Paul  D.  Birdsall,  son  of  John  and-  Lucretia  (Fowler)  Birdsall, 
farmer,  Kirkwood,  was  born  in  Westchester  county,  'New  York,  in 
1816,  and  when  but  a  mere  lad  removed  with  his  parents  into  the 
Province  of  Ontario,  Canada,  whence  they  emigrated  to  Illinois  in 
1838,  leaving  home  in  Canada  June  12,  with  team  and  wagon.  When 
near  Niles,  Michigan,  his  sister  died,  and  when  they  reached  Joliet  the 
mother  was  stricken  with  fever  and  died  also.  The  rest  of  the  family 
readied  Ellison,  Henderson  county,  on  October  18.  The  family  set- 
tled here,  and  here  the  father  died  in  1863.  Paul  D.  was  here  in  an 
early  day,  and  was  early  connected  with  the  improvements  of  Biggs- 
ville,  as  his  father  purchased  an  interest  in  the  first  mill  built  here. 
January  19,  1841,  he  married  Miss  Fannie  Ryder,  a  daughter  of  Jacob 
and  Elizabeth  (Denyke)  Ryder,  who  was  born  in  Genesee  county,  New 
York,  in  March  1823,  and  emigrated  to  Henderson  with  her  parents 
in  1839.  In  1844  Mr.  Birdsall  removed  to  Oquawka  and  remained 
there  till  1853,  when  he  removed  to  Warren  county  and  engaged  in 
farming  till  1869,  when,  for  the  purpose  of  educating  his  family,  he  went 
to  Abingdon,  where  he  continued  to  reside  till  1880,  when  he  returned 
to  his  farm  in  Warren  county,  in  Tompkins  townshij),  where  he  is  now 
comfortably  located.  He  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church.     Their  children's  names  in  the  order  of  their  birth 


BIGGSVILLE    TOWNSHIP.  1355 

are :  Charles  E.  Senica,  who  was  killed  at  the  battle  of  Lookout  Moun- 
tain, in  Georgia,  during  the  war  of  the  rebellion,  Marv  E.,  wife  of 
William  R.  Toll,  Nancj,  now  Mrs.  S.  J.  Moose,  Alexander  Jacob, 
George,  Frank,  Flora  and  Fannie.  The  publishers  of  this  work  are 
under  obligations  to  Mr.  B.  for  valuable  information  furnished. 

James  Gibb,  farmer,  Biggsville,  was  born  in  County  Antrim,  Ire- 
land, in  1817.  Before  tlie  age  of  twenty  he  had  learned  the  trade 
of  a  weaver,  but  soon  after  was  engaged  by  Lord  Tempi  eton  as  over- 
seer and  time-keeper  on  his  large  estate  near  Belfast.  In  the  winter  of 
1849  he  canceled  this  engagement,  and  on  March  9  of  the  same  year, 
with  wife  and  four  children,  left  Liverpool  for  New  Orleans,  in  the 
sailing  ship  ''AValdron."  The  trip  was  made  without  incident  to  the 
port  of  destination,  and  they  soon  after  embarked,  via  the  Mississippi, 
for  Biggsville,  and  when  opposite  St.  Louis  his  wife  and  three  children 
died  with  cholera  and  were  buried  there.  lie,  with  one  remaining 
child,  arrived  in  Biggsville  May  12,  and  for  the  next  eleven  months 
worked  by  the  month  at  ftirm  labor.  lie  purchased  an  outfit  (a  yoke 
of  oxen  and  wagon)  and  started  for  an  overland  trip  to  California,  and 
there  engaged  in  mining.  After  two  years'  successful  labor  he  returned 
to  Biggsville  and  bought  a  farm  of  160  acres,  in  Sec.  28,  T.  10,  R.  4, 
and  at  once  began  to  make  improvements.  But  in  a  few  years  he 
grew  tired  of  a  lonely  life  and  determined  to  visit  the  land  of  his 
birth,  and  accordingly,  in  November,  1858,  shipped  for  the  city  of 
Belfast,  and  was  soon  after  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Jane  Steven- 
son. In  May,  1860,  after  a  full  and  satisfactory  sojourn  among  kin- 
dred, and  friends,  he,  with  his  young  wife,  again  sailed  for  America 
and  landed  safely  in  Biggsville  in  due  season  and  permanently  located 
on  his  present  home  farm  in  Sec.  28,  T.  10, R.  4,  where  he  is  now  spend- 
ing his  declining  years  in  comfortable  circumstances,  which  is  the  sure 
reward  of  faithful  labor  and  honest  industry.  Though  Mi-.  Gibb  began 
life  for  himself  without  means,  yet  he  looked  forward  to  a  comfortable 
home  in  old  age.  lie  has  an  interesting  family  of  eight  children: 
Eliza  II.,  now  the  wife  of  Mr.  Paul  Reed,  of  Kingston,  Canada,  by  his 
first  wife,  and  Agnes,  William  J.,  Annie  J.,  David  A.,  Rose,  James 
and  Mary.  The  parents  and  thi-ee  of  their  children  are  members  of 
the  United  Presbyterian  church.  Mr.  Gibb's  parents  were  John  and 
Agnes  (McMasters)  Gibb.  The  former  died  in  Ireland  and  the  latter 
in  Biggsville. 

John  McDill  (deceased),  one  of  Henderson  county's  early  pioneers, 
was  born  in  Chester  county.  South  Carolina,  November  8,  180T.  Early 
in  life  he  removed  with  his  j^arents,  George  and  Margaret  (Duglas) 
McDill  to  Newton  county,  Georgia,  where  they  resided  for  many  years. 


1356  HISTORY    OF   FIERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

In  1835  Mr.  McDill  made  a  trip  on  horse  to  Illinois,  ]3rospectino;  with 
a  view  to  settling  in  this  new  but  growing  country.  Being  favorably 
impressed  with  the  land  and  advantages  in  Henderson  county,  the 
following  year  the  lamily,  consisting  of  his  parents,  brothers,  Robert 
and  James,  sisters,  Jane  Kerren  H.  and  ISTancy,  and  himself  emigrated 
here  and  settled  in  T.  10,  R.  5,  where  the  parents  lived  till  the  time  of 
their  death.  April  24,  1S-1:2,  Mr.  McDill  was  married  to  Miss  Christen 
S.  Gordon,  who  was  born  in  Xortli  Carolina,  January  21,  1815.  Soon 
after  his  marriage  he  moved  u]3on  land  he  had  purchased  in  Sec.  4,  T. 
10,  II.  4.  where  he  continued  to  reside  till  the  spring  of  1870.  •  lie 
then,  with  his  daughter  Nancy,  went  back  to  Georgia  with  a  view  to 
improving  his  already  impaired  health.  For  a  time  he  apparently  grew 
better,  but  in  the  spring  of  1881  it  became  visible  that  his  days  were 
about  numbered,  and  his  son  at  Biggsville  accordingly  notified  by  tele- 
graph. He  at  once  went  to  his  side  to  take  care  of  him,  and  if  possible 
return  with  him  to  his  old  home,  which  he  did  late  in  April ;  on  May  9, 
1881,  he  died.  He  was  buried  in  the  United  Presbyterian  church 
cemetery  at  South  Henderson.  His  wife  died  December  12,  1864,  and 
were  buried  in  the  same  place.  They  had  born  to  them  one  son,  George, 
born  in  Henderson  county,  July  31,  1843.  His  educational  advantages 
were  confined  to  the  common  schools  of  this  county's  early  history. 
•Though  he  was  reared  on  the  farm,  he  was  a  boy  of  very  delicate 
health.  In  1865  his  father  purchased  a  stock  of  goods  and  engaged 
in  merchandising  in  Biggsville,  and  George  was  called  in  soon  after  to 
take  charge  of  the  store.  This  he  did  but  a  short  time,  when  ill  health 
compelled  him  to  return  to  the  farm.  In  1879  his  father  sold  the  farm 
and  the  son  again  turned  his  attention  in  a  mercantile  direction,  iirst  as 
a  clerk,  but  in  the  spring  of  1882,  with  Mr.  A.  AY.  Graham,  embarked  in 
a  general  mercantile  business  in  Biggsville.  December  17,  1868,  he 
wi\s  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Amanda  D.  Bell,  daughter  of  Mr. 
S.  W.  Bell,  of  Biggsville,  a  native  of  Georgia.  She  was  born  in  1849, 
and  came  with  her  parents  to  this  county  in  1855.  They  have  one  child 
living,  Clara  B.  and  Minnie  (deceased).  They  are  members  of  the 
United  Fresbyterian  church. 

Prominent  among  those  now  living  who  had  an  early  residence  in 
Henderson  county  may  be  mentioned  Robert  McDill.  Mr.  McDill 
was  born  in  Chester  county,  South  Carolina,  September  20,  1803.  "In 
1809  his  father  and  family  removed  to  the  State  of  Ohio,  and  settled  in 
Preble  county.  He  took  an  active  part  in  the  war  of  1812,  and  died  in 
1813.  His  wife  in  1845  removed  to  Bloomington,  Indiana,  where  she 
died  at  the  advanced  age  of  ninety-seven  years.  Growing  up  in  a  new 
country  as  he  did,  Robert  was  favored  with  only  a  limited  means  of 


BIGGSVILLE    TOWX.SIIIP.  1357 

education,  wliicli,  however,  did  not  hinder  his  providing  for  himself  a 
competenej  before  being  overtaken  with  old  age.  In  1825  he  married 
Miss  Mary  Porter,  a  native  of  South  Carolina,  who  was  born  in  1806. 
After  his  marriage  Mr.  McDill  gave  his  entire  attention  to  farming  on 
the  old  home  in  Preble  county  in  Ohio,  till  1844,  when  he  decided  to 
remove  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  a  move  he  had  contemplated 
since  he  was  here  on  a  prospective  tour  in  1835.  After  looking  around 
a  short  time  for  a  location  he  finally  located  on  Sec.  25,  T.  10,  P.  5, 
and  actively  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising.  This  he  followed 
till  1868,  when  on  account  of  the  loss  of  vision  he  removed  to  Biggsville, 
where  he  might  spend  his  declining  years  in  rest  and  quiet.  Of  his  ten 
children  but  six  are  living ;  two  of  his  sons  enlisted  in  the  war  for  the 
union  in  the  late  rebellion,  and  suffered  capture  and  imprisonment. 
Mr.  McDill  and  his  noble  wife  are,  their  great  age  being  considered, 
enjoying  a  good  degree  of  health.  They  are  members  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  church.  James  C,  the  son  of  the  family,  was  born  in 
Preble  county,  Ohio,  in  1830,  and  came  with  his  parents  to  this  county 
in  1844.  His  educational  advantages  were  only  fair,  but  they  were 
well  improved.  He  followed  farming  till  1866,  when  he  went  into  the 
grain  trade  at  Biggsville.  Soon  after  he  sold  out  here  and  went  to 
Iowa,  where  he  extensively  engaged  in  the  grain  trade  along  the  newly 
constructed  line  of  the  Burlington  &  Missouri  railroad.  In  1879  he 
permanently  located  in  Biggsville  and  begun  a  mercantile  business  in 
the  grocery,  hardware  and  implement  line.  In  1853  he  married  Miss 
Elizabeth  R.  Pinkerton,  a  native  of  Preble  county,  Ohio.  She  died 
January  18,  1866. 

James  Sloan,  farmer,  Biggsville,  is  a  son  of  William  and  Margaret 
(Pea)  Sloan,  and  was  born  in  1839,  in  County  Antrim,  Ireland.  He 
was  reared  on  a  small  farm,  where  his  time  during  early  youth  was 
principally  devoted  to  agriculture.  At  the  same  time  he  learned  from 
his  father  the  trade  of  boot  and  shoe  maker,  and  improved  occasional 
odd  hours  in  the  school-room.  On  April  26,  1857,  with  a  heart  full 
of  hope  for  future  plenty  and  independence,  he  left  the  home  of  his 
birth  and  friends  with  a  view  to  renew  them  in  America,  on  the 
sailing  vessel  "Neptune,"  and  landed  at  Castle  Garden,  New  York,  May 
26  of  the  same  spring.  From  there  he  went  to  Knoxville,  Illinois, 
where  he  engaged  to  work  on  a  farm  for  his  uncle,  John  Sloan.  He 
remained  there  on  the  farm  till  the  fall  of  1858,  when  he  removed  to 
Biggsville,  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  where  he  went  to  work  at  his 
trade,  which  he  followed  till  the  fall  of  1861.  When  the  honor  of  his 
adopted  countrj'  was  assailed  by  traitors  he  offered  his  services  to  pro- 
tect the  national  flag,  and  at  once  volunteered  as  a  member  of  the  11th 


1358  HISTOKY   OF   IVIERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

Cav.,  at  Peoria,  Illinois,  under  Col.  R.  G.  Ingersoll.  He  participated 
in  all  tlie  battles  and  marches  of  that  noble  and  heroic  regiment ; 
veteraned  with  the  regiment  and  was  with  tliem  honorably  discharged. 
In  September,  1862,  he  was  captured  by  the  rebels,  but  bj^  hiding  in 
the  cane-brake  made  his  escape  during  the  night,  and  after  a  walk  of 
fifty  miles  joined  his  comrades  near  Corinth.  October  30,  1868,  he 
married  Miss  Elizabeth  Tolcott,  of  Pike  county,  Illinois,  a  daughter 
of  Albert  and  Rlioda  (Daniels)  Tolcott,  natives  of  Massachusetts.-  She 
was  born  July  30,  1851,  in  Pike  county,  Illinois.  After  his  marriage 
Mr.  Sloan  turned  his  attention  to  farming  and  stock  raising.  He  now 
owns,  besides  his  home  in  Biggsville,  260  acres  of  land  near  Biggs- 
ville,  and  all  earned  during  his  few  years'  residence  in  this  county, 
besides  over  three  years  of  the  best  part  of  his  life  devoted  to  his 
country. 

Thomas  P.  Edwards,  farmer,  Biggsville,  was  born  in  Belmont 
county,  Ohio,  November  29,  1820.  His  youth  and  the  greater  part  of 
his  life  was  spent  in  his  native  county  on  a  farm ;  beginning  almost 
with  the  beginning  of  settlement  in  the  Buckeye  State.  February  25, 
1851,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Susan  Cook,  also  a  native 
of  Belmont  county,  Ohio,  born  August  1,  1827.  In  the  fall  of  1860 
he  removed  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  and  four  years  later  perma- 
nently located  on  his  ftirni  in  Sec.  22,  T.  10,  R.  4,  where  he  now  enjoys 
the  comforts  of  a  pleasant  home,  and  honored  by  six  interesting  chil- 
dren, whose  names,  in  the  order  of  their  birth,  are:  John  W.,  Orloff 
D.,  Stephen  C,  David  B.  and  (twins)  Charles  H.  and  Emma  F.  They 
are  members  of  tiie  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  His  parents  were 
John  and  Prudence  (Booth)  Edwards  ;  the  former  born  in  Wales  in 
1792,  and  when  but  a  small  boy  was  brought  to  the  United  States  with 
his  parents,  John  and  Elizabeth  (Watkins)  Edwards.  He  died  in  Bel- 
mont county,  Ohio,  in  1830.  The  latter  was  the  daughter  of  Edwin 
Booth,  who  was  born  and  educated  in  London,  England,  and  came  to 
America  as  a  British  soldier  during  the  war  of  the  revolution,  and 
died  liere  a  true  patriot  to  the  colonial  cause,  in  his  ninety-sixth  year,  in 
Holmes  county,  Ohio.  Tliomas  P.  Edwards  is  one  of  a  family  of  five 
children  :  Edwin,  Elizabeth,  Rachel  and  Rebecca.  His  father  was  one 
of  a  family  of  four  sons,  Walter,  John  (himself)  and  Thomas  born  in 
Wales,  and  David  born  in  America  in  1803.  The  three  eldest  Avere  born 
in  1790,  1792  and  1795  respectively.  Their  father  was  a  prominent 
educator  both  in  Europe  and  America. 

GrEoRGE  W.  Shook,  farmer,  Biggsville,  was  born  in  Casey  county, 
Kentucky,  August  8,  1824.  His  parents,  Dykeman  and  Mary 
(Conkright)  Shook,  were  born  Xovember  22,  1800,  and  August  4,  1799, 


BIGGS VILLE    TOWNSHIP.  1359 

respectively  ;  and  were  married  May  17,  1821.     In  tlie  fall  of  1830  tliey 
left  their  native  state  and  emigrated  to  Hancock  county,  Illinois,  where 
he  entered  land  and  lived  till  the  spring  of  1836,  when  they  sold  out 
and  removed  to  Henderson  county  and  entered  a  piece  of  land,  the 
N.E.  I  of  Sec.  34,  T.  10,  K.  4,  and  thus  lie  became  known  as  among 
the  early  pioneers.     This  farm  they  bought  when  it  came  in  market  and 
on  it  made  their  home  and  reared  their  family.     They  died  November 
12, 1876,  and  January  30,  1876,  respectively.     Major  Shook,  a  name  by 
which  he  was  familiarly  known,  was  a  staunch  member  of  the  Christian 
church,  and  a  short  time  before  his  death  willed  $1,000  to  further  its 
financial  interests.     His   name    stands  to-day  in  this  county  without 
blemish,  which  is  more  to  be  appreciated  by  his  posterity  than  large 
endowments  of  bonds  or  gold.     George  W.,  the  second  son,  was,  like 
his  father,  reared  on  the  farm,  and  early  in  life  was  trained  more  par- 
ticularly to  honest  toil  and  industrious  economy  than  in  the  district 
schools,  which  in  his  school  years  were  of  a  very  primitive  character. 
November  4,  1858,  he  married  Miss  Mary  A.  I'artness,  a  native  of 
Clark  county,  Illinois.     They  are  the  parents  of  six  children,  whose 
names  in  the  order  of  their  birth  are  :  Eliza  J. ,  Angeline,  John  F. , 
Cora  A.,  William  L.  and  Mary  M.     Mr.  Shook  is  now  the  owner  of 
over  400  acres  of  good  land,  including  the  old  home  of  his  father,  and  is 
residing  on  the  N.W.  J  of  Sec.  35,  T.  10,  R.  4.     They  are  members  of 
the  Christian  church. 

DykeMxVx  Shook,  farmer,  Biggsville,  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1828. 

He  is  the  third  son  of  Dykeman  and  Mary  (Conkright)  Shook,  who 

were  also  natives  of  Kentucky.     In  1830  emigrated  to  Hancock  county, 

Illinois,  where  they  lived  till  1836,  when  they  removed  to  Henderson 

county.     They  endured  all  the  privations  and  hardships  incident  to 

pioneer  life.     Coming  to  this  state  as  he  did  in  an  early  day,  young 

Dykeman  was  deprived  of  all  the  advantages  of  an  education  enjoyed 

by  the  young  of  the  present  generation.     He  was,  however,  thoroughly 

trained  to  industry  and  honest  labor.     December  14,  1849,  he  married 

Miss  Sarah  E.  Worden,  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  born  in  1833.     She 

was  also  a  very  early  settler,  and  well  remembers  the  hardships  of 

settling  in  a  new  country.     They  have  an  interesting  family  of  seven 

children:     Charles,    John    W.,    Daniel    H.,    James    A.,    Emeline, 

Sherman  and  Mary  E.     Mr.  Shook  moved  onto  his  present  farm  in 

Sec.  4,  T.  10,  R.  4,  in  1878.     They  are  member  of  the  Christian  church. 

Alexander  P.  Nelson,  M.D.,  Biggsville,  was  born  in   Richland 

county,  Ohio,  April  5,  1828.    In  1836  his  mother  died,  and  in  1839  his 

father  removed  to  the  State  of  Missouri,  and  in  1844  to  Warren  county, 

Illinois.     While  back  to  Ohio,  in  1850,  he  died  of  Asiatic  cholera,  on 


1360  HISTORY    OF   JIERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

board  of  a  steamboat  on  the  Ohio  river.  In  1850  Alexander  P.  went 
with  Capt.  Robert  Pence,  in  his  company  of  fifty-two  men,  seventy 
cattle,  nine  wagons,  one  horse  and  two  dogs,  to  California.  He  there 
engaged  in  mining,  but  only  remained  seven  months,  when  he  returned 
home  and  engaged  in  reading  medicine  and  teaching  school.  In 
1853  he  entered  the  hospital  and  iniirmary  at  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and 
was  at  the  same  time  a  student  in  the  medical  college  at  tliat  place. 
In  1854  he  began  the  practice  of  medicine  at  Terre  Haute,  Henderson 
county,  Illinois,  and  three  years  later  removed  to  Oquawka,  where  he 
continued  to  practice  his  profession.  In  1859  he  removed  to  Kirk- 
wood,  Warren  county,  where  he  was  engaged  in  business  as  physi- 
cian and  surgeon  at  the  outbreak  of  the  late  war.  Soon  after  the  call 
for  men  as  soldiers  he  enlisted  in  Co.  K,  81th  111.  Yol.  Inf.,  and  on 
the  organization  of  the  company  was  elected  iirst  lieutenant.  At  the 
<3lose  of  the  Kentucky  campaign  was  appointed  assistant  surgeon  on 
the  field.  October  26,  1863,  he  resigned  and  returned  home.  Soon 
after  his  return  he  entered  Rush  Medical  College,  at  Chicago,  from 
which  he  graduated  January  27,  1864.  He  then  returned  to  Kirk- 
wood  and  permanently  engaged  in  the  practice  of  his  profession.  In 
the  spring  of  1877  he  removed  to  his  farm  on  Sec.  8,  T.  10,  R.  4,  Hen- 
derson county,  which  he  had  previously  bought  of  Thomas  Records, 
where  he  is  now  (1S82)  engaged  in  farming,  stock  raising  and  practic- 
ing medicine  successfully.  September  26,  1854,  he  was  united  in  mar- 
riage with  Miss  Sarah  A.  Jamison,  a  daughter  of  James  and  Mary 
(McKinney)  Jamison.  She  was  born  in  Perry  county,  Indiana,  January 
28,  1830,  and  with  her  parents  removed  to  Henderson,  Illinois,  in  the 
spring  of  1830.  Their  children  are:  Delia  J.,  William  T.  and  Cora 
A.  Di".  Nelson's  father,  William  Nelson,  was  a  native  of  Pennsylva- 
nia, born  of  Irish  parents,  was  in  the  war  of  1812,  under  Col.  Lewis 
D.  Cass,  and  was  present  at  Detroit  when  that  post  was  surrendered  by 
Gen.  Hull.  His  mother  was  also  of  Irish  ancestry  and  born  in  Penn- 
sylvania. 

Robert  J.  Martin,  son  of  Judge  Preston  and  Elizabeth  A.  (Taylor) 
Martin,  was  born  in  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  February  14,  1837. 
He  was  reared  on  the  farm  and  received  during;  his  youth  a  fair  com- 
mon  school  education,  to  which  he  added  one  term  of  studies  at  Mon- 
mouth College.  Following  this  he  entered  the  Galesburg  "  Democrat " 
office  and  there  learned  the  printer's  trade.  His  health  failing  at 
this  on  account  of  confinement,  he  turned  his  attention  to  outdoor  life, 
and  accordingly  went  to  railroading.  At  the  outbreak  of  the  war  he 
was  engaged  in  farming,  but  at  once  took  his  jJace  as  a  volunteer  in 
Co.  K,  84th  111.  Vol.  Inf.     A  few  months  after   enlistment  he   was 


BIGGSVILLE    TOWNSHIP.  1361 

detailed  for  special  duty  in  the  engineer  corps  during  liis  military 
career.  He  also  served  in  the  pioneer  and  pontoon  corps.  When 
the  time  for  which  he  enlisted  was  drawing  to  a  close  he  ro-enlisted  as 
a  veteran  in  the  engineer  department,  where  he  creditably  served  his 
country  till  honorably  discharged  from  the  1st  U.  S.  Vet.  Engineer 
Corps.  Soon  after  his  return  iiome  he  made  an  engagement  as 
engineer  in  the  grain  warehouse  of  Biggsville,  where  he  was  retained 
nine  years.  In  May,  1876,  he  entered  into  an  engagement  with  a 
gentleman  named  Richardson  to  go  to  California  and  superintend  the 
heading  and  threshing  macliinery  on  a  wheat  farm  there  of  3. 200  acres. 
On  the  fulfillment  of  this  contract  he  went  into  the  Sierra  ISTevada 
mountains  and  put  the  machinery  into  the  Blue  Lead  mines  for  Hep- 
bun  &  Co.  He  then  went  to  Mariposa  county  and  built  a  saw  mill, 
which  he  soon  after  sold,  and  returned  home  in  July,  1877.  The  fol- 
lowing spring  he  bought  the  "Biggsville  House"  and  engaged  in  the 
hotel  business.  In  the  spring  of  1882  (leaving  his  family  to  run  the 
hotel)  he  went  to  Dakota,  where  he  is  now  improving  a  farm.  Decem- 
ber 19,  1860,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Maliala  M.  Camp- 
bell, a  daughter  of  the  Rev.  William  S.  and  Lorina  T.  (Hendrix) 
Campbell.  She  was  born  in  Monroe  county,  Tennessee,  August  1, 
1840,  and  emigrated  with  her  parents  to  Iowa  in  1841.  Here  her 
mother  died  in  1842  and  is  buried  at  Mt.  Pleasant.  In  1852  her 
father  with  his  family  removed  to  Oquawka,  where  he  remained  as 
pastor  of  the  Cumberland  Presbytei'ian  chnrch  ten  years.  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Martin  are  the  parents  of  four  children,  whose  names,  in  tlui 
order  of  their  birth,  are:  Luther  S.,  Leila  A.,  Mary  C.  and  Katie  F. 
They  are  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  church. 

Daniel  M.  Gordon,  retired  farmer,  Biggsville,  was  born  in  North 
Carolina  April  15,  1809.  His  father,  George  Gordon,  was  a  native  of 
the  Scotch  Highlands  and  emigrated  to  the  United  States  prior  to  the 
revolutionary  war.  He  finally  settled  in  North  Carolina,  whei'e  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Flora  McKaskill,  who  was  also  of  Scotch  ancestry, 
and  with  whom  he  usually  conversed  in  Gaelic  tongue.  They  became 
the  ]3arents  of  a  large  family,  with  whom  they  removed  to  the  State  of 
Georgia  in  1818,  wdience  their  son  Daniel  removed  to  Illinois  in  1837; 
he  first  settled  in  Oquawka,  where  he  remained  about  two  years 
engaged  in  the  business  of  his  trade  (that  of  tailor).  While  here,  in 
1838,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Jane  P.  Magaw.  The 
consolation  of  lier  companionship,  encouragement  and  help  only 
lasted  ten  short  years,  when  she  died,  leaving  him  with  three  children 
to  finish  rearing,  which  he  honorably  did,  remaining  unmarried  the 
following  twenty  years.     In  1839  Mr.  Gordon  left  the  little  trading 


1362  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

post  of  Oquawka  and  bought  land  near  where  Caloma  now  stands,  and 
remained  there  farming  till  1S5(»,  when  he  sold  and  again  bought  land, 
sold  and  bought  his  present  farm  on  Sec.  4,  T.  10  X.,  R.  4  W.,  and  in 
1851  permanently  located  on  the  same,  and  continued  to  reside  there 
till  1870,  when  he  retired  to  his  pleasant  little  home  in  Biggsville. 
September  1,  1868,  he  married  Mrs.  Rachel  Graham,  a  daughter  of 
David  W.  Davis,  a  native  of  Augusta  county,  Virginia,  who  emigrated 
to  Ohio  in  1820  and  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  in  1833.  Mr. 
Gordon's  three  children,  John  A.,  Sarah  A.  and  Mary  E.,  are  still 
living.  Sarah  A.  is  now  the  wife  of  John  Millen  and  Mary  S.  is  now 
Mrs.  Harper  Maley. 

William  McMillan,  M.D.  (deceased),  of  Biggsville  township,  was 
born  on  July  6,  1803,  in  York  county,  South  Carolina.  His  parents 
were  natives  of  this  state,  and  there  his  father  fought  during  the  revo- 
lutionary wai'.  Inspired  witli  an  earnest  love  for  knowledge,  he  spent 
his  early  youth  seeking  to  obtain  a  thorough  education,  and  having 
chosen  medicine  as  his  profession  he  took  one  course  of  lectures  in 
Charleston  prior  to  his  emigration  to  Henderson  county  in  1836. 
After  remaining  in  this  county  one  year  he  went  to  Cincinnati,  where 
he  completed  his  medical  course,  returning  to  Henderson  county  in 
the  spring  of  1837.  From  this  time  Dr.  McMillan  continued  actively 
in  the  practice  of  his  profession  for  many  years  up  to  1861,  when 
he  became  deaf  and  partially  blind  through  excessive  labors  and 
exposure  in  behalf  of  his  fellows.  For  many  years  he  was  the  only 
doctor  for  miles  around,  and  he  used  to  ride  all  over  Henderson 
and  Warren  counties,  and  often  into  Mercer  and  Hancock.  For  a 
large  amount  of  his  work  he  received  no  compensation,  doing  it  as  a 
work  of  charity  and  labor  of  love.  To  many  of  his  poorer  patients 
who  were  sick  and  disheartened  he  used  to  bring  medicine,  accom- 
panied it  with  some  little  gift,  and  on  going  away  would  leave  a  receipt 
in  full  for  his  services.  During  many  years  he  was  the  only  physician 
in  the  county,  and  as  he  was  a  noble,  courteous  gentleman  and  a 
thorough  christian  man,  his  influence  for  good  is  beyond  all  liuman 
measurement.  His  wife,  formerly  Elizabeth  Graham,  daughter  of 
Marcus  Graham,  died  in  1861.  Though  they  had  no  children,  yet 
their  home  was  always  fllled  with  youthful  faces,  as  they  adopted  two 
children  and  had  for  many  yeai's  a  brother's  orphan  children  in  their 
home.  As  a  fitting  reward  for  his  labors,  the  people  of  the  county  once 
sent  Dr.  McMillan  to  the  legislature,  where  he  did  the  county  good 
service.  On  May  27,  1836,  at  the  second  communion  of  that  church, 
Dr.  McMillan  united  with  the  South  Henderson  United  Presbyterian 
church,  in  connection  with  which  he  remained  up  to  the  time  of  his 


FRANKLIN    GALBF?AITH, 


BIGGSVILLE    TOWNSHIP.  1365 

deatli,  wliicli  occnrred  on  November  20,  1881.  His  j^roperty  was 
willed  to  his  brother  James'  children,  over  whom  he  had  oversight  for 
many  years.  As  a  self-made,  genial  man.  Dr.  Mc^NEillan  was  almost 
universally  beloved.  Further  account  of  him  may  be  found  on  another 
page. 

Prominent  among  the  enterprising  farmers  of  Biggsville  may  be 
mentioned  Mr.  Samuel  Stewart.  He  was  born  in  Belmont  county, 
Ohio,  March  8,  1833.  His  parents  were  James  S.  and  Jane  (Gibson) 
Stewart,  both  natives  of  York  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  born  in  1808 
and  1800  respectively.  The  former  died  in  Belmont,  Ohio,  June  15, 
1842,  and  the  latter  in  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  in  March,  1860. 
Samuel,  like  his  father,  was  reared  a  farmer,  and  early  in  life  learned 
those  principles  of  industry  and  economy  so  characteristic  of  his 
Scotch-Irish  ancestry.  He  was  the  third  son  and  favorite  of  the  fam- 
ily, and  after  the  death  of  his  father  on  him  devolved  the  task  of  man- 
aging the  farm  and  caring  for  the  family.  In  April,  1854,  he  removed 
to  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  bought  land  in  Sec.  33,  T.  10,  R.  4,  and 
there  permanentl}'  located  and  successfully  engaged  in  farming  and 
stock  raising.  To  his  iirst  80-acre  purchase  he  has  kept  adding  till  he 
is  now  the  owner  of  a  tine  farm  of  320  acres,  the  most  of  which  has 
been  earned  by  his  own  intelligent  industry.  March  26,  1856,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Eliza  Pankin,  a  daughter  of  James  and  Elizabeth 
(Brown)  Rankin.  She  was  born  in  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  May 
30,  1837.  They  are  the  parents  of  eleven  children,  whose  names,  in 
the  order  of  their  birth,  are:  James  C,  who  died  at  the  age  of  eight 
years,  Margaret  J.,  Jane  A.,  AVilliam  A.,  Elizabeth  C,  John  C,  Mai'v 
E.,  Francis  M.,  Charles  P.,  Palph  B.  and  Dulcie  L.  They  are  mem- 
bers of  the  United  Presbyterian  church,  and  for  many  years  Mr.  Stewart 
has  been  officially  connected  with  both  church  and  school  interests. 
His  father  and  youngest  brother  are  both  buried  in  one  coffin  in  the 
old  Unity  United  Presbj'terian  cemetery,  in  Belmont  county,  Ohio. 

SAituEL  G.  PLrM>[KR  (deccascd),  who  in  his  lifetime  was  an  hon- 
ored citizen  of  Henderson  county,  was  born  in  Pennsylvania,  June'l, 
1828.  Early  in  life  he  was  left  an  orphan,  and  in  about  1838  came 
with  Mr.  Samuel  Gordon  to  this  county.  He  was  married  on  September 
18,  1851,  to  Miss  Frances  M.  Martin,  a  daughter  of  Judge  Preston  Mar- 
tin, whose  sketch  api)ears  elsewhere  in  this  woi'k.  She  was  born  in 
Morgan  county,  Illinois,  January  5,  1832.  Mr.  Plummer  had  born  to 
him  six  beautiful  and  interesting  children,  and  enjoyed  the  full  fruition 
of  home  and  married  life  up  till  the  dark  days  when  treason  and  rebel- 
lion threatened  in  common  the  fair  homes  of  our  beloved  coimtry. 
He  soon  responded  to  his  countiy's  call  for  men,  and  enlisted  on  August 
77 


1366  HISTORY   OF   MERCER    AXD   HENDERSON    COt^NTIES. 

23,  1862,  in  Co.  K,  84tli  111.  Yol.  Inf.,  and  faitlifullv  supported  the 
flag  of  freedom  till  shot  down  at  his  post  in  the  battle  of  Stone  River, 
on  December  31,  1S62.  His  remains  were  brought  home  the  follow- 
ing May  by  Judge  Martin  and  buried  at  South  Henderson.  Mrs. 
Plummer  died  September  27,  1878.  Mr.  Plummer's  five  living  chil- 
dren are:  Samantha  E.,  wife  of  Chiles  S.  Harwood,  Eva  A.,  William 
S. ,  Ida  M.  and  Cora  R.  The  two  last  named  are  prominent  teachers  and 
ladies  of  rare  literary  attainments.  William  S.  is  now  on  the  old  home. 
Sec.  6,  T.  10,  R.  4,  engaged  in  farming.  He  was  born  Mav  24,  1855. 
Was  educated  in  the  common  schools  and  at  Davenport  Commercial 
College.  Was  married  on  March  20,  1877,  to  Miss  Harriet  Francis, 
daughter  of  William  and  Margaret  (Rankin)  Francis,  who  was  born  in 
Henderson  county,  Illinois,  May  6,  1853,  They  have  one  child:  Chiles 
P.  In  Mr.  Plummer's  possession  is  the  original  patent  for  their  land 
signed  by  President  Monroe.  The  Plummers  are,  in  faith,  education 
and  membership.  United  Presbyterians. 

Among  the  early  pioneers  of  this  county,  and  deserving  honorable 
mention,  no  name  stands  higher  than  James  C.  Hutchinson.  Mr. 
Hutchinson  was  born  in  Countv  Antrim,  Ireland,  in  the  vear  1790. 
Came  to  America  in  1811  and  passed  his  twenty-first  birthday  on  the 
Atlantic  ocean.  He  first  settled  in  the  State  of  New  Jersey,  where  he 
was  soon  after  united  in  marriage  with  the  noble  and  true  Miss  Sarah 
Dellamarter,  who  after  became  the  mother  of  his  six  sons  and  two 
daughters,  two  of  whom  (William  J.  and  Samuel)  were  born  in  the 
city  of  Paterson,  New  Jersey,  five  in  Harrison  county  and  one  in 
AVarren  county,  Illinois.  From  New  Jersey  Mr.  Hutchinson  removed 
to  Harrison  county,  Ohio,  in  1818,  where  he  followed  farming  and 
dealing  largely  in  cattle  till  1833,  when  he  with  his  family  emigrated 
to  Illinois,  landing  at  tlie  lower  Yellow  Banks  (Oquawka)  on  June  2. 
During  the  same  summer  he  located  a  claim  on  Sec.  1,  T.  10,  R.  4, 
where  he  and  his  sons  actively  engaged  in  making  hay  preparatory  to 
making  a  start  in  the  stock  business,  which  they  finally  succeeded  in 
building  up  to  immense  proportions.  During  their  first  summer  on 
the  prairie  the  bread  supply  became  exhausted,  and  finding  hay-making 
with  hand  scythes  and  rakes  without  bread  too  exhaustive  on  the 
physical  system,  Mr.  Hutchinson  went  with  a  team  to  Quincy  and 
purchased  a  load  of  flour,  which  answered  a  good  purpose  for  his 
family  and  the  neighbors  (three  within  several  miles).  In  the  fall  of 
the  first  year  of  his  settlement  here  he  was  induced  by  his  neighbors 
to  move  his  cabin  from  the  prairie  into  the  timber  to  avoid  freezing  to 
death  the  first  winter,  and  his  move  was  just  across  the  line  into  Sec.  36, 
T.  11,  R.  4,  into  a  friendly  little  grove,  w^here  he  lived  and  prospered 


BIGGSVILLE   TOWNSHIP.  1367 

as  a  fanner  §ind  stock  raiser  till  tlie  time*  of  liis  death,  in  1852.  The 
same  year  his  wife  and  one  daughter  was  laid  near  his  grave.  Samuel, 
his  second  son,  was  born  June  28,  1811,  and  begun  life  as  above 
stated.  In  1842  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Martha  A. 
Graham,  a  native  of  Todd  county,  Kentucky,  and  the  eldest  daughter 
of  William  M.  Graham,  Esq.,  who  emigrated  to  Henderson  county, 
Illinois,  in  183.5  ;  she  was  born  September  23,  1823.  Mr.  Hutchinson, 
since  his  advent  into  this  country  in  1833,  spent  his  life  up  till  the  fall 
of  1879,  on  and  near  his  first  location  in  Sec.  1,  T.  10,  R.  4,  and  Sec. 
36,  T.  11,  E.  4,  actively  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising,  and  so 
well  did  he  succeed  that  on  retiring  from  the  farm  he  was  able  to  wisely 
apportion  off  to  his  family  and  set  apart  to  his  own  nse  about  600 
acres  of  good  land.  During  his  residence  in  this  county  Mr.  Hutchinson 
took  an  active  part  in  its  business  affairs.  His  great  circular  wolf  hunt 
organized  and  carried  out  was  the  means  of  ridding  the  county  and 
its  early  settlers  of  a  number  of  these  audacious  and  sneaky  pests.  On 
that  occasion  many  more  scalps  might  have  been  taken  but  for  the 
excitement  created  over  the  twenty  or  thirty  deer  which  were  also 
surrounded.  Mr.  Hutchinson  affirms  that  he  brought  into  this  county 
the  first  combined  reaper  and  mower  that  did  successful  work  (though 
the  writer  was  informed  that  Seth  Oaks  was  the  first  to  introduce  that 
kind  of  a  machine  into  this  township  if  not  in  the  county).  In  1879 
Mr.  Hutchinson  moved  to  his  pleasant  home  in  Monmouth,  especially 
to  secure  needed  rest  for  his  wife.  His  children  are  :  Ellen  (deceased), 
in  her  lifetime  the  wife  of  Mr.  John  H.  McDougall ;  Sarali,  now  Mrs. 
William  Firoved  ;  Elizabeth  J.,  wife  of  Isaac  Woods;  Samantha  S., 
now  Mrs.  William  McCoy;  Mary  A.,  wife  of.  John  C.  Wallace,  and 
William  G.,  his  only  son,  now  on  the  old  home.  Mr.  Hutchinson  and 
family  are  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church,  and  he  is  a 
staunch  member  of  the  old  democratic  party. 

Isaac  McQuown,  son  of  John  Arthur  and  Harriet  (Duff)  McQuown, 
was  born  on  the  7th  of  September,  1821,  in  Washington  county,  Virginia, 
of  which  state  his  parents  were  natives.  His  forefathers  were  in  race 
Scotch-Irish,  in  laith  Presbyterian.  His  ancestors  on  his  father's  side 
came  over  some  one  hundred  years  before  the  revolutionary  war.  Mr. 
McQuown's  wife's  foreiatliers  came  over  from  Wales  about  tlie  time 
of  the  Mayflower,  and  by  many  it  is  thought  that  the  family  are 
descended  from  the  immortal  Hopkins  who  came  over  on  the  May- 
flower, an  honor  possessed  by  but  few.  When  Mr.  McQuown  was  but 
two  years  of  age  his  parents  emigrated  from  Virginia  to  Fayette  county, 
Indiana,  where  they  resided  for  thirteen  years ;  after  which  they  came 
in  1836  to  what  is  now  Henderson  county  and  settled  on  Sec.  30,  T.  10, 


1368  HISTORY    OF    MERCER    A>'^D    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

F\..  4.  At  this  time  there  w^s  but  one  liouse  between  hjs  home  and 
Monmouth.  Here  Mr.  McQuown  passed  his  earl}-  youth,  receivina; 
his  education  in  the  common  schools.  He  was  married  on  June  1, 
1848,  to  Miss  Rhoda  Hopkins,  daugliter  of  Jacob  Hopkins,  of  Boone 
county,  Indiana.  Of  this  marriage  seven  children  have  been  born,  of 
whom  five  ai-e  still  living, — two  having  died  in  childhood.  One  of 
his  two  sons,  Willison,  is  married  and  resides  in  Harvej  county,  Kan- 
sas. The  other,  Thomas  H.,  is  at  home  with  his  parents.  Two  of  his 
daughters,  Elizabeth  Harriet  and  Mary  Ellen,  are  now  married.  The 
former  to  Oliver  Spiser,  a  physician,  of  Evans,  Colorado  ;  the  latter 
to  Edward  McCloskey,  a  merchant,  of  Walton,  Kansas.  The  remain- 
ing daughter,  Sarah  F.,  is  now  (1882)  at  home  with  her  parents.  About 
seventeen  years  ago,  in  1865,  Mr.  McQuown  was  made  an  elder  of  the 
South  Henderson  United  Presbyterian  church,  which  ofhce  he  now 
holds  in  the  same  denomination  in  Biggsville,  where  his  family  are  now 
connected. 

Arthur  O.  McQui^wn,  Biggs^'ille,  son  af  Isaac  and  Ann  McQuown, 
natives  of  York  countj",  Pennsylvania,  was  born  on  September  4,  1803, 
in  Washington  county,  Yirginia.  His  family,  probably  of  Puritanical 
descent,  was  of  Scotch-Irish  race,  and  emigrated  to  America  at  a  very 
early  period  in  the  history  of  the  country,  his  grandfather  McQuown 
having  fought  in  the  battle  of  the  Brandy  wine.  It  might  almost  be  said 
that  Mr.  McQuown  began  life  without  an  education,  as  he  never  went 
to  school,  save  a  few  days,  before  leaving  Yirginia.  On  the  30tli  of 
September,  1824,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Xancy  S.  Smith, 
daughter  of  Henry  and  Mary  Smith.  Of  this  marriage  nine  children 
were  born,  of  whom  onlv  two  are  now  living.  His  dauachter,  Man- 
A.,  is  now  the  wife  of  A.  P.  Graham,  who  resides  near  Winterset, 
Iowa.  His  only  son,  Isaac  M.  McQuown,  is  at  home  and  has  charge 
of  the  old  homestead.  During  the  late  war  he  was  in  the  84th  111. 
Yols.,  Co.  K,  his  captain  being  L.  H.  Waters.  His  first  experience  of 
the  horrors  of  war  was  at  the  battle  of  Chickamauga.  During  the 
campaign  against  Johnson  and  Hood  he  was  on  continual  duty  up  to 
the  battles  of  Xaslndlle  and  Franklin.  On  the  24th  of  July,  1846. 
Mrs.  McQuown  died,  and  two  years  later,  on  April  11,  1848.  Mr. 
McQuown  married  Miss  Sarah  Allen,  of  Warren  county.  To  them 
was  born  but  one- child,  which  died  in  infancy.  Mr.  McQuown's  fore- 
fathers were  of  the  old  Presbyterian  stock,  and  his  family  are  now  in 
connection  with  the  United  Presbyterian  church  at  South  Henderson,  of 
which  church  he  lias  been  an  elder  for  more  than  thirty-two  years. 
The  writer  is  able  to  say  of  his  own  personal  knowledge  that  to  Mr. 


BIGGSVILLE    TOAVNSHIP.  1369 

McQuown  is  largely  due  the  credit  of  the  moral  success  and  prosperity 
of  this  part  of  the  county. 

George  Henry  Cowden,  farmer,  Biggsville,  was  born  in  Olena 
township,  in  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  Mayo.  1849.  Going  back  to 
a  period  in  the  history  of  this  county  when  Phelps,  of  Oquawka,  and 
McNeil,  of  Monmouth,  were  about  the  only  actual  (white)  settlers  here. 
The  Cowden  family  came  from  Ohio  and  settled  in  what  is  now  T.  9, 
R.  5,  two  miles  east  of  Olena.  The  family  consisted  of  William 
and  Elmira  (Day)  Cowden  and  their  children,  one  of  whom  was  George 
W.,  born  in  Preble  county,  Ohio,  April  10,  1827.  He  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Eunice  M.  Signor,  on  October  20,  1847.  She  was 
born  in  Lawrence  county,  Xew  York,  July  13, 1830,  and  came  to  Hen- 
derson county  when  it  was  but  sparsely  settled.  At  the  outbreak  of 
the  war,  in  1801,  he  was  among  the  lirst  to  rally  in  defense  of  his 
country's  ilag  and  enlisted  in  the  lOtli  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  and  was  discharged 
on  account  of  disability.  After  his  wound  was  healed  he  again 
enlisted. — this  time  in  Co.  K,  84th  111.  Vol.  Inf., — and  was  killed 
in  battle  at  Resaca,  Georgia,  August  20,  1864.  His  remains  were 
brought  home  and  interred  in  the  Watson  cemetery,  east  of  Olena, 
where  all  the  rest  of  the  deceased  of  the  family  now  repose.  His 
wife  preceded  him  to  the  grave  in  April,  1855.  George  H.,  our 
subject,  is  the  only  representative  of  the  family  now  living  in  Hender- 
son county.  '  His  education  was  principally  obtained  in  the  Soldiers' 
Orphans'  School,  at  Fulton,  Illinois.  April  6,  1871,  he  was  united  in 
marriage  with  Miss  Lizzie  J.  Graham,  the  daughter  of  David  and 
Elizabeth  (Brown)  Graham,  now  of  Monmouth,  Illinois.  She  was 
born  in  Biggsville  township,  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  February  8, 
1849,  and  graduated  from  MonmQuth  College  with  the  class  of  1870. 
Their  children  are:  Clara  G.,  Maggie  L.,  George  Glenn,  David  H. 
and  Elizabeth.  Mr.  Cowden  is  now  actively  engaged  in  farming  on 
his  fine  farm  on  Sees.  19  and  30,  T.  10,  P.  4. 

In  about  the  year  1843  Mr.  Paul  Salter  and  family  emigrated  to 
Henderson  county  from  the  old  oyster  btiy  of  New  Jersey,  where  he 
had  up  till  that  time  in  his  life  followed  the  vocation  of  lishing  and 
oyster  raising.  At  the  time  of  his  arrival  in  this  county  he  bought  a 
tract  of  800  acres  of  land,  of  John  McKinne}',  in  and  about  what  is 
now  known  as  Salter's  Grove,  locating  in  the  cabin  lirst  built  by  Mr. 
McKinney,  on  Sec.  25,  T.  10,  R.  4.  To  his  iirst  ])urchase  he  kept 
adding  till  he  became  the  owner  of  1200  acres  of  land.  This  honorable 
and  energetic  citizen  was  born  on  Staten  Island  September  11,  1788  ; 
was  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  1812.  After  his  eight  children  were  born 
in  New  Jersey  he,  with  his  wife,  Elizabeth  Cubberly,  and  their  children, 


1370  HISTORY    OF    MERCER   AKD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

removed  to  Ohio,  and  soon  after  to  this  county.  After  growing  old  in 
years  he  divided  his  large  estate  with  his  children  and  retired  to  pri- 
vate' life  in  the  village  of  Kirkwood,  where  he  died  in  1863.  John 
Salter,  his  second  son.  was  born  in  Xew  Jersey  August  21,  1815, 
between  Bergen  Point  and  Jersey  Citj^  where  he  spent  the  greater 
part  of  his  life,  as  did  his  father,  engaged  in  oyster  cultiire  and  fishing. 
In  1839  he  married  Miss  Jane  Vreeland,  also  a  native  of  ]^ew  Jersey, 
and  a  daughter  of  Henry  and  Lucinda  (Jerolman)  Yreeland,  of  Hol- 
land and  English  ancestry.  In  1855  they  removed  to  Henderson 
county,  Illinois,  and  settled  on  the  home  of  his  father,  where  he  still 
resides,  having  since  become  the  owner  of  that  part  of  the  old  home  on 
Sec.  25,  T.  10,  R.  4.  He  has  since  settling  here  carried  on  the  busi- 
ness of  farming  and  stock  raising.  He  also  owns  a  home  in  Kirkwood, 
where  he  contemplates  moving  in  the  near  future.  Of  his  eight  chil- 
dren seven  are  still  living  :  Eliza  J.  (now  Mrs.  Jacob  Akerman), 
Henry,  Lucinda,  Mary  A.  (wife  of  Thomas  Salker),  John,  Sarah  (wife 
of  Isaac  Mundorf),  Emma  (wife  of  John  Shook),  the  one  deceased  was 
Eachel  C,  who  was  drowned  while  skating  on  the  lake  at  Peoria  when 
thirteen  years  old.  Mrs.  Salter  is  a  worthy  member  of  the  Methodist 
Episcopal  church. 

Eli  W.  SanTH,  now  a  resident  of  Biggsville,  is  the  son  of  John  and 
Mary  (King)  Smith,  and  is  a  native  of  Fayette  county,  Ohio  ;  born 
October  19,  1830.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Yirginia  and  his  grand- 
father a  native  of  England.  He  emigrated  to  America  when  young, 
and  particijiated  in  the  great  struggle  for  independence  from  the  first 
battle  till  the  close  of  the  war  of  the  revolution.  He  was  wounded  at 
the  battle  of  Yorktown,  but  recovered  and  lived  to  the  ripe  old  age 
of  one  hundi'ed  and  four  years.  Eli  W.  was  reared  on  a  farm  and 
was  early  taught  that  industry  and  honest  labor  wei'e  essential  to 
success.  His  first  lessons  in  school  were  studied  in  a  log  cabin  into 
which  light  was  admitted  through  greased  ]3aper  pasted  over  an  open 
space  made  by  leaving  one  log  out.  The  seats  were  made  of  logs 
split  in  two  with  the  flat  side  turned  up.  Not  discouraged,  however, 
with  the  meager  advantages  that  surrounded  him,  he  pursued  his 
studies  and  had,  by  personal  efibrt,  quite  early  in  life  secured  an 
education  suflicient  to  teach  school,  and  began  at  a  salary  of  816  per 
month.  May  7,  1857,  he  married  Miss  Alice  Holmes,  a  daughter 
of  Jacob  and  Sarah  (Worden)  Holmes,  a  native  of  Fayette  county, 
Ohio,  born  May  6,  1836.  In  1865  he,  with  his  family,  removed  to 
Henderson  county,  Illinois,  and  settled  at  Biggsville.  Since  his 
residence  in  this  county  the  ]>eople  have  elected  him  to  the  position 
of  county  assessor  and  treasurer.    In  the  spring  of  1882  he  was  elected 


BIGGSVILLE    TOWNSHIP.  1371 

police  magistrate  of  Biggsville.     He  is  the  father  of  eleven  children, 
five  sons  and  six  daughters. 

Judge  Preston  Maktin,  a  retired  farmer  of  Biggsville,  was  born  in 
Bourbon  county,  Kentucky,  October  25,  1804.  Judge  Martin  emi- 
grated from  Kentucky  to  Morgan  county,  Illinois,  in  1S2S,  and  to  what 
has  since  been  organized  as  Henderson,  Illinois,  in  1836.  Mr.  Martin 
was  one  of  the  members  of  the  first  board  of  commissioners  elected  in 
this  county  after  its  organization.  He  was  twice  subsequently  elected, 
and  has  served  the  people  in  that  position  eleven  years,  reflecting 
credit  on  himself  and  on  the  good  judgment  of  those  who  elected  him. 
It  should  be  here  said,  that  during  the  judge's  connection  with  the 
county  as  commissioner,  the  questi(m  of  reissuing  the  old  surrendered 
railroad  bonds  issued  by  the  county  in  aid  of  the  proposed  (but  never 
built)  St.  Louis,  Warsaw  &  Eockford  railroad,  was  brought  before  the 
board  and  ably  advocated  by  the  friends  of  the  humbug  enterprise  and 
as  ably  opposed  by  Mr.  Martin.  He  is  a  son  of  William  and  Ann 
(Hopper)  Martin ;  his  grandfather  Martin  was  a  native  of  Ireland  and 
emigrated  to  the  colonies  of  America  before  the  revolutionary  war,  in 
which  he  took  part,  and  was  present  at  the  surrender  of  Cornwallis. 
The  latter  part  of  his  life  was  spent  in  Kentucky  where  he  died.  Our 
subject's  home  in  this  county,  and  where  he  spent  the  greater  part 
of  his  life,  was  on  the  S.  W.  J  of  Sec.  25,  T.  10,  K.  5.  In  1872  he  rented 
out  his  farm  and  retired  to  spend  his  declining  years  in  Biggsville. 
He  married  on  March  28,  1828,  Miss  Ann  Taylor,  a  native  of 
Alexandria,  Virginia;  she  was  born  February  28,  1803,  and  died  at 
Biggsville,  December  16,  1880.  They  were  members  of  the  United 
Presbyterian  church.  Their  children  are:  Benjamin  H.,  John  T., 
Prances  M.  (deceased),  William  P.  and  Charles  A.  (twins),  Robert  J., 
Andrew  W. ,  Mary  A. ,  wife  of  John  N.  Bruen ;  Margaret  J. ,  wife  of 
John  H.  Rice  ;  Sarah  A.,  wife  of  John  A.  McDill. 

Robert  A.  McKinley  is  another  example  of  the  success  of  poverty. 
Tlie  young  man's  life  was  obscure,  but  passing  years  presented  oppor- 
tunities which,  seized  and  improved,  has  made  life  a  success.  Robert  A. 
McKinley  was  born  May  6,  1831,  in  York  county,  Pennsylvania,  his 
parents,  Ste])hen  and  Jane  (Andrews)  McKinley,  were  natives  of 
Pennsylvania,  the  former  of  Scotch  descent  and  the  latter  the  daughter 
of  a  Scotchman  ;  both  were  born  in  1801.  Stephen  McKinley  served 
as  county  auditor  and  also  a  term  in  the  Pennsylvania  legislature.  He 
died  in  1879  preceded  by  his  wife  in  1876.  They  were  members  of  the 
Presbyterian  church.  Their  family  was  seven  children.  Robert  A. 
was  raised  amid  rustic  scenery  and  inured  to  country  toil.  His  educa- 
tional  advantages   were   limited.     In    1855   he   came   to   Henderson 


1372  HISTORY    OF   FIERCER   AJSTD    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

county,  Illinois,  and  engaged  to  work  by  the  niontli  near  Gladstone. 
He  was  industrious  in  his  toil;  began  threshing;  then  in  1856 
embarked  in  the  business  permanently.  In  1857  he  rented  a  farm. 
In  1863  or  1864  he  purchased  eighty  acres  south  of  Biggsville.  This 
has  improved  and  enlarged  into  his  present  farm  and  pleasant  home. 
He  was  married  January  21,  1858,  to  Mary  M.,  daughter  of  Samuel 
Michener ;  she  was  born  in  York  county,  Pennsylvania,  A])ril  25, 
1838.  Their  children  are  :  Mettie  K.,  wife  of  Willis  Gilmore  ;  Luella 
M.,  Maggie  I.,  Ella  M.,  Alice  A.,  Lizzie  M.,  Eobert  W.  and  Laura  B. 
Mr.  McKinlev  has  not  confined  his  labors  to  his  own  farm,  but  has 
been  active  in  public  affairs.  For  several  years  he  has  been  prominent 
in  the  fair  association ;  has  served  as  county  commissioner,  is  now  in 
the  thirteenth  year  of  service  as  justice  of  the  peace,  and  was  elected  to 
the  state  legislature  in  1880.  His  career  has  been  one  of  credit  to 
himself  and  satisfaction  to  his  constituents. 

Hon.  Paul  D.  Salter,  Kirkwood.  Perhaps  no  name  in  Hender- 
son county  can  justly  lay  claim  to  so  remote  antiquity  as  that  of  the 
Salters.  During  the  reign  of  Henry  VI,  in  1423,  there  lived  one 
William  Salter,  who  was  possessed  of  good  estate,  and  whose  ancestors 
had  resided  at,  and  were  the  Lords  for  over  two  hundred  years,  of  a 
manor  called  Bokenhamis,  in  Btigland.  Walter  Salter  must  have  lived 
during  the  reign  of  Pichard  III,  in  1482,  as  a  tablet  is  erected  to  his 
memory  at  the  upper  end  of  the  south  aisle  in  the  church  of  Totengen, 
in  the  county  of  Norfolk.  In  1524  Henry  Salter  was  one  of  the  sheriffs 
of  Norfolk.  In  1655  John  Salter  was  mayor  of  Norwich,  and  1663 
the  charter  of  the  said  city  of  Norwich  was  renewed  by  Charles  II, 
and  John  Salter  was  one  of  the  twenty-four  aldermen  appointed. 
December  31,  1670,  Bridget,  the  wife  of  Mathew  Salter,  died,  and 
the  writer  is  able  to  saj'  on  the  authenticity  of  history  that  she  became 
the  mother  of  twenty -two  children.  According  to  well  authenticated 
tradition  three  brothers,  shortly  after  the  accession  of  Charles  II  to 
the  throne  of  England  (jirobably  in  1664),  for  political  and  religious 
reasons,  came  to  this  country.  They  landed  at  or  near  Boston,  where 
one  remained  while  the  other  two  went  to  New  Jersey.  Of  these  one 
settled  in  Salem  county,  and  died  without  issue.  The  other  brother, 
Pichard  Salter,  the  youngest  of  the  three,  settled  at  Middletown,  in 
Monmouth  county.  New  Jersey,  and  became  the  founder  of  the  branch 
from  whom  sprang  a  long  line  of  noble  posterity  who  have  since  been 
prominent  in  American  history.  Also  back  to  this  illustrious  ancestor 
can  be  traced  the  lineage  of  Hon.  Paul  D.  Salte]-,  of  Henderson  county. 
He  is  the  seventh  son  of  Pev.  David  B.  Salter  wlio  is  now  (1882)  liv- 
ing in  Saltersville,  Hudson  county,  New  Jersey,  in  the  84th  year  of 


BIGG8VILLE   TOWNSHIP.  1373 

liis  age.  His  wife,  and  tlie  mother  of  Paul  D.  Salter,  was  a  cousin  of 
the  Hon.  Joel  Parker.  Her  maiden  name  was  Abigal  Parker.  Paul 
D.  was  born  in  Ocean  county,  New  Jersey,  but  was  reared  on  a  farm 
in  Hudson  county  (same  state)  near  Bergen  Point,  a  few  miles  fi'om  the 
city  of  New  York.  Thouo-h  reared  on  a  farm,  much  of  his  time  was 
occupied  in  oyster  raising  and  boating, — becoming  an  expert  in  the 
latter  to  the. extent  that  he  was  retained  as  a  pilot  in  New  York  Bay 
for  some  time.  January  1,  1853,  he  was  united  in  marriage  to  Miss 
Charlotte  J.  Matthias,  who  died  July  21,  1855,  and  was  buried  in 
New  York  Ba}'  cemetery.  She  was  a  sister  of  the  noted  African  mis- 
sionary, John  J.  Matthias.  Mr.  Salter's  second  marriage  was  with  Miss 
Sarah  E.  Edwards,  a  daugliter  of  David  and  Eliza  J.  (Bell)  Edwards, 
a  native  of  Belmont  county,  Ohio.  In  the  spring  of  1856  he  came  to 
Henderson  county,  Illinois,  and  soon  after  ])ermanently  located  on  his 
180-acre  farm  in  Sec.  21,  T.  10,  R.  1,  where  he  has  since  resided,  en- 
gaged in  stock  raising  and  farming.  Since  his  residence  in  this  county 
lie  has  had  the  honor  of  being  elected  by  the  people  to  the  twenty- 
ninth  general  assembly,  where  he  well  sustained  the  good  name 
already  established  by  his  worthy  ancestors.  It  is  a  fact  worthy 
of  note  that  while  in  the  legislature  he  introduced  and  had  passed 
a  bill  for  the  improvement  of  the  road  law  of  Henderson  county. 
He  was  also  appointed  and  served  on  the  following  committees: 
mines  and  mining,  fees  and  salaries,  and  roads,  highways  and 
bridges.  For  many  years  Mr.  Salter  was  the  president  of  the 
county  agricultural  society,  and  is  now  and  has  been  for  a  num- 
ber of  years  vice-president  of  the  Kirkwood  First  National  Bank; 
in  fact  takes  a  prominent  part  in  all  matters  of  a  public  character  in 
the  county.  He  has  an  interesting  family  of  seven  children,  whose 
names,  in  the  order  of  their  birth,  are:  William  E.,  David  P.,  Abbie 
B.,  John  N.,  Harriet  C,  Ernest  W.  and  Chalmer  N. 

David  Graham,  retired  farmer,  Monmouth,  for  many  years  a  pros- 
perous and  influential  farmer  of  Biggsville  township,  w^s  born  in 
Todd  county,  Kentucky,  in  April,  L821.  His  parents,  Mathew  and 
Jane  (Wilson)  Graham,  who  were  of  Scotch  ancestry,  were  born  in 
South  Carolina,  and  soon  after  their  marriage,  in  about  1806,  removed 
to  Kentucky,  where  their  ten  children  were  born.  In  1828  they 
removed  to  Preble  county,  Ohio,  where  they  settled  and  remained  till 
1836,  when  they  emigrated  to  Henderson  county,  where  they  perma- 
nently located,  and  remained  until  the  time  of  their  death.  Their 
honored  dust  now  reposes  in  the  South  Henderson  cemetery.  David, 
the  subject  of  this  notice,  by  coming  to  this  county  so  early  in  its 
settlement,  was  necessarily  deprived  of  the  advantages  of  much  school- 


1374  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   J^T)    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

ing,  and  had  to  be  content  with  wliat  he  could  obtain  in  the  Colona 
school  on  rainy  days.  His  first  ]3urchase  of  real  estate  was  a  quarter- 
section  in  Sec.  32,  T.  10,  R.  -i,  to  which  by  years  of  industry  and  honest 
toil,  aided  by  the  sound  judgment  of  a  prolific  mind,  he  kept  adding 
now  and  then  another  tract,  till  he  is  now  the  independent  owner  of 
over  800  acres  in  Henderson  county  and  400  acres  in  Warren  county, 
all  valuable  and  well  improved.  He  also  owns  a  pleasant  home  in 
Monmouth,  Illinois,  whither  he  removed  in  1867  for  the  double  pur- 
pose of  seeking  needed  rest  and  educating  his  family.  In  1846  he 
married  Miss  Elizabeth  Brown,  a  daughter  of  John  Brown,  Esq.,  of 
Little  York,  Warren  county,  Illinois,  who  has  been  to  him  a  valuable 
advisor  and  noble  hel]3mate.  They  are  the  parents  of  five  interesting 
children,  of  whom  they  have  a  just  reason  to  feel  proud.  Their  names, 
in  the  order  of  their  birth,  are:  Elizabeth  J.,  now  the  wnfe  of  Mr.  G. 
H.  Cowden,  Clara  C,  now  Mrs.  A.  G.  McCoy,  James  A.,  Minnie  L., 
wife  of  William  Brison,  and  Miss  Fannie  Mabel,  who  yet  remains  at 
home,  surrounded  with  all  that  wealth  and  refinement  can  furnish. 
James  A.,  who  now  resides  on  a  farm  just  west  of  Biggsville,  was 
born  in  this  county.  May  16,  1854 ;  was  principally  reared  on  the  farm, 
and  received  a  classical  education  at  the  Monmouth  College. 

Robert  Mickey,  though  not  an  early  settler  here,  dates  his  per- 
manent residence  back  to  spring  of  1861.  In  that  year,  on  February  14, 
he  married  Miss  Jane  Caldwell,  a  native  of  McMinn  county,  east 
Tennessee,  and  the  same  year  bought  a  farm,  ceased  traveling  and 
turned  his  attention  to  agricultaral  pursuits ;  but  only  for  a  short  time, 
for  as  the  dark  cloud  of  rebellion  and  treason  thickened  in  the  south 
there  was  a  call  for  men  to  form  the  84th  111.  Yol.  Inf.,  and  Mr. 
Mickey  responded  to  his  country's  call  and  became  a  member  of  Co.  K 
in  that  noble  regiment.  After  the  close  of  the  war  he  returned  to  his 
home  to  enjoy  with  others  the  fruits  of  a  country  saved.  In  1876 
he  sold  his  farm  and  returned  to  the  scenes  of  his  former  days  in 
California — a  desire  he  had  long  cherished,  but  things  had  so  changed 
there  that  he  almost  immediately  returned  to  Biggsville,  bought  back 
his  farm  and  has  so  far  contented  himself  as  an  humble  tiller  of  the 
soil.  He  was  born  near  Mansfield,  in  Ashland  county,  Olno,  June  7, 
1833  ;  came  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  in  1853,  and  engaged  with 
a  Mr.  Craig,  who  was  then  first  introducing  and  cultivating  in  this 
county  osage  orange  hedges.  He  also  aided  in  the  construction  of  the 
Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy  railroad  grade  through  this  townshi]). 
In  the  spring  of  1854  he  engaged  as  teamster  to  a  man  by  the  name  of 
Barns,  then  engaged  in  freighting  goods  from  St.  Josej)!!'  Missouri,  to 
Salt  Lake  in  wagons.     From  Salt  Lake  to  California  Mr.  Mit-key  with 


BIGGSVILLE.TOWNSHir.  1375 

a  few  others  made  his  way  on  foot,  where,  after  six  years  of  patient 
labor,  he  was  able  to  return  to  Illinois  with  $5,000  in  gold  as  his  reward. 
His  return  was  via  the  Isthmus  and  New  York.  Soon  after  his  return  to 
this  county  he  made  a  trip  to  Pike's  Peak  with  the  first  stage  through 
on  the  line  in  six  days  and  eleven  hours.  His  stay  there,  however, 
was  short  and  his  return  was  to  stay.  His  seven  children's  names, 
in  the  order  of  their  ages,  are  :  Dora  A.,  Sidney  A.,  Ida  M.,  Louis  P., 
Mary  E.,  Ethel  G.  and  Alice.  His  father,  Robert  Mickey,  was  of 
Scotch-Irish  parentage,  while  his  mother  was  of  German.  They  were 
natives  of  Westmoreland  county,  Pennsylvania,  and  died  near  Mans- 
field, Ohio.  In  1880  Mr.  Mickey  sold  a  part  of  his  farm  and  purchased 
property  in  Biggsville,  where  he  now  lives. 

Dr.  James  G.  Stewakt,  son  of  James  S.  and  Jane  (Gibson)  Stewart, 
was  born  in  Belmont  county,  Ohio,  May  3,  1831.  Tliough  his  educa- 
tional advantages  were  not  what  might  be  wished  for,  yet  they  were 
sufficient  and  well  improved.  In  the  fall  of  1850,  having  decided 
to  take  a  medical  course,  he  began  reading  with  Dr.  Josephus  Walker, 
of  St.  Clairville,  Ohio,  attending  lectures  at  the  Ohio  Medical  College,  of 
Cincinnati,  during  the  winters  of  1852-3  and  1854,  graduating  from 
that  institution  during  the  latter  year,  and  at  once  began  the  practice  of 
his  profession  at  Bridgeport,  Ohio.  The  next  year  he  went  to  Texas 
and  after  a  year's  practice  on  the  frontier  went  to  Keokuk,  where  he,  in 
company  with  his  eldest  brother,  opened  and  run  a  drug  store  about 
sixteen  months.  About  this  time  Kansas  was  rife  with  red-handed 
crime,  strife,  treason  and  rebellion,  known  as  "the  Kansas  war,"  and 
thither  young  Stewart  went  in  the  hope  of  being  in  some  way  able  to 
do  some  good  for  the  cause  of  humanity  and  civil  liberty;  while  tli ere 
he  formed  one  of  the  party  of  twelve  men  who  rescued  the  noble  Dr. 
John  D03'  from  prison,  where  he  had  been  incarcerated,  convicted  and 
condemned,  and  finally  sentenced  to  state's  prison,  for  the  crime  of 
lending  aid  to  slaves  in  their  efforts  to  escape.  On  the  day  that 
Kansas  was  admitted  as  a  state  to  the  Union,  Stewart  came  to  Hender- 
son county  (where  his  nearest  friends  then  lived  and  where  he  had  been 
in  1850  -with  a  view  to  settling),  and  soon  after  went  to  Burlington, 
Iowa,  where  he  offered  his  services  to  his  country,  but  not  being 
accepted,  went  to  Oquawka  and  enlisted  in  Co.  F,  Kltli  111.  Vol.  Inf., 
and  was  mustered  into  the  United  States  service  Mav  24,  18(11,  as 
second  lieutenant.  He  followed  the  fortunes  of  war  till  after  the 
battle  of  Mission  Ridge,  when  disabiHty  from  camp  life  and  hardships 
prostrated  him  and  he  resigned  with  a  first  lieutenant's  commission. 
November  9,  1865,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Maria  L. 
Pogue,  the  daughter  of  John  Pogue,  Esq.,  of  this  county  ;  she  was  bom 


1376  HISTOKV    OF   jVIERCER   AlSrp    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

February  20,  1842,  in  AValnut  Grove  township.  In  1866  the  doctor 
quit  the  practice  of  medicine  and  turned  his  attention  to  farming,  wliich 
was  more  in  taste  witli  his  feelings  than  tiie  practice  of  his  profession. 
In  1870  he  bred  and  i-aised  thoroughbred  short-horns,  principally 
of  the  Yoimg  Mary  family.  He  is  now  residing  on  his  comfortable 
farm  on  Sec.  22,  T.  10,  E.  4.  He  has  five  children,  as  follows  :  Henry 
W.,  Jane  E.,  John  P.,  Samuel  F.  and  an  infant. 

Andrew  G.  Graham,  Biggsville,  postmaster,  was  born  January  6, 
1847,  in  Clinton  county,  Missouri.  When  he  was  about  the  age  of 
three  years  his  mother  died,  and  when  he  was  five  years  old  his  father 
went  to  California.  His  early  education  was  of  a  necessity  much 
neglected,  though  to  some  little  extent  he  did  attend  a  pioneer  school 
in  his  native  state.  In  1858  Mr.  Graham  came  to  Henderson  county, 
and  in  November,  1861,  when  a  little  less  than  fifteen  years  of  age, 
enlisted  in  Co.  H,  11th  111.  Cav.,  Col.  R.  G.  Ingersoll.  He  partici- 
pated in  the  battles  of  Shiloh,  second  battle  of  Corinth,  Grierson's 
raid,  and  the  pursuit  of  Forrest ;  but  the  most  desperate  contest  ever 
engaged  in  was  at  the  battle  of  Lexington,  Tennessee,  where  the  brave 
Col.  Ingersoll  was  captured.  At  the  end  of  two  years'  service  he  came 
home  on'  veteran  furlougli,  and  after  a  short  stay  returned  to  do  fur- 
ther service  for  his  country  if  it  was  required.  Under  the  gallant 
leader  of  the  11th  111.  Cav.  our  hero  did  much  active  service,  which  it 
is  not  possible  here  to  note  ;  suffice  it  to  say  that  he  was  honorably  dis- 
charged on  account  of  disability  after  faithfully  serving  his"  country 
nearly  four  years,  and  is  now  (1 882)  in  confined  constantly  to  his  bed  from 
the  eftects  of  ailments  contracted  while  in  the  army.  After  his  return 
home  he  (in  a  small  way)  engaged  in  farming,  but  in  1872,  on  account 
of  his  health  entirely  breaking  down,  he  removed  to  Biggsville,  and  was, 
in  March,  1876,  commissioned  postmaster.  December  16,  1869,  he  was 
married  to  Miss  Martha  C.  Francis,  the  daugliter  of  Mr.  Alexander 
Francis ;  she  was  born  in  Ohio,  March  16,  1849,  and  came  to  Hender- 
son county,  Illinois,  in  1850.  They  have  two  children,  Frank  M.  and 
Charles  I.     They  are  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  church. 

William  B.  Graham,  farmer  and  stock  raiser,  Biggsville,  was 
born  in  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  January  9,  1842.  His  father, 
Andrew  Graham,  was  born  in  Kentucky,  removed  (when  quite  young) 
with  his  parents  to  Preble  county,  Ohio ;  thence  he  emigrated  to  Hen- 
derson county,  Illinois,  and  settled  on  Sec.  7,  T.  10,  R.  4,  with  his 
brother-in-law  (Samuel  McDill)  in  August,  1835.  In  1841  he  was 
united  in  marriage  witli  Miss  Rachel  A.  Davis,  a  daughter  of  David  W. 
Davis,  who  came  to  this  county  in  1833.  He  procured  the  first 
marriage  license  issued  in  Henderson  county.     He  died  in  1848,  at  the 


BIGGS^TtLLE    TOWNSHIP.  1377 

age  of  forty-one  years.  His  wife  (now  Mrs.  Daniel  Gordon)  and  three 
children  suryiye  him.  William  B..  the  eldest  sou,  is  now  on  the  old 
hornet  successfully  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising.  His  educa- 
tion was  mostly  receiyed  in  the  common  schools  of  this  county's  early 
history,  though  it  was  extended  by  a  few  terms  at  Moumouth  and 
Oquawka.  He  has  been  twice  married  :  first,  on  August  8,  1 864.  to 
Miss  Martha  McDill,  daughter  of  Robert  McDill.  who  died  October 
18,  1875 ;  and  again  on  January  17,  1878,  to  Margaret  Wallace,  the 
daughter  of  Dayid  AVallace  ;  she  was  born  in  Ohio.  May  23, 1839,  and 
came  to  Henderson  county  in  1868.  His  children  are:  Mary  F.. 
Robert  A.  and  William  W.,  by  his  first  wife,  and  Ross  W..  by  his 
second  wife.  They  are  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church, 
and  since  1870  he  has  been  an  elder  in  the  same.  On  his  farm  he  has 
erected  a  yery  substantial  stone  residence. 

James  Moxtckoiery,  grain  dealer.  Biggsyille,  was  born  in  Xoble 
county.  Ohio.  August  18,  1818.  His  parents  were  Joseph  and  Eliza- 
beth (McRobei'ts)  Montgomery,  the  latter  of  whom  died  when  James 
was  scarcely  three  years  old.  At  the  age  of  thirteen  he  was  left  alone 
and  an  orphan  by  the  death  of  his  father.  At  the  tender  age  of  fourteen 
he  packed  his  scanty  wardrobe  and  alone  started  for  Illinois,  where  he 
hoped  to  find  a  widowed  sister,  then  residing  in  Mercer  county,  that 
state.  On  reaching  Galesburg  his  money  was  all  gone,  and  from  there 
he  continued  his  journey  on  foot,  but  was  soon  oyei'taken  by  night  and 
hunger.  Stopping  at  a  farm  house  he  was  kindly  taken  in  by  the 
good  farmer,  who  in  the  morning  directed  him  on  his  way  to  Mercer 
county,  where  he  found  his  sister.  Soon  after  reaching  ^Nfercer  county 
he  found  employment  on  a  farm,  making  that  his  business  summers  and 
attending  schools  winters  till  the  age  of  twenty,  when  he  completed  his 
education  with  a  college  course  at  Monmouth.  After  completing  his 
education  Mr.  Montgomery  deyoted  his  time  to  teaching  till  the  spring 
of  1882,  when  engaged  in  the  buying  and  shipping  of  grain  at  Biggs- 
yille. October  5,  1875,  he  marned  Miss  Celia  B.  Wallace,  a  natiye  of 
Guernsey  county,  Ohio,  born  ^Js^oyember,  1849.  She  came  to  Henderson 
county  in  1870  with  her  parents,  who  settled  on  a  farm  two  miles  south 
of  Biggsyille  :  she  was  also  a  student  for  two  years  at  Monmouth  Col- 
lege. They  are  the  parents  of  three  children  :  Dayid  W.,  Emma  E. 
and  Fannie  (\;  a  comfortable  home  is  his  reward  for  industry. 

WiLLiA>t  E.  B.  Van  Tfyl,  farmer,  is  the  son  of  Isaac  and  Elizabeth 
A.  (Dayis)  Van  Tuyl.  and  was  born  in  Henderson  county.  Dlinois. 
September  5.  1858.  Like  his  fai^her  he  was  reared  a  farmer,  and 
during  his  early  youth  receiyed  a  good  common  school  education,  to 
which  he  continues  to  add  by  readinir  and  obseryation.     January  9. 


1378  HISTORY  OF  :m:ercer  akd  Henderson  counties. 

1878,  he  married  Miss  Hannali  M.  Wilkins,  daughter  of  Samuel 
"Wilkins,  whose  sketch  also  appears  in  this  chajjter;  she  was  born  in 
Jersey  City,  New  Jersey,  February  5,  1855.  To  them  is  born  one  son, 
Chester  W.  Mr.  Van  Tuyl  has  recently  purchased  a  farm  in  S.  W.  J  of 
Sec.  11,  T.  10,  R.  4:,  where  he  is  now  engaged  in  farming.  His  parents, 
with  their  family  of  twelve  children,  removed  from  Dayton,  Ohio,  to 
Henderson  county,  Illinois,  in  the  fall  of  1855,  and  for  many  years 
engaged  in  farming,  and  became  well  known  in  this  county  as  a  man  of 
true  worth,  honor  and  strict  business  principles.  A  few  years  ago  he 
removed  to  near  Kirkwood,  in  Wan-en  county,  where  he  died  in 
October,  1880.  His  estimable  wife  still  survives  him  and  resides  at  the 
old  home.     As  the  name  indicates,  they  are  of  German  ancestiy. 

John  R.  Foster,  farmer  and  fruit  grower,  Biggsville,  was  born  in 
Henderson  county,  Illinois,  December  17,  1844,  and  is  the  son  of 
William  and  Jane  (McDill)  Foster,  early  settlei's  of  this  county.  His 
education  was  principally  obtained  in  the  common  schools  of  his  boy- 
hood day,  linishing  with  a  few  terms  at  Monmouth  College  and  one 
term  at  Bryant  &  Stratton's  Business  College,  at  Chicago.  His  first 
start  in  business  was  at  merchandising,  at  Biggsville,  as  a  partner  with 
Mr.  John  McDill.  Two  years  in  this  line  was  sufficient  to  convince 
him  that  farming  was  more  to  his  taste  and  at  the  same  time  more  cer- 
tain, and  accordingly  he  sold  out  and  turned  his  attention  in  that  direc- 
tion. August  21,  1867,  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Lorina 
Campbell,  a  daughter  of  William  Campbell,  D;D.  She  was  born  in 
Henry  county,  Iowa,  August  31,  1842,  and  was  left  without  a  mother 
when  three  months  old.  They  are  the  parents  of  three  cliildren,  as 
follows:  Mary  A.,  William  H.  and  Robert  S.  In  1875  he  located  on 
his  farm,  where  he  is  building  up  for  his  family  a  pleasant  and  tasty 
home ;  and  it  is  only  a  matter  of  time  when  Larch  farm  will  be  one  of 
the  most  beautiful  in  that  part  of  the  township.  Thanks  for  the  care 
and  advice  of  an  intelligent  wife. 

Samuel  Wilkins,  another  of  our  country's  noble  dead.  Mr. 
Wilkins  was  born  in  New  Jersey,  October  2,  1827.  When  but  four 
years  old  his  father  died,  and  he  was  left  entirely  an  orphan  at  the  age 
of  eight  years'  by  the  death  of  his  mother.  He  was  then  taken  by  a 
friend  to  the  country  and  remained  on  a  farm  till  eighteen  3'ears  of  age. 
He  then  learned  the  trade  of  mason  and  principally  followed  the  busi- 
ness through  life.  January  9,  1849,  he  married  Miss  Harriett  P.  Wor- 
den,  a  native  of  New  Jersey,  born  March  26,  1828.  After  his  mar- 
riage Mr.  AVilkins  went  to  Philadelphia,  where  he  resided  till  1854, 
when  he  removed  to  New  York,  and  in  1857  to  Henderson  county, 
Illinois.     Here  he  turned  his  attention  to  farming  till  1862,  when  he 


BIGGSVILLE    TOWNSHir.  1379 

enlisted  in  Co.  K,  84tli  111.  Vol.  Inf.,  where  he  faithfully  served  his 
country  till  he  was  killed,  at  the  battle  of  Stone  river,  December  31, 
1803.  The  May  following  his  remains  were  brought  home  and  in- 
terred at  Salter's  Grove.  Besides  his  wife  he  left  tive  children  to  mourn 
his  early  death.  The  children  are:  Worden  J.,  now  on  a  farm  at 
Elliott,  Iowa;  Hannah  M.,  now  Mrs.  William  E.  B.  Van  Tuyl;  Mary 
E.  and  Susan  E.,  at  home,  and  Abram,  now  an  operator  at  Minneapo- 
lis, Minnesota. 

John  McKee,  druggist,  Biggsville,  was  born  in  Ilillsboro',  County 
Down,  Ireland,  November  21,  1837.  On  April  26,  1857,  he  left  his 
native  home  for  America,  where  he  hoped  by  hard  work  and  industry 
to  gain  what  he  has  already  realized,  a  comfortable  home.  His  pas- 
sage occupied  one  month  and  was  made  on  the  sailing  vessel  Neptune, 
commanded  by  Capt.  Peabody.  After  landing  in  New  York,  on  May 
26,  he  came  at  once  to  Knoxville,  Illinois,  where  he  remained  a  few 
days  with  an  uncle,  John  Sloan.  He  then  came  to  Biggsville,  Hen- 
derson county,  Illinois,  and  engaged  as  farm  laborer  one  year, — the 
next  year  farming  for  himself.  By  this  time,  having  saved  a  little 
means,  he  built  a  small  store  in  Biggsville,  near  the  depot,  and  for  a 
short  time  engaged  in  business  there  ;  then  sold  out  and  built  the 
building  on  lot  6,  now  owned  and  used  as  a  hotel  bv  Mr.  J.  M.  Mich- 
ener.  In  1878  he  bought  a  tract  of  land  and  laid  out  what  is  known 
as  McKee's  addition  to  Biggsville,  and  the  same  year  built  the  large 
store  building  now  owned  and  occupied  by  Mr.  G.  W.  Holmes,  on  lot 
1,  block  3.  The  next  year  he  built  another  commodious  store  and  in 
it  engaged  in  the  drug  business.  In  1882  he  is  enjoying  a  successful 
and  prosperous  trade,  which  is  the  sure  reward  of  untiring  energy  and 
straightforward  business  principles.  September  9,  1868,  he  was  mar- 
ried to  Miss  Mary  Sloan,  the  daughter  of  James  Sloan  and  native  of 
Canada,  born  March  19,  1850,  on  Amherst  Island,  and  came  with  her 
parents  to  Illinois  in  1862.  Thej^  are  the  parents  of  six  children,  as 
follows :  John  W. ,  Julia  A. ,  F.  Frederick,  Henrietta,  Ralph  and  Jessie. 
His  father,  who  was  huntsman  to  Lord  Downshire,  died  in  1865.  His 
mother  came  to  the  United  States  in  1871:  and  is  now  (1882)  living  in 
Biggsville,  Henderson  county,  Illinois. 

Mr.  Abner  Short,  one  of  the  early  pioneers  of  Henderson  county, 
and  who  has  had  a  residence  here  for  more  than  half  a  century,  was  born 
in  Washington  county,  Kentucky,  in  1808.  In  1810  his  father  died, 
and  in  1816  his  mother  married  for  her  second  husband  Mr.  Samuel 
Jamison.  In  1819  the  entire  family  emigrated  to  Perry  county,  Indi- 
ana, where  they  resided  till  1830,  late  in  October,  when  they  again, 
impelled  with  a  pioneering  spirit,  moved  westward.     After  a  month's 


1380  HISTORY   OF   ]SrERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

iourneyina:  tliev  landed  in  Henderson  countv,  Illinois,  where  they  at 
once  set  about  preparing  a  rude  home.  Our  subject,  Abner  Short,  was 
among  those  who  worked  at  building  a  fort  for  the  protection  of  the 
few  white  settlers  from  the  merciless  savages,  who  in  1831-2  were 
threatening  a  war  of  extermination  upon  the  palefaces.  He  was  mar- 
ried April  25,  1833,  to  Miss  Virona  Ewing,  and  soon  after  settled  in 
T.  11,  K.  1,  on  Sees.  30  and  31,  where  he  at  one  time  owned  320  acres  of 
land,  earned  bj  hard  work  and  faithful  industry.  His  wife  died  in 
1863.  His  second  marriage  was  on  October  28,  1867,  with  Mrs.  Sarah 
B.  Jamison,  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Michael  Van  Tuyl,  a  native  of  Ohio,  born 
in  Warren  county.  May  13,  1821.  Mr.  Short  has  but  two  children 
living:  John  E.,  now  (1882)  in  ISTew  Mexico,  and  Mary  E.,  wife  of  Dr. 
D.  I.  McMillen,  of  Sunbeam,  in  Mercer  county-,  Illinois.  He  lost  one 
son,  William  G.,  who  was  in  his  counttry's  service  during  the  late  war. 
Mr.  Short  and  his  family  are  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
church. 

John  C.  Duncan,  farmer,  Biggsville,  is  a  native  of  York  county, 
Pennsylvania,  and  was  born  Mav  20,  1827.  His  earh'  vouth  was 
spent  on  the  farm.  At  the  age  of  eighteen  years  he  turned  his  atten- 
tion to  learning  the  trade  of  carpenter.  In  1856  he  came  to  Hender- 
son county,  Illinois,  and  for  a  number  of  years  followed  the  business 
of  his' trade,  building  some  of  the  best  buildings  in  this  and  Warren 
counties,  especially  in  Kirkwood.  In  1863  he  married  Miss  Margaret 
Duncan,  who  died  in  1873.  His  second  marriage  was  with  Margaret 
M.  Anderson,  a  native  of  York  county,  Pennsylvania.  By  this  union 
he  has  two  chileren:  John  W.  and  Jenrie  M.  In  1870  he  permanently 
located  on  his  present  home,  in  Sec.  21,  T.  10,  R.  4.  In  addition  to  this 
farm  of  80  acres,  he  owns  80  acres  in  Sec.  28  and  15  acres  of  timber 
in  Sec.  27  of  the  same  town.  His  father,  John  Duncan,  was  a  native 
of  Pennsylvania,  and  a  son  of  John  Duncan,  a  native  of  Ireland.  The 
latter  took  part  in  the  revolutionary  war  and  the  former  in  the  war  of 
1812.  Mr.  Duncan  and  wife  are  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian 
church,  of  Biggsville,  where  is  also  his  postoffice. 

Samuel  McDill  (deceased)  was  born  in  Preble  county,  Ohio, 
August  18,  1807.  His  father  and  grandfather  were  American  born 
and  his  great-grandfather  McDill  was  born  in  County  Antrim,  Ire- 
land. He  was  reared  on  a  farm  in  the  tall  timbers  of  his  native 
state,  and  early  in  life  acquired  all  the  characteristics  of  the  true 
pioneer.  He  was  a  natural  genius  and  well  fitted  to  fill  the  place  of 
true  neighbor  in  a  new  country.  Of  him  his  friends  and  acquaintances 
can  truly  say  for  truth  and  integrity  his  equals  were  few.  His  first 
marriage  was  on  October  12,  1830,  with  Martha  W.  Graham,  who  died 


BIGGSVILLE    TOWNSHIP.  1383 

a  few  years  after  their  emigration  to  Henderson  count}',  Illinois,  which 
was  in  August,  1835.  His  second  marriage  was  with  Miss  Nancy 
Findley,  on  December  14,  1842;  she  is  the  daughter  of  Alexander 
Findley,  and  was  born  in  Clark  county,  Indiana,  December  27,  1816. 
Soon  after  his  arrival  in  this  county  Mr.  McDill  l)Ouglit  land  and 
permanently  located  on  Sec.  T,  T.  10,  R.  4,  where  he  lived  till  the 
time  of  his  death,  October  6,  1866.  His  widow  and  daughter,  Ljdia 
A.,  still  reside  on  the  old  home  and  in  the  same  house  where  the 
former  has  lived  for  over  forty  3^ears.  She  was  among  the  first  settlers 
in  this  part  of  the  county  and  was  one  of  the  first  members  of  the  Old 
Associate  Reformed  church,  organized  in  South  Henderson.  Mr. 
McDill  lias  five  children  still  living  :  Rev.  Andrew  T.,  now  pub- 
lishing a  paper  in  Philadelphia,  and  Margaret  E.,  a  teacher  in  Mon- 
mouth, by  his  first  wife,  and  John  A.,  Lydia  A.  and  Martha  C,  by  his 
last  wife. 

Paul  D.  Gibb,  son  of  John  and  Agnes  (Robinson)  Gibb,  farmer 
and  stock  raiser,  Biggsville;  was  born  in  County  Antrim,  Ireland,  Janu- 
ary 25,  1829.  He  was  reared  principally  to  the  business  of  gardening 
and  enjoyed  but  a  limited  means  of  gaining  an  education.  On  March 
IT,  1850,  he  left  the  city  of  Belfast  for  America  and  reached  his  desti- 
nation (Biggsville)  on  May  25  of  the  same  3'ear.  He  at  once,  accord- 
ing to  a  previous  contract,  begun  work  in  the  mill  for  John  Biggs  for 
a  term  of  one  3'ear  ;  after  com]:)leting  his  first  year  he  engaged  for  three 
years  more,  after  which  he  begun  farming  on  wild  unimpro\ed  land  he 
iaought  in  Sec.  28,  T.  10,  R.  4.  This  farm  he  sold  and  in  1870  bought 
the  old  Ery  Marston  farm  in  Sec.  29,  T.  10,  R.  4,  for  which  he  paid  $60 
per  acre,  where  he  now  resides,  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising. 
December  29,  1863,  he  married  Miss  Mary  Stevenson,  a  native  of 
Belfast,  Ireland,  born  in  1845  and  emigrated  to  America  with  her  parents 
in  December,  1863.  They  are  the  parents  of  six  children,  as  follows  : 
Agnes  J.,  Elizabeth.  Mary,  Rosa  B.,  "William  J.  and  Ellen.  Mr. 
Gibb  is  one  of  the  prosperous  farmers  of  Henderson  county,  and 
although  he  begun  by  working  out  at  $14  per  month,  he  is  now  the 
independent  owner  of  260  acres  of  excellent  farming  land  besides  a 
large  amount  of  stock  and  other  securities.  Since  his  eighteenth  year 
he  has  been  a  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church.  He  is  a 
man  that  is  ever  ready  to  aid  in  any  enterprise  that  has  in  view  the  good 
of  society. 

John  R.  Boyi>  (deceased)  was  born  in  Irehmd  in  1S32.     When  he 

was  but  a  small  boy  he  emigrated  to  America  and  went  to  live  with  an 

uncle  (James  Redman),  with  whom  he  remained  till  he  grew  to  manhood. 

His  parents,   Robert  and  Eliza  (Redman)  Boyd,  were  also  natives  of 

78 


1384  HISTORY    OF    MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Ireland  and  lived  there  till  the  time  of  their  death.  April  2,  1857,  he 
was  united  in  marriage. with  Miss  Marv  A.,  daughter  of  Joseph  and 
Annies  Johnson,  who  were  natives  of  County  Tyrone,  Ireland ;  she  was 
born  in  York  county,  Pennsylvania,  May  2.5,  1840.  In  March,  1865, 
they  came  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  and  soon  after  bought  a  small 
farm  in  Sec.  34,  T.  10,  R.  4,  and  actively  engaged  in  farming.  He 
was  successful  and  soon  after  bought  more  land,  and  at  the  time  of  his 
death,  August  28,  1881,  he  owned  168  acres  of  good  land  ;  a  success 
»only  attained  by  faithful  labor,  industry  and  economy,  in  such  a  few 
short  years.  Besides  his  wife  he  leaves  an  interesting  family  of  five 
children,  whose  names,  in  the  order  of  their  birth,  are:  Robert  J., 
Joseph,  Eliza  A.,  John  A.  and  Maggie  L.  His  remains  were  interred 
in  the  Biggsville  cemetery,  and  is  mourned  as  a  true  friend,  a  kind, 
generous  father  and  devoted  husband. 

Miles  Gordon,  farmer,  Biggsville,  was  born  in  North  Carolina  in 
1813.  In  1819  his  parents  George  and  Flora  (McKaskill)  Gordon, 
removed  to  the  State  of  Georgia,  where  they  resided  till  1840,  when  they 
emigrated  to  Henderson  county.  Illinois.  Their  remains  now  rest  in 
the  cemeteiy  at  Little  York,  in  Warren  county,  Illinois.  He  was  born 
in  the  Highlands  of  Scotland,  and  she  (of  Scotch  parents)  in  the  State 
of  North  Carolina.  They  usually  conversed  in  the  Gaelic  language. 
Miles  was  first  married  to  Miss  Martha  E.  McLanahan,  who  died 
in  1850.  His  second  marriage  was  with  Mrs.  Kerren  H.  (McDill) 
McCrarey,  o7i  February  16,  1854.  Their  children  are  :  Flora  J.,  John 
E.,  Miles  O.  and  Robert  R.  On  March  16,  1854,  they  moved  on  their 
present  farm  in  Sec.  5,  T.  10,  R.  4,  where  he  is  now  engaged  in  farm- 
ing. They  are  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church  at  South 
Henderson.  Mr.  Gordon  was  early  settled  in  this  county  and  has 
lived  to  see  its  great  growth  and  prosperity.  Where  once  roamed  the 
deer  and  wolf  may  now  be  seen  fields  of  golden  grain  or  herds  of 
domestic  animals,  and  in  place  of  the  howl  of  the  wolf  or  screech  of  the 
panther  is  heard  the  toll  of  the  church  bell  or  shrill  whistle  of  the 
locomotive. 

John  R.  McQuown  (deceased)  was  born  in  Washington  county, 
Virginia,  March  16,  1828,  and  emigrated  with  his  parents,  Arthur  O. 
and  Nancy  (Smith)  McQuown,  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  in  1836. 
April  15,  1858,  he  married  Miss  Eliza  Best,  a  daughter  of  John  and 
Ellen  (McCollough)  Best.  She  was  "born  in  Albany,  New  York,  Sep- 
tember 7,  1834.  Her  parents  were  born,  reared  and  married  in 
County  Londonderry,  Ireland,  and  emigrated  to  America  in  1832. 
He  served  as  a  soldier  in  the  war  of  the  late  rebellion,  as  a  member 
of  the  91st  reg.  111.,  Vol.  Inf ,  and  died  of  disease  contracted  in  the 


BIGG8VILLE    TOWNSHIP.  1385 

army.  He  and  wife  are  buried  in  East  Olena  cemetery.  He  had  two 
sons,  also  in  the  hite  war :  John,  in  Co.  E,  10th  ID.  Vol.  Inf.,  and 
James  in  the  50th.  Noble  are  they  who  give  up  their  lives  to  the 
preservation  of  their  adopted  country.  Mr.  McQuown  through  life 
followed  the  humble  but  honorable  vocation  of  farmer,  and  for  many- 
years  previous  to  his  death  resided  on  his  farm  in  Sec.  1,  T.  9,  K.  5, 
where  his  bereaved  widow  and  family  still  live.  He  died  July  20, 
1881,  and  was  buried  in  South  Henderson  cemetery.  His  children 
are:  Andrew  G.,  Nancy  E.,  Sarah  F.,  Arthur  O.,  Harry  R  and 
Mary  E.  To  them  and  his  devoted  wife  he  left  a  farm  of  250  acres. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church  and  a  consistent 
christian  gentleman. 

Adam  Sloan  (deceased),  one  of  the  early  settlers  of  Biggsville,  was 
born  in  County  Antrim,  Ireland,  October  '22,  1825.  He  was  the 
fifth  son  of  James  and  Mary  (Beck)  Sloan,  who  were  also  natives  of 
Ireland.  In  181:7  he  emigrated  to  the  Province  of  Ontario,  Canada,, 
and  while  there  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Nancy  Scott.  In 
the  spring  of  1850  they  removed  to  Biggsville,  Henderson  county, 
Illinois,  and  purchased  a  forty-acre  farm,  now  within  the  corporate  limits 
of  the  town.  To  this  little  home  he  kept  adding  till  he  owned  360 
acres.  In  1852  death  claimed  his  wife  and  only  child.  His  second 
marriage  was  on  June  19,  1862,  to  Miss  Jane  Baggs,  a  native  of 
County  Antrim,  Ireland,  born  near  Belfast  in  1831.  This  marriage 
was  contracted  while  she  was  yet  in  her  native  land,  whence  she  came 
in  the  spring  of  1862,  landing  in  Biggsville  June  8.  Mr.  Sloan  bid 
fair  to  become  wealthy,  and  was  owing  but  a  few  deferred  payments 
on  his  real  estate  in  the  winter  of  18T7,  when  he  was  taken  with  a 
severe  cold,  which  brought  on  lung  fever,  resulting  in  death  January 
21,  1877.  Besides  his  wife  he  left  six  children,  as  follows  :  Thomas  W., 
James,  Henderson,  Adam,  Nancy  and  Mary  J.  Mrs.  Sloan's  father 
(a  poet  of  some  considerable  note)  died  at  his  home  in  Belfast.  Her 
mother,  who  emigrated  to  Illinois,  died  in  Biggsville  in  April,  1877. 

Isaac  Thomas,  an  industrious  and  successful  farmer  of  T.  11, 
R.  4,  was  born  in  Nelson  county,  Kentucky,  December  25,  1820. 
His  parents  were  Eliezer  and  Ann  (Garrett)  Thomas.  The  latter  died 
of  Asiatic  cholera  in  1832,  and  the  former  died  in  1837  from  the  effects 
of  poison  at  the  hands  of  his  physician.  Mr.  Thomas  followed  farm- 
ing and  flat-boating  in  his  native  state  till  18'1:5,  when  he  came  to 
Illinois.  After  coming  to  this  state  Mr.  Thomas  for  a  number  of 
years  worked  at  anything  that  would  make  an  honest  dollar,  some- 
times splitting  rails  for  thirt}^  cents  per  hundred,  or  worked  for  even 
$4  per  month.     So  he  worked  and  so  he  saved  till  he  was  able  to 


138(>  insTOKv  (JF  iiERCEK  .vND  hendp;rson  counties. 

purchase  sixty  acres  of  land  in  Sec.  31,  T.  11,  R.  4.  On  this  he  per- 
manently settled  in  1860.  To  his  first  purchase  he  soon  after  added 
more  land,  and  is  now  comfortably  settled  on  a  ffood  farm  with  his 
wife,  Ann  M.  AVinslow,  to  whom  he  was  married  in  1855,  and  his  four 
.interestini;'  children:  William  K.,  Emma  B.,  Anna  M.  and  Laura  Eva. 
Mr.  Thomas  and  wife  are  members  of  the  Baptist  church,  he  having 
joined  before  he  left  his  native  state. 

Hugh  B.  Beyjstolds,  farmer,  Biggsville,  son  of  Thomas  and  Eliza- 
beth (Milligan)  Beynolds,  was  born  in  Xorth  Carolina  in  1812.  His 
father  being  both  a  farmer  and  miller,  he  was  reared  and  trained  to 
both  branches  of  these  industries.  Though  his  education  was  only 
such  as  the  pioneer  log-cabin  schools  would  afford,  he  has  by  reading 
and  observation  become  well  posted  in  all  that  pertains  to  the  business 
of  agriculture,  which  he  now  follows.  In  1836  he  emigrated  to 
Warren  county.  Illinois,  and  for  a  number  of  years  engaged  as  a 
hand  at  farm  labor.  He  was  married  in  1845  to  Barbara  Gordon, 
a  daughter  of  George  and  Flora  (McKaskill)  Gordon,  who  died  Decem 
ber  7,  1809.  His  second  marriage  was  on  April  25,  1872,  with  Mrs. 
Sarah  McDill,  formerly  Miss  Sarah  McQuiston,  who  came  to  this 
•county  in  1853  from  Ohio,  where  she  was  born  February  1,  1832. 
3Ir.  Reynolds  lias  but  one  child,  Margaret  J.,  aged  nine  years,  Octo- 
ber 20,  1882.  l>v  her  former  marriage  Mrs.  Reynolds  has  an  only 
daughter.  Miss  Martha  E.,  who  still  resides  with  her  mother.  Her 
father,  James  C.  McDill,  was  the  eldest  son  of  Sanmel  McDill,  whose 
sketch  also  will  be  found  in  the  history  of  Biggsville  township.  He 
was  killed  June  19,  1864,  at  Kenesaw  Mountain,  on  the  skirmish  line. 
His  remains  were  brought  home  and  buried  in  the  South  Henderson 
cemetery  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church,  of  which  he  was  a  niem- 
ber.  Mr.  Reynolds  and  family  are  members  of  the  United  Presby- 
terian church. 

William  AYiegaxd,  farmer  and  stock  raiser,  Biggsville,  was  born 
Philipssthal,  Province  of  Hesse,  German}-,  August  15,  1828.  During 
his  early  voutli  he  learned  the  trade  of  blacksmith,  and  in  the  mean- 
time  to  some  extent  attended  school.  In  1848,  on  September  15,  he 
sailed  from  Bremerhaven  (on  the  ship  "Eliza,"'  commanded  by  Capt. 
Kohk)  for  America,  and  in  due  time  (without  incident)  landed  in  New 
York.  He  remained  in  York  state  till  the  following  autumn,  when  he 
removed  to  Illinois,  and  after  a  short  stay  at  Nauvoo  went  down  the 
river  to  St.  Louis,  Missouri,  and  there  worked  at  his  trade  till  1852, 
when  he  removed  to  Oquawka,  where  he  for  a  number  of  years  done 
n  very  successful  business  in  his  line.  In  1867  he  came  to  his  farm 
on  Sec.  Ki,  T.  10,  R.  4,  adjoining  the  village  of  Biggsville,  with   a 


BIGGS VILLE    TOWNSHIP.  1387 

view  to  doing  a  large  business  in  farming,  stock  raising,  feeding  and 
sliipping,  making  a  success  in  that  industry  for  several  years,  and  only 
wljen  disabled  by  a  broken  limb,  which  rendered  him  a  cripple  for 
life,  did  he  cease  active  operations  in  that  direction.  August  18,  1850. 
he  was  married  to  Elizabeth  Goempler,  a  sister  of  Peter  Goempler,  of 
Oquawka,  and  native  of  Germany.  They  are  the  parents  of  four  chil- 
dren, as  follows:  Minnie  L.,  wife  of  Edward  Fleigh ;  Christena,  wife 
of  Wilson  B.  Jamison ;  August  A.  and  William  A.  When  Mr.  Wie- 
gand  started  in  life  in  America  he  was  entirely  tlestitute  of  nicans, 
but  his  motto  was  to  work  for  whatever  he  could  get ;  so  he  began  by 
cutting  wood  for  three  bits  a  cord.  In  St.  Louis  he  worked  at  heavy 
work  in  a  shop  for  $l-i  j)er  month,  and  finally  attained  to  independence. 
In  April,  1852,  while  working  on  a  steamboat  at  Pekin,  Illinois,  the 
boiler  exploded,  killing  every  man  (18)  on  board  but  himself  He 
was  thrown  into  the  water,  but  swam  ashore. 

WiixTAM  B.  Wallace  (deceased)  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1816, 
and  emigrated  to  what  is  now  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  when  this 
section  of  the  state  was  but  sparsely  settled.  He  first  located  in 
Ellison,  in  T.  9,  li.  -1,  with  his  father,  where  he  resided  for  a  number 

'  of  years.  March  27,  1815,  he  married  Miss  Ann  McFarland,  a  native 
of  Ohio.  In  1866  he  bought  a  farm  in  Sec.  23,  T.  10,  K.  4,  of  A.  Y. 
Graham,  onto  wliich  ha  moved,  and  there  continued  to  reside  till  his 
death  in  1873.  She  died  in  1880,  on  March  4.  Their  surviving  chil- 
dren are :  William  P.,  Nancy  J.,  wife  of  Frank  P.  Morton  ;  Martha  E.. 
John  M.,  Anson  G.  and  George  S.,  the  second  son,  who  was  born  in 
Ellison  February  15,  1818.  He  was  married  July  19,  1871,  to  Miss 
Elvira  Brouse,  a  native  of  Ohio  and  daughter  of  Charles  W.  Brouse, 
spoken  of  elsewhere  in  this  work.  To  them  since  their  marriage 
were  born  four  children :  William  W.,  Florence  M.,  Palph  A.  and 
George  W.  With  the  exception  of  four  years  spent  in  Iowa,  Mr. 
Wallace's  residence  in  Henderson  county  has  been  continuous.  His 
business,  like  that  of  his  father  before  him,  is  farming. 

James  E.  Ivxox  is  another  of  those  men  who,  ajthough  of  humble 
birth  and  rearing,  and  with  but  very  limired  means  of  gaining  an 
education,  has  by  industry,  economy,  and  the  aid  of  a  faithful  wife, 
not  only  succeeded  in  keeping  the  wolf  from  his  door,  but  has  made 
for  himself  a  good  property  in  real  estate.  He  was  born  in  AVayne 
county,  Ohio,  in  1833,  and  emigrated  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois, 
in  1854.  He  brought  with  him  to  this  county,  as  he  su])posed,  a  little 
money,  the  savings  of  a  few  years'  hard  labor,  but  soon  after  Ids 
arrival  learned  to  his  sorrow  that  wildcat  money  in   Fllinois  would  not 

«  even  buy  bread.      Aftei-  working  here  till  1856  he  went  to  Minnesota, 


1388  HISTORY    OF    MERCEE    AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

where  he  soon  after  bought  160  acres  of  kind.  In  1S51>  he  returned 
to  Henderson  county,  with  a  view  to  bettering  his  condition  as  to 
climate.  On  April  10,  1861,  lie  enlisted  for  one  hundred  days,  but 
was  at  once  enrolled  in  Co.  F,  16th  Hh  Vol.  Inf ,  for  a  term  of  three 
years.  In  1865,  in  Henderson  county,  on  January  5,  he  married 
Miss  Catharine  Caldwell,  a  native  of  east  Tennessee,  born  August  IT. 
1840.  After  his  marriage  Mr.  Knox  followed  farming,  as  a  renter, 
eight  years,  on  the  farm  of  Nathan  Jamison,  in  Bald  Bluff  town- 
ship, after  which  he  bought  land  in  T.  11,  R.  4,  where  he  now  owns 
480  acres.  Besides  buying  and  paying  for  this  fine  property,  he 
sufifered  the  loss  of  $1,000  worth  of  fat  cattle,  stolen  out  of  his 
])asture. 

Henry  L.  Kelly,  liardware  and  agricultural  dealer,  Biggsville,  was 
born  in  Windsor  county,  Yermont,  June  26,  1837.  In  1843  his  par- 
ents, Henry  H.  and  Susan  (Cox)  Kelley,  removed  to  the  State  of  New 
Hampshire,  where  they  engaged  in  hotel  keeping  till  1851,  when  they 
emigrated  to  Illinois.  They  first  settled  on  land  in  La  Salle  county, 
which  they  afterward  sold,  and  removed  to  Warren  county,  bought  a 
home  and  permanently  located  in  Cameron,  where  they  still  reside. 
They  are  also  natives  of  Vermont  and  are  of  Scotch-Irish  ancestors. 
Henry  L.  first  began  for  himself  in  the  fall  of  1856,  merchandising  in 
the  grocery  line, — building  a  large  store  and  adding  dry  goocjs  to  his 
trade  in  1868.  In  the  fall  of  1874  he  removed  to  Biggsville  and 
opened  up  a  hardware  store,  soon  after  adding  to  his  trade  a  full  lii!e  of 
agricultural  im])lements  and  farm  machinery.  July  4,  1857,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  to  Miss  Miriam  Parker,  a  native  of  Warren  county, 
Illinois.  Their  children's  names,  in  the  order  of  their  birth,  are : 
Edmond,  George,  Emma,  Lurena  and  Clark.  Mr.  -Kelly  has,  since 
the  organization  of  the  village,  been  identified  with  its  interests  and 
government. 

Among  those'  who  deserve  special  credit  from  their  felk)ws  on 
account  of  the  struggle  made  to  attain  their  present  position  in  life  is 
Eli  Rezner.  His  parents  were  Nicholas  M.  and  Mary  A.  (Miller) 
Rezner.  He  was  born  on  April  25,  1825,  in  Monroe  county,  Tennessee. 
He  was  reared  on  a  farm  until  1847.  When  he  was  eighteen  years 
of  age  he  removed  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  where  he  began  life 
by  working  out  among  the  farmers,  continuing  until  he  settled  down 
on  Sec.  14,  T.  10,  R.  4.  November  8,  1854,  he  was  married  to  Miss  Jane 
J.  Stanley,  daughter  of  John  and  Lureny  (Foe)  Stanley.  She  was 
born  in  Gilford  county.  North  Carolina,  on  November  11,  1828.  To 
them  were  born  six  children,  only  three  of  whom  are  living,  namely, 
Lurena,  Lerov  and  John  N.     Mr.   Reiner's  family  are  Presbyterians^ 


BIGGSVILLE   TOWNSHIl'.  1389 

in  faith,  being  prominent  members  of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian 
congregation  at  Biggsville.     Although  Mr.  Eezner  was  left  an  orphan 
at  the  age  of  five  years,  his  father  having  died  at  New  Orleans  from 
injuries  received  on  a  boat,  yet  by  untiring  industry  he  has  succeeded 
in  making  for  himself  a  large  competence.     He  now  gives  his  atten- 
tion chiefly  to  stock  raising,  on  his  farm  of  530  acres,  near  Biggsville. 
EoBERT  K.  N.  Gi-ENi!f,  farmer,  Biggsville,  son  of  James  and  Nancy 
J.  (McDonald)  Glenn,  was  born  in  Monroe  county,  Indiana,  August 
10,  1839.     He  was  reared  on  a  farm,  with  only  the  advantages  of  the 
subscription  school  for  education.     At  the  age  of  ten  years  he  was  left 
fatherless  by  death,  and  at  the  age  of  fifteen  on  him  devolved  the  care 
of  his  mother,  the  younger  members  of  the  family  and  the  farm.     In 
March,  1861,  he  came  to  Henderson  county,  and  for  a  year  worked  on 
the  farm  for  Mr.  John  McDill ;  after  which  he  worked  with  George 
McDill  for  a  fifth  of  the  crop.     The  summer  of  1863  he  spent  in  Indi- 
ana, on  the  farm  of  his  mother,  she  being  without  help  on  account  of 
her  other  sons  being  in  the  army.     It  was  while  here  that  he  took  part 
in  driving  Morgan  out  of  Indiana  with  his  band  of  guerrillas.     The 
same  fall  he  returned  to  Henderson  county  and  again  engaged  in  farm- 
ing, as  a  renter.     February  9,  1865,  he  married  Miss  Esther  McCrery, 
daughter  of  David  and  Kerren  H.  (McDill)  McCrery.     She  was  born 
in  Warren  county,  Illinois,  August  24,  1845.     In  the  fall  of  1868  he 
removed  to  a  new  farm  he  had  previously  bought  in  Ford  county,  this 
state,  but  only  remained  there  two  years,  when  he  sold  out  and  came 
back  to  this  county  and  bought  a  farm  in  Sec.  32,  T.  11,  II.  4,  where  he 
permanently  settled  and  now  (1882)  lives.    His  children  are :  James  A., 
David  O.,  William  P.,  Flora  A.  and  Eobert  S.     They  are  members  of 
the  South  Henderson  United  Presbyterian  church. 

William  A.  Foster  (deceased)  was  born  in  South  Carolina,  Novem- 
ber 16,  1816.  In  1838  he  emigrated  to  Illinois  and  settled  in  Warren 
county,  near  Little  York.  April  28,  1841,  he  married  Miss  Jane 
McDill,  daughter  of  George  and  Margaret  (Douglass)  McDill,  who  was 
born  in  Chester  county.  South  Carolina,  September  16,  1816,  and  with 
her  parents  came  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  in  1837.  The  spring 
following  his  marriage,  or  in  1842,  Mr.  Foster  permanently  located  on 
Sec.  32,T.  11,R.4,  and  there  lived,  engaged  in  farming  and  stock  raising, 
till  the  time  of  his  death,  September  1,  1855.  Mr.  Foster  lived  a  con- 
sistent christian  life,  and  in  his  death  the  settlement  lost  an  estimable 
citizen  and  his  famil}'  a  kind  husband  and  an  indulgent  father.  Three 
children  survived  their  father,  only  two.  of  whom  are  now  (1882) 
living,  John  P.  and  George  C.  The  latter,  born  August  11,  1855, 
was  reared  on  a  farm,  where  he  received  a  common  school  education. 


1890  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AKD    HP:NDERS0N    COUNTIES. 

He  was  married  ]S"ovember  29,  1876,  to  Miss  Sarah  E.  Cochran,  daugh- 
ter of  John  D.  and  Sarah  P.  (McGaw)  Cochran.  She  was  born  in 
Indiana,  April  18,  1851.  Thej  have  two  chiklren,  John  A.  and  Her- 
man C.  Mr.  Foster  is  engaged  in  farming.  His  mother,  IVErs.  Jane 
Daughertv,  after  the  death  of  her  tirst  husband,  was  married  to  Mr. 
Samuel  Daugherty  in  1857,  by  whom  she  reared  one  child,  Nancv  J., 
now  Mrs.  Thomas  Moore.  Mr.  Daugherty  died  April  15,  1868.  Mrs. 
Dauglierty's  home  is  with  her  son. 

The  present  practicing  physician  of  Gladstone,  H.vrrison  Bredsford, 
M.D.,  was  born  in  Miami  county,  Ohio,  March  15^  1836.  At  the  age 
of  sixteen  he  began  reading  medicine  with  Dr.  G.  V.  Dorsey,  one  of  the 
most  eminent  physicians  and  surgeons  of  Ohio.  During  the  terms  of 
1856,  1857  and  1858  he  attended  lectures  at  the  Michigan  University 
at  Ann  Arbor.  From  1859- to  1867  he  practiced  medicine  in  Missouri, 
then  removed  to  Malcom,  Iowa,  where  he  practiced  eight  years ;  after 
which  he  s])ent  a  short  time  in  Iroquois  county,  and  in  1880  removed  to 
Gladstone  and  permanently  located,  and  here  successfullj'  follows  his 
profession.  In  the  summer  of  1882  he  was  by  acclamation  unanimously 
nominated  by  the  republican  party  for  the  position  of  county  coroner 
of  Henderson  county.  September  1,  1859,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Nancy  A.  Whitsitt,  a  native  of  Miami  county,  Ohio,  by 
whom  he  has  reared  an  interesting  fiimily  of  live  children. 

John  E.  Pearson,  son  of  Pear  and  Kaisa  (Olson)  Erickson,  was 
born  August  29,  1844,  in  the  town  of  Torp,  county  of  Langserud,  state 
of  Wermeland,  Sweden.  He  was  partly  reared  on  a  farm,  but  in 
youth,  besides  attending  school,  learned  the  trade  of  boot  and  shoe 
maker.  On  May  8,  1871,  he  left  his  native  home  for  America  in  the 
steamship  "Virginia,"  and  after  some  delays  on  account  of  storm  and 
fog  landed  in  New  York,  being  nineteen  days  on  the  ocean.  From 
New  York  he  went  direct  to  Iowa,  and  soon  after  engaged  in  woi-king 
at  his  trade  in  Burlington,  and  followed  his  business  there  till  January 

4,  1872,  when  he  removed  to  Biggsville,  where  he  permanently  located 
and  continued  in  the  boot  and  shoe  manutacture  and  sale.  In  1877  he 
quit  the  mechanical  part  of  the  business  and  placed  in  stock  a  full  line 
of  groceries,  and  immediately  added  to  his  growing  trade  a  full  assort- 
ment of  all  the  leading  sewing  machines  in  the  market.  He  also  deals 
in  foreign  exchange  and  sells  tickets  to  all  points  in  Euro])e.     September 

5,  1874.  he  was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  S.  Erickson,  a 
daughter  of  Erick  Anderson  ;  she  was  born  March  17,  1850,  in  the  town 
of  Stenarsbohl,  county  of  Qillberga,  state  of  Wermeland,  Sweden.  At 
the  age  of  twenty  years  a  spirit  of  independence  induced  her  to  leave 
the  parental  roof  and  become  self-supporting.     She  accordingly  engaged 


15TGG8VILLE    TOWNSHIP.  1391 

as  a  servant  in  the  house  of  a  millionaire,  where  she  remained  till 
August  7,  1874,  when  she  sailed  for  America  on  the  steamship  Egypt 
to  meet  her  affianced  husband.  Mr.  Pearson  has  now  four  children, 
whose  names,  in  the  order  of  their  birth,  are:  Albert  W.,  John  R., 
Laura  S.  and  Herbert  li. 

Geoege  W.  Holmes,  son  of  Jacob  and  Sarah  (Worden)  Holmes,  was 
born  in  Fayette  county,  Ohio,  March  3,  1846.  He  was  reared  on  a 
farm,  where  he  enjoyed  the  advantages  of  a  fair  common  school  educa- 
tion. In  the  fall  of  18<i4  he  enlisted  in  Co.  A.,  2d  O.N.G.,  but  was 
discharged  within  one  year.  In  the  fall  of  1805  he  came  to  Henderson 
county,  Illinois,  and  engaged  in  working  out  by  the  month,  first  on  a 
farm  but  later  in  lumber  business,  then  being  carried  on  at  Biggsville. 
In  the  spring  of  1871  he  returned  to  Ohio  and  engaged  in  farming  till 
1875,  when  he  again  came  to  Biggsville  and  permanently  located.  He 
first  w^orked  as  clerk  a  vear  for  Mr.  R.  C.  Graham  in  a  general  store. 
In  1876  he,  in  company  with  A.  W.  Graham,  bought  out  the  store,  which 
Mr.  Holmes  in  1880  purchased  and  became  sole  owner.  He  has  now 
(1882)  the  best  arranged  general  store  in  Biggsville  if  not  the  county, 
and  is  enjoying  a  good  degree  of  prosperity.  November  10,  1866,  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Catharine  L.  Baxter,  the  daughter  of 
James  and  Mary  (Smith)  Baxter,  a  native  of  Maryland,  born  October 
26,  1845.  They  are  the  parents  of  four  children  living,  Sarah  E.,  John 
A.,  Viola  and  Minnie  L.  and  Mary  E.  (deceased).  Mr.  Holmes  and 
wif»  are  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He  was  one  of 
the  first  town  board  elected,  and  served  till  the  spring  of  1882.  Mr. 
Holmes  is  one  of  those  men  who  is  ever  ready  to  aid  in  any  enterprise 
which  tends  to  the  mutual  improvement  and  building  up  of  the  com- 
munity. 

JoHx  A.  Bailey,  M.D.,  ]:)racticing  physician,  was  born  in  Jefferson 
county,  Ohio,  August  17,  1853.  His  parents,  Benjamin  and  Dorothy 
(Patterson)  Bailey  and  their  parents  were  early  pioneers  of  Ohio, 
and  his  grandfather  Bailey  was  of  Scotch-Irish  blood  and  a  soldier  iu 
the  revolutionary  war.  The  doctor's  mother  died  in  1861,  and  in  1862 
his  father  with  his  children  removed  to  Washington  county,  Iowa, 
where  he  died  in  1873.  In  1872  the  doctor  came  to  Henderson  county, 
Illinois,  and  began  the  reading  of  medicine  with  Dr.  T.  J.  Maxwell  at 
Olena.  During  the  winters  of  1875,  1876  and  1877  he  attended  lectures 
at  the  College  of  Physicians  and  Surgeons,  of  Keokuk,  Iowa,  graduating 
February  13,  1877.  He  then  engaged  in  the  i)ractice  of  his  profession 
at  Olena  as  a  ])artner  with  Dr.  Maxwell.  In  October,  1881,  in  order  to 
perfect  himself  in  the  science  of  medicine,  he  took  a  post  graduate 
course  in  that  study  at  .Jefferson  Medical  College,  Philadelphia,  where 


1392  HISTORY   OF    JVLERUER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

he  received  a  second  diploma  March  30,  1882.  In  the  same  spring  he 
formed  a  partnership  with  Dr.  Mekemson,  bought  out  the  property 
and  practice  of  Dr.  Maxwell  at  Biggs ville,  and  entered  on  the  duties  of 
his  profession.  The  doctor  is  a  member  oi  the  United  Presbyterian 
church. 

HLezekiah  Watson,  liorist  and  gardener.  Biggsville,  was  born  in 
Albany  county,  New  York,  November  29,  1822.  He  was  reared  on  a 
farm  and  enjoyed  only  the  educational  advantages  of  the  common 
schools.  In  the  month  of  September,  1837,  his  father,  Elisha,  with  his 
wife  and  four  children,  left  their  native  home,  Owego,  New  York,  for 
a  home  (to  be  made)  in  the  Far  West.  The  trip  was  made  via  lake 
and  canal  to  Buffalo ;  thence  by  steamer  to  Cleveland,  by  canal  to  the 
Ohio  river,  where  they  took  steamer  via  the  Ohio  and  Mississippi  to 
Oquawka.  Mr.  Watson  Sr.  bought  near  Olena,  in  T.  10,  R.  5,  where  he 
lived  till  the  time  of  his  death,  1859.  His  venerable  pioneer  wife  is 
still  (1882)  living,  at  the  honored  old  age  of  eighty-seven  years.  Her 
maiden  name  was  Marilla  Johnson.  They  were  zealous  members  of 
the  Methodist  Episcopal  church,  and  their  home  was  always  the  home 
of  the  early  pioneer  preachers.  They  always  left  the  latch-string  hang- 
ing out.  Their  four  sons  were :  Lewis,  Hezekiah,  Elisha  and  Lambert. 
Lewis,  the  eldest,  was  drafted  and  sent  South  during  the  late  war  and 
was  never  heard  from  since.  Lie  left  a  wife  and  family  of  small  chil- 
dren. Hezekiah,  the  second  son,  was  married  in  Henderson  county. 
May  30,  1850,  to  Miss  Sarali  A.  Jackson,  a  daughter  of  the  celebmted 
hunter  Abel.  She  was  born  in  Kentucky  in  1833,  and  emigrated  to 
Henderson  county,  Illinois,  with  her  parents  in  1842.  After  his  mar- 
riage Mr.  Watson  engaged  in  farming  and  improving  land  up  till  about 
1867,  when  he  removed  to  Biggsville  and  turned  his  attention  to  his 
present  business.  Their  own  three  children  are  deceased,  and  they 
are  raising  an  adopted  daughter,  Leota.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Watson  are 
devoted  members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church. 

The  parents  of  AYillia:\i  Bell,  of  Biggsville,  were  both  born  and 
married  in  Scotland.  His  father  was  born  October  15,  1809,  and  his 
mother  on  October  14,  1805,  They  were  married  at  Kelsey,  May  29, 
1834.  Soon  after  their  marriage  they  emigrated  to  the  United  States, 
tirst  settling  in  Vermont,  but  soon  after  removed  to  north  Argyle,  in 
Washington  county,  New  York,  where  they  resided  till  the  time  of  his 
death  in  1848.  They  reared  a  family  of  iive  children :  George,  born 
in  Vermont,  and  Jeanette,  Thomas,  William  and  James  S.,  born  in  the 
State  of  New  York.  William,  the  third  child  and  second  son  of 
Thomas  and  Margaret  (Tinline)  Bell,  was  born  at  north  Argyle,  Wash- 
ington   county.   New  York,  January  1,   1842.     In    1857  he  came  to 


BIGGSVirXE   TOWNSHIP.  1393 

Hendeison  county,  Illinois,  and  spent  the  lirst  summer  in  attending- 
school.  Ijeing  a  careful  and  industrious  student  he  early  in  life  had 
acquired  a  good  education,  and  in  his  tifteenth  year  commenced  teach- 
ing school.  This  he  followed  till  1863,  when  he  engaged  his  services 
as  clerk  to  a  Biggsville  merchant.  In  1870  he  began  business  for  him- 
self as  a  general  storekeeper.  Sold  out  in  1873  and  went  as  traveling- 
salesman  on  the  road.  July  1,  1880,  he  was  appointed  as  assistant 
railroad  ])Ostoffice  clerk  on  the  Chicago,  Burlington  &  Quincy,  between 
Chicago  and  Burlington.  August  11,  186-1,  he  married  Miss  Martha 
S.  Jamison,  daughter  of  Mr.  flohn  C.  and  Sarah  (Stice)  Jamison,  of 
Biggsville.  She  was  born  in  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  August  27, 
1843.  Their  children  are  :  Caroline  F.,  William  C,  diaries  H.,  Harry, 
Olive  L.  and  Oscar  C.  His  two  brothers,  George  and  Thomas,  were 
soldiers  in  the  late  war  of  the  rebellion.  The  former  was  wounded 
severely  at  the  battle  of  Stone  River. 

Geoege  W.  Mathers,  son  of  Samuel  and  Jane  (Gi-eer)  Mathers, 
was  born  in  Allegheny  county,  Pennsylvania,  July  5,  1840.  In  1842 
his  parents  emigrated  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  and  settled  in 
T.  9,  R.  4.  A  notice  of  them  the  reader  will  find  in  the  history  of  that 
town.  Finding  themselves  in  a  new  country,  and  with  but  very  little 
means,  the  family  assidously  devoted  their  time  to  agricultural  rather 
than  educational  pursuits,  and  accordingly  George's  education  was  of 
a  necessity  much  neglected.  His  training,  however,  in  the  way  of 
industry  and  economy  was  am]ile  and  has  been  well  improved,  inasmuch 
as  he  is  now  the  owner  of  a.  very  ]»leasant  home  in  the  village  of  Biggs- 
ville, and  a  farm  within  eighty  rods  of  Kirkwood,  in  Warren  county, 
Illinois.  The  latter,  for  which  he  paid  cash  $7,875,  was  purchased  in 
the  spring  of  1882.  Mr.  Mathers  has  not,  however,  devoted  all  his 
life  to  money  making,  as  he  spent  three  of  the  best  years  of  his  youth 
in  the  service  of  his  country  as  a  member  of  Co.  K,  84th  111.  Vol.  Inf., 
during  the  war  of  the  rebellion.  He  was  married  on  May  7,  1868,  to 
Miss  Sarah  J.  McMillan,  a  native  of  Henderson  county,  Illinois. 

Aaron  H.  McLain  is  the  third  son  of  John  and  Elizabeth  (Mc- 
Cartney) McLain,  and  was  born  in  IMclMinn  county,  Tennessee,  Novem- 
ber 23,  1828.  Moving,  as  did  his  parents,  from  one  county  to  another, 
his  early  education  was  of  a  necessity  much  neglected,  though  by  much 
reading,  close  observation  and  careful  home  study  he  has  gained  a 
good  business  knowledge,  and  has  nuide  up  in  this  way  what  was 
denied  him  in  school.  In  1838  he  (with  his  father  and  family)  emi- 
grated to  Monmouth,  Warren  county,  Illinois,  and  in  1841  removed 
to  Henderson  county.  October  11,  1849,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
to  Miss  Lvdia  A¥.   Currv.  the  dauo;hter  of  Samuel  Currv.     She  was 


1394  HISTORY    OF   iEERCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

born  in  Somersetshire,  England,  September  29,  1826.  Their  children 
are:  Mary  E.,  wife  of  Stephen  P.  Holmes;  Martha  M.,  wife  of 
Fletcher  Marston  ;  Frances  E,,  wife  of  Albert  Brouse ;  Lvdia  E.,  wife 
of  Daniel  Shook;  George,  married  to  Miss  Ella  Staler;  Hattie  J., 
wife  of  James  D.  Baird,  and  three  deceased.  In  January,  1855,  Mr. 
McLain  bought  on  the  raw  prairie  the  S.  ^  of  the  jN^.  AV.  ^  of  Sec.  14, 
T.  10,  K.  4,  which  by  industry,  good  taste  and  hard  work  lie  made 
into  a  pleasant  home.  He  is  engaged  in  stock  raising  as  well  as 
farming.  Pie,  his  wife  and  family  are  members  of  the  United  Presby- 
terian church,  and  his  family  were  industriously  raised  and  educated. 
His  father,  John  McLain,  was  born  near  Knoxville,  Tennessee,  May 
22,  1803,  and  was  married  in  1824  to  Miss  Elizabeth  McCartney,  also 
a  native  of  Tennessee.  In  1834  he  loaded  all  his  worldly  effects,  with 
bis  wife  and  family  of  six  children,  in  a  wagon,  and  left  McMinn 
county,  Tennessee,  for  Indiana,  and  settled  in  Gibson  county,  which 
he  left  for  Warren  county,  Illinois,  in  1838. 

Joseph  H.  Milligan.  operator  and  agent,  Biggsville,  is  the  son  of 
William  and  Mary  (Kiernan)  Mulligan,  and  was  born  in  Kentucky 
September  7,  1855.  In  1856  his  parents  removed  to  Warren  county, 
Illinois,  and  settled  at  Monmouth,  and  one  year  later  to  Kirkwood, 
where  they  still  reside.  They  raised  an  interesting  and  intelligent 
family  of  three  sons  and  four  daughters,  who  are  now  living  lives  to 
cheer  them  in  their  old  age.  Of  their  three  sons,  John  W.  and  Peter, 
the  youngest,  are  night  operators  at  Kirkwood  and  Biggsville  respec- 
tively, while  the  subject  of  this  brief  sketch,  the  eldest,  is  agent, 
operator  and  express  agent  at  Biggsville,  and  all  on  the  Chicago, 
Burlington  6c  Quincy.  Mr.  J.  H.  Mulligan  worked  his  way  up  to  his 
present  position  of  trust  by  prompt  and  careful  management,  being 
found  to  ))e  a  man  of  honoi"  and  integrity.  He  was  married  Decem- 
ber 5.  1879,  to  Miss  Manila  Dixon,  daughter  of  AViley  Dixon,  of 
Biggsville,  and  has  now  two  children,  Frank  H.  and  ('harles  E.  They 
are  all  members  of  the  Catholic  church  of  Monmouth,  while  Joseph 
is  a  young  man  whose  prospects  promise  a  bright  future. 

John  H.  McDougall,  farmer,  Biggsville,  is  the  son  of  James  and 
Ellen  (Bain)  McDougall,  and  was  born  in  Washington  county.  New 
York,  May  4,  1829.  His  youth,  till  the  age  of  seventeen  years,  was 
spent  on  a  farm,  after  which  he  engaged  in  steamboating  on  the  Hud- 
son river.  In  1855  he  came  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  and  went  to 
work  on  a  farm  as  a  day  laborer.  After  three  years  thus  engaged  he 
was  able  to  purchase  an  outfit,  which  he  did,  and  rented  land  and 
begun  farming  for  himself  Being  successful  in  renting,  in  1S60  he 
bought  a  farm  east  of  Biggsville,  where  he  actively  engaged  in  farming 


BIGGSVILLK    T0WN8H1I'.  1395 

till  1874.  when  lie  sold,  and  bought  his  present  farm  in  Sec.  19,  T.  10, 
K.  4,  onto  which  he  moved  and  where  he  is  now  (1882)  engaged  in 
fanning  and  stock  raising.  As  the  result  of  thrift  and  industrj^  Mr. 
McDougall  has  advanced  from  a  day  laborer  to  be  the  independent 
owner  of  a  farm  of  140  acres,  well  improved  and  well  stocked.  He 
has  been  twice  married:  first,  in  1801,  to  Miss  Ellen  Hutchinson,  the 
daughter  of  Col.  Samuel  Hutchinson,  late  of  Henderson  county.  She 
died  in  1803,  leaving  one  child,  a  daughter,  Louettie,  now  the  wife  of 
David  P.  Salter.  His  second  marriage  was  on  May  10,  18()H.  to  Miss 
Maggie  Thompson,  a  native  of  Brown  county,  Ohio,  born  in  1843. 
They  are  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian  church.  Mr.  McDou- 
gall is  of  Scotch  and  Welsh  ancestry,  his  grandfathei',  John  McDou- 
gall, being  a  native  of  Scotland. 

Frank  McKim,  one  of  Biggsville's  most  active  and  thorough  busi- 
ness men,  was  born  in  Henderson  county,  Plinois,  December  15,  1842. 
His  parents,  Xoble  and  Abigal  (Edmonds)  McKim,  were  among  the 
earliest  settlers  of  Henderson  county.  The  former,  still  a  citizen  of 
this  county,  resides  at  Dallas  City,  the  latter  died  in  1856.  Frank  was 
reared  on  the  farm  and  thereby  acquired  a  thorough  knowledge  of 
agricultural  pursuits.  While  on  the  farm  he  also  attended  the  com- 
mon district  schools,  and  being  an  apt  student  gained  a  good  start  for 
an  education,  which  he  completed  with  a  year's  training  at  Monmouth 
College  and  one  term  at  Bryant  &  Stratton's  Business  College  of  Ciii- 
cago.  In  the  spring  of  1864  he  secured  a  position  as  salesman  in  a  large 
store  in  Burlington,  Iowa,  and  remained  in  that  business  eight  years. 
The  following  four  years  he  engaged  as  traveling  salesman  in  the  dry- 
goods  line  for  wholesale  houses  in  New  York  and  Boston.  In  1877  he 
came  to  Biggsville  and  embarked  in  a  general  mercantile  trade.  His 
extensive  experience  and  strict  business  principles  are  building  up  for 
him  a  large  and  permanent  trade.  June  24,  1875,  at  Burlington,  he 
was  married  to  Miss  Jessie  AtHeck,  a  daughter  of  John  Affleck ;  she 
died  in  Biggsville  June  5,  1880.  Mr.  McKim  has  one  child,  Charles, 
born  October  28,  1877.  He  is  a  member  of  the  Presbyterian  church, 
and  holds  his  membership  at  Burlington. 

John  Cami'deij.,  with  his  wife,  Jane  (Ritchey)  Campbell,  and  their 
family  of  nine  children,  emigrated  from  Scott  county,  Indiana,  to 
Henderson  county,  Illinois,  in  the  spring  of  1829.  Their  first  summer 
in  this  county  was  spent  in  South  Henderson,  near  where  the  church 
now  stands.  Here  they  raised  a  small  crop,  and  then  removed  to 
Shockakon,  remained  one  summer  and  then  again  removed  to  Jack's 
Mill  near  ( )quawka,  and  soon  after  to  Little  York,  in  Warren  county. 
Thev  were  members  of  the  old  Associate  Reform  church.     He  died  in 


1396  HISTORY    OF   :V[ERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

1867  and  was  buried  in  the  Smith  Creek  cemetery,  and  she  in  1851, 
bnried  in  Henderson,  Warren  county.  Thus  ends  the  mere  mention 
of  two  of  this  county's  noble  pioneers,  llitchey  Campbell  was  born  in 
Scott  county,  Indiana,  October  •!,  1817.  Coming  to  this  county  as  he 
did,  when  but  about  twelve  years. old,  his  educational  advantages  were 
extremely  meager.  He  helped  to  cut  and  haul  the  logs  and  build  the 
■first  school-house  which  he  attended  in  the  county,  and  there,  by  the 
light  received  through  greased  paper  window,  studied  his  lessons  in  the 
old  Webster's  spelling  book.  In  1837  he  was  united  in  marriage  with 
Miss  Mary  S.  Reynolds,  by  whom  he  reared  a  family  of  four  sons  : 
John  R.,  William  L.,  James  B.  and  Francis  M.  She  died  in  1879  and 
was  buried  at  South  Henderson.  Mr.  Campbell's  second  wife.  Miss 
Sarah  A.  McNeal,  was  born  of  Scotch  ancestry  in  Argyle,  New  York. 
He  is  now  residing  on  his  farm  in  Sec.  19,  T.  10,  R.  4,  where  he 
located  in  1867.  They  are  members  of  the  United  Presbyterian 
church. 

Charles  W.  Brouse,  farmer,  Biggsville,  is  the  youngest  son  of 
Lewis  and  Mary  (Riner)  Brouse,  who  were  natives  of  Virginia  and 
Maryland  respectively.  They  were  married  in  Yirginia,  and  in  1815 
removed  to  Ohio,  Highland  county,  where  they  resided  till  the  time  of 
their  death.  Charles  W.  was  born  in  Highland  county,  Ohio,  August 
31,  1826,  and  was  the  youngest  of  eleven  children.  He  was  reared 
on  a  farm,  where  he  enjoyed  the  advantages  of  about  three  months' 
school  during  the  winter  seasons.  He  was  twice  married  :  first  in  1847, 
to  Elvira  Smith,  a  native  of  Ohio,  who  died  eleven  months  after  their 
marriage,  leaving  an  infant  child.  His  second  marriage  was  with  Miss 
Mary  E.  Holmes  in  1853  ;  she  is  the  daughter  of  Stephen  and  Mary 
(Word en)  Holmes,  and  was  born  in  Highland  county,  Ohio.  In  Octo- 
ber, 1855,  Mr.  Brouse  removed  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  and  in 
the  winter  of  1856  bought  a  160-acre  farm,  the  N.  E.  ^  of  Sec.  22, 
T.  10,  R.  4,  where  he  has  since  resided,  engaged  in  farming.  Politi- 
cally he  is  a  republican  and  was  formerly  a  whig.  He  and  wife  are 
members  of  the  Methodist  Episcopal  church.  He  has  two  children : 
Elvira,  wife  of  George  S.  AVallace,  by  his  lirst  wife,  and  Albert  L., 
who  is  now  married  to  Miss  Frances  E.  McLain,  by  his  second  wife. 

Robert  M.  Hutchinson,  farmer  and  stock  raiser,  Biggsville,  was 
born  on  the  old  home  where  he  now  (1882)  lives,  August  25,  1856. 
He  is  the  son  of  Capt.  William  J.  and  Nancy  (Tyler)  Hutchinson, 
whose  history  is  briefly  mentioned  elsewhere  in  this  work.  Robert 
M.,  like  his  father,  was  reared  a  farmer,  but  more  especially  devoted  his 
time  to  the  care  of  stock.  His  education  principally  obtained  in  the 
country  schools  and  Galesburg  Academy.     December  20,   1877,   he 


BIGGSVILLE    TOWNSHIP.  1397 

married  Miss  Agnes  Sloan,  a  daughter  of  William  and  Margaret 
(Rea)  Sloan,  a  native  of  County  Antrim,  Ireland ;  she  was  born 
June  l-t,  1857.  Mr.  Hutchinson  is  extensively  engaged  in  stock  rais- 
ing and  farming  on  liis  tine  farm  just  north  of  the  village  of  Biggs- 
ville. 

James  Sloan,  Sr.,  boot  and  shoe  maker,  Biggsville,  is  the  third  son 
of  James  and  Mar}'  (Beck)  Sloan,  and  was  born  September  12,  1821, 
in  Country  Antrim,  Ireland.  In  1846  he  emigrated  to  the  Province 
ot  Ontario,  Canada,  and  settled  on  Amherst  Island,  where  he  carried 
on  the  business  of  his  trade  till  1862,  when  he  came  to  Biggsville, 
Henderson  county,  Illinois.  February  24,  1849,  he  married  Margaret 
Finley,  also  a  native  of  County  Antrim,  Ireland.  They  are  the 
parents  of  three  childi-en  :  Mary,  now  Mrs.  John  McKee,  Martha, 
wife  of  John  Tharp,  and  Julia.  Mr.  Sloan  is  a  man  whose  strict  integ- 
rity has  made  for  him  many  true  friends. 

Silas  W.  Bell,  Biggsville,  was  born  in  South  Carolina  in  1823. 
His  parents  were  of  Scotch  and  Irish  ancestry,  and  by  occupation  farm- 
ers. He  followed  that  vocation,  together  with  attending  school,  till 
twenty-three  years  of  age,  and  then  turned  his  attention  to  learning  the 
trade  of  wagon  and  carriage  maker.  In  1845  he  was  married  to  Miss 
Flora  Gordon  in  the  State  of  Georgia,  In  1855  he,  with  his  family, 
removed  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  and  permanently  located  in  Sec. 
10,  R..  4,  where  he  resided  for  many  ^^ears  and  then  removed  to  the 
pleasant  little  town  of  Biggsville,  where  he  now  resides.  His  children 
are  Winston  L.,  Amand  D.,  wife  of  Mr.  George  McDill,  Nancy  C, 
Cornelius  S.,  Georgia  S.  and  Ella  L.  His  family,  he  and  wife  are  all 
consistent  members  of  the  United   Presb3'terian  church  of  Biggsville. 

Hugh  Began  (deceased),  late  of  Henderson  county,  was  born  in 
County  Down,  Ireland,  in  1829.  He  was  principally  reared  on  a 
farrii,  receiving  a  fair  common  school  education.  On  March  16,  1851, 
he  left  his  native  home  and  sailed  for  America  in  the  ship  Corinthian, 
commanded  by  Capt.  Dyer,  and  landed  at  Oquawka  April  8  of  the 
same  year.  He  at  once  set  to  work  with  a  view  to  making  for  him- 
self a  home,  and  soon  after  bought  a  farm  of  160  acres,  the  N.  W.  J 
of  Sec.  28,  T.  10,  R.  4,  where  he  lived  till  the  time  of  hisv  death.  May 
1877.  He  left,  besides  his  wife,  Rosa  (Gibb)  Regan,  six  children  : 
Agnes,  wife  of  John  Gibb,  Eliza  J.,  wife  of  David  Gilliland,  Mary, 
wife  of  Frank  Mathews,  Annie,  John  G.  and  David  G.  They  are  an 
interesting  family. 

Among  the  honored  and  respected  citizens  of  this  township  is 
Stephen  Holmes.  He  was  born  in  New  Jersey  November  8,  1801. 
His  rearing  and  occupation  in  early  life  was  rather  mixed,  as  he  alter- 


1398  HISTORY    OF    MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

nately  followed  milling,  boating,  ovster  lisliing  and  farming.  May  16, 
1824,  he  married  Miss  Mary  Worden,  also  a  native  of  New  Jersey, 
who  was  born  in  1808.  Some  few  years  after  his  marriage  he  removed 
to  Highland  county,  Ohio,  where  he  followed  farming  till  1855,  when  he 
came  to  Henderson  county,  Illinois,  bought  and  permanently  located  • 
on  Sec.  27,  T.  10,  K.  4.  His  honored  wife  died  August  1,  1882,  leav- 
ing him  to  close  up  life's  journey  alone. 

Prominent  among  tlie  young  farmers  of  Biggsville  precinct  maybe 
named  David  A.  Whiteman.  He  was  born  in  Henderson  county, 
Illinois,  March  14,  1855,  and  is  the  second  son  of  Hon.  II.  M.  and 
Elizabeth  (McDill)  Whiteman.  He  was  reared  on  the  farm,  where  he 
not  only  received  a  thorough  training  in  agricultural  pursuits,  but 
obtained  a  good  common  school  education,  to  which  he  added  liberally 
by  attending  af  the  Burlington  Business  College.  In  the  spring  of 
1882  he  purchased  a  160-acre  farm  in  Sec.  19,  T.  10,  R.  4,  and  for 
himself  embarked  in  the  business  of  farming. 

Joseph  M.  Michener,  proprietor  of  the  American  Hotel  of  Biggs- 
ville, was  born  in  York  county,  Pennsylvania,  December  20,  1836. 
He  was  principally  reared  on  a  farm,  receiving  in  early  life  a  good 
common  school  education.  April  16,  1S63,  he  was  united  in  marriage 
with  Miss  Lydia  C.  Rhodes,  a  native  of  Lancaster  county,  Pennsyl- 
vania, by  whom  he  has  three  children:  Rebecca  M.,  Ellen  E.  and 
Jessie  M.  In  1866  he  removed  to  Plenderson  county,  Illinois,  and 
started,  in  a  small  way,  a  confectionery  business.  By  industry  and 
close  attention  to  business  he  is  now  in  comfortable  circumstances, 
owning,  besides  his  hotel,  a  farm  of  163  acres  two  miles  north  of 
Biggsville.  Mr.  Michener  and  family  are  examples  of  industry  and 
thrift. 

Rkv.  Russell  Graham,  present  pastor  of  the  United  Presbyterian 
church  of  Biggsville,  became  pastor  of  the  church  in  1873,  and  will 
next  spring  complete  his  tenth  year  of  active  service,  tinder  the 
ministration  of  Mr.  Graham  the  church  has  become  the  largest  organ- 
ization in  Henderson  county.  Mr.  Graham  was  born  in  Franklin 
county,  Ohio,  February  24,  1847,  his  father  being  a  farmer.  When 
he  was  threu  years  of  age  his  parents  moved  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in 
De  Kalb  county,  near  Sandwich.  After  completing  the  studies  of  the 
common  school  he  went  to  Monmouth  College,  where  he  graduated  in 
the  class  of  1870.  In  accordance  with  his  ])lan  to  enter  the  ministry, 
he  then  went  to  the  theological  seminary,  attending  one  year  at  Mon- 
mouth, and  after  its  removal  to  Xenia.  Ohio,  two  years  there,  where 
he  graduated  in  1873,  and  at  once  began  his  labors  here.  October  8, 
1873,  witnessed  his  marriage  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Thomson,  a  daughter 


CABMAN    TOWNSHIP.  1401 

of  Hugh  L.  Thomson,  a  prominent  citizen  of  the  county  and  for  some 
time  clerk  of  circuit  court.  As  the  result  of  this  marriage  thej  have 
three  children :  Kalph,  Sarali  Frances  and  Roy. 

William  F.  Martin  (twin),  son  of  Judge  Preston  and  Ann  (Tay- 
lor) Martin,  was  born  in  Morgan  county,  Illinois,  February  13,  1833. 
He  was  reared  on  a  farm,  where  he  early  in  life  acquired  habits  of 
industry  and  economy.  He  was  one  among  the  first  to  respond  to  the 
President's  call  for  men  in  the  hourof  the  country's  need.  In  April, 
1861,  he  enlisted  in  Co.  F,  16th  111.  Vol.  Inf.  ;  served  his  full  time 
without  being  absent  from  the  command  a  day  or  missing  a  march  or 
battle;  never  was  wounded  or  in  hospital.  January  11,  1866,  he  was 
united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Mary  A.  Brown,  a  daughter  of  Robert 
and  Ann  M.  (Lee)  Brown,  of  Preble  county,  Ohio.  .She  was  born 
April  11,  1839.  Their  children  are  Carrie,  Luna  A.  and  Nellie  F. 
He  now  resides  on  his  farm  on  Sec.  19,  T.  10,  R  4.  They  are  mem- 
bers of  the  Cumberland  Presbyterian  church. 


CARMAN  TOWNSLIIP. 

Carman  precinct  is  a  fractional  township  bordering  on  the  Missis- 
sippi. The  greater  portion  of  it  is  sloughs  and  almost  barren  sand, 
yet  a  portion  of  it  is  arable  land.  Considerable  of  its  population  is  of 
the  drifting,  semi-nomadic,  thriftless  character,  which  is  so  much  found 
along  the  great  natural  highways  of  all  countries,  who  gain  a  meager 
subsistence  by  fishing,  hunting  and  pilfering  from  those  who  gain  a 
living  by  honest  and  manly  means.  Though  this  section  has  teemed 
with  these  rough,  rude,  wild  characters,  there  are  some  as  fine  people 
here  as  may  be  found  anywhere.  The  Babcooks,  the  Carmans,  the 
Cisnas,  the  Curts,  the  Andersons,  the  Marsdens,  the  Vaughns  and 
many  others  are  highly  respectable  and  well  to  do  people.  Henry 
Babcook,  who  died  some  years  since,  came  in  1836  and  settled  near 
where  Lomax  now  is,  and  soon  after  moved  into  T.  9,  R.  6. 

William  Marsden,  an  Englishman  by  birth,  came  here  in  1842  and 
helped  to  make  the  county  what  it  is.  A  year  later  his  son  Henry  came. 
The  village  of  Carman  was  surveyed  and  platted  at  the  instance  of 
Joseph  Carman,  a  man  of  much  worth  socially,  morally  and  in  a  busi- 
ness way,  in  1870.  During  the  same  year  the  Cisna  brothers,  Zelile 
and  Enoch,  moved  their  business .  from  Shokokon,  where  they  had 
located  in  1866,  here  and  opened  in  block  4,  lot  1.  This  was  the  first 
business  house  in  the  place.  Zelile  sold  to  Enoch  in  1872.  Enoch 
79 


1402  HISTORY    OF   iEERCEB   AND   HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

since  closed  out-  the  business.  Zelile  Cisna  and  Abraham  Babcook 
opened  a  store  of  general  merchandise  in  1873.  Mr.  Cisna  retired 
in  1875,  succeeded  by  Elisha  Babcook.  The  firm  is  now  Babcook 
Bros.  In  connection  with  his  brother  Zelile  Cisna  opened  a  stock  of 
general  merchandise  in  a  room  on  block  7,  lot  6,  April  21,  1878,  and 
closed  out  the  following  year.  Mr,  Cisna  now  occupies  the  building  as 
a  billiard  hall.  Lahling  and  Cisna,  who  had  been  in  business  at 
Shokokon,  moved  their  business  to  Carman  in  1870.  Soon  after  this 
Cisna  retired  and  was  succeeded  by  M.  L.  Crane.  Crane  retired 
in  1873.  The  Cisnas,  Zelile,  William,  Lewis  and  Enoch,  with  their 
father,  John,  came  here  in  1843,  and  have  done  much  to  develop 
the  neighborhood. 

Conducted  by  Mr.  Lahling,  April  16,  1877,  Richard  Hassel  opened 
a  harness  sho]3  here.     He  is  now  doing  a  thriving  business. 

On  July  2,  1875,  W.  C.  Walker  opened  a  general  stock  of  merchan- 
dise on  lot  1,  block  7.     He  is  yet  in  business. 

There  is  a  substantial  church  building  here  owned  by  the  Meth- 
odists, which  was  built  in  1876. 

The  first  school-house  was  built  in  1878.     It  is  commodious  and 

well  furnished.      There  are  two  departments  and  two  teachers  are 

employed. 

THE  CISTERN   TRAGEDY. 

The  early  history  of  this  neighborhood  is  blackened  with  crime 
and  stained  red  with  blood.  For  years  it  has  been  believed  by  the 
public  at  large  that  but  little  of  the  dark  deeds  perpetrated  in  this 
place  had  come  to  light.  One  murder  only  can  be  substantiated  in  its 
details.  This  is  known  as  the  cistern  tragedy,  receiving  this  name 
from  the  fact  that  the  body  was  thrown  into  a  cistern  after  the  murder 
had  been  committed.  In  the  month  of  August,  1863,  a  well-dressed 
man  entered  the  State  Bank  at  Burlington,  and  there  had  a  large 
moneyed  transaction.  In  the  afternoon  he  crossed  the  river  on  the 
ferry-boat,  on  which  was  a  man  who  had  witnessed  the  transaction  at 
the  bank.  After  landing  on  the  Illinois  side  the  stranger  pursued  his 
way  on  foot.  The  day  was  hot  and  sultry.  Overcome  by  the  heat,  he 
stopped  at  the  home  of  Mr.  White  and  there  asked  for  a  drink  of 
water.  Mrs.  White,  who  was  favorably  impressed  with  the  genteel 
appearance  of  the  man,  asked  him  to  sit  down  and  rest  himself.  Dur- 
ing the  conversation  which  followed,  the  stranger  made  known  the 
fact  that  he  was  from  a  war  state,  and,  on  account  of  the  interference 
of  the  war  with  his  business,  he  had  determined  to  purchase  a  home 
in  Henderson  county,  where  he  would  be  free  from  all  molestation. 
Rising  to  go,  he  asked  where  he  could  stop  all  night,  and  Mrs.  White 


CARMAN    TOWNSHIP.  1403 

referred  him  to  a  wayside  inn  near  by.  What  occurred  after  this  up 
to  the  time  when  the  murder  was  discovered  can  only  be  known  from 
the  partial  confessions  of  some  of  the  parties  implicated.  For  the 
greater  portion  of  the  following  the  reader  is  indebted  to  Mr.  A.  L. 
Porter,  to  whom  one  of  the  murderers  made  a  confession.  After 
leaving  Mr.  White's,  the  stranger  passed  on  to  the  public  house  and 
there  engaged  lodging  for  the  night.  The  man  who  had  passed  on 
ahead  of  the  southerner  had  reported  the  man's  wealth.  The  after 
facts  show  that  this  plot  was  formed.  The  proprietor  of  the  hotel  was 
to  put  the  man  out  of  his  house,  so  that  he  would  have  to  go  on  to 
another  lodging  place.  A  horse  was  then  to  be  brought  from  some 
lot  near  by  and  the  pretense  set  up  that  the  stranger  was  a  horse  thief. 
The  plan  was  then  to  hang  him  and  obtain  his  money,  giving  out  to 
the  public  the  story  that  he  was  a  horse  thief.  In  accordance  with 
this  plot,  the  landlord,  in  great  pretended  indignation  that  the  stranger 
was  a  southerner,  drove  him  from  his  house,  first  charging  him  five 
dollars  for  his  supper,  and  then  sent  him  on  to  the  other  house,  by 
whom  he  was  received  as  if  to  spend  the  night.  One  of  the  parties 
implicated,  who  died  about  a  year  afterward,  and  who  made  a  full 
confession  to  a  young  lady  on  his  death-bed,  stated  that  about  ten 
o'clock  one  of  them  went  to  a  pasture  and  took  therefrom  a  horse, 
and  placing  upon  its  back  some  sort  of  a  pack,  tied  it  in  the  brush. 
About  eleven  o'clock  a  party  of  men  surrounded  the  house,  and  having 
dragged  the  man  from  his  bed,  carried  him  to  a  point  between  the  two 
stopping  places.  It  seems  that  he  was  then  whipped  brutally  to  elicit 
a  confession  as  to  the  theft  of  the  horse  and  then  hung  until  it  was 
thought  he  was  dead.  Ilis  hands  were  then  cut  off  and  the  body 
thrown  into  the  little  creek  near  by.  One  of  the  murderers  afterward 
stated  that  the  next  morning  the  man  was  found  on  the  side  of  the 
bank,  where  he  had  crawled,  and  here  he  was  shot  to  death  by  one  of 
the  party.  Some  time  elapsed,  when  one  day  a  young  fellow  went  to  an 
old  cistern  about  three-quarters  of  a  mile  west  from  Warren,  to  get 
brick  with  which  to  fill  out  a  chinmey.  Having  gone  down  into  the 
cistern  he  found  there  the  body  of  a  man,  and  greatly  frightened  hur- 
ried back  to  the  little  town.  At  the  news  of  a  dead  man  found  in  the 
cistern,  a  load  of  nearly  twenty  men  at  once  repaired  to  that  point. 
Mr.  William  Kemp  went  down  into  the  cistern  and  from  the  rubbish 
and  dry  sand  unearthed  the  body  of  a  man.  His  clothes  were  nearly 
rotten;  his  boots  were  examined  and  found  to  be  No.  7;  his  hair 
and  whiskers  were  of  a  reddish  brown  mixed  with  gray;  his  weight 
about  140  pounds.  One  of  his  hands  was  gone.  An  examination 
showed  that  both  hands  were  gone,  and  that   they  were  cut  and  not 


1404  HISTORY   OF    MERCER   AND    HENDERSON   COUNTIES. 

rotted  otf.  The  cistern  was  carefully  examined  but  no  trace  of  the 
hands  could  be  found.  Before  taking  the  body  from  the  cistern  the 
justice  of  the  peace,  Warren  Park,  was  sent  for.  An  inquest  was  held. 
Dr.  Daniel  M.  Marshall  was  made  foreman  of  the  jurors,  among 
whom  were  William  Kemp,  Mr.  Cook,  Wesley  Hopper,  R.  R.  Ward 
and  Joseph  Gibson.  The  jury  brought  in  a  verdict  that  the  man  came 
to  his  death  at  the  hand  of  some  unknown  j)erson  or  persons.  Some 
of  the  parties  suspected  were  afterward  tried  for  this  murder.  One 
of  them  turned  state's  evidence,  but  when  brought  on  the  stand  told 
notliing.  On  account  of  the  lack  of  proof  to  establish  the  facttliat  this 
was  the  body  of  the  man  murdered  by  them,  they  escaped  the  stern 
justice  that  the  public  desired  them  to  receive. 

Many  of  the  details  of  this  ghastly  crime  will  never  be  known  until 
that  great  day  when  every  secret  thing  shall  be  unraveled,  unless  the 
iron  fingers  of  conscience  shall  wring  a  full  confession  from  some  one 
of  the  participants. 

BIOGRAPHICAL. 

Isaac  F.  IIarter,  M.D.,  was  born  in  Hancock  county,  Illinois,  Au- 
gust 6,  1851.  He  is  the  son  of  Joseph  and  Susana  (Dodd)  Harter. 
They  are  natives  of  Virginia,  and  are  of  German  descent.  His  parents 
•came  to  Illinois,  and  settled  in  St.  Mary's  township,  Hancock  county. 
He  grew  up  on  his  lather's  farm,  and  got  such  an  education  as  the 
^common  schools  afforded,  and  from  there  went  to  the  graded  school 
iit  Danvers.  He  taught  for  awhile,  and  took  a  three  years'  course  at 
Abino-don  (^ollei-e.  From  here  he  went  into  the  office  of  J.  J.  Rea- 
bun,  M.D.,  at  Danvers.  He  took  a  full  course  of  lectures  at  the  Col- 
lege of  Physicians,  Keokuk,  Iowa,  graduating  February  18,  1877. 
He  located  at  Carman  the  October  following,  where  he  has  an  extensive 
and  paying  practice.  December  30,  1879,  he  married  Mary  Hugen- 
scliutz,  daughter  of  J.  H.  Hugenschutz,  Esq.  They  have  one  child, 
Henry  Virgil,  born  October  14,  1881.  He  is  a  member  of  Carman 
lodge  of  Masons,  IN'o.  732,  and  of  the  Hancock  County  Medical 
Society. 

Wm.  T.  Hopkins  was  born  in  Ainsbury,  Gloucestershire,  England, 
May  20,  1829.  His  parents,  Joseph  and  Mary  Hopkins,  when  he 
was  four  vears  old,  moved  to  Monmouthshire,  Wales,  the  mother's 
native  place.  His  father  was  a  native  of  Gloucestershire.  In  1830 
our  subject  and  his  brother  Joseph  emigrated  from  the  land  of  tyranny, 
England,  to  the  home  of  liberty,  America,  and  lived  for  awhile  at 
Sharon ville,  Ohio,  where,  November  16,  1859,  he  married  Miss 
Rachel  Morris,  a  native  of  Sharon  ville.  They  are  the  parents  of  four 
children:  Ellis,   born  T<"ovember  8,  1860,   died  November  22,    1877; 


(JARMAN   TOWNSHIP.  l-tOf) 

Foster,  born  August  10,  1863 ;  an  infant,  and  Ellen,  born  JNTovember 
27,  1869.  In  politics  Mr.  Hopkins  is  liberal,  voting  for  the  men.  lie 
is  a  member  of  the  Methodist  church.  He  came  to  this  county  in 
1865,  and  moved  on  the  farm  on  which  he  now  lives. 

William  W.  Anderson  was  born  in  Ashtabula  county,  December 
10,  1822.  His  father  came  from  New  York,  his  mother  was  a  native: 
of  Connecticut.  He  was  raised  on  a  farm  and  received  a  common 
school  education.  In  the  fall  of  1837  his  parents  came  to  this  county, 
and  in  the  year  following  they  settled  in  T.  10,  11.  6.  In  1840  he 
went  to  jSTatchez  and  rafted  to  jSTew  Orleans  for  awhile.  For  some 
time  he  was  mate  on  a  Mississippi  steamer.  In  1846  he  married  Miss 
Louisa  Hout.  They  have  twelve  children,  ten  girls  and  two  boys  : 
Anise  S.,  Emma  J.,  Luna  O.,  JSTevada,  Mary,  Lillie,  Ilattie,  Belle, 
Jessie,  William  H.  and  Mark  M.  In  1850,  in  company  with  two  of 
his  brothers,  he  started  across  the  plains  to  California ;  one  of  them 
died  and  was  buried  at  Fort  Laramie,  He  went  through  to  California 
and  remained  one  year,  returning  via  Panama.  In  1854  he  went  with 
his  family  to  California,  remaining  three  years,  returning  $15,000  in 
pocket.  In  1874  he  made  a  trip  to  New  Mexico,  where  he  owns  some 
mining  stock. 

William  C.  Walkkr  was  born  in  Caldwell  county,  Missouri,  Decem- 
ber 14,  1843.  He  is  the  son  of  W.  C.  and  Rachel  Walker.  He  grew 
to  manhood  mostly  on  a  farm  and  received  a  common  school  edueatioiu 
In  September,  1861,  he  enlisted  in  the  service  of  the  State  of  Illinois, 
as  a  private  of  Co.  F,  50th  111.  Vols.  In  the  month  following  he  was 
mustered  into  the  service  of  the  United  States.  He  was  with  his 
regiment  at  the  siege  of  Forts  Henr}^  and  Donelson ;  with  (-Jraiit  on 
his  raid  through  Tennessee  and  Kentucky  ;  was  at  the  siege  of  Corinth  ; 
was  in  the  battles  at  Buzzard's  Roost,  at  Pittsbui-g  Landing,  at  Peach 
Creek  ford,  at  Altoona  pass,  and  at  Resaca.  He  never  missed  a  roll-call 
during  his  term  of  service  except  when  absent  on  duty.  He  was  in  the 
drug  business  at  Dallas  ( 'ity,  and  since  July,  1875,  has  been  in 
a  general  merchandising  business  at  Carman.  February  17,  1876,  he 
wedded  Miss  R.  Jane  Sparks,  daughter  of  Thomas  and  Mary  Sparks, 
of  Dallas  City.  They  have  four  children  :  Mary,  born  February  8, 
1877;  Evalina,  March  22,  187U;  Clara,  October  II,  1880;  Charles, 
March  16,  1882.  Mr.  Walker  is  a  member  of  Dallas  City  lodge  of 
masons  No.  335  and  of  Hurlbut  post  G.  A.  R. 

John  Evans,  born  in  Crawford  county,  Ohio,  June  13,  1830.  IlivS 
parents  were  John  and  Nancy  (Parmer)  Evans.  His  father  was  born 
in  1796,  in  Pennsylvania,  and  was  of  Welsh  descent.  From  Ohio  the 
elder  Evans  moved  to  Henry  county,  Indiana,  1830,  and  from  there 


1406  HISTORY    OF    MEKCEB   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

to^this  county  in  1837,  settling  in  Sec.  33,  T.  9,  E.  5.  Mr.  Evans' 
iDoyliood  was  spent  on  a  farm.  He  received  a  common  school  educa- 
tion. He  was  married  April  3,  1857,  to  Sarah  Y.  Davis,  daughter  of 
Abner  and  Lucy  Davis,  who  were  early  settlers  in  T.  9,  R.  5.  They 
have  one  child,  Marion  L.,  born  June  30,  1859.  He  is  now  living  in 
Iowa.     Mr.  Evans  is  a  member  of  the  Baptist  church. 

William  W.  Marsden,  who  is  now  one  of  the  leading  men  of  the 
vicinity  in  which  he  lives,  was  born  in  Kirtland,  Ohio,  March  26, 
1838.  His  father,  Henry  Marsden,  was  a  native  of  Yorkshire,  Eng- 
land, and  his  mother,  Sarah,  was  born  in  Bedfordsliire.  The  father 
emigrated  to  America  in  1834,  and  settled  at  Toronto,  Canada.  Here 
he  met  the  woman  he  married.  Having  an  antipatli}'  to  the  manner 
in  which  the  English  conducted  hymeneal  affairs,  they  came  to  New 
York,  and  were  there  married.  They  went  back  to  Canada,  but  soon 
moved  to  Dayton,  Ohio,  and  from  there,  in  1843,  to  Henderson  county 
Illinois.  They  first  settled  near  Terre  Haute.  The  principal  subject 
of  this  sketch  was  raised  on  a  farm  and  educated  in  the  common 
schools.  After  his  birth  he  went  with  his  father  in  his  removals. 
October  3,  1861,  he  married  Rhoda,  daugliter  of  James  and  Catherine 
Yauglm.  They  have  ten  children,  all  living :  Mary,  born  August  26, 
1862,  Sarah,  James,  William,  Reuben,  Luella,  George,  Matthew, 
Frederic  and  Joel.  Mr.  Marsden  is  a  member  of  Carman  lodge  of 
Masons,  No.  732. 

ZiLiLE  CiSNA,  one  of  the  potent  forces  of  (-arman,  was  born  in 
Perry  county,  Pennsylvania,  October  10,  1828.  His  father,  John 
Cisna,  and  his  mother  Polly  were  natives  of  the  same  place.  His 
father  was  born  in  1789,  and  lived  to  be  more  than  ninety  years 
old.  In  1843  they  came  to  this  county  from  Burlington,  Iowa,  but 
did  not  locate  permanently  until  1857.  In  1866  Zelile  and  one  of  his 
brothers  went  into  the  business  of  general  merchandising  at  Shokokon. 
From  here  they  removed  to  Carman  in  1870  (see  History  of  Carman). 
In  1853  he  went  to  California  for  the  purpose  of  mining,  at  which  he 
was  very  successful, — so  much  so  that  he  acquired  a  thirst  for  more 
speedy  gains,  and  to  further  his  aims,  in  1854  he  went  to  Australia. 
While  here  he  worked  in  the  mines  at  Bendgoo  and  Balerette,  but  was 
not  successful.  He  returned  to  Illinois  in  1855.  November  2,  1859, 
he  wedded  Miss  Mary  Jane  Parr,  by  whom  he  has  seven  children,  one 
of  whom  is  dead.  They  are :  Fannie,  Laura,  Mary,  Zelile,  Joseph, 
George  and  Pearly.  Mr,  Cisna  is  a  member  of  Carman  lodge.  No.  732, 
of  Masons. 

Thomas  Marsden,  one  of  the  early  settlers  and  one  of  the  most 
successful  business  men  of  the  community,  was  born  in  York,  Eug- 


ADDITIONAL    MATTER.  1407 

• 

land,  April  3,  1819.  His  parents,  William  and  Hannah  (Bouker) 
Marsden,  were  farm  laborers.  His  grandparents,  Henry  and  Alice, 
followed  the  same  business.  His  parents  emigrated  from  England  to 
America  in  September,  1841.  Our  subject  had  come  two  years  previous 
and  was  located  at  Dayton,  Ohio.  From  there  he  came  to  this  county 
in  1844,  settling  near  Terre  Haute.  Prior  to  coming  to  America,  in 
1838,  he  married  Miss  Elizabeth  Hardman,  who  died  at  Dayton,  Ohio, 
soon  after  their  arrival  there.  By  her  he  had  one  child,  William,  who 
lives  in  Honey  Creek  township.  In  1841  he  was  married  a  second 
time,  to  Elizabeth  Lamerman,  who  died  in  December,  1877.  Mr. 
Marsden  received  a  very  meager  education  in  his  childhood,  but  by 
business  training  and  experience  he  has  acquired  a  ready  fund  of  prac- 
tical knowledge.  December  2,  1866,  Mr.  Marsden  opened  a  lumber 
yard  at  Shokoken,  where  he  is  yet  engaged  in  business.  He  also  lias 
another  at  Blandinsville.  In  the  two  he  does  a  business  of  more 
than  $30,000  each  year.  He  is  a  member  of  Carman  lodge,  No.  732, 
of  Masons,  and  a  republican  in  politics. 

J.  B.  McClun  is  a  native  of  Allegheny  count}-,  Pennsylvania,  hav- 
ing been  born  there  June  7,  1820.  His  father,  Alexander  McClun,  was 
in  the  war  of  1812,  and  was  in  the  engagement  at  Baltimore.  He 
lived  to  be  ninety  years  old.  Our  subject  was  raised  on  a  farm  and 
received  a  common  school  education.  In  Cuyahoga  county,  Ohio, 
March  4,  1847,  he  married  Miss  Mariah  Hazen.  She  is  a  native  of 
Portage  county,  Ohio,  and  was  born  December  20,  182H.  They  came 
to  this  county  in  March,  1865.  Tliey  have  iive  children:  Louiza  J., 
born  June  11,  1848,  died  March  30,  1854;  Susan  L.,  born  June  28, 
1850;  Mary  E.,  born  November  24,  1856;  Alice  C,  born  January 
16,  1859,  died  September  15,  1862 ;  and  Minnie,  born  May  19,  1866. 
He  is  now  proprietor  of  the  Carman  House,  Carman,  Illinois. 


ADDITIONAL  MATTER. 

The  following  sketches  were  received  too  late  to  insert  under  the 
head  designed  for  them,  and  necessarily  appear  in  this  place  : 

Solomon  Hevenek,  tanner,  Oquawka,  son  of  Jacob  and  Catharine 
(Trimpock)  Hevener,  was  born  in  Montgomery  county.  New  York,  in 
1810.  Like  most  boys,  his  youth  was  spent  on  the  farm.  In  1832  he 
was  united  in  marriage  with  Miss  Harriett  Orcutt,  a  native  of  Schoharie 
county.  New  York.  After  his  marriage  he  engaged  in  farming  for 
liimself  in  his  native  state.     In  1864  he  sold  and  removed  to  Oquawka, 


1408  HISTORY    OF   MERCER   AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

Illinois,  and  a  short  distance  out  of  town,  a  fai-m  where  he  and  his 
devoted  wife  are  now  in  comfort  spending  their  de;_lining  years.    Their 
children,  Helen  L.,  now  the  wife  of  Mr.  Frank  Pike  ;  Adelaide,  wife  of 
Mr.  Abrani  Boyd,  and  Jacob,  are  well  educated  and  settled  in  life. 
They  are  in  faith  Methodists  and  of  German  ancestry. 

Jacob  Poull,  retired  mason  and  contractor,  was  born  in  Luxem- 
burg, Germany,  in  1825.  He  is  the  son  of  Andrew  Poull,  a  prominent 
mason  and  builder  in  his  day.  During  his  youth  Jacob  thoroughly 
mastered  his  trade  and  began  to  feel  the  impulse  of  aspirations. 
October  22,  1844,  he  married  Miss  Marguretta  Delles,  a  native  of  his 
own  town,  who  shared  life  with  him  until  November  16,  1879,  when 
she  died  and  was  buried  in  the  Oquawka  cemetery.  March  16,  1847, 
he  left  Luxemburg  for  America  via  the  river  Rhine  and  ocean,  and, 
after  a  voyage  of  forty-two  days  on  the  latter,  landed  in  New  York 
May  14,  and  at  once  pushed  on  to  Milwaukee,  Wisconsin,  where  they 
arrived  June  16,  1847.  Mr.  Poull  soon  after  located  in  Chicago,  where 
he  began  the  business  of  his  trade,  which  soon  grew  to  immense  pro- 
portions as  he  turned  his  attention  to  contracting  and  building,  having 
some  years  later  erected  some  of  the  best  buildings  in  and  around 
C^'hicago.  As  soon  as  May  8,  1861,  after  the  outbreak  of  the  war 
of  the  rebellion,  he  espoused  the  cause  of  his  adopted  country,  and  as 
a  soldier  identitied  himself  with  the  24tli  111.  Vol.  Inf  He  was  at 
once  commissioned  as  second  lieutenant.  After  over  three  years 
of  active  service  he  returned  as  captain  of  his  company,  of  less  than 
a  dozen  men,  and  was  honorably  discharged  August  6,  1864.  Li  the 
fall  of  the  same  year  he  bought  a  farm  a  few  miles  out  of  Chicago  on 
to  which  he  moved  his  family.  In  December,  1878,  he  sold  out  and 
removed  to  Oquawka,  where  he  permanently  located,  at  the  same  time 
buying  near  town  about  250  acres  of  land.  His  six  children  are  well 
educated  and  well  settled  in  life.  The  sons  are:  Peter  J.,  Nicholas  F. 
•and  Tlieodore  ;  and  the  daughters  are  :  Maggie,  Katie  (wife  of  William 
Alton)  and  Sarah  (now  Mrs.  Charles  West).  Mr.  Poull  in  early  life 
being  deprived  of  educational  advantages,  and  since  seeing  the  great 
need  and  advantage  of  proper  school  training,  has  seen  to  it  that  his 
children  enpyed  all  the  advantages  denied  him. 

John  Hanna,  Oquawka,  was  born  in  Ohio.  He  became  a  resident 
of  Indiana  and  in  1835  moved  to  Warren  count}^  Illinois,  two  and  a 
half  miles  southwest  of  Little  York.  He  entered  large  quantities  of 
land,  owning  at  his  death  about  1,800  acres.  He  died  in  the  fall  of 
1862.  He  had  been  twice  married.  He  buried  his  iirst  wife  in  1851 
or  1852.     His  second  wife  survived  him  a  short  time. 

Captain  D.  C.  Hanna,  son  of  John  Hanna,  was  born  June  8,  1836, 


ADDITIONAL    MATTER.  140iJ 

on  the  homestead  in  Warren  county.  He  was  raised  on  the  farm.  In 
1860  he  made  a  trip  to  Colorado,  spending  a  year  and  a  half  there. 
He  returned  and  enlisted  August  14,  1862,  in  Co.  C,  01st  111.  Vols.,  as 
first  lieutenant.  At  Brownsville,  'in  1863,  he  was  promoted  to  the 
captaincy.  He  fought  at  Mobile  and  many  small  battles.  At  Eliza- 
beth town  he  with  the  whole  regiment  was  taken  prisoner  by  Morgan, 
but  was  soon  paroled.  He  returned  home  in  1865  and  devoted  him- 
self to  farming.  In  1869  he  was  elected  county  clerk,  which  office  he 
held  eight  years.  He  was  also  mayor  of  Oquawka,  as  the  ofiicial 
tables  indicate.  Mr.  Hanna  was  married  to  Miss  Mattie  E.  Heaton, 
September,  1866. 

Newton  Wood,  Oquawka,  son  of  Martin  H.  and  Sallie  Wood,  was 
born  in  Ashtabula  county,  Ohio,  March  18,  1825.  With  his  parents  he 
came  to  Henderson  county  in  1838,  arid  settled  near  Jacks  Mill  on  Sec. 
24,  T.  11,  K.  5,  where  he  now  lives.  Mr.  Wood  is  a  miller  by  trade, 
but  has  farmed  for  the  last  quarter  of  a  century.  He  received  his 
education  in  the  common  schools  of  Ohio  and  Illinois.  April  18,  1853, 
he  was  wedded  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Hants,  who  has  borne  him  two 
children,  Frank,  born  August,  1856,  and  Laura,  born  November,  1861 . 
He  now  lives  at  the  old  homestead. 

James  H.  Woods,  Greenville  precinct,  is  the  son  of  Isaac  and 
Elizabeth  (Witherspoon)  Woods.  Isaac  Woods,  the  father,  was  born 
in  west  Tennessee,  March  14,  1783.  He  grew  up  to  manhood  there, 
when  he  removed  to  Indiana,  settjing  in  Gibson  county.  Just  prior  to 
this  he  had  been  married.  Mrs.  Woods  was  a  native  of  west  Ten- 
nessee. He  was  regularly  enlisted  and  took  part  in  the  war  of  1812  ; 
was  at  the  battle  of  Tippecanoe.  He  settled  and  improved  a  farm 
of  160  acres,  which  was  no  small  job.  In  1841  he  removed  to 
Henderson  county,  settling  in  Greenville  precinct,  where  he  had 
bought  a  half-section  of  land,  which  he  made  into  an  excellent  farm. 
He  died  August  30,  1872  ;  is  buried  in  Smith  Creek  cemetery.  Was  a 
democrat  in  politics,  and  was  a  member  of  Presbyterian  church.  James 
H.  was  born  January  20,  1827,  in  Gibson  ;  removed  with  his  father  to 
Illinois  and  lived  with  him  as  long  as  he  lived.  Was  married  Novem- 
ber 15,  1850,  to  Miss  Elizabeth  Reed,  daughter  of  John  Reed,  Esq. 

Alfred  Dehaven,  Bald  Bluff  precinct,  son  of  William  and  Eliza- 
beth Dehaven,  was  born  in  Fountain  county,  Indiana.  While  he  was 
quite  young  his  father  died,  soon  after  which,  with  his  mother,  he 
removed  to  Mercer  county,  Illinois.  Here  he  grew  up  on  a  farm  and 
received  what  education  the  common  schools  afibrded.  May  1,  1864, 
he  married  Melissa  Ann  Clark,  daughter  of  Henry  Clark,  an  early  set- 
tler of  Bald  Blufi".     Mr.  Dehaven  was  elected  a  school  director  of  his 


1410  HISTORY    OF    MERCEK   AJND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

district  at  the  April  election  in  1880,  and  by  his  vigorous  and  energetic 
measures  has  succeeded  in  reducing  the  formerly  high-handed  expendi- 
tures of  the  district  board.  They. are  the  parents  of  three  children  : 
William  H.,  born  December  17,  1866  ;  Alpha  Lelia,  born  Kovember 
9,  1868  ;  Eddie  JameSj  born  July  28,  1881.  They  have  an  adopted 
child,  the  son  of  William  Newcourt,  born  September  16,  1879. 

REVOLUTIONARY  HEROES. 

There  have  died  in  Henderson  county  four  soldiers  of  the  revolu- 
tion :  Samuel  Chapin,  born  in  Chicopee,  Massachusetts,  September  24, 
1760  ;  served  under  Ethan  Allen  at  Ticonderoga ;  died  at  Oquawka  in 
1842,  and  is  buried  in  Oquawka  cemetery ;  David  Finley,  born  in 
Belfast,  Ireland,  September  3,  1848,  and  is  interred  in  South  Henderson 
cemetery  ;  Earl  Frazell  was  born  in  Essex  county,  Vermont,  Decem- 
ber 13,  1764,  and  died  May  5,  1850;  he  rests  in  Oquawka  cemeteiy ; 
Jeremiah  Kose  is  buried  at  Oquawka. 

THE  WAR  OF  1812. 

It  has  been  ascertained  that  at  least  fifteen  of  the  heroes  of  the 
war  of  1812  have  resided  in  Henderson  county,  most  of  whom  lie  in 
the  soil  of  this  county  and  awaiting  the  reveille  of  the  great  hereafter. 
They  are  Wm.  Beatty,  Thomas  Curts,  John  Grose,  Abner  Davis, 
Robert  Erwin,  A.  D.  Frazell,  Samuel  Gordon,  John  Goodnight,  John 
Hopkin,  W,  A.  Morehead,  William  Morgan,  J.  McDermot,  Erastus 
Bise,  John  Tweed  and  Samuel  Watson. 

William  Cousland  served  in  the  Black  Hawk  war,  as  also  S.  S. 
Phelps.  Hiram  Rose  was  in  the  ArOostook  war.  Wm.  Herberts  was 
in  the  war  with  Mexico. 


SOLDIERS^  MONUMENT,  OF  HENDERSON  COUNTY. 

While  the  war  was  even  yet  in  progress  a  movement  was  started  for  the 
erection  of  a  monument  to  the  memory  of  those  whose  lives  had  fallen 
a  sacrifice  to  their  country,  and  a  small  fund  was  raised  ;  but  the  matter 
fell  into  neglect,  the  subscriptions  were  returned  to  the  donors,  except, 
perhaps,  in  Oquawka  precinct,  and  nothing  further  was  (^one  until 
1873.  A  meeting  was  called  at  the  court-house  for  Saturday,  July  19, 
at  which  "The  Oquawka  Soldiers'  Monument  Association,  of  Hender- 
son county,""  was  organized,  and  of  both  which  (meeting  and  associa- 
tion) D.  Caswell  Hanna  was  elected  president,  G.  F.  William  Froelich 


soldiers'    monument,    of    HENDERSON   COUNTY.  1411 

secretary,  and  William  H.  Stockton  treasurer.  An  executive  committee 
of  the  association  was  chosen,  consisting  of  James  R.  White,  Jefferson 
"K.  Jennings  and  Thomas  W.  Kinsloe ;  and  another  on  constitution  and 
by-laws,  composed  of  Robert  Moir,  J.  H.  Jennings  and  J.  S.  Linel. 
Committees  were  appointed  for  each  precinct  to  solicit  subscriptions. 
Dr.  Cephas  Park,  secretary  of  the  old  organization,  presented  a  report 
showing  the  funds  in  the  hands  of  the  committee  belonging  to  Oquawka 
precinct  to  be  $688.79.  It  was  reported  that  a  certain  fund  was  held 
by  John  McKinney,  Jr.,  treasurer  of  the  late  association,  to  the  credit 
of  the  same  precinct,  and  the  treasurer  was  directed  to  collect  the 
amount.  Messrs.  Moir  and  Park  were  elected  honorary  members,  and 
tendered  a  imanimous  vote  of  thanks  for  their  zealous  efforts  in  behalf 
of  the  extinct  society,  and  the  fidelity  with  which  they  had  protected, 
and  by  judicious  investment  increased,  the  funds  confided  to  their 
custody.  Subsequently  bids  and  designs  for  a  monument  were  received 
by  a  committee,  and  the  contract  was  let  to  W.  W.  Webster,  of  Musca- 
tine, Iowa.  At  the  meeting  of  June  1,  1874,  the  following  committee 
was  selected  to  procure  grounds :  Robert  Moir,  Dr.  Cephas  Park,  H.  F. 
McAllister,-  William  C.  Rice  and  Col.  John  B.  Patterson.  On  Thurs- 
day, October  22,  the  "Spectator"  said:  "On  Friday  last  Mr.  W.  W. 
Webster,  of  Muscatine,  designer  and  builder  of  the  monument,  com- 
pleted the  work,  veiled  the  statue,  and  turned  it  over  to  the  committee. 
The  monument  is  built  of  pure  Italian  marble,  the  design  elegant  and 
appropriate,  and  the  workmanship  that  of  a  master  of  his  art.  The 
base  is  eight  feet  square  and  four  feet  deep ;  the  die  is  four  feet,  on 
which  are  inscribed,  on  its  four  sides,  200  names  of  soldiers  of 
Henderson  county  who  fell  in  the  field  or  died  in  the  service  of  their 
country ;  upon  the  die  rests  a  fluted  colunm  nine  feet  high,  on  which 
stands  the  statue  of  a  soldier,  life  size,  finely  carved ;  the  whole  monu- 
ment being  twenty-nine  and  a  half  feet  in  height."  On  each  of  the 
four  corners  of  the  raised  foundation  is  a  trained  cannon  pointing 
outward.  These  pieces  were  procured  through  the  efforts  of  Senators 
John  A.  Logan  and  Richard  J.  Oglesb}',  who  secured  the  passage  of 
an  act  of  congress  donating  them  (they  being  condemned  ordnance)  to 
the  association.  The  inauguration  took  j^lace  Tuesday,  October  20, 
and  the  address  was  delivered  b}'  Maj.  R.  W.  McClaughry,  formerly,  of 
the  118th  reg.  111.  Vol.  Inf  The  monument  was  erected  by  the  private 
liberality  of  the  people  ;  subscriptions  varied  from  $5  to  $50.  The  cost 
of  the  monument  proper  was  $2,500,  but  other  expenditures  brought 
the  outlay  for  this  object  up  to  $3,300.  The  location  .is  in  the  center 
of  a  beautiful  enclosed  jaark,  planted  to  deciduous  and  evergreen  trees, 
comprised  in  lots  1,  4  and  5,  .block  4,  Swartz'  addition,  donated  by 


1412  HISTORY    OF   MEKCER    AND    HENDERSON    COUNTIES. 

John  McKinnej,  Sr.,  for  many  years  a  resident  and  business  man  of 
Oquawka.  This  handsome  work  is  not  more  a  monument  to  the 
ghn'ious  dead  of  Henderson  county  than  to  the  affection,  gratitude, 
generosity  and  patriotism  of  the  happy  and  intelligent  living. 

Following  is  a  list  of  the  soldiers  whose  names,  with  company  and 
regiment,  are  inscribed  on  the  monument,  to  which  is  added  that  of 
Harrison  Chrisman,  Co.  C,  91st  111.  Inf ,  and  that  of  Charles  J.  Foster, 
Co.  M,  12th  111.  Cav.,  whose  surname  only  was  engraved  among  those 
whose  regiment  is  unknown  : 

Tenth  Illinois  Infantry^  Company  E. — John  A.  Anderson,  August 
Arrickson,  John  "W.  Bolthoff",  Otho  P.  Craig,  Albert  C.  Garrison, 
Thomas  Miller,  Absalom  Martin,  J.  M.  Shoemaker,  Francis  P.  Speck. 
Company  G. — Benjamin  F.  Bennett,  William  S.  Beal,  Edward  M. 
Herndon,  David  F.  Roderick,  W,  Wallace  Rice,  Araericus  Wyatt. 

Sixteenth  Illinois  Infantry^  Company  F. — David  Crutchfield, 
Thomas  H.  Davenport,  Alvarro  Gay,  William  Leonard,  Jacob  A. 
Laycraft,  William  A.  Martin,  David  Montgomery,  John  H.  Murphy, 
Edmund  B.  Owens,  Cornelius  O'Brien,  Alexander  Peterson,  Warren 
Patterson,  Joseph  A.  Snick,  Thomas  Whicher. 

Seventeenth  Illinois  Infantry^  Company  B. — S.  A.  Mills.  Com- 
pany C — Peter  Corzatt,  William  Thompson.  Company  I. —  James 
M.  Phelps. 

Twenty-eighth  Illinois  Infantry^  Company  C — Alonzo  Curry. 
Company  D. — Arion  Painter.  Company  II — AVilliam  Cook,  Andrew 
Cargill,  Henry  Davis,  Ira  Simmons,  Perry  Wilber. 

Thirtieth  Illinois  Infantry^  Company  A. — John  J.  Burrus.  (.^mn- 
pany  K. —  Martin  P.  Fordyce,  Thomas  Mellerbarg. 

Thirty-third  Illinois  Infantry^  Company  E. —  Jason  L.  Watson. 

Thirty-sixth  Illinois  Infantry^  Company  C. — Elisha  L.  Atkins, 
John  Shook,  Ezra  Shotts. 

Forty-second  Illinois  Infantry^  Con^pany  E. —  Lewis  Watson. 

Fiftieth  Illinois  Infantry^  Company  F. — James  T.  Moi-se. 

Fifty-Qiinth  Illinois  Infantry,  Company  B. — Francis  M.  Caldwell, 
George  W.  Evans,  Sylvester  Pace. 

Seventy-fifth  Illinois  Infantry,  Company  G. —  William  W.  Clark. 

Seventy-eighth  Illinois  Infantry,  Company  C. —  Charles  H.  Magie. 
Company  H. — Joseph  Bierman,  Edward  Mclvini,  Isaac  M.  Shaw. 

Eighty-third  Illinois  Infantry,  Company  A. — David  Endicott. 
Coinpany  C. — Joseph  I.  Francis.      Company  F. — John  C.  Allison. 

Eighty-fourth  Illinois  Infantry,  Company  G. —  Thomas  Arm- 
strong, Peter  Augustus,  Thomas  Biggs,  Ezra  L.  Camp,  George  W. 
Caldwell,  John  G.  Curtis,  Picliard  Chipe,  James  A.  Coburn.  William 


soldiers'    monument,    of    HENDERSON    COUNTY.  141»^ 

M.  DuvhII,  George  D.  Davis,  George  W.  Gordon,  Fleming  Gowdy, 
Albert  Hoskinson,  John  Hensley,  Henry  Hess,  Gillani  Harris,  Charles 
Kaiser,  James  C.  McDill,  William  E.  Pinkerton,  Levi  B.  Wilkinson, 
Thomas  C.  Pinkerton,  Richard  Parrott,  Benjamin  C.  Pierce,  AVilliam 
liejnolds,  Orson  Rose,  Benjamin  F.  Smith,  Samuel  L.  Spence,  Charles 
Spanier,  George  W.  Tompkins,  Malachi  W.  Titus.  (Jom.jximj  H. — 
Andrew  Jackson,  Oliver  R.  Personius.  Company  K. — AVilliam  J. 
Allaman,  Charles  Berggren,  David  B.  Beebe,  Archibald  Beal,  George 
W.  Coroden,  James  R.  Ewing,  William  P.  Foster,  James  F.  Fryrear, 
Rodolphus  J.  Hovey,  John  C.  Harrah,  John  F.  Jamison,  Michael 
Jackson,  Thomas  G.  McDill,  Thomas  Mclntire,  •  Joseph  T.  Parnell, 
Samuel  G.  Plummer,  William  S.  Stanle}',  William  Short,  John  F. 
Tinker,  Samuel  Wilkins. 

M'ghty-elgJith  Illinois  Infantry^  Company  I. — John  Segar. 

Ninety-first  Illinois  Infantry,  Company  B. — Robert  J.  Brown, 
John  Hixenbaugh,  William  Jacobs,  William  Moore,  John  J.  Nichols, 
Merit  W.  Paul,  George  W.  Roberts,  Nathan  J.  Stewart.  Company  C- — 
John  N.  Barnes,  C.  Harrison  Coon,  Green  Fullerton,  William  B,  Hop- 
kins, George  A.  Monteith,  Martin  Reese,  James  M.  Stock,  William  J. 
White,  Harrison  Chrisman. 

One  Hundred  and  Eighteenth  Illinois  Infantry,  Company  G. — 
John  F.  Bryan,  Provine  Burch,  Lewis  Cargill,  Boone  Crenshaw,  Isaac 
D.  Ecklin,  James  Fielding,  Joseph  W.  B.  Frits,  Hugh  Graham,  Luther 
Gittings,  John  Glasgow,  John  H.  Hopper,  William  H.  Jackson,  Ira  B. 
King,  William  L.  League,  Patrick  Moore,  William  McClain,  Covington 
Messick,  Alonzo  W.  Park,  William  L.  Spiker,  Alexander  Spiker, 
William  Spiker,  William  F.  Wolff'. 

One  Hundred  and  Forty-eighth.  Illinois  Infantry,  Company  I. — 
T.  C.  Leslie. 

Second'  Illinois  Cavah'y,  Co'mpany  H. — Enoch  H.  Coggswell. 

Fourth  Illinois  Cavalry^  Company  C. — Henrj  A.  Brokaw. 

Seventh  Illinois  Cavalry^  Company  L. — Elijah  Jecklin,  William 
M.  Morris,  George  Post,  John  H.  Schenck,  George  Thompson. 

Eleventh  Illinois  Cavalry,  Company  H — Robert  D.  Leslie,  Calvin 
B.  Galloway,  David  Salter. 

Twelfth  Illinois  Cavah^y^  Company  I. — John  W.  Allaman,  Jona- 
than Earp,  William  Toler,  J.  Wesley  Wheeling.  Company  M. — 
Charles  J.  Foster. 

Fourteenth  Illinois  Cavalry,  Company  A. — John  K.  Atkinson. 

Seventh  Iowa  Infantry^  Company  E. — Patrick  Cadle,  John  L. 
Foster,  John  Littlefield,  Henry  W.  Robbins. 

First  Iowa  Battery — Robert  O.  Pursell. 


1414  HISTORY    OF    MER(^EK    AND    HENDKRSOX    COUNTIES. 

Seventh  MissauH  Cavai/'y,  Company  D. — Henry  Billings,  (Jharles 
Hall,  James  Moore,  Joseph  Poeliler,  William  Willhite,  George 
Williams. 

Tenth  Missouri  Infantry^  Company  B. — W.  Simpson  Stokes. 

Twenty-sixth.  Missouri  Infantry.  Company  (J. — John  Hnfnagel, 
John  Link, 

Second  Colmxido  Cavalri/.  — William . Kirb^' . 

Seventeenth  United  States  Infantry. — Gideon  H.  Ayres. 

Eighteenth  United  States  Infantry. — Samuel  Cisna. 

Sixth  United  States  Cavalry.,  Company  C. — George  Burton. 
•     Fimrth  United  States  Artillery.,  Company  G. — Melville  C.  Hinds. 

United  States  Navy. — R.  W.  Kelly. 

Company  and  Regiment  Unlfnoum. — James  P.  A.  Lewis.  Thomas 

Nash,  Charles  Shull,  S.  Gritiitli.  J.  Wilkinson,   H.  M.  McLain, ■ 

Swigert, 

Mr.  Froehlieh,  the  effic-ient  and  gentlemanly  county  clerk,  took  the 
leading  interest  in  the  erection,  of  this  monument,  and  devoted  much 
time  and  labor  to  the  patriotic  undertaking.  No  other  man  is  so  fully 
conversant  with  whatever  pertains  to  the  military  history  of  Henderson 
county,  and  his  information  on  the  subject  is  the  outgrowth  of  his 
indefatigable  industry  in  perfecting  the  record  of  her  share  in  the 
struggle  for  the  Union,  and  in  perpetuating  the  memory  and  the  shin- 
ing deeds  of  her  sons  in  its  defense.  As  a  corollary  to  the  monument 
he  has  designed  and  had  manufactured  by  Culver,  Page,  Hoyne  &  Co., 
of  Chicago,  a  Soldiers'  Record,  giving  the  name  of  each  soldier,  his 
rank,  company,  regiment,  state,  arm  of  service,  when  enlisted,  resi- 
dence at  enlistment,  when  discharged,  cause  of  death,  when  and  where 
died,  place  of  burial  and  history  of  soldier.  Mr.  Froehlieh  has  been 
for  a  long  time,  and  still  is,  engaged  in  an  exhaustive  research  and 
correspondence  for  material  to  prepare  an  epitomized  history  of 
every  soldier  who  ever  went  from  Henderson  county  ;  also  such  a  his- 
tory of  every  one  who  went  into  the  military  service  from  any  other  place, 
but  who  is  buried  in  the  county  ;  and  in  addition,  sketches  of  veterans 
of  other  wars  who  reside,  or  whose  ashes  lie  here.  Too  much  praise 
cannot  be  awarded  him  for  his  painstaking  zeal  and  enthusiastic  public 
spirit. 


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